{"id":1551242,"date":"2023-02-24T08:23:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T13:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1551242"},"modified":"2023-02-24T08:23:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T13:23:06","slug":"aj-allmendinger-actions-daytona-made-him-look-like-nascar-new-ross-chastain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/aj-allmendinger-actions-daytona-made-him-look-like-nascar-new-ross-chastain\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Allmendinger's Actions at Daytona Made Him Look Like NASCAR's New Ross Chastain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AJ Allmendinger finished an impressive sixth Sunday in the Daytona 500<\/a> for the first race of his return as a full-time Cup Series driver. But it was a move early in the event that initially put him in position for a good finish and displayed a mentality that could help him reach the NASCAR<\/a> Playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allmendinger opened The Great American Race in 29th after he finished 16th in his qualifying race Thursday night. He then lost the draft of the lead pack after the first round of pit stops and was on the verge of going a lap down with only two laps left in Stage 1 and Riley Herbst as his only drafting partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers about to be lapped typically move far to one side of the track to get out of the way of the leaders as much as possible. Allmendinger instead tried to block Aric Almirola, who was the lead driver on the bottom lane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almirola was able to maneuver around Allmendinger and force him to the middle lane, but Allmendinger had at least broken up the line\u2019s momentum enough that he did not drop immediately to the back of the field and was able to pass Herbst in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ability to regain lap lost gave AJ Allmendinger the break he needed in the Daytona 500<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Logano gets shuffled!

ALLMENDINGER TO THE LEAD!
#DAYTONA500<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/d7ykucPBCE<\/a><\/p>— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 19, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>