ESPN is reporting that A.J. Allmendinger will be behind the wheel of the No. 19 Dodge for Gillett Evernham Motorsports at the Daytona 500 in February, not Elliott Sadler.

Elliott Sadler had driven for GEM since 2006 when he jumped ship at (then) Robert Yates Racing after Watkins Glen to replace Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge.  Sadler earned two top-fives and 12 top-10’s with GEM.

Allmendinger, meanwhile, joined Red Bull Racing in 2007 as a rookie.  After struggling through much of 2007 and early 2008, Allmendinger broke out.  He won the Sprint Showdown at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to earn him a spot in the Sprint All-Star Race and he also earned his first career top 10 at Indianapolis.  He was replaced in the No. 84 Toyota by Scott Speed after posting a career best 9th place finish at Kansas on Sept. 28.  After a one race deal with Michael Waltrip Racing, Allmendinger finished out the 2008 season driving for Gillett Evernham, bringing consistency to it’s No. 10 Dodge, something that team hadn’t seen all season with previous driver Patrick Carpentier.  It’s that consistency that may have gotten Allmendinger his new job.

I’m surprised another team hadn’t already swooped in and signed Allmendinger before now.  With more practice and coaching I think Allmendinger is a sure-fire talent with a bright future ahead of him. Meanwhile, Elliott Sadler finds himself looking for a job at quite possibly the worst time to be doing so. Only one team is left that has full sponsorship available for the 2009 season, that being the No. 41 car out of the new Earnhardt Ganassi Racing stable, and they already seem to have their eye on former Sprint Cup champ Bobby Labonte.  I feel like Sadler will find himself behind the wheel of a car at Daytona, but after that, I have no idea.

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