Finch Gives Allmendinger Ride for Phoenix with Phoenix

AJ Allmendinger to make NASCAR season debut Sunday at Phoenix

Published February 26, 2013

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A.J. Allmendinger will make his NASCAR season debut this Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Allmendinger, who didn't have a ride for the season-opening Daytona 500, will drive for Phoenix Racing in the No. 51 Guy Roofing Chevrolet. It will be Allmendinger's fifth race with Phoenix Racing, which gave him a chance last year after NASCAR reinstated him following his suspension for failing a random drug test.

Allmendinger has eight previous Cup starts at the Phoenix track, where he's got two top-10 finishes. He's also won one pole and started on the front row three times.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/02/26/aj-allmendinger-to-make-nascar-season-debut-sunday-at-phoenix/#ixzz2M22tJXCy

Good for him after being rail roaded. Sounds like he has a set up that works well at Phoenix...

I'm looking forward to A.J.'s return. I wish him well.

So what happened to Regan Smith...is he out of a ride?

Not really. In the weeks leading up to the start of the season, Finch made it sound like he'd run them both off and on during the season. With Regan's commitment to JRM for wins and a championship on the Nationwide side, I'm guessing he couldn't (or didn't want to) make the full-time commitment to Finch anyway.

From Jayski 51 page:

2013 silly season notes for #51 Phoenix Racing : The team will run a few different drivers in 2013 with Regan Smith in the #51 Guy Roofing Chevy for the Daytona 500, A.J. Allmendinger in the four out of the next five races and Austin Dillon in the #51 Tag Heuer Eyewear Chevy at Las Vegas. After Martinsville a driver schedule has not been announced. Smith is expected to run 7-10 races in 2013 and Allmendinger is expected to run the car in some others. Team general manager Steve Barkdoll said that the team plans to field a Sprint Cup car for the entire season. See an image of the #51 Guy Roofing scheme on my #51 Team Schemes page . See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart .(2-1-2013)

Congrats AJ

from what i got from him first hand he is going to run several races in the finch car this year .