Category: Truck Series PR

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Championship Race | Friday, November 8, 2024

FORD’S CHAMPIONSHIP STREAK

Ford’s championship streak continued tonight as Ty Majeski earned the manufacturer’s third straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title.
It also continues a streak that has seen Ford win the last five NASCAR championships dating back to Joey Logano’s Cup title in 2022.
Overall, Ford has won six of the last seven championships awarded in NASCAR’s top three divisions over the last three years.

MARK RUSHBROOK PRESS CONFERENCE

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS SO CONSISTENTLY? “Great people. Great teams. Great drivers. That’s how you do anything in this sport, for sure. We look at them one at a time and celebrate them one at a time. I wasn’t even sure of those stats until you went through them, but every race means a lot to us. Every championship means a lot to us and, like I said, when we got ThorSport back in Ford we knew we could do great things together and to be back here with them again and celebrating another championship it means a lot.”

THIS IS BECOMING A TREND. YOU HAVE TWO MORE LEFT. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR ODDS? “If you look at who we have in there, pretty good odds. Anything can happen in these races, as you know. In Xfinity the strength of Stewart-Haas and Cole Custer coming back here. He got it done last year, especially on that last restart and it was incredible to see him win and proud to have Cole and Stewart-Haas back here representing us again. For sure in Cup, the last two champions in Logano and Blaney. We’ve got a 50/50 shot there, so we’re looking forward to the race. Like I said, anything can happen. Great cars. Great drivers. Great teams and looking forward to it.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE BACK IN DEARBORN FOR THE EMPLOYEES? “They’re celebrating. I’m getting text messages tonight from Jim Farley, our CEO. From Jim Baumbick, Lisa Materazzo, our head of product development and head of marketing. They’re paying attention. Our employees are paying attention. It means a lot for Ford to be in motorsports and to be competing at this level and whenever we have that success we enjoy it. We know how hard it is. We’ve gone through long spells without getting the race wins or the championships sometimes, so to be able to celebrate every one is important.”

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE FORD TEAMS IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY CAN SEEMINGLY FLIP THE SWITCH IN CRUNCH TIME? “I wish it was as easy as flipping a switch (laughing). That’s the nature of racing at this level. It’s so competitive that you think you have an advantage and maybe you do, but it can be short-lived and when you’re at a disadvantage you just have to keep working hard on every element of your program and when it comes together it comes together and you celebrate it.”

IS THIS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR TY AFTER BEING WITH ROUSH A FEW YEARS AGO AND NOW BOUNCING BACK WITH THORSPORT? “I was actually thinking about that a lot during the race and the amount of time that has passed from when we first met Ty and having him in different programs with RFK. We even put him in IMSA and Mustang GT4’s for a while and to see that he’s found such a great home at ThorSport and see him celebrating success with race wins and especially this championship, it’s really a proud moment for us because, like I said, it’s all about the people and relationships. To have that duration with him means a lot.”

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WITH GUYS WHO FELL BACK AND THEN STARTED TO CHASE TY DOWN AT THE END OF THE RACE? “You’ve just got to roll with it knowing that anything can happen and you never know when a caution is going to be thrown or not. They made some changes on the truck on the last stop, so we know what’s going on with that, but you don’t know what the other trucks or cars are doing. Heim certainly had a bad set of tires or a bad setup the second-to-last run and we didn’t know if they were going to adjust it and make it better and come back stronger. When Corey got put to the back with the penalty that certainly helped, but he was still coming strong at the end.”

TWO STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THORSPORT SINCE THEY CAME BACK TO FORD. WHAT HAS THE CONNECTION BEEN LIKE? “They had raced with us before and we had a strong relationship for sure. When they left we were disappointed, but understood why at the time. As soon as they reached out with an interest to come back, it was immediate. I literally drove from Michigan down to Ohio to meet with Duke personally and to understand why they wanted to come back and how they wanted to come back and the deal was done. We’re very happy because they’re like-minded people. They want to win. We want to give them the best resources to be able to win and it feels like family. It’s just very comfortable with them.”

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Championship Race | Friday, November 8, 2024

FORD CLAIMS THIRD STRAIGHT NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIP AS TY MAJESKI WINS SEASON FINALE AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

• Ford’s championship streak continued tonight as Ty Majeski earned the manufacturer’s third straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title.
• It also continues a streak that has seen Ford win the last five NASCAR championships dating back to Joey Logano’s Cup title in 2022.
• Overall, Ford has won six of the last seven championships awarded in NASCAR’s top three divisions over the last three years.
• For Majeski, who led 132-of-150 laps, it’s his sixth series win and first championship.
• This is the sixth series championship for ThorSport and the third with Ford.
• Ford has now won five series titles overall and four in the last six seasons.

FORD NCTS CHAMPIONS

2000 – Greg Biffle
2019 – Matt Crafton
2022 – Zane Smith
2023 – Ben Rhodes
2024 – Ty Majeski

TY MAJESKI, No. 98 Road Ranger Ford F-150 – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW – WHAT DOES THIS CHAMPIONSHIP MEAN TO YOU? “It means a ton. Looking at the sport as a whole from the outside you don’t realize how hard it is to get these opportunities and how hard it is to not only win races or find a good opportunity, but become a champion. This is surreal. I’ve put my whole life into this. I’ve put a lot of hard hours driving through the night to make it to races and then get back to work at ThorSport the next morning and all of that work paid off tonight. Thank you to Joe Schear. He’s one bad dude. I love that guy to death. Man, this thing was on point tonight.”

HOW MUCH EXPECTATION DID YOU PUT ON THIS RESULT ONCE YOU KNEW HOW GOOD YOUR TRUCK WAS? “I knew yesterday. I was so relaxed. We unloaded top of the boards and I knew we were gonna have a truck to beat tonight. We just had to execute every single restart, and I felt like I did that. I put a lot of emphasis on that coming into this race. A lot of times this race is won and lost on restarts and thankfully we had a little bit of a long run. Those last 20 laps or so were the longest of my career. A huge thank you to all of our partners – Road Ranger, Soda Sense, Curb Records, Duke and Rhonda Thorson, Ali Thorson. Everything that they do they’ve given us so many tools to go out and win championships like this and thankfully we were able to execute for them tonight.”

HOW NEAT WAS IT TO DO A POLISH VICTORY LAP AT THE PLACE ALAN KULWICKI DEBUTED IT? “It’s just special. The Kulwicki Driver Development Program, I won the competition in 2015. It’s kind of a full circle moment to be able to do that Polish Victory Lap here tonight. It’s so special. Alan means a lot to me and I’m glad to carry his legacy on a little bit tonight.”

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU’RE THE CHAMPION. “God, I can’t believe it. Just a huge thank you to Duke and Rhonda Thorson. Joe Schear Jr. He’s one bad dude. This is so much fun racing with this group. I’m so proud to have the opportunity to drive these great race trucks. Man, there are a lot of times in my career when this looked like a far dream and Duke and Rhonda really gave me my third opportunity after I had two opportunities that failed. Man, I can’t thank them enough. My wife, Ali. She’s been there every step of the way. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and I’m just so proud of these guys.”

YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST BLUE COLLAR DRIVERS IN ALL OF MOTORSPORTS. WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO OTHER SHORT TRACKERS TRYING TO CHASE THEIR DREAMS? “It’s possible. You just need to find a way to set yourself apart from everybody else. I did that by working in the shop. I started as an engineer at ThorSport in 2021 with three or four races. I didn’t know what it was gonna turn into and now we’re champions. A huge thank you to Road Ranger, Curb Records, Soda Sense – we have so many partners that go into this. Again, Duke, Rhonda Thorson, Ali. This is special. We’re gonna celebrate this one.”

WHAT WILL THE CELEBRATION LOOK LIKE? “I don’t know, probably not like Ben Rhodes.”

MARK RUSHBROOK, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports – HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK IN VICTORY LANE? “We had so much fun here last year. We love coming out here to Phoenix and racing as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend and to have Ty Majeski and ThorSport here representing Ford in the Championship 4. For them to get it done, to get the race win and win the championship means so much for us as a company and for our employees. We’re so proud to be able to partner with such great people like Duke Thorson and Ty Majeski as a driver. We’re so happy.”

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE DECISION TO BRING THORSPORT BACK TO FORD A COUPLE YEARS AGO? “We’ve had a great history with them and when we had the opportunity to have them come back to Ford it was an immediate decision to absolutely welcome them back to the family. They’re like-minded people. They want to win. They want to have the best people and the best tools and put the best product out on the track, so we’re really happy to be here with them.”

DOES IT EVER GET TIRING SEEING THAT F-150 IN VICTORY LANE? “Absolutely not. It looks beautiful sitting there.”

