Allgaier’s Late Decision Costs Him Victory at Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Justin Allgaier‘s late decision to stay on track during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has drawn considerable criticism from fans and analysts alike.

On May 27, 2025, during a caution period late in the race, Allgaier opted against the advice of his crew chief and chose to remain out instead of pitting for new tires. While many of his competitors made the strategic call to pit, Allgaier stayed out, betting on track position.

This decision proved disastrous as William Byron, who had fresh tires, quickly passed Allgaier for the lead and ultimately secured the win. Despite leading over 100 laps during the race, Allgaier’s gamble left him vulnerable to faster cars behind him.

“A little disappointing,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. about Allgaier’s choice. “The leader’s in a tough spot at the end of the race… He stayed out while a lot of guys came down pit road and got tires, and that’s what ended up winning the race.”

Earnhardt offered a small defense of Allgaier, acknowledging that as a veteran, he has earned the right to make such decisions: “Every decision you make is not always going to be the right one or the correct one. He took a gamble. If we don’t get a couple of those yellows late maybe he pulls it off.”

Post-race analysis included strong criticism from Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, who emphasized, “Drivers are not crew chiefs. I’ve found that the most successful way to do things is to just listen to whatever the crew chief says.” Hamlin urged drivers to trust the experience of their crew chiefs, especially in tense late-race scenarios.

Despite this setback, Allgaier remains competitive in the season, with two wins and nine top-five finishes out of 13 races. The incident at Charlotte has sparked discussions about team strategy and the importance of communication between drivers and crew chiefs going forward.

In the end, Byron took his fifth career win in the Xfinity Series, while Allgaier’s decision continues to be a talking point among fans and fellow drivers.