AJ Allmendinger, who scored a win in the NASCAR Cup Series for Kaulig Racing at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in 2023 while running a full-time NASCAR Cup Series schedule, will move back to full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing in 2024.
Saturdays are better with The Dinger.@AJDinger will return to the No. 16 Chevrolet full-time in the @NASCAR_Xfinity Series in 2024!#NASCAR | #TrophyHunting pic.twitter.com/C4L6peyDHh
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) December 7, 2023
According to a press release from the team on Thursday morning, Allmendinger will reprise his role from a couple of seasons ago as the full-time driver of the team’s No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro in the series. In addition, Allmendinger will run part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for the team this season.
Allmendinger, who expressed interest in returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024 says he was always willing to do whatever Chris Rice and Matt Kaulig felt was best for the team this season.
“My plans for 2024 have always been whatever Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice think is best for the team,” said AJ Allmendinger. “We’ve got work to do on both our Xfinity and Cup side as we continue to grow but I think we are putting ourselves in the best position to keep improving. With Josh Williams coming on board, it’ll be fun to learn each other’s driving styles and work together as teammates on Saturdays. I’m excited to be a part everything we’re working on at Kaulig Racing and see what we can get done next season.”
The organization says putting Allmendinger back in the Xfinity Series full-time gives them the best shot at growing the team overall.
“We feel AJ [Allmendinger] returning full time to our Xfinity Series program gives us the best chance to continue growing our organization as a whole,” team president, Chris Rice said. “He’s passionate, he’s aggressive and he pushes us to keep getting better. We’re excited to see what we can accomplish in the 2024 season on both the Xfinity and Cup side.”
Allmendinger is a key component to the Kaulig Racing team as he has scored the organization its two NASCAR Cup Series wins, and he has been a championship contender in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Above the performance, Allmendinger is like family.
“To Kaulig Racing, AJ is much more than the trophies he’s won or the banners he’s hung in our shop,” said team owner, Matt Kaulig. “AJ has always embraced what we are trying to do as an organization, and his contribution to the culture at Kaulig Racing is what truly makes him forever a part of our family.”
Allmendinger’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule and sponsorship partners for his NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series efforts will be announced at a later date.
Allmendinger is a 17-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner, and he racked up 10 wins over two full-time seasons with Kaulig Racing in 2021 and 2022. In both seasons, Allmendinger captured the regular season championship, and would end the Playoffs with top-five finishes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings.
