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Stewart-Haas Racing: NXS Race Report from the Charlotte Roval

By
Official Release
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STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

Date: Oct. 7, 2023
Event: Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (Round 29 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval (2.28-mile, 17-turn road course)
Format: 67 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/20 laps/27 laps)
Race Winner: Sam Mayer of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 7th / Finished 2nd, Running, completed 67 of 67 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 9th / Finished 4th, Running, completed 67 of 67 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (5th with 3,018 points, Advanced to the Round of 8)
● Riley Herbst (12th with 739 points)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 12th top-five of the season and his first top-five in three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Roval.
● Custer has never finished outside the top-10 at the Roval in his Xfinity Series career.
● This was Custer’s third straight top-10 at Charlotte. He finished eighth in his last Xfinity Series career start at the track in September 2019.
● This was Custer’s third straight top-10. He finished fourth Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and sixth Sept. 23 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
● Custer’s second-place finish bettered his previous best finish at the Charlotte Roval– seventh, earned in his first start at the track in September 2018.
● Custer led once for four laps to increase his laps-led total on the Charlotte Roval to 9.
● Herbst earned his sixth top-five of the season and his first top-five in four career Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Roval.
● Herbst’s fourth-place finish bettered his previous best finish at Charlotte– 12th, earned in his first start at the track in October 2020.

Race Notes:

● Sam Mayer won the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina to score his third career Xfinity Series victory, his third of the season, and his first at Charlotte. His margin over second-place Cole Custer was .909 of a second.
● There were four caution periods for a total of 12 laps.
● Thirty-three of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Sound Bites:

“Man, second-place is always hard. We just really struggled on the short runs, for sure. It’s frustrating as a driver when you’re so close to a win like that. There are definitely things that I’m going to replay in my head from those last laps. I could have done something different, but our No. 00 Haas Automation team did a great job all day. JT (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) and all of the guys got the car better with each pit stop to where we could compete for the win. We just needed a little bit more. I think we’ll surprise people with just how good we’ll be in this Round of 8 though. Excited to head to Vegas.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“I’m proud of the No. 98 Monster Energy team and Stewart-Haas Racing as an organization today. Both of our cars did really well and had a ton of speed. I think overall, my Ford Mustang handled really well and this was probably one of the best cars that I’ve had at the Roval. We had a car that could run up front and contend for the win. It’s exciting to get back on track and have such a strong finish at a track that I’ve struggled at in the past though.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Alsco Uniforms 302 on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is the fourth race of the Xfinity Series playoffs and the first race of the Round of 8. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Toyota Racing – NXS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.07.23

By
Official Release
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SMITH ADVANCES TO ROUND OF 8; JOINS TOYOTA TEAMMATE NEMECHEK
Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala gets second top-five of the season

CONCORD, N.C. (October 7, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith, both advanced to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 8 after today’s Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Nemechek clinched his way in with a win at Texas two weeks ago, whereas Smith was able to transfer to the next round by being four points above the cutline with an 11th place finish. This will be both driver’s first appearance in the Xfinity Series Round of 8.

Kaz Grala of Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) captured his second top-five and second-best result of the season, finishing fifth after a tight battle at the end with drivers fighting to advance in the playoffs.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Race 29 of 33 – 155.44 miles, 67 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Sam Mayer*

2nd, Cole Custer*

3rd, Josh Berry*

4th, Riley Herbst*

5th, KAZ GRALA

8th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

11th, SAMMY SMITH

14th, MYATT SNIDER

24th, CONNOR MOSACK

33rd, ALEX GUENETTE

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

KAZ GRALA, No. 26 CRUSH Strawberry Lemonade Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

How would you describe your day and the great run you had?

“Today was great! We had the speed all weekend. Was able to run in the top-five there at the end even with a couple guys (Sheldon Creed and Daniel Hemric) fighting hard, battling for the playoff bubble. I had to be aggressive and smart at the same time knowing what we had to lose, and that they didn’t care. Really happy to end up in the top-five with Sam Hunt Racing and Toyota this weekend. We ran the pink, strawberry lemonade CRUSH paint scheme which looked great for Breast Cancer Awareness Month here in October. A good weekend for us all around and I look forward to big things for us in the future.”

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

You had an interesting day. Can you talk us through your race today?

“Overall, a solid day. Had to start last due to an issue after practice and before qualifying. We were able to get up through the field, won stage two and came home eighth. We play the strategy to come and get extra Playoff points from stage wins and also from trying to win the race. We saw the Playoff point there and went and grabbed it. Now, on to the next round. Today didn’t really mean too much to us other than stage wins or a race win for Playoff points. Solid day overall. I’m excited for the next round to get going at Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville and then on to Phoenix.”

SAMMY SMITH, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

What was the balance of aggression and caution you had to use in order to make it through to the next round of the Playoffs?

“It was a struggle all day. It was definitely not the day we wanted to try and have in a cutoff race. Thanks to everybody. Pilot Flying J, TMC, Allstate Peterbilt Group, JGR and Toyota. We needed to have a good, solid day and that’s what we did. It was stressful, but we advanced and that’s what we needed to do.”

How do you feel going into the next round of the Playoffs?

“I feel confident with Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville there. Just gotta go and probably win one of those to make it to Phoenix, but at least we know what we need to do.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

Sam Mayer stays alive in NASCAR Xfinity Playoffs with dominating win

By
Official Release
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Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BCBS at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 07, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

CONCORD, N.C. – The NASCAR Xfinity Series has a new road course ace.

“We may be Allmendinger 2.0,” Sam Mayer quipped after winning Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course and clinching a spot in the Round of 8 in the series Playoffs.

