AJ Allmindinger

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver A.J. Allmendinger has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation through the 2010 season by Richard Petty Motorsports following his arrest on a charge of drunken driving. Mooresville (N.C.) police said Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 Dodge for RPM, failed a field sobriety test after being pulled over early Thursday morning. Allmendinger said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake by getting behind the wheel. Allmendinger registered 0.08 on the breath test, the police report said. NASCAR placed Allmendinger on probation through the end of the season for actions detrimental to stock car racing. ... Read Full Story

NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger has been arrested for drunk driving. Police in Mooresville, N.C., say Allmendinger was pulled over early Thursday and failed a field sobriety test. A spokesman for Richard Petty Motorsports says the team was not ready to comment on the arrest. Allmendinger drives the No. 44 for the team. He's a major factor in RPM's long-range plans, and team officials told The Associated Press that Allmendinger was going to be moved into Petty's famed No. 43 next season. Best Buy is expected to sponsor the car. It's not clear how his arrest may affect that relationship. Petty routinely shunned alcohol sponsorship, ... Read Full Story

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- A.J. Allmendinger was arrested early Thursday morning on a charge of drunken driving. Mooresville police said Allmendinger failed a field sobriety test after he was pulled over. Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 for Richard Petty Motorsports, said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake in driving afterward. "I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living," Allmendinger said. "It was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that." RPM officials had no immediate comment. Allmendinger is a major factor ... Read Full Story

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- A.J. Allmendinger was arrested early Thursday morning on a charge of drunken driving. Mooresville police said Allmendinger failed a field sobriety test after he was pulled over. Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 for Richard Petty Motorsports, said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake in driving afterward. "I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living," Allmendinger said. "It was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that." RPM officials had no immediate comment. Allmendinger is a major factor ... Read Full Story

AJ Allmendinger has signed a contract to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports through 2010, a deal that ends the constant uncertainty he's had this season. RPM officials did not say what car number Allmendinger will drive next year or if the team has sponsorship. He's been racing this year in RPM's No. 44 Dodge by piecing together funding from several different companies. Allmendinger was originally signed to drive the first eight races of this season, and that deal has twice been extended to get him at least to September. Now it appears he's got a ride for the rest of the year and beyond. ... Read Full Story