JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Road America
RACE: Henry 180 (45 laps / 182.16 miles)
DATE: Saturday, July 3, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC / Radio: 2 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet
• Michael Annett heads back to Road America this weekend with the hope of matching—or exceeding—his previous best finish there, which was second in 2017.
• Annett will carry a special red, white and blue paint scheme this weekend on his No. 1 Chevrolet, honoring Allstate Peterbilt Group’s 50th anniversary. Allstate Peterbilt Group has been a long-time sponsor on Annett’s racing cars.
• In three road-course starts so far in 2021, Annett’s best finish was seventh at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the most recent road-course race the series has run.
• Annett’s recent surge has him 10th in the playoff standings, 56 points above the cut line to advance.

Sam Mayer
No. 8 QPS Employment Group Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer will make his first NXS start at his home track of Road America this weekend in the No. 8 QPS Employment Group Chevrolet.
• A native of nearby Franklin, Wisconsin, Mayer competed at Road America during the 2020 Trans-Am season. He qualified fifth and finished second.
• Mayer has competed at road course tracks a combined five times between the ARCA Menards East Series and Camping World Truck Series with a best finish of third (three times) coming at COTA earlier this season, Daytona Road Course (2020) and Watkins Glen (2019).

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson earned a fourth-place finish in the last race at Pocono Raceway, giving him three straight races with a top-10 result.
• In two career starts on the big road course at Road America, Gragson has finished fourth and sixth for an average of 5.0.
• In five of his last eight road-course starts, dating back to 2019, Gragson has earned finishes of second, third twice, fifth and sixth. The best (second) came at the Charlotte Roval last season.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture
• Justin Allgaier is a previous victor at the road course at Elkhart Lake, having gone to Victory Lane in this event in 2018 after leading 14 laps.
• In nine previous starts at Road America, Allgaier has earned one win, two top fives and five top 10s.
• With 35 starts in his NXS road course career, Allgaier has amassed three wins, 10 top fives and 22 top 10s.
• In three starts on road courses in 2021, Allgaier has earned a best finish of third, coming at Circuit of the Americas in May.
• Through 16 races in 2021, Allgaier has scored two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s and sits fourth in the NXS championship standings.

Driver Quotes

“I’ve always liked Road America and we came darn close to winning up there in 2017. It’s a fast place with a lot of technical corners, and I always like going up there. I’m very happy to have a special Allstate Peterbilt Group scheme for this weekend’s race. The home office is fairly close (Eagan, Minn.) and this is a good way to help them celebrate 50 years.“ – Michael Annett

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Road America this weekend with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. We’ve had some good speed with our road course cars this season, just haven’t had the best of luck. However, I have all the confidence that we will unload with another fast Chevrolet on Friday for practice. Hopefully we can keep our car clean all weekend long and be in contention for the win when it counts on Saturday. I’m ready to get going.” – Justin Allgaier

“Road America is a really fun place and it’s nice to be able to race at my home track. I raced the TA2 cars there last year and finished second and I will be running them again this year after the Xfinity race on Saturday. That extra seat time learning the track will be huge along with the added practice in the Xfinity car on Friday. Hopefully we can put this QPS Employment Group Chevrolet in Victory Lane and celebrate with the hometown crowd.” – Sam Mayer

“We’ve had really strong runs the two times we have been to Road America in this No. 9 Chevrolet and I expect more of the same this year. We had a good run last weekend in Pocono so we are slowly gaining momentum. I know Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and this entire No. 9 group is working hard to put this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro in Victory Lane to secure our way into the playoffs.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:
• JR Motorsports at Road America: JR Motorsports has competed at Road America a combined 33 times in the NXS, tallying one win, nine top fives and 18 top 10s while pacing the field at the 4.048-mile road course for 55 laps. JRM’s lone win came during the 2018 season with Justin Allgaier taking the checkered in the BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaro.
• 50th Anniversary Allstate Peterbilt Group: Michael Annett’s No. 1 Chevrolet will carry sponsorship this weekend from Allstate Peterbilt Group in honor of its 50th anniversary. Established in 1971, Allstate Peterbilt Group started with just one dealership location in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has since grown into an award winning one-stop resource for truckers with over 20 locations across the Upper Midwest serving Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Their secret? Never losing sight of what made these last 50 years possible…serving their customers.
• Courage really is beautiful: We’re so proud of Unilever’s brands to be taking home 24 awards from the 2021 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Check out this multi-award winning ad from Dove. Frontline workers were a pinnacle of strength in the pandemic — and they had the markings to prove it. Dove’s “Courage Is Beautiful” campaign compiled images of doctors and nurses with PPE outlines indented into their faces. Click here for more.

