STEWART-HAAS RACING
Richmond 250
Date: March 30, 2024
Event: Richmond 250 (Round 6 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway (.75-mile oval)
Format: 250 laps, broken into three stages (75 laps/75 laps/100 laps)

Race Winner: Chandler Smith of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Aric Almirola of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Aric Almirola of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 3rd / Finished 10th, Running, completed 249 of 250 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 14th / Finished 13th, Running, completed 249 of 250 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (3rd with 224 points, 41 out of first)
● Riley Herbst (5th with 194 points, 71 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his fourth top-10 of the season and his sixth top-10 in nine career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond.
● Custer has never finished outside of the top-15 at Richmond.
● This was Custer’s fourth straight top-10 at Richmond.
● Custer finished eighth in Stage 1 to earn three bonus points and ninth in Stage 2 to earn two more bonus points.
● Custer led once for seven laps to increase his laps-led total at Richmond to 172.
● Herbst earned his fourth top-15 of the season and his fifth top-15 in seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond.
● Herbst has only finished outside the top-15 once at Richmond since joining SHR in 2021.
● Herbst finished sixth in Stage 1 to earn five bonus points.

Race Notes:

● Chandler Smith won the Richmond 250 to score his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his second of the season, and his second at Richmond. His margin over second-place Aric Almirola was 4.495 seconds.
● There were six caution periods for a total of 51 laps.
● Only nine of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Smith leaves Richmond as the championship leader with a 10-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill.

Sound Bites:

“I felt like we definitely chased the car a little bit at the start. We were solid, and I thought we got the car pretty good that last stage. The tires just got killed somehow. Something was very strange with the tires with how you could hurt them. I didn’t even feel like I was going hard, and it just went really bad, so we were able to salvage pitting there. JT (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) used some good strategy to get us a good finish, but it was definitely a strange day overall. We’ll just have to move on to the next one. I think we had something there.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“Man, it’s tough having such a strong car all day and then just fading at the end. Cautions didn’t really play out how we would’ve liked and our tires got so bad as the green flag run went on in the final stage. I wish we could’ve gotten up front with our Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but we just struggled to get the balance right. We started off too loose, but then got too tight. We’ll move on to Martinsville.” –Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the DUDE Wipes 250 on Saturday, April 6 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The race begins at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

JOSH WILLIAMS
No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams qualified 27th for the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway.
• Williams gained four spots before the race’s first caution came out on lap 21. The No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevy continued rolling forward following the lap-27 restart, reaching 15th by lap 43 when the second yellow flag waved. Williams fired off from 13th with 19 to go in the stage, gaining one spot before the green-white-checkered to finish stage one in 12th.
• Williams restarted in 16th after coming down pit road for tires and fuel during the stage break. After falling to 20th, the fourth yellow flag of the race flew, 20 laps into the second stage. The green waved again on lap 102, and the No. 11 Chevy Camaro began passing cars in the middle lane. Williams jumped past the No. 98 to move into 10th place, but the No. 14, on fresher tires, passed Williams on final lap of stage two, resulting in an 11th-place second-stage finish.
• Williams pitted for tires and fuel under yellow and restarted in 14th with 91 laps to go. Gearing up for the long run, he dropped back to 17th, but the caution waved with 77 laps remaining. Williams stayed out under yellow and restarted in 13th on lap 184. The remaining 67 laps went caution free, and Williams took the checkered flag in 12th as the second-highest-running driver that last pitted on lap 154.

