MiddletownJournal.com

When Justin Allgaier crossed the Salem Speedway finish line first April 13 in the ARCA Re/Max Series, Ken Schrader, Frank Kimmel, Scott Speed and Ricky Stenhouse all followed behind.

And after Allgaier's victory at the historic high-banked Indiana track, Allgaier crew chief Larry Moore thinks the youngster might have put another standout driver in his rearview mirror, too: Moore himself.

"After he won at Salem, I told him, 'I'll tell you what, I think you may be as good as I ever was,'" said Moore, often considered as one of the greatest dirt Late Model drivers.

They both hope to be at their best Saturday, May 10, in the Buckle Up 150 at Kentucky Speedway (8 p.m., SPEED).

They want to snap a two-race skid that has seen them slide from first in drivers' points to their current spot in sixth. Kentucky could be the cure for bad luck that included a gear problem in Kansas City, Kansas, and a broken transmission in Rockingham, N.C.

In five Kentucky appearances, Allgaier has two top-five finishes and three top 10s. His best finish was fourth in 2006.

"I'd love to get on Victory Lane here," said Allgaier, who drives the No. 16, a Hall of Fame car built by Joe Gibbs racing that has trickled down from the Sprint Cup series thanks to the "Car of Today."

"I feel like if you can come here and win, you've crossed that line of setting yourself apart from the other teams."

An ARCA win at Kentucky would put Allgaier in select company with Michael McDowell, Erik Darnell, Brad Coleman, Steve Wallace, Chad Blount, Ryan Hemphill and Kimmel.

It could also hasten his jump to the next level. All of those drivers, except for nine-time ARCA champ Kimmel, have considerable experience at the NASCAR level.

"I thought he was ready three years ago, and it didn't happen," said Mike Allgaier, Justin's father and Allgaier Motorsports owner. "And two years ago, he was ready and it didn't happen. Last year, I thought he made more strides. The neat thing about this year is (Justin) looks like he has the whole picture."

Moore is helping him paint it — and trade it. The dirt Late Model racing legend and three-time World 100 winner guided Tim Steele to his 1997 ARCA title and 12 wins, which is still a single-season record.

Moore's history with the Allgaiers goes back to 1973. Moore ran USAC stock cars, and Allgaier serviced tracks with Hoosier tires. Moore eventually did dirt testing for Hoosier.

This is their third full ARCA season together, but it could be their last. Both Moore and Mike Allgaier expect Justin to move up soon.

"My goal is definitely to move up to the Sprint Cup Series or the Nationwide Series or the Truck Series," Justin said. "To be honest, right now I'm having so much fun doing what I'm doing. But if I could find a ride, I would be more than glad to. I just want to race, period. But it's getting harder and harder on our family-owned race team."

Allgaier Motorsports is heavy on volunteers and big on family. In addition to team owner Mike, Justin's mom (Dorothy), his wife (Ashley), mother-in-law, father-in-law and brother-in-law all serve roles on the team. They're also holding their own against some of the sport's biggest names, including Roush.

"We're having fun doing what we do," Mike Allgaier said. "We're a family team, and my son's driving. It's a great year every year."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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