After spending some time as a TV analyst and driving some part-time rides, A.J. Allmendinger is back to full-time racing. He will join forces with Kaulig Racing and run the No. 16 full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2021.
‼️ 2021 NEWS ‼️ @C_Rice1 | @MattKaulig | @AJDinger pic.twitter.com/jkVPL3GsoW
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) December 1, 2020
Allmendinger joined Kaulig in 2019 as a part-time driver for the team. In 16 starts with the team, Allmendinger has won three times. He broke through and won on an oval for the first time in his NASCAR career this past year at Atlanta. His other two wins have come at the Charlotte ROVAL.
“As a part time driver for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity series, I have really enjoyed working with all the women and men in the organization these past two years,” said Allmendinger in a press release. “The love of showing up to NASCAR races has returned for me, and I truly have enjoyed myself on and off the racetrack. It starts with Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice. I can’t thank them enough for giving me a call at the start of 2019 and offering me races that continued into 2020. More than anything, I have really loved being part of the team and watching the growth of the organization, and because of that, the opportunity to come back full time in 2021 was something I just could not pass up.”
Overall, Allmendinger has won five times in the Xfinity Series with 13 top tens and two poles. In 371 Cup Series starts, Allmendinger has 57 top tens and one victory. His lone Cup Series win came at Watkins Glen in 2014. He will look for a championship in any series for the first time since 2018. This will be his first full-time ride since departing JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the 2018 season.
In his NASCAR career, Allmendinger has driven for Team Penske, Richard Petty Motorsports, Red Bull Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing.
Kaulig Racing will now be home to three full-time Xfinity Series cars. Last month, the team made the announcement of Jeb Burton as the driver of the Nutrien Ag Chevrolet. Justin Haley will remain the driver of the No. 11 and now Allmendinger in the No. 16.
