Category: XFINITY Series PR

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250

Fast Facts
No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.
Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2024 Driver Points Position: 21st
2024 Owner Points Position: 23rd
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 Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

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 14th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Texas-based Young’s Building Systems and Randco will partner with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as the primary partners on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 79-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Since 1981, Young’s Building Systems has been providing West Texas with all their metal building needs. This family-owned and operated business has become an industry favorite due to the experience gained and the professional results completed. Young’s Building System is a division of Randco Industries, Inc. We have expanded into a company that has the ability to erect any type of building, from a small single story to a city high-rise.

Our customers have multiple uses for our buildings, including commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, skid-mounted buildings and compressor station buildings.

We also have a team that specializes in stairs and railings of all shapes and sizes. Young’s Building Systems is fully insured for your peace of mind, so we carry workmen’s compensation and general liability coverage that goes above and beyond State requirements.

Our company is fully equipped with moving and lifting equipment along with compressors, generators and welding equipment. We have the tools and equipment needed to support large, demanding projects. Our work ethic is based on the principles of quality, promptness, and customer experience.

Young’s Building Systems continuously raises our standard of excellence and works hard to make sure that each and every one of your needs are met.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Sonoma Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 will mark Honeyman’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.99-mile road course, nestled in the southern Sonoma Mountains of Sonoma County, California.

This weekend’s third Xfinity Series road course race of the season will mark Honeyman’s sixth career road course start since 2023.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Sonoma, Honeyman has 21 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 23.3.

Portland International Raceway | Pacific Automation 147 Race Recap: In the 13th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish in the team’s inaugural trip to Portland, Oregon.

Qualifying on speed in the 32nd position last Saturday morning, Honeyman battled throughout the race and utilized track position and determination to climb through the field.

Continuing to progress in his second Xfinity Series start at Portland International Raceway, Honeyman found himself on the verge of entering the top-10 late in the race. While battling for his second Xfinity Series top-10 finish of the season, an overaggressive driver turned the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro on the final lap of the race.

The untimely spin dropped Honeyman in the running over the final 1.967-mile of the race with the Xfinity Series rookie taking the checkered flag in a frustrating 26th position.

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 111th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 110 races, he has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 14th race will be his first tango in Wine Country as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Sonoma Raceway.

However, the team participated in the 2022 Door Dash 250 with three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series entries with a track-best finish of 14th with Cup Series driver Kaz Grala at the helm.

Additionally, the team registered a 17th-place finish, with former Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon and former Young’s Motorsports driver Spencer Boyd registering a 23rd-place effort in the 36-truck field.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the Mooresville, N.C. – based organization has logged 13 starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.5 and an average finish of 22.0.

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 Sonoma Raceway: “After an almost great run at Portland last weekend, I’m very excited to head into Sonoma weekend with it being another road course.

“We showed amazing speed this past weekend and we are ready to double it this weekend!”

Race Information:

The Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 (79 laps | 156.95 miles) is the 14th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. An extended practice begins on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 1:05 – 1:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, June 8 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. with the 38-car field set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 5:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Pacific).

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Hailie Deegan
Primary Partner(s): Viva Tequila Seltzer
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt Lucas
Spotter: Michael Fisher
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-929
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Notes of Interest:

Sophomore Journey: After a successful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season with driver Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will embark on its sophomore journey in 2024 with driver Hailie Deegan for the entire 33-race tour, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team hopes to expand its footprint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series by running two cars throughout the season with its partial No. 25 AM Racing entry.

Future Focused: Last October, AM Racing announced that Hailie Deegan joined the family-owned operation to pilot the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in a multiyear agreement.

Deegan, a native of Temecula, Calif. has been a staple in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the past three seasons but will embrace her rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of the Ford Performance program.

Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began that transition in 2018 in the ARCA Menards Series West (previously NASCAR K&N Pro Series West). She became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively.

Deegan, 22, arrives at AM Racing after a stint driving for ThorSport Racing in 2023.

Welcome Aboard: For the first time this season, AM Racing and Deegan welcome Viva Tequila Seltzer as the primary marketing partner for the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang for the third road course race of the season.

Sonoma debuts the new partnership between Viva Tequila Seltzer and the family-owned AM Racing team that will include several primary partnerships in Viva’s inaugural Motorsports journey.

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.

Come See Me: Hailie Deegan will attend two Viva Tequila Seltzer appearances near Sonoma, Calif. promoting their first race with AM Racing this season in Wine Country.

On Thursday, June 6, Deegan will visit Total Wine & More Santa Rosa (2705 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT.

The next morning on Friday, June 7, she’ll appear at Broadway Market (20511 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476) from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT.

