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Category: XFINITY Series PR

NASCAR XFINITY Series Press Release

  • JR Motorsports — NXS Richmond Preview

    JR Motorsports — NXS Richmond Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
    TRACK: Richmond Raceway
    RACE 1: Go Bowling 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
    RACE 2: Virginia is for Racing Lovers 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
    DATE 1: Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
    DATE 2: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020

    Broadcast Information Race One – TV: 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 6:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
    Broadcast Information Race Two – TV: 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 1:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

    Michael Annett
    Race One & Two: No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
    • Michael Annett will go to Richmond Raceway this weekend with three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in his last 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts this season. His average finish over that span is 8.1.
    • In 15 starts at Richmond, Annett has posted four top 10s and completed 98.9 percent of the laps run in those races. The Iowa native was ninth in the fall race last year on the .750-mile oval and has earned a best finish of fifth in 2012.
    • Annett’s Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will carry a “Thank You Truck Drivers” message on the TV panel for both races this weekend in advance of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which is set for Sept. 13-19.

    Jeb Burton
    Race One: No. 8 State Water Heaters Chevrolet
    Race Two: No. 8 LS Tractor Chevrolet
    • Jeb Burton returns to the No. 8 Chevrolet for this weekend’s doubleheader at Richmond.
    • The Halifax, Va. native has a combined six starts at the .750-mile short track across the Cup Series and the NXS.
    • Through six starts in 2020 for JRM in the NXS, Burton has scored a best finish of third at Talladega in June.
    • State Water Heaters, a leader in the water heating industry, will be on board the No. 8 for the first event of the weekend on Friday evening.
    • LS Tractor, one of the fastest growing tractor companies in North America, is on board for the second race on Saturday afternoon.

    Noah Gragson
    Race One & Two: Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
    • Noah Gragson has three NXS starts at Richmond with a best finish of second coming in his first career start in the spring of 2018.
    • In the most recent race at Richmond in the fall of 2019, Gragson started eighth and finished seventh.
    • After 23 races in the 2020 season, Gragson sits fourth in the championship standings with two wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s and has led 508 laps.
    • At tracks that are less than 1 mile in length, Gragson has one win, three top fives, six top 10s and holds an average finish of 8.5.

    Justin Allgaier
    Race One: No. 7 FilterTime Chevrolet
    Race Two: No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
    • Justin Allgaier has five top fives and eight top 10s in 18 NXS starts at Richmond Raceway with 281 laps led.
    • His two most recent visits to the track in 2019 resulted in top-five finishes, including a third-place result last spring after leading the race for 86 circuits.
    • This season on tracks measuring 1 mile or less in length, Allgaier has one victory (Dover) and three stage wins.
    • With three races left before the start of the NXS playoffs, Allgaier is currently listed as sixth in the projected playoff standings with 13 playoff points accrued after his victory at Dover and eight stage wins.

    Driver Quotes

    “Our No. 1 Pilot Flying J team is clicking on all cylinders as the season heads toward the playoffs. We had a solid run at Darlington, which is the latest in a series of good finishes for us, and I think we’re peaking at the right time. Going to Richmond for two races is going to be important, especially with Bristol the next track on the list. We’re pretty solid in points right now and we’re getting ready to make a playoff run. That starts this weekend.” – Michael Annett

    “I’m ready to head to Richmond for another doubleheader weekend. The last one turned out well for us at Dover, so I’m hoping for the same result, especially after the bad luck we had last weekend at Darlington. I’m ready to move on from that and get some positive momentum back as we get closer to the playoffs. We have two great partners on the car this week with FilterTime on Friday and BRANDT on Saturday and this No. 7 team has been working hard to prepare a fast Camaro, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.” – Justin Allgaier

    “I’m really looking forward to getting to Richmond this weekend and race not one, but two races at one of my home tracks. It’s going to be a fun weekend for sure and hopefully we can come away with two solid runs with our State Water Heaters Chevy on Friday night and our LS Tractor Chevy on Saturday. We’ve just got to be patient and take what the track gives us and I feel like we will be right there in contention for the win. I can’t wait to get there and see what we can do.” – Jeb Burton

    “Richmond is a track that I have run pretty good at in the past and I expect more of the same this weekend. My first trip here I ran up front and finished second and then last year I was able to run around the top five but ended up finishing seventh. It’s a doubleheader weekend so we can get a lot of playoff points in a short amount of time, so we’re going to attack this weekend and make the most of it.” – Noah Gragson

    JRM Team Updates:
    • JRM at Richmond: JRM has scored three wins, 22 top fives and 43 top 10s in 73 previous starts at Richmond Raceway. The organization’s three victories at Richmond came in three consecutive years with Kevin Harvick in April 2014, Chase Elliott in September 2015 and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. in April 2016.
    • JRM on Short Tracks: In 224 starts on short tracks in the NXS, JRM has recorded nine wins, 62 top fives and 134 top 10s. Brad Keselowski earned the organization’s first victory on a short track at Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2008. Noah Gragson brought home the most recent victory, also at Bristol, in June 2020.
    • FilterTime Discount: In honor of FilterTime’s partnership with JR Motorsports and the No. 7 team for Friday’s race at Richmond Raceway, new customers who sign up for the company’s subscription-based custom air-filter service can get 20 percent off their first order by using the discount code JRM7. Learn more by visiting FilterTime.com/JRM7.
    • National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: Michael Annett’s No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet kicks off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with an homage to the drivers who make America go. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an important time for America to pay respect and thank all the professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in undertaking one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. These 3.5 million professional men and women not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, they also keep our highways safe. This year it takes on a special significance considering the crucial role truck drivers have played during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report – Darlington

    Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report – Darlington

    Track:    Darlington Raceway
    Race:     Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
    Date:     September 5, 2020
    ___________________________________________________

    No. 22 MoneyLion – Austin Cindric
    Start:  4th
    Stage 1: 3rd
    Stage 2: 7th
    Finish: 12th
    Status:  Running
    Laps Completed: 147/147
    Laps Led: 0
    Point Standings (ahead of second): 1st (+54)

    Notes:

    Austin Cindric and the No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang team battled their way through tight conditions and an unscheduled pitstop to score a 12th-place finish in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 Saturday afternoon at Darlington Raceway. Cindric continues to lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings, 54 markers ahead of second place Chase Briscoe.

    Cindric started the 147-lap, 200-mile event from fourth position after the field was set per the NASCAR rule book. The first 45-lap stage saw three cautions, including the competition caution on lap 20. Early in the segment Cindric was second and communicated to crew chief Brian Wilson that his MoneyLion Ford was tight. He remained inside the top-five as Stage 1 progressed and claimed a third-place finish when the opening stage ended. Wilson made the call to pit during the stage caution for four tires, fuel, and adjustments and Cindric restarted third when the race went green on lap 52.
    Stage 2 ran caution-free until the fourth caution slowed the pace on the lap 90, the final lap of the segment. Throughout the long run, the MoneyLion Ford became too loose and Cindric began to slowly lose track position, dropping to seventh by the completion of stage. Wilson again made the call to pit during the stage caution for four fresh tires, fuel, and major adjustment to aid Cindric’s Ford. Nice work on the pit lane by the MoneyLion crew kept Cindric in seventh position for the restart on lap 95.He was up to fourth position by the time the sixth caution was displayed on lap 111. Cindric pitted during the yellow for four tires. He left pit road third, but a mixture of different pit strategy pushed him back to 12th for the restart on lap 114. The final caution slowed the race on lap 119 and was briefly red flagged for track cleanup. Once the race restarted, Cindric pitted to make certain all the wheels were tight. The driver of the MoneyLion Ford restarted 16th with 21 laps remaining. As the laps ticked off, Cindric’s Ford steadily became tighter with each passing lap, but he was able to move up through traffic to claim a 12th-place finish by the end of the 147-lap event.

    The NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action with the Richmond Raceway doubleheader next weekend.  The first race will take place on Friday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio followed by race two on Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

    Quote: “I think the biggest positives we can take away as a group for our No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang was we learned a lot.  We tried something new and tried to fix the problems with something new and I think we learned more of what not to do today and how to be better in trying to apply it later on.  Without being overly specific, I feel like we learned those things.  We didn’t have a very good day execution-wise.  We had to come back in and tighten up some lugnuts there after everyone had made their final pit stops, so that was obviously lost all of our track position and we struggled to make our way back up.  I didn’t think we were really well-suited for the end of the race there and probably didn’t do myself any favors with some of the damage I got throughout the day, but, overall, we learned some things and tried some things.  We were aggressive with the things that we tried today, so I think that’s something to be proud of — that we’re in that kind of a position and have that kind of confidence in ourselves, but I think it’s just as important to be able to go back and rebound next week at Richmond.”

  • RCR Post Race Report – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200

    RCR Post Race Report – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200

    Anthony Alfredo and the Blue Otter Polarized Chevrolet Team’s Strong Performance at The Track Too Tough to Tame Haulted By On Track Incident

    Finish: 27th
    Start: 12th
    Points: 10th

    “I’m really proud of my team for bringing such a fast No. 21 Blue Otter Polarized Chevrolet to the race track, even though it was a tough day for us at Darlington Raceway for throwback weekend. On lap two the car bottomed out on the splitter, which caused our Chevrolet to shoot up the track and catch the wall. Fortunately, that was just cosmetic damage and we were able to continue. Our Richard Childress Racing pit crew did a great job getting our Chevy repaired and keeping us in contention. We were able to go to work and pass a lot of cars on track even after our initial incident. My team did a great job of putting us in position late in the race on older tires. We restarted in the fourth position and settled into fifth on older tires, which is a big deal at Darlington. It looked like our strategy was going to play out just fine until I saw the leader wreck. I went high to avoid him, but ran through the same rear end grease he went through and wrecked as well. It’s a shame it tore up a lot of good cars, including ours. It definitely wasn’t the finish we deserved, but I’m extremely proud of all my Richard Childress Racing guys and the speed we continue to bring each week.” -Anthony Alfredo
  • Ford Performance NASCAR: Darlington XFINITY Post-Race Quotes

