Category: XFINITY Series PR

NEMECHEK BATTLES THROUGH ADVERSITY TO EARN TOP-10 FINISH
Nemechek drives to 12th top-10 finish in 15 starts this season

NASHVILLE (June 24, 2023) – In a race with hot weather conditions and several on-track incidents, John Hunter Nemechek (sixth) and Kaz Grala (16th) earned solid runs at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday afternoon.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Nashville Superspeedway
Race 15 of 33 – 250.04 miles, 188 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, AJ Allmendinger*

2nd, Riley Herbst*

3rd, Sam Mayer*

4th, AJ Allmendinger*

5th, Josh Berry*

6th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

16th, KAZ GRALA

34th, SAMMY SMITH

35th, CONNOR MOSACK

37th, TY GIBBS

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

How was your race?

“I think the biggest thing for me – we just have to do a better job on execution. We didn’t qualify well, partly on me. I messed up, and then we had a pit road penalty, which sent us to the back. We had a right front wheel loose. We came in way earlier than everyone. I tried to manage on old tires. With the day that I had, I know we probably passed the most cars here today. I’m just glad we were able to make it back to sixth and salvage a very good points day on the two guys we are racing for the regular season championship. Not a win – I feel like we had close to the speed to win – but it is awesome to have Pye Barker onboard our Supra with their new logo unveil. We got them, almost, top-five. We just have to keep being consistent.”

KAZ GRALA, No. 26 CRUSH Tropical Punch Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 16th

Crazy day with the heat and on-track incidents. Can you talk about your day?

“At least we brought our no. 26 CRUSH Supra home, pretty much not a scratch on it. Just wasn’t the day we were looking for – we didn’t have anywhere near the speed that we feel like we should have had. I couldn’t get the handling on it. Just one of those hard-fought days – but all-in-all, in terms of execution, I think we got everything we could have got today. No glaring mistakes, so that’s good. I think you saw a lot of other guys out there not be able to say the same. Can’t complain too much, but hopefully, we can go back to the drawing board, and see if we can find a little bit of something that we’ve been lacking here lately and try to get our speed back where we feel like we should be.”

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

Finishing Position: 34th

Are you surprised of the chaotic nature of today’s race?

“Yeah, for sure. I’m not sure (what happened) I thought I gave him plenty of room. He got free and kind of just hooked a right. Thanks to Pilot Flying J, TMC, Allstate Peterbilt Group, Golden Harvest, Toyota – everybody that gives us fast race cars. We just lost some track position there and that hurt us.”

TY GIBBS, No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 37th

What do you make of today?

“It is frustrating. Just not a good spot to be in there. I feel like we were really fast – just got cleaned out. Just part of it. The He Gets Us Toyota Supra was really fast. Thank you to He Gets Us. We will move on. Hopefully a lot of people can learn a lot of things from the first 55 laps of this race.”

It was crazy.

“Yeah, it was. If we didn’t have a torn-up race car, I feel like we would have had a shot, but we will keep going. I appreciate the opportunity from He Gets Us and Toyota. Thank you to Tyler Gibbs, Jack Irving – everybody back there – Paul (Doleshal) and all of the hard work they give and my crew chief Jason (Ratcliff).”

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 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.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250

Fast Facts

No. 25 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Brett Moffitt
Primary Partner(s): Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC)
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.
Spotter: Tony Raines
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 Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue at the track in the beat of Music 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.

Welcome Aboard: For AM Racing’s first Xfinity Series trip to the Music City, the team welcomes Southeast Lineman Training as the primary marketing partner for the 15th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.

Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC) is the premier training school for apprentice lineworker training.

SLTC consistently has produced an elite group of highly trained and certified graduates.

SLTC provides training in a realistic and challenging environment, where individuals can establish the foundation necessary for a rewarding career as lineworkers in the electrical utility and communications industries.

AM Minute: Last weekend was a somewhat quiet weekend for AM Racing.

With the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series enjoying a much-needed off weekend, AM Racing’s development program in the ARCA Menards Series was front and center.

