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NASCAR: A.J. Allmendinger to join NBC Sports Group in 2019

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Former NASCAR Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger is set to join NBC Sports Group in 2019 after losing his Cup Series ride.

A.J. Allmendinger, who lost his NASCAR Cup Series ride with JTG Daugherty Racing following the conclusion of the 2018 season, will not return to the Cup Series in the 2019 season.

Instead, the 37-year-old Los Gatos, California native is set to join NBC Sports Group in 2019. He is set to be a part of the network’s exclusive IMSA coverage, and he is set to contribute to NASCAR America throughout the 2019 Cup Series season as well.

Allmendinger is set to make his broadcast debut during NBC Sports’ coverage of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 26. He is also set to drive for Meyer Shank Racing in this race.

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Here is what Allmendinger had to say about the opportunity to join the NBC Sports Group starting in 2019, according to Motorsport.com.

"“I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter in my life alongside some of the most knowledgeable and influential voices in motorsports, and to be a part of NBC Sports’ second-to-none coverage.”"

Here is what NBC Sports executive producer and president of production Sam Flood had to say about Allmendinger joining the network in 2019, according to Motorsport.com.

"“A.J. loves to race and is passionate about IMSA. His career as a driver across IMSA, NASCAR and Open Wheel will bring a unique mix of experience and insight to the NBC Sports team.”"

Allmendinger’s post-Cup Series path looks similar to that of Jamie McMurray, the Cup Series veteran is set to be replaced by Kurt Busch behind the wheel of the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet for the 2019 season. McMurray is set to join Fox Sports as an analyst on their NASCAR broadcast team starting next year.

Allmendinger is set to be replaced by Ryan Preece behind the wheel of the #47 JTG Daughtery Racing Chevrolet in the 2019 season after driving the car full-time in each of the last five seasons. He spent 13 seasons competing in the Cup Series, and he spent nine of those seasons as a full-time driver.

Over the course of his Cup Series career, Allmendinger competed in 371 races. He earned one victory, 11 top five finishes, 57 top 10 finishes and four pole positions. He earned his lone victory in the August race at Watkins Glen International in the 2014 season.

Allmendinger led 519 of the 103,231 laps that he completed, and he recorded an average starting position of 20.5 along with an average finishing position of 21.1.

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Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports’ exclusive coverage of IMSA as well as NASCAR America throughout 2019 to see how A.J. Allmendinger will take on the next chapter in his racing career.

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