NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger has issued a heartfelt statement ahead of his 500th Cup Series start this Sunday.
The Santa Clara native heads to Sonoma Raceway with 499 Cup starts under his belt, set to hit the stunning milestone in his home state with Kaulig Racing.
Across a career that has spanned 19 years so far, in those 499 starts, Allmendinger has won three races, registering 23 finishes inside the top five, and 90 finishes inside the top 10, respectively.
| Year | Races | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2009 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2010 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2011 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 2012 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2015 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2016 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 2017 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2018 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 2023 | 36 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 2024 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 2026 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 499 | 3 | 23 | 90 |
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AJ Allmendinger on making 500th Cup Series start
Speaking ahead of the event at Sonoma, Allmendinger has admitted that he never thought he'd hit the 500 start milestone in the Cup Series, and that the idea of doing so was beyond his imagination.
“Reaching 500 Cup Series starts is something I never could have imagined when I first got behind the wheel,” said Allmendinger in a heartfelt statement.
“To do it at Sonoma, in my home state of California, with the men and women at Kaulig Racing makes it even more special.
"I’ve been fortunate to race for great teams, work alongside incredible people and enjoy the support of amazing fans throughout my career.
"I’m especially grateful to Matt Kaulig (Owner) and Chris Rice (CEO) for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be part of this organization.
"Winning races with Kaulig Racing has meant so much because of the people here and the effort everyone puts in every day.”
Kaulig owner hails Allmendinger's incredible accomplishment
Kaulig Racing team owner Matt Kaulig also spoke in a team press release ahead of Sunday's race, hailing Allmendinger's 'incredible' achievement.
"500 NASCAR Cup Series starts is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to AJ's talent, determination and passion for racing,” said Kaulig.
“What makes AJ special isn't just what he's achieved on the track, it's the way he leads, competes, and represents our organization every day. Since joining Kaulig Racing, he's been instrumental in helping us grow, win races, and establish ourselves at the Cup Series level.
"Reaching this milestone at Sonoma, in front of family, friends and fans in his home state, makes it even more meaningful. We're proud to have AJ as part of the Kaulig Racing family and look forward to celebrating this moment with him while continuing to chase wins together."
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