Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: NASCAR Xfinity Series

  • Myatt Snider joins Joe Gibbs Racing for part-time Xfinity Series campaign

    Myatt Snider joins Joe Gibbs Racing for part-time Xfinity Series campaign

    Myatt Snider will be joining the Joe Gibbs Racing family on a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series basis for the upcoming season.

    The 28-year-old Snider from Charlotte, North Carolina, will be piloting JGR’s No. 19 “all-star” Toyota Supra entry sponsored by Tree Top, beginning at Daytona International Speedway next Saturday to commence a new season of competition. He will then compete at Portland Raceway in June before competing in four of the final five Xfinity Series scheduled events during the Playoffs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway between October and November.

    The news comes as Snider is coming off his third full-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit. He spent the previous season at Jordan Anderson Racing, where he notched a season-high runner-up result at Portland and a total of four top-10 results before finishing in 18th place in the final driver’s standings.

    “With six races on our 2023 schedule, I’m looking forward to climbing into the No. 19 TreeTop Toyota GR Supra with Joe Gibbs Racing this year,” Snider said. “Having worked with JGR as a high schooler and a young racer, it’s an awesome full circle moment to return as a driver to the team that taught me so much about racing itself. It’s good to be reunited with [crew chief] Jason Ratcliff as we have an awesome history working together. With many memories and wins from 2013 and 2014 when I worked on the No. 20 Toyota Camry under Jason’s leadership, the team has always been more of a family relationship to me. I’m glad to be returning to the JGR family and looking forward to continuing to learn and grow as a driver.”

    Snider made his inaugural presence in the Xfinity Series at the start of the 2020 season, where he split driving duties between Richard Childress Racing and RSS Racing. He notched his first career pole for his first career start at Daytona, where he ended up in 33rd place after being involved in an on-track incident midway into the event. He went on to claim a total of two top-five results and six top-10 results before finishing in 16th place in the final standings.

    The following season, he joined Richard Childress Racing as a full-time Xfinity competitor in the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro. After finishing no higher than seventh during the first two scheduled events, he capitalized on two late-race restarts to score his first Xfinity career win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in February. He went on to qualify for the 2021 Xfinity Playoffs, where he was eliminated from title contention following the Round of 12 and settled in ninth place in the final standings. Despite notching a career-high 11 top-10 results along with his first victory and a Playoff berth, Snider was replaced by Sheldon Creed and he ended up joining forces with Jordan Anderson Racing for the 2022 season.

    Prior to the Xfinity Series, Snider made 35 career starts in the Craftsman Truck Series from 2016 to 2019. During his lone full-time basis in the series, he claimed the 2018 Rookie-of-the-Year title on the strength of three top-five results, eight top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 14.1 and a ninth-place finish in the driver’s standings.

    “We’re looking forward to have Myatt on our No. 19 team for six races,” Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President of NXS and Development, added. “Building out the driver lineup for this car is an opportunity for JGR to help drivers continue to develop in their racing career and we’re looking forward to seeing how Myatt continues to grow.”

    Snider’s addition to Joe Gibbs Racing means that he will become the fourth different competitor to pilot Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 “all-star” entry throughout this year’s Xfinity Series season alongside Ryan Truex, Joe Graf Jr. and Connor Mosack. The remainder of JGR’s driver lineup for the No. 19 entry for the remaining 19 vacant events along with Truex’s schedule have yet to be determined.

    Snider’s part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign with Joe Gibbs Racing is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway next Saturday, February 18, at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Joe Gibbs Racing adds Joe Graf Jr. to 2023 Xfinity Series schedule

    Joe Gibbs Racing adds Joe Graf Jr. to 2023 Xfinity Series schedule

    Joe Graf Jr. became the latest addition to Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver lineup for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. 

    The 24-year-old Graf from Mahwah, New Jersey, will be piloting JGR’s No. 19 “all-star” Toyota Supra entry for five Xfinity events this upcoming season, beginning at Auto Club Speedway on February 25. He will then pilot the No. 19 entry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, Richmond Raceway on April 1, New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15 and at Kansas Speedway on September 9. CoverSeal® and G-Coin® will be supporting Graf’s efforts at JGR.

