AJ Allmendinger, reflecting on a challenging 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, is preparing for the high-stakes finale at Phoenix Raceway, expressing a William Byron Cup championship prediction while still eyeing an upset finish for himself and Kaulig Racing. As anticipation builds for Sunday’s championship-deciding race, Allmendinger has been candid about the journey, the growth of his own performance, and about who he expects to walk away with the trophy.
It’s been a season marked by both highs and setbacks for Allmendinger and the Kaulig Racing team. Entering the final race ranked 25th, with no wins but a total of two top-five and seven top-10 finishes, the experienced driver has not lost his positive outlook. The 2025 campaign has brought moments to celebrate, but also frustration from an unusually high seven DNFs (Did Not Finish). Despite these challenges, Allmendinger remains eager to make a late jump in the standings and upbeat about both his team’s progress and the future.
Reflecting on Growth Amidst Adversity in the 2025 Season
Allmendinger is open about the hurdles his team faced throughout the year but highlights the advancements made compared to previous seasons. Noting their stride on various types of racetracks and the improvement since his last full Cup season in 2023, he sees a positive trend developing within Kaulig Racing. He acknowledged their struggles but also underscored the momentum building within the organization.
When you’re in a position like ours, trying to just grow the race team and get it better, sometimes it’s hard to just look at the result and say, ‘Okay, it’s A or B, right, like happy or not happy,’
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Allmendinger emphasized that despite wanting greater results, the focus on incremental gains has been crucial for Kaulig Racing’s trajectory. This year, flashes of competitive speed at tracks like Darlington, where he climbed from 22nd to a fifth-place finish, have been a source of pride. The Kaulig pit crew played a major role in these highlights, earning Allmendinger’s praise for their performance under pressure. Even as the final standings may not reflect the team’s aspirations when the season began, battling for every points position has remained a priority.
With that said, there’s been a lot of disappointments. We have seven DNFs this year, which is just kind of crazy to think about. And, quite honestly, you kind of look at them and I would love to say, ‘Gosh, I’ve made these mistakes or this is what happened and I cost us a DNF or a finish.’ We’ve just had a lot of bad luck and that’s easy to say.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Could it have been a lot better? Sure. But just taking all the gains that we’ve made with the speed, it’s been positive. And I think there’s a lot of momentum that we can take from that into the offseason to try to make it better next year.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Climbing the Standings: Targeting a Strong Phoenix Performance
Heading to Phoenix, Allmendinger has set his sights on moving up from 25th to potentially as high as 22nd in the Cup standings. The progress this season, he believes, lays the groundwork for an even stronger 2026 campaign. While Phoenix Raceway hasn’t been the strongest venue for Kaulig Racing in recent years, Allmendinger is not counting himself out for a surprise top-five run or even a victory that could shake up the expected narratives of championship Sunday.
Recalling a year of both heartbreak and high points, he has remained a vocal leader, urging his team to finish the season with energy and pride. For Allmendinger, every position still matters, and achieving a solid run in Phoenix would be the capstone to a year of steady, if measured, improvement.
For everybody, it’s a little bit different how they race those guys (in the Championship Four),
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
He pointed out that while some teams may focus on not interfering with championship contenders, his approach is to pursue victory above all else if an opportunity arises. Allmendinger’s passion for competition remains undimmed, regardless of the playoff implications.
We’d love to have a solid run. If we run top 15, that’s a great day. But if we got a chance to win the race, we’re going to do whatever it takes.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Why William Byron Is His Pick to Win the Cup
When asked about the championship favorites, Allmendinger weighed his options with respect for each contender. Although he appreciates the strengths of all four Championship Four finalists, he openly favors William Byron, fresh off a win at Martinsville, to earn his first-ever Cup title at Phoenix Raceway. Allmendinger believes Byron has the right combination of speed, recent momentum, and performance at Phoenix to secure the championship.
William has been really strong there,
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Noting Kyle Larson’s 2021 championship and the consistent prowess of Toyota drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, Allmendinger remains most confident in Byron’s recent stretch of success carrying into Phoenix.
Obviously, Kyle’s (Larson) won in the past, the championship (2021). And the Toyotas have just been strong all year, Denny (Hamlin) and Chase (Briscoe). If you’re making me choose one, I’m going to say the 24. You just get that momentum off of Martinsville and you take it into Phoenix.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Byron’s track record at Phoenix, with five top-10 finishes in his last six visits, reinforces Allmendinger’s assessment. The young Hendrick Motorsports driver has emerged as a model of consistency on the desert oval, which could be a decisive edge in the high-pressure finale. This William Byron Cup championship prediction highlights Allmendinger’s faith in the 24 team’s ability to close out the season atop the standings.
Denny Hamlin’s Legacy and Final Shot at the Cup
While Allmendinger’s primary pick is Byron, he also made a point of highlighting Denny Hamlin’s career. Hamlin, who has qualified for his fifth Championship Four while operating the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Toyota, remains one of the most successful drivers in Cup history without a championship. With his 45th birthday approaching and a contract running through the end of 2027, Phoenix might represent Hamlin’s best remaining chance for a long-sought title.
