It’s official! Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Junior Motorsports (JRM) will officially be entering their debut race in the NASCAR Cup series at the Daytona 500. With a talented driver like Justin Allgaier and the partnership of Rick Hendrick and Chris Stapleton, the excitement is palpable.

As announced, Justin Allgaier the reigning Xfinity Champion will be driving the No.40 Chevy for JRM at the highly anticipated run at Daytona. This comes as a huge pivot for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, as they have dominated Xfinity with JRM and now will be planning to do the same in the top tier of NASCAR. And for that, Justin Allgaier doesn’t have enough words to showcase his gratitude towards the Earnhardt family.

Justin Allgaier’s candid emotions for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

As per the huge announcement video by Dirty Mo Media, the No. 40 JRM car that Justin Allgaier will pilot is going to be sponsored by the 10x Grammy winner Chris Stapleton’s brand, Traveller Whiskey. The reason Allgaier is piloting a #40 car is because the Whiskey is a Blend No.40 and this adds to the entire marketing plan from JRM.

Additionally, JRM co-owner Rick Hendrick will be the one who is going to provide the engines and chassis work for the debut at Daytona. And when Justin was asked by Dale Jr. about this opportunity, he just couldn’t thank him enough.

“You know, it’s been cool. I’ve been a part of Junior Motorsports now for a number of years,” Allgaier shared. “When you see somebody advance in their career… listen, you’ve accomplished anything and everything that you’ve ever set out to do in the sport of NASCAR. And as a team, I mean, I remember when Chance 2 was started and being a fan of that, and being a fan of Junior Motorsports.” Allgaier said regarding his inspiration from Dale Jr. and Dale Earnhardt’s Chance 2 Motorsports. Chance 2 was a team started by Dale Jr. and his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt in 2003. The team closed operations after the 2004 season and later became JR Motorsports which merged with Hendrick Motorsports in 2007. Coincidentally, this was around the time Justin Allgaier started racing (2005) and he remembers the early JRM days looking from the outside in.

“I started kind of my professional career was when Junior Motorsports was kind of getting up and going and you go okay at some point the the natural progression is to go to The Cup Series but you never really know. I mean you know for a long time you were very content with being Xfinity series only and only in the last couple years have you and Kelley and LW (Miller) really talked about the cup side” Allgaier revealed on Dale Jr. Download. It was surreal for Allgaier to see JRM grow and be a marquee figure in their dominance. And now he wants to be their key figure again in JRM’s Cup Series ambitions.

Prospects for Daytona glory

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Having driven for JRM since 2016, Allgaier has become a cornerstone of the team’s success in the Xfinity Series, getting numerous wins and finally a championship in 2024. His loyalty and professionalism have earned him the trust of the Earnhardts, making him the perfect choice to kick-start JRM’s Cup Series debut. While the announcement is a monumental moment for JRM, the team isn’t entering the Cup Series simply to participate, they are here to test the waters. The Daytona 500 is a race full of unpredictability, and teams like JRM can take advantage of the drafting-heavy style to compete with the top dogs.

With Allgaier’s extensive experience, JRM’s chances of making an impact are promising. The No. 40 car will also have a robust support system from Hendrick, including seasoned crew chief Greg Ives, who brings a wealth of Cup Series experience. Ives was a race engineer for Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 to 2012 when Jimmie Johnson won five straight championships. He moved to JRM in 2012 and won their first Xfinity Series championship in 2014, guiding a 19-year-old Chase Elliott to the title in his rookie season!

Moreover, having Chris Stapleton’s Traveller’s Whiskey as a sponsor adds a unique flavor to the team’s entry. As Allgaier mentioned, “It just adds to this whole program that for me, I’m like, just pinch me, right? Because is this really happening the way that it is?” 

Dale Jr. also echoed this sentiment, praising both of them, saying, “With Justin winning the Xfinity Series Championship and Chris Stapleton’s undeniable star power, the planets aligned for this perfect opportunity to enter this year’s Daytona 500.”

As the Daytona 500 approaches, Allgaier and JRM are preparing to write a new chapter in their story. While the challenge is immense, the combination of Allgaier’s talent, JRM’s competitive spirit, and the Earnhardt legacy promises an exciting debut. What are your thoughts on JRM’s venture into the Cup Series?