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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

“Sorry, man. I don’t know why this thing f—— snapped. I s–k,” AJ Allmendinger groaned over the radio after spinning out on Lap 31 at Sonoma. The Kaulig Racing Chevrolet was running top-five when Ty Gibbs kicked up dirt in Turn 2, sending Allmendinger’s No. 16 into a spin.

The frustration was palpable, a raw moment where the veteran let his guard down. That same lap, John Hunter Nemechek spun out of Turn 7, but no caution flew. This left Allmendinger to stew as he fought to recover. Sonoma’s twisty layout is unforgiving, and for a road-course ace like Allmendinger, the mistake stung deep.

This wasn’t AJ’s first rough moment this season. Back at Kansas Speedway, his No. 16 suffered a brutal engine failure just 32 laps in, killing his race. Over the radio, he didn’t hold back, blasting, “Hey ECR, you guys f——-  suck.” That jab at Richard Childress Racing’s engine department drew a sharp response from the Hall of Famer himself.

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In a post-race NBC Sports interview, Childress fired back and pointed out, “The 12 (Ryan Blaney) blew up two times. The 48 (Alex Bowman) blew up (one time). They never said anything. It’s how you want to run your mouth.” The exchange laid bare the tension between driver and team, a rare public clash for the usually upbeat Allmendinger. The public spat exposed tensions in a partnership that’s been vital for Kaulig since their Xfinity days in 2016, leaning on RCR’s chassis, engines, and data to compete in Cup since 2022.

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Those tensions tie directly to Kaulig Racing’s deep alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Since Kaulig’s Xfinity days in 2016, RCR has been a cornerstone, supplying chassis, cars, and crucially, ECR Engines co-owned by Childress and Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s estate. This partnership gives Kaulig, a newer Cup team since 2022, access to top-tier engineering, data, and engines, powering drivers like Allmendinger, Justin Haley, and Daniel Hemric. It is a lifeline that keeps Kaulig competitive without the massive overhead of an in-house program.

But that reliance comes with risks. AJ’s Kansas outburst highlighted how an engine failure does not just sting, it points fingers at RCR’s ECR Engines, which also power other Chevy teams. The synergy has fueled Kaulig’s rise, but setbacks like Kansas expose the pressure points in this shared setup. Childress’ sharp response underscored the expectation for drivers to stay professional, even when the technology fails.

Sonoma’s spin, months later, showed Allmendinger is still wrestling with the season’s ups and downs. His “I s–k” moment was not just about one mistake, it echoed a driver battling to find consistency in a high-stakes alliance. For a fan-favorite known for his grit, it is a raw reminder that even the best feel the weight when things go sideways.

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Does AJ Allmendinger's candidness make him more relatable, or is it hurting his reputation?

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Sonoma Cup race Stage 2 updates

Stage 2 at Sonoma was a wild one, with Shane van Gisbergen stealing the show. SVG pitted with two laps left, falling behind Kyle Larson, but hunted him down to win the stage and snag a playoff point. The top 10 included SVG, Larson, Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Briscoe, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron, many skipping pits to hold position.

By Lap 52, SVG stretched his lead to three seconds over Briscoe, with Buescher climbing to fifth and Ty Gibbs slipping to 10th after an early push. Brad Keselowski was quietly matching top-five lap times, hinting at a late charge if he could gain track position.

Drama hit on Lap 46 when Trackhouse teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez tangled in Turn 11. Suarez spun, dropping from the top 15 to 29th, a costly blow that fueled his frustration and a heated radio warning to Chastain. Sonoma’s tight corners kept the action hot and tempers hotter.

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  Debate

Does AJ Allmendinger's candidness make him more relatable, or is it hurting his reputation?

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