Justin Allgaier, the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, has addressed the upcoming departure of his crew chief, Jim Pohlman, who is set to join Kyle Busch at Richard Childress Racing in 2026. Allgaier expressed support for Pohlman’s career advancement, acknowledging the opportunity as a significant step for his longtime collaborator.

Reflecting on their successful partnership, Allgaier noted that Pohlman had accomplished everything they had set out to achieve together, including leading Allgaier to his first Xfinity Series championship in 2024. He admitted that while he would miss Pohlman, he recognized the importance of this career advancement for his crew chief.

Allgaier’s graceful goodbye

In the pre-race huddle before Talladega, Allgaier laid it out plain: “And I’ve been around Kyle a lot. Kyle is very analytical and understands these race cars really well, and you know, I think what he’s willing to put in Jim will match or exceed, right?”

Busch’s brain for the beasts is no secret; his multi-series mastery is a masterclass in picking it apart. Allgaier’s nod says it sweet: Pohlman’s number-cruncher nerve syncs sharp with Kyle’s quest, a match that could crank RCR’s No. 8 into overdrive.

He doubled down on the fit: “I think that they’re going to have to figure that out, but I know Kyle was involved pretty heavily in making that decision and who he wanted, and I think if he’s sitting down with Jim for more than 15 minutes, you’ll understand really quickly. His intensity to go win races, and I think that’s something that Kyle was looking for, right? Kyle wanted somebody who would kind of match his energy, and I think they got their guy for that.”

Busch handpicked his pit poet, craving that fire that flares hot. Pohlman’s grind, the late nights and laser calls, mirrors the man, a duo primed to duel from the jump. Allgaier tallied the triumphs:

” I don’t know many crew chiefs that could come in if we were to win the championship this year. I don’t know if many crew chiefs could come in and have a second, a first, and a first right? That would be pretty incredible stats.”

From runner-up to double checkers, Pohlman’s pit magic spun gold, a stat line that screams savant. It’s the quiet thunder that turned JRM’s No. 7 into a terror, proof that a fresh face can flip the field fast.

Roots run deep: “But you know, I think you know what Jim and I have been friends since I was a little kid, and I’ve known Jimmy my whole life. And you know I’ve been lucky enough now to win a championship with him in the Atlantic Series and obviously here last year and the Xfinity series. You know, one of the things that I think is prevalent in my mind is that I can see when this started weighing on him. He focused on getting us to where we needed to be.”

Childhood chums to crown chasers, from ARCA glory to Xfinity gold, Pohlman poured it all in. Allgaier spots the sacrifice, the weight that welded their wins, a bond that bends but won’t break.

Allgaier’s send-off? Pure class, no grudge, just grit for his guy’s next gear. Pohlman’s pivot to Busch feels fated, a handoff from one champ to another, leaving the No. 7 humming high as it hunts repeat rubber. Pohlman’s hop from JRM to RCR’s No. 8 slots him back in the Cup spotlight, interim Andy Street holding the helm post-Randall Burnett, but 2026’s his to own with Busch.

Pohlman’s praise

Pohlman’s RCR roots run deep, head of R&D before JRM lured him to helm Allgaier’s No. 7 in 2023, a rookie romp with nine wins, a Championship 4 dash, and a 2024 title that sealed the deal. Before that, Cup stints with Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2011 swan song, two top 10s in 17 starts, plus 2022 cameos with Austin Dillon and Hill, 20 calls from the box.

He heaps it on Allgaier: “Justin is the guy who put me on the map. Without JRM, this opportunity doesn’t exist. It’s very hard to leave Justin; he’s a great friend and has been a friend for a long time. We’ve won an ARCA championship, we’ve won an Xfinity championship – hopefully, we’re going to win two. To walk away from the possibility of winning three in a row was very heavy on my mind.”

Allgaier’s lift from the ranks? That’s the launch that landed him here, a tough tear from a titan and a title tease. ARCA to Xfinity crowns, the dream of a three-peat dangles, but the Cup call whispers louder, a Sunday siren from the top shelf.

Pohlman presses the pull: “The goal for me has always been to race on Sunday and make it to that level and have an opportunity to win Daytona 500s and win at the highest level. It’s a great opportunity and I’m certainly looking forward to it…I would say that the opportunity to be a crew chief and move to that level all starts with Justin. If Justin doesn’t make that phone call, we’re not standing here. With everything that we’ve accomplished with Justin, myself, and this JRM team, it doesn’t come along without that.”

Sunday’s the siren song, Daytona dreams, and big-show glory, the brass ring. Allgaier’s dial? The domino that dropped him here, a nod to the nudge that notched the notches. JRM’s joint jackpot, from wins to wire-to-wire, owes it all to that call.

Now, as Allgaier and Pohlman gun for the guard of their gold, the No. 7 rolls rich, primed for the push. Pohlman’s parting shot? Leave ’em loaded for the legacy, eyes on ’26’s roar with Busch. It’s the circle of the garage, one door swings as another slams, but the thanks linger, a tip to the titan who turned the tide.