Former Hollister resident A.J. Allmendinger won his first Nationwide Series race over the weekend at Road America, and it came less than a year after a suspension from NASCAR.
Allmendinger’s victory in Elkhart Lake, Wis., in the Johnsonville Sausage 200 Presented by Menards came less than a year after his suspension from NASCAR for using a banned substance. Allmendinger drove the No. 22 Pennzoil car last year in the Sprint Cup Series before he was suspended indefinitely for testing positive to amphetamine use.
After testing positive last year, Allmendinger joined NASCAR’s “Road to Recovery” program. It was a necessary step to become eligible for reinstatement back into NASCAR. The recovery program included counseling, rehabilitation and further testing, according to NASCAR’s website.
Allmendinger, a Los Gatos native who lived in Hollister for a few teenage years, started on the poll and led 29 laps of Saturday’s race.
TOP 5 AT ROAD AMERICA
1. AJ ALLMENDINGER
2. JUSTIN ALLGAIER
3. PARKER KLIGERMAN
4. OWEN KELLY
5. SAM HORNISH JR.
