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A.J. Allmendinger looking up to Justin Wilson.
(Image source: static.nascar.com)
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Thus I seem to recall that Justin had been brought into RuSport to mentor a fresh faced Californian named A.J. Allmendinger towards potentially becoming America Wilson
Yet it was Wilson instead of AJ who gave RuSport its first Champ Car victory, as Justin simply “waxed” Allmendinger in their first year as teammates with his two victories to the ‘Dinger’s Goose-egg...
Yet it was quite shocking when Carl Russo effectively fired AJ in the summer of 2006, replacing him with ‘Shorty, aka Cristiano da Matta - with Allmendinger being hired to replace Mario “Boom-Boom” Dominguez at Forsythe five days later...
Thus it was with great glee that I witnessed Allmendinger’s first major (CCWS) Open Wheel Racing victory at none other then... Wait for I-T ‘Carpets. Drumroll please; Tuh Duh! Portland
Upon his initial victory for Gerry “WHHHAAAA!” Forsythe, Allmendinger reeled off a victory Hat-dance; Err Hat-trick of victories standing atop the Podium’s top step at Portland, Cleveland and Toronto - before going onto take another two victories at Denver and Elkhart Lake whilst outshining some elder teammate named ‘PT, thee Thrill from the West Hill, aka Paul Tracy...
Yet AJ jumped ship to ‘RASSCAR with the promises of a three-year $9m contract from Red Bull for ‘07, where he struggled mightily, tearing up equipment in not only the Nextel Cup, but Craftsman Trucks too - where I’d guess the tag ‘WallDinger came from?
Meanwhile Wilson continued on with RuSport which although reportedly saw its founder leaving for “Business Reasons,” I believe it ultimately floundered after Da Matta’s freak collision with a runaway Deer during a test session at Road America
Yet, I really enjoy how Justin & AJ seemed to have formed a really deep rapport with each other, as it was Allmendinger who requested Justin’s services for Michael Shank Racing as a co-driver of its Daytona Prototype at the Rolex following his Chip Ganassi drive - and the two drivers just really seem to enjoy jousting verbally with ‘Juan-another. Like when AJ said he’d ‘LUV to have “Two Tall Jones” (Justin Wilson) as his driver for MSR Indy, the IndyCar team he co-owns with Mike Shank ‘cause then he’d OWN Justin!
And I’ve wanted Wilson Florida
While Allmendinger seems to have blossomed as a driver, having just won his first major race in nearly six-years, along with having landed a ride with Roger Penske as Curt Busch’s replacement (GOOD RIDDENCE!) in RascarLand... As I DON’T watch that series; BUTT! I’ve just gotten a new favourite driver in Fenderzland, and his first name is AJ!
Sadly, as Y'all know, we lost Justin Wilson in the
late stages of the 2015 Pocono 500 IndyCar race, August 23, 2015 - with the BAD
ARSE' Gentle Giant perishing the following day from critical head injuries.
Obviously, Justin's pal & ex-teammate A.J.
Allmendinger was pretty distraught over Wilson's passing...
And past RuSport Team President Jeremy Dale was
invited by Racer Magazine to chime in with his thoughts upon Justin Wilson,
which gives further insight to the theme of this No Fenders story...