Allmendinger Faces Struggles Ahead of Nashville Race
A.J. Allmendinger’s bid to leverage momentum from a fourth-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600 hit a roadblock as the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet encountered pre-race scrutiny. During practice preparations, NASCAR officials halted the car when a crew member was observed adjusting the splitter—an action deemed unapproved post-inspection.
After being returned to the garage, the car failed the first round of inspection, confirming NASCAR’s suspicions. The team scrambled to comply with regulations, successfully passing on the second attempt. However, the incident resulted in a ten-minute delay from the initial 25 minutes of Group B practice.
Subsequent penalties included the loss of pit stall selection for the race and relegation to the rear of the 39-car field. Additionally, car chief Jaron Antley was ejected from the event, and Allmendinger will face a stop-and-go penalty under green flag conditions at race start, despite qualifying 17th.
"It’s just a part of NASCAR life," Allmendinger remarked. "My guys did a good job. We got back through there… only lost 10 or 12 minutes of practice."
Entering the Nashville race, Allmendinger sits 18th in the championship standings, just 13 points below the playoff cut-line. Kaulig Racing remains winless in the 2025 season following their strongest performance last weekend.
At this juncture, the team must overcome substantial challenges to secure valuable points and restore their competitive edge in a tightly contested season.