    The news comes after Graf Jr. will also be driving for RSS Racing for 28 Xfinity events this season, which will commence at Daytona International Speedway in February and make him a full-time competitor in the series. It also comes after the New Jersey native spent the previous season competing in all but five of 33-race Xfinity schedule between SS-Green Light Racing, RSS Racing and BJ McLeod Motorsports.

    “Running five races with JGR is a fantastic opportunity for myself and for my marketing partners,” Graf Jr. said. “I think I can learn a lot from JGR and showcase my skills I’ve been growing in the series in the past three years. 2023 is shaping up to be a great year and I’m pumped to get started with the No. 19 group.”

    Graf Jr. made his inaugural presence in the Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway in June 2019, where he piloted the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing as a development driver and finished 19th after starting 21st. Since then, he has recorded a total of two top-10 results and 23 top-20 results in 93 career starts. His highest-finishing result to date is an eighth-place run at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2022.

    Prior to the Xfinity Series, Graf Jr. competed in two ARCA Menards Series season in 2018 and 2019. He claimed his first career victory at Berlin Raceway in August 2018.

    “Joe [Graf Jr.] is committed to success, which is something we are looking for in all of our drivers,” Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President of NXS and Development, added. “We are anticipating a solid season from the No. 19 team and Joe’s addition to the driver lineup will help that team be competitive for the owner’s championship this season.”

    With Graf Jr.’s addition to JGR, he becomes the second competitor scheduled to pilot the No. 19 entry that will be led by veteran crew chief Jason Ratcliff. Ryan Truex is scheduled to pilot the car in a total of six events, though his schedule has not been determined. The remainder of the No. 19 team’s drivers and schedules have yet to be determined.

    With his schedule set, Graf Jr.’s 2023 Xfinity Series season will commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 18 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1. His part-time tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing will then begin at Auto Club Speedway on February 25 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • NASCAR reveals 2023 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, Triple Truck Challenge schedules

    NASCAR reveals 2023 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, Triple Truck Challenge schedules

    With the 2023 NASCAR season nearing its commencement, the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash and the Craftsman Truck Series’ Triple Truck Challenge programs will also be returning and featured in the early portions of the upcoming racing schedule.

    For the Xfinity Series, the Dash 4 Cash program will launch its 15th consecutive season by hosting its qualifying event at Circuit of the Americas for a second consecutive season on March 25, where the top-four highest-finishing Xfinity regulars in the final running order will contend for the first round of bonus money. The Dash 4 Cash program will then commence at Richmond Raceway on April 1 before returning for the following three consecutive events at Martinsville Speedway on April 15, Talladega Superspeedway on April 22 and Dover Motor Speedway on April 29. The highest-finishing Xfinity competitor in each event will receive the cash-winning prize, with opportunities for the cash-winning prize to increase should a competitor achieve the bonus more than once.

    This past season, Sam Mayer commenced the Dash 4 Cash program by winning the first bonus round at Richmond. Veteran AJ Allmendinger claimed the following two bonuses at Martinsville and Talladega before Noah Gragson claimed the fourth and final bonus at Dover. While Allmendinger and Gragson have moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series for this upcoming season, Mayer returns to the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports as he will contend for another round of bonus money.

    For the Craftsman Truck Series, which has been renamed from the Camping World Truck Series, the Triple Truck Challenge will occupy three events for a fifth consecutive season and offer Truck regulars three opportunities to earn bonus money for themselves. The program will launch at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26 before returning at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 3 and at Nashville Superspeedway on June 23.

    A year ago, Corey Heim claimed the first Triple Truck Challenge bonus after winning at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway. Ryan Preece went on to claim the second bonus after winning at Nashville before Parker Kligerman capped off the program by winning both the race and the bonus at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. While Preece and Kligerman have moved up to the Cup and Xfinity Series respectively, Heim will receive additional opportunities to compete for additional cash as he returns to the Truck Series as a full-time competitor for TRICON Garage.

