NASCAR Silly Season: AJ Allmendinger set to return to NASCAR Cup Series full-time next season

Amidst NASCAR Silly Season, Kaulig Racing has recently announced that AJ Allmendinger will return to NASCAR's premier division after his one-year stint in the 2024 Xfinity Series. The 42-year-old driver has been a part of Matt Kaulig's team since 2019 and has claimed two Cup Series victories piloting the #16 Chevy.

Allmendinger now competes full-time in the Xfinity Series, piloting the #16 Chevy Camaro. He also drives the #16 and #13 car for Kaulig part-time along with multiple drivers in the Cup Series. He last competed in the 2023 Cup Series as a full-time driver when he won the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, he finished the 2023 final standings at P21.

In a recent post on X, Kaulig Racing officially announced the return of the veteran NASCAR driver in the organization's two full-time entries for the 2025 season.

"We know where he’ll be in 2025, @AJDinger will return to full-time @NASCAR Cup Series competition for Kaulig Racing!"

So far in the 2024 Cup Series season, the Los Gatos, California native has amassed three top-10 finishes in 10 starts. Moreover, the 2021 and 2022 Xfinity regular series champion Allmendinger stands at P6 in the 2024 overall standings. Although winless, he has accumulated three top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes in 20 starts this season.

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"I’m going to live off what you want me to do" - AJ Allmendinger on Kaulig Racing's decision for him

Earlier this season, Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger opened up on Kaulig Racing's decision for him to return to the Xfinity Series while he preferred to stay in NASCAR's top division.

During Daytona 500 media day in February, Allmendinger was grateful to Kaulig Racing for letting him drive their race cars. He said (via motorsport.com):

"I’m going to live off what you want me to do. I keep hoping they want me to drive their race cars because they have really saved my happiness of my racing career with what we’ve been able to do over the last six years.

"No matter if I’m full-time Xfinity, full-time Cup, part-time driving race cars, it’s still about trying to prove to myself that I’m at an elite level."

As NASCAR gears up for the Michigan weekend schedule, Allmendinger will be seen in action for the 21st Xfinity race of the season for the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17.