Category: XFINITY Series PR

NASCAR XFINITY Series Press Release

  • Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap — Talladega 10.1.22

    Toyota Racing NXS Post-Race Recap — Talladega 10.1.22

    TWO TOYOTA TOP-10s IN TALLADEGA XFINITY RACE
    Gibbs and Jones Solid Heading to Roval for Playoff Cutoff Race

    TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 1, 2022) – Ty Gibbs (seventh) and Brandon Jones (eighth) scored top-10 finishes in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Both will head to next week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval to look to secure their positions in the next round of the Playoffs.

    Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
    NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Talladega Superspeedway
    Race 28 of 33 – 300.58 miles, 113 laps

    TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

    1st, AJ Allmendinger*

    2nd, Sam Mayer*

    3rd, Landon Cassill*

    4th, Ryan Seig*

    5th, Josh Berry*

    7th, TY GIBBS

    8th, BRANDON JONES

    13th, TREVOR BAYNE

    23rd, DEREK GRIFFITH

    *non-Toyota driver

    TOYOTA QUOTES

    TY GIBBS, No. 54 Sport Clips Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

    Finishing Position: 7th

    How were you able to save the car from the early spin and recover for a top-10 finish?

    “I don’t know if I saved it to be honest with you – unless it looked like I did. We did have a lot of damage on the right front and that affected our balance. We lost a lot of our right front splitter and it popped my right front into the air and that impacted the balance and control. We regrouped as a team and went back out and finished seventh. I think we’re 50 points to the good, which is not locked in, but it’s a good position. Better than a lot of these guys and we’ll just keep going. We’ve got a good program for the Roval too. This is a hard round so we just have to make it through.”

    Josh Berry was very complimentary of you post-race in how you stayed with him. How difficult is it to run with other manufacturers?

    “I really do like Josh (Berry) and I’ve raced with him for a long time and have a lot of respect for him. It comes down to where the 18 (Trevor Bayne) went to the outside of me and I really had nowhere to go and so I jumped up and ended up pushing the 8 (Berry) and gave him a really big shove and to be honest with you, I was surprised that he was able to hang onto it. It looked like he was on rails. I wish we could have finished a little better, but that’s what we had. Thank you for the opportunity and thankful to stay out of trouble.”

    BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Menards/Little Hugs Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

    Finishing Position: 8th

    How was your race overall?

    “Honestly, I think that’s what we needed to do aside from just go win the race, I think we needed to get stage points in at least every stage. The second stage had some challenges, but the first one was really good and still a top-10 result there. Wanted to win. We were talking earlier as teammates that maybe if we would have taken the run a little bit sooner, maybe we would have had the chance to win. It just takes so long to build up a run that maybe we just gave ourselves just one shot at it instead of two. If we could change anything, maybe we would try a little sooner. All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better Talladega finish to come home with all of us finishing the race.”

    How do you feel about your points position heading into the Roval next weekend?

    “Going to the Roval, we’ve had extremely fast Supras at the Roval here lately and all these road courses that we’ve run at, we’ve been able to run top-five and a few we’ve even been in contention to win the race. We have a lot of positivity and a lot of momentum going into that one.”

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 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 43 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 the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

    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.

  • Joe Graf Jr. | SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt Talladega Superspeedway October Event Preview

    Joe Graf Jr. | SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt Talladega Superspeedway October Event Preview

    SS Greenlight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway | Sparks 300

    Fast Facts
    No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt Team:
    Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
    Primary Partner(s): G-Coin
    Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
    Crew Chief: Joe Williams
    Spotter: Frankie Kimmel
    2022 Driver Points Position: 27th | 2022 Owner Points Position: 21st
    Engine: Roush Yates Engines (RYE)

    Notes of Interest:

    Welcome Back: This weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt and Joe Graf Jr. welcome back G-Coin as the primary partner of the team’s No. 07 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Sparks 300.

    Talladega marks the 28th race of the 2022 Xfinity Series season and 14th race overall between 2021 and 2022 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.

    Download the G-Coin app on iTunes or Google Play and use referral code FHY 6D3 AHT and Joe Graf Jr. will send you $5 worth of G-Coin.

    About G-Coin: Unlike cryptocurrencies, G-Coin is a digital title to a real asset: 1 G-Coin token equals 1 gram of Responsible GoldTM.

    G-Coin combines the best qualities of traditional gold – stability, security, value, confidence, and social status – with the benefits of digital innovation, allowing users to easily save, send, and spend gold.

    Tech-savvy investors keen to avoid cryptocurrency volatility, or physical storage burden and costs, are now able to purchase G-Coin digital gold tokens. G-Coin tokens can be purchased in increments of 0.01gram, giving individual investors better access to the gold market and the ability to use gold for day-to-day purchases.

    G-Coin Wallets give users the freedom to send and receive value instantly, securely, and at no cost from the convenience of your mobile phone.

    G-Coin Tip of the Week: Responsible Gold is institutional grade 99.99% pure gold that has been responsibly sourced.