    Ford Performance NASCAR: Darlington XFINITY Post-Race Quotes

    NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
    SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020
    SPORTS CLIPS HAIRCUTS VFW 200 – DARLINGTON RACEWAY
    FORD PERFORMANCE DRIVER – POST RACE QUOTES

    FORD FINISHING RESULTS:
    11th – Chase Briscoe
    12th – Austin Cindric

    CHASE BRISCOE, No. 98 Highpoint.com Ford Mustang — YOU WERE WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE WITH 30 TO GO, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE FLUID ON THE TRACK CHANGED YOUR DAY.  “You can’t control stuff like that, but, overall, we were in contention to win.  I felt like we could have beat Denny, so that’s something to hang our head high on.  Him and Harvick are the guys dominating the Cup Series, so I’m proud to be able to run with those guys.  I just hate that the oil situation happened, but you can’t control that and it was something that was out of our hands.”

    WERE YOU AWARE AT ALL THAT THE 02 WAS DROPPING ANY FLUID EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND YOU?  “No, I had no idea.  I was kind of saving my tires and just went into turn one on that lap and the next thing I knew I was spinning out instantly.  I definitely hit something.  I guess it was oil, but I had no idea any of that was going on or there was even an issue on the racetrack.”

    THREE RACES TO GO IN THE REGULAR SEASON, SO IS THE GOAL TO TRY AND GET AS MANY PLAYOFF POINTS AS POSSIBLE?  “Yeah, for sure.  I think for us the biggest thing is just trying to make sure we have a five-point playoff point lead over the 22.  More than likely he’s gonna win the regular season at this point and if we can be five or six ahead that puts us tied or one up going into the playoffs, so I think that’s probably the biggest goal right now is just trying to make sure we can do that.  That obviously requires winning stages and races.  I felt like we had a good opportunity to do that today, but it just didn’t work out.”

    AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang — “I think the biggest positives we can take away as a group for our No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang was we learned a lot.  We tried something new and tried to fix the problems with something new and I think we learned more of what not to do today and how to be better in trying to apply it later on.  Without being overly specific, I feel like we learned those things.  We didn’t have a very good day execution-wise.  We had to come back in and tighten up some lugnuts there after everyone had made their final pit stops, so that was obviously lost all of our track position and we struggled to make our way back up.  I didn’t think we were really well-suited for the end of the race there and probably didn’t do myself any favors with some of the damage I got throughout the day, but, overall, we learned some things and tried some things.  We were aggressive with the things that we tried today, so I think that’s something to be proud of — that we’re in that kind of a position and have that kind of confidence in ourselves, but I think it’s just as important to be able to go back and rebound next week at Richmond.”

  • Joe Graf Jr. | SS GreenLight Racing | Darlington Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Event Preview

    Joe Graf Jr. | SS GreenLight Racing | Darlington Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Event Preview

    SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series

    Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Sport Clips Help A Hero 200

    Fast Facts
    No. 08 SS GreenLight Racing Team:

    Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)

    Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up Energy | Core Development | EAT SLEEP RACE

    Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

    Crew Chief: Patrick Donahue

    Starting Position for Sport Clips Help A Hero 200: 28th (Event Formula)

    Driver Points Position: 23rd

    Owner Points Position: 29th

    Chassis Intel: SSGLR Chassis No. 711; competed last at Kansas Speedway on July 20, 2020 (Start: 34th | Finish: 28th)

    Chassis No. 711 also ran at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in August 2019 with a 15th-place finish after also qualifying 15th.

    Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

    Notes of Interest:

    Full of Energy: Bucked Up Energy and its sister products will continue its role as the primary partner of Graf’s No. 08 Chevrolet Camaro. Dover International Speedway is the 15th race in a multi-year, multi-race deal with the former ARCA Menards Series winner.

    Bucked Up is the everyman (or woman) energy drink. We don’t care about the color of your collar; whether blue or white, we all require energy to power our days. We want something that tastes like success, enhances mood and focus, and most of all delivers long-lasting energy.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Darlington Raceway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his second career start at the “Lady in Black” in Saturday afternoon’s race.

    Earlier this year, Graf Jr. made his “Too Tough To Tame” debut where after he started 36th based on a random draw and finished on the lead lap in 19th without any practice or qualifying.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Intermediate Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 23.8 and an average result of 20.5

    Joe Graf Jr. ARCA Menards Series Career Intermediate Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in eight ARCA Menards Series races. He holds an average starting position of 11.8 and an average result of 12.9.

    Throwin’ Back To 2010: SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. are one of many NASCAR Xfinity Series teams participating in Darlington Raceway’s annual “Throwback Weekend” at the 1.33-mile egg-shaped oval.

    Graf Jr.’s No. 08 Bucked Up Energy Chevrolet will relic Elliott Sadler’s No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet for JR Motorsports from the 2010 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

    A span of 22 years, Sadler made 397 Xfinity Series starts from 1995 to 2019 producing 13 wins, 106 top-five and 227 top-10 finishes.

    The Emporia, Va. native made 15 Xfinity starts at the “Lady in Black” winning the 2016 race for JR Motorsports.

    Welcome Aboard: Earlier this week, Joe Graf Jr. announced a one-race partnership for this weekend at Darlington Raceway with Voitanos.