Giving You Peace of Air: For the 14th time in 2024, AirBox will serve in a major partnership role on

Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

In 2017, AirBox was established to focus on building the world’s best air purifiers for indoor occupied spaces. This coincided with people starting to wake up to issues with indoor air quality. With new challenges to air cleanliness, such as COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, people are looking for effective and proven solutions to ensure they receive cleaner air, at last.

Their history in delivering clean air systems and services gives them an expertise that is unmatched. AirBox uses some of the most effective air filtration technologies that exist with Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorption. Coupled with their Indoor Air Quality Assessment, AirBox is the total solution for all indoor air quality needs, ensuring their customers meet and exceed current and future ventilation standards.

Today, AirBox filtration systems are used across the country, purifying the air and capturing harmful irritants to create healthier, safer spaces. They’ve become the trusted choice for hospitals, educational centers, offices, warehouses, construction zones, public assembly, sports facilities, and more.

They’re proud to build all products to the highest standards in the USA at their North Carolina production facility. Every day, AirBox is working hard to give the American people the safer learning, working, and living environments they deserve—helping people breathe easy and live better.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Sonoma Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.99-mile road course, nestled in the southern Sonoma Mountains of Sonoma County, California.

Deegan, however, does own two prior ARCA Menards Series West starts at the famed northern California race track from 2018 – 2019, respectively.

Her track-best result occurred in her debut during the 2018 Carneros 200, where she steered to a seventh-place finish after starting third for Bill McAnally Racing.

She returned to the 10-turn road course during the 2019 season, where she netted one of her five career ARCA West poles before finishing eighth at the checkered flag.

Most recently, Deegan competed in the lone NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Sonoma in 2022, where she qualified ninth but finished 32nd during the Door Dash 250 for David Gilliland Racing (now TRICON Garage).

This weekend’s third Xfinity Series road course of the season will also mark Deegan’s third career road course start.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 14 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Deegan has a career-best 12th-place finish after starting 31st for AM Racing at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2024.

In addition to her 12 Xfinity Series starts, she has achieved 70 ARCA Menards Series starts, including three wins and 69 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to her credit.

Thanks For Your Support: With 39 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Hailie Deegan would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Klutch Vodka, Mechanix Wear, Monster Energy Drink, Mobil 1, Viva Tequila Seltzer and WIX Filters.

Portland International Raceway | Pacific Automation 147 Race Recap: The 13th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, June 1.

Flying the AirBox colors for the eighth consecutive weekend, Deegan started her No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustang from the 38th position.

Despite starting the second Xfinity Series road course race deep in the field, she was quickly able to maneuver forward, but her progress would be short-lived.

Before the end of Stage 1, Deegan experienced issues under the hood of her race car. After losing a lap initially, the AM Racing team diagnosed a spark plug issue. Despite several efforts to combat the issue that prevented additional horsepower to be applied, Deegan would fight through the adversity and finish the race in the 33rd position at the checkered flag.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Matt Lucas is Hailie Deegan’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 106th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his first at Sonoma Raceway.

In his previous 105 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two wins, 22 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: 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 Hailie Deegan, please visit hailiedeegan.com, like her Facebook page (HailieDeegan4), or follow her on Instagram (@hailiedeegan), YouTube and X | Twitter (@hailiedeegan).

Hailie Deegan Quoteboard:

On Sonoma Raceway: “It’s an important weekend for our AM Racing team in the Viva Tequila Seltzer colors. I am hoping that my previous experience at Sonoma both in the ARCA Menards Series West and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will provide some benefit for us this weekend.

“Portland definitely did not go as planned and after our solid finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway a couple of weeks ago, we need that momentum back to carry us to the races on the horizon.”

Race Information:

The Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 (79 laps | 156.95 miles) is the 14th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. An extended practice begins on Friday, June 7, 2024 from 1:05 – 1:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, June 8 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. with the 38-car field set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 5:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Pacific).

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.

The team has named Hailie Deegan, Christian Rose, and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2024 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series, and Dirt Modified seasons, respectively.

JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Sonoma Raceway (1.99 mile road-course)
NXS RACE – Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 (79 laps / 156.95 miles)
TUNE IN – FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer
No. 1 MyRTIC Personalization Chevrolet
Mayer 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 13
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 5
Top 10s: 6
Laps Led: 62
Avg. Finish: 18.2
Points: 12th

• Sam Mayer heads to Sonoma Raceway looking for his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on a record course.
• The young driver will be making only his second start at the 1.99-mile road course as he is coming off a 10th-place finish in this event last season.
• The Franklin, Wis. native earned his first NXS Pole Award of the 2024 season at Portland last Saturday and was running in the top-three late in the event before suffering a flat left-ear tire.
• The No. 1 MyRTIC Personalization Chevrolet will carry the RTIC Outdoors Father’s Day Sweepstakes winner, Steve Wolfe, above the passenger-side door for Saturday’s event.

