Kaulig Racing YellaWood 500 efforts at Talladega Superspeedway saw both teams face significant challenges and moments of promise during the final superspeedway race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Ty Dillon in the No. 10 Chevrolet and AJ Allmendinger in the No. 16 Chevrolet each experienced the highs and unpredictability that come with racing on one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks.
Ty Dillon Climbs to 20th After Overtime Finish
Ty Dillon began the YellaWood 500 in the 29th spot, driving the No. 10 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1. Right from the start, Dillon worked to gain ground, successfully moving into the top 20 by managing his positioning in the drafts and making careful lane choices. His steady approach and ability to avoid incidents proved crucial as the race unfolded.
Midway through the event, Dillon managed to briefly lead two laps, a testament to both his strategic driving and the speed of his Chevrolet. With a sequence of routine pit stops and by steering clear of the frequent on-track chaos, Dillon secured a 20th place finish after an overtime segment, delivering a solid result for his team and maintaining momentum late in the season.
AJ Allmendinger’s Race Ends Early Following Collision
AJ Allmendinger and the No. 16 Black’s Tire Service Camaro ZL1 started in 34th position, electing to be cautious at the back of the field to steer clear of potential wrecks in the opening laps. As the team set up for their initial fuel-only pit stop, Allmendinger dropped to the bottom lane and entered pit road slightly earlier than planned. Crew chief Trent Owens reassured the team that their strategy remained sound despite the adjustment.
After pit stops cycled, Allmendinger found himself at the front of the pack, managing to lead the top lane and eventually the race by skillfully controlling the pushes from both lines. However, the momentum was cut short on lap 52 when a competitor’s contact from the top lane sent Allmendinger’s car into the outside wall at corner entry. The significant impact ended his day prematurely, leaving the No. 16 team with a 37th-place finish.
“I feel alright, it just knocked the air out of me. As I stopped, it felt like the car was catching on fire, so I got out and tried to get my breath back. I feel OK now, probably just going to be sore from a hard hit for the whole body. I am proud of this No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team. We got it up front there. You get to the front and hope that maybe you’ll run to the end of the stage. I think we were leading there. Joey [Logano] was doing a really good job of pushing me in the right areas. I felt like we could kind of direct both lines. Obviously, Noah [Gragson] was next to me, and it looked like Noah got turned getting into the corner and it turned me straight into the fence. It’s disappointing, but it’s part of this racing. At least we were up front a little bit there. You always expect the worst here (at Talladega Superspeedway) and hope for the best, but today we got the worst.”
– AJ Allmendinger
Season’s Intensity Reflected in Kaulig Racing’s Talladega Experience
The 2025 YellaWood 500 emphasized the volatile nature of superspeedway racing for Kaulig Racing. Ty Dillon’s calculated efforts rewarded the team with a top-20 result, offering reliability in a season that values steady progress. For AJ Allmendinger, despite an abrupt end, leading the field demonstrated both personal resilience and teamwork. The incidents involving known NASCAR competitors like Joey Logano and Noah Gragson shaped a race filled with unpredictability and highlights the intense competition heading into the closing chapter of the season.
As the series looks ahead, Kaulig Racing’s performance at Talladega underscores the importance of adaptability and determination on NASCAR’s biggest stages, with drivers and teams ready to tackle the challenges the next events may bring.