    Voitanos, founded in 2017 is your trusted source for Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft 365 developer education.

    Started by Andrew Connell, a 16-time Microsoft MVP, Voitanos has helped thousands of developers across the globe learn how to get the most out of their Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) investments.

    Saturday’s one-race deal marks the company’s first foray in NASCAR.

    World Center of Racing Recap: Joe Graf Jr.’s return-trip to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway last weekend was unfortunately much like his 2020 season-opener.

    Sporting a popular Bucked Up WOKE AF paint scheme, Graf Jr. was eliminated in the race after early race contact with another competitor.

    Coming Soon: Joe Graf Jr. will unveil a new Bucked Up Energy paint scheme in the coming weeks as the Xfinity Series is about to approach the stretch drive of the 2020 season.

    The Second Half: Despite the coronavirus pandemic which shuttered NASCAR Xfinity Series races for more than two months, the series recently reached the halfway point of their season at Kansas Speedway in late July.

    Now, 22 races down, 11 races to go, Graf Jr. is ranked 23rd in the Xfinity Series championship standings and looks to improve his average finish of 23rd over the final nine weeks of the season.

    Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of 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.

    Did You Know? While NASCAR Xfinity Series competition was idle during the coronavirus pandemic for two months, Joe Graf Jr. got busy.

    Whether it was working out, spending time on iRacing in the Pro Series Invitational or Saturday Night Thunder, Graf recently gave an insider view on how his quarantine went and offered even a little insight on himself as a person.

    Click here to watch the video.

    From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Patrick Donahue is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief. He will crew chief his 176th NASCAR Xfinity Series races on Saturday. In his previous 175 races, he has two wins, eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes to his resume.

    He has seven prior Xfinity races as crew chief at Darlington with a best finish of 15th in August 2019 with Gray Gaulding.

    This Is 2020: Entering Darlington, Graf Jr. has 25 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit with four top-15 and nine top-20 finishes. After 22 races in 2020, he stands 23rd in the championship standings with 11 races remaining.

    Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing. Veteran David Starr returns to the seat of the No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Chevrolet on Friday night.

    The 52-year-old will make his ninth start of 2020 and fifth with SS GreenLight 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 Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway: “Pretty disappointed with how Daytona turned out. We had high hopes with a cool looking car and our race was over before it really started.

    “Nothing we can do but to forge ahead and try to bounce back next weekend at Darlington and the rest of the season.”

    On Elliott Sadler Darlington Throwback: “Our No. 08 Bucked Up Energy Chevrolet looks stout for this weekend’s throwback weekend at Darlington.

    “I’ve always had respect for Elliott Sadler as a race car driver and to be able to flashback to his time at JR Motorsports is really cool for me. It means a lot to me that he reached out on social media explaining how influential this paint scheme was during his career.

    Hopefully, we can have another successful race at Darlington with a better finish than May.”

    On Darlington Raceway Return: “Obviously excited to get back to Darlington Raceway this weekend – hoping we can have a better finish than the spring and get some momentum on our side.

    “Darlington is a very technical track but I got a lot better throughout the race in May and I feel confident that if we can stay out of trouble and have some luck on our side – we should contend for a top-15 finish.”

    Race Information:

    The Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 (147 laps | 200.1 miles) is the 23rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2020 schedule. The 37-car field will take the green flag shortly after 12:00 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 5, 2020, with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Eastern).

    About SS Green Light Racing:

    As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing has been a developmental hub for drivers looking to climb the ranks. Led by owner and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team has fielded entries in either the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

    Coming off a successful 2019 Xfinity campaign, SS GreenLight Racing looks to build further momentum with their two-car program in 2020.

  • RCR Event Preview – Darlington Raceway

    RCR Event Preview – Darlington Raceway

    Richard Childress Racing at Darlington Raceway … In 129 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has found success at the famous Southern 500 with eights victories, 23 top-five, and 42 top-10 finishes. The Welcome N.C. organization has yet to find victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the ‘Lady in Black’, but has accumulated 10 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.

    Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway … Over the past several years Richard Childress Racing has fully embraced a popular tradition known as ‘throwback weekend’ at Darlington Raceway. Teams and partners use the Southern 500 as an opportunity to honor NASCAR greats from the past and present. This weekend Austin Dillon will pay tribute to Junior Johnson with a special white and red No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet scheme. Tyler Reddick will honor Jeff Burton with a colorful Cat Power Chevrolet paint scheme that Burton accepted rookie of the year honors in. Anthony Alfredo and Blue Otter will pay homage to RCR’s winning tradition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a throwback to Kevin Harvick’s 2006 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship paint scheme.

    Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Saturday, September 5, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

    The NASCAR Cup Series’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Sunday, September 6, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

    This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Darlington Raceway … Austin Dillon has made eight career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway, posting a career-best fourth-place finish in 2017. He has made three appearances at ‘The Lady in Black’ in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing his best finish of fifth in 2012. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in August 2010.

