Since the end of 2024, JR Motorsports has been riding a fever pitch of success. Justin Allgaier fetched the Xfinity Series championship last season and set the tone for brilliance. And 2025 has been a dizzying rollercoaster ride, from Allgaier’s Daytona 500 entry to Connor Zilisch’s injury-laden yet record-breaking race victories. Yet, as this success is fast-approaching its climactic episode, Dale Eeanhardt Jr. is worried.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Phoenix Raceway this weekend, with all eyes on four drivers. JR Motorsports has 75 percent of the Championship 4, with Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Carson Kvapil all vying for a title. Despite this domination, Dale Jr. is taking a cautious approach.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. urges a calm demeanor

In November 2024, Justin Allgaier did not look like a potential title winner. He crashed during practice and had to fall back on a backup car for the title race. Then Allgaier got into trouble midway through the race when his back left tire started losing air. He also received back-to-back penalties for an improper restart and then speeding on pit road. Despite these gigantic challenges, the No. 9 JR Motorsports driver still managed to clinch the championship! And Dale Jr. invoked that glorious memory at this crucial time: “Anything can happen in this race. You’ve got to remain calm.”

Justin Allgaier is once again in the Championship 4, racing to defend his title. Yet Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s attention is on the first-timers – Connor Zilisch, who won 10 races, and Carson Kvapil, who cracked the title race through points. “I’ll sit down with Carson, and I’ll sit down with Connor,” Dale Jr. said in a Dale Jr Download episode. “Things are going to happen. You’ll find yourself somehow someway through the chaos of the back half of the third stage with a late yellow and an opportunity inside the top six on a final restart if you just stay calm. Don’t take yourself out in Stage 1 or 2 because you’re panicking.”

Having three JRM teammates in the Final Four also presents a possibility for in-house conflict. So Dale Jr. sternly warned his drivers: “They can’t hit, don’t touch, don’t rub, don’t get tired, you know, don’t give each other donuts, none of that. Like, I don’t like them sending it off on the inside underneath them and getting loose up into each other. We can’t have that, right? You got to know how to if you’re going to commit to a move, you got to wrap the corner and do it right. Can’t put your teammate in a precarious situation.”

Yet most of all, Dale Earnhardt Jr. urged his drivers to be mature and calm during any mishap. He wants them to be as calm as Justin Allgaier was during the troublesome 2024 title race. “You’re sitting there running eighth, 9th, 11th, struggling with the balance, thinking, “Oh god, we’re in trouble.” Just sit there. Just calm down. Take a take an opportunity to work on the car.” 

With these heartening words from Dale Jr., the JRM competitors will be in their best form. These words are even more important considering the solid threat they face.

A one-man army

Granted, JR Motorsports dominates the Final Four. However, the single outside driver in that mix poses a big challenge to all of Dale Jr.’s drivers. That is none other than Richard Childress Racing driver Jesse Love, who won in Daytona early in the season. His flawless consistency in fetching 8 top fives and 21 top tens was close to breaking last weekend. Love’s 40-point advantage began fading when he landed a pit road speeding penalty on lap 33. That left him outside the top 20. Then Love encountered another pit road penalty for equipment interference, which placed him 36th.

However, Jesse Love muscled back for a 23rd-place finish, enough to advance to the Final 4 by 18 points. “It wasn’t the night we wanted, but we accomplished the goal,” said Love. “This RCR team never gave up, and now we’ve got one more race to go — the biggest one of the year. I’m proud of everyone who’s been a part of this season, and we’re going to Phoenix ready to fight for it.” The No. 2 Chevy driver extended his partnership with Whelen Engineering, returning for the 2026 NASCAR ‘O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.

Clearly, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s drivers need to be cautious for several reasons. Nevertheless, they are leaving fans in a breathtaking state of excitement for the upcoming Phoenix festivities!