LAS VEGAS (Oct. 26, 2023) – It’s a huge weekend for the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the world’s largest motorsports program when it comes to racer participation, as 40 of the nation’s top drivers will compete for a NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship as part of this weekend’s NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Competitors in the NHRA Summit Racing Series, a list that includes more than 75,000 drivers at NHRA member tracks across North America, race in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Motorcycle and Street Legal EV categories, hoping to end up with a win this weekend in Las Vegas.
The “Road to Vegas” saw standout racers picking up event wins and divisional titles, but with more than $140,000 set to be paid out to the 40 competitors attending the finals, plus contingency bonuses, a national championship Wally trophy, a championship jacket, and more, this weekend is huge on every level for the title hopefuls.
“It was another tremendous season in the NHRA Summit Series and we’re thrilled to see a great conclusion in Las Vegas as we crown national champions,” NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager Sara Walker said. “We’ve enjoyed great growth in the series and there are so many talented drivers competing this weekend. It’s exciting to put the spotlight on them in Las Vegas and we can’t wait to see who will come out on top as a NHRA Summit Racing Series National Champion.”
In 2023, the series continued to boast incredible participation and it finishes with a must-see national championship in Las Vegas. It’s also a diverse group of drivers competing in many types of vehicles, including dragsters, roadsters, sedans, coupes, motorcycles, and electric cars.
On the line is ultimate bragging rights, trophies and the impressive purse. Each divisional champion racing in Las Vegas received a Wally trophy, jacket, and purse, along with $3,000 bonus money to attend the national championship in Las Vegas. The race weekend opens with a welcome dinner and competitors are also introduced onstage during the official pre-race ceremonies at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, putting the racers in front of the fans before running for a championship.
“The NHRA Summit Series so unique and appealing because anybody can go out and compete. That entry-level foundation of our sportsman programs is so important to the growth of our sport, so it’s great to reward these talented drivers with a big weekend in Las Vegas,” Walker said. “Our EV class, which was introduced last year, continues to grow and our traditional classes are enjoying great support as well. You really see the passion from all these drivers and it’s also very exciting to see support from partners like Summit Racing Equipment to help this series thrive.”
2023 NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITORS
Division
Position
Class
Driver’s Name
Division 1
Finalist
Super Pro
Billy Boyko
Division 1
Finalist
Pro ET
Mike Larose
Division 1
Finalist
Sportsman
Denny Renninger
Division 1
Finalist
Motorcycle
Mike Konopacki
Division 1
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Danny Hoff
Division 2
Finalist
Super Pro
Michael Valli
Division 2
Wild Card
Super Pro
Mark Horton
Division 2
Finalist
Pro ET
Jesse Edens
Division 2
Finalist
Sportsman
Van Greer
Division 2
Finalist
Motorcycle
Santi Rodriguez, Jr
Division 2
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Ross Gould
Division 3
Finalist
Super Pro
Tony Virgilio
Division 3
Finalist
Pro ET
Randy Burwell
Division 3
Wild Card
Pro ET
Mike Tewell
Division 3
Finalist
Sportsman
James Ring
Division 3
Finalist
Motorcycle
Jason Drnach
Division 3
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Josh Rogers
Division 4
Finalist
Super Pro
Jacob Sterling
Division 4
Finalist
Pro ET
Jeff Riedel
Division 4
Finalist
Sportsman
Gage Wilson
Division 4
Finalist
Motorcycle
Robert Sanders
Division 4
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Bryan Tilson
Division 5
Finalist
Super Pro
Matt Driskell
Division 5
Finalist
Pro ET
Eugene Rowson
Division 5
Finalist
Sportsman
Joseph Moriarty
Division 5
Finalist
Motorcycle
Patrick Roetto
Division 5
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Kevin Rolph
Division 5
Wild Card
Street Legal EV
Darrell Goheen
Division 6
Finalist
Super Pro
Zach Meziere
Division 6
Finalist
Pro ET
Steve Kelly
Division 6
Finalist
Sportsman
Jake Biscay
Division 6
Finalist
Motorcycle
Terry Holloway
Division 6
Wild Card
Motorcycle
Cody Baldwin
Division 6
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Sherry Wilson
Division 7
Finalist
Super Pro
Chuck Hawk
Division 7
Finalist
Pro ET
Sean Brewster
Division 7
Finalist
Sportsman
AJ Crader
Division 7
Wild Card
Sportsman
David Rudd
Division 7
Finalist
Motorcycle
Michael O’Neil
Division 7
Finalist
Street Legal EV
Craig Merrilees
About Summit Racing Equipment
Summit Racing Equipment has been the World’s Speed Shop® for over 50 years! Summit Racing is the world’s largest e-commerce, mail order, and retailer of performance automotive parts and accessories. Summit Racing offers a huge selection of parts in stock from over 1,500 manufacturers for all forms of racing, street performance, off-roading, restoration, tools, and yes, diesel. It also offers fast ground service shipping to most areas of the country and same-day shipping on in-stock items. Summit Racing has the industry’s top-rated customer service and a full-time technical department to answer your questions. With headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, Summit operates distribution and retail stores in Tallmadge, Sparks, NV, McDonough, GA, and Arlington, TX. Summit Racing Equipment www.summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
CHEVROLET IN NHRA 2023 NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY LAS VEGAS, NEVADA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE OCTOBER 27-29, 2023
CHEVROLET LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT THE PENULTIMATE RACE OF THE 2023 NHRA SEASON AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
DETROIT (October 26, 2023) – The Countdown to the Championship is on and heating up in NHRA, with The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosting Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown Team Chevy teams in the penultimate 2023 NHRA Nevada Nationals Oct. 27-29, 2023.
The most recent victor in the Pro Stock ranks for the Bowtie brand, Erica Enders, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Chevrolet Camaro SS machine, comes off of her home-state win at Dallas, but also becoming the winningest female in NHRA by surpassing Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster). Additionally, Enders is the defending winner of both events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022 and is the location where she secured her 2022 and 2015 World Championships. With five World Championships altogether, Enders holds more championships than any woman in NHRA history ahead of Angelle Sampey and Shirley Muldowney’s three titles and Brittany Force’s two.
In FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro, as well as pulling double-duty and competing in Pro Stock as he has all season, leads the category points by 79 over fellow Chevrolet competitors Steven Bell (second with 720 points), and Lenny Lottig (third with 639 points). While the Factory Stock Showdown series did not compete at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022, Stanfield enters the weekend as the defending winner of the most recent Fall event at the track in 2021.
“We have had good luck at Las Vegas and this race will be special because we will have the championship in the bag and can race without any pressure,” said Stanfield. “I want to carry positive momentum into the off-season and getting one more win at the Nevada Nationals would be a perfect way to wrap up 2023.”
Wrapping up their 2023 season with two events to go, the foursome of John Force Racing – Robert Hight, driver of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, and Brittany Force, driver of the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, look to end their season on high notes in both Las Vegas and Pomona after facing a tough season.
B. Force enters the weekend as defending winner of both 2022 events and looks to capture her first win of the 2023 season and her 17th with Chevrolet. Known for setting and resetting speed and elapsed time (E.T.) records in her career, Force additionally comes to Las Vegas defending her 2022 No. 1 Qualifiers during the Fall two-wide event.
“This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team has had quite a year,” said B. Force. “We went from our strongest season in 2022, to our hardest season this year. I believe it’s in the hard times where you see your team’s true strength. We have stayed pushing forward and motivated to close the season out strong.”
Force’s teammate Hight enters this weekend looking to retake the Countdown the Championship points lead leaving Las Vegas while also looking to recover from the Texas NHRA FallNationals race at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. Looking for his fourth win of the 2023 season, and 69 points out from Matt Hagan in first, and 36 behind Bob Tasca, III, a win in Las Vegas would aid Hight on his hunt for a fourth Funny Car championship.
