Category: XFINITY Series PR

NASCAR XFINITY Series Press Release

  • Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap — Las Vegas 3.5.22

    Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap — Las Vegas 3.5.22

    GIBBS CLAIMS FIRST XFINITY SERIES WIN OF 2022
    Vegas Proves Successful for Gibbs’ GR Supra

    LAS VEGAS (March 5, 2022) – Ty Gibbs claimed his first NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) victory of the 2022 season in Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In a race riddled with numerous caution flags and a 40-plus minute red flag for snow, Gibbs was able to drive his GR Supra to the win.

    Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
    NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    Race 3 of 33 – 300 miles, 200 laps

    TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
    1st, TY GIBBS
    2nd, Noah Gragson*
    3rd, Daniel Hemric*
    4th, Josh Berry*
    5th, Justin Allgaier*
    10th, BRANDON JONES
    12th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
    22nd, JOEY GASE
    31st, RYAN TRUEX
    *non-Toyota driver

    TOYOTA QUOTES

    TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

    Finishing Position: 1st

    How were you able to pull off the win today with all the adversity?

    “First of all, I want to say all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to him. And I want to second of all, I want to apologize to the 39 (Ryan Sieg) for the contact that I made. It wasn’t my best decision and I’m sorry to their whole group. Ryan’s family, they worked so hard, so I want to apologize to them. But let’s put this thing on red baby. Let’s go.”

    What happened in the closing laps of the race after the final restart and what does this win mean to you?

    “It was awesome. I want to say thank you to Justin Allgaier for my push too. That helped me a lot. You know, I had a fun time racing with the JR cars. Hopefully we can keep it going and go out and win some more races. I want to say thank you to Monster Energy, Toyota, my GR Supra was so fast. This is awesome. And let’s go Vegas.”

    #

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 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 more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

    Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

  • Ford Performance NASCAR: Las Vegas Xfinity Series Post-Race Quotes

    Ford Performance NASCAR: Las Vegas Xfinity Series Post-Race Quotes

    Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
    NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Alsco Uniforms 300
    Saturday, March 5, 2022

    FORD FINISHING RESULTS
    14th – Riley Herbst
    16th – Kyle Sieg
    20th – JJ Yeley
    24th – CJ McLaughlin
    29th – Joe Graf Jr.
    37th – Ryan Sieg

    RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang — “We were just really tight all day long. Hopefully, we can get better. We were going to execute our game plan, which was to just finish and get another top 10, but we got caught up in that last wreck so we finished 14th. I guess we still finished, but it’s frustrating with just how tight we were all day.”

    IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE PAST THE WRECK. WHAT HAPPENED? “We were past the wreck over here and then the yellow came out and I think some people thought it wasn’t out and they kept racing and that’s when we wrecked.”

    RYAN SIEG, No. 39 CMRoofing.com/A-Game Ford Mustang – “We were riding along there at the beginning and he (Ty Gibbs) came along and packed air underneath us. He got us loose once and then pretty much cleaned us out on the second tap. The suspension was rubbing all over the shocks, so we had a suspension issue right there out of four. I tried to hang onto it and stay out of the wall and just come to pit road because we were pretty much done.”

  • Ford Performance NASCAR: Riley Herbst Las Vegas Media Availability

    Ford Performance NASCAR: Riley Herbst Las Vegas Media Availability

    Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
    NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Alsco 300
    Friday, March 4, 2022

    Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang, is racing in front of his hometown fans this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He came into the media center earlier today to talk about his hopes for getting to victory lane tomorrow afternoon.

    RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang – DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE THIS WEEKEND? “I don’t think so. The last two times we’ve been here in the 98 it hasn’t been too kind to us, so we just kind of treat it as another racetrack this weekend and hopefully the good luck from being home kind of pays off later into the race and hopefully we can be there at the end.”

    DID YOU SEE THE MURAL ON THE WAY IN? “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. That’s actually a local graffiti artist that paints murals all over the town, so it’s pretty cool to have a 98 circa Ford Mustang on the side of a convenience store, which we get to go take a few photos with later today, but he did a really good job.”

    HAVING TO USE THE SAME CAR FROM LAST WEEK IS THAT WEIRD THING AT ALL AND IS IT GOING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AT ALL? “I think it was a cool initiative. I think it was difficult on which tracks they chose – speaking about NASCAR – just because at Fontana nobody has been on the track in two years so it was really, really dirty. It destroyed a lot of the underneath of the car – crush panels and things of that nature – so 600 miles is quite a bit on components and engines and transmissions and rear end housings and things of that nature, so hopefully everything stays together for everybody who is in the same car because I know quite a few went to backups, but I think it definitely helps save the team money when it comes to the money standpoint, but definitely hard on equipment.”

