Allmendinger’s willingness to earn the “Lucky Dog” following Stage 1 was a game changing moment. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite starting 29th in Sunday’s 65th annual Daytona 500, AJ Allmendinger was confident about his chances to contend for the win.
While the 41-year-old Los Gatos, California native made his last Cup start at Daytona in 2018, he earned a podium finish.
Between his efforts with the No. 47 JTG-Daugherty Racing team in 2018 to Sunday’s race, he was an analyst for NBC’s IMSA and NASCAR coverage before competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing.
Allmendinger tallied three victories in his part-time efforts in 2019 and 2020, a surefire sign that the stock car veteran still had the competitive edge to compete at a high level. Elevated to full-time Xfinity Series campaigns with Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 team in 2021 and 2022, Allmendinger placed fourth and fifth in the championship standings on the strength of 10 total victories in that time span.
Before the 2022 season concluded, Allmendinger was named as the full-time driver of Kaulig’s No. 16 Cup entry starting this year. Highlighted by his 2021 Verizon 200 victory at the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit, it was a quality homecoming experience to stock car’s premier division.
However, it was a bit of a struggle in Stage 1 as the 16th year Cup racer lost a lap in the closing moments.
Once Allmendinger fell a lap behind, he realized that he was in a pitched battle for the “Lucky Dog” or the free pass against Bubba Wallace and his No. 23XI Racing team.
As the lead lap contenders swooped past Allmendinger, he kept himself in the middle lane rather than being freightrained by the top line.
Allmendinger was quite the lucky dog when Stage 1 concluded. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
Consequently, Allmendinger kept pace with the leaders and ahead of Wallace as Stage 1 concluded.
Some heads up driving and aggression rewarded Allmendinger as the beneficiary of the stage break caution.
Returning to the lead lap as Stage 2 kicked off, the Californian kept himself in the mix while avoiding the madness that ensued in Turn 4 on Lap 118.
Avoiding the nine-car crash that eliminated Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones, the affable Allmendinger netted an eighth place finish in Stage 2.
For the remainder of “The Great American Race,” Allmendinger ran inside the top-10 despite the frantic action and shuffling among the leaders.
On Lap 189, Allmendinger charged to the lead, appearing to make the timely pass for the final scheduled 12 laps.
“When we got out front, we just lacked a little bit of speed to stay up there,” Allmendinger said. “That was the toughest thing. But overall, our guys did a great job and fought hard through the day, and you just have to be there at the end.”
Although Allmendinger was toward the front, a myriad of chaotic wrecks and three additional lead changes relegated him to to a sixth place finish.
Nevertheless, aside from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the race’s winner, Allmendinger was one of the few folks who left Daytona with some satisfaction.
Surely, Allmendinger’s confidence was backed by his stellar showing at Daytona. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
“I’m really pleased with the finish we had. Any time you get to start the season with a top-10 in the Daytona 500, it’s a big deal,” he said. “Felt like our car handled very well, just tough racing, very track-position oriented.”
A solid result at Daytona translated to a ninth place points standings ranking for Allmendinger ahead of Sunday’s Pala Casino 400 at Auto Club Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
If Daytona demonstrated the swiftness and agility of Allmendinger and the Kaulig No. 16 entry, it could be a promising season ahead as a race and championship contender in 2023.
“We had a shot to win the Daytona 500. That’s pretty freaking cool,” he said. “I wish we could have done it, but all you can ask for is having a real opportunity and we did tonight. That’s pretty special.”