Christian Rose aboard his No. 32 Department of West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang made his Berlin Raceway debut in style, qualifying a career-best fifth and finishing a career-best seventh.

The AM Racing Dirt Division was also in action.

Austin Wayne Self again captured another win in 2023 by winning his fifth race of the season for the Statesville, N.C.-based team at Carolina Speedway.

Self will be back in action this weekend at East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, N.C.

Thanks For Your Support: With more than 42 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, AM Technical Solutions, 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 Nashville 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 Nashville Superspeedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250 will mark Moffitt’s third start at the 1.33-mile speedway.

In his previous two efforts, Moffitt earned a track-best finish of 10th in the 2022 edition. of the Tennessee Lottery 250 after starting 15th for Our Motorsports.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a speedway, Moffitt has made 49 starts throughout his career earning one pole and 16 top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 15.8.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 98 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.

Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | DoorDash 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team attempted to conquer their third road course of the 2023 season.

A solid practice effort for Moffitt and the No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang team transferred into the 14th fastest lap in group qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

From the drop of the green flag in the 14th Xfinity Series season race of the season, Moffitt held steady throughout the inaugural race to maneuver a respectable 12th-place result.

In 14 races this season, Moffit has delivered three top-10s, eight top-15s, nine top-20s and an average finish of 17.4.

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

He will be crew chief for his 113th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his third at the Lebanon, Tenn.- housed race track.

In his previous 112 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 Nashville Superspeedway: “I am looking forward to getting to Nashville Superspeedway. I was able to finish inside the top-10 last June and I’d like to think our AM Racing team is equally able to duplicate or better that finish with our No. 25 Southeast Lineman Training Ford Mustang.

“I am excited to represent a new partner for AM Racing and into the sport and I think as hard as the AM Racing team has worked on this Ford Mustang, we should have an opportunity to collect our fourth top-10 finish of the season.

“We are coming off a respectable effort on the road courses at Portland and Sonoma, but we all know that we need to start delivering more top-10s and get closer to those top-fives and hope we can be in a position to score a win and put us in the Playoffs.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “Through the first 14 races, we have definitely showcased speed, but we know we have to turn that speed into performances.

“Nashville is the beginning of a crucial summer stretch for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and we are doing everything we can to make sure we are prepared to press the attack and put ourselves in the Playoffs with AM Racing’s first career victory.”

Race Information:

The Tennessee Lottery 250 (188 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 15th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:05 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance 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.

RSS Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250

Fast Facts

No. 38 RSS Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr.
Primary Partner(s): No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Steve Addington
Spotter: Joe Campbell
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Driver Championship Point Standings: 23rd
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 Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome G-Coin® as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250.

Nashville marks the 15th race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and the 16th race overall from 2021 to 2023 where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.

G-Coin is serving as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr. at RSS Racing for the second time this season.

Sponsor Intel: G-Coin® (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where 1 G-Coin® equals 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, ethically sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar.

G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near instantaneous settlement times.

With G-Coin®, users can now effortlessly buy, sell, and monitor the value of their gold from the convenience of their smartphone.

Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and Go for Gold!

Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 42 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 G-Coin® 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, June 24, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring G-Coin® in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Nashville Superspeedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250 will mark Graf’s third start at the 1.33-mile speedway.

In his previous two efforts, Graf earned a track-best finish of 34th in the 2021 edition of the Tennessee Lottery 250 after starting 33rd for SS GreenLight Racing.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Speedway Stats: At tracks classified as a speedway, Graf has competed in 53 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 25.8 and an average result of 25.8.

Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | DoorDash 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Joe Graf Jr. and the RSS Racing team attempted to conquer their third road course of the 2023 season.

In the inaugural event, Graf made successful gains throughout the race and progressed from his 38th starting position to earn a lead lap 31st place finish.

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 278th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday and his 11th at the Lebanon, Tenn.- housed race track.

In his previous 277 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 three teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, Truck invader Zane Smith will attempt his first Xfinity Series race of the season aboard the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford Mustang, while Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 29 RSS Racing Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 316th career Xfinity Series start overall and third at Nashville.

