Texas II Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Valvoline Ford Fusion

*AJ Allmendinger began the race at Texas Motor Speedway from the 10th position
*Allmendinger brought the No. 43 Valvoline Ford home in the 14th position
*Allmendinger advanced one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and now stands in the 20th place

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger started Sunday’s 334-lap event in the Lone Star State from the 10th position. The top-10 start was the driver’s 10th of the season.

As the race around the 1.5-mile Fort Worth, Texas track began, Allmendinger relayed to his crew chief Mike Shiplett that his No. 43 Valvoline Ford Fusion was a little loose on entry into the corners but overall handling well. With the day’s first caution at Lap 12, the Richard Petty Motorsports team opted for fuel and two right side tires only and quickly sent Allmendinger back on track.

Allmendinger began to relay that his No. 43 Ford was struggling with rear grip at Lap 40. Opportunity to make necessary adjustments quickly came for the RPM team with another caution at Lap 43. Shiplett called for track bar and air pressure adjustments as well as four tires and fuel. Back to green flag racing, the driver fought for track position among the top 20 in the field for the majority of the middle stages of the race.

Struggling with handling, the Valvoline crew took every chance presented during the race to make adjustments to the No. 43 Ford. Allmendinger continued a steady flow of communication to his crew. As the laps wound down, Allmendinger reappeared in the top 15 and on the final lap of the event he sailed across the start/finish line in the 14th position. The top-15 finish is the driver’s 17th in 34 races this season.

AJ Allmendinger advanced one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and stands 20th with two races remaining in the 2010 season. The Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway where Allmendinger collected his first career pole in April this season.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR