Spire Motorsports announced today NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) veteran and current championship contender Justin Allgaier will drive the team’s No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
BRANDT will serve as the team’s primary sponsor and the No. 77 machine will feature a paint scheme similar to Allgaier’s NXS machine.
“Our business is about helping farmers grow healthy, profitable crops from the dirt so it doesn’t get much more exciting for us than to compete at the world’s most iconic stadium on dirt in the BRANDT No. 77,” said Rick Brandt, CEO and President of BRANDT. “Add that to our driver, Justin Allgaier, being one of the most experienced dirt track racers competing in NASCAR and we just had to be a part of this historic Easter Sunday race.”
The Food City Dirt Race will mark Allgaier’s first NCS start this season. He made two starts (Pocono2 – Talladega2) behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 in 2021.
Allgaier, 35, is the full-time driver of JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NXS and also a veteran of NASCAR’s premier series with 79 starts on his résumé. The Riverton, Ill., native is currently seventh in the NXS championship point standings on the strength of two top-five and four top-10 finishes eight races into the 2022 campaign.
“Since the NASCAR Xfinity Series has the weekend off, we decided to have a little fun over Easter and go mix it up at Bristol Motor Speedway,” offered Allgaier. “When BRANDT decided to come on board with Spire Motorsports for the Food City Dirt Race, it was really a no brainer. It’s going to be a fun change of pace to play in the dirt with all the Cup Series regulars. Spire Motorsports and (No. 77 crew chief) Kevin Bellicourt always bring a good piece to the race track so we’ll have a solid shot of putting together a good run.”
“When we have an opportunity to put someone in the seat, Justin Allgaier is always part of the conversation,” explained Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr. “BRANDT and Justin have almost become synonymous with one another and they’ve both been part of the Spire family for many years. Justin is also a talented dirt racer so having him in the No. 77 this weekend is a great opportunity for everyone involved.”
The Food City Dirt Race from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, April 17 beginning at 7p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The ninth of 36 races on the 2022 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