    A BETTER START TO THE SEASON THIS YEAR THAN LAST. HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS YOUR TEAM NOW? “Yeah, last year we had two DNFs to start the season and this year we had two top 10s to start the season, so I think that’s huge, just speaking on the fact of how deep the Xfinity competition field is this year. I really don’t want to be chasing points into the last summer like we were last year. Hopefully, we can get a win this weekend or any weekend so we don’t have to chase any points, but that’s huge to start the year off with two top 10s rather than two DNFs – way better position this year than last.”

    YOU HAVE LOCAL SPONSORS ON THE CAR. HAVE THINGS WITH COVID GOING AWAY HELPED WITH SPONSORSHIP? “I would say a little bit. It’s cool to have Derek Stevens and the local sponsorship on a few race cars around here throughout the garage. It’s cool to have circa, but last year we had South Point on the car, so I wouldn’t say COVID played too much into that, but, like I said, I’m just looking forward to giving Circa a good run this weekend.”

  • SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | Joe Graf Jr. Las Vegas March Event Preview

    SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | Joe Graf Jr. Las Vegas March Event Preview

    SS Greenlight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Alsco Uniforms 300

    Fast Facts
    No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
    Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
    Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up LFG Burn
    Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
    Crew Chief: Joe Williams
    Spotter: TJ Bell

    2022 Driver Points Position:19th | 2022 Owner Points Position: Seventh

    Engine: Roush Yates Engines (RYE)

    Notes of Interest:

    Full of Energy: Bucked Up Energy Drink and its sister products will continue their role as the primary partner of Graf’s No. 07 Ford Mustang this weekend. Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway is the third race of 2022 but is the 34th race overall in a multi-year, multi-race deal with the former ARCA Menards Series winner.

    This weekend, Bucked Up will promote its new Bucked Up LFG Burn product.

    LFG Burn is a revolutionary pre-workout specifically designed to optimize fat loss. Designed to complement your hard work, LFG acts as both a pre-workout and a fat-burning supplement.

    This science-based, non-proprietary formula supplies breakthrough ingredients to help you achieve your noble quest towards fat loss.
    New Year, But New Look: In January, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) announced the organization would switch from Chevrolet to Ford and have a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing.

    SHR will supply the organization with race cars while Roush Yates Engines will provide the legendary Ford horsepower.

    In addition to providing race cars to SSGLRwJL, SHR will also provide technical support for the entire 33-race season.

    Additionally, Graf will have NASCAR Cup Series and Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe as teammates for select events throughout the 2022 season.

    Don’t Forget The New Partner Too: SS GreenLight Racing has added Jeff Lefcourt as a new co-owner of the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, as well as director of business development for the organization.

    Lefcourt, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. joins SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) with a long history of racing endeavors including owning Bethel (N.Y.) Motor Speedway in upstate New York, a current-NASCAR sanctioned race track.

    The noted philanthropist, entrepreneur and real estate developer has deep ties to grassroots racing and was instrumental in helping secure the Stewart-Haas Racing alliance with SSGLRwJL in 2022.

    Congratulations: SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt invades Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway as the most recent winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

    Last weekend at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway, Graf’s teammate Cole Custer qualified second, led 80 laps and delivered the organization their first career Xfinity Series victory.

    The triumph was also the first career Xfinity Series win for crew chief Joe Williams.

    Surprise Awaits: Joe Graf Jr., SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt and Bucked Up Energy Drink will showcase for the first time in NASCAR one of their original energy drink flavors next weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway for the United Rentals 200, the fourth race of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

    Bucked Up started in 2013 when twin brothers Ryan and Jeff Gardner started marketing a product called Deer Antler Spray. After selling thousands of bottles to GNCs nationwide, the company morphed into what is now Bucked Up, a full-fledged vitamins and supplements manufacturer.

    The company has gone from its humble beginnings to becoming the No. 1 best-selling pre-workout brand that’s available in over 10,000 stores worldwide.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fifth career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Saturday afternoon’s race.

    In his previous four efforts, Graf has delivered a track-best of 18th earned in March 2021’s Alsco Uniforms 300 after starting 26th.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Speedway Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with an average starting position of 26.3 and an average result of 25.0.

    Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway | Production Alliance Group 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway, Graf jumped through a series of obstacles to deliver a strong lead-lap 15th place finish in the second race of the season.

    The effort vaulted Graf to 19th in the Xfinity Series championship standings and delivered a career-best finish for him at the 2.0-mile track.

    Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

    The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

    From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

    He will crew chief his 68th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday night and his fifth at the 1.5-mile speedway.

    In his previous 67 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), five top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

    Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. Veteran David Starr will drive the No. 08 TicketSmarter Ford Mustang on Saturday for his first start of the 2022 season.

    Starr is set to make his 235th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 11th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2015 Boyd Gaming 300, where he finished 17th after starting 31st for TriStar Motorsports.

    Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

    For more on SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt, please visit SSGreenLight.com, like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708).

    Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

    On Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “I am really looking forward to going back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. I learned a lot last year and I feel like I can take what I learned and apply it to this weekend and hopefully contend for a top-10 finish in our No. 07 Bucked Up LFG Burn Ford Mustang.”

    On Jeff Lefcourt Partnership With SS GreenLight Racing: “Jeff is going to be a fantastic co car-owner at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. He has done amazing things for a lot of different drivers on several different spectrums for many, many years.

    “This year, he’s a part of our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team looking to continue to make a difference but on a much larger scale. The partnership has already reaped benefits with the win at Auto Club Speedway.

    “He and Bobby (Dotter) have big plans for the future and I’m just glad to be a small part of it.”

    On 2022 Season Outlook: “We have made a lot of changes during the offseason. From switching manufacturers to bringing in new personnel, it’s all for the better. Honestly, I would be disappointed if we weren’t able to showcase ourselves as a strong capable team throughout the season.

    “We’ve already shown what our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team can do when everything goes our way. The Auto Club win for Cole Custer was huge for our team and we definitely want to build on that in the weeks and months ahead.”

    “Consistent top-10 finishes for myself should not be out of the question and hopefully by Phoenix in November, we will be racing near the front on a consistent basis.”

    Race Information:

    The Alsco Uniforms 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the third of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 4 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying follows at 4:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., Mar. 5 shortly after 1:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

    About SS Green Light Racing with Jeff Lefcourt:

    As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter and new partner Jeff Lefcourt has been a mainstay entry in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

    SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

  • Ryan Vargas to Showcase Sponsor Swann Security at Alsco Uniforms 300 in Las Vegas

    Ryan Vargas to Showcase Sponsor Swann Security at Alsco Uniforms 300 in Las Vegas

    The Number 6 Chevy Camaro Will Be Wrapped in the Swann ‘Storm’ Paint Scheme

    LAS VEGAS, March 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Swann®, the security product leader, securing homes and businesses for over 35 years, will be back on the NASCAR Xfinity Series track on Saturday, March 5, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ryan Vargas, the 21-year-old JD Motorsports driver will be racing the #6 Chevy Camaro with a Swann Security “Storm” paint wrap on the track.

    Since it was first held in 1997, the Alsco Uniforms 300 race has been among the first five races of the season. It will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 at 1:30 p.m. PT.

    “After last weekend’s unexpected events during the Production Alliance Group 300, I am looking forward to getting back on the track in Las Vegas and representing our partner Swann Security,” says Ryan Vargas.

    “We will be on the sidelines cheering for Ryan Vargas this weekend and love the new look of the car,” says Leslie Conover, VP of the Americas at Swann. “We are proud to have Vargas representing Swann and admire his determination on and off the track.”

    For more information, including a full list of Swann products, visit the company on the web at www.Swann.com.

    Follow Ryan Vargas on social media for the latest from the track with Swann:
    https://www.facebook.com/RyanVargasRacing
    https://www.instagram.com/rtrv23/
    https://twitter.com/RyanVargas_23
    https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanvargas_23

    ABOUT SWANN:

    Swann is a veteran in the global security camera market and has been in this business for 35 years. As the worldwide leader of wired, DIY security solutions, Swann helps its customers protect their homes, businesses, and garages no matter where life takes them — around the world or the track. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Swann creates innovative DIY security solutions, including its Enforcer™ Series product line, which offers enhanced crime deterrence with controllable red and blue flashing lights, spotlights, and sirens, combined with mobile alerts, when unwanted activity is detected. Also, Swann is the only brand on the market that offers a complete lineup of inter-connectable wired and wireless security solutions via the Swann Security app that is completely integrated with Hey Google and Alexa. Follow Swann on social media for the latest products and news: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

    ABOUT RYAN VARGAS:

    Ryan Vargas began his career as a race car driver at age 11 in 2012 racing Bandoleros, garnering dozens of main event victories and championships, including tying for the 2014 Bandolero National Championship.

    He began to move through the jumping from NASCAR Street Stocks to Late Models, winning several races before progressing to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2018. Ryan competed for Rev Racing as part of the 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class, finishing sixth in the points standings. He is one of the most followed NASCAR drivers on TikTok.

  • Toyota Racing – NXS/NCWTS Vegas Quotes – John Hunter Nemechek – 03.02.22

    Toyota Racing – NXS/NCWTS Vegas Quotes – John Hunter Nemechek – 03.02.22

    Toyota Racing – John Hunter Nemechek
    NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

    LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2022) – Sam Hunt Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports driver John Hunter Nemechek was made available to media prior to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race this Wednesday:

    JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 26 Berry’s Bullets Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

    No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Kyle Busch Motorsports

    How do you feel about your title chances as you progress through the year?

