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NASCAR XFINITY Series News

  • Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap – Pocono 07.13.24

    Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap – Pocono 07.13.24

    CREED, GRAY EARN TOP-FIVE FINISHES IN XFINITY SERIES RACE AT POCONO
    Results give Creed his eighth top-five of 2024; second for Gray

    LONG POND, Pa. (July 13, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray notched top-five finishes in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway, finishing in fourth and fifth position, respectively. After claiming his first pole with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing Saturday morning, Creed fell back early in Stage 1, but managed to stay within the top-10 in the 20-lap stage and for most of the 90-lap race. A few late cautions and restart opportunities gave the driver of the No. 18 GR Supra a shot at victory, but he settled for fourth, earning him his eighth top-five of the 2024 season.

    In just his eighth career Xfinity Series start, Gray claimed his second career top-five with today’s result. The 19-year-old Toyota Development Driver qualified fourth but had to start at the rear of the field for unapproved pre-race adjustments. Overcoming the adversity, Gray drove his No. 19 GR Supra methodically through the field to end up in fifth at the day’s end.

    The Xfinity Series is back in action next weekend as NASCAR returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Coverage begins next Saturday, July 20, at 3:30 p.m. EST on USA Network.

    Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
    NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Pocono Raceway
    Race 19 of 33 – 225 Miles, 90 Laps

    TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
    1st, Cole Custer*
    2nd, Justin Allgaier*
    3rd, William Byron*
    4th, SHELDON CREED
    5th, TAYLOR GRAY
    15th, CHANDLER SMITH
    16th, COREY HEIM
    19th, RYAN TRUEX
    *non-Toyota driver

    TOYOTA QUOTES

    SHELDON CREED, No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

    Finishing Position: 4th

    How important is this result for you and your race team?

    “Yeah, always happy with a top-five. Had to battle there, the first half (of the race) was a struggle. Sat on the pole and fell really hard, just way too tight there. And then, jumped the fence and kind of free the rest of the day, but was able to capitalize on some good restarts there at the end and get myself in position and held on. I don’t know if I was a fourth-place car at the end, but just fortunate to have good restarts there at the end and kind of fall into line. Proud of everyone, going to keep working. Another top-five is great, but still searching for that first win.”

    TAYLOR GRAY, No. 19 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

    Finishing Position: 5th

    Take us through your day and how you managed the top-five result today?

    “Yeah, honestly, just managed the day and executed the day. It stunk having to start in the back. I think we had better than a fifth-place car, truthfully. Just kind of stuck in the back, couldn’t really go anywhere, and trapped for a while. Once we got some clean air there at the end, felt we were pretty good there. Can’t think my Joe Gibbs Racing guys enough. They brought me a really fast GR Supra, almost as fast as Xfinity internet, and just need a little more and mostly just track position.”

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

    Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th 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 28 electrified options.

    Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

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

  • Nordic Logistics set to make 2024 season debut with Jeremy Clements Racing

    Nordic Logistics set to make 2024 season debut with Jeremy Clements Racing

    Spartanburg, SC – Nordic Logistics is all set to expand its partnership with Jeremy Clements Racing. Becoming the primary sponsor on the #51 Team Chevy at America’s Premier Short Track, Richmond Raceway this weekend. This will be the first of three races where Nordic Logistics, located in Rochester, NY, will be the main sponsor for JCR.

    Nordic is also scheduled to be the principal partner at Dover and Watkins Glen later in the year. Additionally, High Speed Auto and BG Crane Services Inc. will be associate sponsors for the first time in 2024. The ToyotaCare 250 is scheduled for Saturday, March 30th on the 0.75-mile D-shaped short track oval in downtown Richmond, VA.

    “I’m ready to get to short-track racing this weekend. We had a really good Top 15 run going last year until we had an alternator issue that ruined our day. So definitely looking forward to some redemption and taking the Nordic #51 to the front Saturday afternoon!” Clements said.

    The Chevy Camaro SS #51 will also display logos of its generous associate sponsors, including Spartan Waste, Workforce OHSS, Elite Towing, Whitetail Smokeless, Matman Designs, Carolina Driveline, ZMAX Race Products, E3 Spark Plugs, and Dynamic Paintware.

