Category: XFINITY Series PR

Toyota Racing – Taylor Gray
NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray was made available to the media on Saturday prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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

What does it mean to announce your plans for next season with Joe Gibbs Racing?

“Yeah, it means a lot – I’m really excited to get going. It has been great to work with all of the guys at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), and the goal is to go and have a really good year. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get to run these cars full time. They are so much fun to drive. I’m looking forward to it, but still trying to win a truck championship.”

Is it going to be difficult to compartmentalize with Ty Gibbs, your friend versus Ty Gibbs, the owner?

(laughter) “I think it is all good there.”

Can you talk about the advice that he is going to give you?

“Because I think he has won 11 or 12 Xfinity races and he is a Xfinity Series champion, so it is kind of hard to sit there and listen to his advice and not take it. He’s shown that he’s very successful in the racing series that he has ran in. I think I would be a fool to not sit there and take his advice.”

How do you feel like you’ve progressed this season?

“I think the biggest thing is just to get to run these cars more and more, and getting acclimated to how they drive compared to the truck – they are quite a bit different. They want different things, and they take different things, for me at least, to go fast in the cars, so just being able to get used to the cars and get acclimated with them more and understand what I like to feel in the Xfinity cars has been huge for me.”

What are reasonable expectations for your rookie season next year?

“It is kind of hard for me to pinpoint that, right? I don’t know. I haven’t really put much thought into it just because I am still focused on going and winning a Truck championship. Kind of have my back pinned against a wall on the Playoff side of things, on the Truck side. That is kind of my main focus. I haven’t out a lot of time into expectations, and things like that for next year, but I think everyone else’s expectation is for me to go and win races and run well. Honestly, the goal is to go and compete for wins and a championship.”

How difficult is it having this long of break in the Truck Series schedule?

“I’ve come to learn to hate the Truck Series schedule (laughter), because I have sat there in my points position and have been off for so many weeks and it has killed me inside, but yeah, it is tough – especially, when you are in a spot like I am and you have pretty good momentum going and it just stops – you have to stop for, I don’t know how long it has been for trucks, two or three weeks. It can be tough, but I think the biggest thing is getting back into and have to refocus.”

What do you want people to know about you as you move into the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season?

“That’s tough. That’s a tough question to answer. It’s a good question. I think the biggest thing for me – a lot of people view me as an underdog, like, I don’t have the wins that other people do. When you go and look on paper, I’m 1000 percent viewed as the underdog. I don’t mind that title. I like to fly under the radar, but I think, for me, it’s just going out and proving to people that I’m not some kid that was handed this.”

How important was it to get some races with your crew chief next season with Tyler Allen?

“It has been super important. Luckily, with the position that I was in with JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) – they have two all-star cars that you can go between, and once, we got the position where we were looking, pretty much we were set on going Xfinity racing next year, I wanted to get two different feels from two different crew chiefs. JGR gave me a very fortunate opportunity where I could do that, so it has been awesome. Both crew chiefs were awesome to work with. I’m working with Seth (Chavka) this weekend and we’ve shown speed. They’ve both been good to work with. Me and Tyler (Allen) have just clicked right off the bat, and have gotten along really well, working with him the races that I have.”

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 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th 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 29 electrified options.

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

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Las Vegas Motor Speedway; October 19, 2024

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway– Oval (1.5-Miles)
Race: Ambetter Health 302; 201 Laps –45/45/111; 301.5 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday, October 19, 2024 4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET)
TV: CW Network
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) – 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 Puryear Tank LInes
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

News and Notes:

• Practice; After passing NASCAR technical inspection, Jeb Burton and the No. 27 Puryear Tank Lines Chevrolet would take to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) for a scheduled split group 15-minute practice session on Friday afternoon. Burton would put down a fast lap of 30.685 at 175.982 mph on Lap-1 of his 20-lap session ranking the Virginia diver 14th of the 38 cars entered for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Ambetter Health 302.

– Starting Position; After the checkered flag would fly on the 15-minute practice session, NXS teams would move directly into qualifying for the Saturday’s Ambetter Health 302. In 2024, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. Taking to the track 24th, Burton would record a 29.886 at 180.687 placing the Puryear Tank Lines Chevrolet 15th quick on the board. Burton will start the Ambetter Health 302 inside Row 8 in the 15th position Saturday afternoon.

– Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats; Saturday’s scheduled NXS Ambetter Health 302 will mark Burton’s 9th NXS start at LVMS. In eight previous starts, Burton holds an average finish of 19.8 with an 88.5% lap completion rate finishing 1419 laps of the possible 1603. Burton has one Top-Ten finish coming in 2021 when he claimed the 10th position after starting in 5th spot. During the Spring visit to LVMS, Burton would finish in the 25th spot after starting 23rd.

Featured Partner

• Puryear Tank Lines; Puryear Tank Lines is a family-owned and operated business that dates back 3 generations. Specializing in bulk tank delivery of LPG, butane, liquid asphalt and bulk cement. At Puryear they make it their mission to treat both our clients and employees with respect and provide customers with the service they deserve. Puryear Tank Lines promises to provide high-quality transportation services in a safe and efficient way. Visit Puyear Tank Lines online and learn how to become a driver today. Drive4Puryear.com

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Social Media; Facebook, X, Instagram

• Practice; Once clearing NASCAR technical inspection, Parker Retzlaff would make his first laps of the weekend driving the No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet in a scheduled 20-minute practice session. Retzlaff would register a quick lap of 30.766 at 175.518 mph on Lap-3 of his 14-lap stint putting the young Wisconsin driver 19th overall of the 38 cars entered for the NXS Ambetter Health 302.

– Starting Position; Upon completion of the 15-minute practice session, NXS teams would lineup for Saturday’s Ambetter Health 302 qualifying. In 2024, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. Taking to the track immediately after his teammate, Retzlaff would record a 30.167 at 179.004 putting the FUNKAWAY Chevrolet 20th fastest. Retzlaff will lineup outside Row 10 in the 20th position for Ambetter Health 302.

• Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats; The Ambetter Health 302 on Saturday afternoon will mark Retzlaff’s 5th career NXS start at LVMS. In four previous starts, Retzlaff has an average finish of 26.8 with an 87.3% lap completion rate finishing 700 laps of the possible 802. In the Spring Retzlaff would lay down a super quick qualifying effort starting in the 4th position and would be fast the first 115-laps before inquiring a fuel pump issue would side line his day ultimately finishing in the 35th spot.

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.

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Ambetter Health 302

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-006
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 four 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, including Saturday afternoon’s Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor 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 two career starts for AM Racing at Talladega and the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course respectively.

Lupton has 62 starts across all three of NASCAR’s national divisions, with one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Welcome Aboard: For the 30th 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 201-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 penultimate speedway race of the season, AirBox will serve in an associate partnership role on Lupton’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.

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

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

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

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

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will mark Lupton’s third career start at the 1.5-mile track located in Sin City.

In his two previous efforts, Lupton finished a track-best 35th after starting 25th in the 2021 edition of the Alsco Uniforms 302 for Sam Hunt Racing.

In addition to his two Xfinity Series starts at Las Vegas, Lupton also holds three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race starts for TRICON Garage and Reaume Brothers Racing respectively.

In 2019, Lupton delivered his Truck Series track-best finish of 10th after starting 17th in the World of Westgate 200 for TRICON.

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

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 43 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 88 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.

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course | Drive for the Cure 250 Race Recap: The 29th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in a return trip to Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway to tackle the track’s fall ROVAL layout on Saturday, October 12, 2024.

Building off a 50-minute practice on Saturday morning, Lupton and the AM Racing team continued to find speed with their No. 15 Lupton Excavation | AirBox Ford Mustang.

Starting the race from the 36th position, Lupton quickly picked off several positions on the initial start. By the end of Stage 1, Lupton’s car stumbled.

At the beginning of Stage 2, Lupton continued to post top-20 lap times but was trapped by track position. During the stage, he was also collected in a Turn 17 melee, which collected more than a half dozen race cars.

The damage was not terminal with the AM Racing team doing a great job and keeping Lupton on the lead lap despite all the repairs.

Lupton was beginning his climb back through the field and had climbed to 23rd when he got a flat tire and had to limp all the way around the course and pit under green.

