In December of this year, A.J. Allmendinger will turn 44 years old after competing in NASCAR for almost two full decades. He's a truly unique driver when looking at his career trajectory, and Friday's shock pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway only added to that.
Allmendinger did not take the path of your average NASCAR driver, and the sport wasn't even on his radar for some time. From BMX Bikes to the International Kart Federation, he ended up rapidly rising through the open-wheel ladder system. He won the 2003 Champ Car Atlantic title before joining Champ Car in 2004, quickly joining the ranks as an official Red Bull Athlete, and winning multiple races.
