AJ Allmendinger facing potential penalty for unapproved adjustment on pit road at Nashville

Bad news for AJ Allmendinger and his No. 16 Kaulig Racing team. NASCAR found that the team made unapproved adjustments on pit road. Before practice got going today at Nashville for the Cup Series, Allmendinger’s team was sent back to the garage.

The No. 16 car was sent back through inspection in the garage. It was found that the team, in fact, did make an unapproved adjustment. While Allmendinger will practice and qualify, there are potential penalties waiting for him.

AJ Allmendinger has been doing very well this season. He is 18th in points and finished P4 at Charlotte last week. Now, he’s likely going to start in the rear of today’s race and could potentially face penalties more severe than that.

Making unapproved adjustments on pit road is a huge no-no. Kaulig Racing should know that. However, in the racing business, you try to get away with whatever you can. Still, with all of the eyes on pit road, and teams not afraid to talk to officials about other teams’ misdeeds, it is very risky.

AJ Allmendinger is showing that he is the best man for Kaulig in the Cup Series. The fact that he was bounced to the Xfinity Series for the 2024 season was silly. He never should have lost that seat, and is doing all he can to prove that this year.

With how well Allmendinger has been running, it won’t be shocking to see him contend for a win on a road course coming up. He struggled at COTA this year, finishing P30. However, the team has found a lot more speed in the last few months.

AJ Allmendinger punished heavily by NASCAR

Making post-inspection adjustments is a thing you just can’t do. You will get caught every single time. AJ Allmendinger’s team got caught, and now they are going to face the consequences. NASCAR has come down hard on Allmendinger.

AJ Allmendinger’s team made an adjustment to the splitter after technical inspection, just before practice. Allmendinger loses his starting spot and will go to the rear. He also loses his pit stall selection. To start the race, the 16 car will also have to make a stop-and-go after the green flag.

Perhaps even worse, Allmendinger’s car chief, Jaron Antley, has been ejected from the race and has had his hard card confiscated. NASCAR does not play with these kinds of penalties. They have drawn a hard line in the sand. Antley will have to wait in line to get his credentials each week for the rest of the season. A message has been sent to Kaulig.

We will see how this affects Allmendinger. Nashville is a race he could have run in the top-10 without cheating up his car. Now, he will likely be down a lap to start.