    Photo by Simon Scoggins for SpeedwayMedia.com.

    For both initiatives, drivers who are competing for championship points in their respective series will only be eligible to compete in their respective cash-winning events (Xfinity for Dash 4 Cash and Truck for Triple Truck Challenge), thus making the Cup Series competitors ineligible for both program events.

    As part of the restriction process that will not allow competitors competing in additional national touring series events in major events, drivers who are not competing for Xfinity Series points will be ineligible to compete in the series’ Playoff events, elimination races and the inaugural Xfinity event at the Chicago Street Race that is scheduled to occur on July 1. In addition, Xfinity regulars will not be allowed to compete in the Truck season finale event at Phoenix Raceway on November 3 while Cup regulars are ineligible to compete in the Truck’s Playoff schedule. Cup regulars, however, are permitted to compete in a maximum of five Xfinity and Truck events that do not involve the major bonus, Playoff or championship events.

    The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 17 with the event’s coverage to occur at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season is scheduled to occur the following day on February 18 with the event’s coverage to commence at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Kaulig Racing taps Justin Haley for multiple Xfinity Series events in 2023

    Kaulig Racing taps Justin Haley for multiple Xfinity Series events in 2023

    Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 Xfinity Series Chevrolet Camaro entry will become the team’s “all-star” entry for this upcoming Xfinity season as Justin Haley will be driving the entry in multiple Xfinity events, beginning with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway.

    The news comes two days after Landon Cassill, who was scheduled to pilot the No. 10 entry for a second season, will not be competing on a full-time basis for the 2023 season. It also comes six months after his sponsor Voyager Digital filed for bankruptcy. Cassill, who finished in 13th place in the 2022 Xfinity standings on the strength of a career-high five top-five results, 12 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 16.2, has yet to announce his plans for this upcoming season.

    Haley, who competed in the Xfinity circuit with Kaulig from 2019 to 2021 and accumulated four victories, including two at Daytona, is currently set to compete in his second full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 23-year-old native from Winamac, Indiana, capped off his first season with Kaulig in 22nd place in the 2022 Cup standings on the strength of three top-five results, four top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 22.7. Throughout the previous season, he also made one start in the Xfinity circuit in Kaulig’s No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro entry at Daytona in August, where he finished 25th after being involved in a late multi-car incident.

    Kaulig Racing’s Nos. 11 and 16 entries will be remaining as full-time entries alongside the No. 10 entry for Xfinity regulars Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith, respectively. Hemric, the 2021 Xfinity Series champion, returns for a second season at Kaulig while Smith prepares for his first full-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit as he will battle for the rookie title.

    The remainder of Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 driver lineup will be determined at a later date.

    Haley’s first Xfinity start of the season is set to occur at Daytona International Speedway on February 18 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, which will commence a new season of Xfinity competition. 

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt Joins Alpha Prime Racing Full-Time In 2023

    Jeffrey Earnhardt Joins Alpha Prime Racing Full-Time In 2023

    MOORESVILLE, N.C

    Alpha Prime Racing is excited to announce that Jeffrey Earnhardt will be racing full-time in the number 44 Chevrolet Camaro during the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

    “We’re so excited to have Jeffrey with us next season,” APR President Tommy Joe Martins said. “Jeffrey has been a competitor and a friend to me for a few years now. When Caesar and I started this team last year, we both talked about having Jeffrey at the top of our roster – so to see this all come together for 2023, he and I both feel like we finally got our guy.”

    The 4th generation Earnhardt driver has competed at all three levels of NASCAR’s top series and is ready to return to the Chevrolet family and Alpha Prime Racing full-time next season.

    “I’m really pumped this came together with Tommy and Caesar,” said Jeffrey. “We were evaluating different options and after speaking with them we knew this would be the perfect fit. They are making major moves to strengthen their program and they made me feel welcomed. I’m fortunate to have my sponsors from last season continuing their support and we’ve got some new partners onboard. I’m looking forward to putting on that bowtie and leading this team to their first victory next season.”

