CHICAGO, Ill. (June 6, 2023) – Announced today, Chicago native Brent Sherman has secured a seat with RSS Racing to compete in the inaugural Chicago Street Course Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 1, 2023. A veteran of the Air Force, Sherman has competed in multiple motorsports series throughout his career.

Sherman’s roles in the United States Air Force included Combat Control, Survival Training and four years of combat surveillance and instructional missions on an AWACS airplane. In 1997, Sherman competed in the Russel Racing Shootout at Sears Point Raceway where he won a scholarship, and his racing career was set in motion. Sherman competed in his first NASCAR Rolex Grand Am 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 before switching gears to the ARCA Menard’s Series. After finishing second in points in ARCA, Sherman advanced to NASCAR’s top three series (NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Truck Series), where he finished 21st in the 2006 Daytona 500. In 2008, Sherman transitioned back to his road racing roots to compete in the Indy Lights Series, finishing third in his debut race.

Since stepping away from racing, Sherman has focused on his family and growing his business in the Chicago area where he owns a small commercial building and laundromat.

“I’m excited for this opportunity to race in front of so many family and friends in Chicago,” said Sherman. “When I started racing, I was 24, a little late to be embarking on a racing career. I moved quickly through the ranks, but sponsorship became harder to acquire. The last time I competed full time was in 2008, my kids were young, and I ultimately made the decision to step away to focus on raising my family and building my business.

“This opportunity just fell into place,” continued Sherman. “When the street race was announced, I knew I wanted to explore the chance to get back in a race car. I can’t thank RSS Racing enough for the opportunity to compete in the No. 28. I know I’ll have some challenges with the temperature in Chicago during the summer months, but I’m up for the challenge and have been training to be prepared for it. I’m going to make the most out of this opportunity and compete with some of the best racers in the business. It’s going to be great to have my kids, who are now teenagers, see me compete in our hometown with other family and friends.”

Sherman will partner with RSS Racing to drive the No. 28 Ford Mustang. The start will mark Sherman’s 62nd-career start in the Xfinity Series.

HawkAuto.com and A. Marek Fine Jewelry will serve as associate sponsors on the No. 28 Ford Mustang.

The inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on USA Network and air on Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SIRIUS XM.

If you are interested in partnering with Sherman and RSS Racing for the historical inaugural Chicago Street Race, please contact brentshermanracing@gmail.com.

STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Portland 147

Date: June 3, 2022

Event: Portland 147 (Round 13 of 33)

Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series

Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (1.967-mile, 12-turn road course)

Format: 75 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/25 laps)

Note: Race extended two laps past its scheduled 75-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

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

Stage 1 Winner: Sheldon Creed of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

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

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 2nd / Finished 1st, Running completed 77 of 77 laps)

● Riley Herbst (Started 12th / Finished 32nd, Accident, completed 65 of 77 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (4th with 457 points, 65 out of first)

● Riley Herbst (10th with 346 points, 176 out of first)

Victory Notes:

● Cole Custer’s victory at Portland marked SHR’s 19th Xfinity Series victory, its first of the season, and its first at Portland.

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

● This was Custer’s 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and his 10th with SHR.

● This was Jonathan Toney’s first win as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

SHR Notes:

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

● This was Custer’s seventh 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, and third last week at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● Custer finished seventh in Stage 1 to earn four bonus points and won Stage 2 to earn 10 more bonus points and one playoff point.

● Custer led two times for five laps – his first laps led at Portland.

● Herbst’s 32nd-place finish bettered his previous best finish at Portland– 35th, earned in the inaugural race at the track last year.

● Herbst finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point and eighth in Stage 2 to earn three more bonus points.

Race Notes:

● There were five caution periods for a total of 10 laps.

● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● John Hunter Nemechek leaves Portland as the championship leader with a 14-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill.