    Responsible Gold can be traced back to its origin giving the owner or G-Coin token holder knowledge that it has been responsibly mined and sourced throughout the supply chain.

    Same Day Settlements With MoneyGram: G-Coin customers with Tier 3 access can use cash to buy or sell G-Coin tokens at participating MoneyGram locations.

    To place a buy or sell order using cash, Tier 3 customers need to select the ‘MoneyGram’ option from ‘Pay With’ that appears on the buy | sell screen. Once the order is placed, customers will receive an email with detailed instructions to follow at participating MoneyGram locations.

    For buy orders, customers will have 24 hours to make the payment in cash, which is when the balance on the G-Coin wallet is updated. Buy orders expire after 24 hours so customers will need to place a new order after that time.

    For sell orders, customers are responsible for collecting the proceeds of the sale in cash at participating MoneyGram locations. The G-Coin balance will be updated when the sell order has been placed, which is irreversible.

    Thanks For Your Support: With more than 81 percent of the 2022 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt would like to thank their associate marketing partners: AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, Gtechniq, HazHeart, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

    Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 07 G-Coin Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon, the SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson LIVE on Saturday morning, October 1, 2022 at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

    Graf will also spotlight G-Coin in several commercial spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, October 2, 2022.

    Carolina Connection: Beginning this week and throughout the month of October, Joe Graf Jr. and SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt have partnered with Carolina Breast Friends to help spread breast cancer awareness during the month of October.

    The vision of Carolina Breast Friends is to support, encourage, and empower those in our community who are affected by breast cancer.

    The mission of Carolina Breast Friends is to embrace the breast cancer community in a positive environment. We provide resources and education through fellowship and mentoring during any stage of the journey.

    From now until October 5, 2022 – you can donate a minimum of $25.00 and honor a breast cancer hero with their name on Graf’s racecar for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

    Please consider Donating Here.

    Get Bucked Up at Homestead-Miami Speedway: With their traditional stop at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway later this year, Joe Graf Jr. and partner Bucked Up Energy Drink are giving a lucky fan and a guest an ALL-EXPENSES paid trip to Homestead-Miami Speedway in October, along with $1,000 in spending cash!

    To enter, spend at least $10 at buckedup.com from now until Friday, September 30, 2022. Every $10 spent earns another entry.

    Visit buckedup.com for additional information.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Talladega Superspeedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 2.66-mile superspeedway on Saturday afternoon.

    In his previous five starts, Graf has delivered a track-best of eighth earned earlier this year in the Ag-Pro 300 after starting 24th.

    He also earned his first career top-10 Xfinity finish at Talladega last October with a top-10 finish in last October’s Sparks 300.

    He is hunting for his third consecutive top-10 finish at Talladega this weekend.

    While carrying an average finish of 23.2, he has also completed 491 of the 579 available laps available for an 89.8 percent lap completion.

    Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Superspeedway Nuggets: In 10 career NASCAR Xfinity Series Superspeedway races, he has completed 1,029 of the 1,327 laps available. He holds an average starting position of 23.8 and an average result of 27.0 with a best finish of eighth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2022.

    Joe Graf Jr. ARCA Menards Series Career Superspeedway Nuggets: In three career ARCA superspeedway track races, Graf Jr. has two top-10 finishes. He has been running at the finish of all three races. He holds an average starting position of 15.3 and an average result of 11th with three (3) laps led.

    In 2018, Graf Jr. was involved in the closest finish in ARCA Menards Series history at Talladega Superspeedway in a photo finish.

    The margin was so narrow in the 69-year history of the series, it was a statistical dead heat, the margin of victory on the computerized scoring monitors showing 0.00 seconds.

    Only a video replay and the photo finish camera were able to determine Graf finished second by a matter of millimeters.

    Texas Motor Speedway | Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 Race Recap: In his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, Graf and the SSGLRwJL team showcased the No. 07 Bucked Up Rocket Pop Energy Drink Ford Mustang for their second trip to “No Limits Texas” this season.

    A strong 13th place practice position was backed up with a respectable 19th place qualifying effort with Graf maintaining his solid pace throughout the early running of the race.

    Just past the halfway mark in the race, Graf was collected in a backstretch accident when several cars ahead of him collided.

    Resilient work by the SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team kept Graf who suffered heavy front-end damage from the incident on the track and in contention for a solid finish.

    When the checkered flag waved, Graf finished 18th earning his first top-20 finish at the 1.5-mile speedway and a solid period to a strong weekend from the No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team.

    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 every month.

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

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

    He will crew chief his 93rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his sixth at the breathtaking 2.66-mile superspeedway.

    In his previous 92 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), seven top-five and 21 top-10 finishes.

    Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. Veteran David Starr will drive the No. 08 Five Network Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon for his 17th start of the 2022 season.

    Starr is set to make his 251st career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 11th at Talladega. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2014 Aaron’s 312, where he finished ninth after starting 16th for TriStar Motorsports.

    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 SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Instagram (@ssgreenlightracing) and Twitter (@SSGLR0708).

    Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

    On Talladega Superspeedway: “I am so ready for Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team is going for three straight top-10 finishes at the track on Saturday afternoon and I think we can better our prior finishes with a top-five run with our No. 07 G-Coin Ford Mustang.

    “The team is very excited about the car that we are bringing which is a sister car to the one that we raced at Daytona in August before getting caught up in a mid-race accident.

    “We are starting with a setup that we feel that will put us in a good place for the race and hopefully capture our second top-10 finish of the year at one of my favorite places.”

    On Goals For Remainder of 2022: “There are about six weeks of racing left and we certainly want to make the best of it for everyone that supports our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team.

    “Without question, I think it cannot be denied that our team has showcased speed throughout the season but we haven’t been able to execute on getting the finishes we think we deserved for a variety of reasons.

    “The bigger picture is that we have continued to grow as a team and we have several race tracks over the next seven weeks that allow us to have the opportunity to put our best foot forward.

    “From now until the end of the season at Phoenix, I am determined to nail the execution so we can carry some momentum into the off-season and to the 2023 season.”

    Race Information:

    The Sparks 300 (113 laps | 300.58 miles) is the 28th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Single-car qualifying is set for Friday, September 30, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. CT. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, October 1 shortly after 3:00 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

    About SS Green Light Racing with Jeff Lefcourt:

    As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter and new partner Jeff Lefcourt has been a mainstay entry in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

    SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

  • Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst Talladega NXS Advance

    Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst Talladega NXS Advance

    RILEY HERBST
    Talladega NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
    No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

    NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

    • Event: Sparks 300 (Round 28 of 33)

    • Date: Saturday, Oct. 1

    • Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

    • Layout: 2.66-mile oval

    • Time/TV/Radio: 4 p.m. EDT on USA/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

    • After kicking off his third straight NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs appearance with a strong fifth-place finish last Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team are looking to jump above the top-eight cutline in Saturday’s Sparks 300 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Herbst earned his career-best seventh top-five of the season at Texas, which moved him from 11th to ninth in the playoff standings, just one point below the top-eight cutline. Avoiding calamity will be especially important for Herbst at the always unpredictable Talladega, where he looks to better his seventh-place finish from April by staying out of trouble and earning valuable stage points along the way. While a win would guarantee a spot in the Round of 8, which begins Oct. 15 at Herbst’s home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, strong runs this weekend at Talladega and Oct. 8 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval can also help Herbst advance.

    • With six races still remaining in 2022, Herbst can already call this season a career year. His seven top-fives eclipsed his previous season-best tally of five top-fives earned last year, and his 17 top-10s have already equaled his season high, first earned during his rookie year in 2020.

    • The No. 98 Monster Energy team has been solid at superspeedway-style tracks this season. In the Xfinity Series’ season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Herbst earned a fourth-place finish after running in the top-10 for a majority of the day, successfully avoiding multiple accidents and collecting bonus points with his stage finishes. Five weeks later, the series arrived at the repaved and reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval where racing now is more akin to what’s seen at Daytona and Talladega. Despite overheating problems that put him a lap down early in that March 19 race at Atlanta, the No. 98 team persevered to get back on the lead lap and earn another fourth-place finish. After a seventh-place drive April 23 at Talladega, Herbst claimed another Atlanta top-10 with a strong ninth-place finish on July 9. In his most recent superspeedway outing Aug. 26 at Daytona, Herbst navigated several accidents to finish 15th.

    • The Sparks 300 will be Herbst’s sixth career Xfinity Series start at Talladega. The 23-year-old from Las Vegas finished fourth at the 2.66-mile oval in April 2021, currently his best result at the track. In his return to Talladega last October, Herbst was in position for the win, leading 26 laps and running in the top-10 for a majority of the race. However, the No. 98 Ford Mustang was caught up in the “Big One” with just six laps remaining. The team followed up that performance with another top-10 run when the series returned to Talladega this past April.

    • In addition to his Xfinity Series starts at Talladega, Herbst has also competed in one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and four ARCA Menards Series races. His best finish came in his April 2019 ARCA start when he missed victory lane by .149 of a second as the runner-up to race-winner Todd Gilliland. That October, in his one and only Truck Series start at Talladega, Herbst earned a solid third-place finish.

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

    You head to Talladega fresh off a top-five finish last week at Texas – a great way to begin your playoff run. With two races remaining in the Round of 12, what is your approach?

    “Texas was a good weekend for us, and I’m glad that we could go there and get a top-five. With the playoffs, I’m more of a race-by-race guy. Ultimately, you have to survive each race and perform to the best of your ability. I will say that this first round will be the hardest for this No. 98 Monster Energy team. Talladega is unpredictable, and I haven’t been able to wrap my head around the Roval, yet. Hopefully we can survive and advance.”

    Talladega is indeed unpredictable. How do you approach a race where there are so many variables out of your control?

    “It’s all about survival. Talladega is a wild card and you never know what’s going to happen. I think if we can stay out of trouble and get a little luck, we can be contenders at the end. The key part is getting to the end of the race. We’ve led laps there and performed well at the superspeedways this season, so hopefully we can see that continue at Talladega.”

