PHOENIX, Ariz. – After 14 full seasons of trying, Justin Allgaier is now a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion after finishing runner-up in double Overtime at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night.

Allgaier’s Championship Weekend couldn’t have started off any worse. He was caught up in a crash in practice and had to start the Championship Race from the rear with a backup car. Allgaier finished Stage 1 in sixth, and Stage 2 in 10^th; however, the road to the Championship became even tougher in Stage 3, when he was penalized on a restart for pulling out of line too early and then an additional penalty for speeding on pit road while trying to serve the previous penalty.

“Man, we tried to give it away every which way we could,” Allgaier said. “I wasn’t as fast as Xfinity internet, but on pit road and on the racetrack as I needed to be. I just wanted to make it exciting for all you fans at home. I don’t know.”

Despite the adversity, Allgaier and the JR Motorsports No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet team bounced back very quickly. In the closing laps, Allgaier was just barely ahead of Cole Custer leading the Championship 4, when a caution came out, setting the field up for a NASCAR Overtime finish. Teams hit pit road for the final time, and it was Championship 4 competitor, Austin Hill exiting first after taking two tires. Allgaier lost two positions on pit road and exited in fifth.

Hill’s two-tire stop didn’t pay off. He held up the field in Turn 1, but Allgaier navigated through traffic and made his way to second before the seventh and final caution came out. On the final restart of the night, Allgaier restarted second with Jesse Love alongside. When the green lap flew, and the field entered Turn 1, Allgaier, Love and Riley Herbst all made contact, but it was Allgier who prevailed. Herbst chased Allgaier down and passed him in the final turn to win Stewart-Haas Racing’s final NASCAR Xfinity Series race; however, it was Allgaier winning his first-ever series championship.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and these people that are standing around me, I can’t — there’s no words,” Allgaier said. “Rick Brandt is here, Kristie Brandt, the whole Brandt crew, Jarrett, Hellman’s, all of our partners, what an engine this weekend, Chevrolet. It’s understated what they’ve done. My wife and my kids, they have given up so much for me to come do this job. God is good, man. 

 “I said it all weekend, I don’t know what the plan is. I don’t know what that looks like. But He’s got a reason for everything, and tonight is truly that. It’s mindblowing. It’s mindblowing, it really is.” 

Allgaier, a Riverton, Illinois native, has been competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time since 2009. Throughout the years, Allgaier has come so close to winning a series title. In 2020 and 2023, he finished second in the standings. But, after 471 series starts, he can now be referred to as a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, becoming the 34^th driver to do so, but he’s the first driver from the State of Illinois to win a championship.

“Dale Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller, L.W. Miller, everybody at JR Motorsports, all the men and women, all five of our race teams, just the effort that we’ve put in, I’m at a loss for words,” Allgaier said. “We’re going to celebrate this one for sure. It’s unbelievable.

“I just cannot say thank you enough to everybody that’s ever helped me in my career to get to this point. Seven times in the Championship 4 and we finally got it done, and we’re forever a NASCAR champion, and there’s no words like that.”

Herbst not only won, but he swept all three stages in the race. While Haas Factory Team will field two cars (Creed and Sam Mayer) in 2025, Herbst’s win on Saturday was the final for the Stewart-Haas Racing team. Herbest won in dominating fashion, leading a race high of 167 laps.

“Every year at Stewart-Haas Racing I felt like has been such a big improvement,” Herbst said. “I’ve grown so much. I’m a completely different race car driver than when I walked into when I walked into Greg Zipadelli’s office four years ago about this time.

“And I’m excited of who I’ve become and I’m excited for what’s ahead and how far more I can grow and I can achieve and how much better I can be.”

Finishing behind Herbst and Allgaier was Aric Almirola in third. He was battling Allgaier and JR Motorsports for the Owner’s Championship but came up just short.

Connor Zilisch and Chandler Smith rounded out the top-five. Love finished sixth, followed by Sheldon Creed and Championship 4 competitors, Custer, AJ Allmendinger and Hill.

The caution came out on seven occasions for 53 laps.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season will kickoff on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway. The United Rentals 300 will broadcast live on the CW.

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images