Category: XFINITY Series PR

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST

Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance

NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Portland 147 (Round 13 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, June 1
• Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway
• Layout: 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course
• Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. EDT on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• Cole Custer heads back to the scene of his first win of the 2023 season during Saturday’s Portland 147 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. After racing back-to-back on intermediate tracks with an off weekend in-between, last year’s Portland winner is ready to tackle the 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course as the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. After his third-place finish May 11 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Custer came back from the season’s third off weekend showing speed last weekend at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. He topped the speed charts in Friday’s practice, then qualified sixth for Saturday’s race, in which he looked to be well on his way to another top-three finish in the closing laps when contact with Austin Hill on the backstretch turned his No. 00 Ford Mustang Dark Horse into the inside wall and forced him to retire just 26 laps shy of the checkered flag. Despite his first DNF of the season, Custer now knows he’s heading to a racetrack where he turned his luck around last season by darting into the lead on the final restart to earn his first of three victories in 2023.
• Saturday’s Portland 147 will mark Custer’s second Xfinity Series start at the Pacific Northwest facility. In his first start there last year, the Ladera Ranch, California, native earned his victory from the second starting position. He crossed the finish line .142 of a second ahead of runner-up Justin Allgaier. Custer also competed in last year’s ARCA Menards Series West race at Portland the day before the Xfinity Series race. He started the 57-lap race third and finished second, 1.957 seconds behind winner Landen Lewis. Custer hasn’t finished outside the top-10 on road since a crash ended his day early in the July 29 race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
• Custer has found momentum on road courses since his return to the Xfinity Series at the start of the 2023 season, finishing in the top-10 in every race but one when turning right and left. In the eight road-course starts and one street-course start in that time, Custer has earned two victories, six top-10s, and led 35 laps. Custer’s history on road courses suggests he’s a silent road-course ringer. He followed up his June 3 victory at Portland with another win in the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 1. Custer has finished in the top-10 in 18 of his 24 career road-course outings in the Xfinity Series. This past March 23, he finished fourth on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn Circuit of the Americas (COTA) layout in Austin, Texas.
• Autodesk will adorn the hood of Custer’s No. 00 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the first time of the season in an alpha-bravo paint scheme with Haas Automation. The company previously sponsored Custer from 2020 to 2022 in the NASCAR Cup Series. For four decades, Autodesk has worked together with its customers to transform how things are made, and in doing so, it has also transformed what can be made. A car’s performance now inspires the method of its manufacture, a city’s infrastructure helps predict the unpredictable, and the creation of ever-bigger universes shapes ever-bigger stories. Today, Autodesk’s solutions span countless industries empowering innovators everywhere. But the company is restless to do more. Autodesk doesn’t believe in waiting for progress, it believes in making it. By combining and recombining technologies. By blurring boundaries, reinventing rules, and merging fields. By unleashing talent and unlocking insights across industries. By helping customers converge on solutions to the challenges everyone faces today. Autodesk believes that with the right tools to work and think flexibly comes the power to transform what actually needs making. The power to design and make a better world for all.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst is ready for his latest challenge as he and the No. 98 Monster Energy team head to Portland (Ore.) International Raceway for the first of back-to-back West-Coast NASCAR Xfinity Series road-course races. After his seventh-place finish May 11 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Herbst encountered bad luck last Saturday at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. He qualified 19th after struggling with the hot and slick Charlotte oval, and in the opening laps of the race, the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse was a big mover, working his way up to 11th by lap 29. But contact with A.J. Allmendinger after passing him on the backstretch on that same lap ended Herbst’s day. He’s now hoping the change of scenery in the next two weekends yields positive results.
• Saturday’s race at Portland will mark Herbst’s third Xfinity Series start at the track. In the rainy 2022 inaugural race there, Herbst put on a show in the opening laps, racing his way from 14th to third during a downpour. Untimely incidents then put him back in the pack, and his day ended 35 laps into the 75-lap event when he got collected in a seven-car accident. In last year’s race, Herbst was running well in the top-10, earning stage points in the opening two stages, but an engine issue took him out of contention with 10 laps to go in the race. He also competed in the ARCA Menards Series West race there last year, contending for the win until lap 43, when engine issues foiled his bid.
• While Herbst looks to make another breakthrough Xfinity Series run this weekend, he’ll try to capitalize on the momentum from his string of strong road-course outings the past two seasons. In 2022, Herbst earned top-10s in three of his six road-course starts. Last year, he had strong runs at a majority of the eight road-course races, qualifying in the top-10 at five of the eight. He started the 2023 season with his 10th-place finish at COTA and looked to be well on his way to another top-10 in the June 3 race at Portland until the engine issue that forced him to retire early. He earned a fifth-place finish after starting fourth in the July race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He ended the road-course portion of the schedule with a fourth-place finish Oct. 7 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval just one week before he scored his first career Xfinity Series win Oct. 14 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• The “West Coast Kid” will showcase his West-Coast sponsor on the hood of his Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the back-to-back races at Portland and Sonoma. Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, the company supports the scene and sport. Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports partnerships, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. The company has supported Herbst since his young racing days on the West Coast all the way to his select starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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

Portland was the site of your first Xfinity Series road-course win and your first win of the 2023 season. How excited are you to go back to a place where you got that breakthrough win?