    The playoffs are built around a “win-and-you’re-in” mentality, but you’ve proven that consistency can take you far, as well. A win is always the goal, but how satisfying is it to see your front-running consistency this season yield results?

    “I’m proud of this No. 98 Monster Energy team for how far we’ve come. The growth is obvious and people are seeing it. Kevin Harvick gave me the best advice at the beginning of the season when he said I needed to focus on being consistent in the top-10 and finishing races. I think we’ve done that and I’ve grown as a driver because of it. Now we have to shift our focus to be consistently top-five and competing for wins. I cannot thank every person on this team enough for all of their hard work.”

    No. 98 Monster Energy Team Roster

    Primary Team Members:

    Driver: Riley Herbst
    Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

    Crew Chief: Richard Boswell
    Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

    Car Chief: Matt Noyce
    Hometown: Oregon, Wisconsin

    Engineer: DJ VanderLey
    Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

    Engineer: Justin Bolton
    Hometown: Latrobe, Pensylvania

    Spotter: Tim Fedewa
    Hometown: Holt, Michigan

    Over-The-Wall Crew:

    Front Tire Changer: Kevin Teaf
    Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

    Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
    Hometown: Arlington, Texas

    Tire Carrier: Davis Sampere
    Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

    Fueler: Corey Coppola
    Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

    Jackman: Stan Doolittle
    Hometown: Ninety Six, South Carolina

    Road Crew Members:

    Truck Driver: Steve Wood
    Hometown: Eatontown, New Jersey

    Engine Tuner: Willie Pelotte
    Hometown: Oakland, Maine

    Tire Specialist: Austin Quick
    Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona

  • Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Talladega Superspeedway

    Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Talladega Superspeedway

    YellaWood 500
    Talladega Superspeedway
    NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
    Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC

    • In the 2022 NCS season, Kaulig Racing has earned three top fives, nine top-10 finishes and has led 33 laps

    Daniel Hemric, No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

    • Daniel Hemric has earned one top five and has led one lap at Talladega in the NCS
    • Of his seven starts in the 2022 NCS season, Hemric has earned a top 10 and two top-15 finishes

    Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

    Justin Haley has made five starts at Talladega in the NCS and has led four laps
    He has earned two top five, three top 10s and has led 28 laps in the 2022 season

    “I’m excited to head to Talladega. We had a shot to win there in the spring. I feel like our speedway program has grown, and I’ve grown as a driver and have figured out what these NextGen cars take to run well on a speedway. I’m also really excited to work with my teammate, Daniel Hemric this weekend and try to get a Kaulig Racing Chevy in victory lane.” – Justin Haley on Talladega  

    Sparks 300
    Talladega Superspeedway
    NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
    Saturday, October 1 at 4 p.m. ET on USA

    • For the second year in-a-row, AJ Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing have won the NXS regular season championship
    • Kaulig Racing has earned three wins, 18 top five and 40 top-10 finishes in the 2022 NXS season
    • The team has led 395 laps in the 2022 NXS season so far
    • Allmendinger: 312 laps
    • Hemric: 66 laps
    • Cassill: 17 Laps

    Landon Cassill, No. 10 Voyager Chevrolet

    • Landon Cassill has made seven starts, earned one top five, three top-10 finishes and has led one lap at at Talladega in the NXS
    • Cassill has earned three top five and nine top-10 finishes in the 2022 NXS season
    • He has led 17 laps so far in the 2022 NXS season

    “I’m definitely excited about Talladega and a chance at winning. Obviously, we’ve done really well at superspeedways this year, so it’s hard not to go to Talladega and be optimistic.” – Landon Cassill on Talladega

    Daniel Hemric, No. 11 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet

    • Daniel Hemric has earned two top-five finishes and has led 57 laps led at Talladega across six starts
    • Hemric has earned two top fives, nine top-10 finishes and has led 66 laps in the 2022 NXS season

    “After last week, we obviously have a little bit of deficit, but I think we maximized our day in Texas and got some good stage points. I’m excited to have First Bank of Alabama on board in Talladega on Saturday for their first time in the sport, as well as another great partner of Kaulig Racing’s, Celsius, on our No. 16 Camaro ZL1 on Sunday. It’s a really exciting weekend for them and all of us involved, so hopefully we can solidify ourselves into the next round of the Xfinity Series playoffs and then shake up the playoffs in the Cup Series on Sunday!” – Daniel Hemric on Talladega

    AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet

    • AJ Allmendinger has earned two top-five finishes and has led 33 laps at Talladega across five starts in the NXS
    • Allmendinger has earned the NXS regular season championship for Kaulig Racing for the second year in-a-row
    • He has earned a win for Kaulig Racing in four-straight NXS seasons
    • In 2022, Allmendinger has led 312 laps, recorded three wins, 13 top five and 24 top-10 finishes
    • Allmendinger currently has the most top-10 finishes of any driver in the 2022 NXS season

