Justin Allgaier joins elite NASCAR list with Roval start on Saturday

Justin Allgaier has already achieved a significant amount in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but he will join an elite list on Saturday when he take the green flag at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Allgaier will become the fifth driver in series history to make 500 starts. He will join retired drivers Jason Keller (520), Jeff Green (535), and Kenny Wallace (547). He will also join fellow full-time competitor Jeremy Clements (525), who hit 500 career starts earlier this season.

Allgaier, or Lil’ Gator, did not have a straightforward path to 500 starts in the Xfinity Series. He bounced around with a couple of different teams and spent two seasons in the Cup Series before truly finding his home at JR Motorsports.

The Illinois native made his Xfinity Series debut with Team Penske in 2008 before joining the organization full time in 2009 and ’10. He scored his first career win at Bristol Motor Speedway and ultimately ended the season fourth in the championship standings. He also cut his proverbial teeth racing against the top Cup Series drivers every week of the Xfinity season.

Allgaier moved to Turner Scott Motorsports in 2011, and he remained with the organization for three seasons. He added two more wins to his total and finished top five in the championship standings two times. He then spent two seasons in the Cup Series after Harry Scott Jr. purchased Phoenix Racing.

Allgaier returned to Xfinity full-time in 2016. He joined JR Motorsports with support from longtime sponsor Brandt, and he kicked off an incredibly successful run.

Since taking over the No. 7, Allgaier has won 25 Xfinity Series races. He has advanced to the Round of 8 of the playoffs 10 consecutive times and has made the Championship 4 seven times while winning the title one time.

These wins already put Allgaier on one elite list. He ranks ninth all-time in Xfinity Series wins, and he has the opportunity to move to sixth with three more wins.

Now that he has start No. 500 on Saturday, he will join another elite list while continuing to build a resume that will potentially put him into contention for the Hall of Fame after his retirement.