Category: XFINITY Series PR

TRACK – Pocono Raceway (2.5 mile track)
NXS RACE – Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 (90 laps / 225 miles)
TUNE IN – USA, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 3:00 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 RTIC Outdoors Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 18

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 9

Laps Led: 118

Avg. Finish: 16.0

Points: 10th

• Sam Mayer heads up north to Long Pond, Penn. for his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Pocono Raceway.
• The 21-year-old driver has tallied one top-five and two top-10 efforts at the Tricky Triangle with his best of second coming at this event last season. Mayer also made his first NXS start at Pocono in 2021.
• Crew chief Mardy Lindley has one win atop the pit box at Pocono coming in the ARCA Menards Series in 2018.
• The Franklin, Wis. native will carry the red, white, and blue colorway this weekend as RTIC Outdoors is back onboard the No. 1 Chevrolet.

Sam Mayer

“I always look forward to racing at Pocono, as it is one of the more fun tracks on the schedule. Chicago did not go our way but I know these guys are working endlessly to give me fast race cars each and every week and I am stoked to see what we unload with on Saturday. Last year, we came up just one spot short so I am ready to take the momentum we have and carry this No. 1 RTIC Outdoors Chevrolet into Victory Lane this Saturday.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 Carolina Carports Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 18

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 5

Top 10s: 10

Laps Led: 487

Avg. Finish: 14.2

Points: 2nd

• In eight career starts in the NXS at Pocono, Justin Allgaier has amassed two top fives and four top 10s, with a best finish of second coming in 2017.
• Dating back to 2019, Allgaier has led laps in each NXS event at Pocono and finished inside the top 10 in three of the five races. Allgaier additionally captured the pole position in 2022.
• Allgaier has previously gone to Victory Lane on tracks 2.5-miles or greater in the NXS, capturing the checkered flag on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018 and at Daytona International Speedway in the summer of 2023.
• This weekend marks the first race for Carolina Carports onboard the No. 7 Chevrolet.

Justin Allgaier

“Pocono is for sure one of the most unique tracks we go to on the schedule. Each corner is so different and really keeps you on edge throughout the course of a run. Hopefully we can have a nice, smooth day out there this weekend and come away with a shot at the win with this No. 7 team. I know that we are ready to go and give it all we have, especially with having Carolina Carports come onboard for the first time this season. We just need to execute the way we have been and I know we’ll be where we want to be in the end.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 18

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 9

Laps Led: 55

Avg. Finish: 16.4

Points: 12th

• Sammy Smith will head to the Poconos this weekend for his third NXS start on the 2.5-mile triangular track.
• In Smith’s two NXS starts at the Tricky Triangle, he qualified in the top-10 both times and came home with a sixth-place finish in 2023.
• In 2022, the Iowa native qualified on the pole at Pocono for the ARCA Menards Series.
• The No. 8 JRM Chevrolet will display Watsontown Trucking Company on the TV panel this weekend. They’re a family-owned company that originated in 1941 in Milton, PA.

Sammy Smith

“I’ve had really strong qualifying runs here at Pocono in the past couple years in the Xfinity and ARCA series, so I’m hoping I can continue that this weekend and get us a good starting spot. JRM has done well there in the past as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet team can do once we hit the track.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / Cheez-It Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 18

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 5

Laps Led: 20

Avg. Finish: 19.4

Points: 14th

• Brandon Jones has made eight NXS starts at Pocono and has scored three top-10 finishes. His best finish of seventh came during the 2021 and 2023 seasons.
• In 55 starts at tracks measuring over 2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded eight top-five and 24 top-10 finishes, while leading the field for 168 laps.
• Jones currently sits just 67 markers below the playoff cutline with eight races remaining in the regular season.
• Crew chief Phillip Bell has one win at Pocono in the NXS as lead engineer on the No. 9 Camaro in 2022.
• Cheez-It, the family-favorite cheese cracker, will adorn the hood of Jones’ Chevy Camaro this weekend for the first time at Pocono.

Brandon Jones

“We had some speed last weekend in Chicago, but I am looking forward to Pocono. This No. 9 team has been dominant here in the past, so I know that they are putting in the work to make sure we roll out a fast car on race day. Pocono is a tough track, but Phillip (Bell, crew chief) and I have been doing everything we can to make sure I am ready to battle towards the front and get this team a finish they deserve.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Pocono Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Pocono Raceway a combined 31 times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2016. In those starts at the 2.5-mile track, the organization has recorded one win, nine top-fives, and 19 top-10s, with an average finish of 12.0.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, July 13 from 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. ET.

