Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team JTG Daugherty Racing announced on Tuesday afternoon that AJ Allmendinger will not return to the team next season and will be released from the organization following the season-finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in November.
“AJ Allmendinger has been a valuable asset to the growth of our company, and we are grateful for his professionalism with our brands and the passion he has shown for this race team over the years,” team owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement.
“As hard as it may be, we’re moving in a different direction for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season and will be parting ways at the end of this season. It’s not an easy decision and change is never easy. We wish him the very best in his endeavors and he will always be family to us.”
Allmendinger, 35, joined the team in 2013 where he made nine starts that year between June and November.
In 181 races with the team, Allmendinger scored his lone Cup Series victory at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in 2014 placing him into the post-season Playoffs. He went on to finish a career-high 13th in the championship standings.
In May 2015, JTG Daugherty announced a five-year contract with the Los Gatos, Calif. native, but since the announcement of the long-term extension, the No. 47 team has struggled with results with just four top-five and 20 top-10 races in a span of 136 races.
“It’s huge,” Allmendinger said of his new deal in 2015. “This sport’s not easy, especially in this day and age. It’s so competitive and it’s so brutal when it comes to trying to find sponsors and keep sponsors and having a job. So, this is my home and I know it’s the right place for me.
“To have a long-term deal is great, but I kind of look at it like I’m going to be here hopefully until my career is over, whenever that is,” Allmendinger said. “It’s the right place for me on and off the race track. It’s a big deal … I feel like this is the right place, the right role for me. So, this is big for a lot of reasons.”
Entering Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Allmendinger sits 24th in the championship standings with a season-high third place finish at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in July, while capturing two additional top-10s earlier in the season.
Since 2007, Allmendinger has total 363 Cup starts to his credit with four poles, one win, 11 top-five and 55 top-10 finishes and 509 laps led.
Current Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series driver Ryan Preece is the leading candidate to replace Allmendinger for the 2019 season. Preece, however, has been mum on his plans for next season.
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