“I’m really happy we had a calm, fast race today. There was a ton of traffic to deal with, and if the cards fell right, we might’ve had a top-five day. We needed this to get moving back in the right direction.” – Josh Williams

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger qualified seventh for the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway.
• Allmendinger reported early his Action Industries Chevy was lacking grip. When the caution came out on lap 21, the No. 16 had fallen back to 10th place. After the restart, Allmendinger fell back to 13th before the caution came back out on lap 44. Under caution, the team came down pit road for fuel and adjustments to help Allmendinger get off the splitter. The No. 16 restarted in 34th place and went on to finish the opening stage in 22nd.
• Under the stage break, Allmendinger pit for tires, fuel and adjustments to help with drive off. The No. 16 restarted the second stage in 18th place and took over 16th on the first lap green. On lap 105, Allmendinger took over 14th place from his teammate in the No. 97. Allmendinger began falling back on lap 125 and ended the second stage in 20th place. The team took a big swing during the stage break making multiple adjustments to set Allmendinger up for the final stage.
• Allmendinger restarted the third stage in 16th place. The caution came out on lap 175 and Allmendinger reported the No. 16 was more competitive after the last adjustments. The team stayed out under caution and restarted in seventh on lap 183. As the cars with fresher tires came through the field, Allmendinger fell back to 14th place by lap 229 where he went on to finish in the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway.

“Proud of everyone on our No. 16 Action Industries Chevy for never giving up during the race today. We’re disappointed that the direction we went didn’t work, but we’re on to Martinsville.” – AJ Allmendinger  
 
SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen qualified 12th for the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway.
• By lap 10, Van Gisbergen settled into 17th and maintained his position until the first caution flag waved on lap 21. Staying out under the caution, the WeatherTech team restarted 17th on lap 28. The second caution flag waved on lap 44 with Van Gisbergen scored in 16th. Under the caution, the WeatherTech team hit pit road for adjustments to the No. 97 Chevrolet. Following the stop, Van Gisbergen restarted 28th on lap 56. With the latest adjustments working, Van Gisbergen worked his way through the field and ended stage one in 20th on lap 75.
• Following a pit stop under the stage one break for four tires, fuel and adjustments, Van Gisbergen restarted stage two in 13th on lap 85. The caution flag waved once again on lap 97 with Van Gisbergen scored in 16th. Staying out, the WeatherTech team maintained their position on the lap 102 restart. Stage two remained under green flag for the duration with Van Gisbergen working his way as high as 15th during the run and ending the stage in 16th on lap 150. Under the stage two break, the WeatherTech team hit pit road for four tires, fuel and another round of adjustments. Following the stop, Van Gisbergen rejoined the field in 13th.
• Van Gisbergen restarted the final stage in 13th on lap 160. The caution flag waved once again on lap 174 with Van Gisbergen scored in 14th. Staying out, the WeatherTech team restarted in sixth on lap 184 following various pit strategies along pit road. The rest of the stage would stay green following the restart with Van Gisbergen coming home 15th on lap 250.

“Qualifying was good today which lead into the race with us starting 12th. We were just unlucky during that last stage with the caution not falling our way. Bruce made some good adjustments through out the race and I started getting more comfortable as the race went on. I appreciate all the guys working hard on this WeatherTech team. We will go again next weekend!” – 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 made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and added a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. In 2024, the team will once again field two, full-time entries in the NCS and continue to field three, full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
ToyotaCare 250 | Saturday, March 30, 2024

Ford Performance Finishing Results:
10th – Cole Custer
13th – Riley Herbst
18th – Matt DiBenedetto
23rd – Kyle Sieg
31st – Hailie Deegan
32nd – Ryan Sieg
33rd – Blaine Perkins

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I felt like we definitely chased the car a little bit at the start. We were solid and I thought we got the car pretty good that last stage and tires just got killed somehow. Something was very strange with the tires with how you could hurt them. I didn’t even feel like I was going hard and it just went really bad, so we were able to salvage pitting there. JG did some good strategy to get us a good finish, but it was definitely a strange day with the tires and we’ll just have to move on to the next one. I think we had something, but I’m just a little bit confused on the tires.”

A TOUGH DECISION ON WHETHER TO PIT OR NOT. WHAT WENT INTO THE DECISION TO STAY OUT? “If we could do it again, we would have pitted. We talked about it for five days coming here. It just seemed like that was not enough laps on your tires to really take that chance to not have a set at the end. The field was split on it, so that just shows how hard of a decision it was. It obviously worked out for those guys, but it can go either way on that.”