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Pocono NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 (Round 19 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, July 13
• Location: Pocono (Pa.) Raceway
• Layout: 2.5-mile oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 3 p.m. EDT on USA/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation team roll into Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway ready for a change of scenery. After last weekend’s bad luck in the second running of the Chicago Street Race, the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion has high hopes for a track where he’s enjoyed a good bit of success. Last Saturday on the streets of downtown Chicago, Custer started 10th for the 50-lap race and used his savvy driving and road-course experience to climb to sixth by the start of the second lap en route to a fifth-place finish in the opening stage. But a pit-road penalty during the stage break sent him to the back of the field for the start of Stage 2. From there, he worked his way back into the top-20 in the closing laps of the stage. His progress during the final stage was hindered, however, by a spin and power steering issues. He was able to survive chaos in the final laps to earn an 18th-place finish, his 17th top-20 in the 18 races run so far this season. In addition, he was able to keep his points lead in the regular-season standings.
• Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 will mark Custer’s sixth Xfinity Series start at Pocono. In his four starts from 2017 to 2019, he never finished outside the top-10, a run highlighted by his June 2019 victory from the pole with a race-high 58 laps led. Bad luck in last year’s race at Pocono forced Custer to settle for a 33rd-place finish after going five laps down. He started 10th and led two laps prior to an accident on lap 46 with the No. 20 car of John Hunter Nemechek. Still, Custer’s previous success on the 2.5-mile track nicknamed “The Tricky Triangle” gives him and the No. 00 team confidence heading into the weekend. His June 2019 victory came by a .226-of-a-second margin over Tyler Reddick. Custer also has nine Pocono starts outside of the Xfinity Series – six in the NASCAR Cup Series, one in the NASCAR Truck Series, and two in the ARCA Menards Series. His June 2015 ARCA start resulted in a victory after starting fifth and leading 18 laps. He finished 4.991 seconds ahead of runner-up Grant Enfinger.
• Eight races remain until the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, and Custer continues to be the driver to beat. He leads the regular-season Xfinity Series standing by a 38-point margin over second-place Justin Allgaier. Custer has held the points lead since his sixth-place finish June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. Despite having yet to score his first win of the 2024 season, he has been consistent and fast, finishing outside the top-16 just twice this season and earning a total of 155 stage points in 18 races. If Custer was to hold onto the points lead through the regular-season finale on Sept. 20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, he will not only take home the regular-season championship trophy, but a hefty 15 bonus points to start the playoffs. Custer finished fourth in the regular-season standings last season on his way to the championship.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst heads to Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway ready to put some bad luck of his own at last weekend’s Chicago Street Race behind him. He arrives in the Pocono Mountains with high hopes as a previous Pocono winner in the ARCA Menards Series. In his first race at the 2.5-mile triangle in June 2017, the then-18-year-old Herbst scored his first career ARCA victory. He led a race-high 45 laps to beat runner-up Brandon Jones with a 1.735-second margin. It was a prelude of more potent Pocono runs. In Herbst’s return to Pocono two months later for the August ARCA race, he finished second. Back-to-back fifth-place finishes were earned in his two Pocono ARCA races in 2018. And in his last ARCA start at Pocono in May 2019, Herbst finished second after leading a race-high 68 laps. Herbst has never finished outside the top-five in an ARCA race at Pocono.
• Saturday’s race at the “Tricky Triangle” will mark the fifth Xfinity Series start at the track for the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse. In his four prior races, he earned a best finish of fourth in his most recent start at the track, using savvy driving and tire strategy to lead three laps en route to his fourth top-five of 2023. In the 2022 race, the No. 98 Monster Energy team opted to keep Herbst on track during a caution early in the final stage to put him in the lead. He fought hard to lead four laps on worn tires and gained valuable experience defending the lead from Josh Berry. Ultimately, drivers on new tires prevailed, but Herbst was able to hold on for a top-12 finish as the race stayed green all the way to the checkered flag.
• With eight races remaining before the Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Herbst still looks to be in a good position to make the 12-driver postseason field despite the bad luck last weekend at Chicago. While a win would lock him into the playoff field, his consistency and stage points scored thus far have put him sixth in the regular-season standings, 91 points above the top-12 cutline, 134 points behind his first-place teammate Cole Custer, and 25 points behind fifth-place Jesse Love. After missing the playoffs last season due to a string of bad luck during the summer months, Herbst not only went on to score his first career victory during the Round of 8 at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but score more points than any other driver during that round, in which he followed his Las Vegas win with a runner-up finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway and fourth-place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’ve had a lot of special moments at Pocono, including your first NASCAR Cup Series start, a NASCAR Xfinity Series win in 2019, and an ARCA Menards Series win in 2015. What would it mean to make another memory and park the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse in victory lane this weekend for your first win of the 2024 season?

