Justin Allgaier is in a tough position after the Talladega race. He made it into the playoffs but is currently hanging by a thread in the elimination zone, currently 7 points below the cutline. Finishing 25th on the grid did not help him either, but on the bright side, his teammate Sammy Smith took the win. Smith’s win did not come without a challenge, and between the races, when he was trying to battle out Riley Herbst and Ryan Sieg, he was under the threat of getting wrecked.

When Sammy Smith was trying to maintain his lead, it was none other than his teammate Justin Allgaier who almost wrecked him out of the race. Luckily Allgaier had a change of heart, and that avoided a complete sabotage for the team. After the race, Allgaier spoke to the media, and that’s where he gave a breakdown of every thought that went through his mind during the race.

When Justin Allgaier almost cost Sammy Smith the race

Sammy Smith crossed the finish line just ahead of a fast-approaching Ryan Sieg and Riley Herbst, with mere fractions of a second separating them. Had Smith held back even a little, the story might have been different—his win was anything but guaranteed. It was a tough race, but the pressure didn’t just come from the two behind him. Charging hard from further back was his teammate, Justin Allgaier, on a mission of his own.

After the race, Justin Allgaier reflected on the tense final laps. “I got a really good run there, and Sammy, you know, pulled up. I told him I sent it. I thought if I had gotten to his bumper, I was going to wreck him.” Allgaier had pushed his car to the limit, and even Sammy Smith could feel the heat. “I looked in the mirror,” Smith said later, “and I thought you were going to wreck me.”

But in a split second, Allgaier made a critical decision—to back off. He wasn’t just thinking about himself. “The speed’s there every week,” he explained. “The seven guys don’t deserve to have the crap that’s happened over the last month. I just feel bad for them.” It’s been a rough stretch for Allgaier, whose playoff chances have taken a hit with poor finishes since Atlanta, where he came in 30th. A string of mid-pack results at The Glen, Bristol, and Kansas followed, making it clear that he needs better results to stay in contention.

Despite the frustration, Allgaier’s focus remains on the team. “I race a lot, and at the end of the day, yeah, I want to win for them. I want to run good for them. I really don’t care if I win for myself. I want to win for them.” His loyalty to the No. 7 crew shines through, as he knows how hard they work each week. Winning isn’t just about the checkered flag for Allgaier—it’s about giving his team the reward they deserve after long hours at the shop and on the road.

“They go to the shop every week and put in 50 to 60 hours, it seems like,” Allgaier said. “Plus, the traveling and everything else they do. They just don’t deserve to not finish these races like this.” For Allgaier, every race is a chance to repay that hard work with the result the team has earned.

Everything you need to know about Justin Allgaier’s slump

Justin Allgaier’s recent run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series has been plagued by misfortune. It all began at Atlanta, where a bold side-drafting maneuver backfired spectacularly, triggering a multi-car wreck that damaged his vehicle and severely impacted his championship chances. The red flag flew as crews worked to clear the track, highlighting the race’s chaotic nature.

The situation didn’t improve at Watkins Glen either. Despite a promising start, Allgaier faced multiple minor collisions that disrupted his rhythm, resulting in a disappointing 17th-place finish. While it wasn’t the worst outcome, it further hindered his pursuit in the points race, solidifying a troubling trend of bad luck.

Just when it seemed Justin Allgaier might break his streak of bad luck at Bristol, disaster struck yet again. After leading a significant portion of the race, he collided with Austin Green late in the event, plummeting to a disappointing 30th place and costing him not just the chance to win but also his lead in the championship standings. This dramatic shift left him scrambling to catch up at a critical moment.

The playoff opener at Kansas only compounded his woes. Allgaier was involved in a crash with Sheldon Creed that sent him crashing hard into the wall, resulting in a brutal 36th-place finish. This early exit further shattered his playoff momentum. Despite this tough stretch, Allgaier still has time to turn his season around—if only luck would finally be on his side.

Do you think that he will be able to get over the slump and race in the next round of the playoffs?