    Delivering Performance on and Off the Racetrack… Austin Dillon races on Sunoco Green E15 fuel made with 15 percent American Ethanol. Ethanol is the most effective and least expensive source of octane available and it also burns cleaner and cooler than gasoline. Al those factors mean that ethanol helps drive peak engine performance whether you’re in a racecar or on your way to the grocery store. And, ethanol helps keep our air cleaner and our environment healthier by reducing toxic and greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about why ethanol is the smart choice for your engine, your wallet and our environment at americanethanolracing.com.

    NASCAR Throwback … Austin Dillon pays tribute to Junior Johnson with his No. 3 American Ethanol Chevy throwback scheme at Darlington Raceway. The Hall of Fame driver, who passed away in December, earned nine wins behind the wheel of the number three during the 1960s.

    NASCAR Playoffs …Dillon won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in July to lock himself into the NASCAR Playoffs. He is one of 16 drivers currently competing in the 2020 postseason.
    The four-round postseason consists of eliminations after the Round of 16 (Darlington, Richmond, Bristol), the Round of 12 (Las Vegas, Talladega, Charlotte Roval) and the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Martinsville). The Championship 4 will compete for the title at Phoenix. This is Dillon’s fourth time making the NASCAR Playoffs.

    AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
    What will it take to advance to each round of the NASCAR Playoffs and vie for a championship this year?
    “Over the years, running in the NASCAR Playoffs I’ve figured out that every point does matter, so I think you have to attack from the opening green flag. Stage points are important. In 2016, I missed advancing to the Round of 8 by one point over Denny Hamlin. That really makes you realize how important every single point is. It does help that the Playoff drivers will all be starting the races towards the front of the field together, but as a team we need to do a good job of starting up front and keeping that track position. Throughout the season so far, we have done a good job of adjusting our car throughout the race and finishing well but we need to start our races with our Chevys just a little better so that we can put ourselves in the next round.”

    How does Darlington suit your racing style?
    “I think long races in the past have fit my racing style. There is plenty of time to make the car better during a long race, and all of our wins have come in races 500 miles or more. So, I think that bodes well for Darlington. We like the long-distance races and it’s a place that falls off. RCR has always been known for a long run speed. Short run speed is something that we’ve struggled with, but we’re trying to change. It’s nice that we’re going to a place that long run speed matters a bit.”

    Talk about how special it is to run a Junior Johnson tribute scheme this weekend at Darlington Raceway …
    “This Junior Johnson car means so much to me and I’m grateful to American Ethanol to be able to work with them to honor a NASCAR Hall of Famer this weekend. It’s a beautiful car. I grew up going to school with Junior’s kids and Junior came to our school and spoke to us when I was in middle school. He was a hero to me and when he came and spoke to us, he took me aside and talked to me because he knew my grandfather, obviously. He was nice and always a great person to be around. My mom and Lisa Johnson are very close friends. They talk all the time, so to do this throwback for Junior is very special. My grandfather is pumped about it, too. Darlington Raceway would be a great place to grab a win to honor Junior, solidify our place in the NASCAR Playoffs and earn our third Crown Jewel race. It would be special.”

    Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cat Power Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Darlington Raceway … Tyler Reddick has two NASCAR Cup Series starts, including a seventh-place finish from the first race back for NASCAR following a brief postponement due to COVID-19, at Darlington Raceway. Reddick also has three starts at the ‘Lady in Black’ in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, collecting two top-five finishes and leading 70 laps during last year’s race.

    NASCAR Throwback … During the NASCAR Throwback weekend, Reddick and the No. 8 Cat Power team will be honoring former Caterpillar driver, Jeff Burton, with a scheme that highlights his No. 8 Raybestos machine. Burton accepted Rookie of the Year honors with the scheme for his run during the 1994 season.

    About Cat® Power Systems… For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar has been powering the industries and businesses that communities rely on. Wherever our customers are, and whatever their business, Cat® power systems meet critical needs of customers in all industries and applications-including Marine, Industrial Power, Electric Power, Oil & Gas, On-Highway Truck Engines, and Rail. Whether it be new power installations, or the expert Product Support and Services Caterpillar and Cat dealers are known for, Cat power keeps the world moving forward. Learn more at www.cat.com/PoweredByCat. #PoweredByCat

    About Blanchard Machinery Company … Blanchard Machinery Company has been supplying South Carolina customers with Caterpillar equipment since 1982. The family owned company has established retail and rental stores throughout the state which offer a wide range of Cat and non-Cat brands of equipment, from full-sized bulldozers to small machine parts. We are committed to providing our customers the best products and services available.

    Blanchard has multiple locations throughout South Carolina and numerous product lines. Our lines of business include Compact Equipment, Heavy Equipment, Forestry & Recycling, Power Systems, Bus, Truck Centers and Rental Services.

    TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
    We’re headed back to Darlington Raceway this week, but it’ll be a much longer race for you this time around. How are you preparing for that?
    “Well, based on the two races we had at Darlington earlier this year, I need to avoid hitting both the wall and things that come off the wall. That sponsor banner that came off the wall and got stuck on the grille of my Caterpillar Chevrolet during the first race there back in May completely messed up the handling of it. The handling got so bad that I got into the wall too, and that didn’t help things either. So, I need to avoid both those things. 360-plus laps at Darlington is a long time with lots of opportunity to have success, but also a lot of opportunities to receive a Darlington stripe. Everything will be important on Sunday, and we’ll need to run a perfect race. Adapting to the changing track conditions as the rubber comes in throughout the night will be key to being successful.”