Sound Bites:

“I mean, I was just trying to not make mistakes. I did the same exact thing as the leaders earlier in the race. I saw them drive in there so deep, and I did the same thing two restarts before. Man, I’m just so happy. I’ve never won a road course race before in the Xfinity Series. I’ve been so close so many times, and it’s just awesome to win this. I can’t thank Haas Automation and everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity program and the Cup program. It’s just a great day. This is JT’s (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) first win as a crew chief. It’s awesome to get this trophy and get that out of the way. I’m so pumped for the rest of the year. We’ve got fast cars, and we’re putting it all together.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“Man, that’s a tough one. We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang all day and ran in the top-10 for most of the race. The race just didn’t go our way with the issues near the end. We’ll keep our heads up and head to Sonoma next weekend. Hopefully, the bad luck will truly be behind us now.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the DoorDash 250 on Saturday, June 10 at Sonoma (Cali.) Raceway. The race begins at 8 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Pacific Office Automation 147 | Saturday, June 3, 2023

COLE CUSTER COMPLETES LATE-RACE PASS TO WIN AT PORTLAND

PORTLAND, OR. | June 3, 2023 – Cole Custer was victorious Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity Series featured event at Portland International Raceway. Custer won his first series race of 2023, and notably, it was his first trip to victory lane at the Northwestern road course. He led when it mattered – not only making a surge from fourth in the final three laps to win the second stage, but also completing the race-deciding maneuver to lead the final two laps of the race to victory. Custer was triumphant in his 123rd career series start – 11 total wins – and it was his first victory since February 26, 2022 (Auto Club Speedway).

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang – WHAT GAVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE TO MAKE THE MOVE FOR THE LEAD ON THE RESTART? “Just trying not to make mistakes. I mean, I did the same exact thing. I saw them drive in there so deep, and I did the same thing like two restarts ago. Man, I’m just so happy. I’ve never won a road course race before. I’ve been so close, so many times. It’s just awesome to win this. I can’t thank Haas Automation, everybody at Stewart-Haas and the Xfinity program… and the Cup program. This is just a great day. J.T. (Jonathan Toney) just for coming in to crew chief… it’s awesome to get this trophy and get that out of the way. I’m pumped for the rest of the year. We got fast cars, and starting to put it all together.”

TRIO OF TOYOTA TOP-10S IN PORTLAND
Connor Mosack earns his first career top-10 finish in his ninth start

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 3, 2023) – Myatt Snider (sixth), Connor Mosack (eighth) and John Hunter Nemechek (10th) scored top-10 finishes to lead Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Portland International Raceway. It is Snider’s second top-10 in as many starts this season, while Mosack earned his first career top-10 finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Portland International Raceway
Race 13 of 33 – 147.52 miles, 75 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Cole Custer*

2nd, Justin Allgaier*

3rd, Sam Mayer*

4th, Josh Berry*

5th, Austin Hill*

6th, MYATT SNIDER

8th, CONNOR MOSACK

10th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

26th, KAZ GRALA

30th, SAMMY SMITH

35th, PARKER CHASE

36th, MASON MAGGIO

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

MYATT SNIDER, No. 19 Tree Top Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

How was your race?

“It was very hectic. A lot of calamity; a lot of chaos. I saw someone barreling by me on lap one clobbering into someone. It was a crazy, hectic race, but the boys from JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) brought me a fast Tree Top Toyota GR Supra. I’m really proud of the boys from the 19 team for putting in such a great effort. We were working on drive off all day, but to end up sixth with all of the craziness that happens is pretty awesome. I have to thank my guys from Tree Top, Superior Essex, Right Fire Protection enough for getting this race car as good as it was today.”

CONNOR MOSACK, No. 24 Open Eyes Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

How was your race?

“Well overall, pretty good day. I’m really happy with a top-10 finish. I’m a little disappointed in myself for the lap one incident – just misjudged it on cold brakes and overshot the corner and we definitely hurt our car. I’m a little disappointed with that – feel like we would have had a shot a top-five finish if we had a car in one piece. We were pretty tight the rest of the day after that. It hurt our speed, but overall, really proud of the Sam Hunt 24 guys. I feel like we had a really good Open Eyes Toyota off the truck. I feel like we finished about where we should have, so overall good day. We will take this to Sonoma, and I think we will even be better there.”

