SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | Xfinity Series Championship 200

Fast Facts
No. 17 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Model Electronics Inc.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Driver Points Position: 28th | Owner Points Position: 26th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Aboard: This weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, Joe Graf Jr. and the No. 17 SS GreenLight Racing Chevrolet Camaro will highlight Model Electronics as the primary partner in the final race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

The 33rd race of the 2021 season signifies Model Electronics Inc.’s entry into the NASCAR world with athlete driver Graf Jr.

Model Electronics will become the eighth new primary marketing partner that Graf Jr. and SSGLR have introduced to the NASCAR Xfinity Series scene this season.

About Model Electronics Inc.: Founded in 1976, Model Electronics Inc. has grown to become one of the largest OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) authorized electronic service centers in the nation.

Headquartered in Ramsey, New Jersey, Model Electronics Inc. is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Model Electronics is the parent company to Model Electronics TX located in Dallas, Texas and Model Electronics AES, located in Ramsey, New Jersey.

With over 40 years experience, they have partnered with some of the most well-known automotive brands such as General Motors, Nissan, BMW, Visteon, Delphi, Honda and more.

Operations include research and development, engineering, repair, remanufacturing, sales and distribution of factory-installed automotive electronics including radios, instrument clusters, navigation and video.

Number Swap: For the final time this season, Joe Graf Jr. will drive the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro instead of his traditional No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro.

Phoenix marks the third race this season where Graf has swapped numbers this season. Earlier this year, Graf drove the No. 17 Chevrolet at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in June and most recently at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL last month.

Graf will retain his same No. 07 team with the number swap for the Xfinity Series Championship 200.

School Back In Session: While juggling a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with SS GreenLight Racing, college life has resumed for Joe Graf Jr.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Graf Jr. has resorted to online classes at the University of New York, where he is pursuing a degree in business, media and sports management.

Save The Date: The offseason may be approaching, but that doesn’t mean Joe Graf Jr. won’t be around. This week, he confirmed his attendance for this year’s 32nd annual Stocks-For-Tots.

Returning after a one-year sabbatical due to COVID-19, this year’s event is set for Tuesday, December 7, 2021, in Mooresville, N.C.

Additional details on the engagement will be available through Graf’s social media or Stocks-For-Tots, official Facebook page.

Since 1989, Stocks for Tots has generated more than $1 million and collected well in excess of 70,000 toys during its never-ending efforts to raise awareness of child abuse throughout North Carolina.

In Loving Memory: This weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Joe Graf Jr. and SS GreenLight Racing will carry the name of Bray Pemberton on the passenger side name rail of the team’s No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro.

Pemberton passed away on September 8, 2021, after a brief illness.

Pemberton was an instrumental figure in the everyday business and growth of Graf’s motorsports career. He will be deeply missed by all.

Saving You Some Money: As fall has officially fallen, Joe Graf Jr.’s other marketing partner Z Grills still wants to help the NASCAR community save money – but also enjoy the perfect fall barbecue dinner.

With the holidays on the horizon, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount off your TOTAL purchase, using the code NASCAR at checkout.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Phoenix Raceway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in Saturday night’s Xfinity Series Championship 200.

In his three previous races, Graf finished 31st, 27th and 25th respectively. In his most recent trip to the desert, Graf Jr. contended for a top-20 finish, but a late-race scrap with the wall dropped the No. 07 Z Grills Chevrolet Camaro to 25th at the checkered flag.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Speedway Nuggets: At tracks from 1.0-mile to 2.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 32 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 26.1 and an average result of 24.7.

Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | Dead On Tools 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Graf Jr. delivered an impressive performance.

After starting 32nd, Graf struggled with the handling of his No. 07 CoverSeal Chevrolet Camaro, but positive adjustments from crew chief Joe White allowed Graf to march forward during the third stage.

Climbing from as deep as 36th in the field, Graf earned a commendable lead lap 15th place finish and his best result at the 0.526-mile paperclip overall in three career Xfinity starts.

Put Me In Coach: To strengthen his physique, Joe Graf Jr. began collaborating with new trainer and former NASCAR Cup Series Josh Wise during the 2020 offseason.

