JTG Daugherty Racing to drop Allmendinger

JTG Daugherty Racing will release AJ Allmendinger following the 2018 season.

The 36-year-old Allmendinger, who is completing the third year of what was previously announced as a five-year deal through 2020, was 27th in the standings last year and is 24th this year. He has driven for JTG Daugherty Racing since he did a partial schedule with the team in 2013 before going full time in 2014.

“AJ Allmendinger has been a valuable asset to the growth of our company, and we are grateful for his professionalism with our brands and the passion he has shown for this race team over the years,” team co-owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement. “As hard as it may be, we’re moving in a different direction for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season and will be parting ways at the end of this season.

“It’s not an easy decision and change is never easy. We wish him the very best in his endeavors and he will always be family to us.”

The team did not announce a replacement, but industry sources view part-time Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ryan Preece, who has two wins and eight top-5s in 13 Xfinity starts in the past two years, as the leading candidate for that ride. Preece, whose roots are in modified racing in the Northeast, has repeatedly deflected questions on his 2019 plans in the last few weeks.

A former Champ Car standout, Allmendinger transitioned to NASCAR in 2007 when he joined the new Red Bull Racing. His lone Cup win came at The Glen driving for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2014, the year he finished a career-best 13th in the standings.

His was 19th in the standings in 2016 but has had just two top-5s and eight top-10s since then.

The JTG Daugherty teams have struggled this year. Allmendinger’s teammate, Chris Buescher, hasn’t fared much better, as he sits just one spot and 22 points ahead of Allmendinger in the standings. Buescher has a 21.4 average finish this year; Allmendinger’s average finish is 23rd.

Allmendinger is a driver with a diverse background. He co-drove a car to victory in the 2012 Rolex 24 At Daytona sports-car race, had five Champ Car wins, was seventh in the 2013 Indy 500, has two Xfinity wins and one Cup win.

Allmendinger also successfully resurrected his career following a failed 2012 drug test, which he said was the result of a friend giving him a pill while they were out and he was feeling drowsy, not knowing the pill was Adderall. While the suspension ended up costing him his Cup ride at Team Penske in 2012, Penske fielded Allmendinger in six IndyCar races in 2013 and Allmendinger won a pair of Xfinity races for Penske as he worked his way back into a full-time NASCAR ride.

JTG Daugherty Racing is co-owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and former NBA player and ESPN analyst Brad Daugherty.