Being a team owner in NASCAR can be challenging. Among the various responsibilities that come with leading a team, expectations remain a major concern. JR Motorsports owner and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been slowly growing and evolving as an owner. Having sent both of his Xfinity Series drivers to Phoenix for the championship race, he has also reached a point of dilemma that forces him to choose only one of his stars.

A nail-biting finish on Sunday marred by controversy, infighting, and much more marked the end of the Round of 8 at Martinsville. Justin Allgaier used the confusion around the track to his advantage as he held off Richard Childress Racing‘s Sheldon Creed, who has been a major talking point in the race. With Sam Mayer having booked his ticket to Phoenix in the first race of the round, the #7 driver winning at Martinsville was everything they could have asked for.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt a rush of emotions after Allgaier’s Martinsville victory

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports have performed excellently as a team. Junior even ran the race in Homestead and had a top-5 finish to his name, having something to celebrate in all three weeks of action in the final elimination round. Meanwhile, RCR couldn’t manage to control the spat between Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill from spilling onto the track, eventually costing both their drivers a place in Phoenix.

The one taking advantage of that was Justin Allgaier. Allgaier won by a mere margin of 0.332 seconds and had the upper hand as the pile-up that collected Hill was left behind him, with only Sheldon to beat. Speaking on another episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt revealed that the win didn’t just bring happiness but also a dilemma in a good way. He said,

“When that race was over, I didn’t have much joy. I didn’t have much elation. I had only relief. I don’t know exactly what that was. I’m 100 percent thrilled at the moment. I’m thrilled that Justin is going to get to race for the championship. Because I barely wanted that. Saw him post-race at Phoenix last year.”

“On stage in victory lane at Martinsville, I said, you remember that moment, man? I had that on my phone as my lock screen all off-season because I didn’t want to do that again. It was like a reminder of why I’m going to go back, try harder. Let’s not have that experience this year.”

Read More: “Asking and Begging For” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Applauds NASCAR’s Delayed Vigilance Towards Driver Demands

Before the race, Allgaier’s chances seemed to diminish as the RCR duo dominated as race leaders. However, successive contact between the duo on turns 3 and 4 in the final stage of the race led to a large wreck that collected many cars, including race leaders Hill and Custer. Hill was the unluckiest of drivers on Sunday as John Hunter Nemechek spun him in the final lap after the overtime restart, burying his hopes of a championship race appearance.

Junior doesn’t want Sam Mayer to enter Phoenix as an underdog

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Continuing from where he left off, Dale Earnhardt Jr. then shifted to the case of Sam Mayer. Sam had a rather comfortable passage to the finale with an unexpected win on a road course. He has had wins on various tracks this season, but before the race at Las Vegas, he had none to his name. For Junior, Mayer is one of the favorites for the championship and could be this season’s champion.

“I do know that Sam Mayer is also trying to go win a championship for us as well. And I called Sam this week, and I said, ‘Sam, you’re the favorite,” claimed Junior. “This is before Martinsville; he had a rough day, but when you look at Homestead and everything in the playoffs, I’m like you can legitimately consider yourself the favorite going into this deal.”

Earnhardt has always been a staunch supporter of his drivers. Having produced some excellent talents over the years, he knows a talent when he sees one. Mayer has earned 4 wins, 18 top-10s, and 12 top-5s this season. However, putting the responsibility of the championship on a 20-year-old seems far-fetched when you have someone as experienced as Allgaier on the team. However, Junior believes otherwise.

“You’re not the underdog, buddy. Go in there with your chest out. You’re the man to beat. Go in there. There’s no reason why you can’t win the championship. You’re not lucky to be in the four. You’re a legitimate contender. Go do it.“

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Looking at the four drivers in the final 4, it is incredibly tough to choose a winner amid a tightly contested grid. Cole Custer and John Hunter Nemechek will be hoping to spoil Junior’s plans for another Xfinity championship.