The Phoenix Raceway was once a place of triumph for Justin Allgaier and the No. 7 JR Motorsports team. In 2020, they clinched their first-ever Xfinity Series championship here. However, the same circuit has proven to be a tough nut to crack for Allgaier in recent times. Despite leading on the final lap in the championship year, Allgaier had to settle for second place after Austin Hill outmaneuvered him. Riley Herbst won the race, but Allgaier took home the championship. Ever since, Phoenix Raceway has been elusive for Allgaier, with the curse continuing to haunt him during the recent Saturday race.
The last time Allgaier tasted victory at the Desert Mile was back in 2019. Since then, he has endured a dry spell spanning 10 races. History repeated itself in the latest championship race, with Allgaier leading with just four laps to go before a caution disrupted his momentum. Nick Leitz’s crash on the exit of turn 4 allowed Aric Almirola and Brandon Jones to close the gap on Allgaier. Once the race resumed, Allgaier couldn’t keep up with the JGR cars, and his winless streak extended to 11 races.
Drawing a comparison with golf, Allgaier expressed his frustration with the Phoenix Raceway. He stated, “It’s like golf. You’re one hole away from throwing your clubs in the water. You hit a great approach shot to the green, and you’re like, ‘This is the greatest game in the world.’ Racing is the same way, and this race track’s the same way.” Allgaier’s analogy reflects his constant struggle with the Phoenix Raceway, despite his best efforts.
The Xfinity Series defending champion has had a rough time ever since his 2019 win. While he has managed to finish P9 or better in the fall races, the spring race continues to be brutal for the #7 JRM team. His best result in the last five spring races was a P5 finish from last weekend. A flat tire with just five laps to go in the previous year’s race had thwarted his chances of breaking the winless streak.
The recent race at Phoenix ended in controversy, with Almirola and Alex Bowman fighting for the lead. Bowman, who seemed poised to win, was run into the wall by Almirola, who went on to win the race. Despite the controversy, Allgaier sided with Almirola, stating, “That same move has happened a thousand times here whether it be for a win or championship. At this point, everything is fair game. We are a full-contact sport, I don’t know that there are rules anymore.”
Bowman, on the other hand, expressed his discontent, stating, “I would’ve hoped that he would’ve given me a lane on exit but he just exited like I wasn’t there. But just tried to capitalize on that restart, trying to win the race and got shoved in the fence and the race car’s destroyed.”
As the dust settles on the Phoenix Raceway, the controversy continues to generate discussions. While Almirola’s aggressive racing strategy has raised eyebrows, it has also brought to light the harsh realities of competitive racing. As for Allgaier, the quest to conquer the Phoenix Raceway continues, much like a golfer’s relentless pursuit of that elusive perfect swing.