“It’s been a challenging season; the competition has been tougher than ever. I have to give it up to my guys, this Cornwell Tools / AAA/ Flav-R-Pac team has kept their heads down and stuck to the plan and it’s been paying off lately. A bit of a hiccup in Dallas but we’re still in this,” Hight said. “We know it’s going to take a lot of hard work. We’ll bounce back. I have faith in this team, in Jimmy and Thomas Prock, Nate Hildahl, and all the crew. I think we’re all anxious to get back at it in Las Vegas.”
Finally, with the hard work and dedication Chevrolet’s Funny Car, Pro Stock, Factory Stock Showdown, Super Stock, and Stock Eliminator classes, a 28th Manufacturers Cup is on the horizon for the Bowtie brand, the seventh consecutive award as well as ninth in the past 11 seasons. Champions will be crowned at NHRA’s annual Camping World Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.
The 2023 NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway kicks off Friday, Oct. 27 near Las Vegas, with qualifying airing that evening at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Saturday’s qualifying session airs Sunday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. ET, with eliminations will follow, also airing on FS1, at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:
“Heading into the final two events of this 2023 NHRA season this weekend in Las Vegas. I drove out early to do some local media which always gets me back in race mode after a weekend off. This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team has had quite a year. We went from our strongest season in 2022, to our hardest season this year. I believe it’s in the hard times where you see your team’s true strength. “We have stayed pushing forward and motivated to close the season out strong.”
Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:
“This Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team is excited to get back to Vegas. We made some progress in Dallas at the Stampede of Speed FallNationals and I think that progress will show on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I’m ready to strap back in after a long off weekend and if we can have a little Lady Luck in Las Vegas.”
John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:
“This PEAK Chevy team is right in the middle of the fight in this Countdown and we still got a shot, but it is a long shot. We are excited because Vegas is a great racetrack and we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Old World Industries. I’m very proud to be a part of this,” Force said. “Tom Hurvis gave me an opportunity years ago to drive the PEAK and BlueDEF Chevrolet, I will always be grateful for that. I’m looking forward to this weekend, we have a lot going on but more importantly, we have a car that got fast. The PEAK Chevy has progressively gotten faster all year. We are going to go into Las Vegas and get us a win.”
Camrie Caruso, driver of the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock for KB Titan Racing:
“Our Powerbuilt Tools/Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro has been running really well during the Countdown there are just a ton of great cars in this category. We just need everything to come together on race day and we could see four win lights for sure. I love that we get four qualifying runs and that will give us some great data. This KB Titan Racing team is looking to have a long day on Sunday.
“Last year coming into Las Vegas we were definitely battling to keep everything together. It was the end of our rookie season which was the longest season of my career. I don’t really remember too much about those last few Countdown races last year because so much was going on and we were just trying to do our best. This season has been awesome with KB Titan Racing, Powerbuilt Tools and Tequila Comisario. All our partners have stepped up and we are working on 2024 now so we will be even stronger next season.
“I couldn’t be out here without my family support. My dad and Papa are at almost every race and that is a huge help. My teammates at KB Titan Racing have been super helpful and we all want to try and take out as many competitors to Greg (Anderson) since he has the best shot for the championship from the KB Titan Racing team. Greg, Dallas (Glenn) and Kyle (Koretsky) have been so supportive had helpful this season we want to finish as strong as possible.”
Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown:
On chasing his third title in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown…
“We have had good luck at Las Vegas and this race will be special because we will have the championship in the bag and can race without any pressure. I want to carry positive momentum into the off-season and getting one more win at the Nevada Nationals would be a perfect way to wrap up 2023.”
Stephen Bell, driver of the Stanfield Racing Chevrolet COPO Camaro in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown:
“Aaron (Stanfield) and I are best friends. I gauge every season on a couple things, if I get a win and if we are competitive at most races. We’ve had a good year this season. We were chasing that first championship and we came close. I am appreciative of Greg and Aaron Stanfield for giving a customer like me a car that can compete for the championship.”
Lenny Lottig, driver of the ITI Trailers & Truck Bodies COPO Camaro in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown:
On winning the FlexJet bounty earlier this year…
“I love the Flexjet bounty program. I would love to see it carry over into 2024 if we win this weekend. We won two races in a row earlier this season with Charlotte and Chicago so Lee Hartman got a $2,000 payday in Bristol. I want that money to keep growing because that will mean I am still winning.”
TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:
1,441: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).
621: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 625.
380: Number of wins in Pro Stock since 1970; 261 won in the Chevrolet Camaro body.
166: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).
158: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.
82: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.
78: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro body.
46: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.
27: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.
24: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.
18: Number of Pro Stock championships.
20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.
16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.
7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.
2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.
UPCOMING NHRA MILESTONES:
950: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) is second all-time with 934 elimination round wins. He could reach 950 round wins with a decent run in the 18-race schedule.
624: Robert Hight achieved 621 Funny Car elimination wins in Chicago to rank 13th on the all-time NHRA list; Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) sits 12th with 625.
452: By qualifying for his next race, Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) will extend his NHRA record from 451 to 452 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2002 at Pomona 2, and he holds the longest career qualifying streak in NHRA.
138: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) ranks third on the NHRA all-time list with 122 No. 1 qualifiers. He will tie Warren Johnson (Pro Stock, 138) for second to John Force (Funny Car, 166) on the list.
278: By qualifying for his next race, Robert Hight will extend his NHRA record to 278 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2010 at Pomona 2, and he currently sits seventh in career qualifying streaks in NHRA (Doug Kalitta is sixth at 286).
65: Robert Hight moved into the top-10 in 10th on the all-time NHRA victory list with his win in Reading with 64. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock, retired) is next ninth on list with 65.
47: Erica Enders has 46 career NHRA victories (45 Pro Stock, one Super Gas; all with Chevrolet). Her first win in Pro Stock came at Chicago, 2012, and her last win at Topeka, 2023 in Pro Stock. Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster) and Enders are tied as the all-time NHRA female leader with 46.
18: Brittany Force (16 Top Fuel career wins) will move past Shirley Muldowney (18 wins) into third on the NHRA all-time victory list for females. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 46) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, 46) are ahead.
6: Erica Enders (Pro Stock) could tie Warren Johnson (6 Pro Stock championships) for second on the class list. The same holds for Greg Anderson. Bob Glidden is the leader with 10. Enders currently holds five Pro Stock championships, the most of any female in NHRA.
3: Brittany Force (Top Fuel, two championships) would tie Shirley Muldowney (Top Fuel) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) for second on the NHRA all-time championship list by females with another title in 2023. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, five) is the leader.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Veteran Danny Stockman Jr. will be returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series to serve as the crew chief of the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro entry that is set to be piloted by newcomer Jesse Love for the 2024 season.
The news comes a day after Richard Childress Racing announced that Love, this year’s ARCA Menards Series champion from Menlo Park, California, will replace Sheldon Creed in the team’s No. 2 entry and contend for both the rookie and championship honors for the upcoming Xfinity season.
The news also marks a reunion for Richard Childress Racing and Stockman, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who worked at RCR as a crew chief from 2010-19. During the 10-year span, he notched a combined 21 victories between the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series divisions. He also recorded two NASCAR championships: the Truck Series title in 2011 and the Xfinity Series title in 2013, both with current Cup Series competitor Austin Dillon.
“Richard Childress Racing just feels like home to me so I can’t wait to cross the railroad tracks in Welcome, [North Carolina] and race for wins and championships with a talented group of racers,” Stockman said. “Jesse Love is a bright young talent and it’s an honor to be able to work with him as he makes the next step in his career in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I am grateful to Richard Childress for this opportunity and excited to go for wins and championships for Whelen Engineering.”
Stockman first joined RCR in 2010 to assume the role as crew chief for Austin Dillon and the team’s No. 3 entry in the Truck Series after previously being a truck chief for Kevin Harvick Inc. The duo would capture their first two career victories throughout the season, with Dillon achieving the Rookie-of-the-Year title, before winning another two races in 2011 and capturing the series’ championship by six points. They would then move up to the Xfinity Series in 2012, where they won two races and Dillon claimed the rookie title, before notching the title in 2013 by three points amid a winless season.
