Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | National Debt Relief 250
Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Ryan Ellis
Primary Partner(s): Centurion
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
2026 Driver Points Position: 27th
2026 Owner Points Position: 34th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing
Notes of Interest:
● Year Three, Driven Forward: In November 2025, Ryan Ellis was announced as Young’s Motorsports’ full-time driver in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as the organization enters its third season of competition.
In a significant step for 2026, Young’s Motorsports will transition its flagship No. 02 — long synonymous with the organization’s success in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time, underscoring the team’s continued growth at the national level.
Ellis will pilot the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro across the full 33-race schedule, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s National Debt Relief 250 and culminating with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship Race next weekend at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
Just two races remain in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Following this weekend’s penultimate event at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, teams will return to the Sunshine State for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which will host the championship-deciding race for the first time since 2019, officially bringing the curtain down on the 2026 campaign.
● About Ryan: A respected veteran in the NASCAR garage, Ellis joins Young’s Motorsports with more than a decade of experience across NASCAR’s national ranks, including competition in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
The 2026 season will mark Ellis’ fourth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The 35-year-old Virginia native is coming off his first career NASCAR top-10 finish in 2025 and looks to build on that momentum while continuing to expand his résumé, which includes 195 career starts in series competition.
Known for his consistency, professionalism, and versatility behind the wheel and in the garage, Ellis aims to apply his experience to elevate Young’s Motorsports’ competitive presence in its third season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
● All-Aboard!: For the 32nd of 33 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Centurion as the primary partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday’s 250-lap event on Halloween.
Centurion is the leading provider of secure construction and infrastructure solutions for Government, Defensed commercial organizations across the nation.
From state-of-the-art SCIFs and secure facilities to mission-critical environments that support our National Security, Centurion is trusted to build the spaces where important work for our nation happens.
Our team combines Innovation, Craftsmanship, and uncompromising attention to all aspects of security to deliver projects on time and built to be Accredited Day One. Built to Pass. First Time!
Learn more at centurionsecure.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest company news and project updates.
● Tablo TV and GOVX Celebrate Those Who Serve: Season-long partners Tablo TV and GOVX will once again support Ellis and Young’s Motorsports this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, with Tablo TV serving as the primary partner aboard the No. 02 Chevrolet and GOVX continuing its presence as a major associate partner.
GOVX, the members-only platform serving U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, emergency medical professionals and government employees, provides exclusive access to premium brands and special pricing for those who serve.
Tablo TV and GOVX will continue to build on their new partnership this weekend, celebrating military members, veterans and their families through an exclusive offer for the military community.
Following the successful launch during the United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, eligible GOVX members can receive $30 off the Tablo Total System, making it even easier to enjoy free over-the-air television at home.
● Tablo Gives Fans More Ways to Watch NASCAR: As a valued partner of Ellis and Young’s Motorsports, NASCAR fans have even more ways to watch and record racing action with Tablo.
Fourth-generation Tablo DVR owners can now access and record The NASCAR Channel, featuring 24/7 free programming, including classic races, delayed broadcasts of the current season, select live events, NASCAR Studios original content and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s The Morning Drive.
The addition brings Tablo’s lineup to 106 free streaming channels, complementing its ability to watch and record free local broadcast television with a TV antenna through its whole-home DVR platform.
This week, fans can use promo code ELLIS to receive $20 off the purchase of a new Tablo TV device.
● Ryan Ellis O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Martinsville Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s return to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will mark Ellis’s ninth career start at the famed 0.526-mile paperclip in The Old Dominion.
In his previous eight Martinsville Speedway starts, Ellis’s best result was delivered in his fifth and sixth trip to Martinsville Speedway, where he earned a track-best 18th, most recently in the US Marine Corps 250 last March, driving for DGM Racing.
Overall, he holds an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series average finish of 24.4 at the historic race track in Southern Virginia.
Following last weekend’s superspeedway showdown at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this weekend for the penultimate race of the 2026 season.
With just two races remaining, Saturday afternoon’s Halloween showdown at the historic 0.526-mile short track offers another chance for teams to earn a strong result before the championship campaign concludes next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The action-packed weekend features a NASCAR national-series tripleheader, beginning Friday night with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ Black’s Tire 200. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes center stage Saturday before the NASCAR Cup Series closes the weekend Sunday, November 1, with the Xfinity 500.