Zane Smith is poised to make his 12th career Xfinity Series start but first at Nashville.

Kyle Sieg hopes to make his 33rd career Xfinity Series start and second at Nashville.

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 Nashville Superspeedway: “I feel like Nashville Superspeedway owes me one to be honest. Last year, I had a really fast Ford Mustang, qualified strong, raced strong and just wound up being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“This year, I’d like to think that I can take the knowledge of my Nashville experience and apply it to our No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang that will transition into a strong weekend for our RSS Racing team.

“It was nice to come out of the road course races relatively intact and a lot of information gained for our notebook, but I am excited to be about being back on an oval.

“I am just hoping for a good day at the race track for G-Coin®, our other partners, friends, family and fans and the opportunity to officially kick off this summer stretch on a good note.”

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 Tennessee Lottery 250 (188 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 15th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:05 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance 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.

GAFFNEY, S.C. – Kyle Weatherman, a young driver with many miles of experience in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will drive JD Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet in Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250 Xfinity race at Nashville Superspeedway.

Weatherman replaces Garrett Smithley in the bright red, black and white No. 4 Chevy. Weatherman, 25, is a possibility to drive the car for the rest of the season.

Weatherman has raced in five Xfinity Series seasons and has logged three top-10 finishes. He has driven in 11 Cup Series races and has totaled 25 top fives (including a win) in the ARCA Menards Series.

“We’re confident we’ll have a good run Saturday at Nashville with Kyle,” said JD Motorsports owner Johnny Davis. “This is a change as we look forward to the second half of the season, and we’re hoping this will work out for the best for all involved. This series only gets tougher, and we’re putting everything together to give the 4 team their best shot.”

Smithley has been a part of several seasons for JD Motorsports and has helped put the organization in a position to succeed in a tough racing environment.

“Garrett has been an important part of this team and what it’s been able to do over the years,” Davis said. “We appreciate the input he has had, the strength and smarts he’s shown on the racetrack and the network of people and sponsors he’s brought along. We wish him only the best.”

The 1.33-mile Nashville track offers a unique challenge with its concrete surface.

The No. 4 car will carry sponsorship from Trophy Tractor, Dozer Winch, TailGater, Page Construction, Hoffmann Tools, RFID Solutions, ClearView Asset Protection and PCA RX.

“We’ll be riding with a good group of sponsors for Nashville, and that market is one of the best of the year for the series,” Davis said. “It should be a big weekend.”

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Nashville NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Tennessee Lottery 250 (Round 15 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, June 24
• Location: Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway
• Layout: 1.33-mile, concrete oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation team are rested and ready after the season’s fourth of five off weekends and look to continue their impressive streak of top-10 finishes in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 1.33-mile oval of Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. In the series’ last race on June 10 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Custer earned a sixth-place result for his eighth consecutive Xfinity Series top-10. The streak started April 1 with a fifth-place result at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. He went on to finish 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, and he won the June 3 race at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. The eight consecutive top-10s, which include five top-five finishes, equals his career best Xfinity Series top-10 streak set in 2018 with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR).
• Win and you’re in. That’s the mentality of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. In the past eight races, Custer was able to elevate himself from 10th in the driver standings to fourth, and he has secured his spot in the 12-driver playoff field with his victory at Portland. His eyes are now set on the regular-season championship, where his top-10 streak is helping him close the gap to points leader John Hunter Nemechek. Custer heads to Nashville 59 points behind Nemechek with 12 regular-season races to go.
• While Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250 will be Custer’s first Xfinity Series race at Nashville, it will be his third overall in NASCAR. He made two NASCAR Cup Series starts there in 2021 and 2022, which resulted in finishes of 30th and 26th, respectively.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• As a native of Las Vegas, Riley Herbst should feel right at home in Nashville as he heads to Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. The capital of Tennessee may be best known as Music City, but its bright lights and lively nightlife have earned it another nickname – “Nashvegas.” The fact that Nashville’s 1.33-mile concrete oval is an intermediate-style track makes Herbst feel even more at home. His history at intermediates is strong. His best career NASCAR Xfinity Series results have come at intermediates, where he owns a pair of second-place finishes – February 2020 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and July 2020 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. After some bad luck followed the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford team throughout the first half of the 2023 season, the team looks to get a fresh start at Nashville after an off weekend.
• The No. 98 Monster Energy team will see a new leader atop the pit box when it arrives at Nashville this weekend. Former crew chief Richard Boswell has moved up to SHR’s No. 14 NASCAR Cup Series team with driver Chase Briscoe. Replacing Boswell as crew chief for the No. 98 Xfinity Series team is Davin Restivo. Since 2022, Restivo has been the lead engineer for SHR’s No. 10 Cup Series team driver Aric Almirola. Prior to his time in the No. 10 outfit, Restivo was the lead engineer for Custer, first in the Xfinity Series (2019) and then moving up with Custer to the Cup Series (2020-2021). Before joining SHR in 2019, Restivo was an engineer at Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250 will mark Herbst’s third race at Nashville. Last year, Herbst won his second career pole and finished third behind race-winner Justin Allgaier and runner-up Trevor Bayne. In 2021, he rallied for a solid top-10 finish from the 20th starting position.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