“I’m really excited to head back to Portland. Honestly, I wouldn’t have considered myself a road-course ringer like I seemed to be last year, but I’ve always enjoyed this style of racing. It leaves a lot of power in the driver’s hands. You can have a fast racecar and set everything up perfectly, but at the end of the day a lot of how well you do is up to the driver. Last year at Portland, I made a mistake in the second-to-last restart and missed the first turn. Coming to the final restart, I figured there was a possibility that the leaders could do the exact same thing. I ended up being right and was able to get around them for the lead. To not only win, but win in that epic battle is just that much better and shows what myself and the team can do. I’m confident the guys will bring me another fast car this weekend, but the competition is steep in the Xfinity Series field. Hopefully, we can come out on top again.”

With just the one start in the Xfinity Series at Portland, how do you prepare to set yourself up for more success?

“I definitely leaned on Riley last year as I prepared for Portland. Now, we have a year and a win under our belts, so we can contribute to the strategy as well. He still has more experience there than I do. He was such a big help last year, and now I can contribute more and help the team overall. On top of that, we’ve got several road courses under our belt where we won or performed really well. I think we’re building a good road-course notebook on the Stewart-Haas Xfinity Series team. We’ve been in contention at most of the road courses over the past year, so it’ll be interesting to see what we can do this weekend and for the rest of the season. There are back-to-back road courses coming up, so we have two shots to go for the win on a road course.”

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

Portland marks the second road course of the 2024 season. Despite your finishes, you have shown speed at Portland and at other road courses. How have you been preparing to continue to show your speed, and also change your luck here?

“Portland is such a tough track. It’s obviously a newer track that many of us haven’t raced on outside of a few ARCA Menards Series runs and the two prior Xfinity Series races. With limited practice and the first year being run in the rain, we haven’t really had a chance to get to learn the track. We’ve been going to sim and getting seat time in other series the past few years, but nothing beats just getting in your car and running a race there. That’s really how you learn because anything can happen during these races. We just have to stay out of trouble in order to turn our luck around. There are a lot of turns where you can get turned, so it’s all about getting through the race without an incident. Hoping we can do that this weekend.”

This will be your third race at Portland in the Xfinity Series, and you’ve had some strong runs on road courses the past two seasons in both the Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. What are your expectations for the weekend?

“You never know what to expect from road courses. We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang when we came here the past two years and different incidents took us out of the race. Honestly, despite the early end to our days both years, I still really like this track overall. It’s fun for a driver and also a challenge, which makes it that much better for us. There’s a lot that we can do in the car as a driver unlike other tracks where a lot of it relies on fast pit stops and strategy from the team. When you have long laps and less pit stops, it puts more in our hands. We’re not doing any extra racing this weekend like I’ve done in the past, so our focus is solely on this Xfinity race. After Charlotte and last year’s race at Portland, I’m just hoping to turn our luck around.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Team Showcase Speed at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Finish: 28th
Start: 4th
Points: 5th

“Our Whelen Chevrolet was fast today at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We showed good speed in practice yesterday, and after qualifying fourth, I felt like we were in a position to go after a stage win. To start the race, we fired off with a loose balance, but Danny (Stockman, crew chief) adjusted to tighten up the car. The car then got too tight to run the top, but good on the bottom. We were setting ourselves up for the last pit stop when our power steering pump stopped working with 52 laps to go. From there, I just had to maintain, keep the car clean, and get the best possible finish for our No. 2 team. While it’s not the result we wanted, we will rebound from this and show up strong at Portland International Raceway next weekend.” -Jesse Love

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Team Continue to Lead Points After Strong Showing at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Finish: 25th
Start: 8th
Points: 1st

“We had a good day going in our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet. Our car went through major changes during the race. It fired off really loose everywhere especially on throttle. As the run continued in Stage 1, the balance was still free, but it got better, especially when I started to run on the top. After the first round of adjustments though, the handling went the opposite direction and was very tight when I moved off the bottom. I was sliding all the way to the wall when the car landed. The tightness continued through the rest of the race, but we were making gains on it. Everyone took scuff tires on the last pit stop and with the older tires, I was in a slide trying to stay off the No. 00. His right rear might have skimmed the wall, but then he doored me which ended up cutting down my right front. When I drove down into Turn 1 deep, I didn’t know my tire was down yet and at that point, my car wouldn’t turn, and we made contact. I hate it for everyone on this No. 21 team because we were going to finish inside the top-five or at least the top-10.” -Austin Hill

