The 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season has seen what we’ve all perceived as a year-long battle between John Hunter Nemechek and Austin Hill. Here in the playoffs, though, that might not be the case.
While Nemechek and Hill ran all over the field for the most part of the regular season, a dark horse has emerged in some fans’ eyes as the favorite to win the 2023 championship – Justin Allgaier.
Allgaier has three wins on the season, and while that may not seem like much compared to Nemechek’s six, it’s only one shy of Hill’s four. That math isn’t hard, but to make it even more interesting, Allgaier is getting hot at the right time. The veteran wheel man has two wins in the last four races, and is gearing up for another track he’s had success at this weekend.
Allgaier has never won an Xfinity race at Texas Motor Speedway, but he’s been close several times.
As you can see, Allgaier no longer has the weight of contract negotiations lingering over his head anymore, either. The veteran driver and Spaulding, Illinois, native can let everything loose on the track, not that he ever hasn’t. The truth is quite the opposite, especially in recent years.
After all, he’s finished in the final four two out of the last three seasons, and finished fifth in the one he didn’t make it to the final round in (2021). Allgaier’s got the talent, the car and the skill to make it happen. For whatever reason, though, it just hasn’t happened yet.
He’s got plenty of people who believe that this is his year, though, including his daughter, Harper, who has expressed her support in one of the best ways I’ve ever seen.
On the back of Allgaier’s helmet, in his daughter’s handwriting, is written “It’s your turn. Go get that trophy! Love, Harper.”
It’s enough to make a grown man cry, I tell you. You can see it plainly in this video, as Allgaier is more than happy to show the camera his daughter’s creative gifts.
Not only did this win give Allgaier some confidence headed into the heat of the playoffs, but it gave the oddsmakers some as well.
According to Bovada.com, Allgaier (+250) is currently favored to win over Hill (+400). Insert eye emoji here.
If Allgaier likes his odds, Vegas likes his odds and, most importantly, Harper likes his odds, then I’m willing to go out on a limb and make a proclamation myself.
I would like to see Allgaier win this year’s championship and bring some hardware back to the JR Motorsports garage, and after all, this is my column, so some fans will just have to deal with that until after Phoenix.
About the author
Tanner Marlar is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated’s Cowbell Corner, an AP Wire reporter, an award-winning sports columnist and talk show host and master's student at Mississippi State University. Soon, Tanner will be pursuing a PhD. in Mass Media Studies. Tanner began working with Frontstretch as an Xfinity Series columnist in 2022.
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I’ve become a fan of Chandler Smith, but I’m pulling for Little Gator too.