While you’re never been to Nashville in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, you do have two NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track. What are your expectations heading into the Tennessee Lottery 250?

“Nashville is a hard track. It’s a very disconnected racetrack, so you really have to be disciplined. Just like Sonoma, it’s a very easy track to overdrive and get yourself in some trouble. You really have to make sure as a driver that you’re hitting your marks. Hopefully with it being a concrete track, it can build some rubber and we can move around a bit. It’s definitely a unique track with how it’s shaped and how you have to drive it. I had some rough Cup races at this track, but hopefully we can take advantage of that full practice session on Friday to put it all together.”

With so many races coming up in this summer stretch, how do you and the team stay focused?

“This is the point in the season where we really have to put the gas pedal down and we have to start taking advantage of the momentum. We’ve really started to hit our stride here recently with the top-10s and the win at Portland, so it’s just about keeping that momentum going. We’ve put together everything we’ve needed and now it’s just about perfecting that each and every week. The No. 00 Haas Automation team is working hard, and we’re excited for these summer months.”

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

You should feel right at home in “Nashvegas” this weekend after growing up under the neon lights of Las Vegas. How excited are you to get back to Nashville Superspeedway for Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250, where you had such a strong weekend last year?

“I’m pumped to head back to Nashville again. The city itself is so much fun, but so is the racing at the superspeedway. I don’t know how to describe it, but the track works for my style of racing. This is a race that I had circled on the calendar for this summer after winning the pole and running well here last year. It can be a difficult track with how slick it can get in the summer heat, but you just have to put the pieces together at the end of the day. No mistakes, fast pit stops, and speed in the racecar.”

Nashville will mark your first race with new crew chief Davin Restivo. Talk about the change and your outlook for the rest of the season.

“First off, I want to congratulate Richard (Boswell, new SHR No. 14 crew chief) on being promoted up to the Cup Series. It’s bittersweet, but I’m happy for him to get this opportunity. I’m excited to work with Davin on the No. 98 Monster Energy team. It’s his first time as a crew chief, but I think that we can continue to grow this program. Hopefully, we can go to Nashville and start the second half of the season strong.”

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Nashville Superspeedway
RACE: Tennessee Lottery 250 (188 laps / 250.04 miles)
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 3 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet

• Sam Mayer heads to Nashville Superspeedway carrying the
  colors of returning partner Huck’s Market in the first of five
  primary races this season.
• Mayer is making only his second start at the 1.33-mile concrete track after a solid fifth-place finish in this race last year.
• The Franklin, Wis. native has a total of 29 career starts on
  intermediate tracks and has recorded six top-five and 15
  top-10 finishes.
• In the last five NXS starts, the young driver has rallied to one top-five and four top-10 efforts and currently sits ninth in the championship point standings.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATV’s Chevrolet

