HOMESTEAD, Fla. — AJ Allmendinger, making his final start for JTG Daugherty Racing Sunday, says he is not sure when and where he’ll race again after this weekend.
“As of right now, I have zero races planned,” Allmendinger told NBC Sports. “I’ve got nothing. Maybe there are races that crop up over the course of the season. I’ll say for sure, let’s go 95 percent sure, that I definitely won’t be racing a full season in anything.”
The 36-year-old Allmendinger is being replaced by rookie Ryan Preece next season in the No. 47 car Chevrolet.
Allmendinger said he’d like to run the Xfinity and Cup road course races next year. His lone Cup win came in 2014 at Watkins Glen. His two Xinity wins also came on road courses - Road America in 2013, Mid-Ohio in 2013.
“If I could put together a deal to run all the road courses or most of the road courses in Xfinity and Cup, that would be fun,” Allmendinger said. “It’s me, so if there’s a chance to race anything I’ll go do it. We know the way the situation is in the sport, need sponsorship and everything happened pretty late so a lot of stuff was being filled up. Even the stuff that’s not announced we know is full.”
Sunday will be Allmendinger’s 371st career Cup start.
“I think mentally right now with zero races on board I have to prepare that it could be my last race,” Allmendinger said. “Do I expect it to be my last race ever? No, but as I stand right now to prepare for it mentally, I have to get ready for that. There’s a chance it might be.”
He debuted with Red Bull Racing in 2007. He drove for Team Penske in 2012 before losing that ride after 17 races when NASCAR suspended him for violating its Substance Abuse Policy. Allmendinger later said he was given a pill from a friend that he thought was an energy supplement but was the prescription drug Adderall. He later returned to Team Penske to win those Xfinity races.
He also won the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona and finished third in the Champ Car Series in 2006, winning five races.
How does Allmendinger look back upon his career?
“There’s not a lot of people in this world who can say they’ve won a Cup race, Xfinity races, a Rolex race outright, they’ve won Champ car races and might have won an Indy 500 if my seat belt didn’t come off,” he said.
1) On the eve of what quite possibly could be my last full time race in auto racing I cant help look back and thank the people that have made my career what it has been. @paultracy3 for giving me an opportunity in karting to make a bigger name for myself and push me to the next
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
2) level. Skip Barber himself for believing in my talent and helping me through his organization and all those people in that organization. Rick-Rat, @BeeDubb99 @OzzNegri and so many more. Carl Russo for giving me the chance to win a Toyota Atlantic Championship and make my dream
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
3) come true & race in CWS. Jerry Forsythe for giving me the chance to join his team and go out win so many races. Do something I always wanted to do and stand on the top of a champcar podium. @redbullmotors for sticking with me in champcar and giving me my first opportunity in
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
4)Nascar. @RPMotorsports and especially the King himself for allowing me to continue in Nascar when I wasnt sure what my next move would be. @Team_Penske and truly RP for making a life long hope and dream of wearing those iconic colors come true. And walk with you side by side
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
5)through gasoline alley for the Indy 500. James Finch for giving me a car to race for his team and giving me a second chance to get back into the sport. And @JTGRacing Tad & Jodi for giving me a home for 5 years. Winning a cup race together. Making the playoffs. So many good
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
6) memories. All of our sponsors we have had but especially @kroger for what they have provided for this team over the last 4 years but more importantly all the people we have met and friendships we have created. It has meant the world to me and my family.
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
7) And last but not least. @MichaelShankRac My big brother. One of my closest friends. My family. Words can not even begin to describe how I feel bout you Shank. The ups and downs. The wins and losses. U have done so much for me. I love you from the bottom of my heart.Always will
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
8) We wish we could go out on our own terms. Not always do we get what we want. But with that said I have been so blessed. So lucky and fortunate. No regrets. Cant wait for what the future holds. And especially cant thank all of my fans and supporters enough. U have made it great
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) November 18, 2018
