When A. J. Allmendinger left the world of open wheel racing for Team Red Bull in the Nextel Cup series, he knew he had a big job in front of him.
But the winner of five Champ Car races in 2006 didn’t anticipate the effects a qualifying rule guaranteeing the top 35 (in owners’ points) drivers a starting spot in a Nextel Cup Race would have on his decision. The deck was stacked against the California native, who will be 26 next week. Here Allmendinger was—a rookie—driving for a brand new team, with a manufacturer, Toyota, making its debut in NASCAR’s premier series. It was no surprise that they all struggled mightily just to qualify.
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