The NASCAR rumor mill is hard at work this week. The newest information churned out regards AJ Allmendinger and his future at Kaulig Racing, or more so what Kaulig car he’s piloting in 2024. The main result from the discussion has been the fact that AJ will likely not be competing in the Cup series in 2024. Which leads us to the question, who could replace him?
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Could the stars be aligning for a Hemric/Allmendinger swap? We have every reason to believe that AJ Allmendinger is making a return to the Xfinity Series, opening the door for Daniel Hemric to come back up to the Cup series. Hemric has experience in the Cup series, running a full season for RCR in 2019. Out of a total of 47 starts he has walked away with one top-5, three top-10s, and one pole. Not the most impressive stats, but we have to take equipment and time into factor. I think we can all agree Daniel Hemric is a better driver now than he was in 2019.
The other Kaulig Driver could be doing a swap with AJ Allmendinger. Chandler is currently piloting the Kaulig 16 full-time in the Xfinity Series and competing for Rookie of the Year. He comes from a trail of success in the Truck Series and is consistently in contention on Saturdays. He has brought one win home to the Kaulig Stable. He has already made a couple of Cup starts this year and will certainly be a key contender for a full-time Cup ride soon, but will it be 2024?
The option pegged to the Kaulig fort with the most Cup Experience. Kaulig is currently allianced with Richard Childress Racing which happens to be the team Ty’s entire family is at. RC could very well be in Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice’s ears trying to pull his grandson over to their team to have him closer to the family than he currently is at Spire Motorsports. It seems that Ty has kind of always hidden in brother Austin’s shadows, but a move to Kaulig could be a real shot to make an even bigger splash for himself.
He seems to be on everyone’s radar for every open ride right now, but maybe there’s an edge to him going to Kaulig? First of all his pre-existing relationship with Chevy is something to be accounted for. Second, we know he does have SOME sponsorship backing, likely what’s left could be supplemented by Matt Kaulig’s Leaf Filter Business. And perhaps the most interesting point of it all, Carson Hocevar has indicated that he has a ride for 2024 in a verbatim almost identical to what Chris Rice said about the Kaulig 31 car. It could be a coincidence, or it could be something more.
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The current driver of the 25 for Rackley WAR will not be returning to that seat next season. And with Cup experience and ties to Chevy, he is theoretically an option to replace AJ in the Cup series for Kaulig. He is the most viable option? Maybe not, but nonetheless he still is worth considering.
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If AJ Allmendinger does leave, that would make two open seats at Kaulig meaning that many of these options have two potential landing options with Kaulig in 2024.