In addition to Wise, Graf has also been working with former NASCAR driver and open-wheel driver Scott Speed on being more disciplined behind the wheel of his No. 17 Model Electronics Inc. Chevrolet Camaro.

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 85 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $90,000.

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

He will crew chief his 65th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday night and his fourth at the 1.0-mile oval.

In his previous 64 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected four top-five and 15 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing. Veteran JJ Yeley will drive the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday night for his 16th start of the 2021 season.

Yeley, a native of Phoenix, Ariz. is set to make his 351st career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 22nd at Phoenix. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2006 Arizona Travel 200, where he finished sixth after starting 18th for Joe Gibbs Racing.

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

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Phoenix Raceway: “I really feel like we have some momentum on our SS GreenLight Racing team right now, especially after last weekend’s race at Martinsville.

“As far as Phoenix is concerned, I’ve had very good cars there in the past, just haven’t had the finishes to show for it. I’m hoping we can change that on Saturday night.

“No doubt the addition of practice and qualifying should be extremely beneficial to us this weekend. Joe (White, crew chief) has been doing an amazing job and I’m looking forward to another opportunity of earning another top-15 finish to close out my sophomore year.”

On Model Electronics Partnership: “Being a native of New Jersey, I am thrilled about this partnership with Model Electronics for this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

“For 45 years, Model Electronics has been a staple in the automotive arena and now we’re bringing them to NASCAR and allowing them to ignite their brand to one of the most sponsor-loyal fan bases in the United States.

“Our No. 17 Model Electronics Chevrolet Camaro looks not only electrifying but very patriotic and I am excited to see it on the track and deliver Model Electronics and their customer base a memorable finish in our last race of the year.”

On Xfinity Series Homestretch Run: “Hard to believe that this is it for the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Our season has not gone the way we planned, but it has not been from a lack of effort, just a variety of circumstances – most beyond our control.

“I really look forward to Phoenix though. We see this race as another opportunity, just like Martinsville last weekend.

“Not only is Phoenix another chance to deliver a strong finish but build some momentum for the offseason. We are also starting to get focused on 2022 and cannot wait to announce those plans soon.”

Race Information:

The Xfinity Series Championship 200 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 33rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. A fifty-minute practice is scheduled for Fri., Nov. 5 from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Nov. 6 at 2:35 p.m. The 36-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 5:30 p.m. MT (8:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

About SS Green Light Racing:

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

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

STATESVILLE, N.C. (November 3, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) announced today that Myatt Snider will join the organization as a full time driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the 2022 season. Snider will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS, starting with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th.

Snider wraps up his second full time season of NASCAR Xfinity Series competition this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. In 2021, Snider captured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Homestead- Miami Speedway and qualified for the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.

“I’m so excited to join Jordan and everyone on the No. 31 team for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Jordan has had a lot of success in a short amount of time building this team,” stated Snider. “In sitting down with him, I really liked the vision of where he wants to take the team as a whole. You add in Jordan’s partnership with John Bommarito and all the pieces are here to build something special for the future. I’m proud to call myself a part of this team, it feels like perfect timing.”

Joining Snider at JAR in 2022 will be long time partner TaxSlayer, an innovative tax prep software development company headquartered in Augusta, GA. With their easy-to-use online tax filing platform, and technology that is fast and accurate, TaxSlayer makes tax filing simpler and less stressful for millions of America’s tax filers.

“On behalf of everyone at TaxSlayer, I am thrilled to announce our continued support of Myatt Snider for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season,” said Josh Gaudin, Chief Marketing Officer for TaxSlayer. “We’re excited to join Myatt again following his first win, as we race together into the 2022 tax season.”

“Our entire organization is incredibly proud to be partnering with Myatt and TaxSlayer for the 2022 season.” stated Jordan Anderson, President of JAR. “The internal compass and values that were behind starting this team in 2018 align with the like-mindedness of everyone involved and I’m confident that will guide us to on-and-off track success as we all work together towards excellence. I’m grateful that Myatt, TaxSlayer, and all our other partners see the real potential for future growth and development of our team as we continue on this journey together.”