Since his last championship in 2013, Stockman has worked with 15 different competitors across NASCAR’s top three national touring series from 2014-23. He currently serves as the crew chief for rookie Nick Sanchez and the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet Silverado RST team in the Truck Series. Despite recently missing the cutline to this year’s Championship 4 round in a tie-breaker, Stockman and Sanchez have achieved five poles, two top-five results, 11 top-10 results, 304 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.1 through 22-scheduled events.
Stockman’s lastest season as an Xfinity Series crew chief occurred in 2018 when he worked with Daniel Hemric and the No. 21 RCR Chevrolet team, a team that recorded 23 top-10 results through 33 events, made the Playoffs and transferred all the way to the Championship 4 round before settling in third place in the final standings. His latest victory in the series occurred in 2016 with Austin Dillon at Auto Club Speedway.
Through 208 Xfinity Series events, Stockman has achieved one championship, seven victories, 19 poles, 80 top-five results and 147 top-10 results while working with seven different competitors. In addition to six full-time seasons as a Truck Series crew chief, Stockman has served as a Cup Series crew chief for a single season, which occurred in 2019 while working atop the pit box of the No. 3 entry piloted by Austin Dillon as Dillon ended up in 21st place in the final standings.
“Danny Stockman will be great addition to RCR’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to our organization,” Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing’s Chairman and CEO, said. “Danny has proven that he is a talented crew chief, especially working with a young driver. He’s accomplished a lot in his career, including helping guide Austin Dillon to two championships. I know he will do a great job working with Jesse Love and representing Whelen Engineering.”
“Danny Stockman is a racer’s racer and fits right in with Richard Childress Racing, so we are excited to welcome him back to our NASCAR Xfinity Series program,” Danny Lawrence, RCR’s managing director of team alliances and Xfinity operations, added. “His work ethic is second to none and we know that he will do a great job in guiding Jesse Love through his first season of NASCAR Xfinity Series competition and be an asset to our entire organization.”
With his plans for next season set, Stockman’s last Truck Series scheduled event as a crew chief is set to occur in next weekend’s series’ season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway on November 3, with the event’s broadcast to occur at 10 p.m. ET on FS1. He will then make his return as an Xfinity crew chief with Love and RCR for the 2024 season opener at Daytona International Speedway that is set to occur on February 17 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.
AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | Dead On Tools 250
Fast Facts No. 25 AM Racing Team: Driver: Brett Moffitt Primary Partner(s): AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) Manufacturer: Ford Mustang Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr. Spotter: Tony Raines Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. 1028 Engine: Roush-Yates Engines Driver Championship Point Standings: 15th Team Championship Point Standings: 17th
Notes of Interest:
Stretch Drive: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, AM Racing is set to close the first chapter of its inaugural journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with driver Brett Moffitt for the entire 33-race tour continuing with Saturday afternoon’s penultimate Dead On Tools 250 race at the famed Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
The race signifies the 14th race of the second half of the 2023 Xfinity Series season for the Statesville, N.C.-based organization. It continues the stretch drive for NASCAR’s secondary national series, with just two races remaining on its calendar.
Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue in the Old Dominion, the team has chosen veteran driver Brett Moffitt to lead the team’s campaign from the driver’s seat aboard the No. 25 Ford Mustang.
Moffitt, a native of Grimes, Iowa, hails numerous starts across all three of NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2018 Truck Series championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises.
Moffitt, 31, arrived at AM Racing after a stint at Our Motorsports.
Partner Intel: The Statesville, N.C.-based team will sport the signage of AM Technical Solutions on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for the 32nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) was founded in 1994.
AM Technical Solutions is a Global Architecture, Engineering & Construction firm specializing in the high-tech markets. AMTS has managed over $20B of global capital projects for over 170 different customers in 24 countries and across five continents.
Thanks For Your Support: With more than 93 percent of the 2023 season complete, AM Racing and Brett Moffitt would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, CForce Bottling Company, Flying Circle, Kreuz Market, Lane Frost Brand, Mechanix Wear and Mobil 1.
Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Dead On Tools 250 will mark Moffitt’s sixth start at the famed 0.526-mile paperclip oval.
He has delivered one top-10, three top-15 and four top-20 finishes in his previous five efforts. His track-best result occurred during the 2023 spring edition of the Call811.com Before You Dig 250 when Moffitt steered to a track best of ninth after starting 16th for AM Racing.
In addition to Xfinity, Moffitt also has two NASCAR Cup Series and six NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Martinsville.
Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a short track, Moffitt has made 14 starts throughout his career, earning three top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 18.8.
Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 115 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned three top-five and 31 top-10 finishes, including a second-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021. During that tenure, he also holds an average finishing position of 17.8.
He earned AM Racing a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fourth earlier this year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.
In addition to 115 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 93 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.
Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway | Contender Boats 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team chased their ninth top-10 finish of the season in the final intermediate race track of the season.
The AM Racing team unloaded with speed in their No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang. After a strong practice, Moffitt qualified his No. 25 AM Racing Ford Mustang sixth.
From the drop of the green flag, the team showcased they had a car capable of contending for their second top-five finish of the season after finishing fifth in Stage 1. Unfortunately, early in Stage 3, Moffitt was an innocent victim in a restart accident that prematurely ended the team’s day and a frustrating 35th-place finish.
In 31 races this season, Moffit has delivered one top-five, nine top-10s, 16 top-15s, 20 top-20s, and an average finish of 17.9.
From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams Jr. is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.
He will be crew chief for his 130th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon and his seventh race at Martinsville Speedway.
In his previous 129 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), eight top-five and 30 top-10 finishes.
Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
For more on Brett Moffitt, please visit BrettMoffitt.com, like his Facebook page (Brett Moffitt Racing), or follow him on Instagram (@brett_moffitt_racing) and X | Twitter @brett_moffitt.
Brett Moffitt Quoteboard:
On Martinsville Speedway: “I am looking forward to returning to Martinsville Speedway this weekend and the opportunity to build on our team’s top-10 finish in the spring. Martinsville is definitely a track about rhythm and finesse.
“Martinsville is also a fun race track if you can keep up with the handling and handle the (race) traffic.
“Joe (Williams Jr., crew chief) has a good notebook, and we look to build on that during practice and qualifying and hope that we can execute over 250 laps on Saturday afternoon and deliver our 10th top-10 finish in the penultimate race of the Xfinity Series season.”
On The 2023 Season: “It is hard to believe that just two races are left in the Xfinity Series season. I’d love to close it out with a pair of top-10 finishes with our AM Racing team.
”We have showcased speed the last couple of weeks, just suffered a lot of bad luck. Hopefully, that bad luck is over, and we’ll put us back in the top-10 on Saturday afternoon, where we know we belong.
“I am ready to end the year on a high note!”
Race Information:
The Dead On Tools 250 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) is the 32nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 5:05 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, October 28 shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).
About AM Racing:
AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.
Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.
The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its seventh year of competition.
The team has named Brett Moffitt, Christian Rose and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series and Dirt Modified seasons respectively.
STATESVILLE, NC (October 26th, 2023): Heading into the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series finale at Phoenix Raceway, GMS Racing will pay homage to its winning heritage with two very special paint schemes in the team’s send-off race. In what will be the organization’s final start in NASCAR, current drivers Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye will plan to run these schemes as a tribute to both of the team’s past Truck Series champions, Johnny Sauter and Sheldon Creed.
From the team’s first race in 2014 to present day, GMS Racing has solidified itself in the record book as one of the most storied organizations in the Truck Series. Starting with humble beginnings, the team has grown immensely under the tutelage of Maury Gallagher, Mike Beam, and Ron Booth, all who have been instrumental to the team’s success. A true powerhouse organization, GMS has accounted for a total of 71 race victories (one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, 45 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, 15 in the ARCA Menards Series, nine in the ARCA Menards Series East, and one in the ARCA Menards Series West), 42 pole positions (28 in the Truck Series, seven in ARCA, four in ARCA East, and three in ARCA West), 260 top-fives and 465 top-10 finishes in nearly 1,000 combined starts. GMS Racing was a five-time championship-winning team, conquering the 2015 ARCA Menards Series title, 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships, as well as the 2019 and 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships, delivered by Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter, Sheldon Creed, and Sam Mayer, respectively. Its departure will undoubtedly leave a mark in the series, while its lasting legacy will continue on in several forms for hopefully many years to come.