DID YOU FEEL LIKE SUPERMAN COMING THROUGH THE FIELD WHEN YOU HAD TO PIT UNDER GREEN? “That was fun. It was a lot of fun trying to go back through the field when we took tires, so that was definitely the highlight of the day, I’ll say that because I was able to just blow by everybody.”

SMITH MOVES TO POINTS LEAD WITH TOYOTACARE 250 VICTORY
Second Toyota 1-4 finish in Xfinity Series history

RICHMOND, Va. (March 30, 2024) – Chandler Smith took the lead on lap 191 and led the rest of the way to win his second race of the season and second consecutive Toyota Care 250. Smith led 76 of 250 laps on his way to victory.

It was a special day for Team Toyota as GR Supra drivers finished in the top-four spots for just the second time in NASCAR Xfinity Series history (Dover 2012).

Aric Almirola finished second after leading the most laps (95 of 250) and winning both stages. In his debut, Taylor Gray finished third, while Corey Heim finished a career-best fourth for Sam Hunt Racing, after leading 15 laps – the most in a single race for the team at their home track.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richmond Raceway
Race 6 of 33 – 187.5 miles, 250 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, CHANDLER SMITH
2nd, ARIC ALMIROLA
3rd, TAYLOR GRAY
4th, COREY HEIM
5th, Jesse Love*
35th, SHELDON CREED
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 81 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

What about that pit call?

“It was a great call. First of all, all glory to God – without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now, with this amazing group of guys and gals back at Joe Gibbs Racing with amazing partners like Mobil 1, Toyota Racing. We wouldn’t be able to contend for wins like we are. I won my first Xfinity race here last year – in the ToyotaCare 250 and here we again, with Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra in Mobil 1 Victory Lane. I’m really excited about that – ready to get home and celebrate one of the biggest days in history tomorrow.”

How much were you conserving those tires?

“I was riding pretty hard honestly. I went right off the rip pretty hard just to get control of the lead and set my own pace. Once I could set my own pace, I was riding pretty decently there. If a caution came out – it is what it is – it probably wouldn’t have been my time, but it was our time today and I’m going to cherish the moment.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 20 He Gets Us Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What did you lack there at the end of the race?

“We just got a little bit too loose. The run before that was stage two and my car took off and my car was really, really good. At the end, just built a little bit too tight and that last run – for whatever reason – I don’t know if it was the set of tires or what. I let Chandler (Smith) go and then when I started to just creep back to him. I didn’t have anything to go with – I was too loose in, and I couldn’t get the throttle down on exit. Hate that – to win both stage and feel like I had the dominate car and then to let it slip away there in the end is disappointing, but it was a fun weekend this weekend in Richmond, coming back 18 years from my first start with Coach (Joe Gibbs), with He Gets Us on the car on Easter weekend – it’s amazing to see what God has done in my life over the last 20 years since I got that call from Coach and J.D. Gibbs to come drive for them. I really wanted to put this thing in victory lane for them, but I’m going to have to wait.”

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 19 Place of Hope Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

How did you manage that last run of the race?

“Just being patient all day. I can’t thank all of the Joe Gibbs Racing guys enough for bring me a great A Place of Hope Toyota GR Supra. It was definitely as fast as Xfinity internet today. I made too many mistakes there throughout the race to be able to capitalize on such a fast car. I can’t thank all of my guys enough back at the shop.”

COREY HEIM, No. 26 GEARWRENCH Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 4th

How did you accomplish a fourth-place finish?

“A bit of a roller coaster today. I can’t say enough about this GEARWRENCH GR Supra. We had so much speed in it today. By far the best car I’ve had at Sam Hunt Racing. Props to them for bringing me a great piece. Track position was the name of the game there. We just didn’t have it there in the end. I ran the right rear off of it a bit trying to get back to the front on that last run, and I just didn’t have it. Partially falls on me. I should have been more disciplined with 70 laps left in that run, but that is part of it.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th 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 26 electrified options.

