Lack of Chevy support, alliance has AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing constantly 'guessing'

Kaulig Racing no longer has an alliance with Richard Childress Racing and has much less support from Chevrolet than it's had in recent years. 

So, what does that leave driver AJ Allmendinger and Kaulig's Cup Series program to do? 

"We are guessing," Allmendinger said Saturday at Kansas Speedway. "It's difficult. To a certain degree, it's a guess every weekend. We are guessing at heights, especially when it's a track with a different aero package."

There is one positive for Allmendinger on a personal standpoint, however. 

"I have no sim to do," Allmendinger said, laughing. "I still go to the shop. I sit down with [crew chief Trent Owens]. My prep is still the same in the sense of how I watch video and anything I can find that helps me."

AJ Allmendinger "maximizing" 2026 results

Despite the relative lack of support, which is exacerbated in a year where Chevrolet has a new Camaro body in the Cup Series, Allmendinger feels like the No. 16 team is getting all it can get every weekend.

"It's not easy," Allmendinger said. "But we knew it wasn't going to be easy. We're running all the laps that we can run. I feel like, at the end of the weekend, we're maximizing, whether it's finishing 30th or running inside the top 10."

Allmendinger is 20th in the Cup Series standings going into the ninth race of the 2026 season at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.