Kyle Busch Leads Laps Enroute to Sixth-Place Finish in the Rebel Bourbon/BetMGM Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Finish: 6th
Start: 2nd
Points: N/A

“We had a fast Rebel Bourbon/BetMGM Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it’s a lot of fun to race these cars on Saturday afternoons. It’s just a shame we couldn’t get to Victory Lane for the BetMGM 300, especially after leading so many laps. Early on in the race we had decent grip compared to everybody else, but as we put tires on it each time we just seemed to get further and further away. We will have to take our Chevy back to the shop and work on it to try to and improve. I have a few ideas that could help some of the things I was fighting today in these RCR cars compared to some of the things I felt years ago racing the JGR cars. I appreciate Richard Childress and everyone at RCR for this opportunity. We led some laps and ran well but needed a little bit more.” -Kyle Busch

STEWART-HAAS RACING
BetMGM 300
Date: May 25, 2024
Event: BetMGM 300 (Round 12 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Format: 200 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/110 laps)
Race Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (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 6th / Finished 32nd, Accident, completed, 184 of 200 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 19th / Finished 38th, Accident, completed 29 of 200 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (3rd with 433 points, 21 out of first)
● Riley Herbst (7th with 338 points, 116 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point.

Race Notes:

● Chase Elliott won the BetMGM 300 to score his sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his first of the season and his first at Charlotte. His margin over second-place Brandon Jones was .500 of a second.
● There were three caution periods for a total of 18 laps.
● Only 18 of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Austin Hill remains the championship leader after Charlotte with a four-point advantage over second-place Chandler Smith.

Sound Bites:

“He put me in the fence off four and then we hit on the frontstretch because I was going to go pinch him down, and he decided to try and go up and side draft me and then we hit again. And then I don’t know if he blew a tire into one or what happened into one, but then he tried to kill me on the backstretch and just held it full throttle until he wrecked our car and killed the rear clip. I slapped my head against the back of the headrest. I don’t know. I know it was hard racing, but at the end of the day I don’t like getting intentionally wrecked and killing the front and rear clip on our race car. It’s just ridiculous. If he wants to drive like a pissed off teenager, it’s just ridiculous. I’ve said enough.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Fanttik Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“I haven’t seen a replay. I passed him twice cleanly, slid him. Racing in Charlotte, it’s hot, and I passed him. I mean, it’s really hot. The cars are really sliding around today. My spotter said, ‘clear’ and I moved up to the fence. He had a run off the top, which is fine, and he could have tried to slide me back and get some momentum, but instead he just got my left-rear and hooked me. It’s unfortunate because of how far up we had moved from the start.” –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 Portland 147 on Saturday, June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. The race begins at 4:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger qualified 11th for the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• In the opening stage, Allmendinger remained quiet on the radio until the first caution came out on lap 30. The No. 16 was running in 10th place and reported he needed more rear grip. Crew chief, Alex Yontz, called Allmendinger to pit road for four tires, fuel and air pressure and track bar adjustments. Allmendinger restarted in 10th on lap 37 and was able to drive up to fifth on the first lap green. Allmendinger went on to finish the first stage in fifth place and reported under the stage break that his No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy was wrecking loose.
• Allmendinger restarted the second stage in fifth place. On lap 54, the No. 16 hit the right side on the wall after the car snapped loose while running in 12th place. The team came to pit road under green for an unscheduled pit stop on lap 69 for a flat right rear tire. Allmendinger went a lap down but was the free pass when the caution came out on lap 71. The team came to pit road to repair damage from hitting the wall and put on four scuff tires. Allmendinger restarted in 33rd place on lap 80 and went on to finish the second stage in 24th place.
• Under the stage caution, Allmendinger reported the handling of his car was better running the top, but he was still loose. He brought the No. 16 to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments to help with the handling. Allmendinger restarted in 20th on lap 98 and was in 19th place when the caution came out on lap 107. The team stayed out and Allmendinger restarted 16 on lap 114. On the first lap green, Allmendinger drove up to 11th place. By lap 141, Allmendinger reported he was super tight running in 17th. The No. 16 came to pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop on lap 142 for tires, fuel and adjustments. When the caution came out on lap 170, Allmendinger was running 14th. The team came to pit road to free up the car after Allmendinger reported the car was tight. The No. 16 restarted in 11th on lap 182 and was running fifth when the caution came out on lap 185. The field restarted on lap 189 and Allmendinger went on to finished in fifth place in the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“That was a struggle. Everyone on our LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy fought hard trying to make adjustments today. We’re searching trying to find something, but we haven’t hit on it. A lot of credit goes to my spotter, Coleman Pressley, for trying to keep me in it. I couldn’t run the fence, the car would move around a lot, and we didn’t have speed running the bottom. Late race restarts, anything can happen. Just tried to be aggressive and get everything we could at the end.” – AJ Allmendinger