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

RICHMOND, Va.: SS-GreenLight Racing confirmed today that Austin, Texas native Logan Beaden will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

Bearden will pilot the No. 14 Bearden Automotive | Parker Electric Chevrolet Camaro in the 250-lap race to gain experience and increase his NASCAR Xfinity Series presence throughout the 2024 season.

The avid Late Model competitor joins SS-GreenLight Racing with some NASCAR experience to his resume, including two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts last season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, respectively.

“I appreciate this opportunity to make my debut this weekend at Richmond with SS-GreenLight Racing,” said Bearden. “Without the support of my team, my longtime partners Bearden Automotive, Parker Electric, Bobby Dotter and Snow Belt MGMT, none of this would be possible.”

Bearden said his goals for his Xfinity Series debut are simple.

“I’m just looking to see the green and checkered flags,” he said. “Of course, I am motivated to have a positive debut in the series and gain the respect of my competitors, but I’m also equally focused on doing a good job for Bobby and the entire SS-GreenLight Racing team.

“It’s important for me to have a clean and respectful race and bring home a finish so I can continue to build my resume and prepare for what may lie ahead.”

SS-GreenLight Racing team owner Bobby Dotter added, “Logan has shown a lot of promise in the Truck Series, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do at Richmond.”

Outside of racing, Bearden remains an employee of AM Racing, where he works as a mechanic at the team’s Statesville, N.C.-based shop, assisting the team’s ARCA Menards Series and Xfinity Series programs, respectively.

In addition to NASCAR competition, Bearden will also compete in select late-model races throughout the country aboard his family-owned No. 66 Bearden Automotive team.

For more on Logan Bearden, please visit LoganBearden.com, like his Facebook page (Logan Bearden Racing) or follow him on Twitter | X @LoganBearden66.

The ToyotaCare 250 (250 laps | 187.5 miles) is the sixth of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., March 30, 2024, from 8:35 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 9:05 a.m. The field will take the green flag later, shortly after 1:30 p.m., with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richmond (Va.) Raceway | ToyotaCare 250

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-077
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 ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team plans to expand its footprint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to also run two cars throughout the season with its 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, 21, arrives at AM Racing after a stint driving for ThorSport Racing in 2023.

Giving You Piece of Air: For the fourth time in 2024, AirBox will serve as the primary marketing partner of Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) 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 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 and manufactures products that meet the stringent new ventilation standard, ASHRAE Standard 241.

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 Richmond Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 will mark Deegan’s Xfinity debut at the 0.875-mile short track.

Deegan, however, does own three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at the famed short track.

Her track-best result occurred during the 2023 Worldwide Express 250 when she steered to a 15th-place finish after starting 25th for ThorSport Racing.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Deegan has a career-best 13th-place finish after starting 20th for SS-GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in October 2022.

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

AM Minute: It was a relatively quiet weekend for the Statesville, N.C.-based team.

Both the AM Racing Dirt and ARCA Menards Series divisions were off this past weekend and both will continue to sit idle during the Easter holiday.

The ARCA Menards Series is enjoying a short sabbatical before their season resumes action at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 20.

Thanks For Your Support: With 18 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Hailie Deegan would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Klutch Vodka, Mechanix Wear, Monster Energy Drink, Mobil 1, Viva Tequila Seltzer and WIX Filters.

Circuit of the Americas | Focused Health 250 Race Recap: The fifth race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 23.

Showcasing the Cody Jinks Change the Game colors on her Ford Mustang, Deegan overcame adversity in her first career Xfinity Series road course race.

Throughout the 46-lap race, Deegan battled brake issues, but she made significant on-track improvements during the third and final stage to net a 23rd-place finish at the checkered flag.

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

He will be crew chief for his 137th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his sixth in the Old Dominion.

In his previous 136 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 Richmond Raceway: “I am looking forward to getting back on an oval with our No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustang.

After a couple of tough weeks, “I’d certainly like to go to Richmond and give our AM Racing team a boost with a strong finish that we can carry over to Martinsville Speedway next weekend.”

