Category: XFINITY Series PR

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300

Date: Oct. 26, 2024
Event: Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 (Round 31 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Format: 200 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/110 laps)

Race Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 4th / Finished 2nd, Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 8th / Finished 6th, Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (2nd with 3,121 points, seven out of first)
● Riley Herbst (10th with 2,160 points)

Playoff Standings (with one race to go until Championship 4):

1. AJ Allmendinger (3,103 points) 1 Win
2. Austin Hill (3,116 points) 1 Win
3. Justin Allgaier (3,128 points) +35 Point
4. Cole Custer (3,121 points) +28 Points
5. Chandler Smith (3,093 points) -28 Points
6. Jesse Love (3,086 points) -35 Points
7. Sam Mayer (3,074 points) -47 Points
8. Sammy Smith (3,026 points) -95 Points

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 13th top-five of the season and his fourth top-five in six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Homestead.

● Custer has never finished outside of the top-17 at Homestead in the Xfinity Series.

● This was Custer’s second straight top-10 finish. He finished eighth last Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

● Custer finished fifth in Stage 1 to earn six bonus points and third in Stage 2 to earn eight more bonus points.

● Custer led four times for 67 laps increasing his laps led total at Homestead to 473.

● Herbst earned his 14th top-10 of the season and his fifth top-10 in six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Homestead.

● This is Herbst’s third straight top-10 at Homestead. He finished second last October.

● This was Herbst’s second straight top-10 finish. He finished seventh last Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

● Herbst has never finished outside the top-11 at Homestead in the Xfinity Series.

● Herbst finished eighth in Stage 1 to earn three bonus points.

Race Notes:

● Austin Hill won the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 to score his 10th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his fourth of the season and his first at Homestead. His margin over second-place Cole Custer was 3.045 seconds.

● There were three caution periods for a total of 19 laps.

● Only 15 of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Justin Allgaier remains the championship leader after Homestead with a seven-point advantage over second-place Cole Custer.

Sound Bites:

“We needed a little bit of everything, I guess. That second to last run we had it going really good, and I thought we kind of had them there. That last run, I don’t think we changed anything, we just got pretty loose that run. I don’t know if we got that much worse but the 21 got way better than what they were the run before. I hate it. We had NXT and CW on the car, and I wish we got them a win. Points-wise, I think we’ll be in a solid spot, and we just have to go into Martinsville with everything we’ve got.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 NXT on CW Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“A top-10 finish leaving Homestead isn’t bad at all, but I know we could’ve competed for the win had we not had issues. The team had that No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse dialed in after the first stage, but we cut a tire and I went a lap down during the next stage. Luckily, the guys never gave up on me and I got our lap back. From there we only kept going forward. We were definitely a top-five car but missed it on the long run at the end. I’m proud of this team and how we overcome adversity. I’m excited to head to Martinsville to see what we can do there.​” –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 National Debt Relief 250 on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The race begins at 4 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by CW and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Modern Day Garage Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger qualified sixth for the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
• By lap seven, Allmendinger had taken over fourth place. He drove up to second place by lap 36 and fell back to third on lap 40 after battling with the No. 20. From sixth place on lap 44, Allmendinger reported he had no rear tire remaining. He finished the opening stage in seventh and came to pit road for adjustments under the stage break. The No. 16 took four tires, fuel and air pressure and wedge adjustments.
• Allmendinger restarted in fifth place for the second stage on lap 52 and took over third on the restart. He remained quiet on the radio, taking over second place on lap 85. When the caution came out on lap 87, ending the stage, Allmendinger was scored in second, and he reported he was fighting lateral grip in the corner. The No. 16 came to pit road for tires, fuel and air pressure and wedge adjustments.
• Allmendinger restarted the final stage in fourth place. He maintained position in the top five, reporting his Chevy was sideways, until the caution came on lap 122. The No. 16 came to pit road for tires, fuel and additional wedge and air pressure adjustments. Allmendinger restarted in 11th, with his teammate in the No. 97 behind him, on lap 128. He drove up to seventh on the first lap green and continued on to take sixth by lap 131. When green flag pit stops began on lap 159, Allmendinger took over second place and then the lead on lap 171. Being locked in the Championship 4 and having the ability to gamble on strategy, crew chief Alex Yontz brought Allmendinger to pit road under green on lap 179. After the pit stop, Allmendinger was scored in 17th. He was told to get back on the lead lap and manage his tires. Allmendinger went on to finish in 10th place.