• Josh Berry will seek to return to the top five at his home track this weekend after a flat tire derailed a solid run at Nashville last season. Running in the top five with less than five laps remaining, the flat put him 29th at the finish. In his only other start at Nashville, Berry was a solid fourth in 2021.
• Berry has been very good on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in his career, earning four wins, 12 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes in 38 career starts.
• This week, Berry returns to the Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs livery for Nashville. In four previous starts in Bass Pro colors this year, Berry has a best finish of fourth.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/DuPont Filters Chevrolet

• Coming off his 250th series start, Brandon Jones has a best finish of sixth in his two starts at Nashville. Overall, he holds an average finish of 10.0 at the concrete oval.
• Jones has made two starts (‘21 and ’22) in the DuPont Filters colors and holds an average finishing position of 10.5 when DuPont is showcased on the hood.
• In 123 starts on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded four wins, 18 top fives and 55 top 10s, while pacing the field for 375 laps.
• Crew chief Jason Burdett has been atop the pit box for a pair of races at Nashville in the NXS and has recorded one win (2022) and one second-place finish. Burdett’s average finish as crew chief is 1.5.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

• Justin Allgaier heads to the “Music City” this weekend as the defending race winner at Nashville, having gone to Victory Lane in this event last year after leading a race-high 134 laps en route to the win.
• To accompany the victory, Allgaier has amassed five top fives and five top 10s in eight career NXS starts at the concrete oval.
• The JRM driver has also placed fourth or better in five of the previous six events at Nashville, dating back to April of 2010.
• In 221 combined starts on tracks between 1 and 2 miles in the NXS, the Illinois native has scored 12 wins, 74 top fives mand 139 top 10s.

Driver Quotes

“I am so ready to get back to the track after the off week and see what we can do at Nashville. The No. 1 Huck’sMarket Chevrolet had a great fifth-place run here last year and I am excited to have them back on the car this weekend for their first race of the season. The guys have been working hard and I am confident we can contend for the win.” – Sam Mayer

“I really enjoy racing at Nashville. It’s always been one of my favorite places, and it’s great going into this weekend as the defending race winner. We had an unbelievable car here last season and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) will give me a BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet that will be capable of being that strong again. We’ve had the momentum on our side here lately, and hopefully we can keep that going on Saturday.” – Justin Allgaier

“It’s always nice to go back home to race, and being from the Nashville area, it is a track I’d like to win on. We’ve been pretty good this year on these types of tracks, and Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and the No. 8 team have a good plan for this weekend. It’s nice to be back in Bass Pro Shops colors this weekend as well, and I look forward to giving them a win on Saturday.” – Josh Berry

“Jason (Burdett, crew chief) and this No. 9 team have built fast cars for Nashville in the past and that shows with how well Justin ran here in the two races. I know when we unload on Friday that this Menards/DuPont Filters Chevrolet is going to have the speed they have showcased in the past, so I can’t wait to hit the track this weekend. This weekend starts a long stretch of races, so there are a lot of points that can be gained quickly and that is what we plan on doing.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

• JR Motorsports at Nashville: JR Motorsports has competed in the “Music City” a combined 26 times in the NXS. Over the course of those starts at the 1.33-mile concrete oval, the organization has recorded two wins, nine top fives and 15 top 10s. JRM’s most recent win came with Justin Allgaier taking home the coveted guitar trophy last season.
• Souvenir Rig Signing: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports/Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, June 24 from 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. local time.
• Fan Zone Stage: JRM drivers Sam Mayer and Brandon Jones will be appearing at the Nashville Fan Stage located in the Fan Zone this weekend. Sam Mayer will appear on Friday, June 23 from 2:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. and Brandon Jones is on Saturday, June 24 from 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. local time.

LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 20, 2023) – Kaulig Racing announced today that Trackhouse Racing founder and owner Justin Marks will drive the No. 10 Jockey Chevrolet in the July 1 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race on the Chicago Street Course.

The quality of Kaulig Racing’s Chevrolets, along with the inaugural street race made for an easy decision for both Kaulig Racing and Marks to team up for this historic event. Marks will step away from his NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) owner duties to join forces with Kaulig Racing’s powerhouse road-course racing program and race in the NXS for the first time since 2018.