“To continue our partnership with TaxSlayer means so much to me and the people who have worked with me through the years. Together we have built a strong program,” said Snider. “Their support, along with Louisiana Hot Sauce, Superior Essex and Crosley Furniture allowed us to win a race and make the Xfinity Series playoffs in 2021. To have all of our partners continue working with us at the No. 31 team in 2022 shows how much they believe in the program we are building at Jordan Anderson Racing.”

JAR will continue fielding Chevrolet’s, utilizing cars built by RCR, with engines supplied by ECR. Full team details, additional partners, and a paint scheme will be announced at a later date.

To learn more about TaxSlayer, visit TaxSlayer.com.

For more information on JAR, visit JordanAndersonRacing.com, and be sure to follow the team along all season on the JAR social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. In 2021 JAR fielded the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS full-time in the NXS Series driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Erik Jones. Austin & Ty Dillon. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Phoenix Raceway
RACE: NXS Championship Race200(200 laps / 200 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 8 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Call of Duty Endowment Chevrolet
• This weekend’s race is the final full-time start for the 35- year-old Iowa driver, who announced his retirement from full-time competition earlier this season. It is also the final full-time start for Pilot Flying J, TMC Transportation, Allstate Peterbilt Group and others who have supported Annett at JR Motorsports since 2017.
• Annett has one top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 18 starts at Phoenix Raceway. His best finish came in this race last year, when he was a strong fourth.
• On tracks measuring 1-mile or less this season, Annett has two top-10 finishes in six starts, including a seventh-place result on the mile oval at Dover International Speedway.

Sam Mayer
No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer is back in the familiar Tire Pros black, silver and metallic red colors last seen at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. Mayer led 49 laps and finished ninth in that race.
• Mayer has four starts at Phoenix between the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series with a best finish of 17th coming in the fall of 2020.
• The 18-year-old Franklin, Wis. native scored his career best finish in the NXS last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Mayer drove from three laps down to finish fourth, earning his first career top-five finish in the series.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson will battle for the NXS championship this weekend at Phoenix as part of the Championship 4. Gragson’s victory last week at Martinsville earned his shot at his first series title.
• Gragson finished second in last year’s championship race at Phoenix, trailing the winner across the finish line by a meager .162 seconds
• In six starts this season on tracks measuring 1 mile or less, Gragson has earned two victories (at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville), and a second-place finish at Martinsville in

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• In 22 previous starts in “the Valley of the Sun,” Justin Allgaier has earned two victories, eight top fives and 14 top 10s.
• Allgaier’s most recent victory in Phoenix came in this event in 2019.
• According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Allgaier currently ranks first in quality passes (464), and second in laps led (493), laps run inside the top 15 (4,086), and in green flag passes (574) at Phoenix.
• Heading into this weekend’s season finale, Allgaier is one topfive finish shy of matching his career-high of 17, previously set in 2018.

Driver Quotes

“We had a solid car at Martinsville last weekend, and got taken out in somebody else’s mess. I am going to Phoenix this weekend with Pilot Flying J and Call of Duty Endowment to win the race for this No. 1 team and all my guys, and for Pilot Flying J, which has been a fantastic supporter for most of my career. JR Motorsports has a chance at the championship and that’s all you can ask for: a chance to win the race and the championship.” – Michael Annett

“I’ve always loved racing at Phoenix. It’s a track that has really suited my driving style. Hopefully we can go out there this weekend and have a strong run with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and end this season on a strong note. I wish we could’ve been one of the four battling for the championship, but hopefully my teammate Noah (Gragson) can bring it home for everyone here at JR Motorsports. I’m ready to get out there and see what we can do.” – Justin Allgaier

“I feel really good heading into Phoenix this weekend. We had a really fast car last weekend at Martinsville and came from three laps down to battling inside of the top five. Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and this No. 8 Tire Pros team had a great car in the spring before they were taken out of contention and I know we will unload fast again this weekend. We have practice and qualifying so that’ll help me get up to speed before hitting the track for the race. This car would look great in Victory Lane this weekend.” – Sam Mayer

