Justin Allgaier kicked off the 2025 season on a high note. After securing the 2024 Xfinity Series Championship, he achieved another milestone for JR Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team returned to the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time since 2007, and Allgaier made it count by earning a spot in the Daytona 500, finishing a solid ninth. With such momentum, expectations were high as he entered Atlanta.
Allgaier delivered a strong performance, qualifying fourth and consistently running up front throughout the 163-lap race. He earned stage points and positioned himself as a contender for the win. However, despite finishing runner-up, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t entirely satisfied—believing Allgaier had a shot at victory but made the wrong move when it mattered most.
As the race neared its end, Allgaier battled Aric Almirola for the lead in the closing laps. But when Austin Hill made his move, he capitalized on a push from Parker Retzlaff, seizing the top spot on the final lap and edging out Allgaier by just 0.216 seconds.
On his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed frustration, questioning why Allgaier didn’t make a more aggressive move to block Hill. “He was pushed into the lead, which was fortunate. Nobody had been able to pass the 21 all day. But instead of moving up to block Hill, he stayed low in front of his teammate,” Dale Jr. said.
He further explained that the right move was clear. “I was screaming at the TV, ‘Go up the racetrack and get him!’” However, Allgaier seemed more focused on helping teammate Sammy Smith, a decision Dale Jr. didn’t fully agree with. “I understand he had a teammate down low, but in that situation, I wouldn’t have minded if he left him,” he added.
Despite his disappointment, Dale Jr. acknowledged that Allgaier was at a disadvantage with older tires, which could have made blocking Hill risky.
While JR Motorsports grabbed attention, Richard Childress Racing continued to dominate. With his latest Atlanta victory, Austin Hill has now won four of the last six races at the track, tying Kevin Harvick’s record of five. His eight drafting-track wins also put him alongside NASCAR legends Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart.
With Hill sweeping both stages in Daytona and Atlanta, no other team has claimed a trophy or pole position in 2025. As Dale Jr. pushes Allgaier to improve, this rivalry could become one of the season’s biggest storylines.