“I loved today. Our Modern Day Garage Chevy was pretty good. The No. 21 was obviously hooked up, congrats to them. It’s cool to get another Welcome, NC car in the Championship 4. We had nothing to lose, so once they started pitting, we decided to run it out and maybe get that lucky yellow and have an easy win. I was really proud to run top five all day. We have speed and that’s all that matters; we had a good day.” AJ Allmendinger  

SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen qualified 25th for the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
• Due to adjustments to the No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet following qualifying, Van Gisbergen was required to drop to the rear of the field for the race start. Van Gisbergen battled to work his way up the field, and, by lap 20, had gained 10 positions. Halfway through the stage, Van Gisbergen reported that the No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet was “pretty good” as he continued to work on his entry and exits through the corners. He completed the stage in 20th.
• The No. 97 team came to pit road at the stage break for fresh tires, fuel and adjustments. Van Gisbergen started the second stage in 19th. He quickly reported the car was super tight and lacked turn in the corners as he battled to maintain position. Nearing the end of the stage, the handling remained tight, but Van Gisbergen managed to advance to 17th. A caution came out with four laps remaining in the stage and the No. 97 team opted to stay out and finish the stage under caution. Van Gisbergen concluded the stage in 16th, his highest position of the race at that time.
• The WeatherTech team opted to come to pit road at the stage break for a chassis adjustment, four new tires and fuel. Van Gisbergen started the final stage in 18th. He quickly reported that the car was “much better” and battled to race up the field. On lap 110, Van Gisbergen reported that the WeatherTech Chevy had “tightened back up.” On lap 122, the caution came out, and the No. 97 opted to pit to pull a packer from the front and give the Chevrolet fresh tires and more fuel. Van Gisbergen re-entered the field in 14th with 74 laps remaining in the race. He entered the top 10 with 42 laps remaining, and the No. 97 team told him to “save fuel, as the plan is to run long unless something else changes.” Van Gisbergen reached his highest position of the race, fourth, with 29 laps remaining. He battled to maintain position and was running 10th with 15 laps left. The No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet ultimately took the checkered flag in 17th.

“That was a tough race for my WeatherTech team. My car was super tight all day, and the team continued to work on it but just couldn’t get it comfortable. Homestead is a super cool track, and I enjoyed the racing, just wish we could’ve gotten a better result.” – Shane van Gisbergen

JOSH WILLIAMS
No. 11 Star Tron Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams qualified 24th for the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
• Williams gained three spots on the opening lap. By lap 12, he had picked up two more spots, and after passing the No. 27 for 17th on lap 22, Williams gave the No. 11 Star Tron Chevy clean air to continue moving forward. He finished Stage 1 in 16th.
• Williams pitted for tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment, which was made to tighten the car, during the stage break. He fired off for the second stage from 13th on lap 52 and took 12th the following lap. Soon after, the No. 11 Camaro started to become too tight, and Williams fell to 16th. The Chevy’s handling improved for Williams as the stage progressed, and Williams took 14th on lap 66. Williams dropped to 15th on lap 85, and following a lap-87 yellow flag that ended the stage, Williams finished there for Stage 2.
• The No. 11 Star Tron pit crew changed the Camaro’s tires, added fuel, reverted on the air pressure adjustment it made during the first stop, and made a wedge adjustment during the stage break. Williams restarted for the final stage from 16th on lap 96. He took 15th place on lap 114, then he continued his slow climb by passing the No. 9 on lap 118 to take 14th place. Coming out of turn four on lap 120, the No. 11 and No. 26 cars made contact. This cut the No. 11’s right-front tire as Williams drove into turn one, and he collided with the No. 26 to bring out a caution on lap 122. Williams reported that the car still felt “pretty good,” but he pitted for minimal damage repair, tires, and fuel. He restarted in 29th as the last car on the lead lap on lap 128. After toiling in 28th, Williams radioed that he “felt something dragging” on the No. 11 Star Tron Camaro, and he pitted on lap 142 so the crew could diagnose the problem and change tires. He cycled out one lap down. On lap 168, Williams pitted again for right-side tires, which put him two laps down in 29th. He eventually took the checkered flag in 27th.

“That was going well til it didn’t. We had a pretty decent run. There’s nothing we could really do there with the flat tire.” – Josh Williams  

About Kaulig Racing

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

ALMIROLA, CREED EARN TOP-FIVE FINISHES IN XFINITY SERIES RACE AT HOMESTEAD
Creed now leads Xfinity Series in top-five finishes

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (October 26, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Aric Almirola and Sheldon Creed, came home third and fifth, respectively, in the Xfinity Series race at Homestead on Saturday. Almirola’s No. 20 GR Supra started third and was within the top-five for most of the afternoon, earning second and fifth-place stage finishes, before ending the day in the third position. The top-five result for Almirola is his fifth in 11 starts this season and helped move the No. 20 team back to third position in the Xfinity Series owner’s points standings, just 10 points behind the lead.

Creed, who started on the front row, had an eventful day in his No. 18 that was strong on long runs. This included running long on the final green pit sequence and moving up the running order after his stop to find himself fifth as the checkered flag flew. This is Creed’s 16th top-five result of the season, which leads the Xfinity Series. He’s also scored at least a top-10 finish in 14 of the last 18 races this season.

The remaining Toyota GR Supra driver in the Xfinity Series Playoffs, Chandler Smith, started the day on pole for the third time this season. He led the first 29 laps of the race but ran into his own handling issues and a problem on pit road late in Stage 3 that resulted in a 13th-place finish. Smith enters Martinsville fifth in the driver point standings, 28 points below the cutline.

