Category: XFINITY Series PR

CHICAGO, IL – July 3, 2023 – Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer won the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Chicago following a rain-shortened Loop 121. This weekend’s win marked Stewart-Haas Racing’s 20th NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, Custer’s second victory of the season, and the 12th of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career.

“Congratulations to Tony, Gene, Joe, Jonathan, Cole, Ford Performance, and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing on the pole award and race win at Chicago,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Thanks to NASCAR and the France family for pushing the boundaries of our sport to create this unique street circuit. It’s an honor to compete and win this inaugural event.”

“Today, we definitely wish we could have run all the laps. We don’t want to win it this way, but at the end of the day we had a really fast car and I think everybody knew that. I think this team can compete with anybody out there and we’re really hitting our stride, and I’m really proud of JT and all the guys at the shop who have worked so hard to put us in this situation,” commented Custer.

Cole Custer qualified on the pole for Saturday’s Loop 121 race. The race was scheduled to consist of 55 laps broken into three stages. Custer led every lap of the race to win the first two stages and collect 20 bonus points and two playoff points. With 30 laps remaining, the race was postponed until Sunday due to weather. After persistent rain and water pooling on the track, Sunday’s race was called and Custer was officially declared the winner. This race marked Custer’s 10th consecutive top-10 finish of the season.

Ford Performance teammate Brett Moffitt with AM Racing finished in P7.

The NASCAR Cup Series also raced at the Chicago Street Course on Sunday. After a late start due to weather, the race was shortened from 100 laps to 75. Four Ford Performance drivers finished in the top-10: Team Penske’s Austin Cindric in P6, Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell in P7, Team Penske’s Joey Logano in P8, and Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Chris Buescher in P10.

Both the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series head to Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia this weekend.
35 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 450 WINS – 415 POLES

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

Driver of Porter Pipe & Supply Toyota GR Supra a Top-Five Mainstay in Inaugural The Loop 121 Before Carburetor Issues Derail Strong Run

Date: Sunday, July 2
Event: Inaugural The Loop 121
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (temporary 2.2-mile, 12-turn street circuit)
Format: 55 laps, broken into three stages (15 laps/15 laps/25 laps)
Start/Finish: 4th / 35th (Running, completed 25 of 25 laps)
Race Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)
Note: Race was shortened 30 laps shy of its scheduled 55-lap distance due to weather.

Overview:

Connor Mosack showed speed throughout the inaugural The Loop 121 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course, qualifying a career-best fourth and running among the top-five for the majority of the race. An issue with the carburetor on his No. 19 Porter Pipe & Supply Toyota GR Supra, however, derailed Mosack’s strong run. The problem first developed on lap 21 when Mosack felt a loss of power, specifically in third and fourth gear. When the caution came out for a nearby lightning strike on lap 25, Mosack ducked into the pits for his crew to lift the hood and diagnose the problem. He returned to the track in 35th and shortly thereafter, the race was postponed for rain. But with a plan to replace the carburetor on the Porter Pipe & Supply Toyota and seemingly plenty of laps still remaining, Mosack eyed opportunity to work his way back toward the front when racing resumed. It never happened. Persistent rain forced NASCAR to call the race official after 25 laps, denying Mosack a chance to return to the top-five and saddling him with a 35th-place finish.

Connor Mosack driver of the No. 19 Porter Pipe & Supply Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing:

“I feel like we were a solid, top-five car. Even kind of riding around a little bit, I feel like we had some pace in the bank all weekend that we were saving for when we needed it. So we took it pretty easy in practice, and then used a little bit of it for qualifying – left a little bit out there, for sure, but we were pretty happy with where we started. The goal was to always stay in the top-five, at least for the first half or three-quarters of the race and just keep the thing in one piece and be there at the end. That was our goal, but we didn’t get that opportunity. We had a carburetor issue about lap 21 or 22 and started falling back quickly. Thankfully, we got a caution. We came down pit road to take a look at it and, obviously, we went to the back of the field before they called it yesterday for lightning. The plan for today was to get the carburetor changed and then we’d have 30 laps to make our way back to the front. But with them calling the race, we didn’t get that opportunity and it was really disappointing. I especially hate it for our partner, Porter Pipe & Supply. They brought a lot of people here and they were really excited to see the race and see the car. We know we’ve got the pace. There are things from the first half of the race that we certainly can learn from and apply to Road America. So it wasn’t a complete waste of a weekend, by any means, but we would’ve liked to have had a better result.”

