$50M-worth Kelley Earnhardt delivers four-word reaction to Justin Allgaier’s 2024 Xfinity title for JR Motorsports
Kelley Earnhardt, the co-owner of JR Motorsports, recently shared words of praise for driver Justin Allgaier after the team's first owner championship.
Allgaier won the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship for JR Motorsports this Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. This was his first championship after years of close calls. In an Instagram story, the $50 million-worth Earnhardt (according to Celebrity NetWorth) reacted to the win in four words:
“He did it! CHAMP!”
JR Motorsports, which Earnhardt co-owns with her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr., now has a total of four Xfinity championships. The previous wins came in 2014 (Chase Elliott), 2017 (William Byron) and 2018 (Tyler Reddick).
After Allgaier's No. 7 Chevy crashed during practice, he had to use a backup car from the back of the field at the 1-mile track. A flat tire and two pit penalties put him a lap behind but he fought his way to the lead during the last stretch of the race and finished second.
However, the 38-year-old had earned enough points to win the title in an intense double-overtime finish.
"This team right here, Dale [Earnhardt Jr.], Kelly [Earnhardt Miller], LW [Miller], every man and woman that works in this race shop. Jim Pohlman [crew chief], this guy right here, unbelievable. Rick Brandt. I mean, the guys stuck with me through thick and thin. We’ve had a lot of bad years," Allgaier said (via NASCAR).
JR Motorsports has competed full-time in the series for 19 seasons, accumulating 88 total wins.
First NASCAR Xfinity Owner's Championship for Kelley Earnhardt and Dale Jr.
JR Motorsports won its first Xfinity Series owner championship this year.
During a press conference, Kelley Earnhardt revealed that she was shocked by the team's comeback amid all the struggles they faced during the race.
"There was a time during the race where Justin was through the roof, and I think that was even before the penalties that he was already on fire. So yeah, tonight was unique in the fact that Justin just hung in there and fought back and came back. At lap 150 I was like, this is over. This is over for us," Earnhardt said.
"Then I couldn't believe lap - six to go came, and I'm sitting there like, oh, my God, we've got a real shot at this. Then more cautions and more green-white-checkereds, and we finally did it. And I just can't believe it. It's incredible," she added.
JR Motorsports won its fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship this year, tying Joe Gibbs Racing for the third-most in history.