“I think Pocono ranks highest on the list for a lot of drivers, just because the track itself is so unique and so difficult to get around, but it’s also one of those tracks that holds a lot of good memories for me. I had a lot of good moments there despite some bud luck last year. The track itself is a challenge. The corners are so flat, it’s hard to get your car to work just right there. It’s hard as a driver to really be aggressive and really get your lines right, but also not put yourself in a bad spot. There’s a lot that goes into it when you’re trying to be fast at Pocono. A lot of shifting is involved, and as a driver you have to be on your game at all times. With all of those challenges, it makes it mean that much more to win at Pocono in any series. Hopefully, we can have a strong weekend in our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse and find our way back to victory lane there”

With Pocono being such an unusual track on the circuit with only three turns, all of which are very different, how do you navigate the track as a driver?

“As a driver, you have to look at it and almost reset your mindset going into every single corner, which is unlike most tracks on the schedule. Each turn at Pocono is completely different, so how you work the brake and the throttle, are you shifting or are you not shifting, what’s your line in that turn – it’s all unique in each of the three corners. There are so many different things you can do as a driver at Pocono, so you really have to reset and adapt to your car as best as you can. It’s a challenge, for sure. It can get difficult to not put yourself in a bad spot at times, but if you can run up front and survive to be there at the end, you’ll have a good shot to win.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Pocono was the site of your first career ARCA Menards Series victory in 2017. How significant is this track to your racing career?

“That win was big for me and my career. To be able to come to Pocono and score the win, even if it was on fuel mileage, was a big moment for me. I got a shot to drive good equipment, and I drove the car to victory lane. It’s one of those moments that I’ve always thought about since I started my NASCAR career. It’s been a long journey for me, but the growth I’ve experienced from that moment has still been a lot. I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’ve proved a lot of people wrong – those who said I couldn’t do it. Pocono holds a special place in my heart, so it would mean a lot to be able to go back to victory lane there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.”

You’ve mentioned Pocono being one of your favorite tracks on the circuit, but it’s also a difficult one. Walk us through how you navigate the three turns as a driver.

“Pocono’s a tricky one, hence its nickname. Each turn is different, so you have to approach them with different strategies. We’ll do our best, but myself and the No. 98 Monster Energy team are ready after that strong run last year. Turn one is super fast and high-banked. Then, you go to the Long Pond straightaway, and into the Tunnel Turn. That’s just like the Indianapolis big track – super flat, tight radius, and very bumpy. Then you go down the short shoot into a long turn three, which is the most important corner of the track in my opinion. It’s extremely flat and high-speed, but you have to come off it well to get a good run for the longest straightaway in NASCAR. Hopefully, we can successfully tackle each corner and get a good run after some bad luck at Chicago.”

STATESVILLE, N.C.: Officials from AM Racing confirmed today that NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Josh Berry will drive the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on July 13, 2024.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team heads to Pennsylvania on the heels of their first Xfinity Series top-10 finish of the season in this past Saturday’s The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course.

Ford Performance and two-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano drove the No. 15 Ford Mustang and earned a solid eighth-place finish after starting a season-high 15th.

For the second straight week, the team is utilizing Ford Performance Cup drivers to help evaluate its program after Hailie Deegan drove for the sophomore Xfinity Series team in the first 17 races of the season.

“We are proud of the hard work of our AM Racing team at the Chicago Street Course last weekend,” said AM Racing team president Wade Moore. We hope to have the opportunity to work with Joey (Logano) again in the future.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work with another Ford Performance Cup driver, Josh (Berry), at Pocono Raceway on Saturday afternoon.”

Berry, who currently drives the No. 4 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, has three prior Xfinity starts at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, including a pole in last year’s race, along with one top-five (third) and two top-10 finishes.

