In a thrilling twist at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, NASCAR Xfinity veteran Aric Almirola pushed hard for back‑to‑back victories—only to come up just shy of Justin Allgaier, a cornerstone of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team . Held off on the bottom groove by Allgaier’s clean‑air strategy, Almirola admitted post‑race, “I was starting to get desperate,” lamenting the aero‑block that ultimately cost him the top spot .
But it wasn’t just Almiro
la feeling the pressure. After his dramatic overtime win at Phoenix, Allgaier found himself under scrutiny—not for his performance, but for his racing style. On his own Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. critiqued Almirola’s aggressive maneuvers, saying, “We would maybe expect this out of a young, hungry rookie… but this is Aric Almirola, who has ran his entire Cup career… ‘I don’t give a s***.’” . Earnhardt Jr. emphasized that winning shouldn’t come at the cost of respect for fellow competitors, particularly long‑time racers like Alex Bowman who suffered from the bumping.
Adding fuel to the competitive fire, Justin Allgaier also made headlines not just for his speed, but for stepping up as a mentor within JR Motorsports. Following a mid‑season bump‑and‑run clash with Kris Wright, Allgaier owned his mistakes: “I ran into the back of him… I got to do a better job… if I can help somebody… that’s fun for me” . Earnhardt Jr. has publicly praised this leadership evolution, signaling that his veteran drivers are not just racing—they’re guiding the next generation.
Ultimately, Almirola’s frustration, Earnhardt Jr.’s pointed critique, and Allgaier’s growth as a leader all highlight a shifting dynamic in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. It’s a world where wins matter, yes—but how you race matters more.
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