    “Hopefully as a team, we can just work together and stay up front. At the end of the day, it would be great to win the race, but if we can just get solid points and be able to go to the ROVAL with the mindset of just winning and not having to worry about the points, that would be the best case scenario.” – AJ Allmendinger on Talladega  

    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 made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

  • JR Motorsports — NXS Talladega II Preview

    JR Motorsports — NXS Talladega II Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
    TRACK: Talladega Superspeedway
    RACE: Sparks 300 (113 laps / 300 miles)
    DATE: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022

    Broadcast Information – TV: 4 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 3:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

    Sam Mayer
    No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
    • Sam Mayer currently sits seventh on the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff grid, one point above the eighth and final spot with two races remaining in the Round of 12.
    • With his eighth-place result last week, Mayer has now finished inside of the top 10 in three consecutive NXS races dating back to Kansas Speedway last month. His average finish in those events is 7.0.
    • Mayer started 14th earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway and raced as high as first before being involved in a multi-car incident that ended his day shy of the finish.

    Josh Berry
    No. 8 JARRETT Chevrolet
    • Josh Berry started 16th last week at Texas and drove to second before ultimately finishing in the sixth position. With the result, Berry has now finished inside the top 10 in 17 races, including four straight.
    • Berry and the No. 8 team currently sit in fifth position on the playoff grid, 24 points above the eighth and final spot with two races remaining in the Round of 12.
    • In this event last season, Berry drove the No. 1 for an injured Michael Annett and finished ninth after leading three laps.
    • At tracks measuring 2 miles or more in the NXS, Berry has earned three top fives and six top 10s in 11 starts.

    Noah Gragson
    No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
    • Noah Gragson has a shot at history this weekend. Fresh off four consecutive victories, if Gragson wins at Talladega he’ll become the first NXS driver to win five races in a row.
    • By virtue of his triumph last week at Texas, Gragson claims the top spot in the point standings and is the first driver locked into the Round of 8.
    • Over his last nine NXS starts, Gragson has five victories (at Pocono, Darlington, Kansas, Bristol and Texas), seven top five and eight top-10 finishes.
    • With a Talladega victory earlier this year, Gragson has excelled at the facility in seven NXS starts. In addition to the win, he’s added three top-five and five top-10 finishes.

    Justin Allgaier
    No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
    • When the green flag waves on Saturday afternoon at Talladega, Justin Allgaier will become just the 10th driver in NXS history to make 400 career starts.
    • With two races remaining in the Round of 12 in the NXS Playoffs, Allgaier currently sits as the sixth seed, 20 points above the cutline.
    • In 14 career NXS starts at Talladega, Allgaier has earned four top fives, seven top 10s and a best finish of second, coming in the spring of 2016.
    • In 38 combined starts on the superspeedways of Talladega and Daytona, Allgaier has amassed 10 top fives and 17 top 10s.

    Driver Quotes

    “Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and this Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team always build fast cars, especially for Daytona and Talladega. That gives me a lot of confidence that I can make the moves needed and put myself in the right situations to be battling towards the front on Saturday. You never know what is going to happen at these superspeedways but our goal is to keep the car clean all race and hopefully come out with a solid points day.” – Sam Mayer

    “Anything can happen at Talladega. You can go from being in the lead one lap to the back of the back the next. Hopefully, we can avoid any potential trouble out there and find ourselves up front and in contention to win with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. JRM has always been extremely strong on the superspeedways, and I feel like we couldn’t be coming to a better place than Talladega this weekend to get our playoffs back on track.” – Justin Allgaier

    “JRM as a whole usually does well in these types of races and this weekend is going to be more of the same. Hopefully we can qualify up front and work with our teammates on staying there all race. We’re in good shape in points right now, but Talladega is a wild card and anything can happen. I think if we can finish this race, we will be in a good spot for the Roval next week, but our main objective is to go out and win.” – Josh Berry

    “This season has just been incredible. Winning four straight is really hard to do in anything, and we’ve done it. This Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team has been amazing all year, and it’s all coming together at the right time. It was a wild finish last time at Talladega, and it will probably be thatway again this weekend. We’re already in the Round of 8, and that takes some of the pressure off this weekend.”– Noah Gragson

    JRM Team Updates:

    • Making History: By virtue of last week’s win at Texas Motor Speedway, Gragson has done something that hasn’t been done since 1983. He has won four consecutive races in the NXS and is tied with Sam Ard for the longest winning streak in series history. If Gragson can win at Talladega, a track he won at earlier this year, he would be the only driver to ever win five in a row in the NXS.
    • JR Motorsports at Talladega: JR Motorsports has competed at Talladega Superspeedway a combined 57 times in the NXS. Over
    the course of those starts at the 2.66-mile facility, the organization has tallied three wins, 16 top fives and 29 top 10s. The
    company’s most recent win came earlier this season with Noah Gragson and the No. 9 team.
    • Team Chevy Display: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry and Sam Mayer will appear at the Team Chevy display located in the Talladega fan zone on Saturday, Oct. 1. Allgaier will appear from 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and the duo of Berry and Mayer from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
    • Souvenir Rig: JRM driver Justin Allgaier will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports/Hendrick Motorsports souvenir rig on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