Sam Mayer

“I am eager to get back to Sonoma and top our 10th-place effort from last season with yet another road-course victory. This No. 1 JR Motorsports team has given me absolute rocket ships this season and I know with all the hard work and time these guys have put in we will get back in Victory Lane very soon. Really excited to have our friends at RTIC back on board with a brand-new MyRTIC Personalization paint scheme.”

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Proud BRANDT Partners Chevrolet
Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 13
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 4
Top 10s: 6
Laps Led: 473
Avg. Finish: 15.2
Points: 4th

• Justin Allgaier finished seventh in last season’s inaugural NXS event at Sonoma.
• Overall, in his NXS career on road courses, Allgaier has scored a combined three wins, 19 top-fives and 33 top-10’s in 55 starts.
• Last weekend at the road course in Portland, Allgaier swept both stages en route to a runner-up finish.
• This weekend, Allgaier’s familiar No. 7 Chevrolet will feature the brands of BRANDT Professional Agriculture, TradeMark Nitrogen, Rev1 Energy and Precision Build.

Justin Allgaier

“We were really strong last weekend in Portland and I feel extremely confident that we will be just as quick in Sonoma. We were in position for a solid top-five here last year before we had some power steering issues, and I know that we will be just as capable of running even better when we get to the track on Friday. This group is ready to go and hopefully we can put on a great show for everyone at BRANDT Professional Agriculture, TradeMark Nitrogen, Rev1 Energy and Precision Build.”

Sammy Smith
No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
Smith 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 13
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 8
Laps Led: 50
Avg. Finish: 15.7
Points: 10th

• Sammy Smith heads to Sonoma for the second time coming off a third-place finish at Portland last weekend.
• In 12 career starts in the NXS on road courses, Smith has scored three top-fives and five top-10’s.
• Smith finished ninth at Sonoma in 2023 for his first time on the 1.99-mile road-course.
• Pilot Flying J will share the TV panel with Cheema Freightlines LLC, a trucking company originating in Lathrop, CA who is dedicated to delivering excellence for their customers.

Sammy Smith

“Having two third-place finishes in a row is a great confidence boost for this No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team. We’ve been running well but to finally break into the top-five is a great feeling as we head back to the West Coast for our second consecutive road course. We hope to get Pilot Flying J where they belong in Victory Lane.”

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards / JELD-WEN Chevrolet
Jones 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 13
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 5
Laps Led: 20
Avg. Finish: 17.8
Points: 13th

• Brandon Jones has made 42 starts on road courses in the NXS and has accumulated five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. His best finish of second came at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course during the 2020 season.
• After qualifying on the pole last weekend in the ARCA Menards Series at Portland, the 27-year-old Georgia native will be making his sixth road-course start this weekend.
• JELD-WEN, a global manufacturer of interior and exterior building products, will be making a repeat appearance on the hood of Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet this weekend. The company was previously featured earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Brandon Jones

“After the tough time we had at Portland I am looking forward to going back to Sonoma this weekend. I know this No. 9 team is putting in the work this week to give me another fast car and Phillip (Bell, crew chief) and I have been working on our strategy, so I am hoping for a good race and to be in contention for the win at the end.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Sonoma Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Sonoma Raceway a combined four times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2023. In those starts at the 1.99-mile road course, the organization has recorded two top-10s, with an average finish of 17.8.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, June 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PT.

