AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, expressed deep sentiments as he prepared for the 2026 Daytona 500, highlighting a special tribute to the late Greg Biffle that featured a unique number font on his car. Allmendinger recalled his competitive history with Biffle on the track and praised the positive impact Biffle continued to have within the racing community even after retirement. The tribute honors Biffle’s legacy, especially his efforts during recent crises like the floods, reflecting a strong emotional connection between drivers and fans alike.
Allmendinger shared,
“Yeah, first and foremost it’s sad that we have to run it. Greg was somebody that I had many battles with on the racetrack and there were some competition meetings that we had some battles with as well. All fun memories, but the impact that he had in the community after he retired and obviously the floods and the everything that he did for that stand out. Then you start hearing the trickle-down effect of everything he was doing. He was just a great person, and I enjoyed him and when he would come back to the racetrack and pick up conversations that we probably hadn’t had in a couple of years like they were five minutes ago. So I am sure there was a process of checking with Roush and making sure it was okay, but to us, it was a no brainer to do it if they allowed it. And hopefully this race is special for so many reasons, but if we were able to pull into victory lane on Sunday night it would be just a little bit more knowing that the font on the side of the car and what it means.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Memorable Moments With Greg Biffle Beyond the Track
Recalling particular incidents with Biffle, Allmendinger highlighted the intensity and camaraderie of their rivalry, including a fierce argument during a competition meeting that quickly turned into camaraderie once they realized they shared the same issues with their cars. This moment perfectly illustrated Biffle’s personality and the friendly spirit that often underpinned their competitive relationship.
He reflected,
“Yeah, I have got one in the competition meeting where we had a little bit of an argument after and what I laugh about is the argument was quite heated, and it was very heated. I think we were both raging at each other and then I went into my spiel about my racecar and then literally like two minutes later he was like, ‘man, your car was doing the same thing?’ and I was like, ‘yeah I had the same issue’ and it was like 20 minutes that just happened didn’t happen. I remember I walked out of the meeting, and I just started laughing about it. Because that was the type of person he was and how we both are. Its like one minute we were about to get in each other’s face and then we were like ‘yeah, yeah, our cars are doing the same thing’, and it never happened. So, the battles on the racetrack were a lot of fun, but that one, the competition meeting will always stand out to me.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Reflections on Early Daytona 500 Challenges
Allmendinger also recounted his initial struggles to qualify for the Daytona 500, describing the emotional toll of nearly making the race but falling short in previous years. His persistence eventually paid off during his third attempt when rain shortened the race, securing him a third-place finish that became a key motivator to continue his career in NASCAR.
He explained,
“The first one I made, or the first two I attended and didn’t make? Because the first two years were gut-wrenching and just absolute sadness. Because I got wrecked in lap seven of my first attempt at it in the Duels, when they had 68 cars here and I was at another race team that I will not mention. Then the next year, I was like a half of a car length from making it and didn’t make it. So, the first two years here were gut-wrenching and the third year here, I had to race my way in and honestly had a shot to win it. It was rain-shortened that year and finished third and that, in a way, is what kept me going in the sport. So, without finishing third there, I don’t know if I would have had a continued career in NASCAR.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Maintaining Team Stability With Familiar Teammates
As the new season approaches, Allmendinger emphasized the importance of continuity, especially with having Ty Dillon as a teammate again. He noted the value of established chemistry with Dillon and much of the crew, which provides a foundation to build upon even as some changes occur within the team’s engineering staff.
“The situation that I just talked about, in trying to keep at least some things together. You know, I think there is a little bit of change on the crew side of it but for the most part with Ty (Dillon) and myself, and the crew chiefs, and some of the engineers….I think we have brought in some good people, building our own bodies and we have to bring in some people and its strengthened the race team on that. But on the Ty side of it, I have known Ty for a long time but I have never generally worked with him till last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel like we kind of have the same personalities of the way we work together. So, to have him back is huge for our race team to just keep that together. Really that helps too in just going off a notebook and not having any data, knowing the stuff that we felt last year so that we can kind of work on that this year maybe when we are off a little bit on a race weekend and just go back to using the notes that we had last year, because that is all we got.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Strategic Focus on the 2026 Daytona 500
Allmendinger outlined his approach to the Daytona 500, stating that finishing the race safely remains his top priority despite typically having fast cars at superspeedway events. He stressed that true performance insight will come after the Duel races, where handling and drafting abilities are better revealed, shaping his strategy for the main event.
He said,
“I approach it like I always do. First you want to finish, but you just go through the process of the week. And I feel like we will have fast race cars – we typically do at the superspeedways. But, a lot of guys will have fast race cars, so I kind of more judge it after the Duel. Qualifying, unless you are on the front row, doesn’t mean anything. I judge it after the Duel and see what kind of car you got as far as handling-wise, drafting-wise, and then you go from there. You just try to make the right moves on Sunday. I feel like it’s always the same thing, you don’t want to be in the big one and you definitely don’t want to be the cause of it. That is the first goal. Hopefully you make the right moves, and you have a shot at the end of the race.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Dangerous Moments at Daytona and Racing Mindset
Allmendinger also reflected on the inherent risks at Daytona, noting that every driver faces tense and frightening situations during the race. He described how drivers mentally transform when racing, often pushing the limits despite the dangers, which contributes to the chaotic and high-stakes atmosphere that defines the event.
He shared,
“All of them. We are all psycho out there. Generally, I think we are all pretty calm and then we strap the helmet on and it cuts off the oxygen to our heads, and we become morons out there. So they are all hairy. There are many wrecks that I should have been in, the ones that I have been in hurt, and you are out there and you are four-wide on lap 12 and you are like, ‘this is stupid, what are we doing?’. Then you are, ‘I am just going to lay back’, and then no, I am like ‘I am just going to run and why not stick it up in there?’. So, yeah, it’s all crazy.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
The Significance of the Race and Tribute
This year’s Daytona 500 holds added meaning for Allmendinger and the entire NASCAR community due to the tribute to Greg Biffle and the memories it evokes. The race presents an opportunity to honor legacy while continuing to build momentum within Kaulig Racing. A victory lane appearance would accentuate the tribute’s significance, making the achievement resonate beyond just the competition.
As the season progresses, Allmendinger and his team will focus on leveraging experience and teamwork to navigate the challenges of the Daytona superspeedway, aiming to deliver a performance that both honors Biffle and advances their standing in the sport.