  • Howie DiSavino III Partners with the Travis Mills Foundation for Talladega Xfinity Debut

    Howie DiSavino III Partners with the Travis Mills Foundation for Talladega Xfinity Debut

    TALLADEGA, Ala.: Returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series scene for the first time since Kansas Speedway last month, Howie DiSavino III returns to Alpha Prime Racing for his third Xfinity start of the season in Saturday afternoon’s Sparks 300 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

    For his debut at the breathtaking 2.66-mile superspeedway, the Chesterfield, Va. native has partnered with the Travis Mills Foundation which will adorn its logos on the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for the final superspeedway race of the 2022 season.

    The Travis Mills Foundation supports recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.

    The Foundation was established by U.S. Army SSG (Ret.) Travis Mills.

    “I am incredibly humbled at the opportunity to represent the Travis Mills Foundation this weekend at Talladega,” said DiSavino.

    “Growing up in a military family, I understand all the trials and tribulations that families face in the Armed Forces.

    “The Travis Mills Foundation represents the pinnacle of helping those that have served our country so they can adjust to living with a positive mindset knowing they are surrounded by an enormous support system.”

    With his penultimate Xfinity Series race of the season on deck Saturday afternoon, DiSavino knows he wants to make the best of the opportunity to showcase his ability, especially at a racetrack like Talladega, where often upset storylines are made and David can beat Goliath.

    For the rising 21-year-old driver, he knows his Alpha Prime Racing team can deliver back-to-back top-five finishes on a superspeedway. Last month, DiSavino’s teammate Sage Karam delivered the Mooresville, N.C.-team a fifth-place effort in the Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

    “I’m very focused on my Talladega Xfinity debut this weekend,” said DiSavino. “Since Kansas, I have put a lot of my time and effort into making sure that I am prepared as possible, so I can go out there and deliver an eye-catching finish with our No. 44 Travis Mills Foundation Chevrolet Camaro.”

    While new to superspeedway racing at the NASCAR Xfinity Series level, DiSavino does have experience in the draft circling back to his impressive tenure in the ARCA Menards Series driving for AM Racing during the 2021 season-opener where he delivered a respectable 13th place finish in the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire.

    “I am very thankful for that opportunity to race on a superspeedway in 2021 and I hope I can apply some of that experience to Talladega this weekend. I know the cars are a little different and the competition and experience level vary significantly, but I believe with my team and the confidence I have in myself, we can go out there on Saturday and impress some people.”

    With no practice on deck and qualifying at risk of potentially being canceled because of the reminiscences of Hurricane Ivan, DiSavino knows wherever he starts this weekend, he’ll have a plan in place to get to the front.

    “We’ll finalize our strategy as we get closer to the race and we know where we are starting, but I think we have a good plan,” he said.

    “If qualifying is canceled because of inclement weather, then we’ll take our starting position in stride and just make the best of it.

    “This race is going to be a lot more mentally draining than physically, but I have surrounded myself with great coaching and a trainer who is preparing for everything that I know will come into play. No matter what situation we are in, the result remains the same; be in contention when it matters the most!”

    During any given week, DiSavino can be found nestled in Mooresville, N.C.- either working thoroughly through his fitness program, his race preparation guideline or on the telephone with current and potential partners trying to increase his presence in the Xfinity Series during the remainder of the 2022 season and looking ahead to 2023.

    His discipline to be able to multitask has given him the optimistic vibe that his hard work and relentless efforts will be rewarded not only this weekend but down the road.

    “This is what I want to do and I’m going to do everything I can to stay here for years and years to come,” added DiSavino. “I am a very focused and detailed person and even though I’m multitasking a lot throughout the day, my race preparation has never been more prominent.

    “This week, it’s hands on deck for Talladega. Next week, it’s focusing on Martinsville and the 2023 season!”

    Veteran Cup spotter Clayton Hughes will guide DiSavino from above this weekend as his spotter.

    Following Talladega, DiSavino will return to Alpha Prime Racing for the penultimate Xfinity Series race of the season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 29, 2022.

    For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Instagram (@howiedisavino), TikTok (@howiedisavino) and Twitter (@howiedisavino).

    The Sparks 300 (113 laps | 300.58 miles) is the 28th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Qualifying is set for Friday, September 30 beginning at 4:30 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, October 1, shortly after 3:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

    About The Travis Mills Foundation:

    The Travis Mills Foundation supports recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.

    We support these veterans through our nationally recognized retreat located in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. Veteran families who have been injured in active duty or as a result of their service to our nation receive an all-inclusive, all-expenses-paid, barrier-free experience in Maine where they participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veteran families, and enjoy much-needed rest and relaxation in Maine’s outdoors.

    The Travis Mills Foundation has serviced 882 families from 44 states (including Washington, D.C. and Canada).

