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AJ Allmendinger calls his shot, says he's winning NASCAR Chicago Street Race in July

JHby:Jonathan Howard•06/02/23•

Jondean25

AJ Allmendinger
(Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While his season hasn’t been going the way he imagined his return to the Cup Series going, AJ Allmendinger has confidence. The NASCAR driver is ready to get onto the streets of Chicago and return to his roots a bit. Ahead of the race, Allmendinger looked over the track and got a feel for what he and his other Cup Series peers will be racing on in a few weeks.

Thinking back to his ChampCar days, AJ Allmendinger is feeling “super pumped” about the new NASCAR event. There aren’t many drivers at the Cup level that have had experience with street racing and this could be a race where Allmendinger makes a big statement.

“I am super pumped. My background, I used to love street course racing in ChampCar. So, to be able to finally do it in NASCAR is pretty awesome. Walking around the race track, it’s unique, it’s fast, it’s tight. It’s everything you want in a street course. So I can’t wait to be here in a couple of weeks, ready to go.

“This fountain behind me, we’re going to race right behind it, but better yet when we win this race, I’m jumping in that thing for celebration. Why don’t you come join me?”

If AJ Allmendinger is able to pull off the unthinkable and win the Chicago Street Race, it would be massive. Not just for the driver but also Kaulig Racing. That team is looking to build a name and reputation and it could all start with Allmendinger.

AJ Allmendinger needs a good performance

Coming into this season, it was thought that Allmendinger could be the surprise of 2023. He grinded out a great Xfinity Series season last year with limited Cup Series starts. That was good enough to get him a full-time ride this year. However, since debuting a P6 finish at Daytona, it has pretty much been downhill from there.

AJ Allmendinger finished P14 at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600. That finish tied his best finish of the season since that race at Daytona. Kansas was also a P14 finish for Dinger. So, what is the answer here?

You look at a driver like Allmendinger and you assume he’s a road course guy. That’s pretty much how things have been for him his career. So, it makes sense that he’s looking forward to some road course and street course action.

After this weekend’s race at WWT Raceway, formerly Gateway, the Cup Series heads to Sonoma. Perhaps that will give AJ Allmendinger a chance to right the ship ahead of the Chicago Street Race.