Notes:

● This was Mosack’s 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and his ninth of the season. It was his first start of 2023 with Joe Gibbs Racing.

● Mosack’s fourth-place qualifying effort was the best of his Xfinity Series career. He toured the 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course in 91.018 seconds at 87.016 mph.

● Mosack was the 10th-fastest driver in the lone practice session prior to The Loop 121. Mosack’s best lap in the session was 93.113 seconds at 85.058 mph.

● The Loop 121 marked the NASCAR debut for Porter Pipe & Supply. Based in Addison, Illinois, Porter Pipe & Supply is a third-generation, family-owned and operated wholesale supplier of commercial and industrial pipe, valves, fittings, plumbing supplies, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and mechanical products.

Next Up:

Mosack returns to the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli July 7-9, competing in the Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers TA2 Series event at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. A pair of TA2 test sessions on Friday kicks off the weekend around the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit. TA2 practice takes place Saturday morning with qualifying set for later that afternoon. The 25-lap, 75-minute TA2 race is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday with live streaming provided by the Trans Am Series and SpeedTourTV channels on YouTube, with a delayed re-broadcast on MAVTV set for 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 13. Mosack’s next Xfinity Series race comes with Sam Hunt Racing on Saturday, July 15 via the Ambetter Health 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. That race will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. EDT on USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Loop 121

Date: July 1, 2023

Event: The Loop 121 (Round 16 of 33)

Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series

Location: Chicago Street Course (2.2-mile, 12-turn street course)

Format: 55 laps, broken into three stages (15 laps/15 laps/25 laps)

Note: Race was shortened 30 laps prior to its scheduled distance due to weather.

Race Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

Stage 1 Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

Stage 2 Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 1st / Finished 1st, completed 25 of 25 laps)

● Riley Herbst (Started 15th / Finished 24th, completed 25 of 25 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (3rd with 594 points, 44 out of first)

● Riley Herbst (11th with 429 points, 209 out of first)

Victory Notes:

● Cole Custer’s victory at Chicago marked SHR’s 20th Xfinity Series victory, its second of the season, and its first at Chicago.

● This was SHR’s 99th overall NASCAR victory.

● This was Ford’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Chicago.

● This was Custer’s 12th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and his 11th with SHR.

● SHR has won at three of the inaugural Xfinity Series races in the past four seasons. Chase Briscoe won the inaugural race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in July 2020, and Aric Almirola won the inaugural Xfinity Series race on June 10 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his second victory of the season and his first victory in one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Chicago.

● This was Custer’s 10th straight top-10. He finished fifth April 1 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, third April 15 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, fourth April 22 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, seventh April 29 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, third May 13 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, third May 29 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, won June 3 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, sixth June 10 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, and ninth last Saturday at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

● Custer won the first two stages to collect 20 bonus points and two playoff points.

● Custer led all of the 25 laps run in this inaugural event at Chicago.

● Herbst earned his 12th top-25 of the season and his first top-25 in one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Chicago.

Race Notes:

● Cole Custer won The Loop 121 under caution to score his 12th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his second of the season and his first at Chicago.

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

● Thirty-six of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● John Hunter Nemechek remains the championship leader after Chicago with a 16-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill.

Sound Bites:

“This is pretty awesome. To win at the inaugural NASCAR street course race means a lot. We put on such a cool event here – probably one of the coolest things we’ve done in NASCAR. Obviously, you want to win by running all of the laps, but sometimes it is what it is and a win is a win. We’ll take it as racers. I’m pumped for this No. 00 Haas Automation team. They are crushing it right now, and I can’t thank them enough. We just have to keep it rolling.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“I mean you hate to see it end under caution for rain, but sometimes that happens. We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang but had to pit to fix damage in the first stage. I had fun driving this course though. We could’ve gotten back up there to the front if the race had continued green, but we’ll take it and move on to Atlanta.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the Alsco Uniforms 250 on Saturday, July 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race begins at 8 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
The Loop 121 | Sunday, July 2, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:
1st – Cole Custer
4th – Brett Moffitt
24th – Riley Herbst
25th – Ryan Sieg
33rd – Joe Graf Jr.
34th – Brent Sherman