“We had a really good Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro the last time we were in Phoenix but the results don’t show it. Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and this entire No. 9 team are working as hard as possible this week to bring the best car they can to give us a shot at the championship. I can’t be more appreciative of the opportunity to drive for this team and I am going to do whatever it takes to bring that championship trophy back to JRM.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• JRM at Phoenix: JRM has competed at Phoenix a combined 80 times in the NXS. Over the course of those 80 starts at the 1 mile facility, the organization has tallied three wins, 20 top fives and 43 top 10s, while holding an average finish of 13.2. Justin Allgaier has the most recent win at Phoenix, earning the victory in November of 2019.
• Call of Duty Endowment: The No. 1 team of Michael Annett will feature a special paint scheme in conjunction with primary sponsor Pilot Flying J and the Call of Duty Endowment, which helps veterans obtain high-quality jobs. Annett’s Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will honor those who have served and sacrificed so much for our freedoms during this weekend’s season finale at Phoenix. Since 2019, Pilot Company has contributed more than $500,000 to the Call of Duty Endowment, which has enabled more than 1,300 veterans to find meaningful careers. That is more than two battalion-sized elements made up of veterans.
• Flannel Fest: It’s that time of year again! Flannel Fest is on at Bass Pro Shops. Save big on flannel clothing for men, women and kids, as well as flannel blankets and more from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4, 2021. Stay warm with their selection of high quality flannels: the Fabric of the Outdoors. Visit Bass Pro Shops® now and save up to 50 percent. Shop now.

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: SS GreenLight Racing (SSGLR) and sophomore NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) driver Joe Graf Jr. announced today the signing of Model Electronics Inc. as the primary marketing of the team’s No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday night’s season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

The 33rd and final Xfinity Series race of the 2021 season signifies Model Electronics Inc.’s entry into the NASCAR world with athlete driver Graf Jr.

Founded in 1976, Model Electronics Inc. has grown to become one of the largest OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) authorized electronic service centers in the nation.

Headquartered in Ramsey, New Jersey, Model Electronics Inc. is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Model Electronics is the parent company to Model Electronics TX located in Dallas, Texas and Model Electronics AES, located in Ramsey, New Jersey.

With over 40 years’ experience, they have partnered with some of the most well-known automotive brands such as General Motors, Nissan, BMW, Visteon, Delphi, Honda and more.

Operations include research and development, engineering, repair, remanufacturing, sales and distribution of factory-installed automotive electronics including radios, instrument clusters, navigation and video.

“Being a native of New Jersey, I am thrilled about this partnership with Model Electronics for this weekend at Phoenix Raceway,” said Graf Jr., a native of Mahwah, New Jersey. “For 45 years, Model Electronics has been a staple in the automotive arena and now we’re bringing them to NASCAR and allowing them to ignite their brand to one of the most sponsor-loyal fan bases in the United States.

“Our No. 17 Model Electronics Chevrolet Camaro looks not only electrifying but very patriotic and I am excited to see it on the track and deliver Model Electronics and their customer base a memorable finish in our last race of the year.”

Model Electronics will become the eighth new primary marketing partner that Graf Jr. and SSGLR have introduced to the NASCAR Xfinity Series scene this season.

“We are extremely excited about partnering with Joe Graf Jr. and the SS GreenLight Racing team for the Xfinity Series championship race at Phoenix,” said Model Electronics Business Development Director TJ Churchill.

“Phoenix is an opportunity that we could not pass up. Not only is Joe a local New Jersey product, but he is also a young, up-and-coming star on the NASCAR circuit. We represent a large market of GM dealerships in the nation, and we look forward to growing our customer base through this partnership.

“Exciting times are ahead for Model Electronics Inc. and the NASCAR community!”

For additional input on Model Electronics Inc., please visit modelelectronics.com, modeltx.com, modelelectronicsaes.com and Instagram (@modelelectronics).

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

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0717) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

The Phoenix Finale 200 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 33rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. A fifty-minute practice is scheduled for Fri., Nov. 5 from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Nov. 6 at 2:35 p.m. The 36-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 5:30 p.m. MT (8:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

About SS Green Light Racing:

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

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

AJ Allmendinger Secures Championship Four Spot at Martinsville

RIDGEWAY, VA (October 31, 2021) – For the second year in a row, Kaulig Racing earned a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) championship race, as AJ Allmendinger punched his ticket to the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

With a seventh-place finish in the Dead On Tools 250, Allmendinger collected enough points in the first two stages to clinch his first-ever spot in the Championship 4.