Ford Performance Results:

1st – Ty Majeski
9th – Ben Rhodes
10th – Layne Riggs
14th – Jake Garcia
17th – Conner Jones
19th – Matt Crafton
29th – Keith McGee
30th – Lawless Alan
34th – Frankie Muniz

FRANKIE MUNIZ, No. 27 More Core Diamond Drilling Ford F-150 – “It’s unfortunate. I felt like I’ve got a good opportunity to run with some guys and made some passes. I lost a few spots on restarts, but went back out and passed them again, so it was good for me to figure out how to get by people. I haven’t really gotten to do that much this year, so that was really positive, and then we just wanted to keep going. We wanted to keep running, but there was nowhere for me to go. I hit from behind. I got hit from behind into the 42 and then the 42 got moved and the 18 was right there stopped and I went right into him. I don’t feel like there was anything I could have done there. It was a luck situation of getting through it and it’s unfortunate. That said, I’m so grateful for my team – Reaume Brothers Racing and Ford Performance. I’m so excited for next season. This year wasn’t what we had hoped, but this proved that I can race with guys. I can pass here. We’re gonna be better next year and I’ve got the whole off-season to prepare and we’re gonna go get it.”

HEIM FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN TRUCK SERIES SEASON FINALE IN PHOENIX
Scores Series-Best Six Wins in 2024

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 8, 2024) – Corey Heim came up just short of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series title, finishing runner-up in Friday night’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Heim won the first stage, led 16 laps in the TRICON Garage No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and worked his way back up through the field after a mid-race restart violation to finish second to race-winner Ty Majeski. The Toyota Development Driver finishes the 2024 season with a series and career-best six victories.

TRICON Garage teammate Taylor Gray also earned a top-10 result in Friday’s race with a sixth-place result at the one-mile Arizona oval.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Phoenix Raceway
Race 23 of 23 – 150 Laps, 150 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Ty Majeski*
2nd, COREY HEIM
3rd, Christian Eckes*
4th, Nick Sanchez*
5th, Grant Enfinger*
6th, TAYLOR GRAY
11th, TANNER GRAY
15th, DEAN THOMPSON
18th, STEWART FRIESEN
22nd, TIMMY HILL
32nd, WILLIAM SAWALICH
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 2nd

What are your thoughts on the night?

“I think the story of the night was no one had anything for the 98 (Ty Majeski). They were above average all year, and then they show up to Phoenix and completely tore us up. I drove my guts out and did everything I could. I made a mistake getting out of line, but I drove back to the front and had another shot at him, but he just had two tenths in the bag at any point. I would go 110 percent and he was still two tenths faster than me. There is not much you can do about that. I feel like this is the best Safelite Tundra TRD Pro that we’ve had all year – even better than we dominated with, and we still had nothing for him. It is hard to be upset by that, just don’t know what I could have done better. Nothing to hang our heads about there. We had a great season in our TRICON Garage camp. We set career highs at pretty much everything we possibly could of for myself and the team and as an organization. Huge thank you to them and everyone at Toyota Racing and Safelite for all of their efforts. It sucks to come up short – we were the best truck all year, us and the 19 (Christian Eckes) and just got our ass kicked. It is what it is.”

Does it make it easier because you ran as hard as you did and still came up short?

“Honestly, the penalty was brutal at first, but we were able to tear our way up through there and get back up to third in two restarts. Really didn’t do too much damage, except maybe a little bit to the tires, but when you are two tenths off of the 98 (Ty Majeski), you need a little more than a little tire to make it work, I mean, you saw the 19 (Christian Eckes) – we were still better than the 19 on 10 lap older tires, and he was still another two tenths faster than us. I don’t know. I drove super hard. I gave him fits at points, but he was in another zip code all night.”

How concerned were you when you went back?

“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say I thought it would be a lot harder than it was. I was just able to choose the right lanes and get good runs on restarts and kind of get my way through there, quicker than I thought I was going to – I don’t know. I just got right back behind the 98 (Ty Majeski) and didn’t have anything for him.”

WILLIAM SAWALICH, No. 1 Starkey/Soundgear Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 32nd

What happened to take you out of the race early?

“It was just tight close racing, which is what you expect here at Phoenix. We had a really fast Starkey, Soundgear Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. I can’t thank the guys enough at TRICON. We were coming back through the field. We started in a little bit of a hole due to qualifying. We just weren’t too fast. I don’t know what place we were in the time, but we were making good progress. It sucks what happened. My guys don’t deserve that.”

Could you have done anything?

“I think I was four-wide or three-wide on the top. I think the 7 (Connor Mosack) – I don’t know what was going on with him. I was kind of just wedged in there, and had nowhere to go, and as soon as I tried to check up, I got hit and then hit the 18 (Tyler Ankrum) and kind of went all over the place. I did what I can.”

How do you feel about your third Xfinity start tomorrow?

“I feel really good. We were really fast in practice, so super excited about that. Final race of the year with those guys, and then got next year to look forward to. Can’t thank everyone enough, and hopefully it is a good day tomorrow.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 30 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Toyota Racing – Corey Heim
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 8, 2024) – TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim was made available to the media on Thursday as part of Championship 4 media day at Phoenix Raceway.

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Can you talk about your extension for next year?
“I’m super excited to be back with TRICON for my third full-time season. Those guys have been so good to me over to course of my first two full-time seasons, got one more left, but just had so much development with them over the past two years, and feel like I’ve grown so much as a driver and can’t wait to keep doing the same thing.”

As far as Phoenix goes, how well suited do you feel like you are against your competitors?

“I feel good about it. I feel like throughout the year, we’ve done well at similar style of race tracks like Gateway and maybe a (North) Wilkesboro or something like that, closer to a mile long race track with fresher pavement. Anything can happen, and the points are reset so, I’ve got to beat these three guys to my left, but I feel really good about it. We’ve been good all year and can’t wait to keep it going.”

Do you feel like you have some unfinished business after this race last year?

“I feel like any new opportunity and new race, is a new chance for me to go out and improve myself and win. I don’t feel like this is any different. I don’t flash back to last year as a redemption for any means, but I’m as motivated as anyone in the room to go and win the championship.”

What have you learned since last year’s Championship 4 that will make you the champion this year?

“I certainly learned a lot from last year – circumstantially and how to handle myself in tough situations. I feel like every race I’ve grown as a driver, and I feel like I’ve done that every year at TRICON since I’ve started out with those guys. Last year was my maiden full-time voyage and I learned a lot on the way to points race and how to put myself in position, now that I have the full season under my belt and can run it back, I can improve on that from last year and I feel even better about it.”

Is there an ideal lane to be in on restarts?

“I feel like it is up for discussion. Last year, they had that weird restart lane movement. They moved it like 100, 200 feet forward, and it actually made it pretty outside dominant, but this year, with it being back it it’s normal spot, I feel like you can get away with either lane. It will be interesting to see how that works out.”

Do you feel like your trucks are as good as they were in the middle of the season?

“Yeah, I certainly do. A lot of people have talked about us being a little more hit or miss this year. Compared to last year, I feel like we were always top-five, but couldn’t close them out. This year, I think we are dominating winning or kind of struggling a little bit. I feel like our stuff is as good as anybody’s when we are on point, and we just have to make sure that we are on point this weekend.”

Did you have time to get away or are you focused on the race itself?
“That’s a good question. I feel like this year, I’ve learned a lot about how to disconnect during the week and be able to take some time for myself to keep my mind healthy and ready to go. This week isn’t any different. I feel like if I would have consumed myself with the race this weekend and worried about it 24/7, I feel like it would have kind of messed me up a little bit. I’ve had a pretty healthy mixture of focusing on the race and studying and getting dialed in, and also disconnecting and focusing on myself as well.”

How important is qualifying?

“It’s big. Last year, we were able to qualify on the pole and we were able to execute in the first two stages and put us in a pretty good spot. A lot of people talk about how hard it is to pass here, and it is definitely tough, so qualifying up front is definitely going to be pretty big.”

Are you worried at all the race is going to end in a crash fest like last year?

“I try not to think about that too much, to be honest with you. Our goal is to go out and lead the most laps, and never have to pass anyone – just go out and dominate. That is definitely the goal, but I guess you always have that chance that it will turn into a mess. It is a very high stakes weekend, and you saw that last year. My goal is to keep it clean and win the championship.”

Is part-time Xfinity and part-time Cup part of the plan for next year too?

“Still wait see. Definitely going to do the full-time voyage with TRICON Garage, and kind of working on some other stuff.”

How much has changed with you, your competitors and your program since this race last year?

“I feel like I’ve developed and learned a lot since the race last year. We had so much speed and were able to execute up to stage three. The goal this year is to close these races out. I feel like the entire 2023 season, I kind of struggled to close the races out, and that was kind of the name of the game for us, we were able to put together a great first and second stage and be there in position in stage three and weren’t, on my end, able to close out the deal. This year, I’ve definitely gotten better at that, and I hope to have that in this championship race.”

