Justin Allgaier has been a frequent customer to the Heartbreak Resort throughout the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Collection season.
The veteran driver completed second to Cole Custer at Pocono on Saturday after dropping the lead with 4 laps to go. Whereas Allgaier initially obtained round Custer on the race’s last restart, the No. 00 Ford used a run off of flip one to make the successful go.
For Allgaier, the runner-up end on the “Difficult Triangle” is simply the most recent in a protracted line of heartbreaking losses. Whereas his Darlington victory proves he is able to getting the job completed, he may simply have three or 4 different wins to his title.
Together with Darlington, Allgaier has led a minimum of 30 laps in a race seven instances in 2024. He did so for the primary time at Phoenix on March 9, main 52 laps and having his first win of the season seemingly within the bag.
Nonetheless, with 5 laps to go, Allgaier’s left-rear tire unraveled, sending the No. 7 Camaro laborious into the turn-one wall and ending his race.
At Texas, Allgaier led 117 laps earlier than falling behind on the race’s last restart. At Dover, Allgaier led 39 laps earlier than his once-promising day fell aside within the final quarter of the race.
A self-inflicted mistake at Charlotte resulted in a wrecked automobile for Allgaier, whereas a stellar efficiency at Portland was shunted apart by Shane van Gisbergen, as soon as once more relegating Allgaier to the runner-up place.
Saturday’s strong effort at Pocono reveals that Allgaier continues to be a top-five driver within the Xfinity Collection subject, however when it comes all the way down to crunch time, the veteran should present that he is able to successful when it issues most.
For a driver nonetheless trying to find his first NASCAR championship — a la Denny Hamlin — successful when the lights are brightest is what the playoffs come all the way down to. It is excessive time for Allgaier to get within the follow of closing out races, or Phoenix might as soon as once more come and go with out Allgaier holding a trophy.