AJ Allmendinger’s wife Tara celebrates his birthday in ‘first date night’ since son Aero’s birth

Tara Allmendinger, wife of NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger, took to social media on Monday night to wish her husband a happy 43rd birthday. The couple celebrated the occasion by checking out a Charlotte Hornets basketball game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In a post on X, Tara pointed out that it was the first "date night" since the couple welcomed their newborn child, a son named Aero James. The wife of the 18-time Xfinity Series race winner said they enjoyed watching the Hornets game, writing:

"Happy Birthday to my love @AJDinger! It was our first date night out since having Aero James. We talked about him all night. 😂 The @hornets game was a blast, though. #datenight #clt #charlottehornets"

A.J. and Tara got married in 2019 and welcomed Aero, the couple's first child, on September 7, 2023. A few months ago, the couple celebrated Aero's first birthday in Atlanta. Tara shared photos from the occasion on Instagram and penned the caption:

"And in the blink of an eye, we have a ONE-YEAR-OLD!! We are excited to share our wONEderful weekend celebrating our Aero James. So many memories were made. ✈️ ATL ——> 🏡 #oneyearoldbirthday #familybirthdayphoto #airplane✈️ #nascarxfinityseries #ajallmendinger #atlantahampton #threeisamagicnumber"

On the racetrack, Allmendinger won the Xfinity Series playoff race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past season, which qualified him for his second career Championship 4 race. However, the California native failed to bring the title home and finished the season third in the points standings.

Allmendinger posted 18 top 10s and seven top fives behind the wheel of the #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

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Kaulig Racing announced A.J. Allmendinger will return to the Cup Series in 2025

After moving back down to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this past season, A.J. Allmendinger will return to NASCAR's premier level in 2025. Kaulig Racing announced last August that the three-time Cup Series winner will be back behind the wheel of one of their Cup cars next year.

The team broke the news regarding Allmendinger's Cup Series return via social media, penning a caption on Instagram that read:

"🚨 NEWS 🚨 We know where he’ll be in 2025, @aj_allmendinger_official will return to full-time @nascar Cup Series competition for Kaulig Racing. #NASCAR #CupSeries #TrophyHunting"

Allmendinger last competed full-time in the Cup Series in 2023 for Kaulig Racing, where he picked up a win at the Charlotte Roval. Prior to that, Allmendinger nabbed a victory at the Indianapolis Road Course in 2021, marking just his second career Cup Series triumph.

He's spent the bulk of his full-time Cup career at JTG Daugherty Racing in the #47 car from 2014-2018. Allmendinger won his first career Cup Series race with JTG Daugherty at Watkins Glen International in 2014.