“This season has been a dream come true,” said Allmendinger. “A few years ago, I didn’t think the chance to race for a championship was ever going to happen, nor did I think I would win as many races as we have won together at Kaulig Racing. Regardless of if we made it to the championship race or not, I knew it wasn’t going to change how I have felt about our success this season as a team. Obviously, the goal is to go win in Phoenix next week, but I am proud of this team no matter what.”

Coming up just two spots short in the points battle at Martinsville, Justin Haley combatted brake issues during Saturday’s cut-off race.

“We had massive brake issues all night that ultimately ended our night early,” said Haley. “We replaced what we could in the garage, but it still wasn’t quite right. We inevitably lost the brakes all together with a few laps to go. I’m really proud of my guys at Kaulig Racing for continuing to fight all night. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our night. I’m disappointed we couldn’t make it to the championship race for the second year in-a-row, but I’m really proud of my teammate, AJ Allmendinger, for advancing. We will look to finish our season out strong and get ready to go cup racing next year at Kaulig Racing.”

In addition to Haley’s mechanical woes, Jeb Burton was collected in a late-race incident, resulting in an early end to his night.

“Our Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy was so fast,” said Burton. “We raced in the top five for the majority of the day, but we were run into during the final stage and ended up with a wrecked race car. It’s a frustrating end to the night at my home track, but we still have one race left to finish this season out strong.”

The 2021 NXS championship race will take place on Saturday, November 6 at Phoenix Raceway, where Kaulig Racing will have its second-consecutive shot at the series title.

About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car 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 for the first time in 2020. Kaulig Racing fields three, full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Jeb Burton, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, 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 has made multiple starts in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) in 2021, including the Daytona 500 with Kaz Grala. In the team’s seventh-ever NCS start, AJ Allmendinger won at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.The team has acquired two charters for the 2022 season, with plans to begin full-time competition in the NCS. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Herbst Rallies to Finish 10th at Martinsville
Monster Energy Driver Rebounds from Late-Race Incident to Score 12th Top-10 of Season

Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Event: Martinsville 250 (Round 32 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)
Format: 250 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/130 laps)
Start/Finish: 16th / 10th (Running, completed 257 of 257 laps)
Point Standing: 11th with 2,121 points
Note: Race extended seven laps past its scheduled 250-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Austin Cindric of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Overview:

Riley Herbst proved resilient in Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang finished an impressive 10th after getting collected in a multicar accident that left him 26th with less than 60 laps remaining. Prior to the accident on lap 194 that ensnared Herbst and four of his counterparts and led to a 10-minute and 47-second red flag stoppage, Herbst was running eighth. That track position went out the window as Herbst was forced to pit so his Monster Energy crew could fix some right-front damage and get him back onto the .526-mile with four fresh tires and fuel. Herbst methodically made his way forward, rejoining the top-10 on lap 227. He then survived two late-race restarts and held steady among the top-10 to collect his 12th top-10 finish of the season.

Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

“Proud of the No. 98 Monster Energy team for never giving up. We definitely had a car that could run up front, but that incident in the last stage really put us back in the pack. Luckily, we caught a break with a quick caution and raced our way back up into the top-10. Still got one more shot at the win in Phoenix.”

Notes:

● Herbst finished eighth in Stage 2 to earn three bonus points.

● Noah Gragson won the Martinsville 250 to score his fifth career Xfinity Series victory, his third of the season and his first at Martinsville. His margin over second-place Austin Cindric was .064 of a second.

● There were 13 caution periods for a total of 75 laps.

● Twenty-seven of the 40 drivers in the Martinsville 250 finished on the lead lap.

