NASCAR: 5 drivers who could be next to play spoiler

NASCAR drivers who could play spoiler: No. 3 – A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger has been a spoiler of sorts before, winning last year’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, one of the final events of the regular season, while driving a part-time car for Kaulig Racing in only the team’s seventh Cup Series start.

In 2022, the #16 Chevrolet is a full-time ride, with three drivers splitting the driving duties. Allmendinger has two races remaining on his schedule, first at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 17 and then at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Sunday, October 9.

Allmendinger got off to a slow start this year, with an average finish of 23.13 through his first eight starts, but he has looked better recently. He has three top nine finishes in his last four starts, all on road courses, including a second place finish in his most recent outing at Watkins Glen International.

There’s also an added advantage that he’ll bring, compared to most of his fellow drivers. While full-time Cup Series drivers aren’t allowed to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the playoffs, Allmendinger himself is a full-time Xfinity Series driver, which will give him more track time during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval weekend.

Allmendinger had an engine failure at the track last year but finished in seventh place with JTG Daugherty Racing after a front row start in 2018. Expect him to be a contender in that event.