AJ Allmendinger and his No. 16 Kaulig Racing team have been hit with severe penalties by NASCAR after the team made an unapproved pit road adjustment at Nashville, jeopardizing his Cup Series efforts. This AJ Allmendinger unapproved pit road adjustment penalty Nashville incident resulted in the team being sent back to the garage and facing multiple sanctions before practice even began.
Strict Inspection Leads to Major Setbacks
Just ahead of Cup Series practice at Nashville, officials found that an unapproved change had been made during inspection to Allmendinger’s car. As a result, the team was forced to undergo another inspection in the garage, confirming the infraction. Although Allmendinger will still participate in practice and qualifying sessions, his weekend is now overshadowed by significant obstacles placed in his path by NASCAR.
Despite his strong season—currently sitting 18th in points and coming off a P4 finish at Charlotte—Allmendinger now faces starting at the rear of the field. He is also at risk of enduring even harsher penalties, further complicating his chances for a good result in the Nashville race.
Routine Enforcement Brings Down Heavy Penalty
Unapproved adjustments on pit road are a major violation in NASCAR, one that teams are well aware can trigger strict enforcement. The racing environment is intensely competitive, and while some try to circumvent rules for performance gains, the scrutiny from officials and other teams leaves little room for error. Kaulig Racing, having been caught in this attempt, now serves as an example of NASCAR’s unyielding stance on post-inspection rule-bending.
After the car’s splitter was altered following the mandatory technical check, penalties were swiftly imposed: Allmendinger lost his original starting spot and pit stall choice, ensuring he would start from the back. Furthermore, he is required to complete a stop-and-go penalty after the race begins, immediately placing him at a disadvantage.
Additional Repercussions for the Team
The fallout extended beyond the driver. Jaron Antley, the car chief for Allmendinger’s team, was ejected from the event and forced to surrender his hard card credentials. In a move highlighting NASCAR’s seriousness, Antley must now line up each week for temporary credentials for the remainder of the season—a public demonstration meant to send a clear warning to Kaulig Racing and all competitors.
The incident underscores the precision demanded in the Cup Series and the risk teams undertake when overstepping the established regulations. With NASCAR drawing such a firm boundary, the No. 16 team’s actions have left Allmendinger at a disadvantage, likely down a lap at the start and with little room for error in the coming laps at Nashville.
Looking Ahead for Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing
Even though this penalty puts a heavy strain on Allmendinger’s campaign, his season performance until now reflects resilience. He has shown he can drive competitively for Kaulig Racing in the top NASCAR tier, making some believe his prior move to the Xfinity Series for 2024 was premature. As the race at Nashville unfolds, Allmendinger—who recently found speed despite struggles at COTA—will need to fight through adversity and attempt to minimize the impact of the penalty on his results.
This development is a reminder to all teams about the importance of compliance and the sharp consequences of even minor breaches. With the Cup Series spotlight shining brightly, both Kaulig Racing and AJ Allmendinger face a challenging climb if they hope to recover momentum in the aftermath of this Nashville setback.
“NASCAR does not play with these kinds of penalties. They have drawn a hard line in the sand.”
—Official (as attributed in text)