    “I think looking back at last year we were pretty much the favorite all year to win the title. I think coming into this year we definitely had some great momentum on our side from 2021. I feel like we added a lot of value to our notebook last year. I became familiar with my crew chief and my engineer talking on the radio and communicating. What’s going to be different is the practice and qualifying – we’ve got to figure that out again. We didn’t qualify so great in Phoenix and one thing led to another. I definitely think we have a little work to do there, but I feel good. We just have to go out here and continue to do our job. We were able to win both stages at Daytona. We got caught up in the last lap accident there coming to the white, but that’s Daytona. I’m looking forward to Vegas. I got my first win here last year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports). Hopefully we can go out and repeat and beat the boss again.”

    Where do you see things going beyond the season?

    “I don’t know. I’m focused on this year at this point. Only time will tell. I just have to go out there and perform and do my job and that is to win races and perform to the best of my ability. Hopefully we can go out there and win this championship. That is the number one goals, as well as win races. Hopefully we can do that. #Here4Wins.”

    I saw your dad (Joe Nemechek) won at Sebring, was that one of your old late models?

    “I believe it was one of my old K&N cars that we used to go and test. It was a road race car. I think he ended up putting it back together. He’s having a blast going and running some of those races with some guys and taking care of other people’s cars as well.”

    Is getting back in a super late model something that you would look to do in the next year?

    “I would definitely get back behind the wheel of a Super Late Model. I’m going to be doing some other racing this year outside the Truck and Xfinity stuff that will be announced at a later date. Looking forward to having some fun this year. The more time that I can spend behind the wheel, the better. Of course, being able to work with Gere (Kennon) and all of the guys at Donnie Wilson’s with Bond (Suss) and all of them would be a great opportunity. They do really well with the Toyota TD2/TRD program. Everyone that has gotten behind the wheel has definitely been fast in their supers and have been able to win races. I would love to do it. Don’t know if would be with them or with our NEMCO Motorsports team. We still have some late models there. I think there is one or two that we haven’t converted to a road race car, so who knows.”

    What can you bring into this year’s race from last year and what can you bring from the Truck race to the Xfinity race?

    “I do think there will be some things that can transfer from lines and laps and how the track rubbers up. Definitely cars on track this weekend, as far as the 20-minute practice deal and then qualifying and then the Truck race going into the Xfinity race. I think there is some value with that. I think just being out there on Friday night could definitely help for Saturday. I also definitely think after only 20-minutes of practice and Truck qualifying, being able to go and practice the Xfinity car and qualify the Xfinity car right before the Truck race will definitely help me as well. Vegas has been really good to me. I’ve been runner-up there I think once or twice in the Xfinity car, so I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel for Sam Hunt (Racing) and everyone at Toyota this weekend. We have Berry Bullets on board, so look forward to trying to make them proud, local company there. They are a long-time supporter of mine, so hopefully we can get them the victory on Saturday and get Mobil 1 a victory on Friday night.”

    Do you utilize the Toyota Performance Center?

    “I train every day at the Toyota Performance Center. It’s a really neat facility that Toyota and TRD have been able to put together for us. It’s up to us drivers that are underneath the Toyota banner and underneath the TRD banner on how we want to utilize that program and how we want to make the most of it. I definitely feel like being there – I’ve learned a lot from being there. I feel like I’ve also brought some other things I’ve learned over the years from being with Josh Wise, kind of being his little protégé for a couple of years before that deal took off and then some other things I’ve done on my own. I feel like it’s a really good facility and it just continues to get better and better every single week and every year.”

    What keeps you going back to the Performance Center when you are training with younger drivers?

    “I think there is two ways to look at that question. Yes, you can have the attitude that I don’t want to be around younger kids or whatever it may be, but when I’m at the gym – I’m focused on my task at hand and training to my absolute top ability. I feel like I tend to push those younger kids when they are at the gym. When they may be complaining, I’m over there sweating my head off and just continuing to push through whatever it may be and working really hard. Being 24 and being able to be in the KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) stable, I’m kind of that veteran driver as well underneath that banner right now at 24, which is kind of crazy. Being able to have Chandler (Smith) and Corey (Heim) there and them being younger, I feel like we can have dialogue and different things of that sort. It’s pretty unique in the sense of training with some of the kids. Sometimes I’m on my own, sometimes they are there. It just depends on the day and the schedule and how everything is going on. Everyone gets along really well I feel like in the Toyota camp and we just push each other. You have to continue to push each other to be the best that you can be on and off the racetrack.”

    How do you utilize mental support versus the physical support that they have there for you?

    “I think that I learned that mindset and everything about the brain from my time when I was with Josh Wise. We focused a lot on that. Being able to train the brain is just like training the body. Your brain can tell you one thing and your body can go past what it’s telling you and you pass that. I think you see a lot of that in the endurance world from running triathlons, Ironmans, whatever it may be. You are just continuing to push until your body basically shuts down. I like being able to train the brain. I like exercising it – doing different things. At the end of the day, when I get done with a workout and training, I want to be mentally, physically, everything exhausted. If you are not, it’s hard to say that you pushed yourself that day. I think there is a lot of benefit to training the brain as well as the body. Our races, they are physically demanding, but at the same time, they are mentally demanding as well. You have to focus and try to hit the same line for two hours, three hours, four hours and you can’t mess up. When you are running at Daytona and you’re running within a couple of feet of cars all day, you don’t want to make a mental mistake and end up wrecking the whole field. The answer is yes. Utilizing that is very beneficial.”