At the start of the 2016 season, Necedah, Wisconsin native, Johnny Sauter made the transition to GMS Racing, and the partnership was quick to produce success early. Sauter would open the season with a bang by winning the first race at Daytona International Speedway, becoming the team’s first driver to qualify for the Playoffs in the process. From there, Sauter and his No. 21 Allegiant team would advance to fight for the championship, picking up wins at Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway along the way.
With a spot in the Championship 4 secured, Sauter would bring the fight to Homestead-Miami Speedway, and out-duel his competitors to win the championship. It was a monumental night for the organization, and for Sauter, as it marked both of their first series titles. During Sauter’s post-race celebration, he keyed up on the radio and said “I never thought it would happen. It’s because of you guys; I didn’t do nothing different.”
Rajah Caruth will bring Sauter’s 2016 paint scheme – with the original blue and white Allegiant colors to the racetrack for one final time, thanks to a strong relationship with The Wendell Scott Foundation, who has supported him throughout his entire rookie campaign in the Truck Series.
“First and foremost, this paint scheme just looks good. I love how the colors match the No. 21 truck and am a huge fan of the neon numbers on the roof. I remember watching Johnny win the championship in 2016 and win a bunch of races from the time span of when he was at GMS. When he won at Dover, I was in the grandstands watching, so I’ve always had fond memories of this truck. I think it’ll be a great tribute to the history and everything that Mike (Beam), Maury (Gallagher), and Ron (Booth) have made here at GMS Racing. Hopefully we can give it a good run, especially at a track like Phoenix where I’ve raced at a handful of times before. I’m thankful to our partners at The Wendell Scott Foundation for playing along and allowing us to run this truck. It will be special.” said Caruth.
Fast forward a few years to 2020, a year that saw GMS Racing win 10 Truck Series races out of 23 on the schedule. Alpine, California’s Sheldon Creed, who was only in his second full-time season, would win his first race at Kentucky Speedway – followed by his second at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course – then by his third at World Wide Technology Raceway – and then his fourth at Texas Motor Speedway, the last of which qualified him for the Championship 4 in Phoenix.
Creed would step up to bat against two of his teammates, Zane Smith and Brett Moffitt, as GMS Racing would field three of the Championship 4 drivers, along with current driver, Grant Enfinger. As it appeared that he would finish third, a late-race caution would prompt a gutsy strategy call to bring Creed down pit road. In an overtime restart, Creed would rally his No. 2 Chevy Accessories Silverado all the way from ninth place to claim the championship.
Daniel Dye will drive Creed’s 2020 paint scheme – with the accompanying GMS team logo on the hood, in partnership with his Race To Stop Suicide initiative. On the rear of his truck reads a message thanking the team, highlighting the 71 total victories and five championship seasons in the Truck and ARCA Menards Series.
“It’s going to be really cool to honor Sheldon with his championship truck paint scheme. He and I have worked alongside each other in the gym as part of the Chevrolet Drivers Edge program for a few years now, so I think that’s neat in its own right. It’ll be a great way to look back on everything that GMS Racing has accomplished over the years and I think that it’s really neat that both Rajah and I can be a part of telling that story on the track. I’ve really enjoyed my time with the team since joining back in 2021 and am certainly going to miss the memories made and the relationships we’ve built over the years.” said Dye.
Grant Enfinger will keep GMS Racing in the fight for the championship in the team’s last race at Phoenix Raceway after locking himself into the Championship 4 last race out at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Enfinger is in search of his first Truck Series championship and would love to send the team off in a storybook ending by delivering the organization’s third title.
“These truck schemes bring back so many great memories from past championships. We appreciate Daniel, Rajah, and our partners for agreeing to participate on these. Being able to see these trucks on track again will be so special for us being our final Phoenix effort as an organization.” said GMS Racing Team President, Mike Beam. “Hopefully we can add Grant to our list of Truck Series champions and end our era on a high note. Grant got our first championship and it would be awesome to see him claim our last. A true storybook ending.”
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will crown its 2023 champion at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, November 3rd. Tune-in to the CRAFTSMAN 150 race live on FS1 at 10:00 PM Eastern Time to see Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye compete in GMS Racing’s final NASCAR race. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. #WeAreGMS
ABOUT THE WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION:
Founded in 2011, The Wendell Scott Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization inspired by Wendell Scott, Sr. and provides services such as job-skill training, STEM education opportunities, mentoring, and other supportive services to at-risk, underserved youth between the ages of 8-18 years in Danville, Virginia and surrounding areas.
The Foundation’s mission of using educational attainment to end racial disparities in education and health is vital in addressing economic inequality and improving future success in African-American communities. For more information, please visit www.wendellscott.org.
ABOUT RACE TO STOP SUICIDE:
Race to Stop Suicide was co-founded by Daniel and Randy Dye. The nationally trademarked 501(c)3 non-profit works to create awareness, normalize the conversation, and remove the stigma surrounding suicide. Additionally, provide an entry-level amount of education, what to look for, symptoms, and a plan to check in and check up on family and friends. Race to Stop Suicide prioritizes ensuring folks have easy access to helpful resources, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and 988. For more information, please visit www.racetostopsuicide.com.
ABOUT GMS RACING:
GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Salisbury, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2023) – Bayley Currey will return to Niece Motorsports in 2024 – this time for a full season effort – piloting the No. 41 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series. The news comes on the heels of a strong top-five finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Currey in the No. 41 Unishippers Silverado.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to race for Niece Motorsports full-time next season,” said Currey. “Al [Niece] and everyone at Niece Motorsports have always been good to me, so it means a lot to get to race for them next year. I’ve been working in the shop for the majority of this season, so I’ve seen firsthand the preparation that goes into bringing quality Chevrolets to the track every week. I’m looking forward to running up front and contending for wins.”
In 2023, Currey impressed while running a partial schedule in the No. 41 Chevrolet. In 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, Currey has earned three top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes. His best finish of the season was a fourth-place result at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“Bayley is incredibly talented and we are excited to have him on board fulltime next year,” said Niece Motorsports General Manger Cody Efaw. “Bayley has been in the shop this season working alongside everyone here. He puts in the work on and off the track, and it continues to show in his performance. We have high expectations next season across the board at Niece Motorsports.”
Though next season will mark Currey’s first fulltime effort in the Truck Series, he is not short on experience. The Driftwood, Texas native has 43 Truck Series starts to his credit, along with 111 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and 12 NASCAR Cup Series starts.
Sponsorship details for the No. 41 will be announced in early December.
Currey returns to the track for the Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, November 3. The season-finale will air live on FS1, The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 10:00 p.m. ET.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.
RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers | NASCAR Xfinity Series Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | Dead On Tools 250
Fast Facts No. 38 RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers Team: Driver: Joe Graf Jr. Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up Manufacturer: Ford Mustang Crew Chief: Steve Addington Spotter: Joe Campbell Engine: Roush-Yates Engines Driver Championship Point Standings: 23rd Team Championship Point Standings: 30th
Notes of Interest:
Settled In: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason, where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.
In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Saturday afternoon’s race from Martinsville (Va.) Speedway signifies the 14th race of the second half of the 2023 Xfinity Series season. It continues the stretch drive for NASCAR’s secondary national series, with just two races remaining on its calendar.
Welcome Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome Bucked Up as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Dead On Tools 250.
The annual fall Martinsville Speedway short track race marks the 32nd race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and the fourth race of the year where Bucked Up’s colors have flown with Graf.
A long-time partner of Joe Graf Jr. since the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Bucked Up will utilize the penultimate race of the season to promote its full line of products.
Bucked Up is a sports nutrition and lifestyle brand focused on helping all athletes and individuals achieve their health and fitness goals. Offering over 500 different products ranging from supplements and energy drinks to apparel and accessories,
Bucked Up is committed to providing customers with the best products available. Dedicated to using
high-quality ingredients and non-proprietary blends, Bucked Up’s pre-workout is the No. 1 best-selling product in its class.