    About Alpha Prime Racing:

    Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team owned by Craig and Tommy Joe Martins as well as Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was originally founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing.

    The team announced in 2022 that they will run the No. 44 and No. 45 Camaro’s full-time, with multiple drivers splitting driving duties including Martins, Bacarella, Josh Bilicki, Rajah Caruth, Howie DiSavino III, Ryan Ellis, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Andy Lally, Julia Landauer and others.

  • The Travis Mills Foundation Announced Partnership with NASCAR Driver Howie DiSavino III, at Talladega Superspeedway

    The Travis Mills Foundation Announced Partnership with NASCAR Driver Howie DiSavino III, at Talladega Superspeedway

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2022) – Howie DiSavino III Racing announced today that the Travis Mills Foundation will adorn the No. 44 Chevrolet for Alpha Prime Racing for the Sparks 300 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

    During his third tour of Afghanistan, U.S. Army SSG (Ret.) Travis Mills, set his bag down on an IED causing an explosion where he lost portions of all his limbs. He woke up on his 25th birthday to learn of his injuries, later becoming a quadruple amputee; one of only five from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries.

    Mills spent 19 months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he learned to feed himself, drive a car, and walk again. During recovery, Mills and his wife Kelsey attended adaptive sports programs. During that time, Mills began to refer to himself as a “recalibrated veteran.” He didn’t like the term wounded warrior; his wounds had healed. He came to the realization that he had to reexamine his thinking and correct it in accordance with his new way of life.

    With this new mission, the Travis Mills Foundation was founded in 2017 and offers recalibrated veterans and their families a week-long retreat, where they enjoy kayaking, tubing, canoeing, fishing, a ropes course, arts and crafts, skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and more. Families also can connect with other families and relax and reset with one another.

    “I am extremely humbled by Howie’s support,” Mills said. “He’s helping spread the good work done by the Travis Mills Foundation and the support it offers to our nation’s heroes and their families. He’s a true champion for veterans.”

    “I am excited to be partnering with the Travis Mills Foundation this weekend at Talladega,” said DiSavino. “As the son of an Army veteran, the work that the Travis Mills Foundation does to help veterans and their families recalibrate to life is important and necessary work. With a good run at Talladega, I hope to raise awareness and funds to support the mission of the Travis Mills Foundation.”

    Coverage of the Sparks 300 begins Saturday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. ET on USA Network, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    About Alpha Prime Racing:

    Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team owned by Craig and Tommy Joe Martins as well as Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was originally founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing.

    The team announced in 2022 that they will run the No. 44 and No. 45 Camaro’s full-time, with multiple drivers splitting driving duties including Martins, Bacarella, Josh Bilicki, Rajah Caruth, Howie DiSavino III, Ryan Ellis, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Andy Lally, Julia Landauer, and others.

  • Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Texas Motor Speedway

    Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Texas Motor Speedway

    AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500

    Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

    Start: 31st

    Stage 1 Finish: 29th

    Stage 2 Finish: 19th

    Finish: 3rd

    “This was a long, challenging race. we finished third at Darlington earlier in the season and started pretty much last there as well, so it’s pretty cool to have another really great run for this Kaulig Racing team. Our No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 definitely wasn’t what I liked, but we kept working on it and actually when it turned dark, we got some good track position and made a heck of a run out of it. I’m really proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing. At the end, I was just worried that the right rear is going to go down, so I was just trying to make it to the end. P3 is everything we could want right now.” – Justin Haley

    Noah Gragson, No. 16 Ed Morse Automotive Group Camaro ZL1

    Start: 26th

    Stage 1 Finish: 18th

    Stage 2 Finish: 23rd

    Finish: 21st

    “Solid run by our No. 16 Freedom by Ed Morse team. We had a lot of fun out there and ran up in the top 10 for a lot of the race. I’m really thankful and grateful for the opportunity with Kaulig Racing, Freedom by Ed Morse, and the entire Morse family. I had a lot of fun out there. It was a long, long race. We had some strong runs there throughout the race and got sent by the 11 late in the race when we were running like 10th or 11th. That’s part of it. You’ll have that, but we’ll keep working hard and try and be better in future.” – Noah Gragson  

    Andy’s Frozen Custard 300

    AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet

    Start: 7th

    Stage 1 Finish: 5th

    Stage 2 Finish: 1st

    Finish: 4th

    “In the past, Texas has probably been the worst mile and a half that we go to for Kaulig racing, but today, our car was really quick. My teammate, Daniel (Hemric) won the first stage and I was able to win the second stage. I thought if we got back up front we would have at least a good shot. I don’t know if we had the outright speed to beat everybody, but this Andy’s frozen Custard Chevy was pretty good. We used the Goodyear up on that right front there at the end. She was hanging on. I wish we could have won that race, but it actually ended up being a really good points day.” – AJ Allmendinger