JOSH WILLIAMS
No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams qualified 36th for the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Williams went one lap down running 37th on lap 29, and after the caution came out one lap later, he waved around to get back on the lead lap. He took the restart with nine laps left in stage one, finishing the opening stage in 31st.
• Williams brought the No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevy down pit road during the stage break for tires, fuel and a plethora of adjustments. He restarted 33rd on lap 52 and slowly began picking up positions, jumping into 25th when the yellow flag waved on lap 74. Half the field pitted for fresh tires, so crew chief, Kevin Walter, made the call to stay out. Restarting 12th, Williams dropped back to 21st, where he’d finish stage two.
• After a full-service stop, the No. 11 Chevy Camaro restarted in 19th on lap 98. The caution came out 11 laps later after Williams lost five positions. Leapfrogging his way up to 20th under caution due to others coming into the pits, Williams fell to 24th after the lap-113 restart. With 56 to go, he pitted for tires and fuel and cycled to 17th, one lap down. A wreck brought out the caution with 31 laps to go, and Williams took the wave around to get back on the lead lap. One lap after the restart, the yellow waved again, and Williams brought the No. 11 down pit road for the team’s last set of tires. Williams fired off for the restart in 17th with 18 laps to go and moved into 9th within two laps before another caution came out. He restarted eighth from the inside line with 12 laps to go, and after initially falling to 10th, he fought back to regain eighth, where he’d take the checkered flag for his best result of the season.

“I feel like we’ve found some speed lately and we got better as the day went on. We’re trending in the right direction and have some work to do, but it was a good start today.” – Josh Williams  

SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 97 Focused Health Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen qualified 29th for the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• The first caution flag of the afternoon waved on lap 31 with Van Gisbergen scored in 26. Following a four tire stop, Van Gisbergen restarted in 26th with nine laps remaining in the stage. Following the restart, Van Gisbergen worked his way forward and ended stage one in 21st.
• The Focused Health team started stage two from the 17th position on lap 53. The third caution flag of the day waved on lap 74 with Van Gisbergen scored in 27th. Staying out, the Focused Health team restarted 14th on lap 80. Battling a tight Chevrolet for the remaining portion of the stage, Van Gisbergen ended stage two in 23rd on lap 90.
• Following a four tire stop at the end of stage two, Van Gisbergen restarted the final stage in 17th. Splitting the final stage in half, Van Gisbergen hit pit road on lap 142 from the 15th position for a green-flag stop. Following the stop, the Focused Health team cycled to 19th on lap 150. The caution flag would wave once again on lap 170 with Van Gisbergen scored in 13th. With one final set of sticker tires on pit road, SVG hit pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Following the stop, Van Gisbergen restarted in 12th on lap 176. Van Gisbergen suffered a flat right rear after he was forced into the wall by another competitor on lap 117 while running 13th. After hitting pit road for repairs, Van Gisbergen restarted at the tail end of the lead lap on lap 183. SVG crossed the finish in 15th on lap 200.

“Fun day today. I thought the 19 was going to save it but he lost it and we got into the fence. I got more and more comfortable as the day went on and I’m proud of the Focused Health team and the gains we made today.” – Shane van Gisbergen  

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.

GIBBS LEADS TOYOTA AT CHARLOTTE
Chandler Smith closes on the points lead

Chandler Smith (18th) moved up to second in the standings, just four points out of the top spot.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race 12 of 33 – 300 miles, 200 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Chase Elliott*
2nd, Brandon Jones*
3rd, Sammy Smith*
4th, Sam Mayer*
5th, AJ Allmendinger*
9th, TY GIBBS
12th, TAYLOR GRAY
18th, CHANDLER SMITH
34th, DEAN THOMPSON
36th, SHELDON CREED
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 19 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 12th

Can you talk about what you learned in these races and what you can take forward?

“Yeah, just learning how all of these guys race – kind of where you need to be to be good in these cars. We are struggling right now. We want to be running top-five, top-10, so we need to figure some things out.”