The brand’s products are now offered in over 25,000 stores worldwide, including Walmart, Amazon, GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.
Things Are Getting Hot: For Saturday afternoon’s anticipated 250-lap thriller, the team and Bucked Up welcome Hot Spot convenience stores as a major associate marketing partner.
Hot Spot is the newest retailer to offer Bucked Up.
R. L. Jordan Oil Company is a family-owned and operated business headquartered in Spartanburg, SC. They currently operate 41 Hot Spot convenience stores, 10 Hottie’s Kitchens, 2 Hardees, 7 Subways and 8 Hunt Brothers Pizza Shops in North Carolina and South Carolina.
The company grew out of a small country store in Franklin, North Carolina. Gas 4 Less was the first gasoline station in the area to offer high-quality, unbranded gasoline.
Hot Spot continues to serve its customers by constructing and operating state-of-the-art fueling facilities, convenience stores, and branded food stores. Presently, Hot Spot management is focusing on maintaining and enhancing a competitive edge in the markets they serve.
A dedication to innovation and a desire to offer great products at competitive prices has always been our goal.
Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 93 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: ArmsList.com, AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, G-Coin®, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics, ShopRite and Wawa for their continued support.
Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 Bucked Up Ford Mustang on Saturday, the RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90, with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.
Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring Bucked Up in several spots throughout the weekend, including the complete four-hour program on Sunday, October 29, 2023.
Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Martinsville Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Dead On Tools 250 will mark Graf’s seventh start at the historic 0.526-mile paved oval.
In his previous six Martinsville efforts, he delivered a track-best of 15th during the fall edition of the 2021 Dead On Tools 250 after starting 32nd driving for SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt.
Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Short Track Stats: At tracks classified as a short track, Graf has competed in 18 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 25.2 and an average result of 24.8.
Joe Graf Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 124 career Xfinity Series starts Graf has earned five top-10 finishes, including a seventh-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2023. During that tenure, he also holds an average finishing position of 25.7.
He earned a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fifth in 2020 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with SS GreenLight Racing.
With Joe Gibbs Racing, he earned his non-superspeedway career-best qualifying effort of 11th at Kansas Speedway in September 2023 and most recently at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in October 2023.
Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway | Contender Boats 300 Race Recap: In his final start of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing aboard the No. 19 Wawa Toyota Supra, Graf was able to pick up the pace considerably from practice to qualify a non-superspeedway career-best 11th and battled a loose race car throughout the race to challenge for a top-10 finish in Stage 3.
Graf succeeded and backed up his recent top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway with his third top-10 run of the year at Homestead by taking the checkered flag 10th and on the lead lap.
The former ARCA Menards Series winner will return to RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers for the final two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway respectively.
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 monthly.
The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.
From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.
He will be crew chief for his 295th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his fourth race at the iconic short track in the Old Dominion.
In his previous 294 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.
Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has three teammates at RSS Racing.
Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 Sci Apps Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 29 RSS Racing Ford Mustang and CJ McLaughlin returns to steer the No. 28 Sci Apps Ford Mustang.
Ryan Sieg is set to make his 333rd career Xfinity Series start overall and seventh at Martinsville.
Kyle Sieg is poised to make his 49th career Xfinity Series start and second at Martinsville.
CJ McLaughlin is set to make his 39th career Xfinity Series start and second at Martinsville.
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), X | Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).
For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and X | Twitter (@RSS283839).
Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:
On Martinsville Speedway: “I have always enjoyed competing at Martinsville Speedway. In my last few trips to Martinsville, I have had really fast race cars, even if I don’t have the finishes to show for it.
“It’s essential to make sure that with Martinsville’s characteristics, you can utilize the top lane as much as you can, especially when you are trying to carry momentum off the corners. Like most short tracks, track position is critical to staying out of trouble.
“Staying on the lead lap is also super important, too. It will be warmer than it traditionally is during the fall Xfinity Series race at Martinsville, so I am curious to see if that comes into play during the race weekend. With this being a cut-off race for the Championship 4, too, you never know what to expect, but it should be an excellent race for the fans.
“It’s been a little bit of a bumpy ride with my RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers team the last couple of races, but fresh off a top-10 finish at Homestead, I’m eager to bring some good mojo back to our No. 38 Bucked Up Ford Mustang team and have a good showing on Saturday afternoon.”
On The 2023 Season: “The end of the season is nearly here, and I am working hard between my responsibilities with RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers Racing to ensure I can give 100 percent behind the wheel.
“I want to make the most of these last two weekends. I need to stay focused, communicate with my team, and utilize the knowledge I’ve gained over the past three years to recover and end the season on a high.”
Race Information:
The Dead On Tools 250 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) is the 32nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 5:05 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, October 28 shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).
About RSS Racing:
RSS Racing fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series led by mainstay driver Ryan Sieg.
RSS Racing has competed in NASCAR events since 2009 from its headquarters in Sugar Hill, Ga.
PUSHING THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS: Kyle Larson has won the opening race in two of the three rounds of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs (Round of 16 at Darlington Raceway and Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway). His win at Vegas locked him into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. The driver that won the opening race of the Round of 8 has gone on to win the championship in three of the last five seasons, including Larson in 2021. Looking ahead, the driver of the No. 5 has claimed victories at the remaining two tracks on the schedule (Martinsville Speedway in 2023 and Phoenix in 2021).
CONTENDING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP: The 2021 Cup Series champion returns to Phoenix next weekend where he will contend for his second title in the sport’s top series. Larson won the championship in 2021 in his only year transferring to the final round. Since the start of 2021, the 31-year-old driver has had the most wins in the playoffs (eight) and is ahead in that category by five victories. Throughout the 2023 playoffs, Larson leads the field in average running position (7.08), most laps run in the top five (1,480) and the most laps run in the top 10 (1,762).
MARTINSVILLE MEMORIES: This spring, Larson earned his first victory at Martinsville and Hendrick Motorsports’ 28th Cup Series win at the Ridgeway, Virginia, track. With crew chief Cliff Daniels’ strategy calls setting up the team to have track position late, Larson led the final 30 laps to earn the victory. In his 17 starts on the 0.526-mile short track, Larson has earned one win, four top-five finishes, five top-10s and led 210 laps. In his last two races at Martinsville, he has an average finish of 1.50.
SHORT-TRACK STRENGTH: In 2023, the HendrickCars.com driver has two wins and one runner-up finish in short-track races in the Cup Series. In addition, Larson won the All-Star Race during the series’ historic return to the 0.625-mile track of North Wilkesboro Speedway. Larson has four points-paying short-track wins in the Cup Series (Richmond Raceway in September 2017, Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2021, Richmond and Martinsville in April 2023), with the latter three coming in his time at Hendrick Motorsports. On short tracks in the Next Gen car (since 2022), Larson has led the fifth-most laps (256).
IN 2023: This season, Larson leads the series in laps led (1,127) and is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron for the most top-five finishes (14). He is in a six-way tie for the fifth-most top-10 finishes (16). Larson ranks third in the following statistical categories: average running position (11.02), most laps run in the top five (3,664) and most laps run in the top 10 (5,285). He also ranks second-best on restarts, based on information from Racing Insights.
FOUR TIRES FAST: After 34 races this season, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew has the second-fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 11.068 seconds. The team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).
EXTRACURRICULAR: In addition to Larson’s full-time Cup Series schedule, he races late models and sprint cars in his spare time. On Monday, Larson and his brother-in-law Brad Sweet acquired the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series from NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart. Following the inaugural season of the High Limit Sprint Car Series, the mid-week series that Larson and Sweet co-own, the two learned a lot and wanted to further contribute to and grow the sport of sprint car racing.