Did you look at other options before resigning with TRICON?

“There are always options on the table, but I never had a doubt that – my development with Toyota Racing has led me to where I am today, and it will get through to the future as well. It wasn’t a hard decision.”

Is the truck for Phoenix one that you’ve used before?

“We’ve run it at times and have been quite successful with it. We’ve made some changes at certain race tracks that we thought were questionable, so we’ve kind of gone back to the basics with our TRICON Tundra TRD Pro and hope to get back to victory lane this weekend.”

Do you know what truck you are racing this weekend?

“I do.”

What track has it raced before?

“It has raced at a couple of races in the fall, I’ll put it that way.”

Was it important to get the deal for 2025 announced and out of the way?
“For me, not really. I don’t have to worry about that in the background. I guess it was maybe a little overdue since it is so late in the season, but no, I feel good about the timing of it, and looking forward to the championship race and 2025 with TRICON.”

What has been the vibe that has held this group together for this weekend and into the future?

“I feel like we just do such a good job at staying consistent. My crew chief Scott Zipadelli has such a level head. He does a really good job of being a leader and keeping us all with level heads with the team. We never really have our highs and lows. I feel like, from an emotional standpoint, we are always really consistent. We keep a level head going into any race weekend, and this one will be the same. Everyone is dialed in and focused. They’ve worked their butts off these last seven-to-10 days getting this Phoenix truck ready and put a lot of work in this weekend as well. Super thankful for those guys and everything they do and wouldn’t be here without them.”

Are there things that you have worked on as a driver to be able to close out races more?
“I think a lot of it is just experience. Last year was my first full-time year, and I was able to keep a level head and put myself in a good position for stages one and two. Just feel like there was some circumstances – green flag pit stops were tough. It’s hard when you don’t have a lot of experience in that kind of stuff. I made some of my own mistakes on those. Late race restarts where you have to kind of be clutch – just getting those extra laps and extra reps in throughout last year and leading into this year was really big for me. I feel like the experience out of it has really paid off for me.”

Is there a chip on your shoulder with how last year ended?

“Not from what happened with racing and wrecking side of what happened in the championship race last year. I feel like we just had so much speed and had a really good opportunity to close out that race and didn’t. That has certainly put a chip on my shoulder to come back and do it this year. I think we were the best truck out of the four, last year, and to come back and have a shot at it again has definitely put a chip on my shoulder for sure.”

Is there anything you like to do when you come out to Phoenix?

“I really like Phoenix in general. I don’t know if there is anything specific that I would say that I do when I get here – the first thing I do when I get off the plane. I enjoy the atmosphere here. It is definitely colder than I expected, but it is an awesome place. I think it is a great environment for a championship race. It gets a lot of criticism for the racing product, but honestly, I think this place puts on a pretty good show, and I can’t wait to get out there.”

What has it been like working with your childhood hero, Denny Hamlin?

“Denny (Hamlin) has been a great role model for me the past year. I’ve been leaning on him a lot on the racing side, but also off of the race track. He has just been such a great role model for me. I feel like he has helped with my development as well, just being able to race Nashville with those guys, 23XI, and just thankful for those opportunities and hopeful for many more.”

What can you take from the experience last year to help with this year?

“I think the experience last year will be big for me – just learning how to handle tough situations. There was a lot of criticism from that race, but I feel like every race this year has developed me and made me into a better driver. I think the more laps and more reps I get, the more tough environments and tough situations that I have had to deal with has developed me into a better race car driver, and I feel like I am better than I was a year ago. The goal remains the same to go out and win the race.”

Do you think it is a battle between you and Christian after the success you both have had this season?

“It has been fun racing with Christian (Eckes) this year. He’s been on top of his game pretty much every week. I think he has a pretty crazy top-10 streak or something going on right now. I’ve raced with him for a long time – ever since I started out in late models. It’s been seven or eight years I’ve been racing against him. It’s cool to see him have the success he’s had this year, but like you said, there will be other trucks to be worried about. It is the Championship 4 after all. It just matters who peaks at the right time. I guess we will see. We will just have to be on top of our game, and we will be there at the end.”

Why shouldn’t Ty or Grant be counted out?

“I think looking at Grant (Enfinger). He’s peaked at the right time. He’s won two of the last three. You look at Ty (Majeski) and he is really good at these style of race tracks. He led a lot last year. I think he was probably the best truck other than us in the championship race last year. I think he won the first stage and was there all night. With the format, and this being a one race claim all format, I feel like who is ever there and hits it at the right time kind of gets there. I feel like we were really good last year and hit it at the right time in the championship race in 2023 and obviously, things didn’t go our way, but we will just have to do that again, and hope things do fall our way this time.”

Is there something that you can take from last year’s experience that helps you this year?

“I feel like last year, I didn’t know how to feel going into the race. I’ve never been in situation like this where it is a one race claims everything, one race wins everything kind of format. I was obviously nervous going into the race, but I prepared really hard, and I felt really good going into it. Looking back at it, I think I’ve just learned to enjoy the moment. You don’t get these opportunities every day, so I’m honestly feeling pretty good about it – pretty loose compared to last year, and can’t wait to get out there.”

So, there is no nerves now?

“You are always going to be nervous. I think – right now – I’m pretty calm ready to go, but I think when you strap in and get ready for qualifying, that is when you first start kind of feeling it. If anyone tells you they are not nervous, they are definitely lying.”

What would it mean to you to bring a championship to Johnny Gray and David Gilliland?

“It would mean everything. Those guys are so committed to their game, and have done such an incredible job these last two seasons of being a championship caliber race team, and to make that into a championship winning race team, would mean the world to me and them as well. They deserve it and so do my guys.”

What have you learned about yourself these last two seasons?

“I don’t know. I feel like I just really learned kind of how to mentally prepare for these races. The preparation side has always been pretty key to my success and being able to mentally focus going into a race weekend. Over the last couple of years, I’ve kind of learned what matters and what doesn’t in a given week on preparing for a race. Just being able to spend some time for myself and be able to feel mentally cleansed going into a race weekend and not feel so overloaded with information, on the preparation side of things. Just a healthy balance and all of that kind of stuff leads to good things as well.”

From a mental health aspect, how prepared are you for tomorrow night?

“I feel good. Business as usual for me for any given race week. I’ve definitely spent more time on the simulator than I normally would for a given week, but the stakes are pretty high this week, so I’m okay with that, but also just taking some time for myself to think about it. I had an early week fly out this week, so just kind of settling in and getting ready.”

Was there any part of you that would rather run full-time Xfinity?

“Yes and no. Making my select Xfinity starts this year, I certainly feel like I’ve learned a lot, and it has helped my development, but I don’t think there has been a lack of development in the Truck Series for me, and the opportunities and the development I’ve been given the last two seasons has grown me into a better race car driver and I feel like I’ve been ready for those select Cup starts I’ve made as well. The goal at the end of the day is to be full time Cup – that’s the long-term goal. I don’t think there is any lack of development opportunities in the Truck Series, so I’m okay with doing that again.”

Is there a plan and path for Cup for you?
“Yeah, Toyota Racing has given me a lot of opportunities in the last few seasons to develop and given me opportunities to make select Cup starts. I’ve been the reserve driver for LEGACY MC and 23XI this year, and those have given me two opportunities on the reserve side and one opportunity for a planned race with 23XI. You never know when those next opportunities will come up, of course being a reserve driver, but I think Toyota Racing has gotten me to this point, and I’m confident that they can get me to Cup.”

Was there any thought that you might be racing this weekend in Cup?
“Certainly a little bit, yeah. It was a pretty rare situation, I guess, with Martinsville, and you just never know. There was a little bit of question on that for sure.”

You and Ty had your issues in ARCA, so is it frustrating that it sounds like Joe Gibbs Racing isn’t an option or do you feel like you have a path?

“I feel like that topic is so over pushed. I don’t think that is a big situation by any means. I’ve had good opportunities in the Truck Series. I’ve had good opportunities in the Xfinity Series. I don’t think there has been any lack of opportunity for me in the past couple of years, and I don’t think there will be any lack of opportunity for me going forward either.”

What has this season been like being able to make those select starts in the other series?

“I’ve been busy this year, and I think that is really important for a young driver, like myself, to develop and get those opportunities. You see like guys like Connor Zilisch – he’s been racing anything every week he possibly can, and he has done a really good job. It really proves that, every week is really important to get in the seat of a race car, and I’ve been pretty happy with my opportunities to do that this year. Hopefully, I can do the same next year.”

What are your thoughts going into the final race?

