JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Richmond Raceway (.75 mile tri-oval)
NXS RACE – ToyotaCare 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
TUNE IN – FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 1:30 p.m. (EST)
Sam Mayer
No. 1 – 10X Health Chevrolet
Mayer 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 1
Laps Led: 0
Avg. Finish: 25.6
Points: 19th
Sam Mayer heads to Richmond Raceway for his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series career start at the .75 mile short track in Richmond, VA.
The young driver is coming off a top-10 finish last weekend at Circuit of the Americas, finishing ninth.
In 11 starts on short tracks, the Wisconsin native has tallied four top-five and six top-10 efforts with his best of third coming at Richmond in this event back in 2022.
Mayer and the No. 1 team welcome 10X Health on board their JRM Chevrolet for this weekend in Richmond.
Sam Mayer
“Road course racing was exciting last week but I am super-pumped to get back to a short track these next two weeks at Richmond and Martinsville. We had a good run last week and were able to snag a solid top-10 finish. I am looking forward to taking that momentum to Richmond to be in contention for not only a good finish but to get the victory as well. I am pretty excited to have 10X Health on the car and introduce them to the NXS.”
Justin Allgaier
No. 7 DeCA / Hellmann’s Chevrolet
Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 2
Laps Led: 70
Avg. Finish: 17.6
Points: 8th
Justin Allgaier is a two-time NXS winner in Richmond, having swept the double-header weekend at the Virginia short track in 2020, leading a combined 213 out of a possible 500 laps in the process.
Overall, Allgaier boasts strong numbers at the .75-mile tri-oval, having scored eight top-fives and 11 top-10s to accompany the two victories.
In 73 career starts on short tracks in the NXS, Allgaier has amassed six wins, 27 top fives and 45 top 10s.
The Illinois native has also won the previous two events on short tracks in the NXS, scoring victories at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway last fall.
The No. 7 Camaro will be carrying special colors this weekend, as Hellmann’s and the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) come on board for the first time this season. This marks the second time that the DeCA logo has been prominently featured on Allgaier’s Chevrolet and first since Charlotte Motor Speedway last May.
Justin Allgaier
“We have always had really strong cars on the short tracks at JRM and I see no reason why that won’t be the case again this weekend. I feel like Richmond is falling at the right time for us to get that positive momentum back going and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and everyone on this No. 7 team is ready to go once we hit the track on Saturday. This weekend is also a special one as we have the Defense Commissary Agency back on board, as well as Hellmann’s. We had good luck with them on our car last season and hopefully we can replicate that same success when we hit the track and give them another great show. I know that we are ready to go.”
Sammy Smith
No. 8 Pilot Flying J Salted Caramel / Toffee Cold Brew Chevrolet
Smith 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 3
Laps Led: 6
Avg. Finish: 17.2
Points: 11th
Sammy Smith has one start at Richmond coming in this race last season, where he started second on the .75-mile tri-oval.
Of Smith’s seven career NXS starts at a track less than one mile over the past two seasons, he has amassed two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
In the last four starts at a track less than one mile, Smith has finished in the top-five twice.
Smith’s Chevrolet will carry Pilot Flying J’s new coffee flavors, Salted Caramel and Toffee Cold Brew this weekend as well as at Texas and Talladega.
Sammy Smith
“Our Pilot Flying J Chevrolet was fast at COTA last weekend and I’m hoping we can bring that speed to the short track at Richmond. I’ve only run there once but I have strong finishes at short tracks and I know that my No. 8 team’s dedicated preparation is going to pay off soon. I’m looking forward to putting Pilot Flying J’s new coffee flavors in front of our fans.”
Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards / NIBCO
Chevrolet
Jones 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 3
Laps Led: 1
Avg. Finish: 11
Points: 9th
Brandon Jones has made 13 starts at the .75-mile tri-shaped oval and has recorded three top-10 finishes, with his best being an eighth-place finish (2018 and 2020).
Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet will carry the colors of NIBCO on the hood this weekend. This is the third time in a row NIBCO will be featured on his car at Richmond.
Of the 323 laps Jones has led at short tracks, 24 of those came in his last trip to Richmond in the spring of 2023.
Jones will have the opportunity to qualify for the Dash 4 Cash this weekend if he places inside the top-four among NXS regulars. He last qualified for the bonus prize in 2022 after his win at Martinsville.
Brandon Jones
“I am ready to get back to Richmond this weekend with this No. 9 team. Phillip (Bell, crew chief) and I have been working on our strategy and the rest of my crew have been working hard to put a fast racecar on the track, so I am determined to put on a good show this weekend. Hopefully we can keep this Menards/NIBCO Chevrolet clean and be fighting for the checkered flag at the end putting us in the running for that $100,000 next week.”
Bubba Pollard
No. 88 Rheem Chevrolet
Pollard 2024 NXS Stats
Starts: 0
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 0
Laps Led: 0
Avg. Finish: N/A
Points: N/A
Bubba Pollard will make his NXS debut in the No. 88 Rheem Chevrolet at Richmond this weekend.
The 37-year-old Senoia, Ga. native comes off a strong performance last weekend at Five Flags Speedway where he finished third in the ARCA Menards Series East Pensacola 150.
Pollard, one of the top Late Model drivers in the Southeast, is Rheem’s most recent example of its dedication to grassroots racing and providing talented drivers opportunities at higher levels.
The NXS rookie has gone to Victory Lane in more than 100 Late Model races in his career, including the prestigious All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and most recently at Speedfest for the third time.
Bubba Pollard
“I couldn’t be more thankful to Rheem and JR Motorsports for giving me this opportunity. I have been working hard with the team to prepare for this weekend and am looking forward to showing everyone what I can do. I feel like it’s a perfect fit among Rheem, JR Motorsports and myself to go out and have a good run.”
JRM Team Updates
JR Motorsports at Richmond Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Richmond Raceway a combined 93 times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the .75-mile tri-oval, the organization has recorded six wins, 30 top-fives and 55 top-10s, with an average finish of 11.1.
Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones and Bubba Pollard will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, March 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EST.
