Allmendinger Strong, But Short In Defense Of ROVAL Win

AJ Allmendinger in action at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

CONCORD, N.C. – While his NASCAR Cup Series schedule is part-time until next year, A.J. Allmendinger made his impact felt Sunday afternoon at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, finishing sixth.

Allmendinger ran up front throughout the Bank of America ROVAL 400, and was close to winning at the ROVAL in the Cup Series for the second year in a row.

He just didn’ quite have enough steam to contend with the likes of race-long dominator Kyle Larson.

“Really good day and weekend for our No. 16 team. [Crew chief] Andrew Dickeson and the No. 16 crew did a great job preparing the car. We had a good weekend,” said Allmendinger after the race.

“We didn’t quite have enough to beat the No. 5 or No. 20, so we tried something different with strategy.”

Allmendinger is currently competing full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and moved on to the Round of 8 in that division’s playoffs on Saturday. He will rejoin Kaulig Racing’s Cup team full-time in 2025, after a one-year stint back in the Xfinity Series with the organization.

The Los Gatos, Calif., native tied his season-high finishing position at the Cup Series level, with sixth place finishes in the season-opening Daytona 500, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and now at the Charlotte ROVAL.

The 42-year-old was able to finish eighth in stage one and win the second stage, his first Cup Series stage victory of the season.

Although he fell short of victory lane, Allmendinger will continue his mantra on both the Cup and Xfinity sides of the sport: trophy hunting.

He’ll finish out the season in the Xfinity Series and get one more crack in the Cup Series at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 27.

“We knew it would be an uphill battle,” said Allmendinger. “It was a lot of fun passing all those cars and bringing home a sixth-place finish.”