On October 30, 2026, JR Motorsports confirmed Justin Allgaier’s return to their No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro. Allgaier, who was widely speculated to return, has signed a multi-year deal to stay with JRM in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
“At the beginning of the year, I knew that it was the year I was going to retire,” Allgaier said in a video posted to JRM’s social media Monday night. “But … I wasn’t quite ready yet.”
Allgaier has piloted JRM’s No. 7 full-time since 2016. In this time, he has earned 31 of his 34 career NOAPS victories and the 2024 series championship. Despite thinking 2026 was his final season, it has been the best season of his career so far. The 40-year-old has won a series leading six races in 2026 and has a 22-point lead in the championship with one race to go.
Under a full season format, Allgaier would have mathematically clinched his second championship with multiple races to go. Despite three finishes outside the top-15 in the opening four Chase races, four straight top-5s have propelled the series veteran back to the points lead.
Allgaier’s role at JRM has expanded to the NASCAR Cup Series, as he has made 11 Cup Series starts for Hendrick Motorsports-alligned teams, including back-to-back starts for JRM in the Daytona 500 and four starts in Hendrick’s No. 48 between 2020 and 2026. In the O’Reilly series, Allgaier will have Sam Mayer and Carson Kvapil as full-time teammates in the 2027 season.
