'Justin Allgaier to take charge at JR Motorsports in pursuit of Daytona 500 victory'
Current Xfinity Series title holder Justin Allgaier will lead the charge for JR Motorsports' inaugural NASCAR Cup Series appearance in February, as announced by the team on Wednesday.
At 38 years old, Allgaier boasts an impressive record of 25 victories and 282 top-10 finishes in his Xfinity career.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Allgaier shared with NASCAR.com, "It's truly special. To be a part of an organization like this and to make our team debut at the Daytona 500, that's something else. Of course, we still have to qualify and there's a lot of work ahead of us. It won't be easy, but I can't think of anyone else I'd rather take on this challenge with."
Allgaier will take the wheel of the No. 40 Chevrolet during qualifying, with Traveller Whiskey as the primary sponsor. Greg Ives will serve as crew chief, while JRM owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller have teamed up with musician Chris Stapleton to make this long-awaited entry a reality. JRM has enjoyed great success in the Xfinity series and has been eager to make the jump to the Cup Series.
"We've been waiting for the perfect moment for JR Motorsports," said Earnhardt Jr. in a press release. "With Justin's Xfinity Series Championship win and Chris Stapleton's undeniable star power, everything has aligned for us to enter this year's Daytona 500."
The team has high expectations for their debut.
"We're not just showing up to finish in 30th place," Allgaier declared. "We're going to Daytona with the goal of winning the race. It would be an incredible story if we could pull it off."
