Allmendinger reaches top 35 spot

The Red Bull racer finished 11th last weekend at Watkins Glen, coming back from 37th on the grid. Good strategy from his crew chief Jimmy Elledge and strong race pace put him just outside the top ten by the chequered flag, continuing a string of good results.

Allmendinger finished 13th at Chicago on his first race with Elledge, then scored his first ever top-ten at Indianapolis two weeks later, came home 19th at Pocono and then 11th at Watkins Glen last weekend.

His No.84 entry is now in 35th place in the owner standing just nine points off from the No.00 car of rookie Michael McDowell, now replaced temporatily by veteran Mike Skinner.

"When we get to Michigan I'll be a lot happier when we don't have to qualify on time," said Allmendinger. "We're in the top 35 and that's been our big deal and I know once we get in we're not going to fall back out. The car was good. Jimmy, like usual, used awesome strategy."

The Californian's achievement comes after a tough start to his sophomore season at NASCAR's top level. Earlier this year Skinner had replaced him for five races as he had failed to qualify for the first three events of the calendar.

He then returned at Talladega and since then he has made the field for every race, slowly but steadily climbing through the standings.

The 26-year-old believes the addition of former Ganassi crew chief Jimmy Elledge to his team has been key to their recent trend of results.

"Jimmy has done a great job just coming over here and all the additions that Jay (Frye, general manager) has added to the team," Allmendinger added. "We have been running well, and we just needed some luck on our side and some good strategy.

"Jimmy has brought that along. Even at Pocono we wanted a better run than 19th, but we did a good job to get that out of it. All we have to do is keep continuing now that we're in (the top 35) and no reason to fall out."

Allmendinger had not enjoyed the benefit of a guaranteed place on the starting grid for a Sprint Cup series race thus far.