The Henderson, Tenn. native eyes his 96th career Xfinity start filled with five wins, 28 top-five and 52 top-10 finishes.

“I’m really looking forward to being back in the Xfinity Series,” said Berry who announced last week he will join Wood Brothers Racing in 2025. “I can’t thank everyone at AM Racing and Viva Tequila Seltzer enough for the opportunity. Pocono is a fun track, and I believe we can go out and have a solid result.”

Viva Tequila Seltzer, who partnered with the team earlier this season at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, respectively, will continue their support of the organization this weekend in the 90-lap race.

Founded in July 2020 by three former college athletes in Boston, Massachusetts, Viva Tequila Seltzer redefines indulgence with its creation of a healthier tequila-based seltzer. Rooted in health and wellness, Viva offers flavors like Huckleberry, Elderberry, Watermelon and Grapefruit.

Each can is just 88 calories, zero carbs, and zero sugar, while being gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegan, paleo, non-GMO, and kosher.

Stemming from a shared passion of athletics, the founders desired a drink that fit their active lifestyles without compromising taste.

The result is a premium product that doesn’t make you sacrifice your diet while being awesomely refreshing.

Last July, AM Racing earned an eighth-place finish after starting 18th with Brett Moffitt at the “Tricky Triangle.”

For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Josh Berry, please visit joshberryracing.com, like his Facebook page (Josh Berry), or follow him on Instagram (@joshberry88) and X | Twitter (@joshberry).

The Pocono Mountains 225 (90 laps | 225 miles) is the 19th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 10:00 – 10:20 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 10:30 a.m. The 38-car field is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 3:00 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.

Van Gisbergen wins third race of the season

SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen qualified on the pole for The Loop 110.
• Van Gisbergen battled hard to maintain the lead, searching for grip in his WeatherTech Chevrolet. The first caution of the race came out on lap nine, and the No. 97 team opted to remain on track during the yellow. This strategy positioned Van Gisbergen to secure the stage one win.
• The No. 97 WeatherTech team chose not to pit during the stage break and began stage two in the lead. Van Gisbergen made his first pit stop of stage two on lap 25, rejoining the field in the middle of the pack. Van Gisbergen crossed the line in 10th place, finishing stage two.
• Van Gisbergen started the final stage in eighth. Shortly after, the caution came out, and the No. 97 team opted to stay out. Van Gisbergen restarted the stage in sixth with 11 laps remaining in the race. After another quick caution, the race restarted with eight laps remaining. Van Gisbergen took the green in fifth and quickly moved his way into third. After a final wreck, the green came back out with three laps to go with Van Gisbergen restarting in third. He battled and took the lead with two laps remaining. Van Gisbergen secured his third win of the 2024 season.

“That was a fun race! It’s great to get another win in my WeatherTech Chevy in its [WeatherTech] home city. Chicago is a special place to me! It’s a really good place for street racing. Proud of my No. 97 Kaulig Racing team and thankful for Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet, Kaulig Racing and WeatherTech for making this all possible. It’s been really cool learning, getting good results and adding [checkered flag] stickers to the side of my car. Excited to get another shot at it tomorrow!” – Shane van Gisbergen  

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger qualified 11th for The Loop 110.
• Allmendinger remained quiet on the radio for the duration of the opening stage. The team stayed out under the first caution, and Allmendinger continued to make passes after the green flag waved again. The No. 16 went on to finish the stage in sixth place.
• Allmendinger stayed out during the stage break to restart in fourth place on lap 19. On the first lap green, Allmendinger took over third place. Allmendinger maintained that position until lap 23, when the No. 16 wheel hopped into the corner and hit the tire barrier, bringing out the caution. The team made repairs, and Allmendinger finished the second stage in 33rd place.
• The team stayed out during the stage break and restarted for the third stage in 23rd place. Allmendinger gained three positions on the restart and sat in 20th when the caution came out on lap 27. The No. 16 stayed out and continued to gain positions. On the final restart, Allmendinger restarted in 11th and was able to avoid the spinning No. 1. Allmendinger went on to finish 11th.