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.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Portland International Raceway; June 3, 2023

Track; Portland International Raceway (PIR)– Road Course (1.967-Miles)
Race: Pacific Office Automation 147; 75 Laps –25/25/25; 147.75 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; June 3, 2023 1:30 PM PT (4:30 ET)
TV: Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and the FOX Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) – Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Portland International Raceway

News and Notes:

• Practice; After the completion of NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) technical inspection on Friday afternoon, Parker Retzlaff is scheduled to take to the 1.967-mile road course of Portland International Raceway (PIR) for the first time on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET) for a scheduled 20-minute practice session.

– Starting Position; Immediately after the conclusion of the 20-minute practice session, NXS teams will be given a brief 10-minute break to fuel and change tires before moving into qualifying at 9:00 AM PT (12:00 PM) for the Saturday’s Pacific Office Automation 147. Qualifying will consist of two rounds of group qualifying with the first round consisting of 15-minutes of two groups with the fastest five cars in each group moving onto the second round for a 10-minute session to determine the pole sitter. With 38 cars entered, no one will miss the race. Retzlaff is scheduled to go out on track in Group A at 9:00 AM ET. Qualifying will be shown in its entirety LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).

– Portland International Raceway Stats; Saturday’s Pacific Office Automation 147 will mark Retzlaff’s first career start at PIR and second career NXS road course race.

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.

Jeb Burton– No. 27 Bommarito.com / EasyCare
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Portland International Raceway

News and Notes:

• Practice; After the completion of NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) technical inspection on Friday afternoon, Jeb Burton will take to the 1.967-mile road course of Portland International Raceway (PIR) Saturday morning at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET) for a scheduled 20-minute practice session.

– Starting Position; Immediately after the conclusion of the 20-minute practice session, NXS teams will be given a brief 10-minute break to fuel and change tires before moving into qualifying at 9:00 AM PT (12:00 PM) for the Saturday’s Pacific Office Automation 147. Qualifying will consist of two rounds of group qualifying with the first round consisting of 15-minutes of two groups with the fastest five cars in each group moving onto the second round for a 10-minute session to determine the pole sitter. With 38 cars entered, no one will miss the race. Burton is scheduled to go out on track in Group B at 9:20 AM ET. Qualifying will be shown in its entirety LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).

– Portland International Raceway Stats; Saturday’s Pacific Automation 147 will mark Burton’s second career start at PIR in NXS competition. Last season in the pouring rain Burton would start in the 21st position and be credited with 33rd after being involved in a crash on Lap-55 that would end his race early.

Featured Partners

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

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

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
Portland International Raceway | Pacific Automation 147

Fast Facts
No. 25 AM Racing Team:

Driver: Brett Moffitt
Primary Partner(s): AM Technical Solutions
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: 17th
Team Championship Point Standings: 19th

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 Pacific Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway.

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue at the track dubbed “America’s Home for Racing” in Concord, N.C., 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.

Back For More: The Statesville, N.C.-based team will sport the signage of AM Technical Solutions on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for the 13th 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: Last weekend was a busy tripleheader weekend for AM Racing.

To kick off the Memorial Day weekend, AM Racing’s Christian Rose competed in the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

After qualifying his No. 32 Secure Testing Services | West Virginia Tourism Ford Mustang 13th, the Martinsburg, West Virginia native raced into the top-10 and contend for the race win before finishing a respectable eighth.

The effort was Rose’s second consecutive top-10 finish in ARCA competition.

In the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Mason Maggio made his AM Racing debut aboard the No. 22 ACE Hardware Ford F-150 and carried himself to a top-25 finish.

Thanks For Your Support: With more than 36 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 Portland 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 Portland International Raceway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pacific Automation 147 will mark Moffitt’s second Xfinity start at the unique 1.967-mile road course.

In his Portland debut in 2022, Moffitt finished a respectable 20th in the rain-plagued 75-lap race after starting 12th in the No. 02 Chevrolet for Our Motorsports.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Road Course Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a road course, Moffitt has made 14 starts throughout his career earning one pole and one top-10 finish. He also holds an average finishing position of 26.1.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 96 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 17.8.

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.

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | Alsco Uniforms 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team attempted to conquer “America’s Home for Racing.”