    RACE PREVIEW Track: Richmond Raceway
    Date: Saturday, March 30th, 2024
    Broadcast Information: TV: 1:30 pm EST on FS1

    FAST FACTS
    Best Start 7th – 2022
    Best Finish 8th – 2018
    25th career start at Richmond

    ABOUT NORDIC LOGISTICS:

    Nordic Logistics, LLC is a transportation and logistics company based in Rochester, NY. We specialize in the transporting and warehousing of perishable and non-perishable products and service all 48 states with both company-owned assets and independent contractors. Our current operating fleet consists of 25 tractors and 60 trailers, with a mixture of both refrigerated and dry van trailers.

    Our company prides itself on timely and temperature-sensitive service. Not only do we love driving trucks, but we also consider it a great privilege to deliver goods to everyone.

  • Larson-y: Hendrick Motorsports Star Steals Show, Wins Double-Overtime NXS Thriller in Focused Health 250

    Larson-y: Hendrick Motorsports Star Steals Show, Wins Double-Overtime NXS Thriller in Focused Health 250

    • Kyle Larson rallies late, benefits from Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill contact in closing lap to take home the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 trophy.
    • Tickets to Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix are available at NASCARatCOTA.com.

    AUSTIN, Texas (March 23, 2024) – Calamity at COTA! What looked, for most of the race, like a battle between road course aces Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger, turned into a hard-fought NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) victory for Kyle Larson in a thrilling double-overtime finish at the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

    Kaulig Racing teammates van Gisbergen and Allmendinger battled at the front for most of the race, leading a combined 40 of the race’s 50 laps, before Allmendinger – the two-time, defending winner – got shuffled back in the pack on a late restart.

    On the final restart, Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing made contact with van Gisbergen heading into Turn One and took the lead. The three-time Supercars champion from New Zealand returned the favor in the closing corners. That contact opened the door for Larson, on fresher tires, to sneak past for his 15th career NXS win by a margin of 1.354 seconds over Hill. Van Gisbergen was assessed a 30-second penalty for cutting the course short on the final lap and was scored in 27th position when the checkered flag fell.

    After the race, Larson had high praise for the talented Kiwi.

    “He’s just better than us,” Larson said. “AJ’s a level up from me and he’s a level up from AJ. He kind of surprised me when he got to my right side; he kind of surprised me because I didn’t know he was there. Then when he got to my left side, he surprised me again because I thought he was still on my right. It was fun racing. He’s just way better. It’s a lot of fun when you can race around a guy who’s that good because you can learn a lot of things.”

    Van Gisbergen, making just his fifth NXS start as a full-time driver, said he learned a lot throughout the race.

    “We got better and better,” said van Gisbergen, who was in line to top his season-best finish of third at Atlanta. “That last restart, he (Hill) just drove through me. I guess that’s how it is here. I just stood up for myself.”

    While frustrated by the finish, Hill said his team has plenty to hang their hats on.

    “Obviously, I’m frustrated,” said Hill, who posted his fifth consecutive top-five finish on the season. “We’re firing on all cylinders right now. It doesn’t matter where we go. We’ve got to hold our heads up for that, but it’s really frustrating. I wanted to get my first road course win.”

    Parker Kligerman of Big Machine Racing led the way at the end of Stage One, while JR Motorsports driver Brandon Jones took the green-and-white checkers to win the second stage.

    Larson will look to double down Sunday with a win in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series showdown, where his teammate, William Byron, will start on the pole. Green flag waves at 2:49 p.m. CT (TV: FOX, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90).

    Tickets:

    Fans can purchase tickets for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com.

    Follow Us:

    Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

  • Kyle Larson wins Xfinity Series pole at Circuit of the Americas

    Kyle Larson wins Xfinity Series pole at Circuit of the Americas

    Kyle Larson set a track record during qualifying at Circuit of the Americas and won the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 with a lap speed of 92.946 mph in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

    “I think I’ve gotten the pole every time I’ve run the (No.) 17 car,” Larson said following qualifying. “It hasn’t translated to a win yet. I’m still trying to get a grasp of things. It’s going to be tough. SVG (Shane van Gisbergen), he’s still got a lot to learn about the car and he’s already second quick.”

    Rookie Shane van Gisbergen will start beside Larson on the front row after a qualifying lap of 92.65 mph. He will also compete in Sunday’s Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

    Ty Gibbs (92.537 mph), Chandler Smith (92.211 mph) and AJ Allmendinger (92.188 mph) rounded out the top five. Sage Karam, Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric and Sam Mayer completed the top 10 fastest drivers in the qualifying session.

    Notes:
    Daniel Hemric filled in for Josh Williams, awaiting his child’s birth.
    Preston Pardus and Kaz Grala did not qualify for Saturday’s race at COTA.

