A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44
Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports in the season-opening Budweiser
Shootout and at least the first eight NASCAR Sprint Cup races this
season.

A.J. Allmendinger will drive the Number 00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. He’ll have to qualify the car on speed to make the field for Saturday night’s race because the team is ranked 36th in owner points.

AJ Allmendinger will not finish out the season with Red Bull Racing. It had already been announced Allmendinger wouldn’t be returning to the Number 84 Toyota for the 2009 season and the team is letting him go early to pursue another job. Mike Skinner and Scott Speed will share the seat for the final seven races of the year.