JTG Daugherty Racing focused on 36 Sprint Cup Series points races
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AJ Allmendinger, who earned his first career victory and berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2014, will not compete in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 14, 8 p.m. ET, FOX).
A week after all 16 Chase drivers were honored during Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, NASCAR announced that the drivers were among the minimum of 25 drivers eligible to compete in the 75-lap, non-points race that kicks off the season.
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“In mid-December NASCAR changed the rules regarding Sprint Unlimited eligibility,” JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement released by the team.
“We were not qualified for that race until NASCAR’s decision to expand the field stating all 16 drivers who qualified for the Chase were eligible. We had already budgeted for our 36 points paying races. There was not ample time for us to secure additional sponsorship and prepare for the race without compromising our Daytona 500 preparation.”
The JTG Daugherty Racing driver will have a different gig for the Sprint Unlimited as he will be on the radio for the race as he joins Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle in the broadcast booth for MRN’s coverage.
Pumped to be working the @MRNRadio team during the Unlimited. Will be lots of fun. @NASCAR47
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) February 3, 2015
Allmendinger will focus on the Daytona 500 (Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET on FOX) and attempt to join Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Jamie McMurray as the only drivers to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Great American Race. Allmendinger won the Rolex 24 in 2012.
Great Superbowl. Its over now. Fun begins. Let the season start. Ready to get to @DISupdates with my @NASCAR47 team. One week to go
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) February 2, 2015