“It’s very difficult to retire as a racecar driver,” said the 41-year-old Marks. “I’ve got a lot of experience on street courses, so when NASCAR announced it was going to Chicago, I just felt like I really had to be a part of that experience. We have a great relationship with Kaulig Racing through our pit crew department and being a fellow Chevrolet team, so making my return to racing with the team just felt right. Jockey coming on board makes it even more enticing to run well in Chicago.”

Marks owns 35-career NXS starts including a victory at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2016, along with three top five and seven top-10 finishes. Each start has come on road courses.

Marks, whose Trackhouse Racing team fields Cup Series entries for drivers Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain, boasts an extensive sports-car racing resumé, earning multiple wins across the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series and the Weathertech Sportscar Championship Series. Most recently, he won the Trans-Am race at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut on May 29.

He is with the right organization to return to victory lane in Chicago.

Of Kaulig Racing’s 22-total Xfinity wins, nine have come at road courses. The team also earned its first win in the NCS with its victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in 2021 with AJ Allmendinger.

“If you’re in a road-course car in the Xfinity Series, AJ [Allmendinger] demonstrates pretty consistently, that the Kaulig Racing cars are the ones you want to be sitting in,” said Marks. “It’s going to be a very unique event, and I know we will have a good racecar.”

Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 Chevrolet, which features an all-star roster, has earned two wins so far in the 2023 Xfinity season. The three-car NXS team has earned three-total wins in 2023, along with nine top fives, 22 top-10 finishes and 319 laps led.

“We’re excited to have Justin [Marks], another road-course ringer, come out of retirement and compete for us in the Xfinity Series,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “I think that says a lot about the tremendous success Kaulig Racing has had in just a few short years, especially on road courses. Not only is Justin Marks a successful team owner in NASCAR, but he has a ton of experience on street courses, so having him come on board for this historic weekend in our industry just makes sense.”

The No. 10 Chevrolet will carry Jockey’s red, white and blue paint scheme in Chicago, a partnership that began last year with Trackhouse, the first such team sponsorship in the 147-year history of the apparel brand. At the core of the partnership was the launch of the brand’s Made in America* Collection – proudly grown and crafted right here in the USA. Designed with high quality American-grown cotton, these durable staples help to support the communities Americans call home.

NASCAR will officially kick off its first-ever event weekend at the Chicago Street Course beginning with the Loop 121 Xfinity race on July 1 at 5 p.m. EST. The USA Network will televise the race at 5 p.m. EDT.
 

*Socks and the Everyday Tee in the Jockey Made in America Collection are made in USA with imported material.

About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

STATESVILLE, N.C.: Officials from AM Racing proudly announced today that Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC), the premier training school for apprentice lineworker training will support AM Racing and driver Brett Moffitt in Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC) consistently has produced an elite group of highly trained and certified graduates.

SLTC provides training in a realistic and challenging environment, where individuals can establish the foundation necessary for a rewarding career as lineworkers in the electrical utility and communications industries.

The 15th NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the season will mark Southeast Lineman Training Center’s first foray in NASCAR.

“Southeast Lineman Training Center is excited to join forces with AM Racing for the NASCAR Xfinity Tennessee Lottery 250 and celebrate the dedication and skill of lineworkers and fearless drivers who inspire us all,” said David Powell SLTC co-owner and partner.

“This partnership embodies the shared values of safety, precision, and high performance that define both the electrical industry and the world of motorsports. Together, SLTC and AM Racing will light up the track and put it all on the line in the pursuit of victory.”

As part of their current one-race partnership with AM Racing, the Statesville, N.C.-based team will host several lineworkers and business associates throughout the Nashville weekend with the desire to educate the racing community and fanbase of the importance of lineworkers and their craft.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with AM Racing and Brett Moffitt in the NASCAR Xfinity Tennessee Lottery 250,” added PJ Nardy, SLTC co-owner and partner. “The strong foundations of faith, honesty and intelligent performance maintained by AM Racing align perfectly with the values we hold true to at SLTC.”

