I do recall talking about AJ in my blog during last season as for one of those drivers to watch out for and low and behold, he jumps in the #44 and finishes 3rd in the grand event of Nascar in the Daytona 500.
When AJ was driving for Red Bull Racing, his career was like playing the game of chutes and ladders but unfortunately hitting one too many chutes and eventually got replaced by Mike Skinner late last year. Did this discourage AJ? Not in the least, if anything, it made him strive harder to be a better driver and he showed the doubting Thomas` in the last 5 races when he took over the #10 ride with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He may not have had the best numbers in the world but for a guy to just jump into a new car with a new team for him and have 4 Top 20 finishes is might impressive.
There was a lot of speculation as to what was going to happen to AJ after the 2008 season but it appeared that AJ would stay with GEM and take over the #19 from Elliott Sadler. Well, we all know the drama that surrounded that incident and Sadler kept his ride but for a moment left AJ hung out to dry. Low and behold here comes the King to save the day after Petty Enterprises merged with GEM and thus gave AJ his own full time ride in the #44 for the entire season. The King was a happy camper having his #44 finish 3rd in the 2009 Daytona 500.
AJ is out to prove himself a Sprint Nascar Series driver and I am expecting to see great things come from him in the years ahead. You might think he has a funny name but at least this kid can get into his pit box and finish the race with a car that was in one piece.
Great Job AJ!!! I, for one, am pulling for you as I did last year! You got the talent!
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