“It was close to being a good day until it wasn’t. Our team deserved a better finish today, but proud of the repairs my guys made to bring home a decent finish.” – AJ Allmendinger  

JOSH WILLIAMS
No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams qualified 30th for The Loop 110.
• Williams took the green flag and immediately improved his position, taking 23rd by lap five. The caution came out for debris on lap nine, and he pitted for tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Restarting 29th on lap 11, Williams moved into 22nd on lap 14 and finished stage one there.
• Staying out during the stage break, he restarted seventh on lap 19, and after losing one spot on the restart, he regained it by the race’s second natural caution on lap 24. Pitting under yellow for tires and fuel, Williams restarted on lap 25 from 28th place, gained four spots, and finished stage two in 24th.
• After flipping pit strategy, Williams and the Alloy Employer Services team fired off for the final stage from 19th with 16 laps to go. After one green flag lap, a wreck brought out the caution once again, and Williams restarted 19th before another crash brought out the yellow with 10 to go. He restarted in 17th place on lap 43, lost one spot, and then the yellow flag was waved on lap 45. After restarting with three laps to go, Williams rallied to finish in 12th place.

“I’m pretty happy with how the day went. We flipped the stages on pit strategy and think we could’ve gotten a top 10 if a few things went out well. This is a pretty cool track. Hell yeah, Chicago.” – Josh Williams  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Jesse Love’s First Outing in the Chicago Street Race Results in a Top-Five Finish for the No. 2 WAT Chevrolet Team

Finish: 5th
Start: 8th
Points: 5th

“Our No. 2 WAT Chevrolet was fast on the Chicago Street Course. While in the lead at the end, I burned my rear tires by throwing large blocks and making my corners tighter, but that was my only hope of winning the race. My goal was to keep the No. 19 behind me so I could get away on the final lap. This Richard Childress Racing team did an excellent job today though. This is our best finish on a road course this year. We’ve been really good on the road courses, both at COTA and Sonoma. This course is so much fun to drive and probably the hardest place I’ve raced at throughout my career. Overall, it was a solid points day for us. We’ve had a rough month, but I think we are back on the right track to keep pushing to the Playoffs. We are trying to get better at everything leading into those final seven races to go race for a championship. Thank you to everyone at RCR, ECR, and Whelen Engineering for all of the support.” -Jesse Love

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Dow Coatings Chevrolet Team Capture Stage Win and Top-10 Result in the Chicago Street Race

Finish: 7th
Start: 13th
Points: 4th

“Today was a solid top-10 finish for our No. 21 Dow Coatings Chevrolet. With starting 13th, I had to be patient at the beginning to not abuse the car early. We needed an adjustment to keep the car turning and allow it to cut in the center. Once we pitted in what ended up being our only stop of the day, the car came alive after three or four laps into a run. When the front end started cutting, I was able to pass and run the same pace as both the No. 17 and No. 97. We drove away and won Stage 2. It felt good to finally get stage points again. On one of the last restarts, the car got extremely loose on fire off which was odd considering the car had been on the tight side throughout the entire race. We fell back a few positions, but then were able to get a couple back in the final laps. It’s frustrating to finish seventh, but at the same point, we are starting to string together top-10 finishes again after a rough stretch. Everyone at RCR and ECR will keep digging as we push towards the Playoffs.” -Austin Hill

Driver of Porter Pipe & Supply Chevrolet Camaro Secures Third Top-10 After Career-Best Qualifying Effort in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

Date: Saturday, July 6
Event: The Loop 110
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (temporary 2.2-mile, 12-turn street circuit)
Format: 50 laps, broken into three stages (15 laps/15 laps/20 laps)
Start/Finish: 3rd / 6th (Running, completed 50 of 50 laps)
Race Winner: Shane van Gisbergen of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)

Overview:

Connor Mosack returned to the streets of Chicago intent on wrapping up unfinished business from a year ago. In last year’s inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the 2.2-mile, 12-turn street circuit that loops around the city’s iconic Grant Park, Mosack qualified fourth and was a top-five mainstay until a carburetor issue thwarted his effort. In the second edition of Xfinity Series racing on Chicago’s streets, Mosack qualified a career-best third and then nabbed his third career top-10 by driving his No. 88 Porter Pipe & Supply Chevrolet Camaro to an impressive sixth-place finish.

Like last year, Mosack was a regular among top-five. He held steady in fourth through the races’ first 16 laps and picked up third when he opted to stay out at the end of the first stage, leapfrogging third-place Ty Gibbs. When the race restarted on lap 19, it was three-time Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen in first and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson in second. Mosack was third, with 17-time Xfinity Series race winner A.J. Allmendinger behind him in fourth.