    Can you tell us a little bit about your throwback scheme you’ll be running this weekend?
    “We’re running a scheme on our No. 8 Cat Power Chevrolet that honors longtime Caterpillar driver, Jeff Burton, and his rookie season. Jeff also ran the No. 8 during his rookie year and captured Rookie of the Year honors, so our scheme highlights the Raybestos scheme that he accepted the trophy with. I love participating in NASCAR’s Throwback weekend and really appreciate all the history in our sport, so I’m looking forward to having a good run with our scheme on Sunday.”

    Anthony Alfredo and the No. 21 Blue Otter Polarized Chevrolet Camaro at Darlington Raceway …
    Anthony Alfredo will be back behind the wheel of the No. 21 NASCAR Xfinity Series entry for Richard Childress Racing this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Alfredo made his Darlington Raceway debut in May when NASCAR resumed on-track competition after being postponed due to COVID-19.

    Welcome, Blue Otter Polarized …That’s it. The best ever. We’re not cutting corners. We’re not sacrificing style for comfort. We’re going for it, and we have been for quite a while. We’re for waiting long mornings in the duck blind, we’re for staring at that bobber. We’re for drinking cold beer on the back porch with your neighbors. We’re for jogging on the beach at 6am and we’re for sunset volleyball, trash talk and all. Built for both the avid outdoorsman and the city slick’n bartender. Italian frames crafted with rugged use in mind, as well as aesthetic pleasure and daily comfort. We don’t think you should have to settle for anything less than the best, so we don’t either. The best ever. Grab a pair today at blueotterpolarized.com.

    NASCAR Throwback … Alfredo will sport a special paint scheme with Blue Otter Polarized this weekend to honor Richard Childress Racing’s 2006 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship-winning paint scheme with Kevin Harvick in the No. 21 Chevrolet. Harvick scored nine victories in the blue and red U.S. Coast Guard colors to claim Richard Childress Racing’s second of five total championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

    Fast Start for Fast Pasta … Running a limited schedule in the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing, Alfredo has secured six top-10 finishes and has an average finish of 11.9. He also won an eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Saturday Night Thunder Race at Dover International Speedway during NASCAR’s hiatus from on-track competition.

    ANTHONY ALFREDO QUOTES:
    Do you feel more comfortable returning to Darlington Raceway knowing you have competed there earlier this season in the No. 21?
    “It definitely adds some confidence to our whole No. 21 Blue Otter Polarized team, knowing we got to race at Darlington earlier this year. I think Darlington is one of the hardest tracks on the schedule. It’s extremely difficult to get the car perfect, so it’s going to be about who can hustle their car around the track the best. I know my Richard Childress Racing team has been working hard and will bring another fast Chevrolet to the track. I’m looking forward to going back and applying what we learned from our first trip to hopefully be better this weekend.”

    Tell us about your Darlington throwback scheme and what this weekend means to you.
    “Throwing it back to Kevin Harvick’s No. 21 Coast Guard scheme is truly an honor. It’s pretty incredible to think Kevin and Richard Childress Racing won nine races with this scheme en route to their second Xfinity Series Championship in 2006. RCR has such a storied history in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, so I am really excited I have the opportunity to highlight their success. Not only was Kevin successful during his time at RCR in both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, but he has become a household name for NASCAR. Hopefully we can excite the fans by putting this famous scheme back on track. I want to say a special thanks to Blue Otter Polarized for allowing us to rock such a classic scheme this weekend at Darlington Raceway.”

  • Haley Focused More than Ever as Playoffs Near

    Haley Focused More than Ever as Playoffs Near

    Justin Haley Notes
    Best start at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS): 3rd (2020)
    Best finish at Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 10th (2020)

    Kaulig Racing Notes
    Best start Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 3rd (2020)
    Best finish at Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 8th (2020)

    Race Notes
    Saturday, September 5 at 12:30PM ET on NBC
    Stages: 45/90/147 Laps

    Justin Haley Quote
    “We’re heading to Darlington Raceway this weekend – our second trip to Darlington. It’s going to be a fun one. We won last weekend at Daytona International Speedway, so we’re coming off some momentum. We’ve got two wins, and we’re chasing that third win. We’re trying to make this last little kick before the playoffs a good one. I can’t wait to get this No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet to Darlington and go race for a win. We’re starting on the pole, and we got the number one pit stall selection. Hopefully we can go get a win!”

    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. Kaulig Racing fields two full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain and the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, as well as, a part-time entry – the No. 16 driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned two wins in 2019 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

    About LeafFilter Gutter Protection™
    Since 2005, LeafFilter Gutter Protection™ has revolutionized the gutter protection industry. The company is proud to have grown from one small office in Hudson, Ohio to the largest direct to customer home products company in the nation and the leading choice in gutter protection systems. Once installed on a homeowner’s existing gutters, LeafFilter Gutter Protection eliminates gutter cleaning for life. With more than 70 million feet of gutter guards installed on homes across the United States and Canada, LeafFilter Gutter Protection has the knowledge and expertise to guarantee that nothing, but water, will get into your gutters. Learn more about LeafFilter Gutter Protection and request a free estimate at www.leaffilter.com.