“I feel really good. We finally get a longer practice session, which has been nice. Some opportunities to make some bigger changes than a typical race weekend. I feel really good about it. Looking back at last year, we had a lot of speed and had a really good opportunity to close our race out and things didn’t fall our way. This year in 2024, we want to be able to close this one out. Come with a chip on our shoulder to succeed and I think we approach this weekend no different than any other. We want to win the race and championship of course. I think everyone is feeling really good about it.”

Are you feeling more mellow this week after going through this experience last year?

“Yeah, 100%. He’s pretty spot on with that. I feel like last year I didn’t really know how to feel going into the Championship 4 race. I had nerves of course and I guess fear of not succeeding or not being good, but the moment I strapped in and got ready for practice I felt like I was ready to go and proved – we qualified on the pole and led a lot of laps and put together a decent showing in the first two stages. It definitely knocks off some of the edge being back for the second time in the Championship 4. It’s definitely not just another race for us. It’s very high stakes and everything is on the line, but I definitely feel ready and prepared.”

What was the team dinner like last night?

“It’s always good to spend time with those guys. We don’t get a lot of opportunities to kind of chill out before races. We fly out a day early for these west coast races I guess rather. Everyone seems definitely tired – they’ve been working hard these last couple days. I think they worked through the weekend. But everyone is ready to go. We’re bringing our best equipment; we’re bringing our best stuff. Everyone’s kind of worn out and got a good night’s rest last night getting ready, but I think we’re ready to go.”

What do you think your changes are in Friday night’s race?

“I feel good. I never really overlook into my competitors. I just kind of like to focus on myself for the most part and make sure that we have everything where we need it to be. These guys are no joke. Christian (Eckes), Grant (Enfinger) and Ty (Majeski) have put together great seasons and definitely deserve to be here. It’s not going to be easy but I’m very confident that we can get it done.”

Knowing you’ll be back next year, does it give you security knowing this is something you can build on win or lose?

“Not necessarily. I feel like this is a big opportunity and this is the championship. I don’t think we’re going to be okay with losing. I think it’s a big deal, but that’s not to say that we don’t have an opportunity to do it again next year. I think our goal would be to win both of them, right? I don’t think it’s going to make us feel any better if we don’t win it, but our plan is to go out and do it.”

Does it give you more security knowing that the nucleus of the team will be back together in 2025?

“Yeah, as far as my comments going into next season, sure. Those guys are very key in my success. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. They’ve brought me an incredible Tundra TRD Pro in 2023 and 2024 season and it’s led to our nine or however many wins it was over the last two seasons. Definitely gives me a lot of security looking ahead to 2025 to have that same success and build on that but looking at this championship race we’ve got to execute for sure.”

What did you want to get better at going into this season?

“I think the main thing for me was being able to close out races. 2023 I feel like we were able to put together a really good qualifying effort and stage one and two effort, but there were a lot of races we weren’t able to close out. Looking at this year, I feel like we’ve done a better job at that. If we had the speed the first two stages or maybe if we were close to having the speed the first two stages, we’ve been able to close these races out and add to that win column so that was something I worked on mentally. Just being able to reset for stage 3 and close out these races and I think it’s definitely paid off.”

What do you mean by resetting for stage 3?

“You have the guaranteed first two cautions with stage one and two so you just have to kind of buckle up and get ready for that last little stint. There’s a good opportunity for a good pit stop and some crucial restarts at the end to execute on. That’s when you have to give it all you’ve got. I think people sort of maybe take it easy a little bit in stage one and two – kind of settle in. I feel like that’s where I was really comfortable in 2023 but looking at this year, I feel like I’ve gotten more comfortable closing these races out and executing when it matters the most.”

What is the mental part of racing like and how has that process evolved for you?

“A lot of it, is just the mentality side kind of like I talked about trying to get better in 2024. Once again, you just kind of settle in during stage one and two and figure out kind of where you’re at compared to the competition. It’s kind of hard to gage during practice with the tire situation and when you go out and whatnot. You really get a good feel where you’re at in stage one and stage two and then you have to make adjustments and really execute in stage three. The mentality is as soon as that green flag drops for stage 3 is to get after it and get all you can. Those green flag pit stops are crucial, and the restarts are crucial. It’s definitely a different level of aggression I guess in that last stage to execute and win the race.”

How does it feel getting your 2024 announcement out? It is a weight off your shoulders?

“A little bit, yeah. I guess some would say the announcement was a little overdue just being a little late in the season but certainly really excited to be back with TRICON Garage for my third full time year. Those guys have done such an incredible job of developing me the last two seasons and I can’t wait to keep developing in 2025. It certainly takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders going into the championship race, but I’ve known about it for a period of time so nothing changes. I’m definitely excited to race tomorrow night and also continue into 2025.”

Where does the team see themselves coming into the season-finale?

“With Grant (Enfinger) and Christian (Eckes) winning these last three races back-to-back it certainly feels like we’re a little bit overdue for a win I guess compared to the rest of the season. We’ve won six races this year and it’s been a little bit since we’ve won, I guess. I feel just as good as anyone sitting in the room. I feel like we’re at a really good spot with our race team, and we’re bringing all of our best stuff that we’ve been successful with for the 2024 campaign. I feel as good as anyone sitting in here and I think we’re capable of getting it done.”

How do you approach the restarts here with how chaotic they can be?

“Yeah, a lot of it is out of your control I feel like. Just what other people are going to do. As long as I put myself in a good position, closer to the front of the field where I feel like it’s slightly more calmed down would be ideal for sure. I was able to qualify on the pole last year and kind of stay out of trouble as far as track position standpoint until the strategy got crazy there in stage 3. I feel like it’s inevitable that you’re going to kind of be in the beehive if you will at some point, but the goal is to qualify good and stay out of it to the best of my ability.”

Do you feel like you can bring the same setup here as last year or did you have to make some changes?

“That’s the goal. I feel like the setup as you said would be a little bit different with the way the Truck Series has changed as far as maybe a tech perspective, it’s gotten more crucial to bring the best of your equipment. I feel like it’s narrowed the field a little bit compared to last year. It’s going to be a little bit tougher to be as good as we were last year. I feel like we were lights out. But the goal remains the same – to go out and qualify on the pole and lead the most laps in the race.”

How key is having a good pit selection here?

“The pit selection side is actually decided a bit different than Cup. We actually base it off of the best finish in the second round so unfortunately, we have the fourth pick – we had the fourth best finish in the second round so we’ll be picking fourth, so I think we picked the 29th stall. To answer your question though, I feel like pit selection is pretty important. It’s not the best selection that we have this weekend. I think the 9 (Grant Enfinger) has the first stall so it’s going to be tough, but you’ve seen people win it from different spots throughout the field in the pits but qualifying is still going to be very big and that track position is going to be as important as ever.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 30 electrified options.

11-Time Truck Series Winner Back in No. 11 Safelite Tundra in 2025

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 7, 2024) – TRICON Garage (TRICON) has confirmed that Corey Heim will return to the team for a third full-time season in 2025. Heim, ranked as a top NASCAR prospect by multiple leading media outlets, will continue to drive the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

“I am excited to be back with TRICON for my third full-time year,” said Heim. “I have developed so much alongside this organization in the last two years, and we have made some incredible memories along the way. I can’t wait to continue this journey in 2025 with my No. 11 crew.”

The Georgia native’s performance has been nothing but impressive in his two seasons driving for the organization, including nine wins and 25 top-five finishes. Along with two victories in his Rookie of the Year campaign for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Heim became the youngest driver in NASCAR Truck Series history to earn 10 wins. He also won the 2023 Regular Season championship, before qualifying for the Championship 4. His series-leading six victories this year have him locked into his second Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix Raceway in as many seasons.

“We’re extremely fortunate to get another year with Corey. His dedication to not only the No. 11 team, but the entire organization has elevated TRICON beyond measure in our team’s short history,” said Kevin Ray, general manager, TRICON Garage. “While we’re looking forward to 2025, our priority remains on closing out this season with a victory and our program’s first championship.”

The confirmation of Heim’s continued tenure with TRICON is the first of many exciting announcements for the five-truck team as preparations begin for the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series season.

The NASCAR Truck Series Championship event in Phoenix will roll off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday evening. It will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 with radio coverage provided by the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About TRICON Garage

TRICON Garage is a professional racing organization fielding five full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries. Serving as the flagship Truck Series partner of Toyota Racing Development, the team plays an integral role in the NASCAR development ladder. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, TRICON has quickly established itself as the premier home for cultivating the next generation of motorsports industry professionals. Actively involved in three different industries – racing, fabrication and transportation, the team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet.