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

• Event: Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 (Round 14 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, June 8
• Location: Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway
• Layout: 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course
• Time/TV/Radio: 8 p.m. EDT on FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• “Stone” Cole Custer, who is known for his trademark beer-smashing victory celebrations, will gladly trade the beer for one of Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway’s signature wine toasts in victory lane this weekend as he heads to Wine Country for Saturday’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250. The Ladera Ranch, California native will return to his home state for the first time this season after welcoming nearly 100 family members to the track for last weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. Custer started fourth for the 75-lap event at Portland and ran in the top-10 for a majority of the race, picking up a total of 13 points through his finishes in the opening two stages. While some pit stop issues put him back in the field as the race was nearing its end, Custer was able to fight his way back into the top-10 in the closing laps. His Ford Mustang crossed the finish line sixth, marking his 10th top-10 of the 2024 season, all coming in the last 11 races. While he is still searching for his first win of the season, Custer has had his eye on the back-to-back road-course events at Portland and Sonoma after scoring his first win of 2023 at Portland.
• Saturday’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 will mark the second time that Custer will race at Sonoma in the Xfinity Series. Custer can still claim a leg up on his fellow fulltime competitors at the 1.99-mile, 10-turn circuit though with two NASCAR Cup Series starts there, three in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, and one in the ARCA Menards Series West. The 26-year-old driver earned a best Cup Series finish of 20th in June 2021. His best K&N Series finish was fourth in June 2019, while he earned an 18th-place result in his lone ARCA start. In his first Xfinity Series start there last June, Custer finished sixth after rebounding from a 26th-place qualifying effort.
• Leaving Portland last Saturday, the Xfinity Series saw a new points leader – Cole Custer. Despite having yet to score his first win of the season, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse has used his consistency, strong runs, and stage points to climb to the top of the standings for the first time since he won the 2023 Xfinity Series championship in November. He has an 18-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill. With 13 races to go until the playoffs begin Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Custer is currently seventh in the playoff standings, highest among winless drivers and 167 points above the top-12 cutline. With the mantra of “Win and you’re in,” Custer and the team would like nothing more than to score a win so the points racing can be put aside. Still, he and the team seem to be in a good position to point their way into the playoffs and snatch not only the regular-season championship trophy, but the 15 valuable playoff points that go with it.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Las Vegas native Riley Herbst is excited to stay out on the West Coast for the Xfinity Series’ second of back-to-back road-course weekends, featuring Saturday’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing showed off more of the speed he’s had all season in last Saturday’s 75-lap event at Portland. After posting the fastest lap in his first-round qualifying group, Herbst went on to grab the third spot in final qualifying. At the drop of the green flag, Herbst wasted no time passing front-row starters Sam Mayer and Shane Van Gisbergen in the first turn. He held the lead for the first 15 laps – his first career laps led at Portland – before Justin Allgaier got by him. Herbst finished second in Stage 1 to earn nine bonus points, then finished seventh in Stage 2 to earn an additional four bonus points. While several spins and issues put him back in the pack in the final stage, Herbst showed his perseverance and drove his way up to 10th place by the checkered flag. It was his fifth top-10 of the season and his first at Portland. He looks to carry that momentum into this weekend’s outing in Wine Country.
• Saturday’s race at Sonoma will be Herbst’s second at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In the series’ inaugural race last season, he rebounded from his 23rd-place qualifying effort to finish 15th. While the series has only visited the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course just once, Herbst has two starts there in other series – one in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and one in the ARCA Menards Series West. His K&N start came in June 2016 at the age of 17, when Herbst started 10th and finished the 64-lap race fifth in the No. 19 car for owner Bill McAnally. During last year’s inaugural Xfinity Series race weekend, Herbst added some extra seat time in the ARCA race, qualifying sixth for the 64-lap race and running in the top-five for a majority of it. He finished third behind runner-up Sammy Smith and race-winner Ryan Preece.
• Knowing the summer months of the Xfinity Series schedule can make or break a driver and team’s chances of locking in a spot in the playoffs, Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team will be highly focused on the championship picture. After just barely missing the top-12 cutoff last season, Herbst is on a mission for redemption as he heads into the final 13 races of the regular season, many of which he struggled at last season. His 10th-place finish at Portland last weekend bested by far his 32nd-place finish there in 2023. Herbst heads to Sonoma seventh in the driver standings, just two points behind sixth-place A.J. Allmendinger, and with a 24-point advantage over eight-place Sheldon Creed. Herbst is ninth in the playoff standings, third-highest of the winless drivers, with a 70-point advantage to the top-12 cutline. To help secure his position in the standings, Herbst has collected a total of 117 stage points throughout the season so far, the third highest among Xfintiy Series regulars, only behind Austin Hill and Allgaier.

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

Saturday’s race will mark the second Xfinity Series race at Sonoma, but you’ve raced there several other times in the NASCAR Cup Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. Throwing in a curveball this season, however, is the Sonoma repave that happened after last year’s race. What are you expecting for this weekend’s race, given your experience at the track and your overall success on road courses in the past?

“I don’t think anyone knows how this repave will affect the cars. No one has really been on it, yet, to test it out. Thankfully, we get an entire practice session on Friday to try to learn it and get our cars set up just right for Saturday’s race. It’s one of the few times that we get a full practice session throughout the season, so I’m excited. With all that said, Sonoma is now my home track in NASCAR with Auto Club Speedway being taken off the schedule. It’s always fun going back to California to race. On top of that, we’ve had some strong runs at Sonoma in the past. I know we struggled in qualifying last year, but I think you’ll see us riding some momentum from Portland. We’ll have a shot at parking our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse in victory lane as long as we can stay out of trouble and put together a good race. It’ll be difficult, but I have faith in this team that we can get it done.”

Heading into the summer months, you’ll be faced with the challenge of racing non-stop until the July 20 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a variety of racetracks. Is there a certain style of track that you’re looking forward to more so than the others?

