A week after posting a season’s best fifth-place finish at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, Kaulig Racing driver AJ Allmendinger will celebrate his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.
“Reaching 500 Cup Series starts is something I never could have imagined when I first got behind the wheel,” said Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 NASCAR Cup Series entry. “To do it at Sonoma, in my home state of California, with the men and women at Kaulig Racing makes it even more special. I’ve been fortunate to race for great teams, work alongside incredible people and enjoy the support of amazing fans throughout my career.
“I’m especially grateful to Matt Kaulig (Owner) and Chris Rice (CEO) for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be part of this organization. Winning races with Kaulig Racing has meant so much because of the people here and the effort everyone puts in every day.”
A veteran competitor known for his road-course prowess and versatility across multiple forms of motorsports, Allmendinger enters the weekend with an accomplished NASCAR Cup Series résumé that includes three victories, 23 top-five finishes, 90 top-10 finishes, five pole awards and 709 laps led. Team owner Matt Kaulig and CEO Chris Rice are focused on building on those accomplishments with Allmendinger behind the wheel.
“500 NASCAR Cup Series starts is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to AJ’s talent, determination and passion for racing,” said Matt Kaulig, Owner, Kaulig Racing. “What makes AJ special isn’t just what he’s achieved on the track, it’s the way he leads, competes, and represents our organization every day. Since joining Kaulig Racing, he’s been instrumental in helping us grow, win races, and establish ourselves at the Cup Series level. Reaching this milestone at Sonoma, in front of family, friends and fans in his home state, makes it even more meaningful. We’re proud to have AJ as part of the Kaulig Racing family and look forward to celebrating this moment with him while continuing to chase wins together.”
“To think about 500 starts is something you never hear of in any sport,” said Chris Rice, CEO, Kaulig Racing. “For a guy to make it as long as he has, it’s pretty special. But what he means to Kaulig Racing, to me, Chris Rice, personally is something I’ve never been able to put into words. I’ll never be able to thank him enough or give back enough for everything he’s done for Kaulig Racing and for me.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment—500 starts. From where he started when he first came into the Cup Series to where he is today, winning two Cup Series races with us and 16 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race wins with us,” continued Rice. “But beyond that, it’s about being the friend he is and being somebody special that means so much to me and this team. He’s been our leader since 2019, and he’s going to continue being our leader for a long time.”
Born on December 16, 1981, in Los Gatos, California, Allmendinger has built a career defined by perseverance, adaptability and success at the highest levels of stock car racing. His NASCAR Cup Series journey began with his first start on March 25, 2007, at Bristol Motor Speedway, and he earned his first Cup victory on August 10, 2014, at Watkins Glen International. Additional Cup wins followed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in 2021 and the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in 2023.
Allmendinger’s career-best NASCAR Cup Series points finish came in 2014 with JTG Daugherty Racing, when he placed 13th in the final standings and secured the organization’s first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff berth. Today, driving for Kaulig Racing alongside crew chief Trent Owens, Allmendinger remains as motivated as ever, with plenty left to prove.
“I’ve said Trent is the best crew chief in the garage, and I believe we still have a lot left to accomplish together,” said Allmendinger. “I’m proud of what we’ve already accomplished together, and I’m excited about what’s still ahead.”
“I’m really happy for AJ and his 500th start,” said Trent Owens, No. 16 Kaulig Racing crew chief. “I’ve never worked with a driver who has won in everything he’s ever competed in, no matter the series. To reach that many races here in NASCAR and be as successful as he has been on the racetrack is incredible. I’m super proud of what he’s accomplished, and I couldn’t be happier to be working with him, late in both of our careers. Rarely do drivers stay in the Cup Series this long, let alone achieve everything else he’s accomplished throughout the racing world.”
Beyond the Cup Series, Allmendinger has enjoyed tremendous success in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series), where he has accumulated 18 career victories and established himself as one of the series’ premier competitors. He finished a career-best third in the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings and won the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Regular Season Championship in both 2021 and 2022, becoming the only driver to capture the title more than once. He also advanced to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship 4 twice, in 2021 and 2024. He’s made a total of three appearances in the playoffs.
Over his NASCAR national series career, Allmendinger has made starts in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions, including 500 Cup Series starts this weekend, 131 O’Reilly Series starts and 16 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts. His NASCAR national series debut came in the Truck Series in 2006 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway driving for Bill Davis Racing.
Before transitioning to NASCAR, Allmendinger established himself as a rising star in open-wheel racing, earning Champ Car World Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2004.
As he prepares for his milestone 500th start, Allmendinger continues to compete at a high level while balancing life with his wife, Tara, and their son, Aero.
This weekend’s race at Sonoma Raceway provides a fitting backdrop for the California native’s milestone moment, celebrating a career that has spanned nearly two decades of NASCAR competition.
Catch AJ Allmendinger in the CW broadcast booth alongside Adam Alexander and Parker Kligerman as he helps call the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race this Saturday live from Sonoma Raceway at 5:30 PM ET. Then, he’s back behind the wheel of the No. 16 on Sunday for the NASCAR Cup Series race on TNT Sports live at 3:30 PM ET.
— Kaulig Racing —