WIN A CHEVROLET COLORADO Z71: Want to drive Larson’s 2023 Chevrolet Colorado truck? One lucky winner will win his ride. Fans can donate now to enter a drawing for a chance to take home the Z71 Crew Cab 4WD package with custom features and styling. This special sweepstakes raises funding for the Kyle Larson Foundation’s “DRIVE FOR 5” campaign that supports youth, families and communities in need. The campaign is nearing its fundraising goal of $500,000. Click here to check out this sweet custom ride and enter to win today. The drawing closes on Sunday, Dec. 3, and the winner will be chosen on Monday, Dec. 11.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 17th
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
WIN AND IN: Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team need to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the Championship 4 in the owner playoffs. The team’s most recent start at Martinsville marked the return of Elliott to the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 following his leg injury in early March. After qualifying 24th, Elliott and the team rallied to finish 10th – the latest in a three-race streak of top-10s at the track for the group. Elliott and crew are no strangers to victory at the 0.526-mile track as they earned the win in 2020, punching their ticket to the Championship 4 in the Cup Series playoffs. They went on to capture the championship after scoring the victory the very next week at Phoenix Raceway.
PAPERCLIP PERFORMANCE: Elliott is set to make his 17th Martinsville start in the Cup Series this weekend. The 27-year-old driver made his Cup Series debut for Hendrick Motorsports at the track on March 29, 2015. Since then, he has led a total of 957 laps there – his most laps led at any track – including pacing the field for 185 circuits or more in three of the last six Cup events. Across his 16 Cup starts at Martinsville, he has one win (fall 2020), five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. He leads all drivers there in stage wins (six) and is also in a three-way tie for the second-most top-10s (six) in the last eight Martinsville races. Elliott’s 10 top-10 finishes at Martinsville are tied for his most at a single track (with Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway). Since the start of 2020, the driver of the No. 9 has earned the most points (306) at the Virginia short track.
GOING BACK TO ‘22: Last season, Elliott was one of only six drivers, including teammate William Byron, to finish in the top 10 in both Martinsville Cup Series races. In the spring 2022 race, Elliott and the No. 9 team started from the pole and swept the first two stages. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native led 185 laps during the race, including the 10,000th lap led by a Hendrick Motorsports driver at Martinsville – the only track to see a team lead over 10,000 laps at one venue. Elliott ultimately took the checkered flag in the 10th position after the race was sent into overtime. In the fall, the driver of the No. 9 started the race in second and finished second in each of the first two stages, leading 54 laps en route to a 10th-place result.
SHORT-TRACK STATS: On Sunday, Elliott will make his 45th short-track start in the Cup Series. In those races, he has garnered one win (Martinsville 2020), 14 top-five finishes, 23 top-10s, two pole awards and 1,491 laps led. His 240 laps led on short tracks in the Next Gen car (since 2022) are seventh-most in the series. This season in three Cup starts on short tracks, Elliott has two top-10 results – 10th at Martinsville and seventh at Bristol Motor Speedway. In the spring Richmond Raceway race, which Elliott missed due to his injury, Josh Berry filled in as the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, earning a runner-up finish.
AG’S PAPERCLIP PAST: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 38th Martinsville Cup Series race from atop the pit box. In his previous 37 Cup Series starts at the track, he has three wins, 15 top-five finishes, 27 top-10s and 1,934 laps led at the venue. Gustafson most recently visited victory lane at the Virginia short track with Elliott in November 2020 to solidify the No. 9 team’s spot in the Championship 4. The veteran crew chief’s other two wins came with NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon in October 2013 and November 2015.
GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts is on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Martinsville. The Atlanta-based company has been Elliott’s primary partner for 11 of his 16 Cup Series starts at the short track, including his 2020 victory. This season marks NAPA’s 10th year partnering with the five-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver, dating back to his first season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Get a closer look at the 2023 paint scheme here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st
No. 24 PODS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
CAREER SEASON: Heading into the Round of 8 finale for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, William Byron continues to add to his already impressive 2023 season stats. After 34 races, Byron leads the series in wins (six), stage wins (eight), average finishing position (11.12) and top-10 finishes (20). He is tied for the most top-five finishes with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (14). In addition, he has also led a single-season career-best 921 laps – second to Larson (1,127). Byron ranks second for the season in average running position (9.96), laps run in the top five (3,783) and laps run in the top 10 (5,382).
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK: Byron enters Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway leading the points standings. He is the highest driver without a win in this round, 30 points above the elimination line to advance to the Championship 4. So far in the playoffs, Byron has the fourth-best average finish (5.50) all-time through the first eight races of the elimination-style playoffs. He also has victories at both of the remaining tracks: Martinsville (2022) and Phoenix Raceway (2023). The 25-year-old driver is looking to advance to his first Championship 4 at the Cup Series level. No matter what any other competitor does on Sunday, Byron and the No. 24 team need just 36 points to lock themselves in for the championship fight.
DIME PIECE: Over the last 10 races of the season, Byron leads the series in points (413), top-five finishes (six), top-10s (nine) and average finish (5.30). In that stretch, he is tied for the most wins (two) and runner-up finishes (two).
MARTINSVILLE MINUTES: Despite his young age, Byron’s time at Martinsville goes back to when he attended his first Cup Series race at the paperclip-shaped track in 2006 as a fan. Since then, he has moved through the NASCAR ranks and is poised to make his 12th Cup Series start at the 0.526-mile track. Of his 11 Cup Series starts at the half-mile short track, Byron has one win (April 2022), four top-five finishes (tied for his most at a track), six top-10s and 221 laps led (tied for his third-most at a track).
THE FUGLE FILES: This Sunday’s race will mark crew chief Rudy Fugle’s sixth in the Cup Series at Martinsville. In his first five Cup Series starts at the 0.526-mile short track, Fugle has one win (2022), three top-five finishes and four top-10s with the No. 24 team. Aside from his Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has 14 races at the Virginia venue under his belt, all in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In those 14 races, Fugle has accumulated one win (March 2019), six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s. Two of those previous starts were with Byron in 2016, where the duo started seventh in both races and raced to a third-place result in the spring and an eighth-place finish in the fall.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 34 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 10.940 seconds. On Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the No. 24 team had the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 9.986 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
WELCOME PODS: Last week, Hendrick Motorsports announced that PODS Enterprises LLC, the industry leader in portable moving and storage solutions, will join Byron and the No. 24 team as the primary sponsor for this weekend’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville. PODS has assisted with more than six million moves with locations serving 46 states and was recently recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service 2024 in the “Moving Services” category. For a closer look at Byron’s No. 24 PODS Chevy, click here.
48 Alex Bowman
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 21st
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
FOND MEMORIES: This Sunday, Alex Bowman returns to Martinsville Speedway, a track where he has previously won. The 30-year-old driver captured the victory in the 2021 penultimate race – his fourth win in his career-best season in the NASCAR Cup Series. In that race, Bowman finished eighth in the first stage and second in stage two before leading the final eight circuits en route to victory. His win is one of four victories for Hendrick Motorsports in the last six races at the 0.526-mile short track.
SHORT-TRACK SURGES: Bowman is no slouch at short tracks. The Tucson, Arizona, native has two wins (Richmond Raceway and Martinsville both in 2021). He has also finished fourth this year in the exhibition race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and eighth at Richmond in the spring.
SET FOR THE RESTART: Bowman is tied as the sixth-best driver on restarts in 2023, according to data from Racing Insights. That mark is the second-best among the Hendrick Motorsports quartet, as teammate Kyle Larson is second in this statistical category.
THE BOYS OF FALL: The No. 48 pit crew currently holds the 10th-best four-tire pit stop average in 2023, clocking in at 11.369 seconds. The over-the-wall crew is made up of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman), and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).
SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and his primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to the SPCA of Martinsville and Henry County, which serves the local community in Martinsville, Virginia. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and the SPCA of Martinsville and Henry County. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday. Bowman and Ally have won at the 0.526-mile oval, donating $10,000 to the Pittsylvania Pet Center in Chatham, Virginia.