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
BetMGM 300 | Saturday, May 25, 2024

Ford Performance Results:
7th – Ryan Sieg
10th – Noah Gragson
19th – Kyle Sieg
20th – Hailie Deegan
26th – Matt DiBenedetto
32nd – Cole Custer
35th – Blaine Perkins
38th – Riley Herbst

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Fanttik Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “He put me in the fence off four and then we hit on the frontstretch because I was gonna go pinch him down and he decided to try and go up and side draft me and then we hit again. And then I don’t know if he blew a tire into one or what happened into one, but then he tried to kill me on the backstretch and just held it full throttle until he wrecked our car and killed the rear clip. I slapped my head against the back of the headrest. I don’t know. I know it was hard racing, but at the end of the day I don’t like getting intentionally wrecked and killing the front and rear clip on our race car. It’s just ridiculous. If he wants to drive like a pissed off teenager, it’s just ridiculous. I’ve said enough.”

RYAN SIEG, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I’m happy for the car, but not for myself. That pit road penalty probably cost us a couple of spots. I thought we were as good as the 17. I mirrored him for a while and then the 33, they were two of the best and in looking at the finishing order I thought I outran the 9, 8, 1 and the 16 most of the day, so that pit road penalty hurt. There was a lot going on. I was trying to keep our car clean. Somebody was pulling out and somebody was pulling in and it just got a little overwhelming at one point and I just missed my tach and sped on pit road. Other than that, the Sci Aps Ford was great all day. We made adjustments all the way through. The third adjustment we got a little bit off, but we were able to get back to where we were the first 125 laps, so we don’t have anything to hang our heads over. Finishing seventh is good with the stiff competition that was here in the 17 and 33. We’ve just got to clean up a few little things for myself and move on to the next race.”

NOAH GRAGSON, No. 30 Auto Parts Centres Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It was an up-and-down day, but for our first one as a team I’m happy with it. From where we unloaded yesterday in practice to qualifying everyone kept after it and we kept on digging. I was in the front. I was in the back all day. I just really appreciate everyone’s effort. It’s our first race and there are gonna be some kinks that we need to overcome, but I’m just super grateful for the Jones family and everybody from Rette Jones Racing. It’s been a lot of fun. APC on the hood. It’s a fun racetrack. I wish we had a little more, but for the first one I’ll take a top 10.”

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I haven’t seen a replay. I passed him twice cleanly, slid him. Racing in Charlotte, it’s hot, I passed him. I think next week is Portland, his favorite track. We’ll see what happens.”

DID YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH HIM EARLIER? IT LOOKED AGGRESSIVE OUT THERE. “I mean, it’s really hot. The cars are really sliding around. My spotter said, ‘clear’ and I moved up to the fence. He had a run off the top, which is fine, and he could have tried to slide me back and get some momentum, but instead he just got my left-rear and hooked me. It’s unfortunate, but probably unfortunate for him.”

CONCORD, N.C.: The time is here.

After announcing last month that Rette Jones Racing (RJR) will launch a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series team this season, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway race weekend has finally arrived, and the Mooresville, N.C.-based team is ready to turn heads.

The team has hired Cup Series driver Noah Gragson to pilot their No. 30 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300, the first of a four-race campaign. The team plans to expand its participation in the series in 2025.

The team has formed a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing for its limited schedule, which includes Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on June 29, Michigan International Speedway on August 17 and Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on August 31, 2024.

Gragson, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., is no stranger to the Rette Jones Racing team. Gragson and RJR have partnered for various Super Late Model events, including the Snowball Derby at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway in December 2023.

Gragson, who pilots the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang Darkhouse in the NASCAR Cup Series, will return to the Xfinity Series for the first time since Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on November 22, 2022.

Since 2018, Gragson, 25, has made 135 Xfinity starts, earned two poles, won 13 races, delivered 62 top-five and 96 top-10 finishes, and finished a career-best second in the Xfinity Series championship standings driving for JR Motorsports during the 2022 season.

On Friday afternoon, Gragson must turn one of the 33-fastest laps in qualifying to ensure the team successfully makes its Xfinity Series debut. Without the benefit of owner points, the team must qualify on speed to earn a starting berth in the 38-car field.

Nobody is worried.

“I am looking forward to getting one of the most exciting weekends in motorsports kicked off with the Rette Jones Racing family in Saturday’s race,” offered Gragson.

“Helping launch the RJR Xfinity Series program at a place like Charlotte Motor Speedway is special and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the series that we created such great memories in.”

For their Xfinity debut together, Auto Parts Centres (APC) has increased its involvement with the organization and will support the team this Memorial Day weekend.

APC Auto Parts Centres | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 50 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.

Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.

“We are all incredibly excited about this weekend,” said Rette Jones Racing co-owner Terry Jones. “We have put a lot of emphasis and countless amount of time and effort into ensuring our debut is productive and competitive.

“This weekend, though, would not have been possible without the support of Ivor Jones, John Jones, Luke Ramsay, and the rest of the APC Auto Parts Centres | family.

