Anthony James Allmendinger (born December 16, 1981) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Kaulig Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. Allmendinger's professional racing career began on the American open-wheel circuit. He earned five wins and third place overall in the 2006 Champ Car season. Allmendinger then began competing in NASCAR for Team Red Bull. He later drove for Richard Petty Motorsports, Penske Racing, Phoenix Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing in the Cup Series. When he lost his full-time Cup Series ride with JTGD in 2019 to Ryan Preece, he became a part-time driver for Kaulig in the Xfinity Series and part-time television broadcaster for NBC, working as a color commentator for IMSA races and an analyst on NASCAR America until 2021 when he returned to driving full-time. Moreover, he has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona for Michael Shank's team in 15 of the last 17 years, winning the event in 2012. He is nicknamed "The Dinger". Early career Allmendinger started his racing career at the age of five, racing BMX bikes. He advanced to quarter-midgets on ovals on the West Coast by the time he was eight, and within a few years, he began racing karts, winning two International Kart Federation Grand National championships. Allmendinger participated in the Formula Dodge National Championship in 2001, which earned him a spot in the Barber Dodge Pro Series championship in 2002, a championship he won. He also raced in New Zealand in 2002 in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. In 2003, he was signed to Carl Russo's RuSPORT team and won the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, winning nine pole positions and seven races. American open-wheel racing 2004–06: RuSPORT On February 29, 2004, Allmendinger and RuSPORT entered the Champ Car World Series, with Michel Jourdain Jr. joining Allmendinger. Red Bull also signed Allmendinger as a member of their family of athletes. He scored a run of six top-six finishes towards the end of the season and won the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year Award ahead of Justin Wilson. Wilson joined the team for 2005, with both drivers having been in regular contention for podium finishes. 2006: Multiple wins with Forsythe On June 9, 2006, RuSPORT announced that Allmendinger would be replaced by 2002 CART champion