Kaulig Racing will have to make a huge call regarding their full-time racer before the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series finally starts. A.J. Allmendinger, who did fulfill his wish of driving full-time in NASCAR, will not be continuing with the Cup Series team. Finishing off the season on the 21st spot and with a memorable win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team decided that the veteran driver would feature full-time in the Xfinity Series.

Although A.J. Allmendinger would feature in the Cup races, the switch suggests that Kaulig Racing was looking to add reinforcement and add a fresh face to take up the role. The first name linked heavily to taking up the role of full-time driver at Kaulig was Ty Dillion. However, this rumor was soon put to bed as Rackley W.A.R. confirmed that Dillion would be competing full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series 2024. So who are the potential candidates now in line that could feature in the Cup Series for Kaulig?

Potential drivers that can race for Kaulig Racing full-time

The first option that Kaulig Racing can look towards is Daniel Hemric. The 32-year-old will be back in the Cup Series full-time after five long years. This move makes sense as Justin Haley, who currently drives the No. 31 for the team, announced that he signed with Rick Ware Racing for the 2024 season. Hemric, in his last Cup Series season in 2019, was driving for Richard Childress Racing and finished 25th, making him familiar with the Cup Series and a potential driver.

More than the Cup Series, it is the Xfinity Series where Daniel Hemric has gained a reputation for being a strong racer. Despite having a good 178 Xfinity races under his belt over 6 years, he only has one win to show himself. The win came at Phoneix in 2021, and it was a championship race. This will be a huge call on Kaulig’s part to rope in Daniel Hemric as their full-time driver.

The next rumored driver will certainly be a surprise for everyone if he does take up the big role at Kaulig. The 2023 Chicago Street Course winner is Shane van Gisbergen. Yeah, you heard this one right. SVG is rumored to be in talks with the team for the switch from Xfinity to Cup Series. It has to be noted that Gisbergen races full-time for Kaulig Racing in Xfinity because of the partnership with Trackhouse Racing.

SVG is a three-time Supercar champion. Hailing from New Zealand, he has found his way to the premier division of stock car racing in America. Trackhouse Racing was adamant about keeping him under Project 91. However, having tasted the win in the Cup Series, a full-time opportunity might come calling from Kaulig Racing. One thing is for certain: the team will have to make huge calls in regards to their full-time driver, and this certainly could be one.

If the above pick seemed like a surprise, this will certainly blow you away. A.J. Allmendinger, and who else? Despite fulfilling his duties in Xfinity, he sure can chip in for the Cup races. Considering that either Daniel Hemric or Shane van Gisbergen will take up the majority of the races for the season, Allmendinger could certainly fulfill the duty. So a rotational shift could well be in place for Kaulig Racing in the 2024 Cup Series.

How is A.J. Allmendinger the best fit?

A.J. Allmendinger had previously expressed his desire to continue racing in the Cup Series, and by the looks of it, his wishes might just come true. Not to forget, it will be him who will kickstart the season for Kaulig Racing, driving the No. 16 Cup Car at the Daytona 500. But for this plan to work out, the team will certainly need to plan out their schedule and perhaps rely on a new face or an inexperienced driver.

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Kaulig Racing has somewhat made a reputation for itself for not running its roster well. The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series might be the one where the team manages to turn the corner and strive for a better future.