Two-Time Xfinity Series Champion To Drive No. 99 Henry Repeating Arms Ford Mustang for B.J. McLeod Motorsports in Henry 180

MOORESVILLE N.C. (June 29, 2021) – Since the mid-1990s when he started racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to his time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 21 years of NASCAR Cup Series competition, Kevin Harvick has never raced at Road America.

The 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin has been absent on Harvick’s schedule despite 1,208 total starts across the Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series.

So when Road America was added to the Cup Series schedule in 2021, Harvick quickly conferred with his Cup Series crew chief Rodney Childers and put a plan together to get valuable seat time at the track. That plan has resulted in Harvick driving the No. 99 Henry Repeating Arms Ford Mustang for B.J. McLeod Motorsports in the Henry 180 Xfinity Series race Saturday at Road America in preparation for Sunday’s Cup race.

“When Rodney and I began talking about the best way to get some real-world experience at Road America, we settled in on putting together an Xfinity program,” Harvick said. “We needed a strong partner in Henry Repeating Arms to allow B.J. McLeod Motorsports to put a good car together. We wanted to get far out in front of this race weekend so that we could be properly prepared.”

Harvick isn’t the only driver new to Road America. With the track being on the Cup Series schedule for the first time, simulator work and film study have been on every driver’s to-do list. While helpful, neither takes the place of real-world experience.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on iRacing and we’ve had a couple of simulator dates to get prepared for this weekend,” Harvick said. “But the main reason we decided to run the Xfinity race at Road America and a couple of the other new road courses is that being on-track in real-time is the best experience you can get. There’s just nothing that can replace reality and being on the racetrack.”

That dedication to his craft has made Harvick one of the most successful NASCAR drivers of his era. He won the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship and is 10th on the all-time win list with 58 career Cup Series victories, he is a two-time Xfinity Series champion (2001 and 2006) with 47 career wins, and he is a 14-race winner in the Truck Series.

Harvick has been leading the field for more than two decades, so partnering with Henry Repeating Arms at Road America was a natural fit. The American manufacturer of classic rifles and shotguns is a world leader in the lever-action category. It has two manufacturing facilities – one in Bayonne, New Jersey, and the other in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, located approximately 290 miles northwest of Road America.

“Road America is a home race for us and we partnered with Kevin because of his history of success,” said Anthony Imperato, President and Owner, Henry Repeating Arms. “For the fans of our firearms or motorsports fans in general, this is going to be an exciting weekend for all of us.”

In Harvick’s last Xfinity Series race back in May at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, he finished a solid fourth in his first start for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

“I’m a huge visual person,” Harvick said. “The experience I have in going to these racetracks for a long time – I can tell you every crack, every curve and every marker on the wall, and those are the things I want to have embedded in my mind before we get to Sunday. I want to make sure we’ve hit most of the curbs and know where you can take a risk making a pass and where to make time and how to get on and off pit road in a live situation, because the practices are short. The Xfinity car is going to be the best tool, and just being able to make laps is the most important thing.”

Of Harvick’s 347 career Xfinity Series starts, 12 have come on road courses. He has finished in the top-10 every time. In fact, his worst finish is merely a seventh-place drive at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Aug. 12, 2006, and in that race, Harvick still managed to lead 19 laps. He has 10 top-five finishes highlighted by two wins – Aug. 4, 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal and Aug. 11, 2007 at Watkins Glen.

“We’ve always run well on the road courses in the Xfinity Series, and this race at Road America is part of a bigger picture,” said Harvick. “Running the Henry Repeating Arms Ford Mustang on Saturday will get us up to speed for Sunday.”