Phoenix Raceway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 6, 2024) – The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to the season finale at the Phoenix (AZ) Raceway this Friday night to determine the series champion. For Layne Riggs and the No. 38 Ford F-150 team, this race provides one final opportunity to solidify Riggs’ status as the Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

Heading into Phoenix, Riggs has earned two wins, seven Top-5’s, and nine Top-10s. Riggs has only one previous start at the 1-mile, low-banked tri-oval, earning a 13th place finish in 2022. The No. 38 Ford F-150 has earned one pole, three Top-10’s, and one Top-5 including a win in 2022 earning Zane Smith the championship.

For the final race of the season Riggs will carry the Love’s Travel Stops colors with their truck care partner, Fleetguard. A global leading filtration brand within the Atmus Filtration Technologies portfolio, Fleetguard offers a full suite of filtration products for nearly all makes of vehicles and equipment across the truck, bus, agriculture, construction, mining, marine and power generation vehicle, and equipment markets.

Fleetguard heavy-duty filters give customers the ultimate protection for all their equipment. With availability in more than 45,000 independent aftermarket retail outlets globally, including approximately 5,800 locations in North America, Fleetguard products are available where customers need them and are backed by the competitive Fleetguard warranty.

The season finale for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is scheduled for Friday, November 8th at 8:00 PM ET with qualifying at 4:00 PM ET on FS2. Fans can watch the race live on FS1 or listen in via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 38 Love’s / Fleetguard Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“Phoenix is a fun track. I only have one previous start there, but Dylan (Cappello) knows a thing or two about winning at Phoenix. We have had an up and down season, but we want to carry our momentum from Martinsville into the last race to end the season on a strong note.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“Phoenix will always have a special place in my heart after winning the Championship with Zane (Smith). We’re bringing a fast Ford F-150 and have a driver that has proven he has what it takes to win, we just need to execute and be there in the end.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

• Spire Motorsports has three previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, all of which came in a part-time capacity. Rajah Caruth, driver of the No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado, ran his fourth and final race aboard the team’s No. 7 entry in the 2022 event. Last year, both Marco Andretti and Derek Kraus participated in the season finale under the Spire banner. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup has rotated throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Caruth drives the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolet Silverados in the No. 77.
• The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race from Phoenix Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, Nov. 8, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 23rd and final CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event on the 2024 calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Connor Mosack – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Connor Mosack will make his sixth and final appearance of the season aboard a Spire Motorsports entry, piloting the No. 7 Friends of Jaclyn Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s 150-miler at Phoenix Raceway.
• In his most recent CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearance at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Charlotte, N.C., native started 10th, and thanks to a gutsy fuel strategy by crew chief Brian Pattie, crossed the finish line in the third position. Mosack converted the second-highest average running position in the field (6.11) while spending all but four of the event’s 134 circuits racing in the top 15.
• The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation will adorn the hood of the No. 7 Silverado Friday night. The Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers by pairing them with local teams, clubs and community groups. For more information, please log on to Friendsofjaclyn.org.
• In his five previous starts aboard the No. 7 Chevy, Mosack has earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes, in addition to four top-five starting positions.
• Mosack has two previous ARCA Menards Series starts at the one-mile oval, highlighted by a fourth-place finish last March with Pinnacle Racing Group. He also participated in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ finale with Sam Hunt Racing.
• The 25-year-old has made 28 starts in the Xfinity Series with his best finishes coming at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International (fifth), the Chicago Street Course (sixth) and Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (eighth).
• Mosack competes part-time in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, piloting the No. 57 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet Camaro for Silver Hare Racing in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Class. The two-time class winner has six poles and 17 top-five finishes in 38 starts, while finishing third and fourth in points in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Mosack races alongside teammates Jake Drew, Boris Said, Jr. and Connor Zilisch.
• Through the first 22 races of the 2024 season, the No. 7 has compiled two wins with an average starting position of 10.8 and an average finish of 13.4. Kyle Busch led 33 laps en route the team’s first victory of 2024 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and led a dominant 112 laps in the team’s April triumph at Texas Motor Speedway. Last weekend at Martinsville, Connor Zilisch qualified 27th and drove through the field to finish 12th in his fifth and final appearance with the team.
• In his first season at Spire Motorsports, crew chief Brian Pattie led the No. 7 team to two victories across the first seven events this season, both with Kyle Busch. The duo also won twice across five races last year with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• The 2023 event marked Pattie’s one and only prior CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race atop the box at Phoenix. Jack Wood qualified seventh and finished 27th after he was involved in a late-race incident. Pattie visited Xfinity Series Victory Lane in 2004 with Jamie McMurray during his time at Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Mosack will pilot Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-081 on Friday. Kyle Buch parked the truck in Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway in April. The chassis was last on track at the Milwaukee Mile with Sammy Smith at the controls.
• Mosack will sign autographs in Mobil1 Victory Lane Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Connor Mosack Quotes
You are running your sixth and final race aboard the No. 7 this weekend. What will you take away from the opportunity to run for the team under a veteran crew chief like Brian Pattie.
“Phoenix will be another opportunity to improve on the races we’ve run this year. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to race with Brian (Pattie) and the whole No. 7 team. We all want to end the year as strong as we can. Homestead was our best run yet, and I think we can have an even better day on Friday.”
You have a pair of ARCA starts and an Xfinity race under your belt at Phoenix. How will that translate to your first truck race on a short, flat oval?
“Having multiple starts under my best at Phoenix definitely helps my confidence. The trucks feel a lot different compared to the ARCA and Xfinity cars, we’ve had solid speed every time I’ve been there. I think the experience will carry over well and set me up for success.”

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Rajah Caruth will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s 150-mile race at Phoenix Raceway.
• Caruth and the No. 71 team qualified for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs via their win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and ending the regular season fifth in points.
• In the third and final race in the Round of 8 at Martinsville Speedway, the Washington D.C., native started 11th, but a left front brake issue forced the team behind the wall. He ended the night two laps down and landed 31st in the final rundown.
• Caruth has made two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Phoenix, highlighted by a 12th-place finish last November.
• In his only ARCA Menards Series start at Phoenix, Caruth started seventh and finished fourth.
• The 22-year-old owns a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix Raceway. He collected a 17th-place finish in 2022 and came home 17th in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 17 Camaro last November.
• HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protections programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
• The 2024 season has marked a career year for Caruth. He’s tallied one win, a pair of Cometic Gasket Pole Awards and five top-five finishes, all of which are the first of his young career. The 12 top-10 finishes on the season triples Caruth’s total of four in 2023, while his average starting position of 10.3 is nearly five positions better than last season and his 11.5 average finish is an impressive seven positions higher.
• With his first career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win and pole position earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Caruth became the third African American driver, alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer, Wendell Scott and current NASCAR Cup Series regular Bubba Wallace, to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.
• Caruth raced his first full CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season in 2023, earning four top-10 finishes while closing the year 16th in points.
• Crew chief Chad Walter has seen his share of success atop the box at Phoenix Raceway in Xfinity Series competition. He led Sam Hornish Jr., to a NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the D-shaped oval in fall of 2011. He returned to the venue four months later to call Brad Keselowski’s runner-up finish in March 2012.
• The HENDRICKCARS.COM colors will wrap Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-007 on Friday. The truck was raced this season in Caruth’s first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 1), was featured in a strong day at Texas Motor Speedway (April 12), posted a top-five qualifying effort at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (May 24), collected a top-five finish at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway (June 28) and earned a stage win in a career-night at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 19).
• The Winston-Salem (N.C.) State senior will sign autographs in Mobil1 Victory Lane Friday at 10:30 a.m.
• Caruth will participate in a 15-minute Q&A at the Chevrolet Display in the fan zone Friday at 11:15 a.m.
• Fans can visit Caruth at the NASCAR Classics merchandise hauler in the fan zone Friday at 11:30 a.m.
• Caruth will be on SiriusXM’s ‘The Skinner Round Up,’ live from the NASCAR Experience Stage, Friday at 12:15 p.m.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
You’ve ran nearly everything at Phoenix. What are you doing to prepare for the weekend and snag one more checkered flag before the season comes to a close?
“Phoenix is among Kansas, Charlotte and Bristol, in terms of places I have a lot of experience at. I feel as confident going there as anywhere else. It is business as usual. I’m confident in the truck we will bring to the track and I am preparing like any other week. Unfortunately, we are not a part of the Championship 4, but we have one more chance to get a checkered flag.”
As the season comes to a close, what are you going to take from this season in working with Chad (Walter) and everyone at Spire?
“I’m proud of the growth our team has made throughout the year. We’ve carried a sense of relentlessness and tenacity through all the high and low points of the year. We won a race, made the playoffs and were in contention for a Championship 4 spot. No matter how we run, the guys are at the shop at 6 a.m. on Monday morning tearing down the truck. I’m proud to call them my teammates and I’m thankful for their sacrifice. I’m proud of where I’ve come, personally, especially when I think about where I was at this time last year. I didn’t even start racing until five years ago. We were competitive all season, and can’t think of one time I felt like we showed up to the track without a chance to win.”

