Talladega II Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• AJ Allmendinger started in the 24th position for the 188-lap event at Talladega Superspeedway
• Allmendinger finished the race in the 31st position at the 2.66-mile superspeedway
• Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 16th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger started the 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway from the 24th position and immediately hooked up with teammate Marcos Ambrose to form the important two-car tandem. The pair remained glued together and worked their way into the top 15 early, communicating via the team radio nearly non-stop.

The first caution flag of the day flew at Lap 26 of the 188-lap event and, like much of the field, Allmendinger drove to the attention of his awaiting crew for fresh right side tires and fuel. Hooking back up with teammate Ambrose at the restart, he held down 15th place at Lap 31. The two continued to work together on the track until making a scheduled pit stop on Lap 68. Allmendinger returned to the track after his four-tire stop and saw the caution flag wave the very next lap.

Because they had already come into the pits, Allmendinger and Ambrose took the green flag for the restart in the first and second spot. Working to stay out of the usual Talladega trouble, the two faded back a bit, but remained in sight of the leaders. Unfortunately, a slight miscue at Lap 105 resulted in the No. 43 car spinning down the track and into the path of oncoming traffic. Allmendinger was able to drive the damaged Best Buy Ford to pit road and the crew went to work to make repairs. The majority of the damage was cosmetic and was confined to the left side of the machine.

Allmendinger returned to the track in time for the Lap 110 green flag and attempted to work with Ambrose once again, but was forced to pit several laps later after shredding a left rear tire. Allmendinger lost several laps while the crew made additional repairs. He was able to pick up one lap thanks to the Lucky Dog award, but encountered another flat tire at Lap 138. The reason for the tire rub was found once Allmendinger drove the Best Buy Ford back into the pits and the crew spent several laps working on more repairs.

Allmendinger returned to the track with 46 laps remaining in the race and spent much of the remainder of the race drafting with wounded competitors. When the checkered flag waved, Allmendinger held down the 31st position. Allmendinger now stands in 16th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings heading into next Sunday’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in Martinsville, Va.

Credit -Richard Petty Motorsports PR