“I don’t even think about a racecar right now“, said Denny Hamlin after the checkered flag was waved at Phoenix Raceway. Now that the NASCAR season has officially ended, talk of retirement has dominated headlines and social media. It’s brought the playoff format into scrutiny once again, with many feeling that the outcome in the Xfinity and Cup Series was far from satisfying. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s former champion has dismissed rumors that the time has come to finally hang up his helmet for good.

At 39, Justin Allgaier is in the twilight of his career. The Riverton native hoped to defend his Xfinity crown at the ‘desert oddball’, but was forced to settle for fifth, with Jesse Love dominating against all odds. But despite the heartbreak, the No. 7 Chevy driver isn’t willing to call it quits just yet.

Retirement isn’t on the cards for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s veteran

Speaking in a media availability, Justin Allgaier put his foot down. He said, “I don’t know — that’s what we just talked about. You know, I’ve had moments where I’ve said, ‘Hey, I’m ready right now. Just sign me up, I’m good.’ But I think a lot of those moments come in frustration….It’s just a mental game — you’re trying to convince yourself, ‘I did everything right,’ and it just wasn’t the plan. It wasn’t what was supposed to happen. So, you know, I think that for me, I’m gonna miss people when I’m gone. And I’m not willing to give that up yet. So… you’re stuck with me for a little bit longer.”

Allgaier still has some fight left in him. And the finale was definitely not an easy pill to swallow. Although the Illinois native entered the Xfinity championship race at Phoenix with strong momentum, he ultimately came up short in his bid to retain the title. Allgaier’s championship hopes were undone in the finale when a sluggish pit stop on lap 153 upset his track position.

While he had dominated the second stage of the race, the crucial delay handed momentum to rivals, and Allgaier was unable to recover, eventually finishing fifth as sophomore Jesse Love surged past and claimed the championship. Beyond the final race misstep, Allgaier also faced the reality of the playoff format that prioritizes performance in the closing contest of the season.

Despite a consistent year, his fifth-place finish combined with Love’s strong execution in the finale meant that the 39-year-old dropped to 5th in the overall standings. But he isn’t letting this heartbreak define his career. Allgaier has been with Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s JR Motorsports for a decade now, making Championship 4 appearances six times in 8 seasons with them.  But he only clinched his first title in 2024. This made him the fourth driver to hoist the championship trophy for the organization.

And Allgaier understands Denny Hamlin’s heartbreak all too well. Not wanting to give up after attempting for 6 years and finally getting a taste of victory, the 39-year-old definitely has the poise and maturity of a veteran. But as things stand, the Cup Series is definitely more refined and different from the Xfinity Series. And now, as Denny Hamlin decides his future, another one of Dale Jr.’s star drivers is trying his best to keep his head up.

Connor Zilisch comes to terms with his championship heartbreak

Three days after losing the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, Connor Zilisch is still feeling the sting, but not the defeat. The 2025 Sunoco Rookie of the Year has chosen to focus on perspective rather than disappointment.

Speaking on Tuesday before the NASCAR awards, he said, “ I’ve come to terms with what’s happened. And at this point, I can’t do anything about it, so there’s no reason to hang on to it. I mean, it’s life. Sun came up Sunday morning, and the world kept spinning.”

Despite the 19-year-old settling for a third-place finish and second in the championship, Zilisch insists the experience was invaluable. As he prepared to step up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, he believed that learning to cope with setbacks is as important as celebrating success. The North Carolina native already has a taste of cup-level competition.

This year, he made three starts (COTA, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Eco Park Speedway), finishing as high as 11. The focus for his rookie year is simple growth, not glory. He added, “I just want to be a better driver in Phoenix in November than I was in Daytona in February. And if I can do that, then I’d be pretty happy because the Cup Series is tough. It’s a whole different ball game. Everybody is really talented. All the teams are really good. It’s just a different level. So it’s going to take a little bit of time to figure it out, get used to it, but I’m just really excited for the opportunity.” 

And now, as the postseason makes way, it is safe to say that a lot of introspection and moving on will be taking place. If 2025 approved anything, it was JRM’s dominance, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is definitely looking to keep that momentum up in the following year.