“We really do touch almost every kind of track during this stretch of summer months. We’ll go from back-to-back road courses to a short track, to an intermediate, and then throw in a curveball with the Chicago Street Course, which also drives so much differently from a traditional road course. I can’t say that I’m more excited for one than the other, though. We’ve built a really good notebook in the Xfinity Series at Stewart-Haas for every kind of track, so I’m confident when we roll into each race weekend. You always put more expectations on the races you’ve won before, but it’s also exciting to go back to Iowa after a few years away and we’re going back to the traditional Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. There’s going to be a lot of good races coming up and I know we can be competitors each and every weekend.”

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

You’re heading into your second of back-to-back road courses before you then head to a short track, and then intermediate tracks. Each type of racetrack comes with its own challenges, but which ones are you looking forward to the most this summer?

“As a driver, you obviously have to be ready for whatever type of track is heading your way. Still, I’m definitely excited for Iowa and Nashville coming up. Those have always been fun tracks for me. Iowa was where I got my first Xfinity Series start back in 2018 and I finished sixth. Obviously, there was a lot to learn in that race, but it’s also fun to go back to a place like that when it has that memory. Nashville will be a fun one, too. I’ve been fast there in the past, but last season it was where Davin (Restivo, crew chief) first joined the team. We ended up second and, while we had some bad luck in the summer months, we also learned a lot to help us get my first win later that season at Las Vegas. I think the No. 98 Monster Energy team will be strong competitors at all of the tracks, but those are definitely ones that I’m excited for as a driver.”

While you’ve only been to Sonoma once in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, you do have some experience there in the ARCA Menards Series West, formerly known as the K&N Pro Series West. What did you learn last year in both the ARCA and Xfinity race that you can carry over into Saturday’s race?

“It always helps a lot to have that extra time on the track in other series. Sonoma didn’t quite go our way last year, so it was frustrating. I had a strong day on Friday in the ARCA race, but then we didn’t qualify well in the Xfinity Series and it felt like we were playing catchup all day. Now, we’re heading into that same track, but with a repave. Thankfully we’ll get another full practice session on Friday to help us not only learn the track but get our setup just right. It’ll help me learn and prepare. Full practice sessions are still so rare in NASCAR after the pandemic. While it makes the weekends shorter, it definitely is a struggle for drivers who are just getting to a track and learning it for the first time. I’ve seen us really strive when we have time to get our setup better, so I’m excited for it. I know Sonoma can be a tricky road course, so we’ve been working hard to prepare for it, but we also have a chance to get better in that practice session. We had speed at Portland, so I’m hoping that carries over into Sonoma.”

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Portland 147
Date: June 1, 2024
Event: Portland 147 (Round 13 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (1.967-mile, 12-turn road course)
Format: 75 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/25 laps)
Race Winner: Shane Van Gisbergen of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 4th / Finished 6th, Running, completed 75 of 75 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 3rd / Finished 10th, Running, completed 75 of 75 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (1st with 475 points)
● Riley Herbst (7th with 378 points, 97 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 10th top-10 of the season and his second top-10 in two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Portland.
● In the past 11 races, Custer has now earned 10 top-10 finishes, including his nine-race top-10 streak from his runner-up finish March 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway through his third-place finish May 11 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
● Custer has never finished outside the top-10 at Portland. He won in his first visit to the track last June.
● Custer finished seventh in Stage 1 to earn four bonus points and fourth in Stage 2 to earn seven more bonus points.
● Herbst earned his fifth top-10 of the season and his first top-10 in three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Portland.
● Herbst’s 10th-place finish bettered his previous best finish at Portland – 32nd, earned last June.
● Herbst finished second in Stage 1 to earn nine bonus points and seventh in Stage 2 to earn four more bonus points.
● Herbst led once for 15 laps – his first laps led at Portland.

Race Notes:

● Shane Van Gisbergen won the Portland 147 to score his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in 13 starts. His margin over second-place Justin Allgaier was .941 of a second.
● There were four caution periods for a total of 14 laps.
● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Custer leaves Portland as the championship leader with an 18-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill.

