December 16, 1981
A.J. Allmendinger
(Photo: jerbec via photopin cc)
Born in Los Gatos, California, USA.
Allmendinger started his career in karts, winning two International Kart Federation Grand National championships. He also raced in New Zealand in 2002 in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. Allmendinger won the Barber Dodge Pro Series championship in 2002, and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2003 with Carl Russo's RuSport team. He has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona since the 2006 edition for Michael Shank's team, finishing first in 2012, second in 2006 and third in 2013.
In 2004, Allmendinger entered the Champ Car World Series and won the CART Rookie-of-the-Year award ahead of Justin Wilson. He earned five wins and a third championship place in the 2006 Champ Car season. He left Champ Car with one race left in the season to accept a lucrative offer from the NASCAR operation Team Red Bull. Allmendinger has raced in NASCAR from 2006 to present.
He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 47 Chevrolet SS for JTG Daugherty Racing. On May 9, 2015, Allmendinger announced plans to sign a five-year contract extension with JTG Daugherty, allowing him to remain with the team through the 2020 season. Allmendinger nearly pulled off an upset at the 2016 STP 500 at Martinsville. He charged hard from 13th place with less than 20 laps to go, to finish second to Kyle Busch by 1.547 seconds. It tied 2012 as his career-best finish at Martinsville. Allmendinger started the 2017 season at Daytona by finishing in third place, equalling his best career finish in the event.
Born in Los Gatos, California, USA.
Allmendinger started his career in karts, winning two International Kart Federation Grand National championships. He also raced in New Zealand in 2002 in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. Allmendinger won the Barber Dodge Pro Series championship in 2002, and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2003 with Carl Russo's RuSport team. He has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona since the 2006 edition for Michael Shank's team, finishing first in 2012, second in 2006 and third in 2013.
In 2004, Allmendinger entered the Champ Car World Series and won the CART Rookie-of-the-Year award ahead of Justin Wilson. He earned five wins and a third championship place in the 2006 Champ Car season. He left Champ Car with one race left in the season to accept a lucrative offer from the NASCAR operation Team Red Bull. Allmendinger has raced in NASCAR from 2006 to present.
He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 47 Chevrolet SS for JTG Daugherty Racing. On May 9, 2015, Allmendinger announced plans to sign a five-year contract extension with JTG Daugherty, allowing him to remain with the team through the 2020 season. Allmendinger nearly pulled off an upset at the 2016 STP 500 at Martinsville. He charged hard from 13th place with less than 20 laps to go, to finish second to Kyle Busch by 1.547 seconds. It tied 2012 as his career-best finish at Martinsville. Allmendinger started the 2017 season at Daytona by finishing in third place, equalling his best career finish in the event.