With his NASCAR Cup Series future in question, AJ Allmendinger captured the Bank of America ROVAL 400 by telling NASCAR.com he executed “the drive of my life” Sunday.
Still unsigned for 2024 by Kaulig Racing, Allmendinger could be facing free agency this offseason. The win at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course could help him secure a 2024 ride.
At least he hopes so.
A road course ace, Allmendinger, 41, took the lead for good with 33 laps remaining and held off playoff standings leader William Byron for an emotional trip to Victory Lane.
“I hate crying right now, but it’s a freaking Cup race, man,” he told the crowd after securing his third career Cup win. “You don’t know when it’s ever going to happen again.
“This is why you do it. This is the only reason you do it. You fight. All the blood, sweat, tears, everybody at Kaulig Racing has just been such … I’d say a down year, but up-and-down year.”
Sunday’s event was the finale of the Round of 12. Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace were eliminated from the playoffs. The Round of 8 opens next Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
DOMIN-DINGER! 💨 @AJDinger @KauligRacing | #BofAROVAL | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/O1E9Ek57q9
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) October 8, 2023
NASCAR Weekend Schedule
Here is a list of NASCAR’s events this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All Times ET):
Friday
- 7:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series practice
- 7:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series qualifying
Saturday
- 12:35 p.m.: Cup Series practice
- 1:20 p.m.: Cup Series qualifying
- 3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 302 race
Sunday
- 2:30 p.m.: Cup Series South Point 400 race
We’re next, baby! #SouthPoint400 | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MO9btatE4e
— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) October 8, 2023
NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 Entry List
Entry, Driver, Team, Car No.
- 1, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
- 2, Austin Cindric, Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
- 3, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 4, Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
- 5, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
- 6, Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford
- 7, Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, No. 7 Chevrolet
- 8, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
- 9, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
- 10, Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
- 11, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
- 12, Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
- 13, Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
- 14, Brennan Poole, Rick Ware Racing, No. 15 Ford
- 15, AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 16, Chris Buescher, RFK Racing, No. 17 Ford
- 17, Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
- 18, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
- 19, Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
- 20, Joey Logano, Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
- 21, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota
- 22, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 23, Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, No. 31 Chevrolet
- 24, Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, 34 Ford
- 25, Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, No. 38 Ford
- 26, Ryan Preece, Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
- 27, Carson Hocevar, Legacy Motor Club, No. 42 Chevrolet
- 28, Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Chevrolet
- 29, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, No.45 Toyota
- 30, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
- 31, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 32, JJ Yeley, Rick Ware Racing, No. 51 Ford
- 33, Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 54 Toyota
- 34, Ty Dillon, Spire Motorsports, No. 77 Chevrolet
- 35, BJ McLeod, Live Fast Motorsports, No. 78 Chevrolet
- 36, Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing, No. 99 Chevrolet
Eight drivers with one goal. 🏆#NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/pQNRRNVoh1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 8, 2023
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