Justin Allgaier started the 2025 season on a strong note, building on his 2024 Xfinity Series Championship victory. He helped JR Motorsports mark its return to the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time since 2007 by qualifying for the Daytona 500 and finishing an impressive ninth. With such momentum, expectations were high heading into Atlanta.
Allgaier showcased speed throughout the weekend, qualifying fourth and running near the front for most of the 163-lap event. He collected stage points and positioned himself as a contender for the win. However, despite finishing second, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t entirely pleased, believing Allgaier missed a crucial opportunity to secure victory.
As the race approached its final laps, Allgaier was battling Aric Almirola for the lead. But when Austin Hill made his move, aided by a push from Parker Retzlaff, he surged ahead on the final lap, edging out Allgaier by 0.216 seconds.
During The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. voiced his frustration, questioning why Allgaier didn’t take a more aggressive approach to defend his position. “He was in a great spot—no one had been able to get around the 21 all day. But instead of moving up to block Hill, he stayed low in front of his teammate,” Earnhardt Jr. explained.
He emphasized that a different decision might have led to a better result. “I was yelling at the TV, ‘Go up the track and stop him!’” However, Allgaier seemed more focused on helping teammate Sammy Smith, a move Dale Jr. found questionable. “I get that he had a teammate down low, but in that moment, I wouldn’t have blamed him for leaving him,” he added.
Still, Earnhardt Jr. admitted that Allgaier had older tires, which may have made blocking Hill a risky gamble.
While JR Motorsports showed promise, Richard Childress Racing continued its dominance. With his latest win in Atlanta, Hill has now claimed victory in four of the last six races at the track, tying Kevin Harvick’s record of five. Additionally, his eight wins on drafting-style tracks put him in elite company alongside Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart.
With Hill sweeping both stages at Daytona and Atlanta, no other team has taken home a trophy or a pole position in 2025. As Dale Jr. pushes Allgaier to be more aggressive, this budding rivalry could become one of the season’s most compelling storylines.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Furious as Justin Allgaier’s Missed Opportunity Puts JRM in Crisis