    Did you send Bernard Pollard diecast after your Twitter conversation?

    “Yes, he dm’ed me. I got some information, and there was a diecast that went out this week. He will receive it soon.”

    Are you expecting any aerodynamic changes with the new Toyota body?

    “I haven’t been involved in a lot of the technical side of the different body. I know that the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro looks really good. It looks mean on the racetrack and with the production vehicle as well. Not really sure on what to expect if there will be a huge difference aerodynamically from them being at the wind tunnel, and having it blown in the wind tunnel, I haven’t seen numbers. I figure if there would have been a big difference, we probably would have talked about it as far as crew chief, driver. Who knows? Hopefully it is better. Anytime they come out with a body change I feel like Toyota and all of the other manufacturers put a lot of work in to try to make the trucks better and more aerodynamic and try to figure out how to get more downforce in them. I’m excited. Hopefully we can take the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to victory lane for the first time this weekend.”

    Is there any extra motivation when you are racing against Kyle Busch?

    “I don’t think there is extra motivation. Him and I actually had a conversation about this a few weeks ago. I don’t think there is any extra motivation. When you look at last year, we won three of the five races he was on and then all of the races that he wasn’t in we won two out of 18 of them. It’s a little bit different mindset I would say for us going into this year but looking forward in having the opportunity to race against Kyle (Busch). Anytime that you are able to race against him or any of the other Cup guys, you are always learning something. They always have a lot of knowledge, and they have a really big notebook that they can pull from different moves and information. I think one of the best things is when he races, we are able to sit down and debrief after the race and I can pick his brain and he can pick my brain and figure out who was better where, what was different set-up wise in our trucks, what we both fought all night, looking at pit road statistics. There is a lot of different things we can look at and bounce off each other. You know you have a gauge when he comes down and runs. He’s going to maximize everything he possibly can.”

    Have you thought about how you are going to approach the new practice format?

    “Not really, approach it the same as last year – as if you didn’t have practice. You’ve got to be really close, set-up and balance wise, unloading right off the truck. If you are not, there is not much you can change anyway to try to fix it. Hopefully your set up is good. Hopefully your simulation tools were really good going to the racetrack. Hopefully the notebook has been good from the past and you didn’t make any mistakes. Hopefully we played everything right and we brought a fast truck to Vegas and for the rest of the year where we have practice like that and qualifying. I think the qualifying adjustments compared to where you are in practice and race balance is going to be interesting to see who hits it right off the bat and who struggles with it. I know we struggled with it last year at Nashville and Phoenix, really the only two places that we qualified. I feel like we have a better grasp on that now of what we did and what we did wrong, so hopefully we can continue to build on that and go and qualify better than we have.”

    #

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 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 more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

    Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

  • JR Motorsports — NXS Las Vegas Preview

    JR Motorsports — NXS Las Vegas Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
    TRACK: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    RACE: Alsco Uniforms 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
    DATE: Saturday, March 5, 2022

    Broadcast Information – TV: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 4 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

    Sam Mayer
    No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
    • Coming off a strong sixth-place finish in Fontana, Sam Mayer will make his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.
    • In one start at the 1.5-mile facility in Las Vegas, Mayer raced his way to 11th before being swept up in a multi-car incident on lap 31.
    • In 18 NXS races during the second half of 2021, Mayer racked up one top five and six top 10s while leading the field for 57 circuits.
    • At tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length in the NXS, Mayer has a best finish of eighth, earned at Kansas Speedway last season.

    Josh Berry
    No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet
    • Josh Berry heads back to Las Vegas as the defending winner at the 1.5-mile oval in the NXS. Berry drove the No. 1 Chevrolet to the lead with less than 50 laps remaining to secure the second NXS win of his career last fall.
    • The 31-year-old holds an average finish of 4.0 after making
    two starts in Vegas for JRM during the 2021 season.
    • The Hendersonville, Tenn. native drove the No. 8 to a strong fourth-place effort last weekend in Fontana to record his first top-five finish of 2022.
    • Berry currently sits seventh in the championship standings only 27 points from the lead.

    Noah Gragson
    No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
    • The only thing Noah Gragson has yet to do at his home track is win, as he has finished no worse than sixth in his six starts on the 1.5-mile oval in the NXS.
    • The 23-year-old Las Vegas native has finished fourth, second, fifth and third in his last four starts there driving the Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet, and his career average finish is a stellar 3.8.
    • Gragson started the 2022 season strong, finishing third in the opener at Daytona International Speedway and second last week at Auto Club Speedway for an average finish of 2.5 in his first two starts with crew chief Luke Lambert.

