The AP is reporting that AJ Allmendinger expects to be out of the Red Bull Racing’s No. 84 after this weekend’s Camping World RV 400 from Kansas Speedway.
In his weekly online diary, Allmendinger wrote:
I’m racing this weekend at Kansas, but I’m almost 100 percent sure I won’t be with Red Bull after this race. Hopefully I’ll have something and I’ll be in a car next week. Whether it’s the team I’m going to be with for next year, and we can start working on that, or what … that’s kind of where we stand.
Earlier this week, the team announced that Allmendinger would be leaving at the end of the season. He had been expecting to be released last month. He declined a one-year contract extension because he didn’t want to be in the same situation a year from now.
Personally, I would have signed the extension. Think about it: RBR’s equipment and team have improved consistently over the last two years, and should continue to improve. Also, gaining more experience in stock cars would, I think, make him more appealing to better teams next year. Of course, first you have to make races to gain experience, but if he stayed inside the top 35 in points, that would be a non-issue.
I suspect that there’s something we’re not being told. Allmendinger has to feel slighted that RBR is enamoured with Scott Speed, and in some ways probably feels like he was thrown to the wolves (Sprint Cup) while Speed was allowed to cook a little longer (Craftsman Truck Series).
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[...] Allmendinger Out Of No. 84 This Week AJ Allmendinger will be replaced in Red Bull Racing’s No. 84 starting at Tallaedga Superspeedway this week. It was announced earlier that Allmendinger would be leaving at the end of the season. Allmendinger expected to be released early. [...]