It hardly feels like three months since the grand victory. In November 2024, JR Motorsports fetched its fourth Xfinity Series championship. Justin Allgaier drove the No. 1 Chevrolet away from three strong rivals and clinched the title for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Achieving that championship after 14 full-time seasons and multiple heartbreaks, Allgaier knew what it meant. He was reminded of that struggle on his most recent victory too.

On the final qualifying night of the Duels on Thursday, Justin Allgaier finished ninth. Thus he secured a starting spot for the Daytona 500, on JRM’s first-ever Cup Series entry. The emotions welled up inside Dale Earnhardt Jr. – and Allgaier also caught onto the tears of joy.

An emotional victory for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. clinched his second Daytona 500 victory in 2014, he roared: “We’re going to burn this (expletive) down!” The passion has not diminished a bit through the decade that has passed since. After Justin Allgaier got the No. 40 JR Motorsports car into the 2025 race, Dale Jr. fought off tears. NASCAR glitterati ranging from Jeff Gordon to renowned journalist Claire B Lang hailed Dale Jr.’s novel achievement as a team owner. The team overcame tremendous odds to win as well – with Helio Castroneves’ 41st rule in place and Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. already locked in, there was potentially only one spot left.

And Justin Allgaier made the most of it. Following the race, he reflected on the hurdles he has crossed with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Topmost among them was the Xfinity 2022 championship failure – Ty Gibbs toppled three JRM drivers at Phoenix. “In 2022, Dale and I kind of had this one-on-one moment when we didn’t win the championship. I’ve known Dale for a long time – I’ve raced against Dale, I’ve known him professionally, I’ve known him as a boss, I’ve known him as a dad, we’ve been friends. But I feel like that moment in 2022 changed our relationship…our communication…He genuinely felt bad when we didn’t win the championship.”

However, the 2024 title changed the narrative. Justin Allgaier continued, “In 2024, when we won the championship, you could just see this ball of emotion in him. Tonight was different, I think it was the inverse of that. I was so glad that I could give him that opportunity.” Then Allgaier revealed that Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels the same passion as he felt about his Daytona 500 win so many years ago. “He told me before the race, ‘Man, I think about the championship all the time. I can’t believe that it actually happened, it’s so cool.’ I’m like, ‘You’ve accomplished everything in the sport that you could ever want to accomplish and you still feel that.’ Tonight, I feel that.” 

Even if they have not clinched the Harley J. Earl trophy yet, it still feels like the topmost victory. That was clear from the team owner’s emotional words.

Dale Jr. fell in love all over again

Well, can the love for racing ever fade? The Earnhardt family has lived and breathed motorsport for decades. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s journey started in the 1990s, especially with the 1999 Coca-Cola 600 race. He went on to clinch 26 Cup Series victories, two of which were the Daytona 500. His love for NASCAR and stock car racing was so strong that it expanded beyond his own career. That is how JR Motorsports came into being, and it has come a long way, earning 88 Xfinity Series race wins and four championships. Now, Dale Jr.’s team is on the brink of bringing home its debut Daytona 500 victory.

The mere thought of that left Dale Earnhardt Jr. swooning. He revealed his bubbling emotions after JRM’s clinched a spot. “I’m going to tell you, man, this sport is amazing. Everything about it. I’ve seen it from so many different lenses. And I love the challenges. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This was hard emotionally, but I can’t believe that we get to race on Sunday. I just can’t believe it.” Then he heaped praises on Justin Allgaier. “I’m so proud of Justin. He put the whole team on his back those last couple of laps, and he got to the top. I did not think that was possible, but he got up there and made something work. It was his only shot.”

Evidently, it is a proud moment for the entire JR Motorsports fold. As the Daytona 500 looms on the horizon, we can wish them nothing but the highest success.