The unscheduled stop cost the team two laps, but through perseverance, Lupton and the team were able to earn one of their lost laps back and overtake three competitors in NASCAR overtime to earn a hard-fought 27th-place finish.

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

He will be crew chief for his 30th NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his first at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In his previous 29 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 Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway: “I’ve always enjoyed racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but have had terrible luck in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I’m looking to change that statistic on Saturday afternoon.

“The AM Racing team had a lot of speed with their race car in the spring and I’m hoping we can unload and pick up right where they left off. We’ve showcased potential in our first two races, just haven’t had the luck we needed to deliver the finishes we deserve.

“Hopefully, we unload fast and have a productive race where we can continue to work on the balance and contend for a strong finish.”

Race Information:

The Ambetter Health 302 (201 laps | 301.5 miles) is the 30th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Friday, October 18, from 3:35 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:10 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, October 19, shortly after 4:30 PT (7:30 p.m. ET), with live coverage on the CW Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Pacific).

About AM Racing:

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

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

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

JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
NXS RACE – Ambetter Health 302 (201 laps / 301.5 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 – 10X Health Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 29

Wins: 3

Top 5s: 8

Top 10s: 12

Laps Led: 224

Avg. Finish: 18.3

Points: 5th

• Sam Mayer heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the most recent winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, having scored the victory in dramatic fashion last weekend in Charlotte to secure his place in the Round of 8.
• The young driver has six previous starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, where he has totaled one top-five and three top-10 finishes, with a best of fifth coming in this event last season.
• In 20 starts on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length, Mayer has earned two victories, eight top fives and 13 top 10s.
• Following the win last weekend, the Franklin, Wis. native currently holds the fifth position in the NXS Playoff Grid, at 18 markers behind leader and teammate Justin Allgaier, heading into the first race of the Round of 8.

Sam Mayer

“The win last week was a true testament to how hard this team works. We knew we had one job and we did just that to keep ourselves in contention for the championship. Vegas has been hit or miss for me in the past but it is a fun track to run at and I think we have great momentum to keep up the speed and effort to have a solid finish in the end. Happy to have 10X Health back on board for the first race of the Round of 8 and I hope we can be in the running to get them to Victory Lane.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 29

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 16

Laps Led: 663

Avg. Finish: 14.8

Points:1st

• Justin Allgaier heads into the opening race in the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs as the points leader, seven points ahead of second and 10 points above the cutline with three races remaining in the round.
• In 20 NXS starts at Las Vegas, Allgaier has amassed 10 top fives and 17 top 10s.
• Allgaier on four separate occasions has finished in the runner-up position in “Sin City,” including in this event in 2018 and 2021.
• This year on 1.5-mile tracks, the Illinois native has earned a best finish of third, coming at Texas Motor Speedway in April.

Justin Allgaier

“It’s great to be here in the Round of 8. That first round didn’t go quite how we were hoping, but we know what is waiting ahead of us and I know that everyone on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet is ready to go. Las Vegas has been a strong track for us over these last couple of years, so I feel really confident that we are going to be just as fast again when we unload on Friday. This whole group is ready and I can’t wait to get out there and see what we can do this weekend.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 29

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 6

Top 10s: 15

Laps Led: 60

Avg. Finish: 14.8

Points: 8th

• Coming off a win and a top 10 in the past two races, Sammy Smith heads west to Las Vegas for the first race in the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs.
• Smith’s best finish in three races at Las Vegas with the NXS came this spring when he finished eighth.
• The 20-year old Iowa native has 35 NXS starts on his resume at tracks that are at least 1.5 miles in length. Of those, he has one win, eight top fives, and 20 top 10s.
• Super T Transport will ride on the TV panel of the Pilot Flying J Chevrolet this weekend. Super T originated in 2007 in Idaho Falls, ID as a small transportation fleet. It has since grown into a global-scale operation, partnering with other transportation companies to provide the best service.