    The Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 will be broadcast on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Jeremy Clements Racing’s fleet of partners will grow again in 2024; Impel Union to make season premiere at COTA

    Jeremy Clements Racing’s fleet of partners will grow again in 2024; Impel Union to make season premiere at COTA

    Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is revved up to announce that Impel Union, a Chicago-based company, will be the primary sponsor for six of their Xfinity racing events this season. The partnership will kick off with the highly anticipated Focused Health 250 at COTA this weekend and will continue at Martinsville, New Hampshire, Portland, Chicago, and Kansas later this year. This exciting collaboration will bring together two dynamic organizations and promises to be a thrilling season for fans of both Jeremy Clements Racing and Impel Union.

    This will also mark Impel Union’s second full season of being an integral part of JCR’s outstanding team of partners. Additionally, Alliance Driveaway Solutions will serve as an associate sponsor of their fourth race of this young 2024 Xfinity Season. The Focused Health 250 is scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd at the 3.426–mile Circuit of the Americas road course in Austin, TX.

    “It was great to have a weekend off after returning from the West Coast swing. I would love to race every week, if possible, but this break allowed Mark (Setzer) and the guys at the shop to dial in our Impel Union Chevy for COTA,” said Clements.

    “Jason (Kemner) from Impel has been a tremendous addition to our family of partners, and he and his team are dedicated to helping JCR succeed. So, don’t forget to catch the #51 Impel Union machine this weekend at COTA,” Clements went on to say.

    The No. 51 Chevy Camaro SS will feature the logos of various generous supporters, such as Spartan Waste, Workforce OHSS, Elite Towing, Whitetail Smokeless, Matman Designs, Carolina Driveline, Nordic Logistics and Dynamic Paintware.

    RACE PREVIEW
    Track: Circuit of the Americas
    Date: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024
    Broadcast Information: TV: 5:00 pm EST on FS1

    FAST FACTS
    Best Start 25th – 2023
    Best Finish 14th – 2023
    4th career start at COTA

    ABOUT IMPEL UNION:

    At Impel Union, we’re not just about providing top-tier trucks and trailers; we’re your co-driver in the thrilling race to trucking prosperity, with precision and enthusiasm reminiscent of a NASCAR pit crew. Our mission is to turbocharge your business, ensuring it doesn’t just move, but sprints forward, marking each milestone with the exhilarating echo of victory.

    In the fast lane with Jeremy Clements Racing, our partnership exemplifies our dedication to peak performance and unwavering reliability. Every truck, trailer, and service is a green flag, ushering you into an accelerated journey in the trucking circuit. With Impel Union, each mile and delivery is a victory lap, a sprint closer to the winner’s circle. Together, let’s speed to unparalleled success!

  • Ed Jones inks three-race Xfinity deal with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024

    Ed Jones inks three-race Xfinity deal with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024

    Ed Jones will be joining Sam Hunt Racing to compete in his first three career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series throughout the 2024 season.

    The 29-year-old Jones from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who has competed under both Emirati and British licenses, will make his first Xfinity start of the season and of his career at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on March 23, where he will pilot a Toyota GR Supra entry for Sam Hunt Racing. He will then return for back-to-back series’ starts at Portland International Raceway and at Sonoma Raceway in early June.

    The news comes as Jones spent this past season competing for High Class Racing in the Le Mans Prototype 2 class in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, where he ended up in sixth place in the final standings after finishing in the top 10 in all seven class starts. He also made his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career start with Young’s Motorsports at Circuit of the Americas last March, where he ended up in 36th place.

    “I’m really excited to be joining Sam Hunt Racing and Toyota Racing Development for my Xfinity Series debut and to compete in multiple races this season,” Jones said. “After spending time with Sam’s crew and the Toyota team, I have a lot of confidence in the program. I feel confident that we will be able to achieve some strong results.”

    Jones, who grew up competing in karting and achieved the 2005 United Arab Emirates karting title before advancing to InterSteps and Formula Renault, achieved the European F3 Open title in 2013. Three years later, he claimed the Indy Lights championship on the strength of two victories and eight podiums throughout the 18-race schedule while driving for Carlin.

    Beginning in 2017, Jones graduated to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, where he first competed with Dale Coyne Racing and achieved his maiden podium result by finishing third during the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A year later, he joined Chip Ganassi Racing, where he recorded two third-place results and eight top-10 results before ending up in a career-best 13th place in the final standings. He would then join Ed Carpenter Racing for the following season, where he competed on all streets and road course events along with making his third career start in the Indianapolis 500. In 13 starts, he recorded a season-best sixth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in May.

