All-American Allmendinger –A future in NASCAR?

UPDATE #3 A reader asks, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Regarding the article "All-American Allmendinger — A future in NASCAR?". Do you think this may have all been set up by Red Bull & Toyota? Think that RB may not see a merger any time soon in OW so now they might as well push the only American star to their Red Bull/Toyota NASCAR team in 2008. David Christiansen, Walnut Creek, CA

Dear David, It could be quite possible that Red Bull and Toyota are behind a concerted effort to try and steal Allmendinger from Champ Car. However, AJ told us he loves open wheel and he loves Champ Car and as long as he can earn a decent living there he has no desire to leave. We suspect this was set up by AJ's new management to give team boss Gerald Forsythe something to worry about come contract renegotiation time at the end of this season. To tell you the truth, AJ has earned a bigger salary for 2007 and we suspect he will get it with Forsythe. Mark C.

09/04/06 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. The only American in the Champ Car series, tested with Mike Skinner in a truck for Bill Davis Racing last week at Richmond International Raceway. Bill Davis described Allmendinger, 24, as "smart and smooth." Davis says Allmendinger will race for BDR before the end of the season, possibly as early as September 16 at New Hampshire. Sporting News

09/01/06 Jayski reports hearing that Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger tested a Toyota Truck this week at Richmond International Speedway, while confirmed a Toyota Truck was testing this week, no team was mentioned but he hears it was for Bill Davis Racing which could field Allmendinger in a Truck Series race sometime this season. Another example of the oval track cartel trying to pluck Champ Car's biggest names from the series. Recall that almost all of CART's top teams, sponsors and drivers were lured away to the IRL and NASCAR before it went bankrupt. Until drivers can make a good living again in Champ Car, this will always be the risk the series has to deal with.

08/27/06 Champ Car star AJ Allmendinger hasn't turned his back on one day racing in NASCAR.

"There's a lot of appeal there," he said.

But he's not in any great hurry to make the switch.

He likes that he can still walk down the street unnoticed, but he'd certainly give that up for a chance to race for a well-financed and well-run NASCAR team.

And for the right reasons.

"Money is nice, don't get me wrong," Allmendinger said. "It lets us have bigger houses and not worry about paying our bills. But for me it's more important to win. To have the right situation to win, like I have right now with Forsythe Racing."

No one knows better about being in a competitive ride in NASCAR than his mentor Tracy, who has driven five Busch races this year with a fairly uncompetitive team.

"He is a very, very good driver, " said Tracy, who admits that Allmendinger has taken more than just a casual look toward NASCAR recently.

Tracy would like to see him stay in Champ Car for a few more years, but he knows that the appeal of NASCAR is very strong for Allmendinger and the financial rewards are extremely lucrative.

"If he gets the right opportunity, it will be extremely hard to pass up," Tracy said. "He's got a long career ahead of him. The sky is the limit for him."

For now, Allmendinger is quite comfortable being the only American-born driver in the Indianapolis-based Champ Car World Series – though Graham Rahal, the 18-year-old son of racing legend Bobby Rahal, is poised to enter Champ Car, quite possibly as soon as next year.

But for now, Allmendinger is the main attraction for American race fans that want to support one of their own.

"I take a lot of pride in that," Allmendinger said. More at Yahoo! Sports