MIAMI — Justin Allgaier had no regrets about agreeing to an extension with JR Motorsports after winning a second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship.
However, he did reflect on what the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway might have meant had he not agreed to continuing driving after the 2026 season.
“A lot of reflection, because I was quitting, and a lot of question marks as to what that looked like,” said Allgaier, who in November agreed to keep driving for JRM in a multiyear deal.
“Standing on the stage (for driver introductions) and speaking with my fellow competitors, and being present in the moment, I told a couple of them, ‘You know, this was going to be my last race ever, and I don’t know how I would have felt,’ had I been standing on the stage knowing that—with the emotion of the championship on the line—with all the things that could and will happen.
“I think I’m glad I made the choice that I made in that moment. There’s going to be a time where you’re not going to have the success, the lights aren’t going to be as bright, and it’s going to be a lot easier to walk away in that moment. But I think I made the right decision, and I’m happy with that.”
The extension gives Allgaier the opportunity to do something no other driver in the series has ever done—win a third championship.
“I saw that stat after the championship was over, and I think about all the people I’ve grown up idolizing in this series,” Allgaier said. “That’s a crazy stat. It really is.
“I’d love to win three. I would love to. I’ve seen Kyle (Larson) with the three (NASCAR Cup) trophies. It was cool to watch. But I said in the media center before the race, when I started my NASCAR journey, I wanted to win a race—just one—and to do what we’ve done and accomplish what we’ve accomplished is far exceeding any expectation I’ve ever had.”
