Justin Allgaier reacts to heartbreaking result after pit road gaffe at Charlotte

What a way to lose a race for Justin Allgaier. For how great he is in the Xfinity Series, it feels like he often has these races slip through his fingers. Today, the defending champion couldn’t hold off the NASCAR field with old tires, especially against William Byron.

Late in the race, Justin Allgaier shockingly decided not to pit. In total, the No. 7 team led 103 laps on the day, but they are not the ones celebrating in Victory Lane; William Byron is. When Allgaier is at his most dominant, it feels like a major mistake is around the corner waiting to take it all away.

After the race, Allgaier was clearly not happy on The CW broadcast. He was a bit somber after the tough loss and P4 finish.

“Being the leader is a tough spot in that regard,” Allgaier said about staying out late instead of pitting. “I saw that the 00 [Sheldon Creed] was heading to stay out anyway, and to be honest with you, you know, Jim Pohlman, this whole 7 team, they do an amazing job, and I should have just come down pit road.

“All things aside, I thought that there were gonna be a lot of games played on pit road, I felt like. And I felt like if things kind of got settled out and they had to travel through all of that traffic, that we were going to maybe net okay. Then all those cautions one after another, really, just, it was great because we were able to hold those guys off.”

Justin Allgaier heartbroken for his daughter

Tonight was a great race from Justin Allgaier. He had one mental mistake, and it cost him, though. It looked like he might luck out and get enough caution flags to keep William Byron and Connor Zilisch off his back. It wasn’t enough.

Allgaier was hoping to win this race for his daughter. He explained that all she wanted for her birthday was a trophy.

“I’m heartbroken, obviously. We wanted to get the Defense Commissary, everybody at Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Hellmanns, everybody at Chevrolet, Hendrick engine shop,” Allgaier continued. “We wanted to get all of them in Victory Lane. This 7 team and Jim Pohlman, and this whole group, they do an amazing job every week.

“I told you before the race that my daughter, all she wanted for her birthday, was a trophy, and I feel like I gave that away, and I think that’s the hardest part. But to lead [103] laps, to do the things we did today, to have the car that we had, you know, it’s exciting for the stretch of races that we have coming up, but I’ll be kicking myself for a little while, and how that one ended. Yeah, I don’t know, it’s frustrating.”

On top of being a NASCAR champion and fantastic racecar driver, Justin Allgaier is an even better man and father. You hate it for him and his family. But, that is how racing goes. The highs are only sweet because the lows are so bitter.