Sound Bites:

“Overall, it was a solid day for the No. 00 Autodesk / Haas Automation team. We had a car that could compete with the best today, but everything didn’t play out right unfortunately. We had a lug nut kind of get stuck on that last pit stop and lost a lot of track position. It was a solid day, but I wish we could’ve had that little bit more. Definitely a good day for us in the points standings, so we’ll learn from this and move on to Sonoma next week. We have to keep executing like we have been, but our time will come. Just can’t thank my guys, Stewart-Haas, Ford Performance, Autodesk, and Haas Automation enough for their support​.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Autodesk / Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“Man, our No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse was fast. We got the lead on the initial start, and I was able to hold off Justin (Allgaier) and SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) for a while in that first stage. That was pretty awesome. I don’t consider myself a road-course ringer, but it was cool to be able to hang with those two. I locked the tires up into the chicane and had to make a choice to either wreck four cars or just go straight. I chose to go straight. That final stage got wild though. The mayhem at the end helped me recover some of those lost spots for a top-10. We made the most of today with points. My team gave me a great racecar, and I’m even more excited to head to Sonoma now for another road course. Hopefully, we’ll be contenders again.” –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 Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 on Saturday, June 8 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The race begins at 8 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

JONES LEADS TOYOTA IN CHAOTIC XFINITY SERIES RACE AT PORTLAND
Scores top-five finish in only second career start

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 1, 2024) – Sam Hunt Racing’s Ed Jones came home fifth in Saturday’s wild Xfinity Series race at Portland, leading the Toyota GR Supra contingent. The Emirati-born Brit, making his second career Xfinity Series start, started the day 17th but powered his No. 24 GR Supra through the field and around late-race chaos to a top-five finish.

The other five Toyota GR Supras ran near or inside the top-10 throughout the 75-lap race at the 1.915-mile road course but were victims of hectic late-race restarts that impeded them from stronger results. This included title contender, Chandler Smith, who suffered damage to his No. 81 GR Supra, ultimately finishing 35th and Sheldon Creed, who obtained a penalty for jumping out of line on restart with 10 laps to go but raced his way back up to the 13th finishing position.

The Xfinity Series stays out west next weekend at Sonoma Raceway for another road course duel.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Portland International Raceway
Race 13 of 33 – 147.75 miles, 75 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Shane Van Gisbergen*
2nd, Justin Allgaier*
3rd, Sammy Smith*
4th, AJ Allmendinger*
5th, ED JONES
12th, JOSH BILICKI
13th, SHELDON CREED
27th, RYAN TRUEX
34th, SAGE KARAM
35th, CHANDLER SMITH
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

ED JONES, No. 24 Synergy Modular Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

Coming home in the top-five, what was that race like for you?

“We rolled off the truck pretty good. Obviously, practice is so short, but we got a good feel. Our car wasn’t the best for qualifying, a single-lap run, but we felt comfortable that we had a good car in the long run, and it proved its case in the race. Started mid-pack and gradually worked out way up the field every stage to inside the top-10 for the final stage. For the last two restarts, it was all about going full attack. Again, I’m still learning how to aggressive to be. It’s been an experience, it’s great to get a full race’s experience in, and even better, to be in the top-five. Just thank you to the team and Toyota for helping me prepare for the weekend. And Synergy for being in the car. Looking forward to Sonoma in a few days’ time.”

JOSH BILICKI, No. 19 Ditec Marine Products Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 12th

How would you describe your day today?

“Ended up with a solid day for our DiTec/Trim Tex Supra all things considered. We really had a car capable of having a shot at the win but getting spun just set us back too far to make the ground up. Pretty disappointing that adversity got in the way of our full potential but I’m really proud of our team for rallying and getting a 12th place finish out of it.”

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 35th

Take us through that contact at the end there.

“Had a solid day going until the end there. Really unfortunate to have something like that happen, but I feel really confident in our road course program going into Sonoma next week.”

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.

M Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Portland International Raceway | Pacific Office Automation 147

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Hailie Deegan
Primary Partner(s): Airbox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt Lucas
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-079
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Notes of Interest:

Sophomore Journey: After a successful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season with driver Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will embark on its sophomore journey in 2024 with driver Hailie Deegan for the entire 33-race tour, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team hopes to expand its footprint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series by running two cars throughout the season with its partial No. 25 AM Racing entry.

Future Focused: Last October, AM Racing announced that Hailie Deegan joined the family-owned operation to pilot the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in a multiyear agreement.

Deegan, a native of Temecula, Calif. has been a staple in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the past three seasons but will embrace her rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of the Ford Performance program.

Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began that transition in 2018 in the ARCA Menards Series West (previously NASCAR K&N Pro Series West). She became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively.

Deegan, 22, arrives at AM Racing after a stint driving for ThorSport Racing in 2023.

Giving You Peace of Air: For the 11th time in 2024, AirBox will serve as the primary marketing partner of Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway.

In 2017, AirBox was established to focus on building the world’s best air purifiers for indoor occupied spaces. This coincided with people starting to wake up to issues with indoor air quality. With new challenges to air cleanliness, such as COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, people are looking for effective and proven solutions to ensure they receive cleaner air, at last.

Their history in delivering clean air systems and services gives them an expertise that is unmatched. AirBox uses some of the most effective air filtration technologies that exist with Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorption. Coupled with their Indoor Air Quality Assessment, AirBox is the total solution for all indoor air quality needs, ensuring their customers meet and exceed current and future ventilation standards.