    Jones, who was initially set to compete in the DTM series for the 2020 season before the COVID-19 pandemic restricted his traveling plans, returned to IndyCar competition in 2021, where he joined forces with Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan. After recording three top-10 results and ending up in 19th place in the final standings, he then spent the 2022 season competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship region and in the 24 Hours of Daytona for G-Drive Racing by APR in the Le Mans Prototype 2 class. He also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he achieved a podium result in the form of third place in the Le Mans Prototype 2 class with Jota Sport.

    “I’m looking forward to implementing Ed into our program at [Sam Hunt Racing], beginning at [Circuit of the Americas],” Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing, added. “He’s a super smart, mature guy who is hungry to build a career in NASCAR over the next couple of years, and to build it the right way. He’s professional and has raced at very high levels in INDYCAR and Sports cars. We’re excited to tackle the learning curve of competing in stock cars with him, and we know he will only get stronger and stronger with experience.”

    Jones is set to become the fourth competitor to compete for Sam Hunt Racing throughout the 2024 Xfinity Series season, a list that includes Jeffrey Earnhardt, Corey Heim and Sage Karam. The remainder of Sam Hunt Racing’s driver lineup throughout this season remains to be determined.

    Ed Jones’ first start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is set to occur at Circuit of the Americas for the Focused Health 250. The event is scheduled to occur on March 23 and air at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • NASCAR reveals 2024 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, Craftsman Trucks Triple Truck Challenge schedules

    NASCAR reveals 2024 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, Craftsman Trucks Triple Truck Challenge schedules

    As the 2024 NASCAR season nears its approach, the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash and the Craftsman Truck Series’ Triple Truck Challenge initiatives are set to return and retain their spots in the first half of the upcoming racing season with one new and a bevy of familiar circuits also returning.

    For the Xfinity Series, the Dash 4 Cash program will launch its 16th consecutive season by hosting its qualifying event at Richmond Raceway on March 30, where the top four highest-finishing Xfinity regulars in the final running order will contend for the first round of bonus money. The first Dash 4 Cash event of the 2024 season will then occur at Martinsville Speedway on April 6 followed by the series’ lone visit of the season to Texas Motor Speedway on April 13, which is new to the initiative’s schedule, and Talladega Superspeedway on April 20 before concluding at Dover Motor Speedway on April 27.

    The highest-finishing Xfinity Dash 4 Cash contender in each event will receive the cash-winning prize of $100,000, with opportunities for the prize to increase should a competitor achieve the bonus more than once.

    This past season, where all Dash 4 Cash events occurred in April, Justin Allgaier claimed the first Dash 4 Cash bonus and the fifth of his career at Richmond Raceway despite finishing in 13th place, but by finishing ahead of his initiative rivals Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith and Daniel Hemric. John Hunter Nemechek claimed the second bonus at Martinsville in an event where he led a race-high 198 of 250 laps en route to his second Xfinity victory of the season. Cole Custer, the 2023 Xfinity Series champion, would conclude the initiative by claiming the final two bonuses at Talladega Superspeedway and at Dover Motor Speedway, where he finished fourth and seventh, respectively.

    Ironically, the trio of Allgaier, Custer and Nemechek would square off against one another along with Sam Mayer for the 2023 Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway in November for the Championship 4 round event. Allgaier and Custer are set to run another full-time Xfinity season and bid for more bonuses in 2024 with JR Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, respectively, while Nemechek has moved up to the Cup Series to drive for Legacy Motor Club.

    For the Craftsman Truck Series, the Triple Truck Challenge initiative will occur in three events for a sixth consecutive season, beginning at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, which will also serve as the series’ 700th race in history. The initiative will continue at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 1 before concluding at Nashville Superspeedway on June 28, a three-race schedule that resembles last year’s schedule.

    Each event will offer Truck Series regulars three opportunities to notch a $50,000 bonus for themselves per race victory, with opportunities for the bonus to increase to $150,000 if two Triple Truck Challenge events are won by any eligible competitor or even to $500,000 if all three events are won.

    Last season, Ben Rhodes, the 2023 Truck Series champion, claimed the first Triple Truck Challenge bonus after achieving his first victory of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Grant Enfinger, the 2023 championship runner-up finisher, would earn the second bonus with his second victory of the season at Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway in early June. Carson Hocevar capped off the program by winning at Nashville Superspeedway in mid-June for his second career victory in the Truck circuit. Rhodes and Enfinger are slated to remain in the Truck Series with ThorSport Racing and CR7 Motorsports, respectively, and contend for additional opportunities while Hocevar is set to campaign in his first full-time season in the Cup Series for Spire Motorsports.

    Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

    With the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Dash 4 Cash and Craftsman Truck Series’ Triple Truck Challenge schedules set, the 2024 Truck Series season is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250 on February 16 with the event’s air coverage to occur at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The 2024 Xfinity Series season is scheduled to occur the following day, February 17, for the United Rentals 300 and air at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to Sam Hunt Racing for part-time Xfinity campaign in 2024

    Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to Sam Hunt Racing for part-time Xfinity campaign in 2024

    Jeffrey Earnhardt will be reuniting with Sam Hunt Racing in a multi-race deal for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season that will commence at Atlanta Motor Speedway in late February.

    The news comes as the fourth-generation racer from Mooresville, North Carolina, is coming off a part-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit, where he competed in the Nos. 44 and 45 Chevrolet entries for Alpha Prime Racing. Competing in 24 of the 33-race schedule, Earnhardt recorded a total of six top-20 results and a season-best 11th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in August.

    “I’m really excited to be returning to Sam Hunt Racing and the [Toyota Racing Development] family,” Earnhardt said. “We had strong races in 2022 and I feel like we have some unfinished business. Sam’s program continues to impress, and Toyota makes me feel so welcome. I know this is the right move and can’t wait to get back in the ForeverLawn GR Supra with Sam & team.”

    Earnhardt, the son of former NASCAR competitor, Kerry Earnhardt, and the grandson of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer, Dale Earnhardt, made his inaugural presence in the Xfinity circuit at Watkins Glen International in August 2009. Since then, he has amassed a total of 168 starts with 13 organizations in the Xfinity circuit. Within the 168 starts, he has recorded a single pole, two top-five results, five top-10 results, 47 laps led and an average finishing result of 24.3. His best on-track result is a runner-up finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2022, the same weekend where he notched his first career pole while piloting his grandfather’s iconic No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing and with championship-winning crew chief Larry McReynolds calling the shots.

    In 2022, Earnhardt made nine of his 13 Xfinity starts with Sam Hunt Racing, where he recorded six top-20 results and his highest result being a seventh-place run at Nashville Superspeedway in June.

    For the 2024 season, Earnhardt’s Xfinity starts with Sam Hunt Racing will occur in the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra entry with ForeverLawn returning to sponsor him. The North Carolina native also becomes the second competitor confirmed to make select starts for Sam Hunt Racing alongside Corey Heim, who will make his first of select starts with the team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early March.

    “Jeffrey is a great guy that everyone enjoys being around and working with,” Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing, added. “We’ve had some great conversations over the past couple months and know he is committed to the program, as well as to the TRD family. His experience and full perspective view on the sport is always refreshing, and feel we had great speed together in 2022. I’m excited to build on that momentum and pick up where we left off and look forward to welcoming the ForeverLawn family back to the Sam Hunt Racing camp.”

    Sam Hunt Racing’s full driver lineup along with Earnhardt’s part-time schedule for the 2024 Xfinity Series season remains to be determined.

    Jeffrey Earnhardt’s 2024 part-time campaign in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing is set to commence at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the RAPTOR King of Tough 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 24 and air at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Corey Heim returns for partial Xfinity campaign with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024

    Corey Heim returns for partial Xfinity campaign with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024

    Corey Heim will run a partial NASCAR Xfinity Series stint with Sam Hunt Racing for the second time in his career for the 2024 season.

    The news comes as the 21-year-old Heim from Marietta, Georgia, is coming off his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with TRICON Garage, where he achieved three victories, clinched the 2023 Truck Series regular-season championship, made the Championship 4 round and finished in third place in the 2023 driver’s standings. He also made his first four career starts in the Xfinity circuit with Sam Hunt Racing throughout the 2023 campaign, where he recorded two top-15 results.

    “I can’t wait to join Sam Hunt Racing again in 2024,” Heim said. “I saw improvement throughout every start I made with [Sam Hunt Racing] in 2023 from top to bottom, including in myself as a driver. That’s really what I’m looking for in a partnership — the constant push to be better, and I know SHR will continue to make that their goal in 2024. It really excites me as a driver to be part of a group like this. I’m looking forward to building this year together and contending for wins.”

