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NASCAR: A.J. Allmendinger to return in 2020

By Asher Fair

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: A J Allmendinger, driver of the #10 Digital Ally Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 28, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: A J Allmendinger, driver of the #10 Digital Ally Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 28, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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A.J. Allmendinger is set to return to Kaulig Racing in the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season for at least the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

After driving for Kaulig Racing in five races throughout the 33-race 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, A.J. Allmendinger is set to return for at least one more race throughout the 33-race 2020 season.

Allmendinger has been confirmed as the driver of the #16 Chevrolet for the season-opening NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15.

Last season, which was the 38-year-old Los Gatos, California native’s first season driving for Kaulig Racing, he competed in races at Daytona International Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road America and the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval.

The veteran had only ever competed in 11 Xfinity Series races before entering the year, and his starts at Daytona and the Charlotte roval were his first at those tracks.

Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice had this to say about Allmendinger’s return for the 2020 season opener on SiriusXM NASCAR earlier this week.

"“My PR department will probably kill me, but I’ll be more than glad to let you know that AJ Allmendinger is coming back to run Daytona with us in the 16 car. AJ has done us a great job. We’ve got more things that we’re going to announce in January, but AJ is going to pilot that car and I know he will do a great job. He did a great job in July, so I look forward to it.”"

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Allmendinger finished in third place in last year’s 100-lap July race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida, but he was disqualified after the race ended and thus officially scored in 38th (last).

He led 33 laps of this race and was ultimately removed from the finishing order after his #10 Chevrolet failed post-race inspection. It would have been a 1-2-3 finish for Kaulig Racing, although it still ended up being their first ever victory with a 1-2 finish involving race winner Ross Chastain and runner-up Justin Haley.

Chastain and Haley are set to drive full-time for Matt Kaulig’s team in 2020, with Chastain set to drive the #10 Chevrolet and Haley set to drive the #11 Chevrolet.

Allmendinger was also stripped of his second place finish at Watkins Glen last year after leading 24 laps, as his #10 Chevrolet again failed post-race inspection. He did manage to finish in third at Mid-Ohio and win at the Charlotte roval after leading 20 laps. He finished in 24th at Road America despite starting from the pole position and leading 10 laps.

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Fox Sports 1 is set to broadcast the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15. Be sure to tune in to the NASCAR Racing Experience 300.

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