1 week Ago By MICHAEL MOLLSEN [email protected]
SPRINGFIELD — NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier was honored for his racing achievements on Tuesday at the Illinois Capitol. Allgaier, a native of Riverton in Sangamon County, clinched his first Xfinity Series title in November following a dramatic comeback victory at Phoenix Raceway in which he rebounded from a lap down in a backup car. Now, with the passage of House and Senate resolutions, the one-year anniversary of the race, Nov.
9, 2025, will be known as Justin Allgaier Day in Illinois. “Not only does Justin make us proud by his accomplishments as a race car driver, but he makes us proud based on how he conducts himself, what a nice person he is,” said state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield.
“Despite all the success and despite all of the incredible accomplishments, he is always coming back to the area. He still has a business in Springfield, and we love to see him. And so we've got to recognize that and acknowledge that.
” Allgaier’s Springfield business sells racing car parts such as tires, engine components and racing shocks. The 14-year Xfinity Series veteran was introduced on the floors of both the House and Senate on Tuesday, and he later he took pictures and signed autographs for fans in the Capitol. “To be able to set foot back in the Capitol building, to be able to do it in a much different fashion than what it was the last time I was here, probably the last time was on a school field trip, so very different circumstances, but really, really cool, really special,” Allgaier said.
"I think it goes without saying just how beautiful this place is and how impactful, meaningful it is to be able to step foot in here to celebrate the things we have today." Currently, Allgaier leads the standings of the Xfinity Series — NASCAR's second-tier circuit — with two wins and six top-five finishes this season..
