Support » SCENE-please remove inappropriate photos of the dead/horrific
Meg, I liked the flowers, too! Especially the gold/yellow one. I would much much rather look at those than the wrecks. I opened one of the wrecks and ignored...
Allmendinger uncertain of driving plans for next season
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, August 29, 2008
Geoff Burke
Getty Images
FONTANA, Calif. – Red Bull Racing's AJ Allmendinger is still uncertain about whether he will return to his NASCAR Sprint Cup team next season. The driver has previously stated he'd like to stay with the group, but he says he continues to wait to hear from the team.
"Phone is silent as can be from their end," he said. " … I've stated I'd like to be back next year, but I just want an answer. I need to know I'm racing somewhere next year."
Almendinger and his team are outside the top 35 in the owner standings, though they have been on the line of making that field and were in it for one week. Allmendinger says that the team has improved to the level where he expects top finishes week to week.
"We got that first taste of being in the top 35," he said. "Michigan we just missed the setup, and that was disappointing since we ran so well there the first time. Last week, it's Bristol, we were running top 12 and just got wrecked. Nobody's fault. Martin [Truex Jr.] blew a tire, and that got us out, but the car was fast. ...
"We are running better. If we're not top 15, it's a bad day. We don't expect to miss the race. I expect to try to qualify top 15 every week and try to run there and that's what we have to do."
Meanwhile, Allmendinger is enjoying some time in another car.
Thursday, Allmendinger tried his hand at drifting with Red Bull's Rhys Millen. He had expected the experience to be exciting, but it clearly exceeded what he thought it would be. Drifting, a style of driving where competitors intentionally execute a controlled slide through a turn at high speed with the rear wheels sliding more than the front, was new to him.
"Just to be able to watch them on TV and what they do, I think, is pretty cool," he said. "But to get inside the car and see how much is going on and what they have to do, it was fun. I'd love to go back and do it again."
He said he expected to be on a skid course but instead found himself on a narrow two-lane road with rocks on the side if he went off.
"I always kind of thought the cars were just slippery, you could slide them around," he said. "The big difference is they've actually got a lot of grip in them. So to actually start the slide is probably the toughest thing to do and the transition back to the next corner is tough.
"Once you're in the middle of the slide, it's easy. It's just all about car control and throttle control, which is what every race-care driver is taught, but getting it started and when you have to transition from the left to right, keeping that turbo up so it's spinning the tire but not overdoing it, it's pretty tough."
Mentioned Drivers: AJ Allmendinger
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
Popular News
-
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. eager for return to Texas Motor Speedway
Comments (138) -
Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger charged with driving while impaired
Comments (73) -
JR Motorsports continues work on bringing Danica Patrick to NASCAR
Comments (69) -
NASCAR says bump-drafting rules not to blame for single-file Talladega racing
Comments (67) -
Dave Rogers to become Kyle Busch's new Cup crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing
Comments (64)
Recent Headlines
-
Nationwide penalty likely for opening-day violation by Kyle Busch team
Comments (6) -
Kyle Busch pulls off Texas two-step by winning Nationwide race
Comments (9) -
Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
Post Comment -
Roush Fenway Racing's Donnie Wingo set to return to organization for 2010 NASCAR season
Post Comment -
Toyota executive addresses Formula One decision, Earnhardt Ganassi possibility
Comments (6)
Poll PositionView All
Which NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner from the past two seasons is most likely to earn his first victory of 2009 in the next three races?
Promotions
-
Play "WIX Filters' Pick 3" stock car fantasy and win prizes. Season 2 is now in session!
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
-
Cast your vote for the NASCAR Illustrated 2009 Person of the Year, presented by Old Spice.
-
Make weekly pics for the Chase and be entered to win weekly SPEED Merchandise.
Comments
1 response to "Allmendinger uncertain of driving plans for next season".
Andrew Briscoe said:
Sep 1, 2008 at 4:36 PMI really hope to see AJ in Cup next year, whether it's at TRB or somewhere else.
Report as AbuseIf TRB is going to bring Scott Speed to Cup though and has the #83 in the Top 15 and the #84 in the Top 35, what would they do? From what I understand, Speed is their Golden Boy, so could we see Vickers or Allmendinger going to a #85 car to get it going and Speed going to the #83 or #84?
I really would hate to see either of the two get shafted like that, but it appears that that may happen if Red Bull executives think that highly of Speed.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report