A.J. Allmendinger

Birthday: 12/16/1981
Hometown: Los Gatos, CA

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2011 -- Finished career-best 15th in series points, continuing four-year forward movement. ... Again eclipsed career totals for top-10 starts (13, including four seconds), top-10 finishes (10). ... Career-best average start (14.9), finish (16.1). ... Best finish fifth, Charlotte-2. ... Completed 97.5 percent of laps attempted. ... Led "Closer" category in Loop Data.

2010 -- Finished career-best 19th in series points. ... First career pole, at spring Phoenix. ... Eclipsed career totals for top-10 starts (12), top-10 finishes (eight). ... Average start of 16.1. ... Finished season with three consecutive top-10 starts. ... Average finish of 17.8. ... Best finish, fourth at Watkins Glen. ... Qualified for every race for second consecutive season.

2009 -- Finished 24th in series points. ... Finished third in the Daytona 500, helping create a memorable day for Richard Petty Motorsports. Teammate Elliott Sadler was fifth and Reed Sorenson was ninth. ... Did not have another top-five finish but collected six top-10s. ...Was fifth in the Budweiser Shootout and seventh in the Sprint Showdown. ... Qualified for every race for the first time in his Cup career.

2008 -- Finished 36th in series points. ... Had two top 10s for Red Bull Racing. ... Failed to qualify for three races.

2007 -- Finished 43rd in series points. ... Best finish was 15th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October. ... Best start was fifth at Texas Motor Speedway in November.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Competed in three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2006, nine in 2007 and one in 2008. ... Finished fifth at Talladega in his second start. ... Finished third in the 2006 Champ Car World Series, winning five races and one pole. ... Won Rookie of the Year award in Champ Car World Series in 2004. ... Won Toyota Atlantic Rookie of the Year honors and championship in 2003. ... Was Barber Dodge Pro Series champion in 2002. Won six of the series' 10 races.

NOTEWORTHY

Was named Autosport International Rookie of the Year in 2004, becoming the first American to win the award. ... Second-youngest driver to win the Toyota Atlantic championship behind Michael Andretti. ... Is a two-time International Karting Federation Grand National champion. ... Lists Sprint Cup competitors Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon as his favorite drivers. ... Active on Twitter: @AJDinger.