One driver change for North Wilkesboro, and that’s no surprise

Other than the addition of Timmy Hill and the No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford to the entry list for Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, there is only one driver change to report ahead of the race weekend.

Because AJ Allmendinger qualified for the All-Star Race by winning the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval last October, he will drive the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing in Sunday’s 200-lap race for $1 million around the four bends. , 0.625 mile (1.006 kilometers) North Wilkesboro, North Carolina oval.

Allmendinger, who will compete full-time for Matt Kaulig’s team in the Xfinity Series this season after running full-time for the organization in the Cup Series last year, has made four Cup Series starts so far this year, including three behind the steering wheel of the No. 16 Chevrolet.

He drove the No. 16 Chevrolet in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway before returning four weeks later at Bristol Motor Speedway. He last competed at Dover Motor Speedway at the end of April. Derek Kraus drove the car in the two most recent races at Kansas Speedway and Darlington Raceway.

Allmendinger also took part in the race at the Circuit of the Americas in March, but that was behind the wheel of the No. 13 Chevrolet, the non-charter car the team has only fielded on that occasion this year. Shane van Gisbergen drove the No. 16 Chevrolet in that race.

Despite being eligible for the All-Star Race himself thanks to his victory on the streets of Chicago, Illinois last year, Van Gisbergen will not compete this weekend.

Van Gisbergen is also a full-time Xfinity Series driver for Kaulig Racing, but the team will not add a non-charter entry for him at North Wilkesboro. The team’s other charter car is the No. 31 Chevrolet, driven full-time by Daniel Hemric. Hemric is among those not participating in the All-Star Race, meaning he must qualify through the All-Star Open or the NASCAR Fan Vote.

Trackhouse Racing Team, the team with which van Gisbergen remains under contract after he signed a contract last year, will not do so either. Their two full-time drivers, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, are both locked into the All-Star Race.

Fox Sports 1 will have live coverage of the All-Star Open from North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, May 19 at 6:00 PM ET. The All-Star Race itself starts at 8:00 PM ET. Start one free trial of FuboTV and don’t miss a single action!