Known for its tight corners, flat banking and intense door-to-door racing, Martinsville Speedway presents one of the most physically and mentally demanding challenges on the NASCAR schedule.
Unlike last weekend’s high-speed drafting competition at Talladega, Martinsville places a premium on braking, forward drive, maintaining track position and navigating heavy traffic around the paperclip-shaped oval.
With passing opportunities often scarce, managing tire wear, avoiding contact, and making the most of restarts will be critical to securing a competitive finish.
For Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports, Saturday’s return to Martinsville offers an opportunity to put together a strong performance at one of NASCAR’s most challenging short tracks as their 2026 campaign together approaches its conclusion.
Martinsville’s demanding nature often tests both driver patience and equipment durability, so Ellis and the No. 02 Chevrolet team will look to establish a competitive balance early and hold their position throughout the afternoon.
With only two races remaining in their season together, Ellis and Young’s Motorsports remain focused on maximizing their remaining opportunities and delivering a strong performance before heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season finale.
Although Ellis and Young’s Motorsports will pursue separate paths following the conclusion of the 2026 season, their shared priority remains finishing the year on a positive note while recognizing the partners, crew members and personnel who have supported their efforts throughout the campaign.
● Ryan Ellis NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Martinsville, Ellis has 195 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning a career-best sixth-place finish after starting 32nd in the 2026 edition of the United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for Young’s Motorsports.
Since his 2012 debut, Ellis has averaged a 26.6 finish in series competition, including the past three seasons running full-time.
● Talladega Superspeedway | The Progress Group 250 Race Recap: Ryan Ellis and the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet team arrived at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for the final superspeedway race of the season, looking to deliver another strong drafting performance and contend for their second top-10 finish of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign.
Despite having no practice time before qualifying, Ellis turned in a solid run behind the wheel of his No. 02 Tablo TV Chevrolet Camaro, earning the 20th starting spot for Saturday afternoon’s The Progress Group 250.
With superspeedway racing’s unpredictable nature always threatening a multi-car accident, Ellis and the team took a conservative approach early, settling toward the rear of the lead draft to avoid trouble while preserving their equipment for a late-race charge.
The strategy proved effective: Ellis navigated the race without incident and stayed in contention as the laps wound down.
However, when the field took the green flag for the final restart, the anticipated side-by-side racing never fully developed, preventing the drafting lanes from generating the momentum Ellis needed to advance through the field.
Without the drafting help to build a run, Ellis couldn’t capitalize on the team’s strategy and ultimately finished 30th.
While the result fell short of the team’s expectations, the No. 02 Chevrolet escaped Talladega without damage, a positive takeaway from an afternoon when Ellis and the Young’s Motorsports crew executed their planned approach but couldn’t capitalize on the late-race drafting opportunities they expected.
With Talladega in the rearview mirror, Ellis and Young’s Motorsports turn their attention to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for Saturday’s penultimate race of the season, determined to finish their remaining two events together on a competitive note.
● Calling the Shots: Guiding Ryan Ellis as crew chief of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief, engineer and motorsports veteran Eddie Troconis.
Saturday afternoon’s race at Martinsville Speedway will mark Troconis’ 53rd career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start atop the pit box. In his previous 52 races, he has earned two top-10 finishes, most recently in the 2026 season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
The 32nd race of the 2026 season will also mark Troconis’ fourth event atop the pit box at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and his second appearance there since 2021.
Beyond his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series experience, Troconis has called 10 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Martinsville, highlighted by a track-best fourth-place finish with Ben Rhodes in 2018.
● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Martinsville Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ seventh and eighth starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Martinsville Speedway
In the organization’s six previous races, the team has earned a track-best 16th-place finish during the fall 2025 edition of the IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, with series veteran Anthony Alfredo behind the wheel.
In Martinsville, the organization’s six previous starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series have produced an average starting position of 27.0 and an average finish of 29.5.
Beyond its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series efforts, the team has also made 35 starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2012, producing a 22.5 average finish.
That stretch includes the organization’s best Truck Series finish: a ninth-place finish by Austin Hill in the series’ fourth race of the 2018 season.
● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 128 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 27.6 and an average finish of 25.0.