    A major cornerstone for Earnhardt has been his sponsor ForeverLawn. They’re returning for multiple races in 2023 and CEO Dale Karmie is enthusiastic about the future.

    “We are thrilled that Jeffrey Earnhardt will be back in the Black and Green Grass Machine in 2023” commented Karmie. “Jeffrey is a great driver, we just need to get him on the track more. We can’t wait to see what this year brings. We are blessed to have such great partners whose support continues to make this possible. We are also excited to continue bringing the message of hope from Pastor Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries. We’ll see you out on the track!”

    The value of a competitive Earnhardt was demonstrated during his Talladega race this past season. Winning the pole and missing victory lane by one position, Jeffrey Earnhardt enjoyed the most viewed NASCAR Xfinity Series race in the past 5 years. With ECR power plants and confident leadership, Jeffrey and Alpha Prime Racing are eager to get to Daytona.

  • Sam Hunt Racing adds Grala, Mosack to driver lineup for 2023 Xfinity season

    Sam Hunt Racing adds Grala, Mosack to driver lineup for 2023 Xfinity season

    Sam Hunt Racing will be fielding two full-time entries while also introducing Kaz Grala and Connor Mosack as the team’s key competitors for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

    The 23-year-old Grala from Boston, Massachusetts, will be piloting the team’s No. 26 Toyota Supra on a full-time basis while the 23-year-old Mosack from Charlotte, North Carolina, will be driving the No. 24 Toyota Supra in 20 Xfinity events for the upcoming season.

    The news comes as Sam Hunt Racing based in Mooresville, North Carolina, prepares to enter its fifth season with at least one start in the Xfinity circuit. The team, which debuted as DRIVE Technology in 2013 and originally competed in the ARCA Menards Series East, made its inaugural presence in the Xfinity Series during the 2019 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Colin Garrett piloting the team’s first entry. The team returned on a part-time basis in 2020 before fielding the No. 26 entry on a full-time basis in 2021 piloted by multiple competitors.

    This past season, Sam Hunt Racing fielded the No. 26 entry on a full-time basis for a second consecutive season as the car was piloted by multiple competitors. The team also introduced a second entry, the No. 24 Toyota, for select events. Throughout the 2022 season, the No. 26 team finished in the top 10 five times with their best runs being fourth at Darlington Raceway in May and fifth at Phoenix Raceway in March. The No. 24 team made a single start at Daytona International Speedway in February, where Jeffrey Earnhardt piloted the entry to a 15th-place result.

    Through a combined 78 career starts in the Xfinity Series made between 17 different competitors, Sam Hunt Racing has achieved three top-five results and seven top-10 results. Their best on-track result to date remains a third-place run at Richmond Raceway in September 2021 made by John Hunter Nemechek. The 2023 season will mark the team’s first opportunity to contend for the driver’s title with Grala.

    “Timing and patience have been pivotal components of our growth process at SHR. Expanding to two full-time teams in 2023 brings an excitement level only matched by the responsibility and expectation to compete at a high level every week,” Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing, said. “It goes without saying that having a full-time driver in the No. 26 for the first time is a blessing to our organization and an important component of our growth. Kaz is a highly talented and experienced driver and has strived for an opportunity like this for a long time. Having Connor anchor the No. 24 team is something we are also really looking forward to. He is a very talented young man and has every trait and characteristic I look for in a young driver. We’re heading into 2023 with confidence in both teams and drivers, and I’m excited to continue to build this program with each of them.”

    For Grala, the 2023 season will mark his first opportunity competing in the Xfinity circuit on a full-time basis. It will also mark his second full-time campaign overall within NASCAR’s top three national touring series after competing in the Craftsman Truck Series on a full-time basis in 2017 with GMS Racing. During the season, Grala notched his lone career victory at Daytona and became the youngest NASCAR winner at Daytona at age 18 years, one month and 26 days. He went on to make the 2017 Truck Playoffs before finishing in seventh place in the final standings.