Sammy Smith

“I’m excited to get this next round of the playoffs started, especially with two of my teammates going into the fight with me. We’re still feeling the momentum from our Talladega win and everyone on this Pilot Flying J Chevrolet team is focused on what we need to do to have strong and consistent runs the next three races.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / Pelonis Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 29

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 34

Avg. Finish: 19.2

Points: 14th

• Brandon Jones has made 15 starts in the NXS at Las Vegas and has tallied two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, with a best of third coming during the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
• In addition to his 15 starts in the NXS, the 27-year-old Georgia native has recorded two starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series at the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
• Of current active tracks in the NXS, Jones average finish of 9.9 in Las Vegas is the third best for the 27-year-old.
• Pelonis, a trusted brand in home comfort for over 25 years, will be making its final appearance on the hood of Jones’ Camaro this weekend. This will be the brand’s first appearance in “Sin City” with Jones.

Brandon Jones

“This team has had speed over the last few weeks and hopefully this weekend is more of the same. We ran well at Vegas in the spring, so this team has been working hard to make sure we have similar success. With only a few races left in the season it would be great to get this Menards/Pelonis Chevrolet in Victory Lane and give these guys the finish they deserve.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway a combined 80 times in the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, the organization has recorded three wins, including the first for the organization with Mark Martin in 2008, 33 top fives and 54 top- 0s, with an average finish of 10.9.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PT.

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Las Vegas NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Ambetter Health 302 (Round 30 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, Oct. 19
• Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Layout: 1.5-mile oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 p.m. EDT on CW/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• Cole Custer is focused as he heads to the first race of the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, Saturday’s Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished third in this race last year after winning the first stage and leading 62 laps. He followed that with a runner-up finish after qualifying on the pole in his return visit to the 1.5-mile oval in March. Custer arrives at Las Vegas second in the playoff standings, just seven points behind Justin Allgaier and 11 points above the top-four cutline. A win this weekend would propel Custer into the Championship 4 Nov. 9 at Phoenix Raceway. In his previous four fulltime season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Custer has made it to the Championship 4 in all but his rookie season in 2017, when he finished fifth in the standings. He hopes to make a Championship 4 appearance once again as he tackles the tracks that make up this year’s Round of 8 – Saturday at Las Vegas, Oct. 26 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Nov. 2 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
• Saturday’s Ambetter Health 302 will mark Custer’s ninth Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas and his 17th overall. He has seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track and a lone NASCAR Truck Series start. In his seven previous Xfinity Series starts at the track, he’s never finished outside the top-12, and he qualified on the pole for three consecutive races prior to his return to the Xfinity Series this season – September 2018, and the March and September races in 2019 – all of which resulted in top-10 finishes. His second-place finish in March was his best at the track. Custer’s Truck Series outing at Las Vegas in October 2016 resulted in a third-place finish from the third starting position, driving the No. 00 entry for JR Motorsports.
• Custer’s history on intermediate tracks has been strong, and the Round of 8 takes place at two of Custer’s best tracks on the NASCAR Xfinity Series circuit. In his 80 starts on intermediate tracks, Custer has won seven races and earned 58 top-10 finishes. One of those wins came at Homestead came in November 2017. It was his first career win. He also has two runner-up finishes at Homestead in November 2018 and 2019. In his three Xfinity Series starts at Martinsville, Custer qualified in the top-three for each race and earned two top-10s, with a best finish of third after starting on the pole in April 2023.
• Riding along with Custer and his No. 00 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is 3D Systems, the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner that brings innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction – empowering its customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to its unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of 3D Systems’ application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. The company’s solutions address a variety of advanced applications in healthcare and industrial markets such as medical and dental, aerospace and defense, automotive, and durable goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst is heading home for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 25-year-old Monster Energy driver grew up in the Entertainment Capital of the World before moving to North Carolina at the age of 17. The Herbst family name is well known in Las Vegas motorsports circles due to its competitiveness in another form of racing particularly popular in the Desert Southwest. His grandfather Jerry, uncles Tim and Ed, and father Troy are all Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees as championship-winning off-road racers. While Herbst has been continuing to pursue his dream of racing fulltime in the NASCAR Cup Series like his West Coast childhood heroes, he’s made appearances in the off-road racing world – in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Baja 1000 events. In his most recent Baja 1000 last November, Herbst drove the second and middle leg of the journey and ended up sharing the victory in the Trophy Truck Spec class with his Terrible Herbst Motorsports co-drivers Troy Herbst and James Dean.
• Herbst is looking to defend his first career Xfinity Series victory at Las Vegas last October as he heads back to his hometown. He qualified eighth for that race but was sent to the rear of the starting grid for unapproved adjustments made to his Ford Mustang prior to the race. From there, a determined Herbst mounted a charge toward the front, finishing 10th in Stage 1, then passing teammate Cole Custer on the final lap of Stage 2 on his way to his second career stage win. Herbst then dominated the final stage, leading 102 of the final 111 laps and taking the checkered flag 14.959 seconds ahead of runner-up John Hunter Nemechek. Herbst’s margin of victory was the third largest in the Xfinity Series, and the largest since Ford driver Jeff Burton bested Michael Waltrip by 10.493 seconds in the October 2002 race on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway oval. Herbst’s margin of victory was also the largest by a first-time Xfinity Series winner since Mike McLaughlin beat Mike Wallace by 23.280 seconds in the June 1995 race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
• Saturday’s race will be Herbst’s 11th career Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas. His first career Xfinity Series win last October is among his two top-fives and five top-10s in 10 previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval. He also finished eighth in last year’s March race, preceded by back-to-back ninth-place outings in September 2019 and February 2020. He returned to the track in March to earn a fifth-place finish. In addition, the No. 98 team has won three races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With Chase Briscoe behind the wheel, the No. 98 team swept both Xfinity Series races there in 2020. Briscoe started second, led a race-high 89 laps, and beat runner-up Austin Cindric by 2.874 seconds in the February race. He backed up that victory in September by qualifying on the pole, leading a race-high 164 laps, and beating runner-up Noah Gragson by 1.370 seconds.
• Herbst has nothing to lose and everything to win in the final four races of the 2024 season. Bad luck in last Saturday’s race on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval put him below the top-eight cutline for the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. While the heartbreak stung, Herbst knows that he still has four races left to try and add to his victory total in the 2024 season with the No. 98 team that has been behind him since 2021. Last October’s victory at Las Vegas came as a non-playoff driver, and was followed by his runner-up finishes at Homestead solidified this as he bested all of the playoff drivers despite not being a part of the 2023 playoff field. He went on to finish second at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 3D Systems Ford Mustang Dark Horse