● Follow on Social Media: For more on Ryan Ellis, please visit ryanellisracing.com, like him on Facebook (Ryan Ellis), and follow him on Instagram (@ryanellisracing), TikTok (@ryanellisracing), and X | Twitter (@ryanellisracing).
For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).
Ryan Ellis Quote Board:
On Return to Martinsville Speedway: “Martinsville is one of those tracks where you know you’re going to have to work for everything you get. It’s tight, it’s physical, and there’s really nowhere to hide if your car isn’t handling the way you need it to.
“I enjoy the challenge because it’s a place where the driver can make a difference, but you also need a really good race car underneath you.
“Coming off Talladega, it’s a completely different style of racing, and I’m looking forward to getting back to Martinsville and seeing what we can accomplish with our No. 02 Chevrolet.”
On Keys to Success at Martinsville Speedway: “I think the biggest thing at Martinsville is having a car that can turn through the center of the corner and still have good drive off. You’re constantly using the brakes, and if you can’t get back to the throttle the way you want, it makes passing really difficult.
“Track position is huge, and you have to be smart about how aggressive you get because it’s easy to use up your equipment or get caught in somebody else’s mess.
“We need to stay patient, make good adjustments throughout the race and hopefully put ourselves in a position to be competitive when it matters.”
On Goals for Martinsville Speedway: “We want to go out there and have a really solid weekend from start to finish. Talladega was frustrating because we had a plan that worked for most of the race, but we just couldn’t get the drafting help we needed at the end.
“Martinsville gives us a chance to put that behind us and focus on something completely different. With only two races left, I want to make sure we’re getting everything we can out of our No. 02 Chevrolet.
“If we can qualify well, stay on the lead lap and keep improving the car throughout the afternoon, I’d love to see us fighting for a top-15 or top-20 finish.”
On New Partnership with Centurion: “I’m really excited to welcome Centurion to our No. 02 Young’s Motorsports team this weekend at Martinsville. It’s always special when a new company believes in what we’re doing and wants to become part of our racing program, especially this late in the season.
“Centurion does some pretty impressive work designing and building secure facilities for government agencies and defense contractors, and there’s a tremendous amount of precision and attention to detail involved in what they do.
“We’re grateful for their support, and hopefully we can give everyone at Centurion a great experience, introduce their company to NASCAR fans and put together a strong performance on Saturday.”
On Goals for Remainder of 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Season: “It’s hard to believe we’re down to the final two races of the season. This year has definitely had its ups and downs, but I’m proud of the effort everyone at Young’s Motorsports has put into our program.
“We’ve had some good days, some frustrating ones and plenty of challenges along the way, but the team has never stopped working.
“Obviously, with Tyler Young and me going in different directions after this season, these last two races mean a little more. I want to finish things the right way and show my appreciation to Tyler, Randy, Becky, Eddie Troconis, all the guys on the team and every partner who has helped make this season possible.
“We still have Martinsville and Homestead ahead of us, and my goal is to make the most of both opportunities, have some fun and hopefully give everyone something positive to remember as we close out the year.”
No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Baltazar Leguizamón
Primary Partner(s): Río Uruguay Seguros | ELAION
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2026 Driver Points Position: 64th (Two Races)
2026 Owner Points Position: 31st
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing
Notes of Interest:
● Year Three, Driven Forward: Young’s Motorsports continues its campaign in the newly rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this weekend as the tour returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for its second and final visit of the 2026 season, with the historic 0.526-mile oval hosting the year’s final short-track race.
Argentine driver Baltazar Leguizamón returns to the organization to pilot the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in Saturday afternoon’s Halloween showdown, the penultimate race of the 33-event 2026 schedule.
Earlier this season, Leguizamón joined the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization for the inaugural United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego, Calif., helping make history as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competed on the military installation for the first time.
This weekend, Leguizamón reunites with Young’s Motorsports for another opportunity to showcase his abilities, this time on the tight, demanding confines of Martinsville Speedway as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.
● About Baltazar: Baltazar Leguizamón is an Argentine racing driver whose career has spanned open-wheel, sports car and stock car competition across multiple continents.
A native of Arrecifes, Argentina — a city renowned for producing some of the country’s greatest motorsports talent—Leguizamón has built an impressive international résumé through versatility, determination and success across multiple disciplines.
