Justin Allgaier’s championship 4 weekend has been quite frustrating so far. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity Series star got caught in a big crash during practice. Brennan Poole’s No. 44 car leaked fluid that got under his car’s wheels, and Allgaier collided with the wall along with Aric Almirola and Brandon Jones. Allgaier let his riled-up emotions out by pounding on the pit box after getting out of the car in the garage area.

He has qualified for the Championship 4 seven times, finishing runner-up twice including last year. This finish was a massive dent to Allgaier’s hopes of a first Xfinity Championship as it meant he would have to start at the back of the grid. Not only this, Allgaier was left frustrated after his car and Chandler Smith’s 81 traded paint during Stage 2 of the Xfinity Series Championship finale.

It looked like Chandler Smith’s No. 81 was glued to the left rear of the No. 7 and Allgaier was so agitated that he brought up the fact that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver doesn’t have a ride in NASCAR next year. On the radio, he was heard saying, “The 81 wonders why he doesn’t have a ride for next year. My blood pressure is high because people don’t get it.”

Joe Gibbs’ Cup and Xfinity teams have been having a hard time. A week ago, Christopher Bell almost edged out William Byron for the final championship berth. But NASCAR brought down its judicial axe on him for replicating the ‘Hail Melon’ move. On the Xfinity side, Chandler Smith’s fate looks dire.

Despite owning two wins and 16 top-fives this season, the No. 81 Toyota driver does not have a ride for 2025. On top of that, he is rubbing his rivals the wrong way frequently. After his heated scuffle with Cole Custer, now Smith finds himself in Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s star’s bad books. Given how his practice went, Allgaier’s frustration was understandable. But he completed his redemption, scripting a monumental comeback filled with twists and turns.

Besides his face-off with Smith, Allgaier contacted Riley Herbst on lap 86, damaging his backup car. Then on lap 101, NASCAR handed down a restart penalty that relegated the No. 7 to the back of the field. He was sent down pit road for a penalty, only to be called for speeding on the way out. This led to another penalty and a trip down the pit road. He was a lap down on Lap 107 and in the 35th spot.

But with 45 laps to go, Allgaier was handed a lifeline with a caution period. He managed to use an alternative pit strategy and it allowed him to enter the top 10 and move from sixth place to second as he passed Cole Custer and Austin Hill to take the championship lead. But another crash in the back out another caution.

However, Allgaier held his nerve and though he was passed on the final lap by Herbst for the race win on the last lap, the JR Motorsports finished second to clinch his first Xfinity championship title.

Speaking on his miraculous victory afterward, he said, “I said all weekend, I don’t know what the plan is, but HE has a reason for everything and tonight is true of that, this is mind-blowing, it really is. This team never gave up. [Crew chief] Jim Pohlman and his leadership skills are second to none. He told me all weekend that we were going to have a chance and we tried to give it away every way we could.” It is the fourth title for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team and the first since 2018.

Meanwhile, Smith was spun around after making contact with teammate Sheldon in Turn 1 at the Phoenix Raceway. Two weeks ago Smith also addressed his future in NASCAR and at the moment it doesn’t look promising.

Smith is unsure about the future

Smith went on to finish fifth in Phoenix and he would feel this was a missed opportunity to showcase his strength. He had failed to secure a berth into the Championship 4 after racking up two wins and 21 top 10s. Two weeks ago, he talked about his future painting a grim picture.

He said, “Well, I don’t have a ride next year. I could be working for my dad’s construction business and I could be hanging it up at the end of this year.” When asked whether he was taking to anyone about next season, he answered, “Not really any seats left open. The only seats left open you got to bring a big big big pocketbook with you and I don’t have a big pocketbook.”

Well, Allgaier’s words must have stung Smith, given his predicament. Their fortunes couldn’t be any different at the moment. While Smith’s NASCAR future is uncertain, Allgaier has etched his name in the sport’s history.