The Xfinity Series concludes its Round of 8 next Saturday, Nov. 2, at Martinsville Speedway. Coverage can be found at 4 p.m. EST on The CW Network, as well as radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM Radio Channel 90.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Race 31 of 33 – 200 Laps, 300 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Austin Hill*
2nd, Cole Custer*
3rd, ARIC ALMIROLA
4th, Jesse Love*
5th, SHELDON CREED
13th, CHANDLER SMITH
21st, RYAN TRUEX
24th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 20 Samaritan’s Purse Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

Can you describe your race today that ended in a third-place finish?

“We started third and finished third! Pretty straightforward if you look at the box score. But, really hard fought. We battled the balance of the car all day. Just couldn’t quite get it where I needed to have the balance right. It would fire off okay and then I was just average at best. I was probably a fifth-to-seventh-place car for like 15 laps, and then it would start coming back to me in the long run. But I was struggling. (I) Was skating up on the top of race track. Didn’t have the turn I needed and just struggled to get the power down, sideways, with the back of the car. So, hard to fix two problems, but really proud of Tyler (Allen, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 20 team. They brought me a good enough car to maximize our day, score a lot of points. I think we’re in an okay position going to Martinsville, one of my favorite race tracks.”

SHELDON CREED, No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

Take us through your race today.

“Just were really slow on the short runs all day. Just struggled for 20 laps on the splitter, (was) tight. Then, it was the fastest car and (I) was able to track everyone down from a straightaway back. So, yeah, I just wanted that last run to go green completely and I think I was back to the second and third-place cars there when we started green flag pitting, and then we decided to go off strategy there to do something if a caution were to come out or something just because we knew weren’t very great on the short runs. Yeah, I mean, happy for another top-five, just frustrated as I feel like if it went green, feel like we would’ve had a shot at it.”

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

Finishing Position: 13th

How would you describe today?

“Yeah, just not meant to be, honestly. Missed it on balance. Driver made errors on the green flag stop, drove it off the jack. Just wasn’t meant to be today, and that’s okay. Looking forward to going to Martinsville and we’re probably going to be in a must-win situation there. We ran really good there in the spring.”

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 nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s 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 30 electrified options.

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

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Homestead-Miami Speedway | Saturday, October 26, 2024
Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 – Post Race Quotes

FORD RESULTS (UNOFFICIAL)

2nd – Cole Custer
6th – Riley Herbst
7th – Ryan Sieg
26th – Kyle Sieg
32nd – Dylan Lupton
34th – Blaine Perkins
35th – Armani Williams
38th – Matt DiBenedetto

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 NXT on CW Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 2nd)

WHAT MORE DID YOU NEED OVER THAT FINAL RUN THERE?

“A little bit of everything, I guess. That second to last run we had it going really good and I thought we kind of had them there. That last run, I don’t think we changed anything, we just got pretty loose that run. I don’t know if we got that much worse but the 21 I think got way better than what they were the run before. I hate it. We had NXT and CW on the car and I wish we got them a win. Points-wise, I think we will be in a solid spot, and we just have to go into Martinsville with everything we’ve got.”

YOU MENTIONED POINTS, YOU WILL GO INTO MARTINSVILLE IN FOURTH, 28 POINTS ABOVE THE CUT LINE. WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT?

“It is going to be crazy. No matter what it is always going to be crazy. We have to bring our best stuff there because you never know who is going to win. We just have to go out there and I think being the team that we are, we will be in the fight.”

HOW CLOSE OR HOW FAR AWAY WERE YOU TO WINNING THIS THING TODAY?

“I thought we had it that second to last run. Our car was really good and we freed it up a little bit and gained some speed but that last run we got pretty free and the 21 got way better than they were the second to last run. I really hate it for NXT and CW and wish we had gotten the win with them on the car. Solid points day. We will move to Martinsville and we have had good runs there before. We will bring everything we’ve got there because you never know who is going to win there.”

WAS IT KIND OF A CONFUSING RACE BECAUSE AT ONE TIME YOU WERE THE BEST, AND THEN HE WAS THE BEST, AND THEN AT THE WRONG TIME YOU WEREN’T THE BEST:

“Yeah, a lot of comers and goers and I really can’t say why. We did some things to our car to make it better but that 21 car on the long run really had it together today. We will move on to the next one. I feel good about Martinsville.”

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Homestead-Miami Speedway; October 26, 2024

Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway– Oval (1.502-Miles)
Race: Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300; 200 Laps; 45/45/110; 300 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; October 26, 2024 4:00 PM ET
TV: CW Network
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)- Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport; Facebook, Instagram, and X

Jeb Burton – No. 27 Opti-Coat/ Bommarito.com
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Homestead-Miami Speedway

Social Media; Facebook, X, Instagram

News and Notes:

• Practice; After clearing NASCAR technical inspection Friday morning, Jeb Burton and the No. 27 Opti-Coat/Bommarito.com Chevrolet would take to the Homestead-Miami Speedway for a scheduled split group 15-minute practice session on Friday afternoon. Burton would record a fast lap of 34.473 at 156.644 mph on Lap-2 of his 13-lap session placing the No. 27 29th of the 38 cars entered for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300.

