CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With a championship ring on his right ring finger, Justin Allgaier sat in a chair answering every question thrown his way.
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A morning filled with media and a night at an awards banquet may not necessarily be at the top of every NASCAR driver's list of offseason goals, but Allgaier chose to embrace every second while celebrating his first championship.
"I've been looking forward to this all week," Allgaier said ahead of the NASCAR Awards banquet. "...Most people aren't fans of dressing up and wearing a suit or a tuxedo. I'm excited for it.
"I cannot wait to put that tuxedo on and know that when we get down to this arena or ballroom, they get to announce my name, and I get to walk up on that stage and say a speech. There's nothing like that. There's no emotion like that."
The championship ring is terrific, but @J_Allgaier is having one small problem. 😂 pic.twitter.com/2CbmVzPaxs
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 22, 2024
The NASCAR Awards banquet is not foreign territory for Allgaier. He has attended in the past, and he has been honored as the Xfinity Series Most Popular Driver four times.
However, it's just a little bit harder to attend a banquet honoring a competitor. Allgaier had to remain in his seat in past years while watching drivers such as Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, and Ty Gibbs give the champion's speech.
This time, Allgaier is the one being honored. He has finally captured the elusive championship and checked off that final box on his racing resume.
More importantly, he gets the opportunity to celebrate the occasion with his wife Ashley and their daughters Harper and Willow. Having the banquet in Charlotte instead of Nashville, Las Vegas, or New York City makes that possible.
"It actually is really cool that it's in Charlotte because my kids get to come walk the red carpet," Allgaier said. "That's something for me that's really special.
"And I would say, as I've gotten older, I've respected these moments a lot more than I would have 10, 15, 20 years ago."
So while others may sit at their tables counting the minutes until they can take off their tuxedos, Allgaier will do nothing of the sort. He will continue to bask in the moment while sharing the experience with his loved ones.
"It's a special feeling."
