Allmendinger and Valvoline Team Secure Season Best Finish at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - AJ Allmendinger and the Valvoline team were a force to contend with in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.
The team's 11th-place finish was its best of the season and moved it up a spot to 37th in the owner points.
The 10 team had its work cut out after a 43rd place starting position for the 267-lap race. Early on in the race Allmendinger diagnosed a loose handling condition but as the sun set and the track became tighter so did the Valvoline Dodge.
"We started off loose, but the Valvoline Dodge got tight as night fell," Allmendinger said. "The guys did a great job trying to battle those conditions but we could never get the tightness out of it."
Fuel conservation became imperative in the closing stages of the race. Some teams tried to make it to the checkered flag without stopping while others were forced to visit pitlane. For Allmendinger and the Valvoline crew, they believed they could finish the race without a fuel stop, but elected to play it safe and conserve as much fuel as possible.
"At the end there, I think we saved too much fuel," said the California native with a chuckle. "They [the crew] were a little nervous making sure I was going to make it, in case we had a green/white/checkered finish. I probably could have gone a little earlier and got a couple more spots. But we finished and that's all that matters."
Allmendinger and the Valvoline team scored 569 points over the past five races - the 14th most of any driver. He is one of only four drivers not in the Chase for the Championship ranked inside the top-15.
"It was good night finishing 11th, but it was a long hard-fought night. Overall, from where we started in practice and the kind of weekend we had, tonight was great. Everybody at Gillett Evernham does a good job. They build good cars. Hopefully, this relationship can continue next year.
"I just want to thank everyone at GEM for giving me this opportunity as well as all the great partners that they have. It's been really fun."
Carl Edwards won the race followed by Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray rounding out the top three.
Jimmie Johnson won a record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup Championship. The only other driver to accomplish that feat was Cale Yarborough in 1978.
