By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
DARLINGTON, S.C. — There were dozens of Darlington Stripes handed out Saturday at Darlington Raceway. And most of them belonged to Justin Allgaier.
Running a 1979 throwback scheme honoring Ricky Rudd, that bright body was covered in black by the end of the 147 laps.
But the ride was still quick.
Muscling his way through the field following a cut tire, Allgaier pierced into the top 10, finishing the day ninth in his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
“I don’t ever sweat ever. And my firesuit is soaked,” Allgaier said. “That was 147 laps of everything I had mentally, physically. Unfortunately, sometimes it was more than 100 percent and that’s when you get the fence.”
For the first time in nearly a year, Allgaier got to compete with his team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., as he returned in a one-off in the team’s No. 8. Allgaier especially enjoyed racing against his competitive boss.
“I think only one time we battled there, and I hit [the wall] about two or three times trying just to maintain,” he said. “After the race I went over to [Earnhardt] and he said, ‘Man, when I saw you hit it, I said, ‘Come on, keep hitting it! I’m coming!’ He had so much fun out there today, you could see it in his smile and his voice.”
Thanks to the composite body utilized in the Xfinity Series, Allgaier was able to see the checkered flag.
“We did cut a tire that one time but that was really all of it,” he said. “Then, we got lucky with a timely caution. That helped a bunch.”
Though it looked like consistent laps of struggled, Allgaier enjoyed his time on the unique egg-shaped oval in South Carolina.
“Just to be out there battling like we did, there’s not a point on this track that isn’t fun,” he said. “Individually by themselves, this whole track is a blast. You want to win and run up front but it’s definitely a good time.”