Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: ECR Engines
Driver-Crew Chief Pairings: Ty Dillon-Andrew Dickeson (No. 10), AJ Allmendinger-Trent Owens (No. 16)

Team Outlook: Kaulig Racing’s fourth full-time Cup Series campaign brings a complete driver lineup refresh, with AJ Allmendinger returning to full-time competition in the No. 16 and Ty Dillon debuting in the organization’s new No. 10 entry. Allmendinger transitions back to Cup after reaching the Xfinity Series Championship 4 in 2024, while Dillon makes his return to full-time Cup racing following a season in the Craftsman Truck Series with Rackley W.A.R. Racing. The team’s best shot at playoff contention likely rests on Allmendinger’s demonstrated road course excellence.

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 CHEVROLET

Experience: Nine full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2024 Stats: Third in final Xfinity standings; 1 win, 7 top fives, 18 top 10s
2025 championship Odds (DraftKings): 200-1

Outlook: Allmendinger’s career continues its interesting trajectory as he makes yet another switch between NASCAR’s top two series. The 43-year-old veteran comes off an impressive 2024 Xfinity campaign that included a crucial playoff win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While his recent Cup Series results haven’t matched that success, with a career-best points finish of 21st, his 2023 Charlotte Roval victory demonstrated his continued ability to excel on road courses. For Allmendinger to become a serious playoff threat in 2025, Kaulig Racing will need to find more consistent speed on ovals and short tracks to complement his road course expertise.

TY DILLON, NO. 10 CHEVROLET

Experience: Six full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2024 Stats: 22nd in final Truck standings; 0 wins, 0 top fives, 2 top 10s
2025 championship Odds (DraftKings): 500-1

Outlook: Dillon’s return to full-time Cup competition marks a fresh start with a new number for both driver and team. While his 245 Cup starts have yielded just two top-five finishes, Dillon showed promise in his limited 2024 schedule, securing top-20 results at Texas and New Hampshire with Kaulig, plus another at Indianapolis with Richard Childress Racing. The 32-year-old driver enters 2025 with reduced pressure, which could lead to improved performance. His demonstrated ability to bring cars home intact, as shown last season, could prove valuable in achieving consistent finishes throughout the year.

BOLD PREDICTION: Watch for Allmendinger to potentially play spoiler again at the Charlotte Roval during the playoffs, but the inaugural Mexico City race presents an especially intriguing opportunity. The three-way battle between Allmendinger, rookie Shane van Gisbergen, and Kyle Larson could produce some of the season’s most memorable road course racing.

For Dillon, the mentor-mentee relationship with veteran teammate Allmendinger could prove valuable. Following Daniel Hemric’s solid 2024 performance, Dillon has a realistic shot at a top-25 points finish, which would mark a return to the form he showed in his early full-time Cup Series seasons.

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