The second installment in a series of 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team previews ahead of the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 21:
NO. 10: JTG DAUGHERTY RACING
Principal owner(s): Tad Geschickter, Jodi Geschickter, Brad Daugherty
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine source: ECR
Alliances: Richard Childress Racing
Drivers (crew chiefs): AJ Allmendinger (Randall Burnett)
2015's top finisher: Allmendinger (22nd)
2015 Grade: C
Ownership stability: B
Sponsorship stability: B-plus
Driver/crew chief quality: B
2016 team grade: B-minus
Outlook: JTG Daugherty Racing started the 2015 season looking the way it did when it qualified for the Chase in 2014, with a pair of top-seven finishes in the first three races. But the next time AJ Allmendinger cracked the top 10 was Pocono, and the second Pocono race in August at that. Allmendinger claimed pole position for both road races, but wasn't a factor in the finish of either. The resultant slump to 22nd in the standings caused a bit of a shake-up, with Ernie Cope coming on board as competition director and ex-Ganassi Racing engineer Randall Burnett stepping up to a crew chief role for the first time. Burnett was often able to extract speed out of Ganassi drivers Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kyle Larson, and improving JTGD's qualifying performances could lead to more consistent top-15 results. The team is on more solid financial footing; Kroger expanded its backing to 24 races. "The key for us is not beating ourselves," co-owner Tad Geschickter said. "Until you're part of the Chase, you don't realize what a big deal it is. There's so much value for the sponsors, so we've got to make sure we get back there."
DRIVER LINEUP
AJ Allmendinger (No. 47 Kroger/Kingsford/Clorox/Bush's Beans Chevrolet): 2015 didn't bring a race win or a Chase berth for AJ Allmendinger, but he did land a new five-year contract extension with JTG Daugherty Racing. Despite a lack of results compared to his breakthrough 2014 campaign, Allmendinger believes the chemistry of the No. 47 team improved despite a tough season with some frustrating DNFs. He's also convinced that Burnett's wide range of skills and Cope's experience will elevate the team back into Chase contention.
2016 goal: Qualify again for the Chase.