Next Up:

The NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale is Saturday, Nov. 6 at Phoenix Raceway. The championship race starts at 8:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBCSN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Race: Dead On Tools 250
Date: October 30, 2021

No. 22 Carquest Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric
Start: 1st
Stage 1: 1st – 12th stage win of 2021
Stage 2: 5th
Finish: 2nd
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 257/257
Laps Led: 64
Point Standings (behind first): 2nd (-0) – Clinched a spot in the Championship 4

Notes:

• Austin Cindric and the Carquest team did exactly what was needed Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway to race for their second consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series title – and came close to grabbing a victory on the final lap of the race. Cindric started on the pole, won the first stage, locked into Championship 4 during Stage 2, and finished .064 seconds (about half a car length) behind Noah Gragson in Saturday night’s Dean On Tools 250. He racked up his 21st top-five finish of the season and posted his best result in three Martinsville starts.
• The starting lineup was once again set per the NASCAR rulebook, which gave Cindric the first starting position. The driver of the Carquest Ford Mustang reported that his car’s balance was free at the beginning of a run. Most of the leaders chose to pit during the third caution on lap 49 but Cindric remained on track and went on to win the opening segment of the race, his 12th stage victory. Crew chief Brian Wilson called his driver to pit road during the stage caution for four tires and Cindric restarted 17th on lap 68.
• By lap 90 the No. 22 Mustang was back inside the top-10. Cindric reported that his Carquest Ford needed to fire off better but did exactly what he needed to do during Stage 2. He officially clinched a spot in the Championship 4 with a fifth-place finish when Stage 2 concluded on lap 120. Cindric, only needing five more points scored a fifth-place finish. Cindric pitted during the stage caution for four tires plus an air pressure adjustment and restarted fourth on lap 130.
• The final stage was slowed by eight cautions plus one red flag for track cleanup. The final two yellow flags push the conclusion into NASCAR Overtime. On the last restart, Cindric lined up on the front row outside of race leader Noah Gragson. On the final lap, Cindric dove inside Gragson between Turns 3 and 4, briefly pulling even off the final corner but was edged out for the win by just .064 seconds (about half a car length).

Quote: “We actually had to re-establish our track position after stage one with all of those cars flipping stages, so almost got a chance to win the race there. It’s tough when you’re trying to race for a championship. Noah earned it and he deserved it. I think a couple more laps and the 22 car would be in Victory Lane. I really wanted to get the win today, but excited to go next week and have some fun. I’ve said it throughout the year last year and throughout the year this year, making the Champ 4 is the hardest thing you can do in a national series and at Phoenix in the final race it’s about having your best day. We have the opportunity to go do that and have some fun.”

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Dead On Tools 250 | Saturday, October 30, 2021

FORD FINISHING RESULTS
2nd — Austin Cindric
10th — Riley Herbst
31st — Ryan Sieg

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Carquest Auto Parts Ford Mustang — “We actually had to re-establish our track position after stage one with all of those cars flipping stages, so almost got a chance to win the race there. It’s tough when you’re trying to race for a championship. I said it after Bristol. I have one way I intend on having to race for a championship and I feel like that’s as close as you can get to clean racing. Noah earned it. Noah deserved it. I think a couple more laps and the 22 car would be in Victory Lane.”

ANY SHOT OF CONTACT COMING TO THE CHECKERED FLAG? “Absolutely, there’s a shot at contact. It’s Martinsville. I mean, we’re racing for a championship. That’s the way I see it. That’s how I’d want to be raced and that’s how I intend on racing for a championship. That’s what I said after Bristol and I felt like I had a great opportunity there in three and four and I just need a couple more inches. I really wanted to get the win today, but excited to go next week and have some fun. I’ve said it throughout the year last year and throughout the year this year, making the Champ 4 is the hardest thing you can do in a national series and at Phoenix in the final race it’s about having your best day. We have the opportunity to go do that and have some fun.”

THE RESPECT YOU GAVE TO THE 9 IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT’S WHAT YOU’D EXPECT FROM YOUR THREE COMPETITORS NEXT WEEK? “I can’t expect anything to be reciprocated, but with all eyes on this series and what we’ve been able to do this year, I want to make a statement on how I intend on racing, for sure.”

POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE

AUSTIN CINDRIC — WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT ABOUT GRAGSON WINNING AND HOW GOOD ALLGAIER IS AT PHOENIX? “It didn’t affect my final decision. That’s my political answer. Obviously, Justin is extremely good at Phoenix, but that wasn’t gonna stop me from trying to win the race tonight. I feel like that would be really, really foolish and a disservice to my race team, so I had that opportunity and chose to do with it what I did.”