The No. 99 Henry Repeating Arms Ford Mustang will turn its wheels for the first time on Friday at Road America during a 50-minute practice session from 4:05 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. EDT. It returns to the track on Saturday for qualifying and the race. Qualifying takes place at 11:35 a.m. and the Henry 180 gets underway at 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

What: Henry 180 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series
When: Saturday, July 3, 2:30 p.m. Central
Where: Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI
Car: No. 90 Danus Utilities/Chinchor Electric Chevrolet
Distance: Stages of 10, 10 and 25 laps (45 laps/182.16 miles)
Race broadcast info: TV – NBC; Radio – Motor Racing Network/Sirius XM Ch. 90

ELKHART LAKE, WI — Road America is more than 1,300 miles from Preston Pardus’ residence in Daytona Beach, Fla., but it certainly feels like home.

This weekend, Pardus returns to the 4.048-mile circuit where he made his NASCAR Xfinity debut in 2019. It’s the road course where he produced his career-best Xfinity finish with an eighth last summer, and the same venue on which he captured his second SCCA Spec Miata national championship last fall. Pardus will try to produce another strong Xfinity showing Saturday in the 45-lap, 182-mile Henry 180 on NBC.

“It’s probably the most excited I’ve been about returning to a track,” said Pardus, who had led five laps when the field took the green flag for the final two laps of the 2020 Henry 180.

“Last year we had really good speed in the wet and stayed in the top five the whole second stage. The tire strategy we had when we stayed out late allowed us to lead and restart up front. I knew we were going to fall back a little bit — didn’t have a shot at winning — and we had decent enough pace to finish eighth. It’s something to build on.”

Saturday’s event will mark Pardus’ 10th career Xfinity start and fourth this season. He kicked off the year at Daytona International Speedway’s road course and was running in the top 10 when the rear end failed with seven laps to go. It would be three months before he returned to action at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, but he produced a 14th-place finish in very wet conditions with the car he will pilot at Road America. He finished 25th on the lead lap at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 5.

As was the case at Mid-Ohio, Pardus’ father Dan will serve as crew chief at Road America.

In 2019, Preston Pardus qualified 15th at Elkhart Lake in his NASCAR debut, but only completed 14 laps when suspension failure ended his day. He started 37th in 2020 with positions for the green flag determined by owner points rather than time trials.

This weekend, Pardus will get to practice the No. 90 Chevrolet on Friday at 3:05 p.m. Central time in anticipation of Saturday’s 10:35 a.m. Central qualifying session. NBCSN will pick up qualifying at noon Eastern/11 Central.

“Road America’s got a good range of corners with a lot of high-speed stuff, and you also have quite a bit of low speed,” Pardus said. “It has some risky sections to it, like the Kink, where you’re sailing the car in there and can gain ground on people if you’re riskier than they are.

“You also have a nice range of high-speed braking areas. You get a ton more passing opportunities with the big straightaways, so it’s easier to set up passes. It’s a good track to race either wet or dry.”

Unlike last year, Pardus and his peers shouldn’t have to deal with wet conditions Saturday. The forecast calls for a sun-kissed, 75-degree day.

The Xfinity race sets the stage for Sunday’s Jockey Made in America 250 for NASCAR’s premier Cup Series. It’s only the second Cup event ever at Elkhart Lake, with the debut coming Aug. 12, 1956 — the first major event at the track. Tim Flock drove a ‘56 Mercury to a 17-second victory over Billy Meyers in that inaugural event.

LONG POND, PA – June 27, 2021 – Austin Cindric worked his way through the field to win at Pocono Raceway, marking his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the 2021 season and further extending his championship lead to 101 points over second place.

“Congratulations to Austin, Brian, Roger, and the entire No. 22 crew,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Austin and Brian demonstrated the power of strategy and execution to make their way to the front of the field and maintain the lead. Pocono is a unique and challenging track, but Austin was able to conquer the Tricky Triangle.”