SHR dominated at Las Vegas last October, with you winning Stage 1, your teammate Riley Herbst winning Stage 2 on his way to his first career win, and the two of you combining to lead 165 of the 201 race laps. What are your expectations for this weekend after the speed the team has shown at the end of last season and so far this year?

“Vegas is definitely a track that both of the SHR Xfinity Series teams have had circled on their calendar after last year. We were just so strong there last October and in March. Our cars were super fast and we were able to run up front. The fall race there is just so much different than the spring race, though. Honestly, it’s more fun as it tends to be a little cooler. I’m really looking forward to heading back to Vegas this weekend to kick off the second round of the playoffs. This one should be a good one for us. After the success that Riley (Herbst, teammate) had there last year and the speed that we had, as well, this October Vegas race has been one that I’ve really been looking forward to. Our mile-and-a-half package has been so strong over the past two seasons, so we’re hoping to continue to see that again this weekend after two rough weekends at Talladega and Charlotte.”

Las Vegas kicks off the Round of 8, which is the final round before the Championship 4 race at Phoenix. How have you prepared for this track specifically?

“I think overall at the intermediate tracks, we know as a team that we have a really good package, but this is such an important round for the championship run. You have two intermediate tracks in the Round of 8 with Vegas and Homestead. So it’s all about going over the details we had from last year and trying to be just a little, tiny bit better. If you kick the round off strong at Las Vegas, you can collect more points to help you get to that final race. If you can win, that puts all the worries to rest. It automatically propels you into the final race and that’s what we’re looking to do. Sure, you don’t want to overthink it and throw away a good points day. You’re always going to try and make things better and better every time you go to a track you’ve done well at in the past. I think we have a really good chance this weekend and next to win. We just have to cross all of the T’s and dot all of the I’s and have a fast car.”

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

You’re heading back home and to the site of your first career Xfinity Series victory. How are you feeling heading to a track where you not only scored that long-awaited win, but also dominated?

