AJ Allmendinger will not be fully leaving the NASCAR Cup Series as he will get to drive the No. 16 for Kaulig Racing in the Daytona 500 in February.
After the 2023 season ended, it was announced that Allmendinger was going to be moving back to the Xfinity Series full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2024. This was a move that team president, Chris Rice, described as, "The best chance to continue growing our organization as a whole."
This will be Allmendinger's 11th start in "The Great American Race." Allmendinger has a best finish of 3rd in the Daytona 500. A result he has achieved twice — in 2009 and 2017.
Driving the No. 16 Chevrolet, @AJDinger will make his 11th start in The Great American Race on February 18, 2024!#NASCAR | #TrophyHunting pic.twitter.com/Vnchcjdz2d
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) December 20, 2023
With Allmendinger driving the No. 16 in the Daytona 500, that means there is a chance that Kaulig Racing will only have one full-time entry in 2024. Daniel Hemric will take the leap back up to the Cup Series, driving the No. 31 car.
There were rumors that Ty Dillon would potentially take over the No. 16 car in 2024, but it appears that deal may have fallen through. There is nothing confirmed past Daytona, but that car might turn into a part-time entry with a rotating cast of drivers in 2024. Along with those cars, Kaulig does have the No. 13 car that Chandler Smith ran part-time for the team during the 2023 season.
Allmendinger joins Anthony Alfredo in trying to do double-duty that weekend by competing in the Xfinity Series race the day before the Daytona 500.
Allmendinger will look to get his first Daytona 500 win and his fourth career Cup Series win as he drives the No. 16 for Kaulig Racing in the 66th Daytona 500 on February 18th, 2024.
NEXT: AJ Allmendinger Back to Xfinity Series With Kaulig Racing
