Allmendinger opens up on ‘inner turmoil’ and doubting himself

Allmendinger has taken a very unconventional career path. He was originally a rising star in open-wheel racing, winning five races during the 2006 Champ Car season.

But then began his foray into NASCAR. His career started with Red Bull, and then Richard Petty Motorsports, before finally getting his big break behind the wheel of the No. 22 Penske entry.

However, it all came crashing down during the 2012 season when he was indefinitely suspended for failing a random drug test, testing positive for a banned stimulant. He lost his Cup ride with Penske, but returned to competition after completing the Road to Recovery program.

He starred in the 2013 Indy 500, and was fulltime again at the Cup level the following year. In 2014, he earned his first Cup win with JTG Daugherty Racing at Watkins Glen. But what followed were years of struggle, and he did not return to Victory Lane.

Many thought his NASCAR career to have reached its conclusion after 2018, but he would return with a vengeance once more. He joined Kaulig Racing part-time in the Xfinity Series, winning in just his fifth start with the team.

The wins kept coming and in 2021, he competed for the NXS title. He won five races, and ended the season fourth in points after advancing into the Championship 4. He also returned to Victory Lane at the Cup level, earning Kaulig their first ever victory as a Cup team at the Indianapolis RC.

Now, at 41 years old, he’s back again as a fulltime Cup driver. His rollercoaster career has proved his resilience, but that doesn’t mean A.J. isn’t sometimes full of doubts.

Speaking candidly during Daytona 500 Media Day, he said: “Every offseason I feel like I have to question myself like, ‘Maybe you’ve forgotten how to drive this year.’ You can have a good race and go to the next one and say, ‘It doesn’t matter until you do it at this race.’ I’m still the same way. It can be stressful sometimes in my inner turmoil in my head with it.

“But I’ve done this for over 20 years professionally now. I’m not going to change. It’s what pushes me every day. That’s why I love this race team because Matt (Kaulig) and Chris (Rice) know how much I care … not just myself winning and winning for our team, but the success of our race team in general when it comes to the organization. There’s always those questions in my head but…