SHINING BRIGHT IN THE DAYTIME: For the race at Martinsville, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will adorn its “day” scheme. This scheme hosts a white base with bright plum, grapefruit and seafoam stripes down the sides. Check out all the angles of the ride here.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
Hendrick Motorsports
2023
All-Time
Martinsville
Races
34
1,343
79
Wins
10*
301*
28*
Poles
6
245*
19*
Top 5
40*
1,230*
90*
Top 10
64*
2,109*
145*
Laps Led
2,262
79,579*
10,531*
Stage Wins
18*
97
7
*Most **Most (tie)
PLAYOFF LOWDOWN: For the fourth straight season, Hendrick Motorsports has had at least one driver qualify for the Championship 4 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Kyle Larson’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway locks him and the No. 5 team in as one of the four drivers and teams chasing after the title next week at Phoenix Raceway. William Byron remains in the playoff field on the driver’s side of things, while the Nos. 9 and 24 teams are battling for the owner championship. This year’s playoffs have seen the organization triumph in the opening races in the Round of 16 (Larson at Darlington Raceway), the Round of 12 (Byron at Texas Motor Speedway) and the Round of 8 (Larson at Las Vegas).
CHAMPIONSHIP COUNT: With 14 Cup Series championships, Hendrick Motorsports has the most titles in the sport’s top series. NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Jimmie Johnson accounts for half of those with seven (2006-10, 2013 and 2016). NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon racked up four titles (1995, 1997-98 and 2001). NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte (1996), Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021) each have one championship for the team. Nine of those titles have come in the playoff era (2004-present).
FINAL FOUR: The organization has had four drivers reach the Championship 4 in the elimination-style format. Gordon (2015), Johnson (2016), Elliott (2020, 2021 and 2022) and Larson (2021 and 2023) have all accomplished that feat.
RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 58 wins in the playoffs, which is 21 more than the closest team. Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Larson tops the board with eight wins, then Elliott at seven victories and Byron and Alex Bowman with one each. At Martinsville Speedway, the organization has won 12 of the 19 playoff races, including seven of the last 11.
GOOD SIGN: In six of the last seven occurrences where a Hendrick Motorsports driver has won at least six races, that driver has gone on to win the title (Johnson in 2007-10 and 2013 and Larson in 2021). Byron has a half dozen wins in the 2023 season.
CLOCKING IN: With its 28 victories at Martinsville, Hendrick Motorsports holds the Cup Series record for the most wins at a single circuit. Nine different drivers (the greatest number of different winners at Martinsville) have won at this track for the organization, led by Gordon and Johnson with nine victories apiece. Darrell Waltrip recorded four wins. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Geoff Bodine and current drivers Byron, Bowman, Elliott and Larson have each taken home one victory. The team is the only one to lead over 10,000 laps at any one track with 10,531 circuits out front.
MARTINSVILLE MOJO: In the past six races at Martinsville, each of the four current drivers for the Concord, North Carolina-based team have scored a win. Larson is the most recent driver to triumph at the short track with a win in April. Byron took home a win in April 2022, while Bowman was victorious in October 2021 and Elliott visited victory lane in November 2020 in the playoff race. Over the same stretch of six races, the organization’s best finish has been no lower than second.
NO SHORTAGE: Hendrick Motorsports leads all active Cup Series teams with 57 points-paying victories on short tracks, which is 11 more than the next closest team. Gordon’s 17 short-track wins lead all drivers in team history. The active driver lineup has combined for seven of those short-track successes: Larson (three), Bowman (two), Byron (one) and Elliott (one).
VICTORY IN VIRGINIA: Team owner Rick Hendrick grew up in Palmer Springs, Virginia, and his teams have won 40 Cup Series races in his home state. Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane in Virginia at least one time in 28 different seasons, including each of the past four. The most recent 12 races in Virginia have seen one of his cars emerge victorious on six occasions with all four active drivers winning.
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: With three wins on short tracks since 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has the most victories on that track type in the Next Gen car. Those victories came by Larson at Martinsville and Richmond Raceway (both in 2023) and Byron at Martinsville (in 2022). Three drivers are among the top seven in laps led in the Next Gen era on short tracks: Byron (third at 451), Larson (fifth at 256) and Elliott (seventh at 240).
STUDYING THE TRENDS: In the last 12 Cup Series races, the organization has had at least one driver finish in the top five. Those top fives came at Michigan International Speedway (Larson), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Elliott and Bowman), Watkins Glen International (Byron), Daytona International Speedway (Elliott), Darlington (Larson and Byron), Kansas Speedway (Larson), Bristol Motor Speedway (Larson), Texas (Byron), Talladega Superspeedway (Byron), the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (Byron), Las Vegas (Larson) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Byron). This is the best streak by any team since Hendrick Motorsports’ 14-race streak with at least one top-five finish in 2021.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his mindset heading to Martinsville Speedway: “It’s obviously both comforting and exciting to know that the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team is locked into the Championship 4 by our (Las) Vegas (Motor Speedway) win. Martinsville (Speedway) had historically been a challenging track for me and transparently not a favorite. In April, our team was able to help change that. Securing my first win at the Virginia short track was super rewarding. Our team is always actively trying to build consistency, so really focusing on another solid weekend in Martinsville would help us build a good mindset to tackle the championship at Phoenix (Raceway).”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the No. 5 team’s confidence at Martinsville: “We certainly enjoy going to Martinsville (Speedway). It’s a track I’ve gone to since I was a kid and it’s also just a tough track in general. I know Kyle (Larson) doesn’t give himself the credit he deserves coming to Martinsville (Speedway) and he has come a long way. We’ve had some strong runs there lately but would recognize the fact that you’ve got to be sharp on your setup, balance and approach to the race. We’ve got to do the things we can do to make sure Kyle (Larson) is comfortable making speed. We have all of those things on our minds. We want to perform at a very high level and keep our strength at a high level to keep us operating at the level that we need to go into Phoenix.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Martinsville: “Martinsville (Speedway) is very challenging because it’s very hard to get your balance right there. I feel like getting the balance proper and perfect is like a knife edge at that track. You can go from being really good to really bad with not even changing anything potentially, just the track adjusting throughout a race and laying rubber or picking up rubber after a restart or something. It’s a very fine line of getting it right. Hopefully, we’re on the good side of that this weekend.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the significance of having Elliott back behind the wheel for the spring Martinsville race: “That race was unique for a lot of reasons. Chase (Elliott) getting the chance to qualify was important. We made a few collective errors there that hurt us and I think we should have had a much better lap than that. Being able to go over that and prepare for that helps a lot. Hopefully, we qualify better and it results in getting a good pit stall. We were just going over some pit road stuff that we feel like we can improve on. So yeah, just having that firsthand experience generates a lot of valuable areas of improvement. It was really good to be able to have him back for the race in the spring, for sure.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what his preparation and goals are for this weekend at Martinsville: “We spent this week digging through notes from earlier this year and last at Martinsville (Speedway). There was a wheel force test last week running the new tire so the teams could get information. We’re just trying to use what we have to hopefully get the car in a good place for when it’s unloaded. The fun thing about racing is you’re trying to get to the final four to go for a championship but it comes down to we all want to win every week. When you peel away all the layers of racing, it’s all about winning. We do the same processes every week with the goal of winning. That’s our number one goal still and there’s nothing like having winning momentum heading into Phoenix (Raceway).”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what the car needs for a good setup at Martinsville: “It starts with a good practice and qualifying on Saturday at Martinsville (Speedway). I think with this new tire we should have more grip but we’re supposed to have more fall off. You never really know about that until you get to the race. The tire was designed to make the car harder to drive, so that’s definitely something we have to tackle. It always starts with the entry to the corner and at Martinsville it’s hard because you can’t be loose in but you can’t be tight either. You have to be able to get to the curb in the center of the turn at the right spot and the right angle and that comes down to having the correct braking. If you do those things, you should have some turn at the center point and then the exit takes care of itself.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what it takes to win at Martinsville: “Martinsville (Speedway) is such a tough place to win at. You have to have good pit stops, a clean race car and make changes as the track evolves – a lot has to go your way to run well here. Obviously, we finished 11th in the spring and I won there in 2021, so those good runs give me confidence to go be competitive again this weekend. We know it’s a long race and we will do everything we can to prepare for this Sunday and try to be there at the end.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to Martinsville this weekend: “Last time we were in Martinsville, Alex (Bowman) narrowly missed out on a top-10 day. We had decent speed for most of the day and just got caught out on a pit cycle. Kyle (Larson) won in the spring and along with Hendrick Motorsports’ rich history of success at this track, I am confident we can bring a solid car to compete with this Sunday. This weekend will be about building our notebook for next year and getting Alex in contention. The goal remains the same – get our No. 48 up front and contend for the win. These last two races will be about building momentum into the 2024 season.”
