October 5, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Kaulig Racing announces 2023 driver lineup, Allmendinger returns to Cup

After a four-year absence from full-time Cup competition, AJ Allmendinger will return to NASCAR’s top tour in 2023 with Kaulig Racing behind the wheel of the No. 16 Chevrolet.

Allmendinger thrived under the Kaulig banner since joining the company in 2019. He eased his way back into the sport through the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 77 races with the team, the 40-year-old racer has accumulated 12 Xfinity wins.

“When I first went to Kaulig Racing to compete part-time in 2019 and 2020, I remember how I felt on the weekends that I wasn’t racing and how much I missed it,” Allmendinger said. “Competing full-time is a mentally tough battle at times. No matter how much work you put in as a driver, there’s a chance you will not achieve success.

“For a while, I think I lost that competitive drive to be the best. Kaulig Racing helped me find that again. I now feel more competitive than ever and believe there is more success to be earned as a team.”

Allmendinger retired from Cup competition following the 2018 season after the stress became unbearable for the driver. The environment at Kaulig has allowed the driver to enjoy racing again and provide leadership to the younger drivers as the organization.

“I first called AJ in 2019 to ask if he would run a couple of Xfinity Series races for us,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “He agreed to do five, and he was disqualified in the first two races. Although it was two, tough results, AJ saw what we were trying to build here at Kaulig Racing, and better yet, he believed in what we were building.

“After the success we’ve had together since then, we think the next step is for him to help us do the same with our young, Cup Series team.”

Although Dinger was DQed from the first two NXS races, he finished third in the first race when the No. 10 team cleared tech and won at the Roval two starts later. He won two of 11 races in 2020, five in 2021, and four in the first 28 races of this year including last Saturday at Talladega.

Allmendinger advanced to the NXS Championship 4 Round last year after winning his first of back-to-back regular season titles. He currently shares the Xfinity Series points lead with Noah Gragson.

As Kaulig has expanded its footprint in the Cup Series, Allmendinger’s past experience on the tour has been invaluable as Justin Haley moved to full-time Cup racing. Allmendinger collected Kaulig’s first Cup victory last year in the inaugural Indianapolis G.P. He’s competed in 13 Cup races in the No. 16 Cup car in 2022. Allmendinger’s best result was second at Watkins Glen in August.

“I’ve always told Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice that I will do whatever they think is best for the company, and as long as I am helping the team, I will keep doing it,” Allmendinger added. “I love working with Justin as well and being able to see his growth. I think we have more growth to do together, and it makes returning to the Cup Series full-time with Kaulig Racing an easy decision.”

With six road courses on the Cup schedule, Allmendinger is the ideal candidate for the second Kaulig Cup car. Of his 11 wins, seven were earned on road courses.

“It’s hard to not think of AJ Allmendinger when you think of Kaulig Racing,” said Matt Kaulig, Kaulig Racing team owner. “When we started this team in 2016, I never imagined we’d have won as many races as we have, including a Cup Series race and two regular-season championships in two years.

“We are all truly excited to be able to say that we were able to get AJ Allmendinger out of retirement, not once, but twice now, to compete for Kaulig Racing full-time.”

Chandler Smith will replace Allmendinger in the No. 16 Chevrolet in 2023. The 20-year-old signed a multi-year deal and will compete for NXS rookie honors.

“I’m really excited to have an opportunity like this for my rookie year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” Smith said. “Kaulig Racing has grown from a small team to a multi-series, powerhouse team in just a few short years.

“I’m honored to take over the No. 16 car that has had so much success these last couple of years.”

In two full seasons in the Camping World Truck Series, Smith has posted five wins, one pole, 22 top five and 32 top 10s. He is currently second in the NCWTS standings. Haley returns to the Cup program for 2023--the second year of a two-year deal. Smith joins Landon Cassill and potentially Daniel Hemric, should the driver secure financing to compete.

Although Kaulig has been rumored to be interested in adding a truck team to its portfolio, no update was provided on Wednesday.