The reference was to AJ Allmendinger, winner of the previous four Xfinity races at the 2.32-mile, 17-turn circuit. With Allmendinger ineligible for the race as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver this year, Mayer took over and got the win he needed to advance in the Playoffs.

Mayer earned the final spot in the Round of 8 at the expense of seventh-place finisher Daniel Hemric, who ran third in a three-way drag race to the finish line with Parker Kligerman and Kaz Grala—when a fifth-place result would have been enough to survive the round.

“They came out in the bottom of the seventh and hit a home run,” said Hemric, who finished second in each of the first two stages and was bounced from the postseason only because Mayer won from last place in the Xfinity Playoff standings.

Lining up second next to Cole Custer for a restart on Lap 63 of 67, Mayer muscled his way past Custer’s No. 00 Ford through Turns 3 and 4 a lap later and pulled away to win by .909 seconds.

“I knew we had time,” said Mayer, who led five times for 50 laps. “Our car was so fast—it really felt unbeatable… We kicked their tails today, and it just feels so great.”

The victory was the third for the 20-year-old driver of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet—all this year and all on road courses.

“This is our second-chance moment,” Mayer said. “I think we can make something out of it… We can go on and do great things because of this win.”

Kligerman, Josh Berry and Jeb Burton joined Hemric on the Playoff sidelines. Kligerman missed out by five points after coming home sixth.

Berry finished third despite battling issues with his power steering but fell short in a must-win situation, as did Burton, who stayed out on old tires for a restart on Lap 60 and crashed into Justin Allgaier’s Chevrolet in Turn 1.

Sheldon Creed, on the other hand, squeaked into the Round of 8 by two points over Hemric after running 10th on Saturday.

“We had no front turn,” Creed said. “I was talking to our teammate Austin (Hill) about it. Both of our cars did not turn all day… I had to work for that one. I did not think we would be in by two—I thought we would be better than that.”

After the Lap 63 restart, Hemric’s fate was in the hands of Custer, who couldn’t keep Mayer behind him.

“We struggled on the short run, for sure,” Custer said. “It’s frustrating. There are definitely things on the replay I could have done different, but our guys did a great job all day, getting our car to where we could compete for a win—but we just needed a little more.”

Riley Herbst ran fourth, with Kaz Grala fifth. Kligerman, Hemric, Stage 2 winner John Hunter Nemechek, Hill and Creed completed the top 10.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Concord, North Carolina
Saturday, October 7, 2023
(1) Sam Mayer (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(7) Cole Custer (P), Ford, 67.
(3) Josh Berry (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(9) Riley Herbst, Ford, 67.
(14) Kaz Grala, Toyota, 67.
(6) Parker Kligerman (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(4) Daniel Hemric (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(38) John Hunter Nemechek (P), Toyota, 67.
(8) Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(5) Sheldon Creed (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(22) Sammy Smith # (P), Toyota, 67.
(17) Chandler Smith # (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(25) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 67.
(31) Myatt Snider (P), Toyota, 67.
(10) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 67.
(12) Jordan Taylor, Chevrolet, 67.
(32) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 67.
(29) Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 67.
(28) Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 67.
(33) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 67.
(26) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 67.
(23) Parker Retzlaff #, Chevrolet, 67.
(15) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 67.
(16) Connor Mosack, Toyota, 67.
(18) Josh Bilicki, Ford, 67.
(13) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 67.
(20) Sage Karam, Ford, 67.
(24) Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, 67.
(11) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 67.
(21) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 67.
(35) Joe Graf Jr., Ford, 67.
(36) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 67.
(37) Alex Guenette, Toyota, 67.
(19) Jeb Burton (P), Chevrolet, 66.
(34) Conor Daly(i), Chevrolet, 66.
(30) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Accident, 63.
(2) Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 60.
(27) Brett Moffitt, Ford, Ignition, 40.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 77.387 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 0 Mins, 31 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.909 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 4 for 12 laps.

Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Allgaier (P) 1-4;S. Mayer (P) 5-17;J. Allgaier (P) 18-22;S. Mayer (P) 23-38;J. Nemechek (P) 39-40;S. Mayer (P) 41-57;J. Burton (P) 58;J. Allgaier (P) 59;C. Custer (P) 60-63;S. Mayer (P) 64-67.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Sam Mayer (P) 4 times for 50 laps; Justin Allgaier (P) 3 times for 10 laps; Cole Custer (P) 1 time for 4 laps; John Hunter Nemechek (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Jeb Burton (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,10,2,48,21,16,18,1,27,07

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,10,48,2,91,18,1,16,07,08

How to Estimate Repair Costs in Wholesale Real Estate

By
SM
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Photo by Terry Magallanes

In the world of wholesale real estate, understanding how to estimate repair costs is pivotal accurately. It ensures that you make a profit and builds your reputation as a reliable wholesaler. 

When estimating repair costs in wholesale real estate, it’s crucial to consider the local market dynamics and property values. For instance, understanding the specific needs and trends in areas like Albany, Oregon, can provide valuable insights. As you evaluate potential investments, it’s beneficial to explore Albany OR homes for sale now to get a sense of the current market conditions and typical property features. This approach not only aids in accurate cost estimation but also helps in identifying properties with the best potential for return on investment. By staying informed about local real estate trends, investors can make more strategic decisions and optimize their repair budgets effectively.

This guide offers a comprehensive look into gauging repair costs, ensuring that you are always a step ahead in your wholesaling journey.

1. Understand the Basics 

Before you can make precise estimates, it’s essential to understand the rudiments of repair work. Houses often require a variety of repairs ranging from simple cosmetic fixes to intricate structural overhauls. Begin by acquainting yourself with these categories. 

