AVONDALE, Ariz. — A first-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion will be crowned on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. Who will it be?
A pair of JR Motorsports Chevrolet drivers — Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer — will face off against Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota hotshoe John Hunter Nemechek and Stewart-Haas Racing Ford pilot Cole Custer.
All four made their way to the Championship 4 in different fashions and have different levels of experience, which could come into play.
Allgaier is the veteran of the group at age 37. It is the sixth time he has entered the final race of the season as a Championship 4 contender. The longtime JR Motorsports driver won four races this year and secured his spot in the Championship 4 with a last-lap victory last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Allgaier has won twice at Phoenix in his career.
“We know what awaits us this weekend,” Allgaier said. “This entire No. 7 team has fought hard all season long to get to this point, and it’s now on us to go out and execute and do everything we can to bring a championship home to JR Motorsports.
“I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture team are ready to go this weekend and we will give it all we have to get the job done,” he continued. “It’s truly special to have this opportunity and I am incredibly thankful to be battling for a championship come Saturday.”
Allgaier’s teammate, Mayer, is the youngest driver in the Championship 4 at age 20.
Mayer became the first of the four Championship 4 drivers to punch his ticket into the finale with his win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Being in the championship hunt is familiar territory for Mayer and crew chief Mardy Lindley. The duo has combined for a pair of championships in the K&N Pro Series East (2019) and ARCA Menards Series (2020).
Mayer also won four times this season, driving the JR Motorsports No. 1.
“Locking myself into the Championship 4 at Homestead was a dream come true but now that Phoenix is really here, it feels surreal,” Mayer said. “I am so proud of all the hard work this No. 1 JR Motorsports team has put in this year to get us this far, and I cannot say thank you enough to everyone at the shop who has helped make this possible. I am ready to set my focus forward and I am hopeful that we can bring JRM home a championship.”
Nemechek was the winningest driver in the series this season, claiming seven victories aboard the No. 20 JGR Toyota prepared by crew chief Ben Beshore. The second-generation driver earned 17 top-five finishes and 24 top-10 efforts.
Nemechek, 26, is taking a relaxed approach to the weekend.
“I’m having fun. That’s all that matters. When you’re having fun and love what you do it makes your job 10 times easier,” he explained. “I’m enjoying every aspect of it. I feel like there’s been times in my career where I’ve really enjoyed things and other times where I haven’t had fun at all. This year has definitely been fun with this 20 team and Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Hopefully we can cap off the year with one more race win,” he continued. “That would be huge for myself and this organization. All in all, if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be. If not, it’s not meant to be. We’re here to race, here to compete, here to do what we love and fun doing it.”
The final contender is Cole Custer, who returned to the Xfinity Series this season aboard the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 00 Ford.
Custer won twice and earned 20 top-10 finishes en route to the Championship 4. Custer makes his third final four appearance driving a car prepared by crew chief Jonathan Toney. Custer believes experience is important.
“I think it just comes with experience knowing what to expect, knowing not to get too riled up through the weekend,” Custer said. “You’re gonna be up at times and you’re gonna be down at times, but knowing that you just have to put it together that last run, and I’m confident that we’re gonna have a fast car and should be able to compete for a win there.”
We’ll find out who the new champion will be after 200 laps Saturday evening.