  • Chastain Ready for Darlington ‘Do-Over’

    Chastain Ready for Darlington ‘Do-Over’

    Ross Chastain Notes
    Best start at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS): 1st (2018)
    Best finish at Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 8th (2020)

    Kaulig Racing Notes
    Best start Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 3rd (2020)
    Best finish at Darlington Raceway in the NXS: 8th (2020)

    Race Notes
    Saturday, September 5 at 12:30PM ET on NBC
    Stages: 45/90/147 Laps

    Ross Chastain Quote
    “I’m ready to get to Darlington and put this past weekend behind us. It’s been a long couple of days, but everybody at Kaulig Racing is going to bring fast cars for Justin Haley and myself. Hopefully we will have some redemption after our trip right after the COVID break. We were not very good, and I made a lot of mistakes on track at Darlington. I got into the wall. We’re looking to build on that and have two Kaulig Racing cars up front, just like we had at Daytona all night and try to close it off.”

    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. Kaulig Racing fields two full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain and the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, as well as, a part-time entry – the No. 16 driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned two wins in 2019 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

    About Nutrien Ag Solutions™
    Nutrien Ag Solutions™ is the retail division of Nutrien™ Ltd. It combines global innovation with local expertise to provide full-acre solutions through a network of trusted crop consultants at retail locations around the world. Nutrien Ag Solutions strives to help growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible, offering a wide selection of products, including our proprietary brands: Loveland Products, Inc.®, Proven® Seed and Dyna-Gro® Seed.

  • Voitanos to support Joe Graf Jr. in Darlington Raceway return

    Voitanos to support Joe Graf Jr. in Darlington Raceway return

    MOORESVILLE, N.C.: As the NASCAR Xfinity Series makes its return to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for “Throwback Weekend,” Joe Graf Jr. welcomes new partner Voitanos who will serve as an associate marketing partner for Saturday’s Sport Clips Help A Hero 200.

    Voitanos, founded in 2017 is your trusted source for Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft 365 developer education.

    Started by Andrew Connell, a 16-time Microsoft MVP, Voitanos has helped thousands of developers across the globe learn how to get the most out of their Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) investments.

    Saturday’s one-race deal marks the company’s first foray in NASCAR.

    “It’s a positive sign that despite an ongoing pandemic that we still have companies that are interested in being a part of NASCAR and I’m thrilled to have the support of Voitanos this weekend at Darlington,” said Joe Graf Jr.

    “We had a good run at Darlington in May and I’m eager to get back there this weekend and better our result.”

    A life-long motorsports fan, Connell is excited to partner with the Rookie of the Year candidate and debut the Voitanos name to a new audience.

    “We are thrilled to join Joe Graf Jr and team in Darlington this week as an associate marketing partner,” he said. “I grew up an auto-racing fan and have cherished sharing the thrill with my family through our road trips to multiple races over the years.

    “As such, this is a special week for us joining the team in Darlington. We’re proud to support Joe and the SS GreenLight Racing team and excited to get our Voitanos name out to more people.

    Darlington marked NASCAR’s return from the coronavirus pandemic. In his “Too Tough To Tame” debut at Darlington, Graf Jr. started 36th but captured a lead-lap 19th place finish without any practice or qualifying.

    The Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 (147 laps | 200.1 miles) is the 23rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2020 schedule. The 37-car field will take the green flag shortly after 12:00 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 5, 2020 with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Eastern).

    For more on Voitanos, please visit their website, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

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

    ABOUT Voitanos:

    Voitanos, founded in 2017, is your trusted source for Microsoft SharePoint & Microsoft 365 developer education. Started by Andrew Connell, a 16-time Microsoft MVP, Voitanos has helped thousands of developers across the globe learn how to get the most out of their Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) investments.

    Through their on-demand video learning platform, combined with interactive help and continuous course updates to match the latest updates and industry trends, if you’re on Microsoft 365, we can help you.

    Whether you are a small company with just one developer, a large enterprise, or in the public sector, you can join some of the developers that have improved the productivity of their organization through extending and customizing Microsoft 365 through the knowledge gained from Voitanos.

    Learn more at https://www.voitanos.io.

  • JR Motorsports — NXS Darlington II Preview

    JR Motorsports — NXS Darlington II Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
    TRACK: Darlington Raceway
    RACE: Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (147 laps / 200.8 miles)
    DATE: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020
    Broadcast Information – TV: 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC / Radio: 12 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

    Michael Annett
    No. 1 OREO Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
    • Honoring team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Annett will race in the OREO Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, paying homage to the scheme that Earnhardt Jr. drove to victory at Daytona in February of 2002.
    • Annett is on a streak of 10 top-10 finishes in his last 11 races this season and is averaging a finish of 8.1 over those 11 starts. He was seventh last week at Daytona.
    • Annett’s best finish at Darlington is 10th, coming in 2018. He’s also completed 94.7 percent of the laps run in eight starts on the 1.366-mile oval.