    Heim, a former Rookie-of-the-Year recipient in both the CARS Super Late Model and Late Model Stock Car Tour regions along with being a nine-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, made his inaugural presence within NASCAR’s top three national touring series in 2021 when he competed in three Truck Series events for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The following season, he scored his first career victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his home track, and would achieve another victory at World Wide Technology Raceway. Despite competing in 16 of the 23-race schedule in 2022, Heim achieved the Truck Series Rookie-of-the-Year title.

    This past season, Heim became a full-time competitor in the Truck Series for the first time in his career as he joined forces with the newly rebranded TRICON Garage while remaining as a Toyota Racing Development competitor. Despite being absent at World Wide Technology Raceway in June due to an illness, Heim generated his strongest season to date with three victories, four poles, 12 top-five results, 19 top-10 results, 611 laps led and an average-finishing result of 6.8 in 22 starts, all en route to making the Playoffs and settling in third place in the final standings. He is set to return for a second full-time Truck Series campaign and championship bid with TRICON Garage this upcoming season.

    During the previous season, Heim’s first Xfinity Series career start with Sam Hunt Racing occurred at Dover Motor Speedway in April. He would then achieve his first top-10 career result in the series at Darlington Raceway in May by finishing 10th before returning for Pocono Raceway in July and at Darlington in September, where he finished 15th in the latter event.

    Heim’s first Xfinity start of the 2024 season will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early March as he will pilot Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 26 Toyota GR Supra. The remainder of his part-time Xfinity schedule along with Sam Hunt Racing’s full driver lineup for the 2024 season remains to be determined.

    “Everyone at Sam Hunt Racing is excited to have Corey back with us at an expanded capacity in 2024,” Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing, added. “Corey is a young man that I’ve been a vocal believer in for years now, and I know he will be a driver that can grow into a staple of our Xfinity Series program. He embraces and believes in our group, and he is willing to put the work in to grow with us and compete at the highest level possible.”

    Corey Heim’s first Xfinity Series start of the season with Sam Hunt Racing is set to occur at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2. The event’s broadcast time is slated to occur at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Creed departing Richard Childress Racing following 2023 Xfinity Series season

    Creed departing Richard Childress Racing following 2023 Xfinity Series season

    Richard Childress Racing took to social media to reveal that Sheldon Creed will not return as the driver of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

    The news comes as the 26-year-old Creed from Alpine, California, is currently campaigning in his second full-time season in the Xfinity circuit for RCR. After finishing in 10th place during last weekend’s Xfinity Playoff event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Creed was one of eight Playoff contenders to transfer from the Round of 12 to 8 as he is currently ranked in seventh place in the Playoff standings with 3,008 points and continues his pursuit for his first Xfinity Series championship.

    Creed, a two-time Stadium Super Trucks champion, the 2018 ARCA Menards Series champion and the 2020 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, made his inaugural presence in the Xfinity Series in 2017, where he competed at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and at Road America for JD Motorsports. He then made a single Xfinity start for JR Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway in 2019 before making his lone Xfinity start in 2021 at Phoenix Raceway for BJ McLeod Motorsports.

    In 2022, Creed became a full-time Xfinity Series competitor for Richard Childress Racing as he took over the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro on a full-time basis. He commenced his rookie campaign by finishing sixth at Daytona before logging in a total of four top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 155 laps led and an average-finishing result of 17.5 throughout the 33-race schedule. His best result of the season was a runner-up finish at Darlington Raceway in September, where he attempted to scrape the wall at full speed while battling for the victory on the final lap, only to be overtaken by eventual winner Noah Gragson. After falling short of making the 2022 Xfinity Playoffs, Creed settled in 14th place in the final standings.

    This season, Creed, who made the Xfinity Playoffs for the first time in his career, has achieved a pole, five top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 181 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.8 through 29-scheduled starts. His best results of this season include a trio of runner-up results at Talladega Superspeedway, Watkins Glen International and Daytona International Speedway.

    Through 66 current starts in the Xfinity circuit, Creed has achieved a pole, nine top-five results, 27 top-10 results, 336 laps led and an average-finishing result of 16.6 as he continues his pursuit for his first victory in the series.

    Additional announcements regarding Creed’s plans and the driver for the No. 2 RCR entry for the 2024 season have yet to be determined. RCR’s second Xfinity competitor, Austin Hill, will remain with the organization and as the driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro in 2024 as part of a new multi-year contract extension that was made in mid-August. Like Creed, Hill, a four-time race winner of this season, is currently one of eight competitors contending in this year’s Playoffs.


    With four races remaining of this season, Creed’s next Xfinity Series start is at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Playoff’s Round of 8 opener. The event will occur this Saturday, October 14, and will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.