A rain-filled weekend saw Moffit qualify his No. 25 AMerican Heroes | AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang a strong 12th but during the race – two days later than originally planned, the team’s attempt to score another top-10 was thwarted after encountering a flat tire.

The team’s efforts to recover from the misfortune were noteworthy but the lack of caution prevented Moffitt from contending for his fourth top-10 finish of the year. He finished 29th.

In 12 races this season, Moffit has delivered three top-10s, six top-15s, seven top-20s and an average finish of 18.3.

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

He will be crew chief for his 111th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his second on the 12-turn road course.

In his previous 110 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 Portland International Raceway: “I am determined to bounce back from our misfortune this weekend at Portland International Raceway. This is our second road course of the season and I’m hopeful that I can deliver a good finish for our No. 25 AM Racing | AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang.

“The approach to the race on Saturday is going to be a lot different this year than last year. With every road course, I think track position and strategy are going to be important, so we need to make sure we do our part to be as close to the front of the pack as possible.

“Thankfully, the weather does not look like it’s going to be an issue, so I’m hopeful that we can have a productive weekend and put ourselves in contention for the win on Saturday afternoon.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “Through the first 12 races, we have definitely showcased speed, but we know we have to turn that speed into performances.

“We are approaching a crucial summer stretch for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and we are doing everything we can to make sure we are prepared to attack and put ourselves in the Playoffs.”

Race Information:

The Pacific Automation 147 (75 laps | 147.75 miles) is the 13th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 9:05 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 1:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor 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 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.

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

• Event: Portland 147 (Round 13 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, June 3
• Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway
• Layout: 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course
• Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. EDT on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• The month of May was good to Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). They’ll roll into Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Portland 147 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway with a ton of momentum after back-to-back third-place finishes May 13 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and on Monday at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. It’s the latest in their string of six consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to a fifth-place result April 1 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. After a slow start to the season, Custer has turned things around in a big way and appears poised to park his No. 00 Ford Mustang in victory lane in relatively short order. Three of his past six races resulted in top-three finishes, and he currently sits fourth in the driver standings, 74 points behind leader John Hunter Nemechek. With 14 races to go until the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Custer feels he’s in a good position as he heads to the Portland road course for the first time in his career.
• Saturday’s Portland 147 will be the second-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the 1.967-mile, 12-turn circuit, which first hosted the series a year ago. While Custer doesn’t have any experience there, he does have a considerable road-course experience in all of the NASCAR national series. He has 16 Xfinity Series starts on road courses with a best finish of third in March 2022 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He scored 11 top-10 finishes in those 16 starts, which includes a pair of top-fives.
• Custer will get some additional seat time at Portland before the green flag flies for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race. On Friday, he’ll be behind the wheel of the No. 55 Pristine Auction Ford Mustang for High Point Racing in the Portland 112 ARCA Menards Series West race. It will be his first start outside of the Xfinity Series in 2023 and his first ARCA start since 2017. He’ll participate in next week’s ARCA race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, as well.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst hopes to finally turn his recent spate of bad luck around as he heads into Saturday’s Portland 147 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. Monday at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Herbst rebounded from an early brush with the wall that led to an unscheduled trip down pit lane and used fuel strategy to recover with a 14th-place finish. It was an improvement over the previous five races, three of which ended prematurely due to incidents not of his doing. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang is looking for a change of pace the next two weekends as the Xfinity Series has back-to-back races on road courses.
• Saturday’s race at Portland will mark Herbst’s second Xfinity Series start at the track. In last year’s rainy inaugural race, Herbst put on a show in the opening laps, racing his way from 14th to third during a downpour. Untimely incidents then put him back in the pack, and his day ended 35 laps into the 75-lap event when he got collected in a seven-car accident. Herbst finished 10th at COTA on March 26 in the 2023 season’s only other road-course race thus far. Last year, he earned top-10 finishes in three of the six road-course races.
• Like his teammate Custer, Herbst will also participate in Friday’s Portland 112 ARCA Menards Series West race. He’ll pilot the No. 5 Ford Mustang for Jerry Pitts. It will be his first ARCA appearance since his August 2021 start at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. He will also participate in next Friday’s ARCA race at Sonoma.