Cindric started the race in 13th position but was able to maneuver the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang through the field and finish Stage 1 in fourth, after avoiding multiple incidents early in the race. The end of the race came down to fuel and pit strategy, combined with a long green-flag run that allowed Austin to maintain his lead and finish a half second in front of second place.

“You have to be good at everything and that is what this team has proven throughout the year. I am just the one that gets to drive these Ford Mustangs. I am excited about it. I had to execute in every facet and we had everything thrown at us today. I am super proud of this Car Shop Ford Mustang team. Everybody who partners up with us. To finally get one here,” commented Cindric.

Ford Performance teammates Ryan Sieg with RSS Racing finished P17 and Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing in P35.

The NASCAR Cup Series raced Saturday and Sunday at Pocono Raceway. On Saturday, Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney finished P5 and Joey Logano P6, Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing in P8, and Ford Performance teammate Brad Keselowski in P10.

During Sunday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 350, Ford Performance teammates Brad Keselowski with Team Penske finished P3, Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing in P4, and Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney in P6 and Joey Logano in P10.

Chad McCumbee and James Pesek with PF Racing finished 15th in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at the 3.4 mile Watkins Glen road course this weekend.

The IMSA Pilot Challenge will return to Watkins Glen, New York this week while the NASCAR Cup & Xfinity Series is headed to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin this weekend.

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 420 WINS – 382 POLES!
*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media, Getty Images & Wes Duenkel

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class ISO 9001 / AS9100 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

GIBBS LEADS TOYOTA WITH RUNNER-UP FINISH
Gibbs continues stellar rookie season with his seventh top-five finish in first eight starts

LONG POND, Pa. (June 27, 2021) – Ty Gibbs (second) led Toyota with a top-five finish in the Pocono Green 225 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Pocono Raceway
Race 16 of 33 – 225 miles, 90 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Cindric*
2nd, TY GIBBS
3rd, Justin Allgaier*
4th, Noah Gragson*
5th, AJ Allmendinger
6th, DANIEL HEMRIC
7th, BRANDON JONES
14th, SANTINO FERRUCCI
25th, AUSTIN HILL
29th, JESSE LITTLE
30th, MASON MASSEY
33rd, DAVID STARR
37th, HARRISON BURTON
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd

How hard were you digging for this win?

“Just pushing as much as I can. It feels good to leave everything in the racecar. Just trying my hardest. I made some mistakes. I think I could have maybe crossed him over a little bit better. Lap cars helped me. They were kind of in the way. Overall, just a good day. I’m happy to drive a Xfinity car. I’m thankful to be in this series. Thank you to all of my crew, Chris Gayle (crew chief), everybody who works on my Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54.”

DANIEL HEMRIC, No. 18 Poppy Bank Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th

No win today, but a lot of speed today for your Daniel.

“Not only speed but speeding on pit road. Unbelievable Poppy Bank Toyota Supra. So proud of Dave Rogers (crew chief). Not only this week, but every week to bring the best racecars that we can. That was for sure the best JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) Toyota that I’ve had. It’s tough to swallow when you give them away like that. I don’t know if I just mis-executed on my lights or what. I thought I gave enough back, especially after the first time, but I just sped again under green and that was it for us. I’m proud of these guys. I don’t know what else you can do. You just have to keep showing up and hope it will turn around.”

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 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its 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.

Myatt Snider and the Crosley Furniture Chevrolet Team Earn Top-10 Finish at Pocono Raceway

Finish: 10th
Start: 19th
Points: 12th

“Today was a solid day for our Crosley Furniture Chevrolet team. We finally were able to get our luck turned around and brought home a well-deserved top-10 finish. At the beginning of the race, our No. 2 Camaro fired off too loose, but Andy Street (crew chief) made some good adjustments on our pit stop before the end of Stage 1. We elected to stay out during the stage break, which allowed us to gain track position. Our Chevrolet lacked a little drive off turn three, but to run inside the top five throughout the entire middle segment and earn stage points was a needed boost for our team. Despite having the oldest tires on the track before making our scheduled green flag stop, I was able to hold steady inside the top five, showing how good our car actually was. The race went caution free from that point forward, but I steadily worked my way back up front. My Richard Childress Racing team is one of the best and we will take this momentum to Road America next week.” -Myatt Snider

