Justin Allgaier Perseveres Though Phoenix to Capture Elusive Xfinity Title – Motorsports Tribune

By David Morgan, Associate Editor

AVONDALE, Ariz. – This one has been a long time coming.

And it wasn’t easy.

But nonetheless, Justin Allgaier is now a NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.

Coming into the weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Allgaier and his No. 7 JR Motorsports team that was making its seventh appearance in the Championship 4 was full of confidence that this was finally going to be their year, but mere minutes into the opening practice session of the weekend, the racing gods were already angry.

As the track was oiled down from a blown transmission, Allgaier was helpless entering Turn 1 when he got into the oil and slammed into the outside wall, sending him to a back-up car for the remainder of the weekend.

Starting from the back of the pack on Saturday, Allgaier was a man on a mission, climbing into the top-10 by the end of the first stage and staying there through the end of the second stage.

However, the bad luck bug would strike the No. 7 team again shortly thereafter when Allgaier was busted for a restart violation on Lap 100, which was followed by a pit road speeding penalty as Allgaier was serving the first penalty.

Allgaier would return to the track a lap down and it appeared his championship hopes were all but sunk.

He would need some help if things were going to turn around for him to still have a shot at the title.

And help he would get.

During a cycle of green flag pit stops, the caution flag would fly on lap 156 for Anthony Alfredo crashing in Turn 1, allowing Allgaier to get back on the lead lap.

“We’re back in the game!” was overheard over the No. 7 team radio as they all knew this was their shot to make another run at the title.

Lap by lap, Allgaier would climb his way through the field, utilizing the advantage of the fresher Goodyear tires he had on his closest championship rival in Cole Custer.

With an assist from his JR Motorsports teammates that helped to hold Custer up just enough for him to get in range, Allgaier did the rest and was able to power past him with six laps to go, setting sail toward finally capturing the championship that had eluded him for all these years.

But it could never be that easy for Allgaier and his team after all the ups and downs they have been through as a group.

With three laps remaining in regulation, the caution flag would fly, sending the race into overtime and giving his championship rivals another shot at taking him down.

Despite a…