COLE CUSTER WINS RAIN-SHORTENED INAUGURAL LOOP 121

• Cole Custer was declared the winner of this weekend’s rain-shortened inaugural Loop 121 on the streets of Chicago.
• Custer started on the pole and led all of the laps that were completed before rain eventually forced NASCAR to call the race.
• The win is Custer’s second of the year and 12th of his NXS career.
• It also continues a Ford hot streak that has seen the Blue Oval win three of the last four NXS races overall.
• Custer is in a three-way tie for seventh on the all-time Ford NXS win list with Joey Logano and Austin Cindric with 12 victories.

WINNER’S PRESS CONFERENCE

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang – WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE COURSE YESTERDAY AND TODAY’S CIRCUMSTANCES? “It’s been an awesome weekend overall, just the whole event. The whole thing that NASCAR has put on here and the whole city has been pretty unreal. I think everybody was a little bit skeptical going in and all the drivers, but the course is such a blast to drive. There’s definitely passing zones out there, but it’s such a risk versus reward as a driver. You can push it out there and run fast laps, but you’re gonna be on the edge or wrecking, so it’s definitely a blast to drive and puts it in the driver’s hands a little bit. Today, we definitely wish we could have run all the laps. We don’t want to win it this way, but at the end of the day we had a really fast car and I think everybody knew that. I think this team can compete with anybody out there and we’re really hitting our stride, and I’m really proud of JT and all the guys at the shop who have worked so hard to put us in this situation.”

DID YOU GET TO SEE ANY AREAS OF THE TRACK. ANY CHANCE OF GETTING OUT THERE? “I didn’t even see it, honestly. I was sitting in the car most of the time and I just heard there was a lot of standing water through seven through 11 or so. I’m sure all the Cup guys are praying the rain goes away because they do not probably want to deal with that. It’s wild enough just being by yourself out there in the dry. I can’t imagine it with 40 guys out there in the wet. We’ll see what they’re all made of today if they have to do that.”

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE FANS WHO WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THIS WEEKEND? “Honestly, it was pretty surreal. On the pace laps we rolled off pit road and you could hear them cheering from the stands between one and two. I’ve never experienced that, I don’t think, anywhere at any other racetrack. They were just screaming and yelling and you could hear them. It was pretty awesome and the stands for an Xfinity race was packed yesterday, so it was definitely a really cool event.”

YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST WIN IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AFTER GETTING YOUR FIRST POLE IN THE STATE. “Yeah. It’s awesome. We’ve got to do the Stone Cold thing and I think we’re gonna do that after this, but they said it’s a felony to jump in the fountain, so we’re probably not gonna do that, I guess. We wanted to, and we could, you’d just have to get me from jail I guess.”

WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE TRACK? “Definitely treacherous. For us, with how the Xfinity cars are with the solid rear axle we wheel hop a lot, so going into turn six, turn four, turn seven, all of them that had bumps going in there were definitely treacherous. One mistake and you wheel hop too much and you’re gonna be in the fence, so it was definitely edge in the Xfinity cars and I’m sure it is in the Cup cars, too. But it’s just finding the limit because the second you step past that limit, you’re in big trouble. It’s definitely nerve-racking for sure.”

HOW AWKWARD IS IT TO BE CELEBRATING 24 HOURS AFTER STARTING? “It is definitely probably the most awkward win I’ve been a part of, just because you’re so disconnected from the race. We raced 24 hours ago, so it’s definitely one of the weirdest wins I’ve ever been a part of, for sure, but we’ll take it. We’re racers and you take it as it comes. We’re proud of it. We’ll take the playoff points and keep it going.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THE FIRST RACE WINNER ON A STREET COURSE? “It’s huge. Being a part of that you’ll take that to the day you die saying that you were the first winner on the Chicago Street Course and the whole event that they’ve put on here. It means a lot and hopefully we can keep it rolling through the season.”