    This past season, Grala competed in a combined 25 starts across NASCAR’s top three national touring series, 10 of which occurred in the Xfinity Series. His best run occurred at Watkins Glen International in August, where he finished fifth while driving for Big Machine Racing. He made his first start with Sam Hunt Racing during the 2022 Xfinity Series finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, where he finished 23rd.

    Through 44 career starts in the Xfinity Series, Grala has achieved five top-five results, 10 top-10 results, 18 laps led and an average-finishing result of 18.6. His highest result in the series are a pair of fourth-place finishes at Daytona in 2018 and at Road America in 2020.

    “I’ve scratched and clawed for each opportunity over the past several seasons, and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s made me appreciate this sport and its difficulty more than I ever could have if things had been easy,” Grala said. “I feel like everything has finally come together at the perfect time in my life with the right team around me to start that next chapter in my career. I couldn’t be more proud and hopeful heading into 2023 with Sam Hunt Racing with a chance to compete for a championship. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, and I intend to make the absolute most of it next year and beyond.”

    Mosack, the 2020 CARS Tour Rookie of the Year and a Trans Am TA2 class competitor, made his NASCAR national touring series debut in June 2022 at Portland International Raceway, where he piloted Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota Supra to a 28th-place finish. He returned at Watkins Glen with Sam Hunt Racing, where he finished a season-best 15th. He also made two starts in the Truck Series and eight starts in the ARCA Menards Series, both with Bret Holmes Racing.

    Mosack’s first Xfinity start in 2023 will occur at Phoenix Raceway in March with the rest of his schedule yet to be determined.

    “Being able to run 20 races in the Xfinity Series next year is a really big deal to me,” Mosack said. “Two years ago, I didn’t really know where I was going or how I was going to get there. Racing in this series is a big step toward where I want to go, and I’m excited it is with a team like Sam Hunt Racing. With SHR being a growing team, I know I can develop relationships with everyone involved and continue to learn from them. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sam and trust that his team and values will help to develop me as a driver.”

    In addition to the new driver lineup, Sam Hunt Racing welcomes Kris Bowen, formally from Our Motorsports, as the crew chief of the No. 24 entry. Allen Hart is expected to remain as Grala’s crew chief for the 2023 season.

    The rest of the team’s driver lineup for the No. 24 “all-star” entry, including one for the season-opening event at Daytona in February, will be announced at a later date.

    With their plans for the upcoming season announced, Sam Hunt Racing’s 2023 season is set to commence at Daytona on February 18. The event is slated to occur at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Ryan Truex returns to Joe Gibbs Racing for part-time Xfinity campaign in 2023

    Ryan Truex returns to Joe Gibbs Racing for part-time Xfinity campaign in 2023

    Ryan Truex will be rejoining Joe Gibbs Racing on a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series basis as he will be piloting the No. 19 Toyota Supra in six events for the upcoming season.

    The 30-year-old Truex from Mayetta, New Jersey, is coming off a part-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit between JGR and Sam Hunt Racing. Piloting the No. 18 Toyota in five of his six scheduled events, he recorded three top-10 results and notched a season-best third-place run at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July. Previously, Truex competed on a full-time basis in the Craftsman Truck Series with Niece Motorsports, where he recorded three top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 19.5 and finished 16th in the final standings.

    The 2023 season will mark Truex’s eighth season with at least one start in the Xfinity circuit. It will also mark his fourth part-time campaign with JGR that includes runs with the organization in 2011, 2012 and 2022.

    Through 84 previous starts in the Xfinity Series, Truex has achieved one pole, five top-five results, 27 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 16.1. His best result in the series is a runner-up result, which occurred at Dover Motor Speedway in June 2012. He has also made a total of 73 starts in the Truck Series and 26 in the NASCAR Cup Series to date.

    “I am thrilled to be behind the wheel of the No. 19 for a few races next season,” Truex said. “It was fun to run well with the team this past year. I appreciate the opportunity to race for JGR again next year. I think we can build from what we learned this year and get some solid runs in.”

