AJ Allmendinger details twists and turns of Chicago Street Race Course
NASCAR is going to be on the streets of Chicago soon enough. AJ Allmendinger got an early look at the course and has thoughts about it. Of course, Allmendinger cut his teeth racing on the streets in the ChampCar series. Now he’s ready to show these other drivers how it’s done.
Over the course of his career, AJ Allmendinger has been tabbed as the road course guy. And for good reason. Allmendinger just has a knack for the corners and turns that are found on the road and street.
Based on what Allmendinger has seen in the Windy City, this street race is going to challenge the NASCAR field. Many of them are not going to know what to do with all of the turns and two walls on either side of them for the entire race.
“So just the way it’s laid out, just kind of the broad scheme of things of looking at it, it does feel like there’s passing opportunities and going to be some good racing,” Allmendinger said, via NASCAR.com.
The real question, at least for AJ Allmendinger, can he turn his previous experience on the streets into a successful race in Chicago?
“What makes especially on the Cup side of it so difficult is you’ve got the best drivers in the world, and we’ve seen that at all the road courses,” the driver said. “It’s not just three or four guys that stand out anymore. I mean, it’s a tough field from one through 36. So I hope that experience helps, but put it this way – I’m not relying on it saying ‘Oh, that’s what’s gonna make the difference.'”
For someone that wants to pump the brakes a little bit on his potential success, Allmendinger wasn’t afraid to call his shot a while back.
AJ Allmendinger already has his Chicago victory planned
With passing opportunities on the track, this should be a good race. The big and bulky Next Gen cars will still have some trouble. But if we can see some movement in the field, fans will be happy. If he’s able to pull off the win, Allmendinger already has his celebration planned, though. Gotta always be ready.
“This fountain behind me,” Allmendinger said in a video two weeks ago, “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?”
So, we know what Allmendinger’s plans are. Go into Chicago, win, and then jump in the fountain at Grant Park. Honestly, why wouldn’t you?
AJ Allmendinger is going to have to beat out a talented field. If there was an early favorite, it might have to be the Dinger. Not much longer until the first street race in NASCAR history.