Kelley Earnhardt Miller, older sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and CEO of JR Motorsports, spoke about Justin Allgaier’s contract extension with the organization. Allgaier, the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and current points leader, signed a multi-year extension to remain the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
Entering the final race of the 2026 season, Allgaier holds a 22-point lead over Jesse Love in the battle for the championship.
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Kelley Earnhardt on Justin Allgaier’s Contract Extension
Allgaier entered this season in a contract year with JR Motorsports. With troubles in their family business, Earnhardt said in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Allgaier’s attention was elsewhere.
“I think when he went into this season, as a lot of people do, you just evaluate where you are. He’s checked off so much in his career and checked off that championship and things like that. … His family has a business and they’re really strong in the dirt world and dirt racing. His dad was having some issues there and so Justin was being pulled in a lot of different directions and I think he was thinking, ‘Gosh, what do I do? Which way do I head? I’ve done this for a long time,'” Earnhardt Miller said.
While there were other things going on, it was evident it did not hinder Allgaier’s on-track performance. The 40-year-old has racked up a series-high six wins and won the regular season championship by a large margin. Now, Allgaier is in prime position to win his second O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship.
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‘Once a Racer, Always a Racer’
When a driver reaches age 40, many start looking towards retirement.
Yet, at age 40, Allgaier is putting together arguably his best season yet. With the results showing on the racetrack, Earnhardt Miller believes Allgaier still has an itch to get out on the racetrack and perform.
Earnhardt, the daughter of the late seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, said once a driver goes racing, it always stays with them.
Earnhardt said she and the entire JR Motorsports organization are looking forward to a few more seasons with Allgaier behind the wheel.
“I think the strength of his team and himself and the success that they continue to have, it’s kind of hard to stop doing it. I know racers have always said, ‘Once a racer, all a racer.’ … There’s a lot more things that you can be doing elsewhere but I just don’t know if you ever get it out of your system. We’re happy to have him back for a couple more years,” Earnhardt Miller said.
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Allgaier aims to become just the 10th driver in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history to win two championships. He would be the first driver to do it since Tyler Reddick, who won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.
