LEXINGTON, N.C. — A.J. Allmendinger has raced for practically three many years and now his accomplishments shall be remembered perpetually. The 43-year-old California native is about to be inducted into the West Coast Inventory Automotive/Motorsports Corridor of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025.
On Thursday, Allmendinger will be part of west coast legends, resembling, Rick Mears, Jeff Gordon, Hershel McGriff, Dan Gurney, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch within the fabled West Coast Inventory Automotive Corridor of Fame.
Allmendinger has left his mark in a number of racing disciplines, together with open wheel, CART and IndyCar, IMSA and sports activities automobiles, and nonetheless stays a highly-competitive racer in NASCAR, racing for an Xfinity Sequence championship as lately as final November.
Allmendinger burst onto the NASCAR scene as a road-racing ace, and continues as one of many winningest highway racers in NASCAR historical past, however has additionally established himself as a constant pressure each weekend now as a full-time competitor in NASCAR’s premier Cup Sequence. Allmendinger drives the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, his seventh yr with the group.
“It hasn’t fairly sunk in but,” stated Allmendinger. “It’s distinctive to be in a scenario receiving this honor, realizing I nonetheless have the chance to exit each weekend with Kaulig Racing and proceed to construct on my profession and what now we have completed collectively. It’s particular to share this accomplishment with my spouse, Tara, and our son, Aero James.
“I really like having Aero on the race observe, and I do know having him be as part of it will make it emotional and a long-lasting reminiscence.”
Kaulig Racing Staff Proprietor, Matt Kaulig, displays on the affect Allmendinger has had since becoming a member of the workforce in 2019.
“I believe all people will agree that A.J. has actually made Kaulig Racing to be what it’s right this moment,” stated Kaulig. “It modified our lives after we introduced A.J. into the fold on a part-time foundation and actually began operating up entrance and profitable races.”
Allmendinger’s willpower and aggressive drive brings a strain on himself and Kaulig Racing to compete with the perfect.
“To be knowledgeable race automobile driver, it’s important to be aggressive,” continued Kaulig. “AJ might be probably the most aggressive person who I’ve ever met. On the racetrack, he can deal with the strain he places on himself to carry out on the highest degree of our sport each week, and he does it for all of the women and men concerned in each facet of our race workforce.”
Chris Rice, Kaulig Racing Staff President, acknowledges the strain Allmendinger brings as a constructive to push the workforce to all the time be at their greatest.
“When you’ve gotten expertise like A.J. has, that exhibits the sky is the restrict,” stated Rice. “Kaulig Racing received our first Cup race in solely our seventh Cup begin. We’ve received plenty of races over the previous 5 years as a result of AJ pushes us to be higher. AJ taught us easy methods to win and we are going to perpetually be indebted to him for that. And he’s not accomplished. He has lots left within the tank and AJ and Kaulig Racing will proceed to do nice issues collectively.”