– Starting Position; After the checkered flag would fly on the 15-minute practice session, NXS teams would have 10-minutes to refuel, change tires, and make minor changes before moving directly into qualifying for the Saturday’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300. In 2024, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. Pulling out on track 17th to make his qualifying lap, Burton would record a 33.557 at 160.920 mph placing the Opti-Coat/Bommarito.com Chevrolet 15th quick on the board. Burton will start the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 inside Row 8 in the 15th position Saturday afternoon. Watch the race LIVE on CW Network starting at 4:00 PM ET.

– Homestead-Miami Speedway Stats; Saturday’s scheduled NXS Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 will mark Burton’s fifth NXS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In four previous starts, Burton holds an average finish of 13.0 with an 99.6% lap completion rate finishing 776 laps of the possible 779. Burton has one Top-Five finish coming in 2021 when he claimed the 4th position after starting in 5th spot. 2019, also saw Burton finish inside the Top-10 claiming 9th. During last season’s visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway, Burton would finish in the 20th spot after starting 28th.

Featured Partners

Opti-Coat; Opti-Coat’s permanent bonding Silicon Carbide Automotive Ceramic Coatings provide The Ultimate™ protection for your vehicle. A one-time application of Opti-Coat Pro provides long-term protection without the need for waxes, sealants, coating toppers, or refreshers. Opti-Coat enhances the gloss, shine, and beauty of your vehicle’s paint to help keep it looking better than new. Your vehicle will look better, stay clean longer, be easier to maintain, and have unmatched protection from the elements. Our mission is to provide vehicle owners with superior car care products and services that enhance the beauty and extend the life of automotive surfaces to maximize value and driving pleasure. Furthermore, we strive to offer products that are safe for our customers and the environment. opticoat.com

• Bommarito Automotive Group; A primary supporter of Jordan Anderson Racing, Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating over 50 years in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Homestead-Miami Speedway

Social Media; Facebook, X, Instagram

• Practice; Once passing NASCAR technical inspection, Parker Retzlaff would make his first laps of the weekend driving the No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet in a scheduled 15-minute practice session. Retzlaff would register a quick lap of 34.003 at 158.810 mph on Lap-1 of his 13-lap effort placing Retzlaff 15th overall of the 38 cars entered for the NXS Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300.

– Starting Position; Upon completion of the 15-minute practice session and a brief 10-minute tune up for the cars, NXS teams would lineup for Saturday’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 qualifying. In 2024, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. Taking to the track 20th, Retzlaff would record a 33.476 at 161.310 putting the FUNKAWAY Chevrolet on top of the board for a brief while before dropping back to 11th fastest. Retzlaff will lineup inside Row 6 in the 11th position for Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300. Be sure to tune into the race LIVE on CW Network starting at 4:00 PM ET.

• Homestead-Miami Speedway Stats; The NXS Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 on Saturday afternoon will mark Retzlaff’s 3rd career NXS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In two previous starts, Retzlaff has an average finish of 14.0 with an 99.8% lap completion rate finishing 399 laps of the possible 400. During last season’s visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway, Retzlaff would finish in the 12th spot after starting 16th.

Featured Partner

• FUNKAWAY; Headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, FUNKAWAY is a line of odor elimination products that removes the horrible effects of bad smells. Guaranteed to work on clothing, shoes, gear, pet products, car interiors and more, FUNKAWAY allows customers to renew and refresh, rather than throw away. To learn more about FUNKAWAY, visit FUNKAWAY.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

About Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport is a NASCAR team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson and Bommarito Automotive Group President, John Bommarito. Established in 2017 the organization is fueled by an incredible, close-knit team of employees, fans, and sponsors with a focus on integrity in the pursuit of excellence. Our goal is to embrace the journey we’re on and to never give up – whether on the track, in the pits, or in life. Every single team partner, and fan of ours, is what keeps our race cars running strong and our team performing at the highest level.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
Credit One NASCAR AMEX Credit Card 300 Media Availability | Homestead-Miami Speedway
Friday, October 25, 2024

Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, enters this weekend’s race third in the playoff standings, 16 points above the cut line with two races remaining in the Round of 8. The defending champ talked to media members about his situation this afternoon.

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHEN WE FIRST MET YOU, YOU WERE A SHY, RESERVED GUY, AND NOW YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RING, DANCING WITH WRESTLERS AND DOING ALL THIS STUFF. WHAT WAS THAT EVOLUTION AND HOW HAVE YOU GOTTEN COMFORTABLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT?

“Yeah, I mean, I guess you just realize you can be yourself, or you can do silly things, and making fun of yourself is okay sometimes. Nobody’s going to think about it too much. It’s just been fun. I think showing your personality a little bit and going to that NXT, WWE match was really cool. Just some really awesome people and everybody made you feel really welcome. It was definitely a really cool once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

WERE YOU NERVOUS?

“For sure. Going out there, things move so fast, you’re trying to just keep up and make sure you do the right stuff, but it was really cool to just kind of be involved in it, and they just made it super easy to be involved.”

I AM DOING A STORY ON WAYNE AUTON. WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH HIM BEEN LIKE AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK HE’S GOING TO LEAVE THE SERIES WITH?

