AJ Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing are returning to the 2023 NASCAR season. On Thursday afternoon, Kaulig Racing announced that Allmendinger will return to the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2025. The 42-year-old driver moved back to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024 after spending the 2023 season in the Cup Series.

Allmendinger has won two Cup Series races with Kaulig Racing, one in 2021 at the Indianapolis Road Course and the other in 2023 at the Charlotte ROVAL. Instead of having a full-time driver in the No. 16 Cup car in 2024, Kaulig Racing has decided to run the race with part-time drivers all season long.

🚨 NEWS 🚨

We know where he will be in 2025. @AJDinger will work full time again @NASCAR Cup Series competition for Kaulig Racing! pic.twitter.com/j7Op1BPock

— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) 15 August 2024

Aside from Shane van Gisbergen’s success on the road courses, Kaulig Racing has struggled, and moving Allmendinger back to the Cup Series is an excellent decision. He ran well in 2023, and while the equipment hasn’t been great this season, there is reason for optimism for next year. Kaulig Racing needs a boost, and Allmendinger should provide plenty of energy.