WHAT WAS THE COMMUNICATION LIKE WITH NASCAR TODAY? “I don’t know if anybody knew, really. You go to your car, you get in and it’s like, ‘Oh, there’s standing water,’ and then we’ve got to wait, and then there’s a lightning delay. There were just so many things that happened in the last 24 hours that I think led to this point, so I think it was just so many unforeseen things because this is the first time we’ve ever done this and throwing rain into the equation really throws a curveball at it. It was a lot of confusion, but it is what it is. We can’t control the weather.”

DID YOU FEEL LIKE A GUINEA PIG ON THE TRACK AT ALL? “It actually worked out great for me because I just kind of let the other guys go and they did like the first five minutes and I just watched on TV. Then I rolled out and pulled out right behind Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer, I think, so I just watched them and what they did and kind of caught on because they were the Guinea Pigs the first five laps, then I just followed them.”

IS THERE ANYTHING THE CAN DO TO THE COURSE TO MAYBE MAKE IT BETTER NEXT YEAR? “Maybe a couple of walls. Kevin’s wreck, it was kind of like there’s a double point in that wall that you can’t really see until you hit it, so that could maybe be a little bit better, but, overall, they did such a great job with this. I think, overall, we were really skeptics going here, but seeing the track when we showed up and driving around it we were impressed. I think all of us were impressed of how driveable it was and how racy it was, so I think everybody can hang their hats high on this one. They did a great job. It’s a shame that the rain really threw a big curveball at it. I’m sure in the future they’ll get that better and better, but it was a great weekend that NASCAR and the city did.”

WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE DECLARED THE WINNER? “We were just on the pit box and we’re all just waiting around and don’t really know what’s going on. JT actually got the word on the radio that they called i and we were the winners and it’s like such an awkward moment, too, because we’ve just been waiting around. It’s like how excited can you be because it didn’t feel like we did anything today, but it’s still a really cool feeling that we came out on top of it. It’s definitely one of the weirdest ones, for sure.”

YOU’VE WON TWO OF THE LAST THREE ROAD COURSES. HOW MUCH WORK HAVE YOU DONE ON THESE TYPE OF TRACKS? “Honestly, road course racing in general has always been a strong suit of mine, I feel like. I’ve always loved it and I feel I’ve always been in contention and had speed at road course races, it’s just never worked out until this year, so we’re finally really getting things to work out right. Sometimes that’s just luck, but I think overall we’ve been fast on the road courses and we’re just putting it all together.”

HAS IT SUNK IN THAT YOU WON THIS RACE? “Yes and no, I guess. I think after a week it will probably set in a little bit more, but it’s definitely weird. I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but it’s just the weirdest race I’ve ever won because it’s a day removed from when we were actually on the track and just all the things that have happened in the last 24 hours, but we’ll take it as they come.”

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK NEXT YEAR AND MORE COURSES LIKE THIS? “Yeah, I’m pumped about it. We have a really fast setup for this place and it was a great weekend for our team, so I’m pumped about coming back here and I think the whole city did a great job with it. It’s a cool event, so I think everybody is very excited to come back.”

WHAT DID YOU SAY TO THE TEAM ABOUT POSSIBLE RAIN AND ARE THERE ANY LESSONS TO TAKE FROM THIS? “There are just so many things that we do when it comes to raining, like just even having a wiper on the inside of the car to try and get the fog out of the windshield. There are a lot of different things there that help us a little bit for the future, just little things, but, overall, we had a good plan and we were ready for it. The thing about this place is you really don’t know how it’s gonna race in the rain because we’ve never, there’s not really a set lane in the track yet because there’s not a ton of rubber down, so do you have to run a rain line or do you not? And how all of the paint is gonna affect you on the racetrack, so I guess there’s a lot of unknowns when it comes to rain racing here, but we were lucky enough that we didn’t really have to deal with that.”

ANY ADDED CONCERN AMONG DRIVERS TO BE RACING ON THIS KIND OF CIRCUIT? “I don’t think the circuit in particular, it’s mainly just the visibility and the standing water. If we get it to where you can’t see a car length in front of you, it can be pretty dangerous if somebody stopped in the middle of the racetrack and you can’t see them, and then also the standing water. If you’re just hydroplaning and wrecking all the time, there’s no room for error around here. That was the thing that I think we were a little bit worried about, but, overall, I think if it’s just a little damp I think there’s no reason why you can’t race here in the rain.”