    Veteran Jason Ratcliff will be serving as the crew chief of the No. 19 Toyota team that will be serving as JGR’s “all-star” entry for the upcoming Xfinity season. The No. 19 Toyota will compete alongside the Nos. 18 and 20, both of which will compete for the driver’s championship and piloted by Sammy Smith and John Hunter Nemechek, respectively.

    “We are looking forward to having Ryan back in our lineup in 2023 to run the No. 19,” Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series/Development, added. “He has done well in the races he has run at JGR. His previous experience and driving ability will be assets as the No. 19 competes for an owner’s championship next year.”

    Truex’s 2023 schedule along with additional drivers for JGR’s “all-star” entry will be announced at a later date.

  • John Hunter Nemechek inks full-time Xfinity Series ride with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2023 season

    John Hunter Nemechek inks full-time Xfinity Series ride with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2023 season

    John Hunter Nemechek will be returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on a full-time basis and pilot the No. 20 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing in his quest for the series championship.

    The news comes as the 25-year-old Nemechek from Mooresville, North Carolina, is coming off two full-time seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports, where he scored seven victories, qualified for the Playoffs during both seasons and achieved the 2021 Truck Series regular-season championship. In addition to his Truck schedule, he competed in a total of 16 Xfinity events between Joe Gibbs Racing and Sam Hunt Racing. During his part-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit, Nemechek won at Texas Motor Speedway with JGR in October 2021. He also piloted the team’s No. 18 Toyota Supra in three events this past season and achieved his best run at Richmond Raceway in April after finishing second.

    The 2023 season will mark Nemechek’s first full-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit since 2019, where he recorded six top-five results and 19 top-10 results as he qualified for the 2019 Xfinity Playoffs and finished in seventh place in the final standings while competing for GMS Racing.

    Through 67 previous starts in the Xfinity Series, Nemechek has achieved two victories, one pole, 17 top-five results, 37 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 12.6.

    “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to get back to competing full time in the Xfinity Series,” Nemechek said. “JGR is a group that I know I can win with after getting that win at Texas in 2021. I’m excited to get to work on the 2023 season so we can go out and win some races and compete for a championship.”

    Mobil 1 will be serving as Nemechek’s primary sponsor with additional sponsorship support coming from Berry’s Bullets, Pye Barker Fire and Safety, Romco Equipment and his Grocery Store Brands throughout the season. Ben Beshore, who spent the previous two seasons in the Cup Series as a crew chief for Kyle Busch, will be returning to the Xfinity Series for the first time since 2020 to serve as Nemechek’s crew chief.

    The addition of Nemechek to Joe Gibbs Racing means that he will be serving as one of the team’s two full-time competitors for the 2023 Xfinity season. Sammy Smith was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 18 Toyota two days ago.

    “John Hunter has shown the dedication it takes to be a successful racecar driver,” Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President, Xfinity Series and Driver Development, added. “He has experience at all levels of NASCAR that will be valuable to the team in 2023. We are excited to add him to our driver lineup for the year and look forward to the success the No. 20 team will see.”

    With his plans for the upcoming season set, Nemechek’s quest for the 2023 Xfinity Series championship with Joe Gibbs Racing will commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 18. The event is slated to commence at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Sammy Smith secures full-time Xfinity ride with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023

    Sammy Smith secures full-time Xfinity ride with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023

    Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sammy Smith will be joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series competition on a full-time basis and behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota Supra for the 2023 season.

    The 18-year-old Smith from Johnston, Iowa, is coming off a competitive 2022 campaign, where he made his first nine career starts in the Xfinity circuit, beginning at Road America in July and capping off the season at Phoenix Raceway in November. Throughout his part-time Xfinity schedule, he earned three top-10 results and recorded a career-best third-place run at Watkins Glen International in August while contributing to JGR’s No. 18 team finishing in seventh place in the 2022 Xfinity owner’s standings.