    Daniel Hemric, No. 11 DaaBIN Store Chevrolet

    Start: 3rd

    Stage 1 Finish: 1st

    Stage 2 Finish: 4th

    Finish: 30th

    “Every year, the first round of the playoffs is kind of like this. You’ve got to survive, and the best way to do that is to still be on the racetrack at the end. It’s unfortunate that we were not there at the end, but today was a big step in the right direction for everyone at Kaulig Racing. To take one step forward this week was great. Although the finish wasn’t the result we wanted, days like today make us optimistic that we can have a chance to go next week and lock ourselves into the second round of the playoffs.” – Daniel Hemric

    Landon Cassill, No. 10 Usio Chevrolet

    Start: 12th

    Stage 1 Finish: 14th

    Stage 2 Finish: 21st

    Finish: 33rd

    “Not the day we were hoping for in our No. 10 Usio Chevy. We got swept up in one of the big wrecks there at the end. It’s unfortunate, but we will look ahead to Talladega next week, a place Kaulig Racing really excels at.” – Landon Cassill




    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 made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

  • RCR NXS Post Race Report: Texas-2

    RCR NXS Post Race Report: Texas-2

    Sheldon Creed Grabs Seventh-Place Finish at Texas, Racks Up 11th Top-10 Finish of 2022 Season

    Finish: 7th
    Start: 13th
    Points: 14th

    “It’s certainly good to finish and to get another top 10. Everyone on the Whelen team worked hard all day and the pit crew was solid. I was close to being in that one pileup but we made it through. I actually thought I was going to be right in the middle of it but, thankfully I wasn’t. I was wrecking-lose there to start the race and we had to work on it quite a bit throughout the day. Every time I’d get a good restart, something would happen and my line would stop and that would hurt our track position. At the end, I thought we had it driving a lot better. We’ll keep working to find more speed.” -Sheldon Creed

    Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Team Finish Runner-Up in First Playoff Race at Texas

    Finish: 2nd
    Start: 9th
    Points: 4th

    “Man, one spot short. I gave it everything I had out there in my No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet. I was hoping a caution would come out at the end so we could restack and get out front but we stayed green. I’m frustrated because we almost had it but it also feels pretty good to start the Playoffs with a second-place finish. My pit crew was on it all day today, our stops were so fast and I think I may have given up some time entering my box so that’s something I’m going to work on. I felt good all day long, clean air made all the difference for us so when we were up front, we were running some of our fastest laps. My guys brought me a really good car and I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win. I gave it my all. We’re 30 points above the cutline but when you go to Talladega, none of that matters because it can change in an instant. But, my team and all of RCR have been really strong on the superspeedways this season so I expect us to do the same next weekend. We’ll run in the front and hopefully we come out on top with the trophy.” -Austin Hill

  • Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst NXS Race Report from Texas

    Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst NXS Race Report from Texas

    Herbst Rallies for Fifth at Texas
    Monster Energy Driver Kicks of 2022 Playoff Run with Seventh Top-Five of Season

    Date: Saturday, Sept. 24
    Event: Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 (Round 27 of 33)
    Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
    Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile oval)
    Format: 200 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/110 laps)
    Start/Finish: 11th / 5th (Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
    Point Standing: 9th (2,034 points, one below the top-eight cutoff)
    Race Winner: Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
    Stage 1 Winner: Daniel Hemric of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
    Stage 2 Winner: AJ Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)

    Overview:

    Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team proved to be resilient in the Texas heat in Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, the opening playoff race of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. The Las Vegas native started the 200-lap race 11th and struggled with a loose racecar in the initial laps. The No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang then had to drop to the rear after a penalty during the day’s first pit stop, but Herbst made quick work in his drive back toward the front. By the end of Stage 2, he was sitting 12th, then restarted ninth for the final stage. Chaos ensued on multiple occasions during the last 100 laps, and Herbst used his savvy driving skills to maneuver his way around two accidents, sitting fourth on a lap-126 restart. He stayed in the top-five until his final scheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 169 and rejoined the field in 15th. The race went caution-free until the checkered flag and Herbst was able to work his way into the top-10 by lap 182. He worked his way forward from there to score his seventh top-five of the season and his second in a row.

    Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

    “Focus was a tough factor all weekend. I’m thinking of the VanderLey family and DJ. Get well buddy, we missed you tremendously. I think today comes down to what we’ve been preaching all year – consistency. We’ve got to clean everything up on pit road and with qualifying. Coming out of Texas with a top-five is good and we’ll go to battle again at Talladega.”

    Notes:

    ● Herbst earned his seventh top-five of the season and his first top-five in six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Texas.

    ● This was Herbst’s second consecutive top-five. He finished fifth last Friday at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

    ● Herbst’s fifth-place finish bettered his previous best at Texas – eighth, earned in May.

    ● This was Herbst’s second straight top-10 at Texas. He finished eighth at the track in May.

    ● Noah Gragson won the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 to score his 12th career Xfinity Series victory, his seventh of the season, and his first at Texas. His margin over second-place Austin Hill was 1.238 seconds.

    ● There were nine caution periods for a total of 52 laps.

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

    Next Up:

    The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the Sparks 300 on Oct. 1 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The race starts at 4 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.