Allmendinger squeezed past Mosack in turn one at the restart, forcing Mosack wide and dropping him to fourth. Three laps later, however, Allmendinger overshot turn six, nosing his car into the tire barrier and handing third back to Mosack.

When the caution flag waved on lap 24 to pull Allmendinger out of the tire barrier, it was time for Mosack to pit. With four fresh Goodyear tires and a full tank of Sunoco fuel, Mosack returned to the race in 18th, with those who had pitted at the end of the first stage now ahead of him. But Mosack was joined in this strategy by van Gisbergen and Larson, as well as others running in the top-10. This put Mosack 18th for the lap-26 restart. Undaunted, the 25-year-old racer picked up six spots to finish the second stage in 12th.

With other drivers having to pit at the stage break, Mosack lined up 10th for the restart. He passed John Hunter Nemechek and Larson to rise to eighth before a seven-car quagmire in turn 11 brought out the caution.

Cautions periods ended up consuming six of the final 13 laps, but even with the stop-start nature of the waning laps, Mosack made the most of the green-flag laps he did have, driving to sixth in his final three tours as van Gisbergen motored to a 1.287-second margin of victory over Gibbs. Larson was third, with Parker Kligerman in fourth and Jessie Love in fifth.

Connor Mosack driver of the No. 88 Porter Pipe & Supply Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports:

“I felt like we were probably a third-place car all day. I rode between fourth and third there until we pitted. We kept up the speed out there, but were saving some for later and felt like we were in a really good spot. Never felt like we were quite as good as the 17 (Kyle Larson) or the 97 (Shane van Gisbergen).

“I felt like our pit strategy was the right one, but all those cautions and not having the green-flag laps really killed our strategy. That being said, the 97 was able to make it work, but we were probably in the wrong lane on a couple of restarts and just the line we were in didn’t go, and that kind of hurt our chances of getting back up there. Overall, it was a really fun race and I had a fun day, and grateful to be back on the streets of Chicago with Porter Pipe & Supply and JR Motorsports.

“This was probably one of the more stacked Xfinity Series fields on a road course in a long time, and that was part of the fun of the race. Even though we didn’t quite get the result we wanted, the showing was good and we had good speed, so I go home happy about that.”

Notes:

● This was Mosack’s 27th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start, but his first of the season.

● Mosack’s sixth-place finish was his third career top-10 in the Xfinity Series.

● Mosack finished fourth in Stage 1 and 12th in Stage 2.

● Mosack’s third-place qualifying effort was the best of his Xfinity Series career. He toured the 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course in 89.980 seconds at 88.020 mph. The only drivers to out-qualify Mosack were pole-winner and three-time Australian Supercars champion Shave van Gisbergen, and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson

● Mosack was the sixth-fastest driver in the lone practice session prior to qualifying for The Loop 110. Mosack’s best lap in the session was 91.738 seconds at 86.333 mph.

● The Loop 110 was a hometown race for primary partner Porter Pipe & Supply. Based in Addison, Illinois, Porter Pipe & Supply is a third-generation, family-owned and operated wholesale supplier of commercial and industrial pipe, valves, fittings, plumbing supplies, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and mechanical products. In fact, the walls surrounding the track were all anchored with heavy-duty pipe from Porter Pipe & Supply.

Next Up:

Mosack in back in action on Friday, July 12 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the CRC Brakleen 175. The 70-lap race around the 2.5-mile triangle starts at 5:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

STEWART-HAAS RACING
The Loop 110

Date: July 6, 2024
Event: The Loop 110 (Round 18 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (2.2-mile, 12-turn street course)
Format: 50 laps, broken into three stages (15 laps/15 laps/20 laps)

Race Winner: Shane Van Gisbergen of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Shane Van Gisbergen of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 10th / Finished 18th, Running, completed 50 of 50 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 20th / Finished 28th, Overheating, completed 47 of 50 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (1st with 657 points)
● Riley Herbst (6th with 523 points, 134 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 17th top-20 of the season and his second top-20 in two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Chicago.
● Custer has not finished outside of the top-20 on the Chicago Street Course. He won the inaugural race last year.
● Custer finished fifth in Stage 1 to earn six bonus points.

Race Notes:

● Shane Van Gisbergen won The Loop 110 to score his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his third of the season and his first at Chicago. His margin over second-place Ty Gibbs was 1.287 seconds.
● There were seven caution periods for a total of 16 laps.
● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Cole Custer remains the championship leader after Chicago with a 38-point advantage over second-place Justin Allgaier.