Chase Purdy – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Chase Purdy will drive Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
• The Meridian, Miss., native has made four CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Phoenix. Last November, Purdy navigated a late-race melee to claim a venue-best third-place finish.
• The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race will mark Purdy’s 98th CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start and 23rd behind the wheel of the No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.
• While racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023, Purdy had the best statistical season of his career. He earned three top-five, 11 top-10 and 14 top-15 finishes while notching a career-best finish of second at Texas Motor Speedway (April 1) and claiming his first career Cometic Gasket Pole Award at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 8). He snagged his second career pole two races later at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Sept. 30), a race where he led a career-high 11 laps.
• Crew chief Jason Trinchere has called the shots for six NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Phoenix Raceway, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in March of 2021 with A.J. Allmendinger. Trinchere collected four top-10 finishes over six events.
• Purdy will race Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-073 on Saturday. He piloted the truck to a sixth-place finish at Darlington Raceway in May.
• Purdy will sign autographs in Mobil1 Victory Lane Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Chase Purdy Quotes
You are coming off a third-place finish at Martinsville, and heading to Phoenix where you finished third last year. What do you need to replicate that success this weekend?
“This weekend is all about finishing strong and executing all around. We’ve generated some momentum recently, and we just have to feed off that to finish the year strong. If we control the controllables and are around at the end, it will be a good night for us.”
What will you take from your first season with Spire Motorsports?
“It has been a polarizing year for sure. We’ve had great runs, but struggled at times. I’m proud of the effort Jason (Trinchere) and all the guys on this No. 77 team have given all year. When times were tough, they could have given up. We have one more chance this season to snag a checkered flag, and that is what we are setting out to do.”

From the Top of the Box

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado

• In his first season at Spire Motorsports, Brian Pattie has led the No. 7 team to two victories, both with Kyle Busch. The duo also won twice across five races last year at KBM.
• Pattie also collected a victory with Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International in 1999 to give him five career NCTS wins.
• Pattie was atop the pit box for six wins across 14 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 11 career victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Chad Walter – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado

• Chad Walter has over two decades of experience and began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1996.
• Walter guided Caruth to his first NCTS win March 1, 2024 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Some of his most notable accomplishments include a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2001 & 2003) as a crew member for Michael Waltrip, along with Cup Series wins with Steve Park and Terry Labonte.

Jason Trinchere – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado

• Jason Trinchere earned his Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and began his professional career in 2005 as the race engineer for the iconic No. 75 Spears Manufacturing NCTS team, owned by series’ pioneers Wayne and Connie Spears.
• Notable accomplishments include Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 wins with both Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing as a design engineer. He was a key member of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Championship team with driver Joey Logano.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Justin Haley, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth drives the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Silverados in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | Championship 150

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Nathan Byrd
Primary Partner(s): Sonesta Travel Pass
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
2024 Driver Points Position: N/A
2024 Owner Points Position: 30th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back To The Team: For Friday night’s Championship 150 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Nathan Byrd to command the team’s flagship No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for his inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series track debut in Avondale, Ariz.

Byrd is poised to make his third Truck Series start of the season in the Truck Series season finale.

About Nathan: Byrd, 24, began racing go-karts in 2018, just after graduating High School, and he entered his first car race in February 2020.

Since then, the Goodyear, Ariz. native has raced over 30 types of cars in 348 total races at 67 different race tracks, effectively becoming one of the most diverse and interesting race car drivers in the world.

Completing more than 300 races in the first four years of his career, Byrd is no stranger to piloting race cars.

Earlier this year, the Indianapolis, Ind. resident made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Portland International Raceway, delivering a respectable 21st-place finish for DGM Racing.

Last month, Byrd made his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series debut at Kansas Speedway, earning a respectable 19th-place finish after starting 32nd.

All-Aboard!: For the 23rd of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Sonesta Travel Pass will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 150-lap race on Friday night.

Sonesta International Hotels is an American hotel company with an ever-growing portfolio of hotel brands in eight countries and three continents.

As the eighth largest hotel company in the world with 1100+ properties, they have a room or suite perfect for every individual and occasion.

Byrd partners with Sonesta to deliver quality hospitality through their Sonesta Hotels franchise, the Red Lion Inn & Suites Goodyear Phoenix.

Nathan Byrd Truck Series Phoenix Raceway Stats: Friday night’s Championship 150 will mark Byrd’s first career Truck Series start at the iconic 1.0-mile oval nestled in Avondale, Ariz.

The Championship 150 race kicks off NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway as part of a tripleheader weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

The Truck Series set the tone for a huge weekend of racing in The Grand Canyon State with 150 laps under the lights for a Friday night Championship 4 fight.

The Xfinity Series will have their opportunity the following afternoon for a whopping 200 laps to determine this year’s champion after 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in the Xfinity Series Championship Race.

On Sunday, November 10, the NASCAR Cup Series will have their shot at naming the 2024 series champion after 312 laps with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.

Phoenix Raceway marks the 12th race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.

Nathan Byrd Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Phoenix, Byrd, since 2024, has two career Truck Series starts with an average finish of 24.0.

The popular driver made his Truck Series debut for the family-owned team at Kansas Speedway in September, finishing an impressive 19th. He returned to the team last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 20th and 21st NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Phoenix Raceway.

The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of eighth in the 2023 edition of the CRAFTSMAN 150 on November 3, 2023, with Truck Series contender Kaden Honeycutt at the wheel.

Since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 24.9 and an average finish of 23.9 in 19 Phoenix Raceway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 507 starts from 70 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.2 and an average finishing position of 22.2.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Nathan Byrd, please visit byrdracing.com, like him on Facebook (Nathan Byrd), and follow him on Instagram (@nathanjbyrd) and X |Twitter (@nathanjbyrd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Nathan Byrd Pre-Race Quote:

On Phoenix Raceway: “I’m grateful to be able to drive the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet once again, and this time with our long-time and biggest Byrd Racing partner, Sonesta Hotels!

“They’ve been an integral part of my racing journey for years now, and I’m extremely pleased to have them on board with us at Phoenix Raceway!

“Phoenix is effectively my home track and brand new to me, so I’m excited to do my best to learn it and execute in the race with Young’s Motorsports. I look forward to seeing what kind of a show we can bring to the fans and end the season on a high note!”

No. 46 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Thad Moffitt

Primary Partner(s): Pristine Auction

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2024 Driver Points Position: 32nd

2024 Owner Points Position: 33rd

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back: Just past the half point of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports welcomed Thad Moffitt to the organization to compete in the team’s second entry for a limited schedule, including Friday night’s Championship 150 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

Moffitt returns to the Truck Series tour for the first time since The Milwaukee Mile in August.

About Thad: Moffitt, 23, just finished his first full season in the Trans Am Series TA2 class. Racing for TeamSLR, he finished seventh in the championship standings and second in the rookie standings. He had six top-10 finishes.

Moffitt, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty, returned to the NASCAR ranks this season after having success in the ARCA Menard Series, finishing fourth in the series championship standings in 2021.

Entering the season, Moffitt has four starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with a best finish of 18th at the Daytona International Speedway in 2022.

In 2024, Moffitt participated in 16 Truck Series races overall, matching a career-best 18th-place finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May.

All-Aboard!: For the 23rd of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Pristine Auction will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 150-lap race on Friday night.

Pristine Auction is a family-owned and operated online auction specializing in autographed memorabilia, sports cards, coins, art, and collectibles. Since our founding in 2010, we have grown from a spare bedroom to 2 facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, totaling over 60,000 square feet.

We have an incredible staff of over 100 team members serving our customers. By putting our customers and consignors first, Pristine has become one of the largest and most trusted auction houses in the world.

We work directly with the leading authentication companies to ensure all items are 100% authentic. In addition, we have leading third-party authenticators who regularly travel to Pristine Auction to provide authentication services on-site.

Pristine Auction strives to operate its business in a way that is honoring to God, our families, and our customers. With a strong focus on speed, quality, and premier customer service, our mission is to be the leading online auction for every level of collector and fan.

Pristine Auction offers several online auction formats with thousands of auctions ending each day.

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Phoenix Raceway Stats: Friday night’s Championship 150 will mark Moffitt’s inaugural Truck Series start at the 1.0-mile race track nestled in Avondale, Ariz.

However, Moffitt does own one ARCA Menards Series West start in the desert finishing third after starting ninth during the 2021 General Tire 150 at Phoenix on March 12, 2021, driving for TRICON Garage.

The Championship 150 race kicks off NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway as part of a tripleheader weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

The Truck Series set the tone for a huge weekend of racing in The Grand Canyon State with 150 laps under the lights for a Friday night Championship 4 fight.