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

You’re heading to the first track on this year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule where you’ve never turned a lap in your career. What are your expectations heading into Saturday’s race?

“This is a race weekend that I’ve really been looking forward to. I’ve never been there, but it’s a new challenge and I’m ready for it. Our road-course cars have been really good this year. I think we’ll have a shot to go there and compete for a win. At the end of the day, it’s just a matter of having everything go right. You never know at Portland if it’s going to rain or what’s going to happen. Road-course races are always unpredictable. You just have to go there and make sure you’re there at the end. Hopefully we can do that and be in a good spot.”

With limited opportunity to practice at Portland, how do you prepare for a new track to set yourself up for success?

“I’ve definitely been leaning on Riley as I’ve been preparing for Portland. He has the experience there that I don’t. He has the latest information and, honestly, he’s been such a big help for our team as we prepare for this race. We’ve been going to the simulator, looking at notes, watching film, and so much more. All you can do is look at past races. Luckily, I’ll get some time in the ARCA car before Saturday’s race to help me learn the course a little more.”

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

After going a lap down and coming out with a top-15 finish by playing the fuel strategy game last weekend, do you think your luck is starting to turn around after a rough stretch of races?

“I hope so. These past two months have been rough for the No. 98 Monster Energy team. After such a strong start to the season, you don’t want to see that, but we also had to remember that it’s a long season. We’re still in a good spot for the playoffs and we can get back on track. We made some mistakes at Charlotte but, at the end of the day, we were able to use fuel strategy to make it not as bad of a day. Hopefully our bad-luck streak ended there and we can go back and start another top-10 streak. These races are always unpredictable but, at the end of the day, you just have to show up and be there at the end.”

This will be your second race at Portland, and you’ve had some success on road courses the past two seasons. What are your expectations for the weekend?

“You never know what to expect from road courses. We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang when we came here last year. Honestly, despite the early end to our day last year, I still really like this track. It’s fun. I feel like it’s a new challenge and I’m ready for it. We’re hoping that Friday’s ARCA race will help me figure out the track a bit more and get me ready for Saturday. Hopefully, we can be there at the end and compete for the win.”

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Portland International Raceway
RACE: Pacific Office Automation 147 (75 laps / 147.75 miles)
DATE: Saturday, June 3, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 4 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet

• Sam Mayer heads to Portland International Raceway to make his second career start on the 1.967-mile road course. Mayer’s most recent road-course start at COTA earlier this year landed him a seventh-place finish.
• The young driver’s career-best road course finish came last season at COTA, where he scored a fifth-place effort.
• With 11 NXS starts on road courses, the Franklin, Wis. native has tallied one top-five and six top-10 finishes.
• Mayer and the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet currently hold the 11th spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series point standings.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet

• Josh Berry heads to Portland this week aiming for a second straight top-five finish on the road course. He was fourth there last year in his maiden trip to the Northwest circuit.
• Despite spending his early career on short tracks, Berry is quite the road-course ace. In eight starts, the Tennessee native has a pair of top-five finishes (Portland and Road America) and six top-10 finishes.
• Berry has been a model of consistency in 2023, with five top-five and nine top-10 results in 12 starts entering the second West Coast swing.
• Berry is solidly in the championship hunt following Charlotte,
  standing fifth in points, 85 off the leader.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Schultz Chevrolet

• Brandon Jones has made one start at Portland, coming in the inaugural running at the 1.967-mile road course last season. Jones started 22nd and finished 11th in the rainsoaked event.
• Jones has made 32 starts on road courses in the NXS and has accumulated five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. His best finish of second came at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course during the 2020 season.
• Jones has also made four starts on road courses in the ARCA Menards Series and recorded one win at Watkins Glen.
• Jones currently sits 13th in the series standings, 20 points below the playoff cutline with 14 races remaining in the regular season.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

• Justin Allgaier enters this weekend’s event at Portland as the most recent winner in the NXS, having gone to Victory Lane Monday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• In last season’s inaugural event at the Pacific Northwest road course, Allgaier recorded a fifth-place finish.
• In his NXS career on road courses, Allgaier has amassed a total of three wins, 14 top fives and 27 top 10s in 45 starts.
• Two of Allgaier’s three road-course wins came behind the wheel of a JRM Chevrolet, with both occurring during the 2018 season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America.

