Veteran NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger will drive Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 in the May 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International as part of Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program.
Allmendinger, a road-course specialist with a long history of success on twisting tracks, brings extensive experience to the seat. The 44-year-old has posted multiple strong finishes at Watkins Glen, highlighted by his emotional first NASCAR Cup Series victory there in 2014 when he held off Marcos Ambrose in a two-lap dash to the finish.
He has also recorded top finishes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the track and continues to compete full-time in the Cup Series for Kaulig Racing.
“Watkins Glen will always be special to me because it’s where I earned my first NASCAR Cup Series win, and I’ve always loved the place,” said Allmendinger, who drove the team’s No. 10 Ram 1500 in the Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway on March 20.
“Kaulig Racing is making good progress on the truck side,” Allmendinger continued. “They’re doing a really good job, and hopefully when I get in the No. 25 truck through the Free Agent Program I can help keep moving things in the right direction. We’ll have some fun and maybe even have a shot at a top-five finish or a win. It was nice to run at Darlington and get a good feel for the trucks, even though it’s completely different from a road course. We’ll go out there, have some fun, and put a good result in at Watkins Glen.”
The No. 25 Ram 1500 serves as the flagship entry for Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program. Launched as part of the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR after a 13-year absence, the innovative initiative rotates a different driver into the truck nearly every weekend. It features a mix of veteran stars, rising talents, road-course specialists, dirt-track standouts and other available drivers to deliver fresh storylines, broaden fan interest and provide opportunities for proven competitors and up-and-coming talent.
The program kicked off at the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in February with NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart behind the wheel and has since included drivers such as Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Parker Kligerman and Carson Ferguson. Ram and Kaulig Racing designed the program to generate buzz around the manufacturer’s re-entry while showcasing the Ram 1500’s versatility on NASCAR’s toughest tracks.
On Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, Ram and Kaulig Racing announced that NASCAR veteran Clint Bowyer will drive the No. 25 Ram 1500 at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15 and fellow veteran Jamie McMurray will race on June 21 on the new street course at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
Kaulig Racing, founded in 2016 by Matt Kaulig, has grown from a single-car Xfinity Series team into a multi-division powerhouse. The organization fields full-time entries in the Cup Series and a five-truck fleet in the Craftsman Truck Series as Ram’s anchor partner.
Allmendinger will join the Kaulig Racing Truck Series lineup that includes Corey LaJoie in the No. 10, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen in the No. 12, Mini Tyrrell in the No. 14 and Justin Haley in the No. 16.
Watkins Glen International has been a cornerstone of NASCAR road-course racing with the Cup Series visiting annually since 1986 on the 2.454-mile layout featuring seven turns. The historic venue has produced memorable battles and showcased the skills of drivers who excel on technical circuits.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International, the Bully Hill Vineyards 176, is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, with live radio coverage on the NASCAR Racing Network.
— Kaulig Racing —