AM Racing driver Brett Moffitt heads to Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway for the 188-lap race eyeing his fourth top-10 finish of the season on the heels of a successful west coast road course trip which included a pair of competitive 12th place finishes at Portland International Raceway and Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway respectively.

“I’m looking forward to being an ambassador for the Southeast Lineman Training Center,” explained Moffitt. “It’s great that our AM Racing team through our partnership with AM Technical Solutions has been able to bring in a new partner to the industry, especially as instrumental as Southeast Lineman Training Center.

“Nashville is a fun race track for me and I’d love nothing more than to have the opportunity to score our best finish of the season with our No. 25 Southeast Lineman Training Center Ford Mustang.”

Wade Moore, president of AM Racing added, “We are beyond thrilled to welcome Southeast Lineman Training Center to our partnership lineup. Without our great relationship with AM Technical Solutions and Sovereign Capital, this new partnership would not have been possible.

“Brett (Moffitt) is going to do a great job representing their brand on and off the track and we hope that their experience at Nashville opens the door to an expanded partnership for this season and beyond.”

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).

The Tennessee Lottery 250 (188 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 15th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

About Southeast Lineman Training Center:

Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC) is the premier training school for apprentice lineworker training; consistently producing an elite group of highly trained and certified graduates.

SLTC provides training in a realistic and challenging environment, where individuals can establish the foundation necessary for a rewarding career as lineworkers in the electrical utility and communications industries.

To learn more, please visit lineworker.com.

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 and Christian Rose as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (June 16th, 2023) – Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment is excited to officially announce a partnership with NASCAR Driver David Starr and Emerling-Gase Motorsports, to sponsor the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 24th. The partnership was developed in conjunction with The Magnifyde Agency.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment because they represent the American dream. It is inspiring to see how far they have come from a small business to where they are today. I’m excited to have them on board for the ride and help share their story to NASCAR fans across the country,” said David Starr.

The race marks the first ever sponsorship in NASCAR for Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment. The company began as a small grass roots heavy-duty repair business and has grown to become a national fleet maintenance specialist.

Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment has revolutionized the way companies manage maintenance with fixed R&M cost onsite models. Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment offers consulting, managing, and staffing, in an effort to become your maintenance partners.

Through the success of the company, they have also been able to give back to their local community, by donating and volunteering with many local charities in their home state of South Carolina.

Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment has grown to 36 locations across the U.S. and includes a team of 180 technicians, as well as 100 fleet service vehicles.

Not only does the race mark Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment’s debut in NASCAR, but it will also be the first race for David Starr in the No. 35 Chevy Camaro for Emerling-Gase Motorsports.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 will take place in Lebanon, TN. The No. 35 Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment Chevy Camaro will hit the track on June 24th at 3:30pm ET on USA Network.

For more information on Kales Truck & Heavy Equipment, visit kalestruckheavyequipment.com.

ABOUT KALES TRUCK & HEAVY EQUIPMENT

Kale’s Truck and Heavy Equipment service was founded in 1999 in Dillon, S.C. and has been in business for over 20 years. They have grown from a local heavy-duty maintenance specialist facility, to a national full-service on-site repair professional that specializes in consulting, managing and staffing as well as providing a fixed budget repair solution that has been proven to increase truck availability while working off of a fixed r&m budget. The company has grown from 15 technicians and one location, to over 200+ technicians servicing twelve states, utilizing our fixed fleet maintenance program, as well as continuing to provide maintenance solutions to the heavy-duty industry.

ABOUT DAVID STARR

David Starr is currently racing in his 25th career season in NASCAR. Starr has four career NASCAR wins and was named the ‘Most Popular Driver’ in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2002. Starr is also the owner of the Team Texas High Performance High Performance Driving School at Texas Motor Speedway. Starr also serves as the host of the weekly motorsports podcast, ‘Let’s Go Racing with David Starr.’ You can follow David Starr all season long for more updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT THE MAGNIFYDE AGENCY

The Magnifyde Agency connects brands to exceptional marketing opportunities. After years of professional and personal experience, The Magnifyde Agency has not only found rapid success in growing brands through NASCAR’s demographics, but across a wide variety of marketing ventures.