NEMECHEK FINISHES SECOND IN HISTORIC CHICAGO STREET RACE
Inclement weather halts NASCAR Xfinity Series race after 25 laps

CHICAGO (July 2, 2023) – John Hunter Nemechek finished second in the first-ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race after the Xfinity Series event was shortened due to inclement weather.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Race
Race 16 of 33 – 121 miles, 55 laps (race called after 25 laps due to inclement weather)

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Cole Custer*
2nd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
3rd, Justin Allgaier*
4th, Brett Moffitt*
5th, Austin Hill*
6th, SAMMY SMITH
10th, KAZ GRALA
16th, PARKER CHASE
21st, ALEX LABBE
35th, CONNOR MOSACK
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Yahoo Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What was your experience like racing on the streets of Chicago?

“Racing downtown on the streets of Chicago was pretty amazing. The whole experience, the atmosphere and how many fans were here — I give a lot of props to everyone at NASCAR. Everyone involved with the Chicago Street Course did an amazing job. Riding around under caution yesterday, being able to see all of the fans lined up three or four rows deep along the fence with no open spots was incredible. Probably one of the best attendances we’ve had so far this year in the Xfinity Series. The race went okay for us. I ran P2 from the drop of the green flag until lap 25 when they called it yesterday. We needed a good stop to be able to make an adjustment and have a shot to contend with Cole (Custer) for the win and just never had that opportunity. We’ll take that second place, and we’ll move on from it. It was a good points day. We gained some more on second place, which was good, giving ourselves a little bit more gap. We’ll go to Atlanta and try to win.”

SAMMY SMITH, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

What were your impressions of the Chicago Street Race?

“It was a fun day yesterday. I really enjoyed running under dry conditions yesterday. Hopefully, we can do more street courses in the future.”

About Toyota

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Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

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RSS Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Course | The Loop 121

Fast Facts

No. 38 RSS Racing Team:

Driver: Joe Graf Jr.

Primary Partner(s): No. 38 Gtechniq EXOv5 Ford Mustang

Manufacturer: Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Steve Addington

Spotter: Joe Campbell

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 22nd

Team Championship Point Standings: 24th

Notes of Interest:

Settling In: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.

In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Welcome Back: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome back GTECHNIQ, a leader in automotive protective coatings products as the primary marketing of the No. 38 Ford Mustang for the 16th NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the 2023 season.

Headquartered in Cumming, Ga., the Gtechniq range includes composite ceramic coatings, leather protection, fabric protection, wheel and trim protection, shampoos and much more.

The inaugural Loop 121 will mark the company’s fifth event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series but the third of the 2023 season.

Promoting EXOv5: On this Fourth of July weekend, Graf, RSS Racing and GTECHNIQ are promoting one of their newest products, EXOv5.

GTECHNIQ EXOv5 produces a high-gloss, warm-looking, extreme hydrophobic finish. It has a consistent film that is more durable and offers great resistance to road salt, all wash chemicals and can help withstand micro-marring.

Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 45 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: ArmsList.com, AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, G-Coin®, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 Gtechniq EXOv5 Ford Mustang on Saturday, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, July 1, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring Gtechniq in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, July 2, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course Stats: Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 121 will mark Graf’s inaugural start at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Street Course Stats: This weekend’s The Loop 121 will signify the first street course event in the history of NASCAR.

While a street course is not classified as a road course, similarities exist. At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a road course, Graf has made 14 starts throughout his career earning one top-10 finish. He also holds an average finishing position of 26.8.

Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Joe Graf Jr. and the RSS Racing team chased their second top-10 finish of the season.

After practicing mid-pack with his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang, the RSS Racing team made gains during qualifying which landed them 17th on the starting grid.

Throughout the 15th race of the Xfinity Series season, Graf maintained a presence inside the top 20 before finishing 21st – recording his best Xfinity finish at the 1.33-mile track.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow monthly.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 279th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday and his first at the downtown Chicago, Ill.- based street track.