“Huge. I don’t know if there’s ever been a series director that everybody’s gonna miss so much. I haven’t been around as long as a lot of people, but he’s one of the people that, there’s not many people that say a bad thing about him. He’s probably the most personable person at NASCAR, I would say, or leader at NASCAR, I feel like. Not to say that in any way negative, but just he’s just a truly personable guy that everybody wants to see when they get to the racetrack. And he’s tough. He has that other side of him too, where he’ll flip a switch and he’s gonna be tough on you when he needs to call you out on something. He’s just somebody that, even when you disagree with him, you can always respect him just because of the guy he is.”

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER FROM YOUR FIRST XFINITY WIN HERE?

“I remember just being relieved that we finally did it. We led so many laps that race and that car was so fast. Just hitting my marks and being ahead by whatever how much it was, 10 to 15 seconds or whatever it was. Those are just the dream days when everything goes right and you just have to go out there and hit solid laps. So it was definitely a day to remember for me. Also starting the Xfinity team with SHR that year too and building it into something that throughout that year and getting the first win for the Xfinity team was big. So it was just a really cool moment to see all those guys and all the hard work that they put into it. Going into that off-season and throughout the year and building it into a team that could go win at the end of the year.”

HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4 IF YOU GET THERE? HOW DO YOU LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHAMPION COMPARED TO HAVING NOT BEEN IN THAT POSITION BEFORE? DOES IT GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE? DOES IT JUST KIND OF UP YOUR GAME? BECAUSE AJ IS THERE, AJ IS A VETERAN, HE’S WON MULTIPLE TYPES OF SERIES. YOU SHOULD HAVE SIMILAR CONFIDENCE IF YOU CAN GET THERE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE YOUNGER GUYS.

“I think the biggest thing is I’ve done it before. I’ve been in the Championship 4, whatever, how many times, three or four. You have that feel of you’ve been there and done it. So you know what to expect a little bit. You know where you can be a little bit conservative throughout the weekend. You know when you have to get aggressive. So it’s just that you know the feel and the pace of the race and the weekend. But at the end of the day, you can’t really go into it thinking that you’re the champion and everything’s going to go right. You have to think of it as you’re just another one of the guys out there and you have to maximize your day. I think a lot of times in these playoffs, guys try too hard and it gets them in trouble. So you just have to go out there and hit a solid day and take what it gives you and maximize it.”

AS YOU FOCUS ON THE IMMEDIATE GOALS, YOU’RE STILL MOVING UP TO CUP NEXT YEAR AND PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. IS THERE MUCH YOU CAN DO AT THIS POINT OR THAT’S OUT OF YOUR HANDS?

“For the most part with just three races left, this is crunch time for us in the Xfinity deal. We’re going to be focused on this pretty heavy for sure. But there are still definitely things to do for next year. There’s going to be a lot of change going into next year and figuring out the alliance with RFK, and getting people in place and processes in place of how we’re going to build cars, and who’s going to do it, and just everything that goes into it of how we’re going to pretty much restart a race team almost. So it will be a lot of work for everybody over the off-season to get that right. But right now, we’re focused on the Xfinity title and trying to get us back to Phoenix. But it’s definitely going to be a busy offseason.”

SO WHAT WOULD BE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD DO ONCE THIS SEASON ENDS AND AS YOU MOVE FORWARD? IS THERE MUCH YOU’RE GOING TO BE HOLDING YOUR HANDS DURING IN REBUILDING THIS TEAM OR IS THAT FOR OTHERS AND YOU KIND OF FILL IN THE GAPS?

“I think the biggest thing is just talking through our processes of how we’re going to do things. How do we want to do debriefs and how do we want to talk about things prior to the race and I think also just getting ahead because the Cup schedule, it waits for nobody. There are no off weekends, really, except for one. So if you can get ahead on the first five or ten races and just talk with your crew chief about what you’re looking for, what he’s looking for, different things to look for throughout the weekends, just try and get ahead on things because it happens fast. So if you can try and get ahead, that will be a huge thing to do.”

AND BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DID THE OTHER NIGHT, I GUESS IT’S FAIR TO SAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. WHAT STOOD OUT ABOUT BEING OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY MADE IT EASIER, WHAT DID YOU WALK AWAY FROM THAT? WHEN DID YOU TELL YOUR WIFE, WHEN YOU CALLED HER AT HOME?

“I mean, I’m sure some people think I looked like an idiot out there, but at the same time, I think it’s something where most of the feedback’s been really positive. So, I think it just shows when you get out of your comfort zone, sometimes that’s a great thing. I think it’s just been an incredible experience doing that whole process with WWE and NXT and everything so it was definitely a lot of positives from that.”