The Xfinity Series will have their opportunity the following afternoon for a whopping 200 laps to determine this year’s champion after 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in the Xfinity Series Championship Race.

On Sunday, November 10, the NASCAR Cup Series will have their shot at naming the 2024 series champion with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.

Phoenix Raceway marks the 12th race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Phoenix, Moffitt has 20 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 18th-place finish twice, most recently at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway after starting 32nd in the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 for Faction46.

Since 2022, he has carried an average finish of 28.7.

Moffitt is poised to make his Young’s Motorsports NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Phoenix Raceway track debut as part of a two-truck team for Young’s Motorsports.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 20th and 21st NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Phoenix Raceway.

The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of eighth in the 2023 edition of the CRAFTSMAN 150 on November 3, 2023, with Truck Series contender Kaden Honeycutt at the wheel.

Since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 24.9 and an average finish of 23.9 in 19 Phoenix Raceway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 507 starts from 70 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.2 and an average finishing position of 22.2.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Thad Moffitt, please visit thadmoffitt.com like him on Facebook, (Thad Moffitt Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@thadmoffitt46) and X |Twitter (@thadmoffitt).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Thad Moffitt Pre-Race Quote:

On Phoenix Raceway: “I’m excited to get back in the seat for the final time in 2024 with the Young’s Motorsports team. It’s a big weekend for me having hometown company Pristine Auction on the hood this week.

“I am looking forward to capping off the year with a solid run in the No. 46 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado truck and hopefully focusing on getting everything secure for next year!”

Race Information:

The Championship 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the 23rd of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Qualifying will follow on race day, Friday, November 8, from 2:05 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 6:00 p.m. MT (8:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (MT).

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series

Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.

Primary Partner(s): Distributor Wire & Cable

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2024 Driver Points Position: 22nd

2024 Owner Points Position: 27th

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

Season Finale: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced they would graduate from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with rising star Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season completing with Saturday afternoon’s season finale Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

About Leland: The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into the Bandolero competition in 2015 and was crowned a Bandolero National Champion two years later. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021, where he earned championship-runner-up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

Honeyman, 19, returns to the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization, where he ran an impressive ARCA Menards Series East Series campaign, finishing third in the 2022 championship standings.

During the 2023 season, he made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, highlighted by a 21st-place finish at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course.

All-Aboard!: For the 33rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Distributor Wire & Cable who will partner with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 200-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Distributor Wire & Cable is a leading master distributor of wire and cable products for industrial, commercial, residential and utility industries.

Distributor Wire & Cable is focused on making your specialty wire and cable transactions seamless and successful. Throughout the life cycle of each order, we’re laser-focused on providing great service and ensuring everything we do for you is accurate, on time, and easy to manage.

From your initial quote to the final delivery, DWC maximizes efficiencies that save you time, increase your profits, and eliminate hassles.

Phoenix marks the second race this season where DWC has supported the Young’s Motorsports team. They also supported Honeyman and his team earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Phoenix Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Xfinity Series Championship Race will mark Honeyman’s third Xfinity start at the 1.0-mile track located in Avondale, Ariz.

Honeyman earned a track best 11th after starting 24th in the 2024 edition of the Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 for Young’s Motorsports. He also has a Phoenix start for Alpha Prime Racing in the spring of 2023, respectively.

This weekend is part of NASCAR Championship Weekend for the Championship 4 in the NASCAR Playoffs for all three national series.

Honeyman and the Young’s Motorsports team join the non-Playoff Xfinity Series teams looking to spoil the Playoff parade which concludes on Saturday afternoon with the final race of the 2024 season.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, the NASCAR Cup Series will take the green flag in their Championship 4 for an expected tense afternoon of racing in the Cup Series Championship Race.

The Xfinity Series rookie driver will look to improve his overall speedway average Xfinity finish of 25.0.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Phoenix, Honeyman has 40 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after starting 33rd in the Ag-Pro 300 for Young’s Motorsports in April 2024.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 23.7.

Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | National Debt Relief 250 Race Recap: In the 32nd race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish in the team’s Xfinity Series fall trip to Martinsville Speedway.

Once again showcasing speed in practice, Honeyman immediately moved forward from his 25th-place qualifying and was heading toward the top 20 until he was collected in an incident in Turn 2 on Lap 48.

The team made a tremendous effort to repair the No. 42 Quix Rx Chevrolet Camaro but fell victim to the sport’s damaged vehicle policy sending them to the garage and out of the race after 56 laps.

Honeyman and the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports team were credited with a frustrating 35th-place finish.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Honeyman Jr. as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 130th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 129 races, he has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 33rd race will be his eighth tango at Phoenix Raceway as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Phoenix Raceway.

In March, the team started 24th but soared to a then career-best 11th place finish with rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. at the wheel.

While the family-owned team has limited NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix, the team, since 2014,

has had an average starting position of 24.9 and an average finish of 23.9 in 19 Phoenix Raceway Truck Series starts overall.

The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of eighth in the 2023 edition of the CRAFTSMAN 150 on November 3, 2023, with Truck Series contender Kaden Honeycutt at the wheel.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 32 starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.3 and an average finish of 23.2.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing), and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and X |Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quote:

On Phoenix Raceway: “As we head into the last race at Phoenix Raceway, I’m excited to be back in my backyard. Phoenix has always been good to us. The last time we were there, we almost scored out with the top-10, finishing 11th.

“I’m excited to get back there and see if we can pick up with the momentum we left off in the spring and turn around this stretch of races where it seems we’ve been plagued by bad luck.”

Race Information:

The Xfinity Series Championship Race (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 33rd of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Friday, November 8, 2024, from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will follow on race day, Saturday, November 9, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 5:30 p.m. MT (7:30 p.m. ET), with live coverage on the CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Mountain).

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE ADVANCE: PHOENIX RACEWAY
Race: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship (150 laps / 150 miles) | Race 23 of 23
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Location: Avondale, Arizona
Date & Time: Friday, November 8th | 8:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90

No. 41 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05

• Currey’s Phoenix Stats: Bayley Currey has competed in two NCTS races at Phoenix Raceway. Back in 2017, in what was just his second-career start, Currey nabbed a top-10 finish (10th). Last year, he was involved in an accident which resulted in a 31st-place finish. Currey has also made nine Xfinity Series starts at the 1.0-mile track, and in 2021, he earned his best-career finish with a seventh-place run in the spring. He also made his Cup Series debut here in 2019, making a total of two Phoenix Cup starts.
• Niece Motorsports’ Phoenix Stats: Niece Motorsports drivers have combined to make a total of 19 NCTS starts at Phoenix Raceway since 2017. There have been three top-10 finishes made by the organization’s drivers, with a best result of ninth obtained twice (Ross Chastain in 2019 & Carson Hocevar in 2021).
• Rogers’ Phoenix Stats: Wally Rogers has called eight NCTS races held at Phoenix Raceway. Rogers earned two top-five finishes at this track including a third-place effort with Matt Crafton in 2004 and a second-place run with Ron Hornaday in 2005. Last year, while working with Lawless Alan, Rogers’ team finished 13th. In nine NXS races, Rogers put together one top-five (fourth with Kevin Harvick in the spring of 2008) and four top-10 results. He has also called nine Cup Series races during his career.
• Decision 2024: Voting for this year’s NASCAR Most Popular Driver has opened and Bayley Currey is in the running for the award. Fans can vote five times per day by visiting https://www.nascar.com/truckmostpopulardriver/.
• On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Masked Owl Technologies and DQS Solutions & Staffing.
• Recapping Martinsville: Bayley Currey and the No. 41 team nearly secured a top-15 finish after a long night at Martinsville Speedway. Currey qualified 25th, but the DQS Solutions & Staffing team continued to make adjustments which helped the handling on his truck. They climbed to 18th in stage one, dropped to 21st in stage two, but ultimately came out on top for Niece Motorsports with a 16th-place finish.
• Points Rundown: With a decent finish at Martinsville, Currey gained one spot in the championship points standings where he is now shown in 18th overall. The driver of the No. 41 enters Phoenix 60 points behind Jake Garcia in 17th and 16 points ahead of Bret Holmes in 19th.
• Quoting Currey: This will be just the second time that you’ve raced this chassis, so how are you feeling heading into the weekend?

“We took this truck to Charlotte and it was pretty good before we got caught up in someone else’s misfortunes. I’ve got a couple of top-10 runs here in both the Truck and Xfinity Series, so that helps my confidence. Phoenix is just a place where if your stuff isn’t right, it tends to be really difficult to make advances. Luckily, we have 50 minutes of practice to get our truck dialed in. I think that’s something that we on the No. 41 team are really good at. When we’re given the opportunity to work on the truck, we can usually make it better. So, hopefully we can take advantage of that whole session and end the season on a high note.”

