CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Skinner will replace AJ Allmendinger at Red Bull Racing for this weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Skinner, a former Cup driver who now races full time in the Truck Series, will attempt to qualify the No. 84 Toyota for Sunday’s race.
Allmendinger, who was testing Monday at Phoenix International Raceway, was disappointed but understood the decision.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. I’m a racer and I want to be racing, but I get the big picture here and obviously we need to improve our program,” he said. “Do I want to be out of the car? No. But, I know Skinner can help both me and my team.
“All I can say is he better be prepared for me to eat, drink, and sleep with him. OK, well maybe not the sleeping part, but I’m ready to attach myself to him and learn everything I can.”
Allmendinger failed to qualify for last week’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, making him 0-for-3 on the season. Teammate Brian Vickers has made all three races in the other Red Bull car.
Allmendinger is in just his second season of NASCAR after a successful open-wheel career. The 25-year-old left the Champ Car Series to drive for Red Bull, and the team gave him a Sprint Cup ride he perhaps wasn’t prepared for.
He qualified for 17 of 36 races last season, and his best finish was a 15th at Charlotte in October.
“We’re at a crossroads where we need to make a change that will elevate the No. 84 team to success,” general manager Jay Frye said Monday. “AJ’s our guy and he’s a talented driver, but there’s a lot being asked of him.
“In order for him to be successful, we have to get this team pointed in the right direction. We hope we can do that with the help of a veteran driver.”
Skinner is former Truck Series champion who currently races a Toyota for Bill Davis Racing. He has a history with Red Bull Racing, when he was a test driver for the team in 2006.
He also worked with Allmendinger that year when Allmendinger occasionally drove for BDR’s truck team.
“The first time I ever met AJ, I took an immediate liking to him,” Skinner said. “He’s not just a great personality — he also has a remarkable amount of talent. He took on a huge challenge jumping into stock cars last year, and I’m glad I can be the one to help him and his team figure out where the glitches are in their program.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