    Justin Allgaier
    No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
    • Justin Allgaier will make his 16th career NXS start at Las
    Vegas on Saturday afternoon.
    • In 15 previous starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, Allgaier has earned a best finish of second, coming in this event in 2011 and twice in the fall events (2018, 2021).
    • Overall, in 199 previous starts on tracks between one and two miles in length, Allgaier has recorded eight wins, 60 top fives and 121 top 10s in the NXS.
    • According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Allgaier currently ranks first in laps led (205), quality passes (582), green flag passes (696), laps run inside the top 15 (2,839) and fastest laps run (140) at Las Vegas.

    Driver Quotes

    “We had a really great run at Auto Club last weekend in the Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet. We had a car capable of running towards the front and that is what we did. We kept the car clean all race and came home with a sixth-place finish. We know that could have been better but we’re going to take this momentum and hopefully have a strong run in Vegas since we are using the same car as last weekend. I know Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and this entire No. 1 team will be ready to contend for a win.” – Sam Mayer

    “I’ve been really looking forward to getting back to Las Vegas. Everyone at JR Motorsports had fast cars the last time we were here and I feel extremely confident that we will unload with that same speed when we hit the track for practice on Friday. Hopefully we can be that one spot better this time with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and come away with a victory. I’m ready to get going.” – Justin Allgaier

    “We’re coming back to Vegas with the same team that I won with last year at this place, so the confidence is high going into this weekend. We made big strides last weekend finding the balance and we were in contention at the end, so I know this Tire Pros Camaro has speed. Taking everything we learned from last weekend in Fontana and last year from Vegas, there’s no reason we can’t put this car back in Victory Lane.” – Josh Berry

    “Racing back home is always the best part of the schedule. I get to spend time at home with family and friends and I am able to just relax. We’ve had consistent speed this year and Luke (Lambert, crew chief) has made great calls on the box to put us in the right positions to battle for a win. We’ve always had good runs in Vegas and I know this weekend will be more of the same with this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team.” – Noah Gragson

    JRM Team Updates:

    • JR Motorsports at Las Vegas: JR Motorsports has competed in “Sin City” a combined 60 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 60 starts at the 1.5-mile facility, JRM has tallied two wins, including the first for the organization in 2008 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, 24 top fives and 38 top 10s. JRM comes to Las Vegas as the most recent winner with Josh Berry taking the checkered in the No. 1 in September of 2021.
    • Tire Pros: Tire Pros wants to help your dollars stay close to home, so they offer a selection of special deals. Plus, tire brands frequently offer mail-in rebates to give you even greater savings. Check here regularly to save on car services and tires.
    • Souvenir Rig Autograph Session: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports/Hendrick Motorsports souvenir trailer at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 5 from 10 – 10:30 a.m. local time.
    • Trackside Live Q&A: JRM drivers Josh Berry and Sam Mayer will be making an appearance at the Trackside Live stage for a Q&A at 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. The Trackside Live stage is located in the Fan Zone.
    • Neon Garage Q&A: JRM driver Noah Gragson will be making an appearance at the Neon Garage stage at 11 a.m. local for a Q&A.

  • Circa Sports Racing: Riley Herbst Las Vegas NXS Advance

    Circa Sports Racing: Riley Herbst Las Vegas NXS Advance

    RILEY HERBST
    Las Vegas NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
    No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

    NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

    • Event: Alsco Uniforms 300 (Round 3 of 33)
    • Date: Saturday, March 5
    • Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    • Layout: 1.5-mile oval
    • Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. EST on FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

    • NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Riley Herbst is heading home. The Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a hometown race for the 23-year-old driver as Herbst is a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the Entertainment Capital of the World. The Herbst name is well known in Vegas’ motorsports circles. Riley’s grandfather Jerry, uncles Tim and Ed, and father Troy, are all Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees as championship-winning off-road racers. Now, the youngest Herbst intends to keep the family’s motorsports legacy going in the NASCAR world.

    • Amplifying Herbst’s hometown connection is Circa Sports, which will be the primary sponsor of Herbst’s No. 98 Ford Mustang in the Alsco Uniforms 300. Circa Sports operates within the World’s Largest Sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino. It boasts three stories, has a 1,000-person viewing capacity and a seating capacity of 350, where all can watch their favorite sports on a massive, 78-megapixel screen. There are two sister properties as well – Golden Gate Hotel & Casino and the D Las Vegas. Helmed by casino owner and downtown Las Vegas developer Derek Stevens, Circa Sports is blazing a new trail in the gaming industry by combining a customer-first approach to business with a team of the country’s top oddsmakers. Circa Sports has one of the most competitive wagering menus in Las Vegas and is a leader in the city for sports futures.