In his previous 278 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has two teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang and former Xfinity Series driver Brent Sherman will make his return in the No. 28 HawkAuto.com Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 317th career Xfinity Series start overall and first at the Chicago Street Course.

Brent Sherman is poised to make his 62nd career Xfinity Series start but first at the Chicago Street Course.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839).

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On The Chicago Street Course: “I am extremely optimistic about our Chicago Street Course debut with our No. 38 Gtechniq EXOv5 Ford Mustang this weekend.

“I wish I could tell you what to expect, but I have no clue honestly. I have been spending as much time as I can on the simulator to prepare myself for the streets of downtown Chicago, but nothing will beat actual seat time on the course.

“Everything is going to happen in a hurry on Saturday and I believe there is little room for error, so while I think the race will totally be about strategy, I also think it will be about survival.

“I’m just looking to come out of Chicago in better shape than we started the weekend and give us some welcomed momentum to carry to Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend.”

On The 2023 Season: “We started the year off really strong between RSS Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, but unfortunately we’ve been on a rollercoaster throughout the season.

“I know we just have to survive this stretch of unique races which includes a street course and hopefully in-between all the different types of tracks we’ll find a rhythm that will allow us to continue to accelerate in a positive direction.

“I just need to continue to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to recover and have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Loop 121 (55 laps | 121 miles) is the 16th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 1, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Qualifying is set to follow practice beginning at 11:00 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

About RSS Racing:

RSS Racing fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series led by mainstay driver Ryan Sieg.

RSS Racing has competed in NASCAR events since 2009 from its headquarters in Sugar Hill, Ga.

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Course | The Loop 121

Fast Facts

No. 25 AM Racing Team:

Driver: Brett Moffitt

Primary Partner(s): AM Technical Solutions (AMTS)

Manufacturer: Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.

Spotter: Tony Raines

Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. 005

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 15th

Team Championship Point Standings: 17th

Notes of Interest:

Inaugural Journey: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, AM Racing will embark on its inaugural journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with driver Brett Moffitt for the entire 33-race tour continuing with Saturday afternoon’s inaugural The Loop 121 at the Chicago Street Course on the streets of downtown Chicago.

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue at the track in the beat of the Windy City, the team has chosen veteran driver Brett Moffitt to lead the team’s campaign from the driver’s seat aboard the No. 25 Ford Mustang.

Moffitt, a native of Grimes, Iowa hails numerous starts across all three of NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2018 Truck Series championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises.

Moffitt, 30, arrives on the scene at AM Racing after a stint at Our Motorsports.

Partner Intel: The Statesville, N.C.-based team will sport the signage of AM Technical Solutions on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for the 16th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.

Headquartered in Austin, TX, AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) was founded in 1994.

AM Technical Solutions is a Global Architecture, Engineering & Construction firm specializing in the high-tech markets. AMTS has managed over $20B of global capital projects for over 170 different customers in 24 countries and across five continents.

AM Minute: In addition to AM Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program being in action, AM Racing’s ARCA Menards Series team was competing in the Menards 250 at Elko (Minn.) Speedway.

Christian Rose, driver of the No. 32 West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang steered to his fourth consecutive top-10 finish in the seventh race of the season.

This weekend, the ARCA Menards Series program is enjoying one of their final off-weekends this season, but The AM Racing Dirt Division will be in action in Boone, N.C.

Thanks For Your Support: With more than 45 percent of the 2023 season complete, AM Racing and Brett Moffitt would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, CForce Bottling Company, Concrete Supply, Destiny Homes, Flying Circle, Kreuz Market, Lane Frost Brand, Mechanix Wear and Mobil 1.

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

We’re a team whose blood bleeds Red, White and Blue every day, which is why we are proud to launch, AMerican Heroes.

At AM Racing, it is our mission to recognize and highlight the men and women who continue to put their lives on the line every day, as well as honoring and paying respect to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

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

Continuing with Chicago this weekend, AM Racing will carry the AMerican Heroes livery, which will continue for the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

The team will work to salute all the men and women, past and present, who truly deserve the title of Hero, every weekend.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course Stats: Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 121 will mark Moffitt’s inaugural start at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Street Course Stats: This weekend’s The Loop 121 will signify the first street course event in the history of NASCAR.

