During the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne on March 1, 2026, AJ Allmendinger, driving for Kaulig Racing, was taken to the care center after his cool suit malfunctioned amid intense heat. Despite finishing ninth in the 95-lap NASCAR Cup Series event at Circuit of the Americas—the first road course of the season—Allmendinger required medical evaluation due to overheating while driving his #16 Chevy.
After qualifying seventh, Allmendinger maintained a strong pace throughout the race, but his cool suit’s failure forced him into discomfort, resulting in his stretcher transfer while still upright. His situation mirrored that of several other drivers who struggled with extreme heat conditions during the COTA event.
Heat Challenges Extend to Multiple Drivers in the COTA Race
The demanding conditions at Circuit of the Americas impacted several competitors beyond Allmendinger. Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman withdrew from the race with 25 laps remaining, handing over driving duties to Myatt Snider to complete the run. Moreover, Team Penske’s Joey Logano and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick also encountered heat-related issues during the contest.
“AJ Allmendinger was taken to the care center for treatment, @WendyVenturini reports. AJ’s cool suit failed during the race and he was dealing with a very hot car.”
—PRN on X
Reflecting on Past Struggles: Allmendinger’s Early NASCAR Experiences
In an interview with Motorsports.com ahead of the 2025 season, AJ Allmendinger candidly discussed the difficulties he faced early in his NASCAR Cup Series career. At 44, the driver shared how his transition into stock car racing was particularly challenging, especially during his rookie season with Team Red Bull in 2006 driving the #84 Dodge.
At that time, Allmendinger often struggled to qualify due to the competitive field, which featured between 50 and 56 cars attempting to make the race each week. The pressure of jumping directly into the Cup Series without prior stock car experience made that period an uphill battle for him.
“was almost trying to learn how to walk again. And I kind of got shoved right into it with Red Bull. I would never change it, but I didn’t have any experience in stock car racing. And they went right to the Cup. We probably were trying to do it in, I wouldn’t say the most competitive era, but it definitely had the most cars right there. In my first two years, we had 50 to 56 cars trying to qualify for the race every week, so that was difficult.”
—AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
AJ Allmendinger’s Career Highlights and Ongoing Presence in NASCAR
Now a veteran of nearly 20 years in the Cup Series, AJ Allmendinger has shown resilience through his career, achieving three wins, five poles, and 87 top-ten finishes in 483 starts. His most recent victory occurred in 2023 at the Bank of America Roval 400 held at the Charlotte Roval.
Despite setbacks such as the recent stretcher incident caused by the cool suit failure in hot race conditions, Allmendinger remains a notable and active competitor in NASCAR, embodying perseverance amid physical and competitive challenges on the road courses and beyond.
AJ Allmendinger was taken to the care center for treatment, @WendyVenturini reports. AJ's cool suit failed during the race and he was dealing with a very hot car.
— PRN (@PRNlive) March 1, 2026