Allgaier Makes Announcement at Homestead-Miami Speedway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2024) – As announced during Friday afternoon’s media availability session at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Justin Allgaier and cornerstone partner BRANDT Professional Agriculture are returning to JR Motorsports in a multi-year renewal that will run through the 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. As the second-longest tenured-partner for JRM at ten years, BRANDT will assume the role of primary partner for Allgaier and the No.7 Chevrolet for 20 events during the 2025 and 2026 NXS seasons, as well as receive associate placement on the remaining races.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Justin, the Brandt family and everyone at BRANDT Professional Agriculture,“ said JRM CEO Kelley Earnhardt Miller. “BRANDT and Justin have become synonymous with JRM both on and off the track and Rick (Brandt)’s passion for this program remains unwavering. We are honored to continue to carry their brand. That No. 7 team has consistently been one of the strongest teams in the garage year after year, and I know that that is going to continue moving forward.”

Founded in central Illinois, BRANDT is a fast-growing, family-owned company and a leader in global agriculture. Specializing in innovative products and services to help growers get maximum crop yield and a positive return on their crop inputs, BRANDT supplies customers in 49 states and more than 80 countries.

“On behalf of everyone at Team BRANDT, we are beyond happy to extend our decade-long partnership with Justin and JR Motorsports for the next two seasons,” said Rick Brandt, President and CEO of BRANDT. “Our philosophy has always been to win in the field and on the track, and this partnership has helped us do just that. But before we start looking ahead to next year, there’s still one thing left to do this year: Let’s go win that 2024 championship.”

BRANDT has had a long-standing presence in NASCAR, having first partnered with Allgaier in 2011. The pairing joined JRM for the 2016 NXS season, and Allgaier has been a perennial title contender ever since, qualifying for the playoffs every year since their inception, and advancing to the Championship 4 in six of the last eight seasons, finishing runner-up in both 2020 and 2023.

“It feels great to be returning to JRM and to continue our partnership with BRANDT Professional Agriculture,” said Allgaier. “BRANDT has played such an integral part in my career and I am extremely proud of everything that we have accomplished thus far together. I’m honored to be able to continue to drive this No. 7 Chevrolet for Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) and Kelley and compete for race wins and championships. Hopefully we can get this renewal jump started on a strong note and finish off these playoffs in the best way possible.”

Allgaier currently sits atop the point standings heading into tomorrow’s NXS event at Homestead, 32 points above the playoff cutline with two races remaining in the Round of 8.

Catch Allgaier and the No. 7 Precision Build / BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet take to the high banks of Homestead on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

ABOUT BRANDT:
A leading agricultural company, BRANDT serves growers and farmers around the globe. Founded in 1953 by Glen Brandt and his sister Evelyn Brandt Thomas to help Illinois farmers adopt new and profitable technologies, the company has experienced aggressive growth under the leadership of President and CEO Rick Brandt. BRANDT’s focus is providing the products and services that give growers the best opportunity for maximum return while building a stronger, healthier and more abundant food supply. For more information, visit BRANDT on the web at www.brandt.co.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 23rd year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also owns seven titles in regional Late Model divisions with consecutive championships in 2022-23 and a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Toyota Racing – William Sawalich
NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (October 25, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver William Sawalich was made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

WILLIAM SAWALICH, No. 19 Starkey Soundgear Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Can you talk about the announcement that you’ll be driving full-time in the Xfinity Series next year?

“Yeah, I’ll be driving the No. 18 (car) for Joe Gibbs Racing next year in the Xfinity Series, so it’s going to be really cool to do that with them. I’ve been with them for two years and going on the third year next year, so that’ll be exciting to build that relationship with them.”

How much of a birthday present is it to make your Xfinity Series debut this weekend?

“Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty cool. I’d say it’s a little bit of a late birthday present. But I’m going to soak it all in like a sponge and use it all for the next year to come, as well as the next two races to come – Martinsville and Phoenix, and to build a relationship with Seth (Chavka), my crew chief, and hopefully everything today and tomorrow goes well.”

What makes the Xfinity Series the right next step in your career?

“Yeah, like I said, I’ve had a good relationship with everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and so, it feels like home right now. I feel like I’m ready to make the jump. I’ve run the ARCA car the last two years and have had good success with them. Kind of following the Xfinity path that Ty (Gibbs) and Sammy (Smith) (did).”

What do you see as the biggest challenges you’ll face in the Xfinity Series?

“Yeah, I don’t know all of them yet until I get into the car. But, obviously, a different car. I’ve been doing short tracks in the Trucks and ARCA cars only, so I’m going to be new to the mile-and-a-halfs, and Daytona and Talladega. I did the Talladega race in Trucks and got the pole. But only made it through Stage 1 as we had issues after. Yeah, I just getting experience in those certain areas of racing that I’m not used to. Also, just learning the competition level of all the other drivers.”

Have you been on the sim much and what have you noticed?

“Yeah, we’ve had a lot of sim time. Probably close to 25 hours of time for Homestead alone in the Trucks and Xfinity cars. Definitely a lot of time on there and hopefully it compares really well. Have also run a couple other tracks in the Xfinity car to get that experience as much as I can since you can’t test or anything like that. So, this will be the first time in the Xfinity car. I’m going to have the Truck race, qualifying and practice to get a little warmup.”

Will you have any family or friends here this weekend?