Herbst Finishes 35th at Pocono
Spin in Final Stage Ends Strong Run for Monster Energy Driver

Date: June 27, 2021
Event: Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons (Round 16 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (2.5-mile triangle)
Format: 90 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/20 laps/50 laps)
Start/Finish: 10th / 35th (Accident, completed 45 of 90 laps)
Point Standing: 15th (341 points, 339 out of first)
Race Winner: Austin Cindric of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 1 Winner: Harrison Burton of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Overview:

A solid day for Riley Herbst and his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang went up in smoke after a spin on lap 45 of Sunday’s Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. The 22-year-old driver was forced to settle for a 35th-place finish after racing his way up into the top-five from the rear of the field. After being sent to the back due to unapproved adjustments at the start of the 90-lap race, Herbst quickly picked off the competition and made his way into the top-15 by lap 11. He was just two spots short of a top-10 finish in Stage 1. The No. 98 Monster Energy team pitted during the break and restarted 16th for Stage 2. In a strategy call on a lap-35 caution, crew chief Richard Boswell opted to keep his driver out on track with a handful of laps to go in the stage in an attempt to gain track position and earn stage points. This ultimately worked out for the team as it finished fifth in the second stage to earn six bonus points toward the playoffs. Herbst came down pit road under the final stage break for four fresh tires and fuel to put him on the offensive at the outset of Stage 3. He restarted 21st on lap 45. In a battle for position, Herbst got loose and spun in the Tunnel Turn. The damage sustained was too much for the No. 98 team to continue.

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

“Everybody’s on different tires and pit strategy. I felt like we had a decent Ford Mustang driving back up through the field. I cleared one of the backmarkers and he decided to drive it all the way back into my outside through the Tunnel Turn and I didn’t know he was there. I cleared him down Long Pond. It’s a frustrating day for sure and hurts us in points and everything. Hopefully, we can go get really good points at Road America next week.”

Notes:

● Herbst finished fifth in Stage 2 to earn six bonus points.

● Austin Cindric won the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons to earn his 12th career victory, his fourth of the season and his first at Pocono. His margin over second-place Ty Gibbs was .331 of a second.

● There were six caution periods for a total of 21 laps.

● Seventeen of the 40 drivers in the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons finished on the lead lap.

● Austin Cindric remains the championship leader after Pocono with a 101-point advantage over second-place A.J. Allmendinger.

Next Up:

The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Henry 180 on Saturday, July 3 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series — Pocono Green 225
Pocono Raceway | Sunday, June 27, 2021

FORD FINISHING RESULTS

1st — Austin Cindric
17th — Ryan Sieg
35th — Riley Herbst

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Car Shop Ford Mustang — VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW

“You have to be good at everything and that is what this team has proven throughout the year. I am just the one that gets to drive these Ford Mustangs. I am excited about it. I had to execute in every facet and we had everything thrown at us today. I am super proud of this Car Shop Ford Mustang team. Everybody who partners up with us. To finally get one here. Ever since I have been racing ARCA it feels like this one always gets away, so I am really excited.”

THE FINAL STRETCH THERE, THE LONG GREEN-FLAG RUN. YOU SEE THAT BLACK CAR COMING., WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND? “We gave him a chance didn’t we? We had to make it exciting I guess. I didn’t want it but I guess everybody else did. We will take it and we will take the trophy for sure.”

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang (Retired on Lap 47 Due to Accident)

“Everybody is on different tires and pit strategy. I felt like we had a decent Ford Mustang driving back up through the field. I cleared one of the backmarkers and he decided to drive it all the way back into my outside through the tunnel and I didn’t know he was there. I cleared him down Long Pond. It is a frustrating do for sure and hurts us in points and everything. Hopefully, we can go get really good points and Road America next week

POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Car Shop Ford Mustang — FINISHED 1st

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN THE 66 RAN OUT OF FUEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU? “I thought he was going to run the apron but then he didn’t have the capacity to do so. That was almost the worst-case scenario to be honest. I was trying to manage the lead and my temps and the gap. We just had enough. I felt like lap traffic was fairly respectful to us. All in all I can’t do too much complaining. Circumstances are circumstances and if he would have been 50 yards ahead it would have been a big deal. It all works out and makes a more exciting race. It made me tense up a little more, but that is racing.”

