“If it becomes a Busch [Xfinity] team or a Cup Series team, so be it.” This is what Dale Earnhardt Jr. said about his JR Motorsports venture in 2004. 21 years later, he has four Xfinity Series Championships under his belt and the team is set to make their Cup Series Debut. Talk about setting the bar low and absolutely smashing it! However, now that he has made the race, the expectations have gone through the roof.

Justin Allgaier piloted the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet to a ninth-place finish in Duel 1 at Daytona to lock their place into the Daytona 500. A moment that left tears in the eyes of everyone at JRM, as this means a lot to them. This will be the first time since Dale Jr.’s retirement in 2017 that an Earnhardt car is represented at the ‘Great American Race’, carrying on the legacy their father left behind as the most successful driver at Daytona. So it’s no surprise that Dale Jr. seeks to make the most of this momentous occasion.

Allgaier is suggested to push the pedals without worrying 

A common problem that drivers face at speedways like Daytona is fuel management. If a driver manages to conserve fuel during the race, they can reduce the number of pit stops needed for refueling. This gives the drivers a strategic advantage. Drivers have to spend less time in the pits, potentially gaining positions during the numerous inevitable cautions. While most teams tend to follow this principle as a thumb rule, the JR Motorsports team owner has some other ideas for Allgaier. 

Speaking in an interview, a candid Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “I am lobbying for the rest of the weekend with Greg Ives to let him mash the gas on Sunday. Right? We’re going to the front if we lose the Daytona 500 it’ll be because of fuel mileage… I would rather lose the race because the cautions did not fall perfectly, not because I was sitting in the 20th and it was time to go and I couldn’t go, yeah?”

When most owners ensure that drivers can save on fuel, so that they can extend out till the last lap, Dale Jr. and crew chief Greg Ives do seem to have some unique opinions. Well, this may stem from the fact that they are an open entry and have nothing to lose! Being able to race at the event itself is a big deal for JRM and with the Xfinity Series being their priority, it’s no surprise they are going all out for the win.

Allgaier’s drive during the Duel 1 was also quite commendable. Facing the challenge of racing his way into the field during Thursday night’s Duel 150 qualifier, Justin Allgaier and the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet delivered a determined performance. The 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion utilized the high line to gain momentum. He drafted into the top 10 in the closing laps with a sensational three-wide move and crossed the finish line in ninth place. This result secured JR Motorsports’ first-ever Cup Series start in “The Great American Race.” With his strong showing, Allgaier will start Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 from the 19th position.

Speaking of the emotional rollercoaster ride it had been, Allgaier said, “This was rough emotionally, but damn it, it worked out. This means a lot to our team, this little team of JR Motorsports. Dale Jr. is an amazing race car driver. He’s an amazing dad, car owner. You can tell how much he wanted this and our whole shop wanted this.” With a combination of first-time luck and the team’s relentless hard work yielding positive results, it’s crucial to leave no stone unturned in preparation for the main event. As they build up to the big day, Dale Jr. turned emotional as he took a trip down memory lane.

Emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr. remembers his dad

The Daytona 500 is one track that has both happy and tragic memories for Dale Earnhardt Jr. It is the same track where he twice triumphed, but also endured the heartbreaking loss of his father on the final lap of the 2001 race. The dichotomy of the memories associated with the track made Earnhardt Jr. quite emotional after Duel 1. 

Dale Jr. said of the drive so far, “Daddy loved Daytona. Loved winning here. Just loved to win any race here. He loved to add to that number whatever it was (34 total). Gosh, I loved coming here as a kid. Just a lot of great memories. So when he passed away, I had to make a decision, I had a career in front of me and I was coming back multiple times. I had to figure out a way to be OK with it.” Dale Earnhardt might have taken 20 years to win his first Daytona 500 (1998) but he still holds the record for the most victories on the track, making it a special one in the Earnhardt household.

Earnhardt Jr. embraced his crew, friends, and family as he climbed down from the pit box and made his way to the pit road. This included his sister and team partner, Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, in a mix of joy and relief. Whether Allgaier will prove himself at the Daytona 500 is a test of time, but for now, even this win deserves celebrations. Do you think Justin Allgaier can with the Daytona 500 against all odds?