Penske Racing releases AJ Allmendinger

AJ Allmendinger was in his first year with Penske Racing. (Getty Images)

 

AJ Allmendinger was in his first year with Penske Racing. (Getty Images)

Penske Racing has released driver AJ Allmendinger from his one year contract the team announced Wednesday.

Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR  indefinitely last week after failing the second of two tests for substance abuse. Allmendinger agreed to enter NASCAR’s rehab program. Team owner Roger Penske said this past weekend that he would speak to Allmendinger this week prior to deciding what to do with the first year driver.  That decision was announced Wednesday when the team issued a statement saying the driver has been released.

“Penske Racing fully supports NASCAR’s substance abuse policy and we are disappointed with AJ’s positive drug test results,” said Roger Penske. “AJ is a terrific driver, a good person and it is very unfortunate that we have to separate at this time.  We have invested greatly in AJ and we were confident in his success with our team.  The decision to dismiss him is consistent with how we would treat any other Penske Racing team member under similar circumstances.  As AJ begins NASCAR’s ‘Road to Recovery’ program, we wish him the best and look forward to seeing him compete again in NASCAR.” MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.