NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Holds Back Tears After Watching Justin Allgaier Race His Way Into Daytona 500

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By
Jared Turner
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Jared Turner Sports Editor

Jared Turner is a motorsports writer who has covered NASCAR for 20 years. He has interviewed over 20 NASCAR Hall of Famers and around 100 drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners, both past and present. He has also covered the sport for FOX Sports (where he was a two-time recipient of the FOX “X” Award for “Xtraordinary” job performance), NASCAR.com, Sporting News, NASCAR Pole Position Magazine, the SPEED network, and plenty of other online and print-only publications throughout his career. Notably, Jared has penned dozens of articles for NASCAR souvenir programs, including several featured prominently in Daytona 500 keepsakes. A Virginia Press Association award winner and former member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), Jared has racked up accolades both for his writing and his academic work. He studied both Communication and Psychology at Virginia Tech, where he was permanently enshrined in Phi Beta Kappa — the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. Jared excels at feature writing and opinion writing, much of which stems from his dedication to all levels of racing.

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Sports Editor

Published13 Feb 2025

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Daytona 500.

As a NASCAR Cup Series driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoyed some amazing moments at the Daytona 500 — a race he won twice.

But on Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. the team owner had perhaps just as much reason to celebrate.

That’s because Justin Allgaier — driving a JR Motorsports car that Earnhardt Jr. co-owns — raced his way into the Daytona 500 via Duel 1 at Daytona, the first of two qualifying races for Sunday’s main event.

Earnhardt Jr. Opens Up About Stress Of Watching Allgaier Try To Make Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose JR Motorsports organization competes full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, was understandably a ball of nerves before Justin Allgaier — an Xfinity Series regular for JRM — locked the team into the Daytona 500 for what will be its NASCAR Cup Series debut.

“I’ve just been sitting here all day thinking about how badly I wanted this for all of us, and we asked Justin to go on this journey with us,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “And he as the driver has to shoulder a lot of the pressure and more pressure than anyone. Greg Ives (the crew chief for Allgaier) agreed to do this with us, and he has had to handle so much pressure to try to put this thing in the field. I wanted it for everybody that was feeling all of that.

“This was rough emotionally, but damn it, it’s fun when it works out.”

Because JR Motorsports was attempting to qualify for a NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time and doesn’t compete full time in NASCAR’s premier division, the organization does not own a coveted charter that would have guaranteed entry into the Daytona 500.

So, Allgaier — the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, driving for JRM — had to go for broke in Thursday night’s first Duel, knowing that a spot on the Daytona 500 grid was at stake.

Earnhardt Jr. Is Over The Moon Thinking About JR Motorsports’ First Daytona 500 Start

With a ninth-place finish in Duel 1 won by Bubba Wallace, Justin Allgaier did enough to solidify a place in the Daytona 500 field for his No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The outcome was in doubt until the final moments, however, as Allgaier had to fight and claw his way into position to make the Daytona 500.

“The last two laps, I didn’t think we were in a good spot,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “I didn’t think there was a third groove. I didn’t think anyone would want to go out there with us. It was tried a couple of times in the race and didn’t look very good.

“Our car was a little sluggish at points, but Justin didn’t have any other choice. He went up there and got some help and made it work. I’m just thankful.”

JR Motorsports, of course, is no stranger to success in NASCAR. But it’s all been in the Xfinity Series, where the organization has competed for two decades and captured 88 wins to go along with four driver championships.

Now, the organization that Earnhardt Jr. co-owns with sister Kelley and NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Rick Hendrick gets to make its long-awaited and highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series debut. And do so on the sport’s most grandiose stage at the Daytona 500.

“I cannot wait for Sunday, and we have a freaking Xfinity race to run (on Saturday). That’s going to be awesome,” said Earnhardt Jr., who shared a warm embrace with Kelley and fought back tears in a televised interview moments after Duel 1 ended. “But we get to push a car on the grid Sunday for the first time ever and the biggest, most important race that I’ve ever known, and I can’t wait.”