Sound Bites:

“Today was just an up and down day. It’s disappointing because we were a top-five car, and that penalty killed our day. Man, I just hate it for my guys. The No. 00 Andy’s Frozen Custard Ford Mustang Dark Horse was fast despite some handling and power steering issues. Our win is coming. We just need that little bit more to get it done. A big thank you to Andy’s Frozen Custard for their support this weekend and all season. Wish we could’ve gotten them a better finish.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Andy’s Frozen Custard Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It just sucks. We were a top-10 car at a very difficult track for us, but the damage sustained in the first stage created issues for us. I had no water pressure near the end of the race and that ended up forcing us to come down pit road multiple times. Ultimately, we had to come down pit road on the last lap and park it. It’s a bad ending to our day, but we’ll keep our heads up and go to Pocono next weekend.” –Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday, July 13 at Pocono (Penn.) Raceway. The race begins at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

GIBBS POWERS GR SUPRA TO SECOND-PLACE FINISH AT CHICAGO
Earns second Xfinity Series top-five of the season

CHICAGO (July 6, 2024) – Making his Xfinity Series debut, on the Chicago Street Course, and his sixth Xfinity Series start of the season, Ty Gibbs earned a hard-fought second-place finish in Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 110. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver ran up front most of Stage 1 in his No. 19 GR Supra, finishing third by the stage’s end, before having an issue with a right rear tire gun on the ensuing pit stop, forcing him towards the mid-pack. Gibbs was able to methodically move his way back up the field through the ladder half of the race to be in contention for the victory, falling short by just over a second as the checkered flag flew.

Gibbs’ JGR teammates, Sheldon Creed and John Hunter Nemechek, also found themselves inside the top-10 in Stage 3, but on-track incidents towards the end of the race for both led to finishes in the 20s.

The Xfinity Series returns to action at Pocono Raceway next Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET for the 19th race of the 2024 season.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Course
Race 18 of 33 – 110 miles, 50 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Shane van Gisbergen*
2nd, TY GIBBS
3rd, Kyle Larson*
4th, Parker Kligerman*
5th, Jesse Love*
25th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
26th, SHELDON CREED
33rd, SAGE KARAM
38th, CHANDLER SMITH
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TY GIBBS, No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

How close were you to getting a win today?

“We had a bad pit stop that one time and got behind. We had a (tire) gun blow out, so it was nobody’s fault — just part of it. We just got behind. I had to use, I feel like, a good bit of my stuff to get back all the way to the front. Then, I was just too loose – we were kind of loose the whole time. It was just hard there at the end. The top restart is really hard because it’s super dirty up there so you’re just up in the fuzz the whole time off of (turn) 12. I don’t know what I could’ve done different there. Just needed to be a little bit better, a little tighter. I felt like we were pretty solid all day. Thank you to He Gets Us, Monster Energy, Interstate Batteries and everybody. It was a good run. We’ll wait til the next one.”

Would you classify this as a good second-place run or a frustrating one?

“There was a lot going on in that race. We came in for our pit stop and lost a ton of spots, we had a (tire) gun blow out, so unfortunate on that side. I think we were just a little too loose the whole time, whole day. Just too loose to get off, that’s what hurt us. But overall, for track time, I had a great time. I’d rather win, but appreciate the opportunity from He Gets Us, Monster Energy, Interstate Batteries, it was a great run. It’s been a fun time and hopefully ready for the next one.”

Was there anything you could’ve done to get by Jessie Love faster to take the lead?

“Yeah, I think I definitely should’ve been more aggressive and probably got around him quicker. I started on the top lane in (turn) 12 and it’s really dirty up there so you lose so much time and then you get behind so you’re already behind. I guess, I think our best bet was to just not have our (tire) gun blow up in the pit stop. I feel like I used my stuff up a lot to get back through the field and I just don’t think it helped our tires. We were really loose. I’d say yes, but it would’ve been close for sure at the end.”

If you got by Jesse Love sooner, do you think you had enough to hold off Shane van Gisbergen?

“Maybe. I just think that we were going to get by the 2 (Jesse Love) so fast anyways I don’t think it was really going to be a race at that point.”

Did you hope to shut down the narrative of Shane van Gisbergen’s success on a street course?