This might involve reading books on construction, attending seminars, or even visiting construction sites. Further, it’s prudent to understand the materials in play. This not only helps in estimating costs but also ensures that quality isn’t compromised. 

By embedding oneself in the nuances of construction and repair, you lay a solid foundation for accurate cost estimation.

2. Property Inspection is Key 

A superficial glance at a property rarely reveals the complete picture. This is why a meticulous property inspection is non-negotiable. Collaborate with a seasoned home inspector who can shed light on potential problem areas. 

These professionals delve deep, assessing structural components, electrical systems, plumbing intricacies, and much more. Their insights, often provided in a detailed report, become the bedrock of your repair estimation. 

Moreover, regular inspections instill confidence in potential buyers, solidifying your standing as a thorough wholesaler.

3. Categorize Repairs 

Systemizing the repair estimation process can immensely simplify it. Start by categorizing repairs into tiers – cosmetic, functional, and major structural. Cosmetic enhancements like painting or landscaping uplift property aesthetics. 

Functional fixes, on the other hand, ensure the property’s utilities, such as electrical circuits, plumbing lines, and HVAC systems, are in prime condition. Then, there are major structural repairs that address foundational issues or extensive property damages. 

By segregating repairs this way, you’re better poised to allocate funds and prioritize tasks effectively.

4. Leverage Technology 

In this digital epoch, technology offers unprecedented advantages, with numerous apps and software, including those designed for MLS listings, crafted specifically to assist real estate wholesalers. These tools, infused with vast datasets, can provide preliminary repair estimates almost instantaneously. 

While they should complement and not replace manual scrutiny, they are invaluable for cross-referencing. Moreover, they often come equipped with features that allow you to save and compare estimates, ensuring you always stay on top of your repair game.

5. Local Material and Labor Costs 

Geography plays a pivotal role in influencing repair costs. Local labor and material charges can fluctuate vastly between regions, cities, and even neighborhoods. Engage in research to gauge these local variations. Frequent visits to nearby hardware stores, interactions with craftsmen, and securing multiple quotations can provide clarity. 

By embedding oneself in the local repair ecosystem, not only do you get the most competitive rates, but you also remain insulated from sudden price hikes.

6. Factor in the Unseen 

Wholesale properties, often riddled with wear and tear, can harbor hidden damages. While a thorough inspection can reveal most issues, always be prepared for unforeseen repair needs. It’s a savvy move to incorporate a contingency margin in your repair cost estimates. 

Typically, a buffer of 10-20% of the overall projected cost should suffice. This ensures that even if unexpected problems rear their head during the repair phase, your budget remains unshaken.

7. Network with Contractors 

Your rapport with local contractors can be a goldmine. These professionals, well-entrenched in the repair milieu, can offer invaluable insights. Regular interactions and collaborations can lead to mutual trust. 

Consequently, you might gain access to discounts, expedited services, or even insider knowledge about upcoming real estate trends by using a real estate agent.

Over time, these relationships become cornerstones of a successful wholesaling venture.

8. Experience is the Best Teacher 

Theory and advice, while essential, can only take you so far. There’s an undeniable value in hands-on experience. With every property you assess and every repair estimate you make, your acumen sharpens. 

Documenting these experiences, perhaps in a dedicated journal or digital log, can be enlightening. Over time, patterns emerge, enabling you to anticipate costs and challenges even before they manifest.

Conclusion 

Estimating repair costs in wholesale real estate is a blend of meticulous research, keen observation, robust networking, and continuous learning. By meticulously scrutinizing each property, leveraging technological advancements, and cultivating a network of skilled professionals, you position yourself for sustained success. As wholesale real estate continues to evolve, these foundational principles remain timeless. Embrace them, refine them, and watch as your wholesaling journey flourishes.

Mayer avoids title elimination with dominant Xfinity victory at Charlotte Roval; Playoff’s Round of 8 field set

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

After crashing out of his last three consecutive starts, including his latest two that nearly derailed his championship hopes, Sam Mayer capitalized after being in a “must-win” situation and earned a walk-off win into the Playoff’s Round of 8 by dominating from pole position and winning the sixth annual running of the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Saturday, October 7.

The 20-year-old Mayer from Franklin, Wisconsin, led four times for a race-high 50 of 67 scheduled laps in an event in which he entered 34 points below the top-eight cutline and in a “must-win” situation to transfer to the next round after crashing and not finishing his previous two events. Commencing his weekend by winning the pole position, Mayer briefly lost the lead to teammate Justin Allgaier at the event’s start before claiming it for the first time on the fifth lap. Despite surrendering the lead to pit prior to the first two stage’s conclusion and sacrificing stage points, Mayer, who restarted in the top six with 11 laps remaining, capitalized on two late caution periods to overtake Cole Custer with four laps remaining and rocket away to score his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the 2023 season and be one of eight Playoff competitors to race their way into the Round of 8.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Playoff contender Sam Mayer started on pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 101.798 mph in 82.045 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate and Playoff contender Justin Allgaier, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 101.751 mph in 82.083 seconds.

Prior to the event, a bevy of names that included Playoff contender John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Sieg, Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, Conor Daly and Josh Williams dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.

When the green flag waved and the race started, teammates Mayer and Allgaier dueled for the lead amid two stacked lanes through the first three turns until Allgaier managed to muscle ahead from the inside lane and assume the lead through the infield road course turns. With the field navigating its way through the road course turns and back onto the oval turns, Allgaier managed to retain the lead as he proceeded to lead the first lap while Mayer, Josh Berry, Sheldon Creed and Daniel Hemric followed suit.