Today, AirBox filtration systems are used across the country, purifying the air and capturing harmful irritants to create healthier, safer spaces. They’ve become the trusted choice for hospitals, educational centers, offices, warehouses, construction zones, public assembly, sports facilities, and more.

They’re proud to build all products to the highest standards in the USA at their North Carolina production facility. Every day, AirBox is working hard to give the American people the safer learning, working, and living environments they deserve—helping people breathe easy and live better.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Portland International Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s

Pacific Office Automation 147 will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.967-mile road course, nestled just outside Portland, Oregon.

This weekend’s second Xfinity Series road course of the season will also mark Deegan’s second career road course start.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Deegan has a career-best 12th-place finish after starting 31st for AM Racing at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2024.

In addition to her 12 Xfinity Series starts, she has achieved 70 ARCA Menards Series starts, including three wins and 69 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to her credit.

Thanks For Your Support: With 36 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Hailie Deegan would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Klutch Vodka, Mechanix Wear, Monster Energy Drink, Mobil 1, Viva Tequila Seltzer and WIX Filters.

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | BetMGM 300 Race Recap: The 12th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Concord, N.C. on Saturday, May 25.

Flying the AirBox colors for the seventh consecutive weekend, but in military colors to recognize the Armed Forces on Memorial Day weekend, Deegan qualified her No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustang on speed in the 32nd position.

Despite struggling with the balance of her race car, the team’s adjustments throughout the day allowed her to climb through the field and maintain a heavy presence inside the top 20 during Stage 3. A bold strategy call to keep Deegan on the track during green flag pit stops nearly paid off for the team.

Unfortunately, the caution waved two laps after pitting for the final stage, trapping the team a lap down. Deegan, however, recovered in the waning laps of the race to climb and maintain a spot inside the top 20 to the checkered flag.

In all, Deegan picked up 12 positions from start to finish to earn a 20th-place finish.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Matt Lucas is Hailie Deegan’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 105th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his first at Portland International Raceway.

In his previous 104 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two wins, 22 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: 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 Hailie Deegan, please visit hailiedeegan.com, like her Facebook page (HailieDeegan4), or follow her on Instagram (@hailiedeegan), YouTube and X | Twitter (@hailiedeegan).

Hailie Deegan Quoteboard:

On Portland International Raceway: “I am very optimistic about my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Portland International Raceway.

“It seems to be a road course that presents opportunities, and I hope our AM Racing team can take advantage of those opportunities to deliver another strong finish with our No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustang.”

Race Information:

The Pacific Automation 147 (75 laps | 147.75 miles) is the 13th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 9:05 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 1:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Pacific).

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.

The team has named Hailie Deegan, Christian Rose, and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2024 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series, and Dirt Modified seasons, respectively.

Race Notes

Portland International Raceway
Pacific Office Automation 147
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m. EDT
FS1 | MRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

• Kaulig Racing has made six NXS starts at Portland International Raceway. The team has led six laps and earned one win, one top five and three top-10 finishes.
• Kaulig Racing won the inaugural NXS race at Portland International Raceway in 2022 with AJ Allmendinger.

JOSH WILLIAMS

“It was pretty wet a couple years ago in Portland. Hopefully it stays dry this time and we can get a top 10, because we had a good finish last year when it didn’t rain.” – Josh Williams on Portland International Raceway

No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams has raced at Portland twice in the NXS, with his best finish of 16th at the track coming in 2023.
• Williams earned his best finish of the season (8th) at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his second top 10 of 2024.

AJ ALLMENDINGER

“Always great memories at Portland for so many reasons. From winning my first IndyCar race there and having a crazy Xfinity race and then being able to win that race. It’s definitely a unique racetrack when it comes to road courses, but it’s always a fun event. Hopefully we can go there and have a smoother race than we did in 2022 but have the same result.” – AJ Allmendinger on Portland International Raceway

No. 16 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger has made one NXS start at Portland International Raceway, leading six laps and winning the inaugural race there in 2022.
• So far in the 2024 NXS season, Allmendinger has earned two top fives, six top-10 finishes and led 32 laps. Allmendinger currently sits sixth in NXS driver standings.