    • Herbst has a bright sports future as well. The driver of the No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang comes into Las Vegas in a three-way tie for fourth in the Xfinity Series championship standings. Herbst, Ryan Sieg and Ty Gibbs have 71 points apiece two races into the 2022 season. Herbst, however, has a slight advantage over the other two drivers as he has the best average finish among the trio. A strong fourth-place effort in the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway followed by a ninth-place drive last Saturday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, gives Herbst an average finish of 6.5 compared with Sieg’s 9.0 and Gibbs’ 12.0.

    • The Alsco Uniforms 300 will mark Herbst’s sixth career Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas. He has a pair of top-10s in his five previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval, both of which were ninth-place runs in September 2019 and February 2020, respectively.

    • Herbst is an avid sports fan, particularly of those teams that call Las Vegas home and, specifically, the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). This Thursday, the Golden Knights host the Boston Bruins at 6 p.m. PST and before the puck drops, Herbst will crank the siren and hype the crowd. Herbst has experience in getting the home crowd ready for a game. Before the Xfinity Series’ last race at Las Vegas back in September, Herbst threw out the first pitch for a Thursday night game of the Las Vegas Aviators – the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics.

    • As Herbst seeks victory lane at Las Vegas, his No. 98 team at Stewart-Haas Racing already knows the way. The No. 98 team swept both races in 2020 via Chase Briscoe. In February, he beat Austin Cindric by 2.874 seconds. Briscoe then defended that victory with another win just seven months later, beating Noah Gragson by 1.370 seconds.

    Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang

    What are your goals heading into your hometown race?

    “The goal is always to win, but I know this team can run well at every track. We just have to stay out of trouble. I have confidence in this team and know that we can perform. We have to finish and avoid wrecks, but we have the speed to put our Circa Sports Ford Mustang in victory lane at my home track. Never count this No. 98 team out.”

    Circa Sports joins you this weekend, maximizing your hometown connection to Las Vegas. What does it mean to have a new, Las Vegas-based partner on your No. 98 Ford Mustang for your home race?

    “I’m pumped to have Circa Sports on the car at Vegas. It’s a hometown business and to have their support in my racing means a lot. Hopefully, we can have a good weekend for their first outing on our Ford Mustang and win big at home. That would be the best welcome-to-the-team moment we could give them.”

    You’re cranking the siren Thursday night for the Vegas Golden Knights’ game against the Boston Bruins. Talk about supporting Las Vegas’ NHL team and having this opportunity.

    “I’m a big sports fan, but especially when it comes to Vegas teams. I came out here early last September to throw the first pitch at the Las Vegas Aviators game, and now I’m getting to experience this unreal opportunity with the Vegas Golden Knights. I watch the games and support these teams, so it’s great to collaborate with them when NASCAR comes to town. Definitely excited for Thursday night’s game.”

    No. 98 Circa Sports Team Roster

    Primary Team Members:

    Driver: Riley Herbst
    Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

    Crew Chief: Richard Boswell
    Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

    Car Chief: Matt Noyce
    Hometown: Oregon, Wisconsin

    Engineer: Justin Bolton
    Hometown: Latrobe, Pennsylvania

    Engineer: DJ VanderLey
    Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

    Spotter: Tim Fedewa
    Hometown: Holt, Michigan

    Over-The-Wall Crew:

    Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
    Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

    Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
    Hometown: Arlington, Texas

    Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
    Hometown: Tyler, Texas

    Fueler: Corey Coppola
    Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

    Jackman: Brandon Banks
    Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

    Road Crew Members:

    Truck Driver: Steve Wood
    Hometown: Eatontown, New Jersey

    Engine Tuner: Willie Pelotte
    Hometown: Oakland, Maine

  • Kaulig Racing’s Landon Cassill Driving Crypto Mass Adoption with StormX

    Kaulig Racing’s Landon Cassill Driving Crypto Mass Adoption with StormX

    February 28, 2022 (Lexington, N.C.) – Kaulig Racing and StormX, the leading Crypto Cashback app and Chrome extension have joined forces for five NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races starting with the Alsco Uniforms 300 this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    The team announced earlier this year that as part of Voyager Digital’s primary partnership, it would be teaming up with the Crypto Cashback platform StormX to raise awareness and drive cryptocurrency inclusion for all. As part of this, Landon Cassill, who has been a long-time crypto advocate, will be racing his No.10 Chevrolet, fully branded with the StormX logo and colors.

    NASCAR has seen a new wave of crypto partnerships established for the 2022 season, and this movement can be attributed to Cassill’s affinity and knowledge of crypto.

    “My family and I make the majority of our purchases online, which is why the crypto cashback rewards with StormX are perfect for us.” said Cassill. “Travel is a huge chunk of my spending, as are hotels, so being able to receive cashback paid in crypto is a huge win, even more so when I factor in my membership bonuses.”

