Which Teams Would Benefit From A Crew Shakeup?

Is Justin Allgaier a championship favorite?

With 18 wins at 13 tracks and the most all-time wins for JR Motorsports (15), Justin Allgaier has carved out a solid career in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, there is one big win absent from his resume: a championship. Allgaier won a career-best five races in 2018 and has made the Championship 4 on four occasions, but he has yet to take home the top prize in NASCAR’s second series.

But if there is ever a chance for Allgaier to win it all, 2022 appears to be one of his best shots. First, JRM has established itself as the best team in 2022. After it appeared that Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger would the “Big 3” to beat, Allgaier and teammate Josh Berry have both picked up two wins to throw their hats into the ring. Allgaier himself has shown race-winning speed numerous times, and he is up to 462 laps led in 15 races: on pace for the most he’s led in a single season.

His performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May is especially notable because he led 63 laps; he had led a combined 14 laps in 19 previous Xfinity starts at the track. His dominating win at Nashville Superspeedway also deserves notice, as Allgaier himself said that it was the fastest car he had ever driven post-race.

And of course, the finale is at one of Allgaier’s best tracks in Phoenix Raceway. There’s still half of the season to go, but with his current hot streak, it’s hard to bet against him come November.

Should I stay or should I go (pit)?

With a four-lap shootout deciding last Sunday’s (June 26) NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, there was split strategy at the front of the field. Leader Chase Elliott stayed out, while the trailing Joe Gibbs Racing cars of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. elected for either two or four tires.

And as the famous saying goes, those that forget history are doomed to repeat it. The four had dominated the entire race, but it was not reflected in the finishing results. Elliott held on to win, but the JGR cars had four laps to gain 11 spots on the racetrack. Hamlin made his way up to sixth; Truex and Busch finished outside of the top 20.

The decision to pit was notable because it’s not even the first time this season that JGR cars have taken themselves out of winning contention with a late pit stop.

To play devil’s advocate, JGR was not in the lead like it was at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Busch had lost touch with Elliott, and the JGR trio…