After running dry for the past six years, in 2024 one Xfinity Series team finally achieved its goal. Justin Allgaier and the No. 7 JR Motorsports team had made six Championship 4 appearances earlier, but always narrowly missed the coveted Xfinity Series championship. However, winds of change were afoot in 2024, as Allgaier had his crew chief Jim Pohlman by his side. The two finally grabbed the NASCAR Xfinity Series trophy at Phoenix Raceway in November last year. But hold on, this article is not about their winning journey – but a closer look into Allgaier’s racetrack colleague and friend.

Who is Jim Pohlman?

Like every NASCAR driver, every crew chief also has a fascinating story. Jim Pohlman is currently working in his second season for JR Motorsports as the No. 7 Chevrolet crew chief. Before joining JRM, Pohlman was associated with Richard Childress Racing. He worked in various roles for that team, including crew chief for four NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2022 with Sheldon Creed. Pohlman has also worked in two NASCAR Cup Series races with Austin Dillon and Austin Hill. Yet when Justin Allgaier floated the proposal at the end of 2022 to induct Pohlman into JRM, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had some doubts.

However, all of that was washed away after the duo captured the 2024 Xfinity Series championship. Dale Jr. hailed Jim Pohlman’s superior abilities. “Jim was his pick. I didn’t really know Jim, so I leaned on Justin to be sure about that decision. My gosh, he nailed it. Jim has made us better and made our entire company better. He makes his car fast. That drives everybody forward. He has a relationship with Justin that sort of polished or altered some of the rawness and some of the unpolished imperfections that Justin has in his game.”

How did Jim Pohlman foray into the world of NASCAR before donning the cap of a crew chief?

Most people’s knowledge about Jim Pohlman and Justin Allgaier’s relationship goes back to the early 2000s when they worked together in the ARCA Menards Series. The duo secured the 2008 ARCA Menards Series championship. As it turns out, they actually hail from the same neighborhood in Chicagoland. Mike Allgaier, Justin’s dad owned Hoosier tires, catering to short-track racing throughout the Midwest – that is how both Pohlman and Allgaier’s racing careers kicked off since they were 5 years old.

Jim Pohlman has worked in the NASCAR garage since the 1990s. Despite shifting around several roles, Pohlman always aimed “to become a crew chief at the highest level of motorsports.” He worked as an interim crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2011. Before joining Richard Childress Racing, Pohlman even worked for Spire Motorsports and Ross Chastain in 2020. Yet his pairing up with Allgaier at JRM may have been the best yet. The two tried to join hands when Allgaier worked with Team Penske, but that did not work out due to the presence of more experienced crew chiefs. But in 2023, Pohlman’s RCR contract ended and he joined JRM subsequently.

Will Jim Pohlman and Justin Allgaier be able to pull off another championship?

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Well, what Jim Pohlman and Justin Allgaier accomplished for the 2024 Xfinity title was extraordinary. Prior to the Phoenix race, Allgaier faced a crash in practice that landed him in a backup car. He had to start from the rear, and then a restart violation sent his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to pit road to serve a pass-through-penalty. Allgaier also landed a speeding penalty in this process. Yet he and Pohlman proved that wherever there is a will, there is a way. Allgaier fought off Cole Custer, and a yellow flag with 45 laps to go ultimately propelled him towards the championship. If the team can survive so many obstacles and still land a title, then a consecutive championship seems more than likely. Jim Pohlman has been confirmed as Allgaier’s crew chief for 2025.

The No. 7 team’s fortunes look very strong with this driver-crew chief pairing. Jim Pohlman had announced his ‘championship or nothing’ intentions right at the beginning, when he joined JRM in 2023. “I feel like in order to hit the goal of winning a championship this year, which is a tall order for a first-year crew chief, but this group and organization is capable of it. I’m here to do that and be the guy. I want this group and organization to be the one to put an Xfinity Series championship on Justin’s mantle. He’s long overdue and deserving of it.”

So all that Jim Pohlman needs to do is stick to his philosophy and keep making magic with Justin Allgaier.