YOU SAID YOU DIDN’T WANT TO USE NOAH UP AND RACE HIM A CERTAIN WAY. THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THE TRUCK RACE. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY ON HOW TO RACE THAN THE TRUCK GUYS DO? “I think it’s a great question. I think all three of us probably have a similar yet different answer to this. There’s a lot of experience between Noah, Daniel, AJ and myself. That stuff usually doesn’t work too well in your favor, even if it’s for short-term gain. I feel like we’ve all benefited from the short-term gain, but also seen the penalty from it. Look, we’re all at that step where it’s right under the Cup level, whether if it’s what my desire to be or whatever their desire is to be in their career. There isn’t anything higher after the XFINITY Series once you move up, so I feel like when you’re in great equipment it’s a great platform to show the people at the next level how you intend to go about your business because there will be a day that I’ll be contending for a Cup win. I might suck a few races next year, but that’s all about being a rookie, but at the same time I feel like it is a great platform for me to really showcase what I’m about inside of a race car.”

ON DANIEL HEMRIC HAVING TO POINTS RACE AT THE END. “This is bad. Come on. This guy has won stages. He’s led laps. He put himself in position. He put his team on his back today, made the right choice on the choose for points racing purposes only. The only reason I had a chance to win this race today is because Daniel had to points race and I didn’t.”

HEMRIC SCORES CHAMPIONSHIP 4 BERTH
Daniel Hemric drives his Supra to the Phoenix finale with a shot at a title

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (October 30, 2021) – Daniel Hemric (third) led Toyota with a top-five finish in the Dead On Tools 250 on Saturday evening. With the finish, Hemric clinched his spot in the Championship 4.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Martinsville Speedway
Race 32 of 33 – 250 miles, 131.5 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Noah Gragson*
2nd, Austin Cindric*
3rd, DANIEL HEMRIC
4th, Sam Mayer*
5th, Justin Allgaier*
6th, BRANDON JONES
14th, COLIN GARRETT
20th, HARRISON BURTON
21st, STEPHEN LEICHT
24th, DAVID STARR
26th, AKINORI OGATA
27th, TY GIBBS
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DANIEL HEMRIC, No. 18 Poppy Bank Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

How challenging was it down the stretch making decisions?

“I have got to tell you – it’s the first time as a racer that I’ve had to choose to not put myself in the best position to win. I wanted to line up on the top. I felt like I could beat him if everything is all fair games, but the ultimate goal at the start of the season with this Poppy Bank Toyota Supra team was do what we officially have a shot to do in Phoenix next weekend. It just felt like we had a shot to minimize the damage and that’s what we did. I’m so disappointed. This car should be in Victory Lane.”

BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Menards/Dupont Air Filtration Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

What was the race car like and the race like for you?

“Yeah, I just think we were off a little bit. We weren’t missing much because we were jumping back and forth between different balances. Had a really good moment, I’d say mid stage two, early stage three that really got the car to come to life. Actually, went to the back and drove all the way back to the top 10. So, I thought that was the turnaround point for our race there and kind of fell back off there for a little bit towards the end of the race. I don’t know man, we’ve got to go back and figure out where we missed it a little bit here. All in all, this was a good fight for us still. Menards, Dupont, can’t thank those guys enough for being on our Supra this weekend. I keep saying, let’s go to Phoenix and let’s go win that thing. I think all the tracks we’re capable of winning at, so let’s go try to do that at Phoenix.”

HARRISON BURTON, No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 20th

Is it more difficult to wonder what could have been?

“It sucks. I don’t know. Obviously, we put ourselves in this position. We needed to perform better throughout the year to not be in this position. The last two weeks I felt like we could have won the race, and I don’t know. It’s a tough system to win. That’s what makes it fun for the fans and fun for us. We just need to perform better. It’s that simple. We had a winning car today. Just so many things have to go right in racing to win that it makes it challenging to do on the drop of a dime. We just had a couple things go wrong. It’s just a bummer deal that we didn’t get to show our speed at the end. Wish we could have won this thing. I felt like we were definitely capable of it. Our times were better than the 9 (Noah Gragson) and he won. We just needed to show it.”

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