Kaulig Racing’s Driver Threatened by Kyle Busch’s Former Driver as New Addition to Family Delays Negotiations

Matt Kaulig’s passion project witnessed more turmoil than the multiple cautions at the Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. When the regular season was in full swing, Kauling Racing discovered the astonishing departure of Justin Haley. It wasn’t until the playoffs began that Daniel Hemric was confirmed as their #31 driver for next season.

The 2021 Xfinity Series champion formerly drove for Kyle Busch’s current team, Richard Childress Racing. With rising speculations for AJ Allmendinger’s #16 car, Kaulig’s team might have to raid Busch‘s closet again for a suitable alternative.

Would Matt Kaulig promote Kyle Busch’s former racer in a No. 16 car swap?

AJ Allmendinger has been nothing short of a trapeze artist, hopping back and forth between the Xfinity and Cup Series throughout his career. After he won the regular-season Xfinity championship in 2022, his move to the Cup Series was meant to be permanent. But two Top 5 finishes in Watkins Glen and Daytona were the only twinkling stars in a season shadowed by thunderous clouds. This could once again pose a threat to the #16 driver’s cup future.

However, his team has made no announcements so far. In fact, apart from confirming Layne Riggs’ spot in the #11 Xfinity car, Kaulig Racing has yet to finalize the entire line-up for NASCAR’s Tier 2 series as well. Fox Sports’ revered analyst Bob Pockrass was, for once, just as mystified as the rest of the racing fandom in predicting Matt Kaulig’s next course of action.

Speaking to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pit Reporters, Pockrass wondered out loud, “If he [Allmendinger] is not, who do they put as a teammate for Hemric? Or does Kaulig go back to what they did before and run a mix of drivers in that car? Again, we really haven’t heard yet plan for all their Xfinity cars as well”. Nonetheless, Pockrass did have a meritorious candidate in mind to take over from Allmendinger. Picked straight out of Kyle Busch’s garage was Kauling’s Xfinity driver, Chandler Smith.

Former driver of Kyle Busch Motorsports, Smith registered seven Top 5 and eleven Top 10 finishes this year. With his win in ToyotaCare 250, Smith qualified for the season’s playoff as well. He already drives the same numbered car as Allmendinger. And in his rare Cup race start in Richmond this year, Smith finished 17th, 10 places higher than Allmendinger’s 27th.

Watch this story: Kyle Busch’s Heartfelt Farewell to KBM

But Pockrass’s pertinent questions still remain. “Will Chandler Smith stay in Xfinity, can he be elevated to Cup? What can they do, what will they do, I think still to be determined”. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the situation with Allmendinger. But a delightful personal development altered Matt Kaulig’s timeline.

AJ Allmendinger would rather change diapers than teams in the coming offseason

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When the regular season transitioned to playoffs, AJ Allmendinger failed to qualify due to a lustreless season. But the 41-year-old racer had far more important things on his mind. Preoccupied with the imminent birth of his child, Allmendinger became a proud father to a newborn baby earlier this month. Respecting his personal commitments, his team refrained from making a professional decision for the next season.

Despite their joy, the racing fandom impatiently awaits his next decision. Interestingly, Bob Pockrass does not believe Allmendinger has much of a say in the final verdict.

He declared, “I’m not sure that it’s his decision. I think it’s Matt Kaulig’s decision. And I think AJ has had something or the other going on in his life-having a newborn right in the last month. So I think that has delayed some of their final decisions and everything.”

The racing insider further provided his best estimation. “I think I’d say that’s probably 50-50 whether Allmendinger is back in a Cup car next year full-time”. Regardless of the rumor mill, Allmendinger has no qualms about his job security.

In an interview with Fronstretch before the birth of his son, the #16 Cup driver exuded complete certainty about his future. He said, “My plans are not unknown. I’ll have a Kaulig Racing suit on no matter what next year. So I’m not worried about the off-season except trying to figure out how to take care of a baby.”

Clearly, he is not disappearing off the racing tracks anytime soon. Whether he wears his team’s gear in the Cup or the Xfinity Series, only time will tell.

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