NASCAR veteran returning again, but in a different car

As a die-hard NASCAR fan with years of racing knowledge under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as we approach the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday. A.J. Allmendinger, one of my favorite drivers, is set to pilot the No. 13 Chevrolet in an oval race for the first time this season!

As a devoted racing enthusiast, I’ve been following the thrilling journey of Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 Chevrolet throughout the initial 30 races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. So far, five drivers have taken turns at the wheel, with A.J. Allmendinger leading the pack, having piloted this very car full-time last season and clocking in an impressive ten drives thus far. His latest stint was at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway just a fortnight ago.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to clarify that AJ Allmendinger, who races with Matt Kaulig’s team in the Xfinity Series and did so full-time in the Cup Series last year, has actually participated in 13 Cup Series events this season, not just 10.

Three times this season, Kaulig Racing has introduced the #13 Chevrolet, and on each of those instances, it was for Allmendinger to drive. He piloted the non-permanently chartered #13 vehicle at Circuit of the Americas in March, the Chicago Street Course in July, and Watkins Glen International in September. On all three occasions, Shane van Gisbergen, one of Allmendinger’s Xfinity Series teammates, took the wheel of the #16 car.

For the first time this season, the team are set to field the No. 13 Chevrolet in an oval race.

This upcoming Sunday afternoon, Allmendinger will be behind the wheel of his fourth race entry for the season at the YellaWood 500 held at Talladega Superspeedway.

In the upcoming 188-lap race at the four-corner, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked Lincoln, Alabama oval, Van Gisbergen will be back behind the wheel of car number 16, just as he was in April.

In the current plan for 2024, Allmendinger won’t be making any additional Cup Series starts following this weekend; however, things could still shift.

Allmendinger set for full-time return in 2025

Instead of sharing driving duties with others for the No. 16 car next year, Allmendinger will be its permanent driver, as he was last year.

Furthermore, the Chevrolet No. 31 is now labeled as No. 10, and Ty Dillon will be taking over from Daniel Hemric as a full-time driver next season. This move will bring the team back to having two full-time drivers, similar to their lineup from last year with Allmendinger and Justin Haley. Notably, Dillon has already driven the No. 16 car on five separate occasions this year.

Don’t miss out on NBC’s live coverage of the YellaWood 500 from Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday, October 6, at 2:00 p.m. ET. If you haven’t yet, sign up for a free trial of FuboTV to catch all the action!

2024-10-01 17:32