Allgaier on Xfinity title hopes: “This year is different”

Allgaier’s NASCAR journey parallels that of Grant Enfinger in Trucks in that both have spent the majority of their careers in one series where they have found success but never won a championship.

Oddly enough, Enfinger once drove for an ARCA Menards Series team owned by Allgaier’s family.

“There would be nothing cooler than the two of us celebrating winning a championship on the same weekend,” Allgaier said.

While Enfinger’s had a steadier path to the Championship 4 in Trucks, Allgaier’s title opportunity came about last Saturday at Martinsville, Va., in dramatic style.

Heading into Turn 3 on the final of 256 laps, Richard Childress Racing teammates Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill got together on the track racing for the lead.

The move opened the door for Allgaier to dive inside of Creed and the two raced fender-to-fender to the checkered flag, where Allgaier came away with the win and automatic advancement to the title race. Creed and Hill were both eliminated from the playoffs.

Now Allgaier, with 13-plus seasons and 23 wins in the Xfinity Series, suddenly has a legitimate opportunity to add a championship to his resume. His previous best finish was runner-up in the 2020 season.

“I’ve said this many a times, but I don’t know that a championship would define a career for me,” Allgaier said. “I’ve been more than blessed to be in his sport for as long as I have, driven some amazing race cars and had some amazing people around me.

“I just feel like this year is different. Sitting under the (late-race) red flag at Martinsville truly was probably the best thing that ever happened. I looked at the odds of making the final four. I gave myself a five-percent chance, and that’s probably being a little bit generous.

“I don’t know if there’s any destiny in it, but in order to win a championship, you’ve got to be in the final four. If the five percent doesn’t happen last week at Martinsville, I don’t even have a shot at it. I think that’s truly something for me that does go a long way.”

While Allgaier and his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team have had some hiccups along the way, they have been among the most consistent teams in performance.

He’s amassed four wins this year – with two coming in…