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN TY GIBBS WAS TRYING TO GET AT YOU THERE AT THE END? “Well, that is certainly his job. He got gifted a three-second buffer and it is his job to do something with it. I think he did everything he could. I think he ran a great race. I feel like our strategy was a little better. We were fairly even matched all day in clean air. I just tried to manage my stuff and my gap and it worked out for us.”

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE PIT STRATEGY, COMING IN WHEN YOU DID IN THAT STAGE SO THAT WHEN THINGS CYCLED YOU WOULD BE OUT FRONT? “It was total execution. That is on the pit crew and that is on Brian and that is on me getting good restarts. Starting 13th, it really opened up our strategy. Making our way inside the top-five under green, I feel like everyone executed really well today and made the strategy possible. I am really proud of the effort. The pit crew guys did a great job today. Those guys are improving every week and I am proud of them and proud of Brian and this whole 22 team for bringing such a fast race car.”

LAST YEAR IN THIS RACE YOU HAD A SUPER-FAST CAR AND GOT WRECKED OUT. TO WIN THIS YEAR, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANY REDEMPTION? “Absolutely. This is one of several racetracks that I feel like from last year it was probably one I was looking forward to the most right off the bad, getting to go for another Xfinity championship to come back to places like Pocono and Bristol and so on. We had some get away from us that were out of our control. That is racing. There are plenty of guys that can say that. When you can come back and accomplish your goals, some that have a little bit of emotion behind them, it is pretty fun.”

YOU HAVE 14 MORE PLAYOFF POINTS THAN YOUR NEXT CLOSEST COMPETITOR, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT? ALSO, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GOING TO ROAD AMERICA NEXT WEEKEND? “It is important and I want more. Greedy as always as a race car driver. Road America, I am so excited about. If I wasn’t driving that weekend I would be going. I think that part of the country has such a passion for short track racing and a Cup race has been absent from that part of the country, that and Road America is an awesome place and awesome race track. I am doing double duty there. My brake foot is going to be worn out but I don’t really care. It is going to be a lot of fun and hopefully we can have some strong runs.”

STATESVILLE, N.C. (June 26, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) announced today 22-year-old Kaz Grala of Boston, Mass. will drive the team’s No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Henry 180 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; Saturday, July 3.

Holding the record as the youngest driver to compete in an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) event at the age of 15, Grala has become a NASCAR road course specialist in recent years.

With 12 road course races to his credit throughout NASCAR’s top three series since 2016, Grala holds an average finish of 12.25 with seven Top-10’s and four Top 5’s with most recently claiming a best of second at Circuit of the Americas (Austin, Texas) in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) competition. Having made starts in both the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NCWTS this season, the Henry 180 at Road America will mark Grala’s first NXS start of 2021.

“Growing up my father was a road course racer and for our family to spend late January at the 24 hours of Daytona was a special time, it was only natural for me to take interest and excel in road racing especially after starting in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at such an early age.” Stated Kaz Grala.

“Road America has been a place that I have adapted to very well in recent years. In three starts in the NXS I have earned two Top-Ten finishes, and an eleventh. Those are very respectable numbers at a track that offers high-speed sections, elevation changes, and tight corners. I am excited for this opportunity that Jordan Anderson Racing, Ruedebusch.com, and Bommarito Automotive Group are giving me. The pairing of the chassis from RCR and the engine package from ECR will be very similar to what I have competed in there the last few years.”

Grala will join a Chevrolet team that has earned four Top-15 finishes in five starts this season with Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, and Jordan Anderson driving.

“Kaz is a great road racer, with the familiar RCR and ECR combination he has raced the last few years and with Crew Chief Arthur (Arthur) Haire calling the race I am confident we will be able to provide all tools needed for him to earn a great finish in the Henry 180 at Road America,” Stated JAR Team President Jordan Anderson.

