Allmendinger Returning To Kaulig Xfinity Team

LEXINGTON, N.C. – Officials from Kaulig Racing announced Thursday morning that A.J. Allmendinger will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full time next season, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro.

Allmendinger will also contest select NASCAR Cup Series races for team owner Matt Kaulig, after racing the full schedule in NASCAR’s premier division this year.

The 41-year-old from Los Gatos, Calif., has been a fixture within Kaulig Racing’s NASCAR operations since joining the team as a part-time driver in 2019. He returned to the driver’s seat full time in 2021, earning 15 wins, 10 poles, and back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season championships.

Allmendinger was promoted to the team’s Cup Series lineup this year, and has been the star in Kaulig Racing’s two brightest moments at the top level, winning the 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in the team’s seventh Cup Series start and adding a second Cup Series trophy during the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October.

“We feel A.J. [Allmendinger] returning full time to our Xfinity Series program gives us the best chance to continue growing our organization as a whole,” said team president Chris Rice. “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.

“To Kaulig Racing, A.J. is much more than the trophies he’s won or the banners he’s hung in our shop,” added team owner Matt Kaulig. “A.J. 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.”

In five Xfinity Series starts this year, Allmendinger tallied two wins, three pole awards, four top fives, and never finished worse than ninth. He hopes to improve on his career-best 2021 season in the Xfinity Series, where he made the Championship 4 and finished fourth in the final point standings.

Allmendinger joins teammate Josh Williams on Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series roster for next year.

“My plans for 2024 have always been whatever Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice think is best for the team,” said 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.”

Allmendinger’s Cup Series schedule and sponsors for both series will be announced at a later date.