Car:
Number 22 Dodge
Team:
Penske Racing
Sponsor:
Shell-Pennzoil
Birthdate:
December 16, 1981
Rookie Season:
Entered NEXTEL Cup in 2007 with the Red Bull Racing team. A.J. is a rookie driver with a brand new team trying to tame a brand new car as this is also Toyota's first season in NEXTEL Cup.
A.J. is struggling as Toyota struggles. Both are mostly just trying to make the race each week to gain some valuable experience.
Career Highlights:
2004 - Champ Car Rookie of the Year
2005 - Won five races and finished third in Champ Car series points
2007 - First career NEXTEL Cup start (March Bristol race) 2012 - Joined Penske Racing
Steep Hill To Climb:
A.J. Allmendinger has been a winner in many different racing series. However he comes to NASCAR with very little experience in full-bodied cars. This situation is made even more difficult because he came into NASCAR driving for a brand new team and a brand new manufacturer as both Toyota and Team Red Bull were also rookies in 2007.
Allmendinger spent the first five years of his career winless in Sprint Cup racing. Joining Roger Penske's operation with a proven Chase-caliber team will put the pressure on. Can A.J. Allmendinger get the job done?
