Allgaier to Attempt First NCTS With MB Motorsports in Martinsville

Justin Allgaier will attempt to make his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) start Friday in Martinsville, Va., with MB Motorsports for the Kroger 250. Although Allgaier won’t see his nineteenth birthday until June, he has already run competitively in the ARCA/Re-Max series and is the youngest driver to ever win a heat race at the Chili Bowl, a renowned Sprint Car race held annually in Las Vegas. The Riverton, Ill., native said he is looking forward to moving up to the next level.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” he said. “It’s going to be tough to make the field (in Martinsville), especially with so many Cup guys running Trucks this weekend, but we’re going to do the best we can. I have faith that the MB Motorsports guys will do what they need to do to put the best possible equipment under me.”

MB Motorsports owner and crew chief, Mike Mittler, said he has been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by Allgaier. “I’ve know Justin’s family for years,” said Mittler, a native of St. Louis, “and I’ve been watching his career pretty closely. It’s rare to see someone that young who truly understands the principles of racing. And with the success he’s had in USAC and Sprint cars against guys like Tony Stewart, that shows me he’s going to succeed at this level.”

Mittler, a team owner since NCTS’s inaugural year of 1995, has produced such household names as Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards and expects Allgaier to be no different. “If you look at guys like Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, and even Carl, they have that open-wheeled dirt racing experience that is so coveted in Cup racing these days,” Mittler said. “These guys seem to have an edge on the competition and from what I’ve seen from Justin so far, he has that same ability and drive I’ve seen from those Cup guys.”

Onboard with Allgaier and the #63 Ford F-150 this weekend are Lubri-Loy, Dave Porter Truck Sales, Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool, Tanner Racing Products, the United States Air Force, and Ownersite.com.

“We are very excited to be working with MB Motorsports,” said Steve Eppinger, president and CEO of Ownersite Technologies. “Our presence on the #63 truck will provide tremendous exposure for Ownersite.com to our target audience of vehicle enthusiasts. We also welcome the opportunity to provide fans of #63 with a dedicated place to go for the latest photos and team updates through our affiliated site, F150online.com.”

The Kroger 250 will air live from the Martinsville Speedway on the SPEED Channel and on MRN Radio Saturday at 1 p.m. EST.