Through the second to fourth lap, Allgaier stabilized his advantage to as high as half a second over a hard-charging Mayer while Berry, Creed and Hemric remained in the top five. Behind, Parker Kligerman was in sixth while Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst and Alex Labbe were running in the top 10.

Through the fifth lap, Mayer, who used the frontstretch chicane to claim the lead back from Allgaier, was leading by four-tenths of a second over teammate Allgaier while Berry, Creed and Hemric were scored in the top five. Behind, Kligerman was in sixth ahead of Custer, Hill, Herbst and Alex Labbe while Kaz Grala, Brandon Jones, Jordan Taylor, rookie Chandler Smith and Kyle Weatherman were in the top 15. Meanwhile, Playoff contenders Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton were in 17th and 18th while John Hunter Nemechek was mired in 27th.

At the Lap 10 mark, Mayer continued to lead by six-tenths of a second over teammate Allgaier while Berry, Creed and Hemric retained their respective spots in the top five. With Custer, Kligerman and Hill running sixth through eighth, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton were in 13th, 15th and 16th, respectively, while Nemechek was still back in 27th.

Seven laps later, a host of names that included Berry, Custer, Herbst, Labbe and Grala pitted under green. More names that included Connor Mosack, Brandon Jones, Jordan Taylor, Parker Retzlaff, Myatt Snider and Nemechek would follow suit on pit road before the leader Mayer pitted on Lap 18, just before pit road closed and as Allgaier reassumed the lead.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 20, Allgaier, who had already secured his spot for the Playoff’s Round of 8 by virtue of winning the Playoff opener at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, claimed his 12th Xfinity stage victory of the 2023 season. Hemric settled in second followed by Creed, Kligerman and Hill while Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Mayer, Jeb Burton and Josh Bilicki were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Allgaier pitted while the rest led by Mayer remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Jeb Burton was penalized for speeding on pit road while Conor Daly was also penalized for his crew being over the pit wall too soon.

The second stage period started on Lap 24 as teammates Mayer and Berry occupied the front row. At the start, the field quickly fanned out entering the first turn as teammates Mayer and Berry dueled for the lead. After being locked in a dead even battle against Berry through the first three turns, Mayer muscled ahead from the outside lane and retained the top spot through the infield turns before blending back on the oval turns ahead of the field. As the field continued to jostle for spots back on the oval turns and through the backstretch chicane, Mayer was leading by nearly a second over teammate Berry while Custer, Riley Herbst and Alex Labbe followed suit. Mired within the on-track battles was the battle for the transfer spots to the Playoffs with Mayer, Hill, Chandler Smith, Creed and Sammy Smith currently scored above the cutline while Hemric, Kligerman, Berry and Jeb Burton were scored below the cutline.

Through the Lap 30 mark, Mayer extended his advantage to more than two seconds over teammate Berry with Custer, Herbst and Labbe were in the top five. Behind, Nemechek, Brandon Jones, Allgaier, Hemric and Creed were in the top 10, Sammy Smith, Kligerman and Hill were running 12th through 14th, Chandler Smtih was in 20th and Jeb Burton was back in 28th.

Two laps later, Berry, who came into the event below the cutline, spun and backed his No. 8 High Rock Vodka Chevrolet Camaro into the wall in between Turns 3 and 4 while running second, which dropped him to 13th. Amid Berry’s incident, the race remained under green flag conditions as Mayer continued to extend his advantage by more than five seconds over Custer. With Herbst, Nemechek and Brandon Jones running in the top five, Playoff contenders Allgaier, Hemric, Creed and Kligerman were battling in the top 10 while Sammy Smith, Berry and Hill were in the top 14. Meanwhile, Chandler Smith was in 19th and Jeb Burton was up to 23rd.

By Lap 37, green flag pit stops ensued for a second time as Herbst pitted his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang from third place followed by Hill, Grala, Berry, Myatt Snider, Mosack, Jordan Taylor, Sage Karam and Retzlaff as Mayer stabilized his lead by more than six seconds over Custer. Mayer then pitted during the following lap along with Custer, Jones and Allgaier as Nemechek assumed the lead just as pit road closed. Shortly after, Conor Daly drew a caution after he blew a left-rear tire and spun towards the outside wall in Turn 15 before he limped his damaged car and came to a stop towards the frontstretch chicane. Daly’s incident was enough for the second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 40 to conclude under caution. As a result, Nemechek, who had already secured his spot into the Round of 8 based on winning the previous Xfinity Playoff event at Texas Motor Speedway, captured his 10th Xfinity stage victory of the 2023 season, Hemric followed suit in second while Kligerman, Creed, Labbe, Sammy Smith, Mayer, Chandler Smith, Bilicki and Stefan Parsons were scored in the top 10.

During the stage break, some led by Nemechek pitted for service while the rest led by Mayer remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Brandon Jones was penalized for speeding on pit road.

With 24 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Mayer and Custer occupied the front row. At the start, Mayer used the outside lane to retain the lead from Custer through Turn 1. As the field behind jostled for positions, Mayer started to pull away from Custer while Allgaier was in third ahead of Herbst and Grala. By then, Hemric and Creed were currently tied for the eighth and final transfer spot to the Playoffs, with Hemric owning the tie-breaker by virtue of securing a higher result within the Round of 12, while Kligerman, who was in 12th, was two points below the cutline.

