SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — To help share its agricultural message, Brandt has found an ambassador in young racecar driver Justin Allgaier who, at the age of 25, has made his mark on the racing world.

Part of the NASCAR scene, Allgaier drives the No. 31 Brandt Chevy for Turner Motorsports. “I have been running the Brandt car since 2011,” he said.

Brandt Consolidated was established in 1953 by Glen Brandt and his sister, Evelyn Brandt Thomas. Today Brandt is headed by Rick Brandt, the son of Glen Brandt. Although Brandt began operations in Pleasant Plains, in recent years it relocated to Springfield.

Brandt focuses on the crop specialty chemical field. It has expanded to include commercial agriculture of row crops, fruits and vegetables, added an international branch and a turf and ornamental division that specializes in the golf and recreational turf industry. The company has a Greenhouse/Ornamental Horticulture Division and works in the aquaculture industry.

Allgaier’s connection with Brandt started when “I met Rick Brandt, the CEO, about a year-and-a-half ago,” the driver explained. “I had met Evelyn Brandt Thomas, his aunt, at a women’s business association quarterly meeting where I spoke. I got to know her and the company a bit.”

The combination of Brandt and Allgaier work well for this young man who grew up in the farming community of Riverton, Ill. Racing is also an interest of the Brandt family.

“Rick has a huge passion for cars and racing. At the end of the day, it gives them an excuse to come to the racetrack,” Allgaier said.

Allgaier has been part of racing since he was five. His parents, Mike and Dorothy, have always been involved with it and they own Hoosier Tire Distributors for racecars.

“My mom actually got me started,” Allgaier said. “A friend of ours, their son was racing and where the Route 66 Drive-In used to be, there was a Quarter Midget track. My buddy was seven and my mom took me out to watch him race and keep me busy when Dad was busy traveling.”

The friend’s parents told Dorothy every Wednesday anyone could try a practice run and if Allgaier wanted to try it, he could use their car. Allgaier recalled, “When my dad called that night, I was going a million miles an hour.”

At first, Mike said no, but Allgaier said, “When I pulled the ‘Mom card,’ he agreed.”

It was not a piece of cake, however. “Dad said, ‘If you are going to do it, do it the right way.’”

On his website www.justinallgaier.com the family shares the beginnings of this champion driver: “From 1991 to 2002, the kid dubbed ‘Little Gator’ – named for his size and ferociousness behind 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.”

Allgaier also credits the Riverton school district for working with him. School was a priority. “My dad always said to be in the car, I had to have a B average. I had to do my homework first.”

The family aspect of the sport made great memories and provided Allgaier with the support he needed to get started. To those seeking a career in racing, he said, “The biggest piece of advice I have is to know what you are trying to do before you get there, because you only get one shot at this sport.

“Understand how to be creative and think outside the box. You have to be inventive. Think about what you have that no one else has.”

Allgaier made the best of his shot at racing. He moved into stock cars, then on to the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) at the age of 16. 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.

At home on the world’s fastest dirt mile in Springfield, that win put Allgaier’s name at the top of the list for many Springfield race fans who were delighted to see a local boy win on a local track. With more wins under his belt, he joined the Penske team in 2008.

Then, in 2011, driving for NASCAR’S Tuner Motorsports, he began with the No. 31 Brandt Chevy. He said this the racing is a great advertising opportunity for Brandt. “I am a bit biased how I look at agriculture because I grew up in a farming community. We take for granted how little the general population knows about farming,” Allgaier said.

At the time of this interview, he was in Savannah, Ga., at a fruit and vegetable conference and enjoyed seeing what producers go through to get their products out to market.

“Sometimes a person tries to sell a product, but they don’t have knowledge or experience. Getting my hands dirty, seeing the products offered, gives me the tools I need,” he explained.

One high point of working with Brandt has been the people Allgaier has met. “I met Steve Troxler, the North Carolina commissioner of agriculture, at an event at his house that has been in his family for many years. He was a great guy; he was one of the coolest people I’ve got to meet.

“Last year, I went to a barbecue event for customers at one of the Brandt plants. I had time to drive around and meet customers that couldn’t make it. One gentleman owns racecars and another was a big fan of the Indy 500. I got to go to their farms, see their equipment and meet them.

“One guy got a new combine and said I could drive it,” Allgaier laughed, adding, “He said but,  it just wouldn’t go too fast.”

More about Brandt is available online at www.brandt consolidated.com