“We have had some tremendous success the last five races with Tyler and Josh driving for us and I hope to continue that with Kaz. I would like to welcome Ruedebusch Development and Construction to the team. I am confident with everything we have in place Kaz will be able to do a very good job and continue the momentum JAR has with a respectable finish.”

Grala’s No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS will carry branding from Ruedebusch Development & Construction a highly qualified, vertically integrated full-service commercial real estate development and construction company located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Providing design-build construction, commercial real estate development, property management, and commercial real estate consulting. Many of the services Ruedebusch offers may be contracted separately or combined together to create a cohesive experience from beginning to end. The geographic boundary includes projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Ruedebusch has knowledge and experience in all aspects of the commercial real estate field. From locating new rental space for your business, to finding the perfect piece of land for your new corporate headquarters; from the turn-key facility, to the architectural and interior design that will best reflect your company’s culture, Ruedebusch is with you every step of the way.

For more information on Ruedebusch Development & Construction
visit them online at Ruedebusch.com.

Joining Ruedebusch.com for the Henry 180 is longtime JAR partner Bommarito Automotive Group of St. Louis, Mo.

Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by President John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the family’s “Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group or to see the vehicles they currently have, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tickets for the NXS Henry 180 are still available for purchase by visiting Road America online at RoadAmerica.com.

If you are unable to make it to the Road America for the NXS Henry 180 on July 3, the race will be broadcast LIVE on NBC and the NBC Sports App at 2:30 PM EST and aired LIVE on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and on SIRIUS/XM NASCAR radio Channel 90.

Stay updated with everything Kaz Grala by following him on Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

About Ruedebusch Development & Construction Inc.

Ruedebusch Development & Construction, Inc. is a highly qualified, vertically integrated full-service commercial construction, and real estate development company located in Madison, Wisconsin. Ruedebusch has knowledge and experience in all aspects of the commercial real estate field. From locating new rental space for your business to finding the perfect piece of land for your new corporate headquarters; from the turn-key facility, to the architectural and interior design that will best reflect your company’s culture, Ruedebusch is with you every step of the way.

About Bommarito Automotive Group

Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating its 50th year in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the family’s ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

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. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, and Kaz Grala. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Pocono (Pa.) Raceway | Pocono Green 225

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): G-Coin
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Mike Tyska
Pocono Green 225 Starting Position: 35th (Event Formula)
Driver Points Position: 30th | Owner Points Position: 34th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Aboard: This weekend at Pocono Raceway, SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. welcome back G-Coin as the primary partner of the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday afternoon’s Pocono Green 225.

Pocono marks the fourth race of a multi-race deal where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.

About G-Coin: Unlike cryptocurrencies, G-Coin is a digital title to a real asset: 1 G-Coin token equals 1 gram of Responsible GoldTM.

G-Coin combines the best qualities of traditional gold – stability, security, value, confidence, and social status – with the benefits of digital innovation, allowing users to easily save, send, and spend gold.

Tech-savvy investors keen to avoid cryptocurrency volatility, or physical storage burden and costs, are now able to purchase G-Coin digital gold tokens. G-Coin tokens can be purchased in increments of 0.01gram, giving individual investors better access to the gold market and the ability to use gold for day-to-day purchases.

G-Coin Wallets give users the freedom to send and receive value instantly, securely, and at no cost from the convenience of your mobile phone.

G-Coin Tip of the Week: Because gold prices often do not trade in the same direction as the stock market, some compare buying gold to buying insurance. You may not need it, but it may be beneficial in some circumstances.

You Can Win $1,000 In Gold! To celebrate their new partnership with Joe Graf Jr., in the NASCAR Xfinity Series G-Coin will give away $1,000 in FREE gold to a lucky individual next week!

To enter, download the G-Coin app on your smartphone to submit your entry.

Saving You Some Money: As summer kicks off, Joe Graf Jr.’s other marketing partner Z Grills wants to help the NASCAR community save money – but also enjoy the perfect barbecue.

In preparation of their upcoming partner at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway next month, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount off your TOTAL purchase, using the code NASCAR at checkout.

Welding Another Partnership: On Wednesday, SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. announced that PowerWeld will serve as the primary marketing partner of the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for the upcoming New Holland 250 at Michigan International Speedway in August.