“Yeah, definitely a lot of friends and family. I don’t know the exact count, but it’ll be the most that have been to a race before and everyone’s super excited for it. Hopefully, we can put on a good show for them. They’re coming in tonight and obviously will be here tomorrow.”

Which family members will be here?

“Just about anyone you can think of – my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, a few cousins, a few friends, (as well as) a few buddies I went to school with. So, just good to have them here.”

When’s the last time they’ve seen you race?

“A lot of them saw me race in Elko (Elko Speedway) for the ARCA race since it was an easy race to go to. Some went to Iowa (Iowa Speedway) as well. Just all the close, Midwest races, people went to.”

Any good luck charms or wishes they’ve given you?

“Yeah, just a lot of texts. Everyone’s been supporting me and it’s cool to have everyone behind me in the family, so can’t appreciate their support enough.”

Is it a challenge to do the Trucks and Xfinity races back-to-back tomorrow?

“Yeah, honestly, I feel like it’d be tougher to do the Xfinity Series debut just on a standalone race, just only doing that race, as I’ll get the warmup with the Truck race (tomorrow). Get the green flag stop in, the run of pit road, getting used to pit road. I mean, I’m still kind of new to that. I’ve only run 10 Truck races, or 12 Truck races total, so still new to that and getting a feel for everything as it’s a lot different from ARCA because I’ve done the ARCA doubles multiple times and got used to those pretty quickly, switching back-and-forth.”

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 nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s 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 30 electrified options.

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

Memphis, TN (October 25, 2024) — Jeb Burton is ready to shine because Burton and Opti-Coat are hitting the NASCAR Xfinity Series with speed, precision, and unstoppable protection!

Opti-Coat, a leader in vehicle protection solutions, is proud to sponsor the No. 27 car, driven by two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Jeb Burton at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Partnering with the Bommarito Automotive Group as a co-sponsor on the Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport Chevrolet Camaro, Opti-Coat brings its innovative silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic coatings to the world of NASCAR. This collaboration highlights Opti-Coat’s commitment to high-performance protection and excellence in motorsports.

Opti-Coat, a leading innovator in advanced vehicle protection solutions, specializes in ceramic coatings and paint protection films designed to enhance the longevity and appearance of vehicles. Since its establishment in 2006, Opti-Coat has been at the forefront of the automotive detailing industry with its cutting-edge silicon carbide (SiC) technology, offering superior protection against scratches, chemicals, and environmental damage. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Opti-Coat continues to set new standards in automotive surface protection, providing customers with durable, high-performance products that maintain a vehicle’s gloss and shine for years.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport is a dynamic NASCAR Xfinity Series team founded by driver Jordan Anderson and John Bommarito. Fielding the No. 27 car with driver Jeb Burton, the team is known for its competitive edge and strong performance on the track. A major highlight came on April 2, 2022, when the team secured its first Xfinity Series win at the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.

“As a company built on performance and precision, we’re thrilled to bring Opti-Coat’s advanced protection to NASCAR. Just like our ceramic coatings deliver unbeatable durability and shine, we’re confident Jeb Burton and the No. 27 team will push the limits on race day. Partnering with the Bommarito Automotive Group and Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport is the perfect way to showcase the power of innovation, both on the track and in vehicle care,” said David Ghodoussi, Founder and CEO of Opti-Coat.

“We’re excited to have Opti-Coat on board for this weekend’s race. Their cutting-edge technology is all about performance and protection, which is exactly what we need to keep Jeb Burton’s No. 27 looking good all race long. The racing surface at Homestead makes it one of the most abrasive tracks we go to all season long so I couldn’t think of a better place for us to debut Opti-Coat and the protection it provides on a race car,” said Jordan Anderson.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Opti-Coat for this exciting race, as their dedication to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence at Bommarito Automotive Group and Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport. Working with Opti-Coat has been a fantastic experience, and I hope this collaboration is just the beginning,” said John Bommarito, President of Bommarito Automotive Group.

Opti-Coat is an excellent program for car dealerships. It offers long-lasting ceramic coatings that protect vehicles and keep them looking new. With its advanced silicon carbide technology, it provides superior protection against scratches and environmental damage, enhancing the value of dealership offerings. This not only boosts customer satisfaction but also creates opportunities for dealerships to offer premium protection packages, increasing revenue and customer loyalty.

Tune in to watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, October 26, at 4 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).

Jeb Burton – No. 27 Opti-Coat/Bommarito Automotive Group
Chevrolet Camaro SS

About Opti-Coat

Opti-Coat’s permanent bonding Silicon Carbide Automotive Ceramic Coatings provide The Ultimate™ protection for your vehicle. A one-time application of Opti-Coat Pro provides long-term protection without the need for waxes, sealants, coating toppers, or refreshers. Opti-Coat enhances the gloss, shine, and beauty of your vehicle’s paint to help keep it looking better than new. Your vehicle will look better, stay clean longer, be easier to maintain, and have unmatched protection from the elements. Our mission is to provide vehicle owners with superior car care products and services that enhance the beauty and extend the life of automotive surfaces to maximize value and driving pleasure. Furthermore, we strive to offer products that are safe for our customers and the environment. https://www.opticoat.com/

About Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport is a NASCAR team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson and Bommarito Automotive Group President, John Bommarito. Established in 2017 the organization is fueled by an incredible, close-knit team of employees, fans, and sponsors with a focus on integrity in the pursuit of excellence. Our goal is to embrace the journey we’re on and to never give up – whether on the track, in the pits, or in life. Every single team partner, and fan of ours, is what keeps our race cars running strong and our team performing at the highest level.

