Justin Allgaier, the defending champion, is concentrating on maintaining his place in the Justin Allgaier Xfinity Series standings defense as the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads into its regular-season finale on Saturday night. Rather than making a late push for the title currently led by his JR Motorsports teammate Connor Zilisch, Allgaier’s main concern is securing second position against Sam Mayer, who is close behind in the standings.
Allgaier Weighs Standings Battle Heading Into Finale
Going into the last race before the Xfinity Series playoffs, Allgaier trails Zilisch by 20 points, while holding a 30-point advantage over Sam Mayer, who sits in third. Although he is not discounting the possibility of catching Zilisch, the reality of the points gap has led Allgaier to prioritize fending off Mayer.
“I think it’s definitely Connor’s to lose,”
Allgaier commented, making it clear that he wishes no ill on his teammate. —Justin Allgaier, Driver
He explained,
“My job is to go out and put us in the best position possible, do everything we can. I’m not going to wish ill intent on anything for him.”
—Justin Allgaier, Driver
Allgaier emphasized teamwork by saying,
“As long a JR Motorsports Chevrolet gets the regular-season championship, we’ve won.”
—Justin Allgaier, Driver
Shifts in Standings Spark a Defensive Strategy
Earlier in the season, after the July 19 race at Dover Motor Speedway, Allgaier had held a substantial 55-point lead over Zilisch. However, Zilisch, a rising star within the JR Motorsports camp, seized momentum by capturing four wins in the next five events, while Allgaier’s campaign was hampered by various setbacks such as equipment failures and racing incidents.
Allgaier shared his frustration by saying,
“I’m mad at ourselves, because we’ve given away so many points this year—just scenarios, parts failures, stupid stuff. Then again, this sport is about doing the right thing and executing when the time comes. We’ve not done a good job of that.”
—Justin Allgaier, Driver
Playoff Picture: Protecting Second Place and Team Success
With the championship now likely out of reach, Allgaier’s priority is to fend off Mayer and avoid conceding important Playoff points in the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway. The possibility of losing four Playoff points in a head-to-head with Mayer looms large, making this a crucial contest for both drivers.
“I think that damage control with Sam is more important than going after Connor,”
Allgaier acknowledged. —Justin Allgaier, Driver
The final race will provide clarity on the Xfinity Series pecking order before the Playoffs begin. Allgaier’s focus on preservation rather than pursuit speaks to his experience and understanding of championship strategy, while the performances of Zilisch and Mayer mean JR Motorsports remains central to the narrative as NASCAR’s postseason takes shape.
