Justin Allgaier: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a ‘kid in a candy store’ leading up to Daytona 500
The excitement is palpable at the racetrack this week for JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
For the first time, JR Motorsports will have a car competing in NASCAR’s Cup Series, the highest level in the sport. Justin Allgaier will drive the No. 40 car for the organization.
All week long everyone has been geeked out to get going.
“When Dale was here at 6 a.m., I mean he said he was going to be, but I guess in some ways I didn’t expect it,” Allgaier said on The Teardown podcast on Wednesday. “But to see him as excited as he’s been and Kelly and LW…
“As long as I’ve been in JR Motorsports I don’t know that I ever really saw this come to fruition, No. 1. No. 2, definitely didn’t have me as the driver as the one that would be making the first start for them.”
Allgaier, though, has had some success already at the Cup Series level, before his involvement with Dale Earnhardt Jr. He took part in one Cup Series race last season, placing 13th at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600. That was for Hendrick Motorsports.
Top 10
- 1New
CFP seeding
SEC, Big Ten make hopes clear
- 2
Ryan Day
Rips CFP bye system
- 3Hot
Jay Bilas Top 25
Big movers in latest rankings
- 4
Luke Fickell
Wisconsin HC gets surprising extension
- 5
Kentucky Strong
John, Ellen Calipari donate to flood relief
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
This will be with JR Motorsports.
And as Dale Earnhardt Jr. has weighed having a bigger role at the Cup Series level in recent years, the outcome of Sunday’s race at Daytona could provide further impetus to keep pushing in that direction.
One thing is abundantly clear: If JR Motorsports doesn’t succeed it won’t be for lack of energy.
“It’s been cool to see their passion for it,” Allgaier said. “Whether this is the first one of many or this is the first and last one, I don’t know. But it’s been cool to see the process. Dale’s been like a kid in a candy store all through this process, and it’s been really fun to watch. It makes me excited just because he’s that excited.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also opened up on his excitement level.
“It’s awesome. You know, dream of mine to be in the Cup garage as an owner, so it’s pretty special to finally have that opportunity,” Earnhardt said on an FS1 broadcast. “Especially it’s the biggest race of the year.”