“Their belief in our team program is allowing us to make Charlotte possible. We know we have the right man with Noah (Gragson) behind the wheel, and we look forward to contending for a top-10 on Saturday afternoon.”

Mark Rette, the other co-owner of Rette Jones Racing and the 2009 ARCA Menards Series championship crew chief, is thrilled to extend another branch of competition for Rette Jones Racing and to have the opportunity to lead the organization as crew chief with Gragson at the helm.

“This is one of the most important weekends of Rette Jones Racing’s journey,” said Rette. “Without a doubt, we have all the confidence in the world in Noah, and we expect to unload competitively, but we can’t just be good for one lap; we have to be good for 200 laps.

“Once we know we have a good balance for Noah to get into the race, we can quickly focus on our in-race plan. We don’t have a lot of time with the practice being short, but the experience of this Rette Jones Racing team has us feeling nothing but confident with our No. 30 Auto Parts Centres Ford Mustang.”

In addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gragson will compete for Rette Jones Racing in two ARCA Menards Series races in 2024. Gragson will compete in the upcoming ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June and bookend his two-race ARCA program with RJR in the ARCA Menards Series final road course race of the season at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in September.

RJR will continue to field a full-time ASA STARS National Tour effort for Canadian Kyle Steckly and compete in select ARCA Menards Series races through October 2024.

For more on Noah Gragson, like him on Facebook (Noah Gragson Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@noahgragson), TikTok and X | Twitter (@NoahGragson).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2024 in the ASA STARS National Tour Series while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series platform and NASCAR respectively.

Rette Jones Racing also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | North Carolina Education Lottery 200

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Mason Massey
Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
2024 Driver Points Position: 22nd
2024 Owner Points Position: 26th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Settled In: In February, Young’s Motorsports announced that Mason Massey will compete full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series this season aboard the team’s flagship, No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST, which will continue with Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

Massey arrived at Young’s Motorsports after running a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule last season for SS-GreenLight Racing, including a top-10 performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Douglasville, Ga. native started his 2023 Truck Series season with Reaume Brothers Racing and competed in seven races with a season-high 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, but later shifted his presence to Xfinity for five races throughout the 33-race season.

About Mason: Massey has over 20 years of experience behind the wheel, launching his racing career at age five. Since then, he has garnered over 200 feature wins, 11 championships, and 10 track records across multiple series, including the U.S. Legends Pro National Championship.

Amongst the many Late Model victories to Massey’s credit during his tenure in the Bill Elliott Racing Development Program is the 2012 triumph in the Alabama 200. He eventually graduated to NASCAR in 2019, competing in the Truck Series before advancing to the Xfinity Series in 2020.

After part-time Xfinity stints in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Georgian captured the attention of many with an impressive sixth-place finish in the spring 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in front of the hometown crowd.

With 42 more NASCAR starts to his resume since his first career NASCAR top-10 effort, Massey has landed with Young’s Motorsports, a longtime fixture in the Truck Series, hoping to impress and land the organization back in Victory Lane this season.

All-Aboard!: For the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Young’s Building Systems and Randco Industries Inc. return to serve as the co-primary marketing partners on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 134-lap race on Friday night.

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.

Mason Massey Truck Series Charlotte Motor Speedway Stats: Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark Massey’s first Truck Series start at the iconic 1.5-mile North Carolina oval.

However, Massey does own one NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte for B.J. McLeod Motorsports during the 2020 pandemic season.

Massey delivered his Xfinity-track best of 20th after starting 31st in the Alsco 300 for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is approaching the halfway point of its 2024 season with a stop in Concord, North Carolina, where they join the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend for an action-packed Memorial Day weekend of racing.

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 is part of a double-header to kick off the weekend of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will be held in conjunction with the premier ARCA Menards Series, which will race before the Truck Series.

During his short Truck Series career, Massey’s average finish is 21.5 in 11 speedway races with tracks measuring one to two miles in length.

Mason Massey Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Massey has 24 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 11th-place finish twice, most recently at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the Long John Silver’s 200 for Young’s Motorsports.

Massey also finished 11th at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 27th in the 2023 edition of the SpeedyCash.com 250 for Reaume Brothers Racing.

Since 2019, he has carried an average finish of 24.0.

North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway | Wright Brand 250 Race Recap: In the 10th race of the 2024 Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Massey searched for another solid finish at the historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.

In his Truck Series debut at the historic track in Wilkes County, N.C., Massey was able to muscle forward despite qualifying being canceled due to inclement weather.

Over the course of 250 laps, Massey battled traffic and the balance of his race truck to remain competitive and on the lead lap for most of the race. Receiving the free pass late in the race allowed Massey to make a surge forward climbing to 23rd at the checkered flag.

