AJ Allmendinger had plentiful reasons to smile this weekend. (Photo: Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)
CONCORD, N.C. – Following a dramatic, exciting victory in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs race, AJ Allmendinger sought a weekend sweep at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
The incredible week that was for the Los Gatos, California looked like it would be nearly perfect during Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400. Starting from the seventh position, Allmendinger netted a 10th place result in Stage 1 before placing fourth in Stage 2.
Aside from pole sitter Joey Logano and Chase Elliott, the championship points leader, Allmendinger had one of the best cars in the field.
Leading three times for a total of 24 laps, the 40-year-old stock car veteran looked prime for his third career Cup win.
Allmendinger climbed up to second position before a Lap 105 caution shook up the race’s complexity.
Namely, it allowed Allmendinger to pull up alongside Elliott on the ensuing restart. When Elliott and Allmendinger led the field on the Lap 107, the latter extended his elbows in the first few corners.
As Allmendinger scooted past Elliott, it looked like he was set on a potential weekend sweep.
However, a familiar foe in Kevin Harvick did more than throw his name into the hat for the late race duels.
It was all “fourth naught” for Allmendinger. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
“I got a good restart there and when Chase and I touched kind of through Turn 2, I went to set up for (Turn) 3 and it turned me sideways and I slid a little more,” Allmendinger recalled. “That was unfortunate because that allowed the 4 to get to my bumper and we know Kevin is going to do that if he gets any chance.
“That’s a part of racing and going for the win. That second restart there, it was just a couple of guys with better tires, and you are just a sitting duck.”
While Allmendinger came up short on Sunday, he reflected on the positives, particularly proving positive given his return to full-time Cup competition in 2023.
Sundays will be about Celsius and custards for Allmendinger in 2023. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
“When you are that close to winning, it’s for sure disappointing,” he said. “But I’m happy with the way this No. 16 Action Industries Chevy was. It was really fast.”
Like any competitive, quality athlete, Allmendinger observed an area of opportunity for his Kaulig Racing team.
Given how determined and intense this team is, Allmendinger’s over-the-wall crew will be more than up to the challenge next year.
“We just need to work a little bit on pit road,” he observed. “We lost that little bit of track position, and it was a track position game. Once I got around the 8 (Tyler Reddick), I was burning my stuff up trying to catch the 9. With those restarts, I knew I was kind of used up already.”