Driver Quotes

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Portland this week. I learned a lot last year and the weather is looking much better this weekend so hopefully we can use that to our advantage and have a good run. I have faith that my No. 1 team has built me a fast road course car and that we can pick our heads up from Charlotte.” – Sam Mayer

“Portland is definitely a unique and challenging road course. We were able to come away with a top-five finish here last year and hopefully we can replicate that same success again this weekend with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. We have a lot of momentum on our side right now, especially after getting the win last week in Charlotte and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and the guys on this No. 7 team are ready to get after it again and race for the win on Saturday.” – Justin Allgaier

“This No. 8 team has been really good on road courses the past couple of seasons, and I’m hoping that we continue that this weekend in Portland. Last year was a bit of a mess with the rain, but we were able to navigate that for a top five finish. Our Tire Pros Chevrolet has been fast, but we’re still looking for a little consistency, and this weekend and next at Sonoma would be a great place to get some of that.” – Josh Berry

“This race was pretty crazy last year with all the rain and never having raced here before, but I felt like I had a pretty good day. This No. 9 team has been fast on road courses in the past and I know when we unload this weekend that we will have that same speed. We’ve been fast, so hopefully, we can keep that going and keep running up front where this team belongs.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

• JR Motorsports at Portland: JR Motorsports has competed at Portland International Raceway a combined four times in the NXS. Over the course of those starts at the Pacific Northwest track, JRM has tallied two top fives and three top 10s. Josh Berry led the charge for JRM in the inaugural race at the 1.967-mile road course with a fourth-place finish.
• Road Course Racing: JR Motorsports has competed on road courses a combined 186 times in the NXS. Over the course of those 186 starts at such tracks, JRM has recorded five wins, 46 top fives and 99 top 10s. The most recent win on a road course for the organization came with Kyle Larson at Watkins Glen International last season in the No. 88 Chevrolet.
• Xfinity Autograph Session: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs during the Xfinity autograph session on Saturday, June 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. local time.

Gabriel Glas to Serve as the Primary Partner for Allmendinger’s ‘Double-Duty’ Weekend in Sonoma

 Lexington, N.C. (May 31, 2023) – Kaulig Racing and Gabriel Glas form partnership as NASCAR heads west to Sonoma, California.

Gabriel Glas, an Austrian brand created by a Swiss wine critic in 2010, provides customers a true-universal wine glass that is flattering to all types of wine; white, red, rosè and sparkling. This universal wine glass will be featured on Allmendinger’s No. 16 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) entry and No. 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) entry.

“Kaulig Racing has always had a certain synergy on and off the track just as Gabriel Glas creates a synergy that yields the best wine experience,” Kaulig Racing president, Chris Rice says. “It’s a perfect fit as we go to wine country for AJ’s doubleheader weekend in Sonoma. We know AJ puts on a good show at these road courses and we’re looking forward to having Gabriel Glas be a part of it.”

In addition to competing in the first-ever NXS race at Sonoma Raceway, Allmendinger looks to improve on his best NCS finish (seventh) at Sonoma Raceway where he has earned one pole award and two top-10 finishes.

“I’m excited to get back to Sonoma and run double duty,” says AJ Allmendinger. “I’m not quite happy with my on-track success at Sonoma yet. We ran there last year and just didn’t have the result we were looking for. Being my home track, it’s a special place for me. It’s always fun to see family and friends there and I’m excited to have Gabriel Glas onboard for both races. I’m hopeful we can have a good showing for them.”

The No. 10 Gabriel Glas Chevrolet will be on track for the DoorDash 250 on June 10 at 8:00 pm with coverage on FS1. The No. 16 Gabriel Glas Camaro ZL1 will be on track for the Toyota / Save Mart 350 on June 11 at 3:30 pm with coverage on FOX.
 
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.