    For his first full-time Xfinity season and bid for the series championship, Smith will be receiving a bevy of sponsorship support for the upcoming season that will include Pilot Flying J, TMC Transportation, Allstate Peterbilt, Renda Group, Sinclair Tractor and Mobil 1. Veteran Jeff Meendering, who served as Brandon Jones’ crew chief during the previous four seasons, will be remaining at JGR for a fifth full-time season to serve as Smith’s crew chief.

    “This is an opportunity I have been working towards,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel full-time and am looking forward to a great season. I learned a lot in 2022 that will really help me to be competitive and run up front in the Xfinity Series. Thank you to Pilot Flying J, TMC Transportation, Allstate Peterbilt Group, and Toyota Racing Development for supporting me in my racing career. I am excited for next year and appreciate the opportunity.”

    In addition to his part-time Xfinity schedule in 2022, Smith competed on a full-time basis in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He captured the ARCA East title after winning all but two of the series’ seven-race schedule, which marked his second consecutive title in the series after winning his first a year prior with Joe Gibbs Racing. In the ARCA side, he captured six victories and 15 top-five results in 16 starts, which was enough for him to deliver the owner’s title for KBM.

    “Sammy is a fantastic addition to our 2023 Xfinity lineup. He proved to have the passion and the talent to necessary to compete for wins in the races he ran for us in 2022,” Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Driver Development, added. “We are excited to get him in the No. 18 full time and know he will be competitive from the jump.”

    The remainder of Joe Gibbs Racing’s and Toyota’s Xfinity Series lineup is set to be announced this Thursday, December 8, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    With his plans for the upcoming season set, Smith’s first full-time campaign in the Xfinity Series is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 18. The event’s coverage is slated to occur at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements does have a beard!

    NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements does have a beard!

    He won the big race in Daytona, now #51 has his own beard oil.

    GREENVILLE, SC, November 22, 2022—The GAHLAY! Co. LLC, maker of fine men’s grooming goods, announced today the release of Jeremy Clements 500 Beard Oil by GAHLAY!

    Spartanburg, SC native Jeremy Clements won the big race down in Daytona & now he’s got his own GAHLAY! Beard Oil! Welcome to the family, JEREMY CLEMENTS 500 by GAHLAY!

    This is a project that GAHLAY! CEO/Founder Matthew “Mattman” Harris & Jeremy have been talking about for quite some time, but over the Summer it started to become a thing. Meeting together during the week, Matt & Jug have put together the scent that not only represents Jeremy Clements & his dapperness well…but also one his wife Cortney likes a lot!

    Based with 100% all natural essential oils, this scent almost finishes like a sweet beard cologne & is also intended to hydrate your facial hair and the skin underneath. With pure ingredients like 100% uncut Sweet Almond Essential Oil, high grade, uncut Sandalwood Essential Oil, Supreme, high grade Vetiver Essential Oil, it’s not only going to protect your facial hair, it’s going to make you smell oh so good! 

    Clements, driver of the #51 car in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series says, “I’ve known Mattman for like 12 years going on The Rise Guys, we became good friends. When he started GAHLAY! I used & really liked all the products once I grew a beard in. We worked on this scent all Summer & I can’t wait for all my fans to try it. Be a really good stocking stuffer for sure!”

    Mattman added, “Jug might not ever get his face on a box of ‘Wheaties’ but Michael Jordan never had his own beard oil either.”

    JEREMY CLEMENTS 500 Beard Oil by GAHLAY!™ is available exclusively at GAHLAY.com with FREE shipping. The oil will join GAHLAY!’s other fine men’s grooming goods in barber shops & retail stores in 2023.

    The GAHLAY! Co. LLC is based out of Greenville, SC since 2019. The GAHLAY!™ Co. carries a wide array of beard oils, beard balms & butters, men’s soaps & apparel. Past collaborations have included The North Face®  & Topps® sports cards. Owned & operated by Matthew “Mattman” Harris from the nationally syndicated The Rise Guys morning show.