With only three races left until NASCAR visits Phoenix, the storylines have undergone a revision. While drivers like Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were toiling hard to find a spot in the final 8, comfortably placed drivers like William Byron could afford to take it easy, having won a race earlier. But what was the eventual winner of Charlotte Roval racing for? For Kaulig Racing driver A.J. Allmendinger, it was survival in the Cup Series.

Before the race on Sunday, Dinger’s mind was clouded by uncertainty. With team president Chris Rice actively searching for sponsors and funding for the #16 Cup ride, the conclusion to this renewal saga has been unpredictable. However, if the decision were up to A.J., he would have liked only one possible outcome.

Allmendinger’s NASCAR Cup Series future is hanging by a thread

A.J. Allmendinger secured only his third Cup Series win on Sunday in Charlotte. The 41-year-old has continuously been around the tracks for decades, switching teams and cars, even in competitions. All those efforts translating into a dramatic win at Roval forced him into a teary-eyed episode after the race. Unable to hold his emotions, and with the contractual talks in the background, he just let his emotions out after what could be his best and last Cup win.

Kaulig Racing‘s project looked solid on paper when the season took off. The inclusion of Allmendinger also bolstered their arsenal with road course expertise and loads of experience. Having been a racing vagabond for most of his career, being at the base of a new, promising project was a new feel for Allmendinger. Speaking on Racing America’s The Bullring earlier, he elaborated on the same.

“I’ve been so fortunate in my life to be at teams like Team Penske and to drive for “The King” Richard Petty, and things like that. And you’re a part of that history, but when you’re kind of growing that history and building that resume together, it makes it a different type of special. Matt and Chris have always made me feel like I’m a huge part of this team.” claimed the #16 driver.

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The introduction of charters has been a game-changer in this situation. For someone like A.J. Allmendinger, who is making a return to Cup racing without age on his side, it is not an easy choice to make. With the financial factors getting increasingly unpredictable with time, the business side of things needed to be looked at. On a thorough look, A.J. was the one with the highest chance of getting the axe.

A.J. wants to keep going in top-flight racing

Kaulig Racing has a lot to take pride in this season. Initially, the team’s goal was to be a strong playoff contender. Although their pursuit cannot be exactly classified as ‘strong’, they did not pull back any punches with the #16 car. Allmendinger went up against other playoff aspirants like Bubba Wallace, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez in the final stages of the regular season for it. While they didn’t succeed in their task, the Charlotte winner had left his mark already.

Another blunder from their team was to field A.J. Allmendinger in the Xfinity Series instead of the Cup race. While the driver pointed out that he just followed the decision of the team’s higher-ups, the true reason behind it hasn’t been decoded yet. As Allmendinger continued his conversation, the veteran then talked about his love for driving in the Cup and being a part of a project from scratch.

“I’d preferably love to keep building the Cup program. That’s my first choice. But Matt and Chris, I’ve told them since day one, especially as I went full-time in 2021 back in the Xfinity Series and what we’ve done over the last three years full-time racing, that I’m always going to do what they ask because they have given me more opportunities, and allowed my dreams to come true by kissing the bricks twice at Indy, winning two more Cup races, winning on ovals.”

When I ended what I thought was my full-time racing career in 2018, I had three wins in NASCAR. I think now I’m at 20 or something like that, and I’ve gotten to kiss the bricks. The point of that is I’m always going to do what they ask.”

When asked about what looks like the most possible conclusion to all of this, he states that even if it’s a part-time role, A.J. Allmendinger will pounce upon the chance to experience the roar of a Cup Series engine. “I’m still going to race Cup next year, no matter what,” Allmendinger said. “Whether it’s on a part-time basis, the road course races or we do more races. I think people saw the emotion and thought, ‘Man, this may be the last time he races the Cup this year,’ no, that’s not it. It’s the emotion was just real because it was a Cup win.”

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A.J. Allmendinger has slowly crept his way into becoming a fan favorite. His popularity will increase even more after his win in Charlotte. Could that force Kaulig to find the necessary funding for him? Maybe or maybe not.