    “Landon is no stranger to crypto, it was apparent from our first conversations that for him, it wasn’t about jumping on a bandwagon, but was about the potential it has to revolutionize the way we view personal finance,” said Matthew Chuen, CMO at StormX. “We are excited to be driving crypto inclusion with Landon and the team at Kaulig, and can’t wait to see him sporting the StormX logo on the track”

    With two races in the 2022 NXS season under his belt, Cassill and the No.10 Kaulig Racing team will continue their west coast swing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    “Landon (Cassill) is so knowledgeable about crypto and its platforms and the fact that he wants to share his expertise with NASCAR fans by bringing crypto-based partners on board at Kaulig Racing is very exciting”, said Kaulig Racing president, Chris Rice. “I for one am intrigued by the crypto industry and look forward to learning more.”

    Prior to Cassill and StormX’s partnership at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5th for the Alsco Uniforms 300, Cassill is also taking part in StormX’s first ever invitation-only poker tournament at PokerGO’s Studio in Las Vegas, on March 3rd. Landon will join an 81-person strong line-up battling crypto founders, NBA players and poker pros to win a share of the $405k minimum prize pool.

    As part of the new partnership, StormX will be the primary partner of the No.10 Chevy at four additional events during the 2022 NXS season at Dover International Speedway, Portland International Raceway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, and Martinsville Speedway.


    About Kaulig Racing™

    Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

    About StormX

    StormX offers Crypto Cashback through its easy-to-use app, and Chrome extension, along with its upcoming physical debit card. Allowing users to supercharge their existing everyday purchases, and receive crypto rewards when they shop at 1000’s of stores globally, making StormX one of the easiest ways to earn crypto. StormX aims to drive crypto inclusion for all, but allowing users to seamlessly and easily earn without changing their habits. Boasting over 4,000,000 downloads across Android and iOS, StormX has paid out over $5.5m in crypto to-date. Start earning crypto when you shop online, sign-up at https://www.stormx.io.

  • Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Auto Club Speedway

    Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Auto Club Speedway

    Wise Power 400

    Daniel Hemric, No. 16 Poppy Bank Camaro ZL1

    Start: 5th
    Stage 1 Finish: 35th
    Stage 2 Finish: 33rd
    Finish: 9th

    Quote:

    “What a day! I felt like we had a really good car, and we were able to maintain good speed and move forward. Unfortunately, we had an issue with our shifter and lost six laps. I can’t believe we got all of them back and were even able to contend there at the end. I’m super proud of everyone on this No. 16 Poppy Bank Chevy team. My crew chief, Matt Swiderski, and everyone else at Kaulig Racing put together an incredible race car. It was really good and super fast – it was just a matter of being back on the lead lap.”


    Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

    Start: 35th
    Stage 1 Finish: 14th
    Stage 2 Finish: 22nd
    Finish: 23rd

    Quote:

    “Overall, it was a good race. We stayed on the lead lap and raced in the top 15 quite a bit. We made the car better with each stop as the race went on, so l’m proud of everyone the No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy team for working hard all day. At the end, we were racing hard for 11th or 12th and made contact with the 12 car. It wasn’t the finish we wanted, and the car is a little torn up, but I’m happy with the performance of the car and the gains we made.”

    Production Alliance Group 300

    AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet

    Start: 1st
    Stage 1 Finish: 6th
    Stage 2 Finish: 7th
    Finish: 7th

    Quote:

    “We had a really good start to our day getting on the pole – that was really cool for everyone at Kaulig Racing, and it shows we have speed in our race cars. The race was a challenge. We struggled a little with handling issues as the run would go on. We had a loose wheel, which put us way behind, and right as we were going to get the lap back, we got some debris on the grille and had to pit. To be able to rally back for a top-10 finish was big for us and ended up being a good points day. We still have to keep working to be better, but our day could have ended up much worse. I’m proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing for fighting so we could get a decent finish in our No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy.”


    Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Poppy Bank Chevrolet

    Start: 5th
    Stage 1 Finish: 9th
    Stage 2 Finish: 6th
    Finish: 12th

    Quote:

    “It was a disappointing day for sure. There were moments when I thought we’d be able to move forward, but we just struggled with speed. We struggled with adjustments on our No. 11 Poppy Bank Chevy, and we were way too loose during the last half of the race. We will work to be better as a team.”


    Landon Cassill, No. 10 Carnomaly Chevrolet

    Start: 7th
    Stage 1 Finish: 38th
    Stage 2 Finish: 38th
    Finish: 38th

    Quote:

    “Our day started off so promising in the No. 10 Carnomaly Chevrolet. We had a super fast qualifying run and started the race 7th. Unfortunately, we had a mechanical issue and our car caught on fire. It wasn’t the run we wanted after such a strong qualifying effort. I’m proud of the hard work everyone at Kaulig Racing has been putting in, so hopefully we will rebound next weekend in Las Vegas.”


    About Kaulig Racing™

    Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.