Just a month ago, JR Motorsports’ Dale Jr. was rallying behind his teenage prodigy, Connor Zislich, saying, “Connor Zislich is just a generational kind of talent. I feel like he’s got a real opportunity to be a big star in the sport.” And the 19-year-old has certainly lived up to the hype, delivering the team’s 100th win while racking up 10 wins in the season and an impressive 18 consecutive top-five finishes—a series record in just his first year. But now, the NASCAR Hall of Famer seems to have shifted his focus, naming another driver as his current championship favorite.

And if you guessed defending champion Justin Allgaier, then you are absolutely right. Allgaier grabbed the Xfinity crown at Phoenix last year despite falling a lap down and picking up two penalties. A timely caution g

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