With 20 laps remaining and amid the on-track battles, Mayer extended his advantage to a second over Custer followed by Allgaier, Herbst and Grala while Hill, Berry, Connor Mosack, Ryan Sieg and Myatt Snider were in the top 10. Meanwhile, Kligerman was in 11th ahead of Hemric, Jeb Burton, Sammy Smith and Creed while Nemechek and Chandler Smith were in 17th and 18th, respectively.

Five laps later, Mayer continued to lead by more than a second over Custer while Allgaier, Herbst and Grala were in the top five. Meanwhile, Kligerman and Hemric were in ninth and 10th while Creed was back in 15th, which currently placed him a single point above the cutline over Hemric while Kligerman trailed the cutline by three points. In addition, Sammy Smith, who was in 14th, was five points above the cutline while Jeb Burton and Berry were currently scored out of the cutline. Shortly after, Hemric and Creed were scored tied for the final transfer spot after Hemric moved into 10th place on the track, with Creed in 15th and eighth-place Kligerman behind by two points while Sammy Smith was still scored above the cutline while running 14th on the track.

Then with 12 laps remaining, Allgaier pitted under green as Mayer continued to lead by more than a second over Custer. Shortly after, the caution flew due to debris reported in Turn 17. During the caution period, Allgaier along with Jeb Burton and Blaine Perkins remained on the track while the rest, led by Mayer, pitted.

Down to the final eight laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, Jeb Burton and Allgaier dueled for the lead until trouble struck after Burton got sideways and sent him and Allgaier sliding into the wall, with Perkins also hitting the wall while slamming on the brakes as the caution quickly returned and Allgaier was left eliminated from contention. With the leaders wrecked, Custer assumed the lead followed by Mayer, Bery, Herbst and Hill.

During the proceeding restart with five laps remaining, Custer and Mayer dueled for the lead entering Turn 1 until Custer managed to muscle his No. 00 Haas Ford Mustang ahead entering Turn 2 and the infield turns. With Mayer keeping Custer within his sights, Custer retained the lead through infield turns and the oval turns. Amid Ryan Ellis getting into the wall and Brandon Jones spinning on the frontstretch, the race remained under green as Custer retained the lead back to the frontstretch ahead of Mayer, Berry, Herbst and Grala.

Then during the following lap, Mayer, who came into the event below the cutline and in a “must-win” situation, overtook Custer for the lead through Turn 4. Mayer’s move moved him back above the cutline. As a result, Creed was now scored a single point above Hemric on points and above the cutline with Kligerman behind by six points. Amid the battles, Sammy Smith was also scored above the cutline by three points.

During the proceeding laps, Mayer extended his advantage to more than a second over Custer with Berry, Herbst and Grala were in the top five. Behind, Kligerman was in sixth and scored five points below the cutline, Hemric was in sixth and scored two points below and Creed was in 10th behind teammate Hill while scored two points above the cutline.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Mayer remained as the leader by more than two seconds over Custer. With Custer unable to close the gap, Mayer was able to smoothly navigate his way around the infield road course and oval circuits for a final time before returning to the frontstretch chicane and crossing the finish line to claim his third checkered flag of the 2023 Xfinity season.

With the victory, Mayer notched his third NASCAR Xfinity Series career victory in his 80th series start, all occurring on road course events, and his first since winning at Watkins Glen International in August. The victory was also the sixth of the season for JR Motorsports and the 15th for the Chevrolet nameplate. By winning the Playoff’s Round of 12 finale, Mayer clinched his spot for the Round of 8 as he continues in his pursuit of winning his first Xfinity Series title.

“I knew we had time,” Mayer said on NBC. “Our car was so fast. What a day. We kicked their tails today. It just feels so great. Bonus points feel great, winning feels great. Winning solves everything. That’s the name of the game. Getting another shot at [the title], I think this is our second chance moment and I think we can make something out of it. Winning still feels great.”

Meanwhile, as Custer, Berry and Herbst finished second through fourth, Kligerman, who was locked in a tight battle against Kaz Grala for fifth place, made contact with Grala through the frontstretch chicane before he, Grala and a hard-charging Daniel Hemric crossed the finish line in a three-wide photo finish as Grala edged Kligerman and Hemric, respectively, to finish fifth. The sixth- and seventh-place results for Kligerman and Hemric, however, were not enough for both to transfer into the Round of 8 as Creed, who ended up 10th on the track, claimed the eighth and final transfer spot by two points over Hemric and four over Kligerman.

As a result, Creed joins Sam Mayer, John Hunter Nemechek, teammate Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith and Sammy Smith as competitors to transfer into the Playoff’s Round of 8 while Daniel Hemric, Parker Kligerman, Josh Berry and Jeb Burton were eliminated from title contention.

“[I] Just kind of stumbled our way through this first round to make it,” Creed said. “Really just fortunate that we have the luck we did at the times we did. At the end of the day, we need to bring faster race cars. Just proud of everyone’s fight. We can’t stumble our way through the next [round], that’s for sure.”

“It’s the way it is,” Hemric said. “Before the day started, I said I’m gonna be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. We were defeated this round. It’s the way it goes. We carry on. I put [my team] in a hole, for sure, there in Texas. I hate it for these guys. We got a long road ahead of us. It’s just part of the journey, man. Journey makes the man. Looking forward to what’s ahead and  what’s ahead for this race team.”

“[I was saying] Just get every spot I could and hope something happen,” Kligerman said. “I just knew I had to pass people and I was just trying everything I could to get spots. I’m more upset because I love the pressure of all of this. I love the idea of fighting for something so big like we were, but it’s been a big achievement to be a part of the Playoffs for this race team. I think I can be a better driver in 2024 than I was this year for [the team]. Man, I feel like every move, aside from that one restart, I felt like we were money. Just not enough.”

