Despite an expiring contract and rumors of an impending retirement, it seems that current NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points leader and series legend Justin Allgaier will return to JR Motorsports for 2027.
Last season, the then-longest-tenured driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Matt Crafton, retired at year’s end.
For the most part, fans thought a similar case would happen at the conclusion of this season, with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series legend Justin Allgaier, on a contract year at age 40.
Allgaier signed with JR Motorsports in 2016 and has since won 31 races, propelling him to sixth all-time (one behind Brad Keselowski) and a championship in 2024.
But most expected Allgaier’s run to end following another solid 2025 campaign. However, since the green flag fell at Daytona, Allgaier is having a career season, with a career-high in wins and a dominant 240-point lead as of press time.
Though rumors have continued to swirl that he could return next season, nothing has been confirmed just yet, though a co-owner of JRM may have just spilled the beans.
During an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Kelley Earnhardt Miller was discussing Allgaier’s success before stating:
“Justin’s just, he’s been on fire, and I’m so glad that we talked him into coming back for a couple more years and not retiring yet, and continuing to see what they can rack up.” — Kelley Earnhardt Miller
This came as a shock to many, including co-host Larry McReynolds, as Earnhardt Miller seemed to indicate that Allgaier was not just returning for 2027, but a few years beyond that.
When pressed about her statement, Earnhardt Miller played coy, not giving any details, but saying that fans can expect the legend to return for action beyond the end of this season “for sure.”
“We might have him sticking around. . . I think you can count on him [Allgaier] being with us and seeing him here at JR Motorsports in the future for sure,” Earnhardt Miller said.
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