• Quoting Rogers: Thoughts on competing at Phoenix Raceway:

“I enjoy Phoenix, it’s a track that races like a short mile-and-a-half since the reconfiguration. It’s challenging for crew chiefs due to the fact that one corner is so different than the other. Tire management, track position, and tire strategy are extremely important at this track.”
DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.

No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Matt Mills Racing
@MattMillsRacing
@MattMillsRacing

• Mills’ Phoenix Stats: Matt Mills has made one prior NCTS start at Phoenix when he finished 21st in 2016. Mills made his Xfinity Series debut at this track in 2017 and later went on to make a total of seven series starts in the desert. His best NXS result came in the fall of 2019 when he crossed the line in 19th.
• Shiplett’s Phoenix Stats: Mike Shiplett will call his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Phoenix on Friday night but has plenty of success here. Shiplett is a two-time pole winner at this track – once in the Cup Series with AJ Allmendinger in 2010 and once in the Xfinity Series with John Hunter Nemechek in 2018. In 13 NXS starts, Shiplett captured three top-fives and six top-10 finishes, including when he ran second with Cole Custer in the fall of 2019. Through 11 Cup Series races, Shiplett produced two top-10s – twice finishing ninth with Allmendinger in 2011 and with Custer in 2020.
• Decision 2024: Voting for this year’s NASCAR Most Popular Driver has opened and Matt Mills is in the running for the award. Fans can vote five times per day by visiting https://www.nascar.com/truckmostpopulardriver/.
• On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
• Recapping Martinsville: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team checked off an important box by running all of the laps and finishing all 200 laps at Martinsville Speedway. Mills, who started the week off in the hospital, went back to work and had no issues behind the wheel. After qualifying 21st, Mills finished 22nd and 24th in both stages, and was able to take advantage of the free pass to drive into a top-20 result. The J.F. Electric / Utilitra team was credited with a 19th-place run.
• Points Rundown: Following Mills’ 19th-place result at Martinsville, the driver of the No. 42 gained some ground in the championship points standings. Though he is still shown in 23rd heading into Phoenix, Matt is only 18 points behind both Timmy Hill in 21st and Ty Dillon in 22nd-place. A solid run with stage points on Friday can see him pick up a spot or two to end the year.
• Quoting Mills: Since it’s been a few years, how beneficial will the longer practice session be to help you get used to running a truck at this track?

“It’s been since 2016 since I last drove a truck here in Phoenix, and I haven’t raced anything here in a couple of years. Last time I was able to get some laps around this place was in the Xfinity car, and everywhere that we’ve been to this year I’ve thought the trucks handled very differently. We just have to take advantage of the long practice session and make some good adjustments to our piece as the track changes.”

• Quoting Shiplett: How important is this race going to be when it comes to building momentum for over the offseason?

“Well, I think these last three races that we had this year are important in their own right, especially the last couple, since they’ll be some of the earliest races that we have on the schedule for 2025. Getting a good understanding of how our truck reacts will help our baseline heading into the offseason. Also, getting our communication nailed down will be key to being successful straight out of the gate at the start of next year.”

About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

No. 44 PopSells.com Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Stefan Parsons | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Stefan Parsons Racing
@StefanParsons_
@Stefan_Parsons

• Parsons Joins for Finale: As announced last Wednesday, Niece Motorsports tabbed the experienced driver Stefan Parsons to make his debut with the team at Phoenix Raceway. Parsons has made a total of 21 NCTS starts and 66 Xfinity Series starts in his career. The driver from Cornelius, North Carolina is looking to finish out an impressive part-time 2024 schedule which has garnered three top-10 finishes for the No. 75 team fielded by Henderson Motorsports.
• Parsons’ Phoenix Stats: Stefan Parsons has competed in two prior NCTS events held at Phoenix Raceway. Parsons earned his track-best finish in 2018 with a 20th-place run, and was credited with 30th in last year’s finale after getting swept up in a crash. In five Xfinity Series starts, Parsons’ best result came in the spring of 2021 when he finished 18th.
• Leonard’s Phoenix Stats: Jon Leonard has an impressive track record at Phoenix Raceway, where in three NCTS starts he has made two top-five finishes. In the 2021 series finale, Leonard called Stewart Friesen to a runner-up finish as his personal best. Additionally, Leonard made two Cup Series starts at the 1.0-mile flat track in 2017 and 2018.
• On the Truck: Parsons’ No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from PopSells.com. Pop is the world’s largest online, full-service marketplace for recreational vehicles and boats.
• Double Duty: In addition to his Truck Series efforts, Stefan Parsons will also race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Alpha Prime Racing. Parsons has only driven in one other NXS race this year which came at Bristol Motor Speedway back in September.
• Owner Points Outlook: Following Matt Gould’s 27th-place finish in Martinsville last weekend, the Niece Motorsports No. 44 entry remains 34th in owner points. Having only ran for less than half of the season, the No. 44 team will likely finish the year in the same position.
• Quoting Parsons: What will the biggest benefit be of running both the Truck Series and Xfinity Series races this weekend?

“Track time for sure. Normally, I would say that the truck and Xfinity car don’t really correlate all that much, but at a track like Phoenix, I’d say they are a lot more similar to each other. I like racing here, it’s a fun track that allows us to try some different lanes as the race goes on, and I know that the Niece trucks tend to be pretty good here. I’m really looking forward to seeing what it’s like to drive one of them when we unload for practice on Thursday. Hopefully the added time will help us bring home solid finishes in both races.”

• Quoting Leonard: Were you impressed with how quick Stefan was able to get up-to-speed in the simulator?

“Yeah, Stefan and I have worked together in the past. Him and I have done some work in the simulator before, so that relationship helped make everything easier starting from the beginning. We took Phil (Gould)’s model and started from there, which helped us get a solid baseline to work off of. I think his background in the sim was very helpful to us progressing for this week.”

About PopSells.com: Founded in 2009, Pop (PopSells.com) has grown to be the world’s largest online, full-service, marketplace for boats and recreational vehicles.

No. 45 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Kaden Honeycutt Racing
@KadenWHoneycutt
@KadenHoneycutt10

• Honeycutt’s Phoenix Stats: Kaden Honeycutt has made two prior NCTS starts at Phoenix Raceway, resulting in two top-10 finishes. In 2022, Honeycutt finished ninth, and last year, he bested that result with an eighth-place run. He has also made one ARCA Menards Series West start at this track, finishing ninth in last year’s season finale.
• Gould’s Phoenix Stats: Phil Gould has called five NCTS races at Phoenix Raceway since joining Niece Motorsports in 2019. Gould is responsible for all three of the team’s top-10 finishes, including two ninth-place results as his personal best. In 12 NXS starts atop the pit box, Gould secured four top-10s with a best run of sixth in fall, 2016 with Ryan Reed.
• On the Truck: Honeycutt’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from AutoVentive and Precision Vehicle Logistics.
• Recapping Martinsville: Kaden Honeycutt and the No. 45 team had their promising night cut short due to a tire failure at Martinsville Speedway. Honeycutt qualified ninth and secured two top-10 stage finishes (seventh and ninth, respectively). However, during the closing laps of the race, the right front tire’s bead melted resulting in a hard crash in turn one. The Moore’s Venture Foods team finished 33rd in the penultimate race of the season.
• Double Duty: Before the Truck Series race, Honeycutt will compete in the season finale for the ARCA Menards Series West driving the No. 23 Chevrolet SS for Sigma Performance Services. Honeycutt is a two-time winner in ARCA West, having won at All American Speedway and Madera Speedway in 2023.
• Owner Points Outlook: Entering the season finale, the Niece Motorsports No. 45 team sits 10th in the owner points standings. The team is just 12 points behind Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 team in ninth.
• Quoting Honeycutt: With two top-10s in two starts, why do you tend to run so well here?

“I’m not really sure, but I think Phoenix has just been a really good track for me personally the last couple years for whatever reason. I feel like I have gotten much better at the track. We have always finished well no matter what happens at the end of it. It usually tends to be really crazy, and if you stay out the mess, you can almost bank on a good finish. We are going to focus on trying to win the race like we always do. It’s the last race of the year, but that doesn’t mean we are just going to go overkill on everyone. We are still going to see if we can win the race the right way without messing anything up. So that way next year, we get the same respect going into Phoenix if we are in that situation.”

• Quoting Phil Gould: Do you view this race as a test heading into the offseason for next year?

“I mean, if we can end the year on a high note, that always helps the offseason for us. I think the biggest thing on my mind is building our notebook for next time we come here. Obviously, with Kaden running full-time next year, the goal is for us to be in position to be in the Championship 4 the next time we race here, so if we can figure some things out and have a good run, that’ll help us.”

About AutoVentive: AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm.

About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.