Denny, he’s a Hall of Famer,
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Allmendinger likened Hamlin to the legendary Mark Martin, recognizing the veteran’s contributions and numerous race wins. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that a Cup title would be the crowning achievement in Hamlin’s storied career, which some might believe he needs for his Hall of Fame case, even though Allmendinger noted Hamlin’s induction would be certain regardless of Sunday’s result.
“He’s the Mark Martin of our generation. He’s won so many races. So (winning the Cup crown is) the cherry on top for him. If he wins it, he’s going to be a Hall of Famer no matter what.”
– AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Kaulig Racing’s Truck Series Expansion and the Arrival of Dodge Rams
As Allmendinger prepares to turn 44, he’s already thinking ahead to at least two more years behind the wheel. He’s especially energized by Kaulig Racing’s 2026 plans to field the first five Dodge Rams in the NASCAR Truck Series, making them the lead partner team for the Ram brand’s return. Allmendinger views this partnership as a significant step in growing Kaulig Racing’s profile and competitiveness.
It’s huge for the race team to have a brand like Dodge and Ram believe in your race team and us to be the flagship team on the truck side of it,
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
While unsure whether he’ll take the wheel of a truck next season, Allmendinger’s enthusiasm for the program is clear. He’s shown genuine pride in Kaulig Racing’s reputation for attracting high-caliber sponsors and making moves that position the team for sustained success, both on the truck side and potentially in the Cup Series if future opportunities with Dodge arise.
We’ll see what happens is hopefully they move towards Cup.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
I’m always interested in whatever they want me to run, and I’m interested in it,
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
So, if there’s an opportunity there to go do a few races, of course, I’m going to do it.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Potential Playoff Format Changes and Allmendinger’s Perspective
The NASCAR playoff structure could see a significant shakeup for the 2026 season, and Allmendinger has thoughts on how elimination rounds affect the sport. Without any formal announcement yet, he addressed ideas he believes would benefit drivers and add fairness for those no longer in the championship hunt.
He expressed a preference for resetting points for eliminated drivers after each playoff round, instead of locking them out and pushing them further back as other drivers advance. Allmendinger sees this as a way to reward true season-long performance and keep competitive incentives strong even after elimination.
But I get it. The factor of going to the last race for TV and having four guys, we’re an entertainment business. We race cars, but it’s entertainment. You’ve got to have that factor. I’m kind of open to all ideas, but I think just kind of resetting the points would be a good thing for the guys that don’t continue on.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
His proposed tweaks would better reflect on-track results and inject fresh excitement into the battles for every points-paying position beyond the title chase, potentially aligning with rumored changes that may emerge in the next offseason.
Celebrating a New Car Look and the Power of Partnership
Beyond competition, Allmendinger is entering the Phoenix finale with enthusiasm for a personal touch: a new paint scheme on his No. 16 Chevrolet, inspired by sponsor CELSIUS and featuring the latest limited edition Spritz Vibe flavor. He credits the sponsor’s continued partnership as essential, not just for his own performance and preparation but for the survival and progress of the entire Kaulig Racing team.
Well, first and foremost, they sponsor us,
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Allmendinger detailed how CELSIUS products have played a role in training for races and even during his personal downtime on the golf course. He’s optimistic that this new look brings a boost of energy and identity for both himself and the team, aligning well with Phoenix’s desert vibe and the high stakes of Cup Series competition.
It’s the partnership that we’ve had that I hope we grow. We’ve done that over the last several years, it’s very important to myself and more importantly to our race team.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
He remarked on the significance of trying the new flavor, calling it his favorite and highlighting how integral CELSIUS is to Kaulig Racing’s efforts. The collaboration reaches beyond branding, fueling both Allmendinger and the crew’s ambition as they take on their final challenge of 2025 at Phoenix Raceway.
I got to try the flavor when I was at the shop on Tuesday. It has immediately become my favorite flavor. So, yeah, it’s important for so many reasons on a personal level and for our race team. Without them, we’re not racing.
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
What Lies Ahead: A Finale Full of Potential and a Changing NASCAR Landscape
The coming championship race at Phoenix is set against a background of evolving team strategies, possible playoff reforms, and fresh manufacturer investment with the upcoming Dodge Ram return in trucks. For Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing, a late-season surge would validate a year of hard work in the relentless environment of NASCAR’s upper tier.
William Byron, backed by strong statistics at Phoenix and consistent form, commands Allmendinger’s respect as the driver to beat, but Sunday’s drama always holds the possibility of unexpected outcomes. Drivers like Denny Hamlin are seeking to change their legacy, while underdogs like Allmendinger remain hungry for a signature upset. As one era comes to a close and another is already taking shape, the 2025 finale offers both a look back on hard-won progress and a clear view into what could define next year’s season for stars, teams, and fans across the NASCAR world.