About A.E. Engine (Sales and Marketing Partner)

A.E. Engine is a content and marketing solutions company specializing in motorsports and enthusiast markets. In addition to custom publishing, branded content, and digital marketing development, A.E. Engine offers expertise in event marketing and sports partnership sales and management. A.E. Engine connects brands with NASCAR fans through websites, social media, content creation, and magazines, helping businesses boost brand visibility and develop or amplify customer loyalty in the NASCAR universe. Learn more at www.ae-engine.com.

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway | Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300

Fast Facts

No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Dylan Lupton
Primary Partner(s): Lupton Excavation | AirBox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
Spotter: Michael Fisher
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-031
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Notes of Interest:

Final Stretch: Veteran race car driver Dylan Lupton will pilot AM Racing’s No. 15 Ford Mustang for the final three 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, including Saturday afternoon’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

Lupton, a graduate of the NASCAR Next initiative, will also drive the team’s Ford Mustang at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and the season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Nov. 9, 2024.

The former ARCA Menards Series West winner returned to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition for the first time since Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway last year on Oct. 5, 2024, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Driving the No. 15 Sentinel Foundation | Nine Line Apparel Ford Mustang for AM Racing, Lupton contended for a top-10 finish before being collected in the “Big One” with three laps to go.

To jumpstart his stock car racing career this year, Lupton returned to the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in mid-September when he piloted the No. 30 Lupton Excavation | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang to a top-10 finish in the General Tire 100 at The Glen.

The Wilton, Calif. native has spent most of 2024 competing in select Late-Model events on the West Coast and in a limited Trans Am Series XGT Class schedule.

The Californian has three career starts for AM Racing at Talladega, the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway respectively.

Lupton has 63 starts across all three of NASCAR’s national divisions, with one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Welcome Aboard: For the 31st of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, AM Racing and Lupton welcome Lupton Excavation to the team as the primary partner on the No. 15 Ford Mustang for the 200-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Lupton Excavation Inc. was founded in 1987. The company provides excavation work and digs foundations.

Serving Sacramento, Calif., and surrounding areas, Lupton Excavation Inc. also specializes in Earthwork and plumbing.

Giving You Peace of Air: For the final speedway race of the season, AirBox will serve in an associate partnership role on Lupton’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) 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.

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Homestead-Miami Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway will mark Lupton’s first career Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway in South Florida.

However, Lupton did make one NASCAR Cup Series start at Homestead during the 2016 season, competing in the season finale Ford EcoBoost 400, piloting the No. 32 Go Fas Racing Ford Mustang.

He will look to improve his overall speedway average Xfinity finish of 26.0.

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 44 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Lupton has a career-best ninth-place finish after starting 16th for Athenian Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August 2015.

In addition to his Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved four NASCAR Cup Series starts and 15 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Thanks For Your Support: With 90 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Dylan Lupton would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Mobil 1 and WIX Filters.

Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Ambetter Health 302 Race Recap: The 30th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in a return trip to Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

In his Las Vegas return, Lupton immediately showcased speed with his No. 15 Lupton Excavation | AirBox Ford Mustang, posting a top-10 during his group run before landing 22nd overall at the end of the quick 15-minute session.

Lupton improved on his practice time to qualify a Las Vegas Xfinity career-best 21st.

From the drop of the green flag, it initially appeared that Lupton would have a fast enough car to contend for a top-15 finish.

However, the team encountered tire issues in Stage 1 and Stage 2, which hindered the team’s on-track performance, including making slight contact with the wall.

A gallant effort by the AM Racing team to combat the tire issues, the car responded to aggressive chassis adjustments in Stage 3 that allowed Lupton to rebound to take the checkered flag in the 27th position for the second consecutive week.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Ryan “Pickle” London is Dylan Lupton’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 31st NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his first at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In his previous 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two top-10 finishes, including a career-best ninth at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with Joey Logano in September 2024 for AM Racing.

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 Dylan Lupton like him on Facebook (Lupton Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@luptondylan) and X | Twitter (@LuptonDylan).

Dylan Lupton Quoteboard:

On Homestead-Miami Speedway: “I’m optimistic about returning to Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s been several years since I’ve been on the track, but I feel like we are in a good place knowing where we want to be with the setup.

“The AM Racing team had a strong showing going last year before being collected in a mid-race accident. I’d love nothing more than for us to build on the speed that we showcased at Las Vegas and deliver a respectable finish on Saturday afternoon and set us up for the last two races of the season at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.”

Race Information:

The Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 31st of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Friday, October 25, from 4:35 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 5:10 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, October 26, shortly after 4:00 ET, with live coverage on the CW Network, 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 Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.