For a driver who has spent most of his NASCAR career answering questions about the next race, AJ Allmendinger found himself discussing something much further down the road Saturday in San Diego.
His answer left little room for interpretation.
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Despite competing for a Kaulig Racing team facing an uphill battle in the NASCAR Cup Series and despite sitting 21st in the championship standings entering Sunday’s race, Allmendinger made it clear that retirement is not part of the conversation.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Allmendinger said. “Like, I laugh when I see that. I mean, according to Chris [Rice, team CEO], I’ve got a contract till like 2032, so I’m not going anywhere. So I do kind of laugh about, like, ‘oh, next year?’ I’m like, that’s not on my mind because I’m here for life in one way or another.”
The comments came during NASCAR’s inaugural San Diego race weekend, where Allmendinger will roll off 15th for Sunday’s Cup Series race after qualifying solidly in the middle of the field.
For a driver whose future occasionally becomes a topic of speculation whenever the Cup Series visits a road course, Saturday’s message was straightforward: he still sees unfinished business ahead.
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AJ Allmendinger Isn’t Thinking About an Exit
Allmendinger has already experienced multiple chapters throughout his NASCAR career.
After establishing himself as one of the sport’s premier road-course racers, he shifted between full-time and part-time competition, won races across multiple NASCAR series, captured an Xfinity Series championship contender’s reputation, and helped build Kaulig Racing into one of the garage’s most recognizable organizations.
Now in his second full season back in the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing, Allmendinger says his focus remains on helping the organization continue moving forward.
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That commitment stands out given the challenges Kaulig currently faces.
The team no longer receives manufacturer support from Chevrolet because of its affiliation with Ram in the Craftsman Truck Series, creating another obstacle in NASCAR’s increasingly competitive landscape.
Still, Allmendinger isn’t interested in lowering expectations.
“I don’t like that excuse — for me,” Allmendinger said. “Now, do I look at how we’re running, and in my head I’m like, it’s pretty good for everything we’re up against? Yes. But if I just settle for that, I wouldn’t be doing my job for my race team.”
The Frustration Comes From Caring
Anyone who listens to NASCAR team radios has heard Allmendinger’s competitive side.
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The veteran has never been shy about expressing frustration when races don’t unfold the way he expects. But according to Allmendinger, those moments are rarely directed at the people around him.
Instead, they’re directed inward.
“I just don’t want to suck for my race team, honestly,” Allmendinger said. “Like, that’s the ultimate goal. My frustration comes from me.”
That mentality helps explain why retirement isn’t on his radar.
For Allmendinger, the question isn’t about age. It’s about contribution.
“I think it’s always whether I’m doing a good enough job and I’m further moving us and our race team [forward],” he said. “That’s what goes back to that frustration part of it. That’s why I’m always like, I need to be better to keep moving us forward. But that’s up to Matt [Kaulig, team owner] and Chris. But yeah, at the end of the day, we’re not going anywhere.”
For now, that future includes another Cup Series start Sunday in San Diego.
And if Allmendinger has his way, many more after that.
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