“I’m pumped to head home again. Obviously, Charlotte was hard for us. We didn’t advance to the Round of 8 and that stung. When you get back to the shop on Monday, though, you have to put it behind you and realize that there are still four races left to try to win. We’re the defending winners of this Vegas race. Not only am I going home, but I’m also going to a track that means the world to me. I started my racing career just next to the big track at the Las Vegas Bullring. My win last October meant everything. I had waited so long for it and, honestly, it just made it that much more meaningful to get it at my home track. My whole family was there to celebrate and it was in front of the people who had probably seen me racing for years. There’s definitely confidence going into this race, not only from me, but from the entire No. 98 Monster Energy team. We’ve had speed pretty much all season, and I know we can go out and contend for the win again if we can just look forward. We still have to do everything right, but I’m confident in this team.”

Does it add any extra pressure to you knowing that you’re the defending October race winner at Las Vegas?

“Yes and no. I think when we were in the playoffs, it put a lot more pressure on us, but now we’re going there with a playoff-prepared car just looking to win. We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to win now. We put pressure on ourselves every week to go out and win, and to us this is just another race weekend to try to do that. With that said, I know people are going to be watching and seeing what we do this weekend just because of how fast we were last year and in March. We can only do the best that we can do, but obviously we’ve had a strong intermediate program over the past few years. You hope to see that same success, but nothing is guaranteed in this sport. I’m excited for this weekend, though.”

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

Date: Oct. 12, 2024
Event: Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (Round 29 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval (2.28-mile, 17-turn road course)
Format: 67 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/20 laps/27 laps)
Note: Race extended five laps past its scheduled 67-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Race Winner: Sam Mayer of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: AJ Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 14th / Finished 13th, Running, completed 72 of 72 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 12th / Finished 32nd, Driveshaft, completed 57 of 72 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (2nd with 3,028 points, seven out of first)
● Riley Herbst (11th with 2,086 points)

Playoff Standings to Begin Round of 8:

1. Justin Allgaier (3,035 points) +18 Point
2. Cole Custer (3,028 points) +11 Points
3. Austin Hill (3,026 points) +9 Points
4. Chandler Smith (3,025 points) +8 Points
5. Sam Mayer (3,017 points) -8 Points
6. Jesse Love (3,013 points) -12 Points
7. AJ Allmendinger (3,007 points) -18 Points
8. Sammy Smith (3,006 points) -19 Points

Failed to Advance to Round of 8:

9. Shane Van Gisbergen (2,102 points)
10. Sheldon Creed (2,097 points)
11. Riley Herbst (2,086 points)
12. Parker Kligerman (2,080 points)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 21st top-15 of the season and his fourth top-15 in four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Roval.
● This was Custer’s fourth straight top-15 at the Charlotte Roval. He finishes second last October.
● Herbst finished eighth in Stage 1 to earn three bonus points.

Race Notes:

● Sam Mayer won the Drive for the Cure 250 to score his seventh career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his third of the season and his second at the Charlotte Roval. His margin over second-place AJ Allmendinger was 1.474 seconds.
● There were seven caution periods for a total of 20 laps.
● Twenty-six of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Justin Allgaier is the championship leader after the Charlotte Roval with a seven-point advantage over second-place Cole Custer.

Sound Bites:

“That definitely was not pretty, whatsoever. We did a great job the first two races of this round getting ourselves where we needed to in the points. All year we put ourselves where we needed to in the points and it ended up where we didn’t need our best day today. I’m definitely frustrated. I felt like road courses were our strong suit last year and we’re really struggling with them this year. I am a little confused. We have some good tracks for us coming up, so we are looking forward to those.​” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Andy’s Frozen Custard Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It wasn’t what we wanted. It sucks. This race was frustrating for me. The Roval has never been a good track for me, but I thought we would be okay to advance if we just survived. Neither myself nor the No. 5 were giving up in the chicane and it took me out ultimately. We probably would’ve been fine if it wasn’t for that. Still, we struggled with the handling of our car all day so it wasn’t perfect. We almost stayed in it until the end, but it just wasn’t enough. There’s still four races left to try and get a win though with this No. 98 team.” –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 Ambetter Health 302 on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race begins at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by CW and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.