Allgaier Wraps Up Fourth Place in ‘07 ARCA Points

Topics:  Justin Allgaier, Hantz Group 200

Sandra Vorse
October 15, 2007

For Immediate Release

Toledo, Ohio (October 15, 2007)-Justin Allgaier maintained the fourth place position in 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship points after his up and down day in the series season finale Sunday, October 14 at the Toledo Speedway.

Allgaier qualified the No. 16 Rite Aid Pharmacies Bicycle Playing Cards and Poker Chips Chevrolet fourth on the grid for the running of the Hantz Group 200 presented by Belle Tire ARCA RE/MAX Series race on the .5-mile paved short-track posting a time of 16.639 seconds with a speed of 108.180 mph.

When the green flag dropped for the race, Allgaier almost immediately moved into the third place position. Allgaier continued to battle to keep the spot in the 200 lap, 100 mile ARCA RE/MAX season finale.

In his eighth race at the Toledo Speedway, Allgaier knew exactly how to close the door on a driver trying to pass him on the .5-mile race track. Allgaier was being chased hard by another competitor so he drove hard into the corner cutting off the pass. The rookie to the series wiggled while Allgaier was able to keep the position. Allgaier kept the third place position until heavy lapped traffic put Allgaier three wide. He was forced to let off the gas to avoid the slower cars opening the door for two cars to pass him.

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When the next caution flag flew in the ARCA event, Allgaier pitted without any of the leaders following him down pit road. Allgaier hoped the teams’ strategy to pit early would pay off as they took on four fresh Hoosier tires giving up positions on the track restarting 17th on lap 62.

By lap 104, Allgaier climbed to the 11th place position keeping in mind that he needed to finish 16 positions higher then Dexter Bean to take over the third place position in championship points. The chances looked good as Bean was out of the race in an earlier incident.

Pit strategy looked to pay off for Allgaier when on lap 110 the leaders all needed to have service handing Allgaier the lead. Allgaier led seven laps but on his 52 lap older tires, he was no match for the fresh rubber behind him dropping him back to the fourth place position. With only 13 cars on the lead lap and tires being so important, Allgaier gave up the fourth place position and came down pit road for four tires and track bar adjustments.

Allgaier restarted at the end of the lead lap cars when another caution almost immediately occurred. Even with caution flags and accidents on the race track, Allgaier worked his way to the eighth place position when another wreck occurred in heavy traffic. Allgaier committed to the top side of the race track and in the thick smoke was clipped by Justin South who had spun and came up into him causing heavy nose damage.

The No. 16 Rite Aid Pharmacies Bicycle Playing Cards and Poker Chips Chevrolet suffered heavy damage to the radiator sending the team scrambling to the garage to change it and send the young driver back out onto the track.

The teams thoughts of picking up the third place position in points was blown up with the steam from the radiator but in order to maintain his fourth place position in points, Allgaier had to finish the 200-lap race. The family owned and operated race team jumped to action changing the radiator returning to the track within 20 laps crossing the checkered flags in the 26th place in the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale event.

“It seems to be a fitting end to the bad luck streak that we had during the middle part of this season,” Allgaier said. “As a driver you always want to do better and its disappointing to have a top-three car and end up 26th but you can’t help being in the wrong place at the wrong time on these short tracks. We weren’t able to pick up the third spot in points like I had really hoped but we managed to keep the fourth place position in points. I’m really proud of this team and have to thank my family for all their support over the years. We are still looking at some different things for next season and I plan on attending some NASCAR Cup, Busch and Truck races over the next month to keep up on what is going on and maybe even take the wheel once or twice before it’s all over.”

Allgaier continues to seek opportunities and sponsorship for the 2008 race season.

For more information or to contact Justin Allgaier visit www.justinallgaier.com.

The next event for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is the national championship awards banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky on Saturday, December 8th.

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