Returning to U.S. motorsports after a five-year hiatus, Leguizamón brings with him an accomplished track record that includes the Formula Atlantic Championship, runner-up honors in the FIA Formula 3 Americas Championship, an LMP3 Endurance Championship and race-winning success in the F4 U.S. Championship.
In his native Argentina, Leguizamón has also competed with his own team, earning multiple victories and podium finishes in both Top Race and ACTC competition while continuing to expand his presence across the country’s premier racing categories.
Now continuing his career in NASCAR, Leguizamón proudly represents Argentina on the international stage as he pursues opportunities at the highest levels of American motorsports, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven record of success to every race weekend.
Saturday’s inaugural United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 will be his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race with Young’s Motorsports.
● All-Aboard! For the 32nd of 33 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Río Uruguay Seguros (RUS) as the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro’s primary partner for Saturday’s 250-lap event on Halloween.
Río Uruguay Seguros (RUS) is a prominent Argentine cooperative insurance company.
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina, it provides a diverse portfolio of general insurance policies, including vehicle, home, business, pet and rural insurance.
● Argentine Connection Brings ELAION to Leguizamón’s Martinsville Debut: Argentine automotive lubricant brand ELAION will serve as an associate sponsor of Baltazar Leguizamón and the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro at Martinsville Speedway.
Developed by YPF, ELAION offers a comprehensive line of high-performance engine lubricants, including synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral oils engineered to provide advanced engine protection, efficiency and reliability for modern vehicles.
The partnership brings additional Argentine representation to Leguizamón’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series effort.
For more information, visit elaion.com.ar/productos.html.
● Baltazar Leguizamón O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Martinsville Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s return to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will mark Baltazar Leguizamón’s first career start at the famed 0.526-mile paperclip in The Old Dominion.
With three previous NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts on the road and street courses of Circuit of the Americas and Naval Base Coronado, Leguizamón will tackle his first career NASCAR national series event on an oval.
Following last weekend’s superspeedway showdown at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Martinsville for the penultimate race of the 2026 season, with just two events remaining before the championship concludes at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on November 7.
The action-packed weekend features a NASCAR national-series tripleheader, beginning Friday night with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ Black’s Tire 200.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes center stage Saturday for a Halloween showdown before the NASCAR Cup Series closes the weekend Sunday, November 1, with the Xfinity 500.
Known for its tight corners, flat banking and intense door-to-door racing, Martinsville presents a vastly different challenge from the road and street courses where Leguizamón has previously competed in NASCAR.
The historic Virginia short track places a premium on braking, forward drive, maintaining track position and navigating heavy traffic, making patience and adaptability essential for drivers competing at the facility for the first time.
For Leguizamón and Young’s Motorsports, Saturday’s race presents an opportunity to build upon the No. 42 Chevrolet team’s encouraging performances over the past six weeks, despite utilizing a rotating lineup of drivers.
During that stretch, the organization has demonstrated improved competitiveness with Logan Bearden, Matt DiBenedetto, Brad Perez and most recently Nick Leitz, who delivered a top-15 finish in last weekend’s The Progress Group 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
The recent results have provided a boost of confidence for the No. 42 program as it prepares to welcome Leguizamón back behind the wheel for his first NASCAR oval-track start.
With the Argentine driver bringing a background in road racing and the No. 42 team looking to extend its recent string of competitive performances, Saturday’s Martinsville race offers another opportunity to showcase the program’s progress while helping Leguizamón gain valuable experience on one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks.
● Baltazar Leguizamón NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Martinsville, Leguizamón has made three career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, all coming on road and street courses, including two appearances at Circuit of The Americas in 2025 and 2026 and the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, Calif., earlier this season.
Leguizamón made his series debut with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen in 2025 before returning to Circuit of The Americas earlier this year with Barrett Cope Racing.
He later joined Young’s Motorsports for the historic United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado in June, marking his first start with the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization.
With 38 cars entered for Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the Argentine driver is guaranteed a starting spot, marking his fourth career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start and his second of the 2026 season with Young’s Motorsports.
As Leguizamón prepares for his first career NASCAR national series start on an oval, the historic 0.526-mile Martinsville short track will present a new challenge, requiring him to adapt his road racing experience to the tight corners, heavy braking and intense competition that define racing at the famed Virginia facility.
