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via Getty

via Getty

Winning a race in NASCAR is not just about having the fastest car. You win some, you lose some, but teamwork is inevitable. This is especially true with the usher of next-gen cars that are almost identical to one another in terms of features. If all 40 cars in a race have the same top speed and the same horsepower, it is quite natural that strategy will become the decisive factor. Now, fans have opinionated views on one such strategy of Kaulig Racing concerning their #16 Chevy driver.

After coming third in the race at Atlanta, AJ Allmendinger rose to the occasion, appealing a new-found spot in fans’ hearts. Many expected to see him buckle up and prepare for the following Cup Series race at Richmond. But Kaulig Racing has set different plans for him, that is, running in the Xfinity races instead.

But did it work for him? Dale Earnhardt Jr expressed his thoughts about it.

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What Dale Earnhardt Jr would have done if he were in the shoes of Matt Kaulig?

At this point in the season, every point counts. Sitting at the Bojangles studio, Mike Davis stated how unfortunate it was for AJ Allmendinger to have lost 5 precious points at the race at Richmond. Davis was curious to know what Dale Earnhardt Jr. would have done as a team owner for “the Dinger”.

He asked, “Did you find it a little bit peculiar that he would go do the Xfinity series race, given that there’s so much more at stake in the Cup Series and that he is on the bubble line?”

The owner of JR Motorsports gave a rather unexpected reply. He thought that indeed, this decision provided the media with a lot to debate on and the reporters plenty to write about. However, while validating the decision, he admitted,

” If I was Kaulig, and I owned all of that operations, deep, deep down I would want AJ to be in that road course race knowing that how good he is and how capable he is of winning an Xfinity series race for me.”

Junior explained, “I would rather have him there than practicing in the Cup car and qualifying in the Cup car at Richmond.”

Watch this story: Denny Hamlin Defends Himself With a Controversial Dale Earnhardt Sr Clip Regarding His Involvement in Chase Elliott?s Suspension

Junior’s thought behind this was likely to alleviate the pressure of qualifying for Richmond. Instead, he would have asked Allmendinger to concentrate on the Xfinity race at Road America, where the latter’s expertise in road courses could increase the chances of winning.

After the race at Richmond, one would ask, did the strategy work? Did Allmendinger muster the confidence that he was so fondly hoping to gain? Dale Junior’s ideas on the same sound legit.

Did the strategy work?

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Dale Junior said, “Is this the right decision? Yes, If AJ goes and wins the trophy. If he goes and wins that race in Road America, I made the right decision before the Cup Race ever starts.”

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But that did not happen. After the race at Richmond, he sits in the 18th spot and 22 points below the playoff cutline. However, the NASCAR Hall of Famer did not deny his prowess at overpowering his contenders on a road course. Throwback to 2022, AJ had dominated the road course race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Xfinity Series.

According to a report by ESPN last year, Allmendinger had won six of the past 11 road course races and nine in his entire NASCAR career. All three of Dinger’s wins in the 2022 Xfinity season were on road courses.

Fast forward to the current season and at the studio, Dale Jr sent a warning to all the other drivers for the next two road course races by saying, “AJ has got road course races coming up. AJ knows how to go to those races and gain the points he needs, he is very much dangerous at minus 22.”

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A fantastic spectacle would be to see Allmendinger, the road course master, and Shane van Gisbergen, the Supercar sensation battle with each other for the lead at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Read more: Mastermind Behind Shane Van Gisbergen?s Historic Win Details Chicago?s Response to NASCAR?s $50 Million Circus