    Daniel Hemric
    No. 8 Poppy Bank John Andretti Tribute Chevrolet
    • Daniel Hemric earned a sixth-place finish earlier this year at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”
    • Overall, Hemric has made a combined four starts at Darlington between the NASCAR Cup Series and the NXS, with the sixth-place finish in May being his best.
    • This weekend in Darlington, Hemric and the No. 8 team will be paying tribute to the life and legacy of John Andretti and the #CheckIt4Andretti campaign. This scheme replicates the one Andretti drove during the 1995-96 Cup seasons.
    • Through 15 NXS starts in 2020, Hemric has earned a best finish of second at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

    Noah Gragson
    No. 9 Unilever United For America Chevrolet
    • Noah Gragson has two starts at Darlington with a best finish of fifth coming in the return to racing in May.
    • At tracks that are between one to two miles in length, Gragson has an average finish of 9.2 including nine top fives, 21 top 10s and has paced the field for 451 laps.
    • To date in 2020, Gragson sits fourth in the championship standings with two wins, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s.
    • Unilever has partnered with Food Lion Feeds to give back to the Darlington, S.C. community this weekend. United for America, along with Food Lion Feeds, is donating $500,000 to Harvest Hope and will donate an extra $50,000 of product if Gragson wins the race.

    Justin Allgaier
    No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
    • Justin Allgaier has 10 NXS starts at Darlington Raceway with three top fives and seven top 10s.
    • His best finish at the historic speedway came earlier this year. The 34-year-old driver led nine laps on his way to a third-place finish back in May.
    • So far in the 2020 season, Allgaier has one win, five top fives and nine top 10s on tracks measuring 1.5 miles or less.
    • This weekend, Allgaier’s No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet will carry the popular DMP / JR Motorsports paint scheme Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced and won with at Daytona in the summer of 2003.

    Driver Quotes

    “We had a great race going at Darlington in the spring before I spun, and we’re looking to have another good run this weekend. We’ll have the OREO paint scheme that Dale raced and won with at Daytona in 2002, and it would be nice to take it to Victory Lane at Darlington on Saturday. Thanks to Pilot Flying J for allowing us to celebrate Dale’s election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We’ll keep rolling toward the playoffs, and a good run here would be welcome.” – Michael Annett

    “I’m looking forward to heading back to Darlington this weekend. We were really fast there back in the spring and I feel like we had a car capable of winning. Having Dale’s old DMP paint scheme on our BRANDT Chevy to honor his upcoming induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame is just awesome. That scheme was so popular when he won with it back in 2003. Hopefully we can have the same success as he did with it and get it back to Victory Lane.” – Justin Allgaier

    “I’m so happy that we are heading back to Darlington this weekend and are getting the chance to finally race this awesome John Andretti Tribute scheme. I can’t thank Poppy Bank enough for letting us run these colors and hopefully we can have a really great day for John and the entire Andretti family. Getting to meet and talk with Nancy and learning more about the #CheckIt4Andretti campaign has really made this a special weekend for me. Hopefully we can back up the speed we had here in May and be up front and in contention for the win on Saturday. I can’t wait.” – Daniel Hemric

    “We had a really strong Camaro when we were here in May after a short break due to the pandemic. That gives me extra confidence as we head into turn one at a track that is one of the most treacherous on the circuit. The abrasive surface is going to eat through tires and you’re going to see a lot of sliding around throughout the turns. It’s what makes Darlington so much fun. Hopefully we can put this Unilever United For America Chevy into Victory Lane and add an extra $50,000 worth of donations to the Darlington area to help fight hunger.” – Noah Gragson

    JRM Team Updates

    • JRM at Darlington: In 39 previous starts at “The Lady in Black,” JRM has earned two wins, 10 top fives and 23 top 10s. Chase Elliott scored the organization’s first victory at the hallowed speedway in 2014 with Elliott Sadler following suit in 2016. Earlier this season JRM earned two top fives and three top 10s, with Justin Allgaier coming home with a third-place finish at the hallowed speedway.
    • #CheckIt4Andretti: In April of 2017, John Andretti was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. As a result of his diagnoses, Andretti chose to use his voice and his platform to launch the #Checkit4Andretti campaign in order to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of colonoscopies and urge people to visit a doctor and schedule a colonoscopy regardless of their age.
    • United for America: Unilever, maker of brands like Hellmann’s and Dove, has teamed up with Food Lion Feeds to support the Darlington, S.C. community through their United for America program, The organization will donate $500,000 worth of product to Harvest Hope. Plus, as an added bonus, if Noah Gragson wins the race, they’ll give an additional $50,000 worth of product. Together with your help we can make a big impact in the places we call home, to learn how you can help visit www.foodlion.com/feeds and to find simple ways to help in your community visit www.weareunitedforamerica.com.
    • OREO Offer with Pilot Flying J: Download and visit the Pilot Flying J app for special offers on OREO cookies all week long in celebration of Michael Annett’s throwback No. 1 OREO Pilot Flying J Chevrolet this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Annett’s scheme pays tribute to JRM team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s election into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as well as his victory at Daytona International Speedway in 2002.