The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are underway, with the second race of the Round of 16 taking place Sunday at Watkins Glen International. While Kaulig Racing has no stake in the event, that hasn’t stopped the team from chasing the trophy in New York’s Finger Lakes region.
In a weekend that is guaranteed to bring uncertainty, with the launch of new tires from Goodyear, one thing is for sure, Kaulig Racing has the talent in its arsenal this weekend to deliver.
For the third time this year, the organization will field its third, part-time entry with AJ Allmendinger, the most successful road racer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, set to take on the 90-lap contest with race sponsor GoBowling.com aboard the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro.
Allmendinger will work alongside Daniel Hemric, Kaulig’s full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, and Xfinity Series teammate Shane Van Gisbergen, who will drive the No. 16 car for the fourth straight week, on the 2.45-mile road course.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Matt Kaulig’s team to score two big results, as Allmendinger and Van Gisbergen have thrived in road racing in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Allmendinger, who will join Kaulig Racing for a full-time Cup Series campaign in 2025, has found success in NASCAR’s premier division this season on road courses, notching a pair of sixth-place finishes at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and Sonoma Raceway.
“Watkins Glen in Cup cars has been great for us the last few years,” Allmendinger said in pre-race remarks. “We have top-five speed, a chance to win races, and we’ve finished second and fourth there the last two years.”
The Los Gatos, California native has been an integral part of the team’s success in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning two wins at the Indianapolis Road Course in 2021 and the Charlotte ROVAL in 2023, as well as nine top-fives and 21 top-10s.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to drive the No. 13 Go Bowling Chevrolet at Watkins Glen. With this car, we don’t have to worry about points and can focus on using our strategy to win the race. I think we can run up front all day and have a great chance to steal the win.”
Van Gisbergen has had similar pace, qualifying inside the top 12 in both of his away starts this season, but has not been as fortunate when it comes to finishing, having crashed in Chicago and suffered mechanical issues at COTA.
“I’m looking forward to the Cup car races at Watkins Glen. [International],” Van Gisbergen said in a pre-race statement. “It’s a road course, so I’m excited to see how my WeatherTech Chevrolet will stack up against the rest of the field. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Nonetheless, the NASCAR Xfinity Series overall was a positive experience for the Auckland, New Zealand native, winning events at Portland International Raceway, Sonoma Raceway and Chicago Street Course, while also crossing the line in second place at COTA, before receiving a final lap penalty.
“I have competed [at Watkins Glen International] before, but this time it will be a completely different experience in a stock car. I can’t wait to get out there. [this weekend] and had a great time in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. Hopefully we can celebrate in Victory Lane again.”
The biggest overall benefit of having drivers competing in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series simultaneously is the great chance that Kaulig Racing will have drivers competing for wins on both Saturday and Sunday.
Leaving Watkins Glen, New York with one trophy would be a fantastic scenario for Kaulig Racing, but two trophies? That would be a pipe dream.
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