Race Information:

The ToyotaCare 250 (250 laps | 187.5 miles) is the sixth of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., March 30, 2024, from 8:35 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 9:05 a.m. The field will take the green flag later, shortly after 1:30 p.m., with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

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.

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richmond (Va.) Raceway | ToyotaCare 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: 18th
2024 Owner Points Position: 21st
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

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 Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) 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 sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Texas-based Young’s Building Systems and Randco. Return to serve as the anchor partners on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 250-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 that go 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 approaches each job with the mindset. We continuously raise our standard of excellence and work hard to make sure that each and every one of your needs are met.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Richmond Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 will mark Honeyman’s second career Xfinity Series start at the 0.875-mile short track.

In his second career Xfinity Series race, Honeyman finished 25th after starting 28th in the No. 45 Big Green Egg Chevrolet Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing in the 2023 ToyotaCare 250.

Leland Honeyman Jr. Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Richmond, Honeyman has 13 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best 11th place finish at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway after starting 24th in the Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 for Young’s Motorsports in March 2024.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 23.3.

Circuit of the Americas | Focused Health 250 Race Recap: Honeyman continued to impress during his NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie campaign with Young’s Motorsports in the series’ most recent race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Starting his No. 42 Austin Gamblers Chevrolet from the 34th position, Honeyman was able to march forward throughout the 50-lap race and capitalized on track position despite being involved in a mid-race altercation to capture a solid 20th-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 103rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 102 races, he has three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

The season’s sixth race will be his sixth tango in the Old Dominion as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Richmond Raceway.

However, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team has 11 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at America’s Premier Short Track.

The organization posted a Truck Series team-best finish of 15th at the track on September 10, 2020, with former Truck Series winner Tate Fogleman at the wheel in the 2020 ToyotaCare 250.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the Mooresville, N.C. – based organization has logged five starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.2 and an average finish of 20.0.

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 Richmond Raceway: “After a great weekend in Circuit of the Americas, I’m excited to step foot in the car again for Richmond. I ran well here last year, so it just makes me even more driven to do even better this year. I know my Young’s Motorsports team has me covered. Now, it’s time to hit the track and continue our strong start to the season!”

Race Information:

The ToyotaCare 250 (250 laps | 187.5 miles) is the sixth of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will take place on Fri., March 30, 2024, from 8:35 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 9:05 a.m. The field will take the green flag later, shortly after 1:30 p.m., with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Richmond Raceway (.75 mile tri-oval)
NXS RACE – ToyotaCare 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
TUNE IN – FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 1:30 p.m. (EST)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 – 10X Health Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 1

Laps Led: 0

Avg. Finish: 25.6

Points: 19th

Sam Mayer heads to Richmond Raceway for his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series career start at the .75 mile short track in Richmond, VA.

The young driver is coming off a top-10 finish last weekend at Circuit of the Americas, finishing ninth.

In 11 starts on short tracks, the Wisconsin native has tallied four top-five and six top-10 efforts with his best of third coming at Richmond in this event back in 2022.

Mayer and the No. 1 team welcome 10X Health on board their JRM Chevrolet for this weekend in Richmond.

Sam Mayer

“Road course racing was exciting last week but I am super-pumped to get back to a short track these next two weeks at Richmond and Martinsville. We had a good run last week and were able to snag a solid top-10 finish. I am looking forward to taking that momentum to Richmond to be in contention for not only a good finish but to get the victory as well. I am pretty excited to have 10X Health on the car and introduce them to the NXS.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 DeCA / Hellmann’s Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 2

Laps Led: 70

Avg. Finish: 17.6

Points: 8th

Justin Allgaier is a two-time NXS winner in Richmond, having swept the double-header weekend at the Virginia short track in 2020, leading a combined 213 out of a possible 500 laps in the process.

Overall, Allgaier boasts strong numbers at the .75-mile tri-oval, having scored eight top-fives and 11 top-10s to accompany the two victories.

In 73 career starts on short tracks in the NXS, Allgaier has amassed six wins, 27 top fives and 45 top 10s.

The Illinois native has also won the previous two events on short tracks in the NXS, scoring victories at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway last fall.