There were 10 lead changes for five different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 12 laps. In addition, 33 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results.

1. Sam Mayer, 50 laps led

2. Cole Custer, four laps led

3. Josh Berry

4. Riley Herbst

5. Kaz Grala

6. Parker Kligerman

7. Daniel Hemric

8. John Hunter Nemechek, two laps led, Stage 2 winner

9. Austin Hill

10. Sheldon Creed

11. Sammy Smith

12. Chandler Smith

13. Ryan Sieg

14. Myatt Snider

15. Alex Labbe

16. Jordan Taylor

17. Brennan Poole

18. Stefan Parsons

19. Rajah Caruth

20. Josh Williams

21. Leland Honeyman

22. Parker Retzlaff

23. Jeremy Clements

24. Connor Mosack

25. Josh Bilicki

26. Kyle Weatherman

27. Sage Karam

28. Blaine Perkins

29. Brandon Jones

30. Anthony Alfredo

31. Joe Graf Jr.

32. Kyle Sieg

33. Alex Guenette

34. Jeb Burton, one lap down, one lap led

35. Conor Daly, one lap down

36. Ryan Ellis – OUT, Accident

37. Justin Allgaier – OUT, Accident, 10 laps led, Stage 1 winner

38. Brett Moffitt – OUT, Ignition

*Bold indicates Playoff competitors

Playoff standings

1. John Hunter Nemechek – Advanced

2. Justin Allgaier – Advanced

3. Sam Mayer – Advanced

4. Cole Custer – Advanced

5. Austin Hill – Advanced

6. Chandler Smith – Advanced

7. Sammy Smith – Advanced

8. Sheldon Creed – Advanced

9. Daniel Hemric – Eliminated

10. Parker Kligerman – Eliminated

11. Josh Berry – Eliminated

12. Jeb Burton – Eliminated

The Round of 8 in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs is scheduled to commence next Saturday, October 14, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event’s broadcast is slated to occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Tyler Reddick captures Cup Series Pole Award for playoff race at Charlotte

By
Angie Campbell
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Tyler Reddick poses for photos with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 Pole Winner trophy during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 07, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Tyler Reddick outpaced the qualifying field to capture the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series  Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course with a 102.839 mph lap in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. It was his second pole this season, and his sixth Cup Series career pole.

The race is the final event in the series Playoffs Round of 12 with only eight drivers advancing to compete for the 2023 championship. The significance of starting on the pole cannot be overstated as Reddick is currently ranked ninth in the driver standings.

“This is what we needed to do,” Reddick said. “We had hoped and put a lot of effort into this, as all the playoff teams do for this race. For the most part, this is as good of an outcome as possible for the No. 45 team today.”

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, currently fourth in the driver standings, will join Reddick on the front row after qualifying second with a 102.695 mph lap in the No. 20 Toyota as Daniel Suárez starts in third place. Playoff contenders Bubba Wallace (currently 10th in the driver standings) will start fourth and Kyle Busch (currently 12th in the driver standings) will start in fifth place.

AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top 10 in qualifying.

Playoff contenders William Byron, with a win at Texas and Ryan Blaney, who won last week at Talladega, are safe from elimination. Playoff drivers starting outside the top 10 include Martin Truex Jr. (11th), Ross Chastain (12th), Brad Keselowski (19th) and Chris Buescher (20th). Kyle Larson crashed during practice and will start 36th as he will go to a backup car for Sunday’s race.

You can tune into Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Starting Lineup:

12332_STARTROW

Reddick Rockets To Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 Pole

By
Official Release
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Tyler Reddick will start Sunday's Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from the pole. (HHP/Chris Owens photo)
  • Tyler Reddick’s 81.214-second, 102.839-mile-per-hour lap in the final round of qualifying for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 earned the 23XI Racing driver his sixth career pole
  • Christopher Bell, the defending race winner, will start Sunday’s race second ahead of Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Busch
  • Fans can buy tickets to the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 by visiting www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2023) – Tyler Reddick’s hopes of advancing into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 received a major boost on Saturday.

The driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota won the pole for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 with an 81.214-second lap averaging 102.839 miles per hour. Reddick starts Sunday’s race trailing Brad Keselowski – who qualified 19th – by two points for the final berth in the Round of 8. If Reddick wins on Sunday, he’ll be locked into the Round of 8 regardless of where his rivals finish.

Defending race winner Christopher Bell rolls off second for Sunday’s Playoff cut-off race, followed by Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Busch.

A.J. Almendinger was sixth, with Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs completing the top 10.

Kyle Larson, who conquered the ROVAL™ in 2021 en route to winning the Cup Series championship, will have to start from the rear of the field on Sunday after an accident forced the Hendrick Motorsports driver to a backup car.

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 45 23XI RACING TOYOTA (Pole Winner): “This was what we needed to do, what we hoped for. We put a lot of hope and effort, as all the playoff teams do, into this race. This was as good an outcome as possible. Bubba (Wallace) had a solid day as well. When you look at what both of us need to do tomorrow (to advance in the Playoffs), we’re taking the right steps in that direction.

“My job is really simple, right? It’s to go out there and try to put the best lap possible in practice, get a read on the car, and see how it does in qualifying. From there it’s getting a game plan and qualifying. No matter how the race plays off, it’s pretty simple for me. I just go out there and try to nail every corner, nail every lap, and get as many stage points as I can and see what happens.”

TICKETS:
To purchase Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 race tickets, fans can shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.

MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, becoming a Facebook fan or downloading the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte ROVAL Quotes – Tyler Reddick – 10.07.23

By
Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Tyler Reddick
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

CONCORD, N.C. (October 7, 2023) – 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick was made available to media after earning the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday:

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Tell us about your team’s outlook heading into tomorrow after that pole today?

“Yeah, this is what we needed to do. We had hoped and put a lot of effort into this, as all the playoff teams do for this race. For the most part, this is as good of an outcome as possible for the No. 45 team today. Bubba (Wallace) had a solid day as well, even though he wanted to qualify better in the second round there. When you look at what both of us need to do tomorrow, we’re taking the right steps.”

With you on the pole and Bubba Wallace starting fourth, along with the RFK Racing cars a little farther back, how conscious will you be of them tomorrow?

“Billy (Scott, crew chief) would be better to talk to about that than me. For me, my job is very simple, to go out and try to put together the best lap in practice and get a read on the car – to see what it’s like in the long run and go from there to get ready for qualifying. So, for me, no matter how the race plays out, I go out there and try to nail every corner and lap. And if I make a mistake, try to minimize the time loss. These are the things that us and all of the other teams will be focusing on. No matter if the strategy changes, my job doesn’t.”

It seems like you and the 45 team have had a great deal of confidence coming into this weekend. Where does that stem from?

“It’s been there all year. I noticed it right at the beginning of the year coming over to Toyota. Obviously, they weren’t happy with their road course results last year, and they’ve made some huge improvements this year, starting off with our victory at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in the spring. For me, we got the speed. The team has been working great. Everyone’s efforts at TRD, and our alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing has been huge. Everyone is doing a great job right now and all the Toyota Camrys have the speed. It’s great to see. Now, we have to manage this race tomorrow. If I just stick to the simple approach, we’ll be in good shape.”

Are stage points critical for you to get tomorrow? Do you try to get as many as you can in case something happens around you?

“Yeah, this is a scenario that could play out. But I’m going to leave that up to Billy and the team to figure it out. We’ve seen it before, with last year’s race. It was going to end a lot different and the playoffs would’ve been different on the points before that last caution came out. I’m going to stay in my lane and see where I can improve as a driver and leave that decision up to the team.”

Does the restart zone give you as the leader more opportunities to pull further ahead of people?

“I think upfront it should, right? When you look at Indy, obviously the conditions in Chicago played a factor in that. Yeah, with the different restart zones it’s more worrying about one, maybe two cars, not like 10 trying to fill the space of two. So, that’s the expectation, right? We’re going to watch this race (Xfinity Series) here in a little bit and we’re going to learn quite a bit. Obviously, the Xfinity car is a bit more grip limited, but the struggles that they’ll face will be similar to what we’ll face on Sunday. This race will be pretty telling. More than anything, I kind of got the feeling that the control car is going to have a bigger advantage than it’s had in year’s past here for sure.”

What concerns will you have if you’re restarting further back in the field?

“It’s unknown, right? When you think about it, it could be as simple as vision right – visuals. The first car and the first row is going to know where they’re at with the chicane. The second row is going to have a little bit harder time. The third or fourth row it’s going to get to a point – I remember this at the Daytona Road Course when we were going through the back chicane – you just get to a point where you’re in a line of cars so deep, you don’t know where track limits are left or right. Going to be interesting to see how that plays out. Obviously, we don’t have to worry about it as much as the Xfinity cars, but the Xfinity guys have to be really careful of the stack ups, knocking radiators out before they make it they take the first lap. I think obviously as we’ve seen with this car, it’s a little more resilient front and back, but still, you can’t do damage to the front of the car or back of the car. Wheel to wheel contact. I think the Xfinity cars are a little tougher, a little more flex and things. The Cup cars, they’re strong, but little contact can have an effect. Those are the things you’ve got to be aware of – just spatially aware. It’s going to be a difficult thing but I think you’re just going to have to be smart because once you leave the restart zone, it’s fair game. People are going to be going for holes and gaps. Just going into it with an open mind as a spectator today to see how this plays out to give us some insight into tomorrow’s race.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

TEAM CHEVY NCS AT CHARLOTTE ROAD COURSE: William Byron Media Availability Quotes

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY ROAD COURSE
BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 7, 2023

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HP CAMARO ZL1, met with the media ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. Media Availability Quotes:

Have you and Rudy (Fugle, crew chief) had conversations about whether you’re going to try to flip the stages or stay out and try to get points, especially with how chaotic the final stage was last year?

“For sure. I think the strategy has been a big topic this week. Switching back to the stage breaks, I think that’s going to bring in a new element and we’ve got to see what this tire wear is like with this tire at this race track. Definitely some questions on that, but I know that our goal is just to obviously win the race, and then if we can get a stage win or two, would be nice. You’re really looking at a 40-point day as a max here.”

You’ve had success at Atlanta (Motor Speedway). With Atlanta being added to the playoffs next year, do you kind of embrace the unpredictability of the first round, or is that something you feel a little tenuous about?

“Yeah, definitely nervous about it. I’ve won two races there and I’ve crashed out the other two. So it’s very hit-or-miss and hopefully next year we can have two good races. Obviously there will be more emphasis going into those races next year. This year when you went to Atlanta (Motor Speedway), it was a great chance to get some points, but not really planning outside of that. It definitely throws a wrench into the playoff format. I think that having two road courses as well, it’s going to really put an emphasis on, to me, the special teams races of our season. Road courses have typically been kind of an afterthought outside of this track, the ROVAL. I think it’s going to put an emphasis on those and obviously an emphasis on being good at Atlanta, which we already are, but we need to limit those DNF’s.”

