NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: BEEF.IT'S WHAT FOR DINNER.300

February 19, 2022

A.J. Allmendinger

Frontstretch Quotes

An Interview with:

Q. So close again. You were leading on the final lap and it didn't work out for you. I don't know what you've got to do to get this thing into Victory Lane, but that was a tough one. How did that play out for you in the final half lap?

AJ ALLMENDINGER: I've got to keep asking my son Justin Haley some more questions, obviously, because he knows how to get it done. First of all, congrats to Austin Hill and RCR. Shows the ECR horsepower we have in these Camaros.

I don't know, I'd have to go see the replay, study it. I'm sure I will. Kind of kept trying to block both lanes and it looked like Austin moved up there and timed it perfect where he just got a massive shove, and I probably could have tried to really block, but I think I probably would have wrecked us if I would have done it.

Seeing there, I've got to be better sometimes not getting too far out in the lead. I don't know, I'll just keep working on it, man. It's disappointing. I really wanted to get Nutrient Ag Solutions into Victory Lane, coming back with the team, first time on the 16 here.

But man, proud of everybody at Kaulig Racing. These Chevy Camaros were fast. They're always fast, Hemric and myself the first couple; I had Landon Cassill. It shows that you put the right team together like we've shown over the last three, four years here at these racetracks that we can have a shot to win. It's just -- I don't know, man.

Q. Third straight top 5 for you here at Daytona. For somebody that supposedly doesn't like superspeedway racing, you're pretty darned good at it.

AJ ALLMENDINGER: I don't have to like them to be good at them. I've told you that. I've told everybody that. I hate these races, but at the end of the day, Matt Kaulig says we go trophy hunting. They give a trophy at the end of these races.

I'm happy with the night. Anytime you get out with a top 5 here at Daytona, two top 5s in the stage is really good points, but dammit, man, that was close. But great thing, there's another race we'll go get again next week.