While a street course is not classified as a road course, similarities exist. At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a road course, Moffitt has made 16 starts throughout his career earning one top-10 finish. He also holds an average finishing position of 24.3.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 99 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned two top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, including a second-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021. During that tenure, he also holds an average finishing position of 17.7.

He earned a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fourth earlier this year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway with AM Racing.

In addition to 96 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team attempted to record their fourth top-10 finish of the season.

After a disappointing practice effort, Moffitt and the No. 25 Southeast Lineman Training Center Ford Mustang qualified 26th and made a series of adjustments ahead of the 15th Xfinity Series race of the season.

The adjustments worked as Moffitt avoided the early race chaos and quickly maneuvered through the field and found his No. 25 AM Racing Ford Mustang inside the top-10 during Stage 2.

In Stage 3, Moffitt battled for his fourth top-10 of the season but was collected in a last lap, last corner melee that saw him spin coming to the checkered flag along with several other cars – finishing 14th.

In 15 races this season, Moffit has delivered three top-10s, nine top-15s, 10 top-20s and an average finish of 17.2.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 114th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his first at the downtown Chicago, Ill.- based street track.

In his previous 113 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), seven top-five and 24 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Brett Moffitt, please visit BrettMoffitt.com, like his Facebook page (Brett Moffitt Racing), or follow him on Instagram (@brett_moffitt_racing) and Twitter (@brett_moffitt).

Brett Moffitt Quoteboard:

On The Chicago Street Course: “I could not tell you what to expect this weekend, but the good news is that I’m in the same boat as everyone else.

“I’ve never competed on a street course before, but this is a big moment for NASCAR and the Xfinity Series. It should be a very compelling race with a varying list of strategies and unknowns.

“For us, it’s making the most of the opportunity. We will try to unload as fast as we can with our No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang and make strides during practice and qualifying.

“During the race, we’ll just look to keep our fenders intact and hope we’re in a position for a strong finish at the time of the checkered flag.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “Through the first 15 races, we have definitely showcased speed, but we know we have to turn that speed into better performances.

“Chicago is going to be one of those wildcard races where I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect. We want to survive and anything inside the top-10 will feel like a win and gives us the confidence to return to Atlanta next weekend at a track that we were so strong earlier in the season.”

Race Information:

The Loop 121 (55 laps | 121 miles) is the 16th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 1, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Qualifying is set to follow practice beginning at 11:00 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

About AM Racing:

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

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

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

The team has named Brett Moffitt, Christian Rose and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series and Dirt Modified seasons respectively.

WELCOME, N.C. (June 29, 2023) — Blaine Perkins, driver of the Our Motorsports No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro, is gearing up for the highly anticipated inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) The Loop 121 at the Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1. The race, featuring 55 laps and covering 121 miles, will be held this weekend on the streets of the iconic downtown of Chicago, Ill.

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend marks a significant milestone in the series, as competitors will take on a street course for the first time in the national series. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit will traverse sections of streets surrounding the iconic Grant Park, including Columbus Drive, Jackson Blvd., Michigan Ave., Roosevelt Road, Balbo Drive, and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

For the second consecutive week, Perkins will proudly represent Gratis, a renowned beverage brand, as his primary sponsor. Gratis, known for its empowering motto “Be Bold, Live Free,” aligns perfectly with Perkins’ racing style. Jay Cutler, founder of Gratis and a professional athlete, recognizes Perkins’ unwavering determination and shares his passion for pushing boundaries. A member of the Chicago Bears for most of his career, he is the franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, and completions.

“We are delighted to have Blaine Perkins representing us on the streets of Chicago because that’s the way he drives, bold and free,” Cutler said.

While this weekend’s race in the Windy City is a first of its kind, drivers have prior experience with left and right turns in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, preparing them for this new street course challenge. Perkins, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., brings expertise with three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts on road courses.

“I am excited for this weekend’s race on the streets of downtown Chicago,” Perkins said. “It’s an honor to represent a company like Gratis, especially with its founder, Jay Cutler, who had a notable career in the NFL. I look forward to a strong performance.”

The Loop 121, Chicago Street Race, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 1, at 4:30 p.m. ET, and fans can tune in to catch the action on the USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.