SHANE van GISBERGEN

“I’m excited to get back out West and make our start in Portland this week. It’s going to be fun to tackle the track and see how our Quad Lock Chevrolet stacks up with the rest of the field. I appreciate everyone at Quad Lock for coming on board with us. The livery looks amazing, and they have been a great partner of mine for years. Hopefully we can go out and get a win for everyone involved with this Kaulig team.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Portland International Raceway

No. 97 Quad Lock Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen heads to the Pacific Northwest this weekend for his first-career NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start at Portland International Raceway in the No. 97 Quad Lock Chevrolet.
• Last weekend, Van Gisbergen tackled the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he started 29th and finished 15th in his Focused Health Chevrolet.
• In the series’ last visit to a road course back in March, Van Gisbergen started second and led 20 laps before ultimately crossing the finish line in 27th following a last-lap incident.
• This weekend in Portland, the Quad Lock livery will make its second appearance on the three-time Supercars champion’s Chevrolet. The Quad Lock motto? Adventure. Whether on bike, boat, car, a trip down the road, or expedition across the globe, Quad Lock makes the experience better. And we build reliable gear, so you can go anywhere. No matter your device. No matter your pursuit.
• Van Gisbergen and his No. 97 team currently sit 15th in the driver standings heading into the weekend at Portland.

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.

JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Portland International Raceway (1.97 mile road-course)
NXS RACE – Pacific Office Automation 147 (75 laps / 147.75 miles)
TUNE IN – FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 4:30 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer
No. 1 RTIC Outdoors Chevrolet
Mayer 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 12
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 5
Top 10s: 6
Laps Led: 62
Avg. Finish: 17.3
Points: 11th

• Sam Mayer heads out to the West Coast for his third NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Portland International Raceway.
• Mayer scored a third-place finish in this event last season rallying back from an incident in practice.
• The Franklin, Wis. native has been strong on road courses in the NXS, earning three victories, six top-five and 13 top-10 efforts in 19 starts.
• The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet welcomes back primary partner RTIC to ride along for this event at the 1.97-mile road course.

Sam Mayer

“Looking forward to getting back to a road course, especially Portland, as we were super-close to a win last year. This No. 1 team has been strong on road courses and we have done really well in the past, so I am extremely confident that we will be able to get this RTIC Chevrolet a good finish and hopefully get them to Victory Lane.”

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 12
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 5
Laps Led: 427
Avg. Finish: 16.3
Points: 4th

• Justin Allgaier has finished no worse than fifth in two career NXS starts in Portland.
• Last season, Allgaier led for 23 laps in the Pacific Northwest before coming home in the runner-up position.
• Overall, in 54 starts on road courses in the NXS, Allgaier has scored three wins, 18 top fives and 32 top 10s.
• Two of Allgaier’s three road-course wins came during the 2018 season behind the wheel of a JRM Chevrolet at Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Justin Allgaier

“We came so close to going to Victory Lane here last season with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this JR Motorsports team have a great plan in place to get us that one spot better this weekend. Portland is such a unique, technical road course. Hopefully we can have a smooth day out there and come away fighting for the win when it’s all said and done.”

Sammy Smith
No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
Smith 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 12
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 7
Laps Led: 50
Avg. Finish: 16.8
Points: 13th

• Sammy Smith heads to Portland for the second time coming off a solid third-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• In 11 career starts in the NXS on road courses, Smith has scored two top-fives and four top-10’s, with a best finish of third coming at Watkins Glen International in 2022.
• According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Smit currently ranks third in quality passes (622) and seventh in laps run inside the top-15 (1,638).
• Pilot Flying J will share the TV panel with Market Express, a locally-owned trucking company based in North Portland.

Sammy Smith

“I’m thrilled to get back on a road course with my No. 8 JR Motorsports team. I’m ready to take the momentum from our third-place finish in Charlotte and bring it to Portland where we look to be just as strong with our Pilot Flying J Chevrolet.”

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards / MagickWoods Vanities Chevrolet
Jones 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 12
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 5
Laps Led: 20
Avg. Finish: 16.3
Points: 10th

• Brandon Jones will make his third NXS start at Portland this weekend. In his previous two starts he has an average finish of 12.0.
• Jones has made 41 starts on road courses in the NXS and has accumulated five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes with a best of second coming at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course during the 2020 season.
• The 27-year-old Georgia native will also be making his fifth ARCA Menards Series road-course start this weekend in the No. 42 Sprecher Root Beer Chevrolet.
• MagickWoods Vanities will adorn the hood of Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet this weekend. This will be the first appearance of this brand on the hood at Portland.

Brandon Jones

“After our great finish last weekend in Charlotte I am ready to keep the momentum going in Portland. This No. 9 team always brings a fast car to road courses and I know we will unload another one this weekend. I’m feeling confident so I hope we can be up front when it counts.”

JRM Team Updates

• JR Motorsports at Portland International Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Portland International Raceway a combined eight times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2022. In those starts at the 1.97-mile road course, the organization has recorded five top-fives and six top-10s, with an average finish of 9.8.
• Autograph Session: JR Motorsports drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones will be at the track autograph session located in the Fan Midway on Saturday, June 1 from 10:30 am-11:30 am (PT)