To your point that there’s no pressure on the line for qualifying, sometimes you can qualify better because for some reason with the stress relieved just a little bit? What makes qualifying here hard?

“For us, it’s definitely going to be less stress. But once we get to the race track, we’re trying to win the race, so it’ll be stressful because of that. Qualifying here is tough because you can lock-up tires and miss corners. There’s a lot of shifting, so it’s tough to get it all right. I feel like you can hit 90 percent of the track right and miss 10 percent, and that can be worth two or three-tenths. Last year, I looked at my qualifying and I qualified second here. I just missed a little bit in (corners) seven, eight and nine, the back chicane, and that was worth two-and-a-half tenths. Had a great lap going up until that point. It’s definitely a tough place.”

Having won at Texas Motor Speedway, how much confidence does that give you going into Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which could be the pivotal race in the next round?

“Yeah, it’s definitely the pivotal race because as we’ve seen – if you can win that race and advance, you give yourself a good chance to prepare for Phoenix (Raceway). So with winning Texas (Motor Speedway), we’ve given ourselves a couple of weeks to prepare for Las Vegas (Motor Speedway). I feel like all of that stuff has checked-out pretty good. I think our setup is strong there. We’ve made some good decisions and we’ve had time to really decide; go to the simulator and figure out what we want to race there. We’ll get a chance to make sure we’re on the right track when we run this week and kind of run through our teammates’ setups, but so far so good there. The history there has been good for us with winning the race there earlier this year. It would be great to win there just because you won’t have to stress near as much.”

Paul Wolfe said that was ‘the’ race because, as you said, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare for Phoenix Raceway. Is there somebody who’s like a (Joey) Logano that’s waiting in the weeds that could just pull out that win and advance that we might not be thinking of?

“I don’t know – I’m not really worried too much about the other people in the playoffs. I think for us, it’s just trying to focus on what we do best. I’m not trying to rank guys or try to figure out who’s got what. But we’ll certainly see when everyone unloads off the truck at Las Vegas (Motor Speedway); what they have and you kind of adjust from there. Typically, you can see with lap averages and then it’s all about pit crew execution and driver execution. Unloading fast off the truck with good balance is one of the three, and then I think you really test the race team to figure out the other two – how the driver contributes and how the pit crew contributes.

Last year was very unpredictable. I feel like this year, it’s a little more set and stone with who’s fast, but I would say any of the eight that make it are probably well qualified to win there.”

When you look at that next round, not only Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but also Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway – those three tracks, you’ve had success on and been pretty consistently fast on. How are you feeling entering the Round of Eight?

“I would say, good. I would say the best about the beginning of the round because we obviously had a dominate race there (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) – scored max points in the spring and we were a top-two car.. us and the No. 5 (Kyle Larson). And then I think as the round trickles down, I think the end of the round, I’m a little more apprehensive about because of how we ran in the spring at Martinsville (Speedway). We had an issue there with the clutch, but we were not super competitive there. We were great in practice, but not in the race. I feel confident at all of the tracks, but I would say less confident as the round goes. So hopefully over the course of the next two or three weeks, I can kind of gain some confidence and gain some certainty in what we have there. I would say Vegas and Homestead are definitely really good tracks for us.”

When you look at how you guys have ran and kind of assuming that you’re going to run well – looking at the fact that you’ve got all of these bonus points and you’re going to have a little bit more of a safety net than some other guys.. is your path to Phoenix Raceway and the Championship Four relatively straightforward in your mind?

“It’s definitely us against ourselves. I feel like it’s us executing races. It’s us putting together good performances.. top-five performances that we know that we’re capable of. But yeah, with that being said, the points are really close.

Yeah, to be honest with you, I haven’t really looked a lot past Las Vegas. I think, honestly, I’ve thought a lot about this weekend right now. And then Vegas has really been a focus for us and then we’ve got a little bit of Homestead trickling in as we get prepared for that. It’s really hard with this deal to really not just think week-to-week.”

Anytime you get to a cut-off race, there’s going to be some aggressive drivers that need to race their way in or point their way in. In any point of the race, are you concerned that their aggression level may be up and that it could take out somebody that’s not even involved in the situation?

“No.. I mean I just match the aggression. I’m just going out there to race and try to win. If they try to move me, they’ll probably get it back.”

Looking ahead to next year, there will be two road courses in the playoffs. How do you feel about that?

“You know, I think selfishly for us, those road courses have been good for us. I’m kind of excited to see Watkins Glen (International) in there after this year, and I think that will translate into next year.

But yeah, I mean I think it’s definitely different. I feel like road courses have been important for us for awhile and they’re just gaining more and more importance as we get them later in the season. There was talk about this going back to the oval. Having another ROVAL I think will just put more importance on your road course programs.”

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.

Logano Leads Ford in Charlotte Roval Cup Qualifying

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Bank of America Roval 400 Qualifying | Saturday, October 7, 2023

Ford Qualifying Results:

7th – Joey Logano

13th – Michael McDowell

17th – Ryan Blaney

18th – Ryan Preece

19th – Brad Keselowski

20th – Chris Buescher

21st – Aric Almirola

22nd – Kevin Harvick

29th – Austin Cindric

30th – Chase Briscoe

31st – Harrison Burton

32nd – Todd Gilliland

34th – Zane Smith

35th – Andy Lally

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang – “It’s nice to get something solid that we’ve developed over the last couple of weeks, so that felt good. We’ve just got to get a little bit faster. The 45 is in a different league right now, not that we can change a whole bunch, but there are enough things and enough knobs that we can tune on to try to get a little bit better for tomorrow. We’ll call the race the best that we know how to and try to maximize our finish,.”

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