The finish allowed Massey to climb one position in the Truck Series standings to 22nd.

In 2024, Massey has delivered two top-15, four top-20s, six top-21 finishes and seven top-22 efforts, highlighted by a career-best outing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where he steered the team’s flagship truck to an 11th-place finish.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 23rd and 24th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 486 starts from 63 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.0.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Massey, please visit masonmassey.com, like him on Facebook (Mason Massey Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@mason_massey) and X |Twitter (@mason_massey).

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).

Mason Massey Pre-Race Quote:

On Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I’ve been looking forward to Charlotte for a couple of months now. I’ve only raced there once back in 2020, but it’s a fun, challenging mile and a half.

“It always seems to put on a good truck race. We had a lot of speed at Kansas a couple of weeks ago, and I’m hoping we can bring that to Charlotte and have a good run on Friday night.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Memphis Villarreal

Primary Partner(s): Laredo Trailer Supply

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2024 Driver Points Position: 54th

2024 Owner Points Position: 39th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome To The Team: For the fourth intermediate track of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Memphis Villarreal aboard the team’s No. 20 Laredo Trailer Supply Chevrolet Silverado RST for Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

About Memphis: Memphis Villarreal is a 21-year-old race car driver hailing from Corpus Christi, Texas.

Like many racers, Villarreal started his racing career at a young age, running Bandoleros, as part of the INEX Series. In only his first season, in a limited number of starts, finished second in championship points, achieving multiple podium finishes in only nine starts. His performances also earned him Rookie of the Year honors.

He then quickly jumped to Pro Late Models and Modifieds and even made frequent starts in the Allison Legacy Series, quickly visiting Victory Lane.

This diverse program became a staple of his racing career, recording wins across the lower levels of NASCAR and running multiple classes across the south.

Along the way, Villarreal collected 30 wins and numerous top-five and top-10 finishes, which eventually landed him in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2023.

When he is not behind the wheel at a race track, Villarreal coaches drivers of all ages by teaching the many aspects of racing, such as lines, passing, and strategies. He also believes that if he is going to race the cars, he must also know how to work on them

All-Aboard!: For the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Laredo Trailer Supply will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 134-lap race on Friday night.

Laredo Trailer Supply is a one-stop shop for all your truck and trailer needs.

LTS first opened 17 years ago and has single-handedly changed and revolutionized the way you shop for truck parts.

LTS was established by Homer Valdez Junior, who has more than 30 years of experience in the truck and trailer supply world.

At LTS, you can find all kinds of oils, valves, lights, electrical components, and chrome accessories, just to name a few.

Laredo Trailer Supply has two locations in the Lone Star State: 101 Flecha Lane, Laredo, TX 78045, or 5673 State Hwy 359 Laredo, TX 78043.

Memphis Villarreal Truck Series Texas Motor Stats: Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark Villarreal’s inaugural Truck Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Memphis Villarreal Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Villarreal has five career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit, earning a career-best 24th place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the Long John Silver’s 200 for G2G Racing.

In addition to Martinsville, Villarreal has made Truck Series starts at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway and, most recently, Texas Motor Speedway, respectively.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 30.8.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 23rd and 24th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 486 starts from 63 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.0.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Memphis Villarreal, please like him on Facebook (MemphisVillarreal30), and follow him on Instagram (@memphisvillarreal) and X |Twitter (@MemphisVRacing).

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).

Memphis Villarreal Pre-Race Quote:

On Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I am really excited to be back in the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports truck in Charlotte. I am confident we can put it in the show and gain more experience on these mile and a halfs but also get more laps in these trucks in general.

“I can’t thank Laredo Trailer Supply enough for continuing to support me through this and Tyler (Young) and everyone at Young’s Motorsports for making this possible!”

Race Information:

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2024 schedule. The one-day show begins with practice on Friday, May 24, from 1:35 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. Qualifying kicks off immediately following practice at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 8:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | BetMGM 300

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.

Primary Partner(s): Professional Building Suppliers

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2024 Driver Points Position: 19th

2024 Owner Points Position: 22nd

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 BetMGM 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

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 12th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Professional Building Suppliers as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 200-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Professional Builders Supply was founded on one fundamental belief …it’s about the service!!!®

With a clear focus on supplying local, quality building materials for new construction and an unequaled level of service to home builders and other large project clients, we’ve been providing custom home builders and others in the Triangle area and beyond with nothing less since our founding in Raleigh in 2003.

We know that reputations are built like houses, and ours is set upon a foundation of dependability, honesty, and integrity. Voted one of the Best Places to Work by the Triangle Business Journal and once named the No. 2 fastest-growing company in the Triangle, we continue to set high expectations so we can exceed them rather than just meet them.