PowerWeld is a leading brand in the industrial welding products market across North America. Its core areas of focus include welding filler metals, arc, MIG and TIG welding accessories and equipment, gas welding and cutting accessories and equipment, and welding safety.

PowerWeld products are designed to withstand the daily rigors of industrial applications, including manufacturing, metalworking, oil and gas, construction, fabrication, shipyards, automotive repair and more.

PowerWeld products are available at quality distributors and retailers in the United States and Canada.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Pocono Raceway Stats: Sunday afternoon’s Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro will mark Graf’s second NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 2.5-mile triangle.

Last June, Graf started the race 25th but was an innocent victim in an early race accident relegating the team to a disappointing 35th place finish.

Joe Graf Jr. ARCA Pocono Raceway Stats: In addition to one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the “Tricky Triangle”, Graf Jr. has four ARCA Menards Series starts from 2018 to 2019, scoring three top-10 finishes and a track-best seven in his ARCA Pocono debut in the 2018 General Tire #AnyWhereIsPossible 200 edition for Chad Bryant Racing.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Speedway Nuggets: At tracks greater than 2.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 20.1 and looks to improve an average result of 30.1.

Nashville Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Graf Jr. piloted the No. 17 G-Coin Chevrolet in his 49th career Xfinity Series start.

Starting 33rd – Graf inched towards a top-20 finish but was eliminated from competition by an aggressive driver 37 laps from the finish.

The result left Graf with a disappointing and frustrating 34th place result.

Put Me In Coach: In an effort to strengthen his physique, Joe Graf Jr. began working with new trainer and former NASCAR Cup Series Josh Wise during the offseason.

In addition to Wise, Graf has also been working with former NASCAR driver and open-wheel driver Scott Speed on being more discipline behind the wheel of his No. 07 G-Coin 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 80 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 Mike Tyska is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 15th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Sunday afternoon.

Tyska joined SS GreenLight Racing in January after honing his skills in all three of NASCAR’s national divisions and working for teams like Germain Racing, GMS Racing and Rick Ware Racing.

Tyska was a part of Todd Bodine’s 2006 championship season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Germain Racing.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing. Rookie Carson Ware will drive the No. 17 JACOB Construction Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday afternoon.

Ware is poised to make his fourth career Xfinity Series start and first of the 2021 season. In one of his three Xfinity starts last year, he finished 20th after starting 16th.

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 Pocono Raceway: “Never really had the opportunity to showcase what we were capable of last year at Pocono as our race ended early. Thankfully, I’ll have another shot on Sunday afternoon and I’m hoping we can have a clean race and carry out our performance from Nashville to the checkered flag this weekend.

“We need a good race and I hope Pocono will deliver.”

On G-Coin Partnership: “This is a unique partnership, and I am excited to continue to have the support of G-Coin this weekend at Pocono.

“The more that G-Coin is in our Chevrolet – the more we can continue to educate others about the amazing ecosystem G-Coin is building.

“Together, we believe the NASCAR community will assist in putting G-Coin on the global map.”

On Recent Performances: “The last several races have been tough; especially last weekend at Nashville when I really thought we were turning the corner. However, it is during times like this that all your mental discipline and training really come to the forefront.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of mental toughness in overcoming obstacles you don’t control.

“When I look at the speed and balance of our cars this year they are much better than last year. That isn’t from luck. That is from the hard work and grind it out mental toughness of this team.

“It’s such a shame that we have had such a rough stretch, but this is no different from life. We all experience highs and lows in life. Like anyone at a low point, we are going to remain mentally tough and keep moving forward. We embrace the suck. We know it can’t last.

“Going forward we are going to focus on what we can control and continue to execute at our highest level. There are a ton of races left in the season and hopefully, we have shaken the bad luck. I would be worried if our cars lacked competitiveness, but they don’t. We have a lot of racing left and we are due for some good luck.”
Race Information:

The Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro (90 laps | 225 miles) is the 16th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. The race will take the green flag on Sun., Jun. 27, 2021, shortly after 12:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).
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.