“I don’t really look at the news I feel like a whole lot, so I don’t really to be honest with you don’t really see it. I think there’s some people – we have access to study on SMT and stuff like that that helps for sure but I don’t really pay attention a whole lot to the news, so I don’t really see it. He’s (Shane van Gisbergen) very fast and deserves a lot of credit.”

What did you see from your perspective when Shane van Gisbergen took the lead?

“He just seemed like he set him up really well getting into (turn) 6 and had him pointed in a whole different direction. And he could cross him back over quickly and jump inside and get his nose far out enough to where (Jesse) Love is going to have to lift because at that point it doesn’t make sense to run the corner next to him. It seems like he just did a really good job setting him up.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

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

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

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Course | The Loop 110

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.
Primary Partner(s): Klean Freak
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2024 Driver Points Position: 20th
2024 Owner Points Position: 24th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Movin’ on Up!: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced it would graduate from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with rising star Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course.

About Leland: The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into the Bandolero competition in 2015 and was crowned a Bandolero National Champion two years later. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021, where he earned championship-runner-up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

Honeyman, 19, returns to the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization, where he ran an impressive ARCA Menards Series East Series campaign, finishing third in the 2022 championship standings.

During the 2023 season, he made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, highlighted by a 21st-place finish at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course.

All-Aboard!: For the 18th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Klean Freak as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 50-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

The Klean Freak story began on a camping trip in Zion National Park. Our creator, a world traveler known to get himself in a lot of dirty, nasty, sticky icky icky, ooh wee situations, found himself in yet another freakin’ funky predicament after a long hike.

If only there were a product, he thought, that provided single-use body wipes infused with amazing, natural ingredients and conveniently packaged for the on-the-go individual. Well, there wasn’t, so he smelled. But the seed was planted, and it set us on our mission to cure the world of nasty B.O., one product at a time.

Klean Freak teamed up with some dang good scientists to formulate the “best of the best” body wipes that gives you a refreshing, confidence-boosting kind of klean.

We tapped into some amazing ingredients that hydrate the skin while also ridding it of bad bacteria, cleared by the FDA and safe for even the most sensitive skin. Plus, our amazing scents leave you smelling freakishly fresh… And not like a baby’s butt. We think that’s a huge plus.

So go ahead. Run that to-do list to the ground after going hard at the gym. Get drinks with friends after a long day at work. Wipe away the stresses of your strenuous labor. We’ve got you.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course Stats: Saturday afternoon’s

The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course will mark Honeyman’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 2.2-mile street course in the streets of downtown Chicago.

This weekend’s race, part of the Fourth of July Holiday week, is part of a doubleheader race weekend in its second year. It will be Honeyman’s sixth career Xfinity Series start on any course that involves turning left and right.

The Xfinity Series rookie driver will look to improve his overall average finish of 25.3.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Chicago, Honeyman has 25 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after starting 33rd in the Ag-Pro 300 for Young’s Motorsports in April 2024.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 23.7.

Nashville Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250 Race Recap: In the 17th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish in the team’s inaugural Xfinity Series trip to Nashville Superspeedway.

In sweltering hot conditions, Honeyman maintained his solid practice pace and started his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race from 25th position.

Throughout the race, Honeyman battled the heat and the competition to maintain a solid rhythm inside the top 25.

A lack of natural race cautions hindered much of the field, but Honeyman was able to thrive during a green flag pit stop in Stage 3 and cling to a 25th-place finish at the checkered flag.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Honeyman Jr. as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 115th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 114 races, he has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 18th race will be his first tango in the Windy City as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Chicago Street Course: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the Chicago Street Course.

Despite Chicago being a new venue for the veteran NASCAR team, the organization has competed on the road courses of Circuits of the America (COTA), Portland International Raceway, and Sonoma Raceway thus far.

The team posted its best road course finish this season, 20th in downtown Austin, Texas, after starting 34th.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 17 starts and maintains an average starting position of 26.5 and an average finish of 22.9.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and X |Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quote:

On The Chicago Street Course: “I am very optimistic about my debut at the Chicago Street Course. This year, we have shown speed with our Young’s Motorsports road course program, so I believe we can do the same on the street course.

“It’s going to be a different style of racing for sure, but I believe we can learn throughout the weekend and find ourselves in contention for a solid finish at the checkered flag.”

Race Information:

The Loop 110 (50 laps | 110 miles) is the 18th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 10:00 a.m. The 38-car field is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).