BIRTH DATE: June 6, 1986	HEIGHT: 5' 6"
BIRTH PLACE: Riverton, IL	WEIGHT: 136 lbs.
RESIDENCE: Cornelius, NC	PRIMARY SPONSOR: Verizon Wireless
CAR: #12 Dodge Charger	CREW CHIEF: Chad Walter

Like most modern-day NASCAR stars, Justin Allgaier's introduction to racing came early in life. Well before he joined Penske Racing in 2008 and won the Nationwide Series Rookie-of-the-Year award behind the wheel of the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge in 2009, Allgaier planted his racing roots at the tender age of five, driving a quarter midget roadster. The Riverton, IL native and son of Mike and Dorothy Allgaier, Hoosier Tire Distributors and racers, Allgaier was around racing since before he was born.

From 1991 to 2002, the kid dubbed "Little Gator" – named for his diminutive size and his ferociousness at the wheel – made his way up through the motorsports ranks, collecting trophies and accolades along the way. By age 12, he was a five-time quarter midget champion with more than 100 wins to his credit. He then went into the midget and micro-sprint car ranks, and in the micros he chalked up five more wins. At 13, he started his "fendered" car career in the UMP Late Model Series, while he continued his successful midget runs.

For Allgaier, moving into stock cars was a bit of a challenge in comparison to the lightweight sprinters he was used to. "The biggest thing was the slower steering of the stock cars," said Allgaier. "Initially it was like driving a truck, but after a few races, I got used to it. One thing that was tougher to get used to was not being able to see the front tires."

It was in 2001, as a 14-year-old, when Allgaier made a name for himself as the youngest driver to ever advance to the A Main race at the famed Chili Bowl midget event in Tulsa, Okla. He continued on that year in late model stock cars, running 51 dirt track races with two wins and 24 top-10 finishes.

When Allgaier turned 16, he debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. In three starts for the team run by family friend and racing legend Ken Schrader, he earned a top finish of 11th. His career continued as a part-time ARCA racer for the next two years and he scored three top-five and five top-10 finishes in 11 starts as he ran late models and midgets as well. Allgaier's talents took him to New Zealand in 2004, where he represented the U.S.A. in the South Pacific Saloon Car Championship where he posted two top-five finishes.

Allgaier's career went in many different directions in 2005. He made seven ARCA starts and produced four top-five and five top-10 finishes. He also earned his first "Pork Pole" award when he established a new track record at the Illinois State Fairgrounds dirt track. Allgaier's sponsor in ARCA at that time, the United States Air Force, presented the young driver and Allgaier Motorsports the highly-coveted American Spirit Award. This award is the Air Force Recruiting Service's highest form of recognition, designed to recognize civilians or civilian organizations that have consistently displayed obvious and continual support and exhibition of patriotism and service to the country. Past recipients included Bob Hope, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Green Bay Packers and Gateway International Raceway.

The 2005 season also marked Allgaier's entry into NASCAR competition, in the Camping World Truck Series. Driving for Mike Mittler, Allgaier made four Truck Series starts that season with a top finish of 26th.

ARCA competition became a full-time pursuit for Allgaier in 2006 as he raced in 21 of the 23 events that season and earned a 10th-place championship finish. His lone win of the year, a dirt-track victory at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, marked the first time in the track's long history that a local driver won a championship points race at the venue. Of course that wasn't all for Allgaier, as he competed in three Camping World Truck Series races, as well as the 2006 Chili Bowl, where he advanced to the A Main race.

The ever-busy Allgaier started 2007 with an impressive Chili Bowl run – third place in the A Main – as he shared the podium with NASCAR stars and midget racer legends Tony Stewart and J.J. Yeley. He then raced in the full 23-race ARCA Series season and finished fourth in the championship standings as he racked up one win, four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. In his spare time, Allgaier ran 18 UMP Late Model Series races (five wins) and 10 midget events (three victories).

But it wasn't until 2008, at the age of 22, that Allgaier experienced his true breakthrough in racing. In 21 ARCA Series races, Allgaier won six times – including a road-course victory and a thrilling superspeedway win at Talladega. His last win, in the season finale at Toledo, catapulted him to the ARCA Series championship after the top two drivers in the standings took each other out of contention. Allgaier also scored 14 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes over the course of the season.

The 2008 season also marked the beginning of Allgaier's relationship with Penske Racing. He joined the team's driver development program and made four Nationwide Series starts in the Penske Truck Rental Dodge to close out the season.

In 2009, Allgaier made the most of his opportunities with the Penske team. He was selected to drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge in Nationwide Series competition, marking Penske Racing's first full-time entry in the series. Allgaier and the team showed their promise throughout the season as they captured three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes and Allgaier finished sixth in the point standings. He was also crowned the Raybestos Rookie of the Year to complete a memorable freshman season in the Nationwide Series.

Allgaier returns to the driver's seat of the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge for his second season in NASCAR's top development series in 2010. With the addition of teammate Brad Keselowski, who will pilot the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge, both Penske Racing Nationwide Series teams are poised for a championship run.

"We are expecting great things out of our No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge in 2010," said Allgaier. "We now have a year of experience under our belt and a year's worth of notes to work with. With the addition of Brad and the No. 22 Discount Tire team, Penske Racing should contend for race wins week in and week out. It is going to be an exciting year."