Your business is genuinely respected and appreciated. Give Professional Builders Supply the opportunity to show you the difference …it’s about the service!!!®

Glad To Have You Too: In addition to Professional Building Suppliers, US LBM will serve as an associate marketing partner for Saturday afternoon’s race.

US LBM is the largest privately owned, full-line distributor of specialty building materials in the United States.

Offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialty products, including windows, doors, millwork, wallboard, roofing, siding, engineered components and cabinetry, US LBM combines the scale and operational advantages of a national platform with a local go-to-market strategy through its national network of locations across the country.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 will mark Honeyman’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Honeyman has 19 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 22.8.

Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 Race Recap: In the 11th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish at the track Too Tough To Tame.

With practice and qualifying washed out on the Friday afternoon leading up to the race, Honeyman started the 147-lap race from the 22nd position.

Maintaining his pace, Honeyman was hovering just outside the top 20 when his No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro developed significant handling issues. Methodically, the Young’s Motorsports team continued to work on the issue throughout the race, with Honeyman delivering a frustrating 30th-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 109th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 108 races, he has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 12th race will be his fourth tango in the Tar Heel State as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Nevertheless, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team has 22 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at the famed North Carolina race track.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway Truck Series starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the Mooresville, N.C. – based organization has logged 11 starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.3 and an average finish of 21.5.

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 Charlotte Motor Speedway: “I’m excited to head to Charlotte Motor Speedway after growing up racing there when I was 10 years old.

“I’m extremely grateful to be racing there after winning a bunch of races on the Quarter Mile. I know my Young’s Motorsports crew is gonna do a great job getting me ready for this weekend and hopefully we have another successful finish!”

Race Information:

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | BetMGM 300

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Hailie Deegan
Primary Partner(s): Airbox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.
Spotter: Michael Fisher
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-006
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 BetMGM 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

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 have won 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 10th time in 2024, AirBox will serve as the primary marketing partner of Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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.

AMerican Heroes: NASCAR and its fans have always put Patriotism and American Pride at the forefront of every race weekend. That same passion runs just as deep at AM Racing, a team whose family lineage is deeply rooted in the Armed Forces and First Responders workforce.

We’re a team whose blood bleeds Red, White and Blue every day, which is why we are proud of our AMerican Heroes this weekend at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The No. 15 AM Racing team will recognize several Armed Forces members who tragically lost their lives while bravely fighting for our freedom.

1st Sgt Mike Flor, Cpl Mark Baca, Cpl Adam Buyes, Cpl Kevin “Jack” Dempsey, Cpl Riley Pape, Cpl Ryan Pape, Cpl Alejandro Romero, GySgt Javier Obleas, HM2 Michael Milam, LCpl Luke Holler, LCpl Joseph Whaley, Sgt Colin Arslanbas, Sgt David Caruso, Sgt Justin Hansen, Ssgt Patrick Dolphin, SSgt David Galloway, SSgt Caleb Medley, SSgt Michael Roots and SSgt Vincent Sabasteanski will all be honored on the hood of Deegan’s Ford Mustang for the 200-lap race on Saturday.

We are a nation that is united by one flag, which represents all the liberties and freedoms that we would not be able to enjoy without the sacrifices of those willing to answer the call.

Starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Memorial Day weekend and continuing throughout the remainder of the season, the team will work to salute all the men and women, past and present, who truly deserve the title of Hero every weekend.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Deegan, however, does own three prior NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at the famed North Carolina race track from 2021 – 2023.

Her track-best result occurred in her debut during the 2021 North Carolina Education Lottery 200, where she steered to a 13th-place finish after starting 12th for David Gilliland Racing (now TRICON Garage).

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 12 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 11 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.

Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 Race Recap: The 11th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Darlington, S.C. on Saturday, May 11.

Flying the AirBox colors for the sixth consecutive weekend, Deegan, in her Too Tough To Tame Xfinity debut, started 32nd after practice and qualifying were washed out.

Despite no practice, Deegan was methodically moving forward and on the lead lap when another car made contact with her No. 15 Airbox Throwback Ford Mustang, cutting down the left rear tire and causing extensive damage to her race car.

The damage, which included the fuel cell area, forced the team to retire and suffer a frustrating 36th-place finish.

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

He will be crew chief for his 143rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his fifth at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In his previous 142 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), eight top-five and 30 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 Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I am confident heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway because my AM Racing team has been able to bring me some fast No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustangs on the intermediate tracks this season.

“Without question, the year has been frustrating. We have definitely shown a lot of promise, but for one reason or another, we can’t deliver the finishes I know we deserve. We’ll look to bounce back from the misfortune of Darlington with a strong finish on Saturday afternoon.”

Race Information:

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance 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.

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.