Penske Racing Development Driver Allgaier Wins ARCA Crown
October 12, 2008
TOLEDO, Ohio (October 12, 2008) - Less than 48 hours after his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Penske Racing driver Justin Allgaier won his first ARCA Re/Max Series championship with a decisive victory at the Hantz Group 200 at Toledo Speedway.
After the 22-year old Allgaier qualified 14th and finished 34th in Friday night's Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race, he and his family returned to their No. 16 ARCA machine to take on current series' and NASCAR stars. He started the 200-lap event in ninth place and third in the ARCA Championship standings.
After the first two championship competitors took each other out on the challenging half-mile oval, Allgaier jumped into the race - and championship - lead. Overcoming a variety of factors, including many caution periods and threats from multiple-championship winning driver Frank Kimmel, Allgaier captured the checkered flag and the series title for a storybook finish.
This win, his sixth of the 2008 ARCA season, was the perfect way to close out his long ARCA career. "Wow, what a great finish to 2008," said an excited Allgaier as he emerged from his family-owned No. 16 machine. "I just want to thank everyone who's helped myself and my family with this championship and over the past years. Now we're off to competing on a bigger stage, but I know I'll never forget how I got there."