Allmendinger to NASCAR

A.J. Allmendinger is leaving Champ Car to race in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for Team Red Bull. He will attempt to qualify for Sunday's Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and will race full-time in 2007.
The driver from Hollister, Calif., won five races in the Champ Car World Series and is second in points with one race to go. Sebastien Bourdais won his third straight Champ Car World Series championship by finishing eighth in the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia.
Allmendinger will drive the No. 84 Toyota Camry and be teamed with driver Brian Vickers at Team Red Bull.
“I'm really excited about this next challenge in my racing career," Allmendinger said. "To race against some of the best drivers in the world in front of fans that are as enthusiastic about racing as I am is going to be a pretty big thrill. I know this is going to be a lot of work in the upcoming months, but I couldn't be happier to do it with Team Red Bull. Hopefully, we can all go out and deliver a good show.�
Rick Viers, who worked with Allmendinger in two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Bill Davis Racing, will be the crew chief for the No. 84 team.
“I see a huge amount of potential in AJ," Viers said. "On the racetrack, he’s smart, patient and definitely not afraid to race. For the first half of next year, AJ must use his patience to learn as much as he can before moving forward in the second half. Hopefully, he’ll be a solid rookie of the year candidate by year’s end.