The team didn’t take the checkered flag in the final race of the season in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but Saturday, Nov. 7 was a great day for JR Motorsports, which has continued to establish itself as the top team in the series.
Brandon Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, but Justin Allgaier finished seventh, giving the veteran behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet enough points to secure his second championship.
The 40-year-old Allgaier had previously been contemplating retirement entering this season, but led the series with six wins and 19 top-five finishes this year, showing he’s still amongst the best wheelmen in the series. Earlier this week, JR Motorsports announced he had agreed to a multiyear extension.
"Means more than
you'll ever know. It's obviously not the finish we wanted tonight. Wanted to be in victory lane. But this team never quits. The effort, the time they put in. The pit crew, phenomenal job," Allgaier said after his celebratory burnout. "This is a family sport for me. If it wasn't for my family, I wouldn't be here. Very proud of that. We're going to enjoy this one, for sure."
JUSTIN ALLGAIER CAPS OFF A CAREER YEAR WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP!!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Zu8wDX1Wm4
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) November 8, 2026
It’s the fifth championship for JR Motorsports in the second-tier series. The team co-owned by Kelly Earnhardt Miller and her brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., previously won championships with Chase Elliott (2014), William Byron (2017), Tyler Reddick (2018) and Allgaier (2024).
It also marks the 10th consecutive driver’s championship in the series for manufacturer Chevrolet.
In all, JR Motorsports won 17 races this season.
Allgaier – who has been with JR Motorsports since 2016 – joins Earnhardt Jr. among the group of 10 drivers to win two championships in the series. He has 34 wins in the series, which is sixth all-time and the most among drivers who never won a race in the top-level Cup Series.
A native of Springfield, Illinois, Allgaier is the oldest driver to win the O’Reilly Series championship since 1988 when Tommy Ellis won it at age 41.
Another JR Motorsports driver, Carson Kvapil, was leading with 13 laps to go before Jones overtook him for the lead. He was in contention for the championship, entering the race 31 points behind Allgaier, but finished in second, 28 points behind him when the checkered flag came down.
Jesse Love, who will move up to the Cup Series full-time next season to drive the iconic No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, finished fifth in the race for Richard Childress Racing. Love won the championship last season and finished second to Allgaier in this year's postseason Chase by 14 points
The championship opportunity for 20-year-old rookie Corey Day ended early in the race when he tried to clear himself past Rajah Caruth. Driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Day was running the wall on the eighth lap and got momentum to make a pass on Caruth, but attempted to get in front of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet too soon. Day’s rear and Caruth’s front made contact, sending the No. 17 into the outside wall at Turn 3 nose-first.
Day then went spinning into the grass and had to be towed to the garages. He re-entered the race later, but did so 16 laps down and with his title hopes dashed.
.@corey_day_'s Championship dreams appear to be over early at Homestead-Miami.
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) November 7, 2026
The 17 hits the wall after Day is unable to clear Rajah Caruth. pic.twitter.com/yR2GSOQRmk
A native of Clovis, California, who cut his teeth in racing in sprint cars on dirt tracks, Day won four races in his first full-time season in the O’Reilly Series, taking checkered flags at Talladega, Dover, Las Vegas and Charlotte. He entered Homestead at third place in the standings, 23 points behind Allgaier. After a 34th-place finish, his season ends in fifth place in the standings.
Other contenders had their own issues. Kvapil needed to have his battery changed out at the end of Stage 1. Allgaier got loose near the end of Stage 1 with some right front tire issues, then reported to his team early in Stage 2 that he was feeling a vibration in the No. 7 Chevrolet. Ultimately, Kvapil and Allgaier got their issues resolved to run strong races.
Kvapil will also return to JR Motorsports next season, as will Caruth. Kvapil will change numbers though, driving the No. 8. Sam Mayer will drive the No. 1 after two seasons with Haas Factory Team, while Tristan McKee will start select races in the No. 9.
With Allgaier and Kvapil in the fold, JR Motorsports will be eyeing a sixth championship in 2027. Allgaier will have the chance to become the first driver in the series to win three championships.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Allgaier, racing for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s team, wins second NASCAR O’Reilly title
