"They deserve a lot more" - AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer make feelings known after losing 2024 NASCAR Xfinity championship to Dale Jr.'s team

JR Motorsports' Justin Allgaier won the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship after finishing second at Phoenix Raceway. In a press conference after the race, Championship 4 contenders, AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer talked about falling short in Saturday's final race.

The No. 16 driver for Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Allmendinger finished third in the drivers' standings. He started ninth but was sent to the back because of pre-race adjustments. Talking to Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, he said:

"I'm not sure what else we can do from a preparation and effort standpoint, honestly. I mean, we spent three weeks working on the car and countless hours in sim. And it just was never there all weekend, honestly. We fought hard, thought maybe we would steal the team championship... So yeah, I mean, how do I characterize the season? I just think they deserved a lot more."

Allmendinger finished 18th in the first stage and 7th in Stage 2.

Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 00 Ford driver, Custer led for most of the final stage but Allgaier caught up after getting penalties and a lucky caution. Allgaier's fresher tires also gave him the edge on the last restart and he ultimately finished second.

"I mean, it was hard racing. I hate that he hit us, and that’s what let the 7 (Allgaier) get to us, with whatever it was, eight to go, I guess. But the 7 also had 10-lap fresher tires. So he eventually just ran us down. But yeah, I mean, it sucks. It just came down to tire strategies at the end, kind of, who had the tires and who didn’t, and just situational restarts and stuff like that... It’s just how it goes sometimes," Custer said.

The race saw Riley Herbst claim the win for Stewart-Haas Racing, while Allgaier's championship win marked JR Motorsports' fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers' title.

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First NASCAR Xfinity Series championship for Justin Allgaier

Allgaier had a rough start in a backup car after a crash in practice and got two penalties during the race but won his first championship this weekend. This was also the fourth championship for JR Motorsports co-owners Kelley Earnhardt-Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as owners in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Allgaier worked his way up to second place. He passed Austin Hill and Cole Custer on a restart with two laps to go. The 39-year-old had finished second in 2020 and 2023.

"I said all weekend, I don't know what the plan is, but He has a reason for everything and tonight is true of that, this is mind-blowing, it really is," said Allgaier.

Allgaier had qualified for the Championship 4 eight times before and has 25 career wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.