NASCAR driver “can’t wait” for his second straight Daytona 500 race with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports

Justin Allgaier, who last competed full-time in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports, is currently in his off-season. However, he is all set for his upcoming season with the Dale Jr.-owned team.

Allgaier had landed a Cup Series ride with JRM as well. The former Xfinity Series champion will drive the No. 40 car with Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Traveller Whiskey brand on the hood in the Daytona 500, just like last year.

Allgaier shared his excitement about his second straight Daytona 500 appearance as he said [via JRM Racing]:

“It’s definitely special to be able to make another run at the DAYTONA 500 with Traveller Whiskey, Chris Stapleton, Dale, Kelley and everyone at JR Motorsports.”

“Last year was such an amazing experience and I am just thankful to be the one that gets to be behind the wheel of this No. 40. We had such a great time last year and I can’t wait to get down there and do it all again,” he added.

NASCAR Hall of Famer and Allgaier’s boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is a two-time Daytona 500 winner himself. His father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., won the coveted race once during his career.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals why he is concerned about Justin Allgaier’s Daytona 500 return

Last year, Justin Allgaier bagged a P9 finish in the Daytona 500. William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports won the race. Next season, just like last time, Allgaier will get three shots at qualifying for the crown jewel event: the time trials and two 125-lap qualifying duels.

But with Chevrolet introducing a new Camaro body for the 2026 season, things could be a bit tougher. Reflecting on the same, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in an episode of his podcast, Dale Jr. Download (3:53 onwards):

“I’m nervous because we’re going to have a new body, right? And what does that mean to like typically anytime a manufacturer gets a new body, they don’t really go to Daytona and perform better.”

“They changed the body style,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued (5:10 onwards). “Their hope and attempt is that they will make the car more competitive at all of the tracks that they run the most. Like the intermediates and the short tracks.”

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 debuted in NASCAR competition in 2018. The original body was replaced with the Chevy ZL1 1LE in 2020. Two years later, the NextGen version of the Camaro ZL1 entered the Cup Series scene. As per NASCAR, the new body will feature a larger domed hood, a redesigned front grille, and revamped rocker panels.

This year will mark the 68th running of the 500-mile event. Notably, it’s going to be the first points-paying race of the 2025 season. Scheduled for February 15, fans can watch the race on FOX or listen to radio updates on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.