For any NASCAR driver, the journey back to the Cup Series after dropping down can be daunting. That’s the story of Justin Allgaier, who drove full-time for HScott Motorsports in 2014 and 2015. After a tough stint, finishing 29th and 30th in those seasons, his Cup Series prospects dimmed. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw potential in Allgaier and brought him into the JR Motorsports fold in the Xfinity Series.

Since then, Allgaier has proven himself, consistently finishing in the top ten, with his lowest finish being seventh in a full-time season. Though he’s yet to capture an Xfinity title, he’s currently leading the 2024 playoff standings after a strong performance at the Roval. This recent success has fans speculating whether this could finally be his championship year—and even raises the question of whether a Cup Series return could be on the horizon.

Justin Allgaier’s chances of becoming a Cup Series driver again

With Justin Allgaier leading the playoff charts, he has been getting much attention from the media. Many want to know how he plans on making it as a champion in the Xfinity Series, but another looming question on his head was the Cup Series return.

The question has been posed to Justin Allgaier a few times in the past, but this is the first time he has addressed it. In a reply to a fan asking about Allgaier’s Cup Series return on X, the driver replied, saying, “I get this question a lot, and I think it’s sometimes misinterpreted. Would I want to go back to racing full-time again, if I could drive the right car in the Cup Series? Without a doubt!”

After explaining that Allgaier would love to go back to racing in the Cup Series, he revealed, “I still feel like, most days, I can compete at a high level in the Cup Series. That being said, I also know how hard it is to build relationships and teams and do all the right things, and it has to make sense for everybody.” 

However, although Justin Allgaier would like to race in the Cup Series, he explained why it wouldn’t be that great of an idea for the people and companies that supported his career. “I feel like, for example, BRANDT, with the way that they’ve supported me over the number of years, would not benefit much from the Cup Series compared to what they’re already getting in the Xfinity Series.”

Credit was given where credit is due; Allgaier couldn’t forget what his current team has done for him. Speaking of his team, he mentioned, “I have a great team behind me at JR Motorsports: Jim Pullman, our entire seven group, Dale, Kelly, LW, and everybody that’s a part of this race team. It makes it a lot of fun to be at JR Motorsports.”

Although being in the Cup Series is every NASCAR driver’s dream, Allgaier has considered all the pros and cons of the situation. He concluded his answer by saying, “I don’t know if that’ll [transfer to the Cup Series] ever happen or not, but at the same time, I’m loving what I’m doing, and I wouldn’t change it.”

The Roval race and the change in his position in the playoffs

The Charlotte Roval was alive with excitement as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 12 elimination race reached its conclusion. Justin Allgaier found himself on the right side of the elimination line, advancing by just four points after a wild 72 laps. “We had a plan, and we executed it to perfection,” he said, visibly relieved after the race. He admitted the toughest part was thinking about how to tell his kids they might not make it to the next round, but today was different.

Allgaier had struggled in the weeks leading up to the race, finishing 30th, 36th, and 25th, putting him 18 points below the cutoff line. However, he rose to the occasion, collecting crucial points and finishing seventh, which secured his advancement into the top 8. He praised his team’s determination despite a rough stretch where they wrecked several cars. “They’ve never quit.”

The race brought a rollercoaster of emotions for him, especially when he thought the race was over, only to face an overtime restart. His teammate Sam Mayer capitalized on the overtime opportunity, snagging the win and also advancing to the next round.

With the way Justin Allgaier has been performing in the playoffs, do you think that he will be able to bring home the Xfinity Series title home this year?