● Calling the Shots: Guiding Leguizamón and the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports
Chevrolet Camaro team at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway is veteran crew chief Andrew Abbott.
Saturday afternoon’s National Debt Relief 250 will mark Abbott’s 194th career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start atop the pit box. In his previous 193 races, he has recorded four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
The penultimate race of the 2026 season will also mark Abbott’s ninth career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts
Series appearance as crew chief at Martinsville Speedway.
In eight previous starts at the historic Virginia short track, Abbott has recorded a track-best 14th-place finish twice, most recently with Colin Garrett in the fall 2021 Dead On Tools 250.
Beyond his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series experience, Troconis has called nine NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Martinsville, highlighted by a track-best 13th-place finish with founding driver Tyler Young in 2016.
● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Martinsville Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ seventh and eighth starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Martinsville Speedway
In the organization’s six previous races, the team has earned a track-best 16th-place finish during the fall 2025 edition of the IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, with series veteran Anthony Alfredo behind the wheel.
In Martinsville, the organization’s six previous starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series have produced an average starting position of 27.0 and an average finish of 29.5.
Beyond its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series efforts, the team has also made 35 starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2012, producing a 22.5 average finish.
That stretch includes the organization’s best Truck Series finish: a ninth-place finish by Austin Hill in the series’ fourth race of the 2018 season.
● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 128 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 27.6 and an average finish of 25.0.
● Follow on Social Media: For more on Baltazar Leguizamón, please like him on Facebook (Baltazar Leguizamón), and follow him on Instagram (@baltazarleguizamon) and X |Twitter (@baltaleguizamon).
For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).
Baltazar Leguizamón Quote Board:
On Martinsville Speedway: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to race at Martinsville Speedway. It’s such a historic track in NASCAR, and I’ve watched a lot of races there over the years.
“I know it’s going to be a completely different challenge from what I’ve experienced so far in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, especially with how tight the corners are and how close everyone races together.
“It’s a place where patience and precision are going to be extremely important, and I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible throughout the weekend.
“Making my first NASCAR oval start at a track like Martinsville is something special, and I want to make the most of the opportunity.”
On Transitioning from Road Racing to Ovals: “Most of my racing experience has been on road courses, so transitioning to an oval is definitely going to be a learning experience.
“There are some things that carry over, like braking, throttle control and understanding how the car reacts, but the racing itself is very different.
“At Martinsville, you’re constantly dealing with traffic, managing your brakes and trying to get the best drive off the corners. I know there will be a learning curve, but I’m approaching the weekend with an open mind.
“I want to listen to my team, work closely with my crew chief Andrew Abbott and continue improving every time I’m on the racetrack.”
On Goals for Martinsville Speedway: “My biggest goal this weekend is to learn, improve and bring the No. 42 Chevrolet home with a respectable finish. I know Martinsville can be a difficult place, even for drivers who have been racing on ovals for a long time, so I have realistic expectations about what we’re trying to accomplish.
“The Young’s Motorsports No. 42 team has been running really well lately, and Nick Leitz did a great job getting a top-15 finish at Talladega last weekend. That gives me a lot of confidence in the equipment and the people around me.
“I want to build on what they’ve accomplished, stay out of trouble and hopefully put ourselves in a position to fight for a strong result. If we can make progress throughout the weekend and finish the race with the car in one piece, I think that would be a positive step for me.”
On Another NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Opportunity with Young’s Motorsports: “I’m extremely grateful to Tyler Young and everyone at Young’s Motorsports for welcoming me back to the team. Racing with them earlier this year in San Diego was a great experience, and I’m excited that we’re getting another opportunity to work together before the season ends.
“The No. 42 team has done a really good job over the last several weeks with different drivers behind the wheel, and that says a lot about the effort everyone is putting into the program.
“They’ve been able to deliver some competitive finishes, and I want to do everything I can to continue that progress.
“Having Andrew Abbott and the entire Young’s Motorsports team helping me through my first NASCAR oval race is going to be very important.
“I appreciate their confidence in me, and hopefully we can have a productive weekend, gain some valuable experience and give everyone a result they can be proud of.”
Race Information:
The National Debt Relief 250 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) marks the 32nd of 33 races on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule. On-track activity begins Friday, October 30, with practice scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m., followed by qualifying at 4:05 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Halloween afternoon, Saturday, October 31, with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. All times are local and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