The No. 7 Camaro will be carrying special colors this weekend, as Hellmann’s and the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) come on board for the first time this season. This marks the second time that the DeCA logo has been prominently featured on Allgaier’s Chevrolet and first since Charlotte Motor Speedway last May.

Justin Allgaier

“We have always had really strong cars on the short tracks at JRM and I see no reason why that won’t be the case again this weekend. I feel like Richmond is falling at the right time for us to get that positive momentum back going and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and everyone on this No. 7 team is ready to go once we hit the track on Saturday. This weekend is also a special one as we have the Defense Commissary Agency back on board, as well as Hellmann’s. We had good luck with them on our car last season and hopefully we can replicate that same success when we hit the track and give them another great show. I know that we are ready to go.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Flying J Salted Caramel / Toffee Cold Brew Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 6

Avg. Finish: 17.2

Points: 11th

Sammy Smith has one start at Richmond coming in this race last season, where he started second on the .75-mile tri-oval.

Of Smith’s seven career NXS starts at a track less than one mile over the past two seasons, he has amassed two top-five and four top-10 finishes.

In the last four starts at a track less than one mile, Smith has finished in the top-five twice.

Smith’s Chevrolet will carry Pilot Flying J’s new coffee flavors, Salted Caramel and Toffee Cold Brew this weekend as well as at Texas and Talladega.

Sammy Smith

“Our Pilot Flying J Chevrolet was fast at COTA last weekend and I’m hoping we can bring that speed to the short track at Richmond. I’ve only run there once but I have strong finishes at short tracks and I know that my No. 8 team’s dedicated preparation is going to pay off soon. I’m looking forward to putting Pilot Flying J’s new coffee flavors in front of our fans.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / NIBCO

Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 1

Avg. Finish: 11

Points: 9th

Brandon Jones has made 13 starts at the .75-mile tri-shaped oval and has recorded three top-10 finishes, with his best being an eighth-place finish (2018 and 2020).

Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet will carry the colors of NIBCO on the hood this weekend. This is the third time in a row NIBCO will be featured on his car at Richmond.

Of the 323 laps Jones has led at short tracks, 24 of those came in his last trip to Richmond in the spring of 2023.

Jones will have the opportunity to qualify for the Dash 4 Cash this weekend if he places inside the top-four among NXS regulars. He last qualified for the bonus prize in 2022 after his win at Martinsville.

Brandon Jones

“I am ready to get back to Richmond this weekend with this No. 9 team. Phillip (Bell, crew chief) and I have been working on our strategy and the rest of my crew have been working hard to put a fast racecar on the track, so I am determined to put on a good show this weekend. Hopefully we can keep this Menards/NIBCO Chevrolet clean and be fighting for the checkered flag at the end putting us in the running for that $100,000 next week.”

Bubba Pollard

No. 88 Rheem Chevrolet

Pollard 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 0

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Laps Led: 0

Avg. Finish: N/A

Points: N/A

Bubba Pollard will make his NXS debut in the No. 88 Rheem Chevrolet at Richmond this weekend.

The 37-year-old Senoia, Ga. native comes off a strong performance last weekend at Five Flags Speedway where he finished third in the ARCA Menards Series East Pensacola 150.

Pollard, one of the top Late Model drivers in the Southeast, is Rheem’s most recent example of its dedication to grassroots racing and providing talented drivers opportunities at higher levels.

The NXS rookie has gone to Victory Lane in more than 100 Late Model races in his career, including the prestigious All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and most recently at Speedfest for the third time.

Bubba Pollard

“I couldn’t be more thankful to Rheem and JR Motorsports for giving me this opportunity. I have been working hard with the team to prepare for this weekend and am looking forward to showing everyone what I can do. I feel like it’s a perfect fit among Rheem, JR Motorsports and myself to go out and have a good run.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Richmond Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Richmond Raceway a combined 93 times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the .75-mile tri-oval, the organization has recorded six wins, 30 top-fives and 55 top-10s, with an average finish of 11.1.

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