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 26, 2023) – After a dominant season in the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks, NHRA rider Gaige Herrera could wrap up the world championship at this weekend’s 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals, while reigning Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders looks to win for the tenth time at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Herrera, who has nine wins this season, could claim his first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world title this weekend. He currently leads his Vance & Hines teammate Eddie Krawiec by 156 points and reigning world champion Matt Smith by 174.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” Herrera said. “It would be cool to wrap it up in Vegas and I think Vegas will be good. That’s where I first rode for Vance & Hines. I want to say that’s where this whole thing started.”
If Herrera claims the championship this weekend, it will mark his first NHRA title and 14th for the Vance & Hines juggernaut. Titans of the field Matt Hines, Andrew Hines and Krawiec have all delivered the team multiple championships and have mentored Herrera throughout this season.
“It’s cool to get to race with Ed. I’ve learned a lot from him this season. He helps with every race. It’s very intimidating to race him,” Herrera said. “We flipped a coin for lanes in St. Louis. I’ve held him back three times this season from getting his 50th (career) win but he’s going to get it, I’ve got a good feeling.”
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Enders (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the 2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals. This season’s race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. It is the 20th of 21 races during the 2023 season and the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship.
Enders heads to Vegas with the Pro Stock points lead and with more NHRA wins at the facility than any other competitor. She has an impressive nine wins from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2022, she won both the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the spring as well as the NHRA Nevada Nationals in the fall, where she also clinched her fifth NHRA championship.
“To have things go well in Dallas is huge,” Enders said. “To spread the lead just a little bit going into Vegas where we’ve won nine nationals there and it’s no secret that it’s my favorite place to race because it’s just been so good to us. Coming off a win from Dallas, we’re obviously hopeful to carry that momentum into Las Vegas but then you have Pomona that’s points-and-a-half and it can throw a wrench into your spokes. You just have to put your head down and go to work.”
Following her win in Dallas, Enders became the winningest female across all of motorsports, dethroning Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Angelle Sampey. The win gave Enders 47 national event wins and nudged her into the lead. She’ll also go into Vegas with an 85-point lead over Greg Anderson, with Dallas Glenn and Matt Hartford still in contention.
“As a little kid growing up, Angelle was one of my idols. We had her t-shirts and her autographs and to come full circle, it’s pretty incredible. When we made our pro debut in 2005, I only had one national event Wally in Super Gas and the first seven seasons of my pro career went winless. So, it took us a long time to get here. I can remember it like it was yesterday, tying Shirley Muldowney at 18 when we won the U.S. Nationals in 2015 and now here we are at 47. It’s pretty crazy and to not just have it be drag racing but worldwide throughout all of motorsports is pretty substantial.
“While I want to just be viewed as a driver, it’s pretty badass and I’m super thankful for the opportunity. I never thought we’d be racing that long to get that many wins but here we are. It’s been a long journey and it’s been really fun, and it goes to show if you don’t give up, great things can happen.”
In Top Fuel, Leah Pruett enters the Vegas weekend with a slim four-point lead over Doug Kalitta. Steve Torrence is also just 13 points back. In Funny Car, Pruett’s Tony Stewart Racing teammate, Matt Hagan, jumped into the lead with a Dallas win, but he’ll look to hold off the likes of Bob Tasca III and Robert Hight as he seeks his second straight fall Vegas win.
The NHRA Nevada Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, and the Summit Racing Series ET Finals, where national champions will be crowned, including the first EV national championship in NHRA history. The weekend will also include action in the thrilling Nostalgia Funny Car class, while fans can watch a spectacular jet dragster exhibition from Team “Muy Caliente” after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.
It’s also the final race of the season in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports and the new Factory X presented by Holley category. Fans can also enjoy the finale of the NHRA Summit Series, with drivers competing for a national championship.
As an added attraction, a special drag-and-drive exhibition will take place during the event, with participants in Sick The Magazine’s “Death Week” will be on display for fans interested in NHRA Street Legal Drag Racing. The cars will be paraded in front of the crowd, with fans getting to see the unique cars taking part in the drag-and-drive event.
Before the race weekend, the NHRA’s biggest stars will take over the Fremont St. Experience for the annual fan fest from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26. An autograph session takes place from 5:30-6:30, allowing fans to meet their favorite drivers as part of this great event leading into the race weekend.
On Saturday, the Las Vegas Golden Knights marching band will also perform. Race fans at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the NHRA Nevada Nationals event winners.
Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into Nitro Alley. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 27, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Oct. 29. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday with eliminations on FS1 at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
About Camping World Holdings, Inc.
Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the World’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.campingworld.com.
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Wisconsin Native to Pilot Second Entry at Phoenix Raceway
CONCORD, N.C. (October 26, 2023) – Spire Motorsports will field a second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) entry in next weekend’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway for Wisconsin native Derek Kraus.
Kraus will pilot the No. 77 Western States Flooring Chevrolet Silverado alongside teammate Marco Andretti, who will drive the No. 7 Parity Week by Gainbridge® Chevy, in the division’s final race of the season.
As part of an ongoing technical support relationship with JR Motorsports, Andrew Overstreet and Mike Hoffman will serve as crew chief and truck chief, respectively.
Kraus was nothing short of impressive while handling the driving chores for Spire Motorsports earlier this season at the Clean Harbors 175 at the famed Milwaukee Mile, where he started deep in the field and raced his way to a spirited eighth-place finish. He is a veteran of 75 NCTS starts with four poles, four top-five and 27 top-10 finishes.
“I’m really looking forward to racing at Phoenix with Spire Motorsports and all the guys on that team,” said Kraus. “Phoenix Raceway is one of my favorite races on the schedule, just because of how competitive the track is. I’m thankful to have Western States Flooring on board and looking forward to putting on a good show for that group. We had a good day at Milwaukee earlier this season so hopefully we can pull some notes from that weekend and put them to good use in Phoenix.”
In five previous NCTS starts at the uniquely configured one-mile Avondale, Ariz., oval, the 22-year-old standout has recorded three eighth-place finishes and, coincidently enough, finished 23rd in the other two.
Kraus, a native of Stratford, Wis., has made seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Kaulig Racing in 2023, recording three top-10 finishes. Of those seven starts, he has only finished outside the top 12 twice, and outside the top 20, once.
Most recently, Kraus raced Kaulig’s No. 11 Celsius Chevrolet to an 11th-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In 10 NCTS starts in 2023, Spire Motorsports has recorded one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, snared the checkered flag at the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, while rising star Layne RIggs finished third in August at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Kraus is credited with adding a third top 10 to the team’s 2023 stat sheet after his eighth-place showing in Milwaukee.
“We’re happy to have Derek back in a Spire Motorsports Chevy Silverado next weekend,” said team manager Mike Greci. “He did a nice job when he drove for us at the Milwaukee Mile and we think a lot of that success should translate to Phoenix. He’s incredibly mature for his age and has a knack for getting the most out of his equipment. When the opportunity came about to put him in a second truck for Phoenix, it was kind of all-hands-on-deck to figure out a way to make it happen. He’ll be a great compliment to Marco Andretti and vice versa, so we’re optimistic about the chances for both our trucks.”
The Lucas Oil 150 from Phoenix Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, November 3 beginning at 10 p.m. EDT. The 23rd and final NCTS race of the 2023 season will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
About Western States Flooring … Western States Flooring Inc. is a premier provider of flooring and installation services in the southwest United States. Established in 1991, Western States Flooring continues to be one of the largest providers for flooring services in the southwest.
As one of Arizona’s Shaw Design Centers, consumers can rely on beautiful products, professional installation, and great communication throughout their project. Western States Flooring has a public showroom in Chandler, Ariz., and flooring-services partnerships with Home Depot and Costco. With strong ties to the community and a long track record of happy customers, clients can rely on Western States Flooring Inc. to handle their project and provide a beautiful, finished product.
About Spire Motorsports … Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports fields the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFSTMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023 when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
