AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, shared heartfelt reflections on Greg Biffle during the 2026 Daytona 500 Media Day, highlighting the significance of honoring Biffle with a special number font on his car. Allmendinger expressed the mix of sadness and respect surrounding the tribute, emphasizing Biffle’s deep impact both on the racetrack and within the racing community.
“Yeah, first and foremost it’s sad that we have to run it. Greg was somebody that I had many battles with on the racetrack and there were some competition meetings that we had some battles with as well. All fun memories, but the impact that he had in the community after he retired and obviously the floods and the everything that he did for that stand out. Then you start hearing the trickle-down effect of everything he was doing. He was just a great person, and I enjoyed him and when he would come back to the racetrack and pick up conversations that we probably hadn’t had in a couple of years like they were five minutes ago. So I am sure there was a process of checking with Roush and making sure it was okay, but to us, it was a no brainer to do it if they allowed it. And hopefully this race is special for so many reasons, but if we were able to pull into victory lane on Sunday night it would be just a little bit more knowing that the font on the side of the car and what it means.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Memories of Competition and Camaraderie with Biffle
Allmendinger recalled a particular encounter during a competition meeting that perfectly illustrated Biffle’s personality and their dynamic relationship. Despite a heated argument, they quickly shifted to sharing technical frustrations, underscoring the blend of fierce rivalry and mutual respect that characterized their interactions.
“Yeah, I have got one in the competition meeting where we had a little bit of an argument after and what I laugh about is the argument was quite heated, and it was very heated. I think we were both raging at each other and then I went into my spiel about my racecar and then literally like two minutes later he was like, ‘man, your car was doing the same thing?’ and I was like, ‘yeah I had the same issue’ and it was like 20 minutes that just happened didn’t happen. I remember I walked out of the meeting, and I just started laughing about it. Because that was the type of person he was and how we both are. Its like one minute we were about to get in each other’s face and then we were like ‘yeah, yeah, our cars are doing the same thing’, and it never happened. So, the battles on the racetrack were a lot of fun, but that one, the competition meeting will always stand out to me.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Allmendinger’s Journey and Early Challenges at the Daytona 500
Reflecting on his own beginnings at the Daytona 500, Allmendinger described a difficult start that tested his resilience. His first two attempts ended in disappointment, but a breakthrough third year, finishing third in a rain-shortened race, became a pivotal moment that fueled his continued career in NASCAR.
“The first one I made, or the first two I attended and didn’t make? Because the first two years were gut-wrenching and just absolute sadness. Because I got wrecked in lap seven of my first attempt at it in the Duels, when they had 68 cars here and I was at another race team that I will not mention. Then the next year, I was like a half of a car length from making it and didn’t make it. So, the first two years here were gut-wrenching and the third year here, I had to race my way in and honestly had a shot to win it. It was rain-shortened that year and finished third and that, in a way, is what kept me going in the sport. So, without finishing third there, I don’t know if I would have had a continued career in NASCAR.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Team Stability and Collaboration with Ty Dillon
Looking ahead to the current season, Allmendinger emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity within his race team, particularly in partnership with teammate Ty Dillon. Despite some crew changes, their shared working style and experience from last year are seen as key strengths to build on for performance.
“The situation that I just talked about, in trying to keep at least some things together. You know, I think there is a little bit of change on the crew side of it but for the most part with Ty (Dillon) and myself, and the crew chiefs, and some of the engineers….I think we have brought in some good people, building our own bodies and we have to bring in some people and its strengthened the race team on that. But on the Ty side of it, I have known Ty for a long time but I have never generally worked with him till last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel like we kind of have the same personalities of the way we work together. So, to have him back is huge for our race team to just keep that together. Really that helps too in just going off a notebook and not having any data, knowing the stuff that we felt last year so that we can kind of work on that this year maybe when we are off a little bit on a race weekend and just go back to using the notes that we had last year, because that is all we got.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Strategic Approach to the Daytona 500 This Year
Allmendinger spoke about his usual mindset heading into the Daytona 500, focusing on steady progress through the week and remaining cautious during the race to avoid crashes, which are common at the superspeedway events. He highlighted the importance of the Duel races for gauging car performance.
“I approach it like I always do. First you want to finish, but you just go through the process of the week. And I feel like we will have fast race cars – we typically do at the superspeedways. But, a lot of guys will have fast race cars, so I kind of more judge it after the Duel. Qualifying, unless you are on the front row, doesn’t mean anything. I judge it after the Duel and see what kind of car you got as far as handling-wise, drafting-wise, and then you go from there. You just try to make the right moves on Sunday. I feel like it’s always the same thing, you don’t want to be in the big one and you definitely don’t want to be the cause of it. That is the first goal. Hopefully you make the right moves, and you have a shot at the end of the race.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Recalling the Most Intense Moments at Daytona
When asked about the scariest moments he has experienced at Daytona International Speedway, Allmendinger described the mental and physical pressures that drivers face, admitting that the adrenaline often causes risky decisions on the track.
“All of them. We are all psycho out there. Generally, I think we are all pretty calm and then we strap the helmet on and it cuts off the oxygen to our heads, and we become morons out there. So they are all hairy. There are many wrecks that I should have been in, the ones that I have been in hurt, and you are out there and you are four-wide on lap 12 and you are like, ‘this is stupid, what are we doing?’. Then you are, ‘I am just going to lay back’, and then no, I am like ‘I am just going to run and why not stick it up in there?’. So, yeah, it’s all crazy.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
The Significance of the Tribute and What Lies Ahead
AJ Allmendinger’s reflections reveal not only his personal connections and experiences but also the broader community spirit that shapes NASCAR. Honoring Greg Biffle with the distinctive font on his car symbolizes a powerful legacy that extends beyond competition. As the Daytona 500 unfolds, such moments of remembrance and respect add emotional depth to the excitement of the race, reminding fans and drivers alike of the enduring impacts of those who have shaped the sport.
With a strong team lineup and careful approach, Allmendinger is poised to honor both his own journey and the memory of Biffle, aiming to turn this special race into a meaningful milestone in his career at Daytona International Speedway.
