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Abel Leads Tricky Opening Practice at Nashville

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Friday, Aug. 4, 2023) – Jacob Abel again showed why he’s a title contender this season in INDY NXT by Firestone, leading the opening practice for the Music City Grand Prix in mixed conditions Friday on the street circuit in downtown Nashville.

Abel, from Louisville, Kentucky, was quickest in the 45-minute session at 1 minute, 22.6592 seconds in the No. 51 Abel Motorsports car. Abel has been one of the breakthrough drivers this season in INDYCAR’s development series, climbing to third in the championship, 43 points behind leader Christian Rasmussen.

Drivers were forced to dig deep into their bag of skills during this session. Rain shortly before practice forced drivers to start on Firestone rain tires, with drivers switching to Firestone slicks as the damp, bumpy track dried.

“Really interesting conditions all session,” Abel said. “We got full wet, basically, and then drying and then full dry there at the end. We got to experience the track in all different kinds of states, so some good knowledge for the rest of the weekend.”

Abel will try to earn his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory in the 35-lap race at 10:10 a.m. ET Sunday (live, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network). Up next is another practice at 10:35 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. (both live on INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network) on the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary circuit that includes two crossings of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge per lap.

Irish driver James Roe ended up second at 1:22.9877 in the No. 29 Topcon car fielded by Andretti Autosport, but his session had a costly end. Roe hit the concrete barrier in Turn 8 on his last lap, inflicting heavy damage to the left front of the car. Roe was unhurt.

Ernie Francis Jr. finished a strong session third at 1:23.0896 in the No. 99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy car, with Hunter McElrea fourth at 1:23.1181 in the No. 27 Smart Motors car fielded by Andretti Autosport.

Kyffin Simpson rounded out the top five at 1:23.1214 in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR car. Championship leader Rasmussen was sixth at 1:23.2336 in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine.

Roe wasn’t the only driver caught by the unforgiving concrete retaining walls of the circuit. Rookie Nolan Siegel, second in points, hit the barrier in Turn 3 approaching the bridge with about eight minutes left in the session. Siegel was unhurt, but his No. 39 HMD Motorsports with DCR car suffered heavy left-front damage.

IMSA set to return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2024 with Michelin Pilot Challenge

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Event to feature four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race and the debut of the Mustang Challenge

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 4, 2023) – The thrills of IMSA sports car racing will return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next season with a three-day event, June 7-9, 2024, headlined by the Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA officials announced today. The weekend will feature a four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race – one of only two such competitions on the 2024 IMSA schedule – and the debut of the new IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge.

“Sports car racing was a key foundation in Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course being built, and the track has a proud history of hosting IMSA events dating back to 1972,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “We are very excited to bring IMSA competition back to Mid-Ohio. The four-hour Pilot Challenge race, plus the inaugural Mustang Challenge event, further expands the motorsports offerings for our fans in 2024.”

The headlining four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race at Mid-Ohio is one of two four-hour competitions on the series’ 2024 slate. Mid-Ohio joins Daytona International Speedway as the two tracks set to host four-hour races next year. The return of an IMSA sports car endurance race to Mid-Ohio next year ties into the sanctioning body’s long history at the track. The “Six Hours of Mid-Ohio” in 1972, featuring a 49-car field won by Bob Beasley and Michael Keyser, was IMSA’s first-ever race at the renowned road course.

IMSA officials’ 2024 season schedule announcement today also confirmed that the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires and VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will join the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the all-new Mustang Challenge on the weekend schedule. The Mustang Challenge, a single-make racing series featuring the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, will compete for the very first time in a pair of races on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course, launching its inaugural six-weekend, 12-race campaign.

Further details about this new event and the 2024 Mid-Ohio season schedule will be released at a later date. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult at all Mid-Ohio events. Visit midohio.com for more information, and follow its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, Twitter @Mid_Ohio or Instagram @officialmidohio for the latest news.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

Alpha Prime Racing signs Ryan Ellis for 2024

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The veteran driver will compete full-time in NASCAR for the first time ever in his 13-year NASCAR career.

Alpha Prime Racing is proud to announce today that they have signed veteran driver Ryan Ellis to a full-season schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2024. Ellis, who was initially signed to compete with Alpha Prime for only 12 races in the 2023 season, will also complete the remainder of the 2023 season. He will likely end the season with 31 races run, with the team more than doubling their commitment to the 33-year-old driver from Ashburn, VA, since the beginning of the season.

Ellis first joined Alpha Prime Racing in 2022, competing in 11 races for the newly formed team. In his first-ever race with the team, he secured a new career-best finish.

Ellis is a third-generation racecar driver who began racing at the age of four in quarter midgets. His father, Jim, raced in the SCCA, and his grandfather Vic raced sprint cars in the 1950s before losing his life in a racing accident.

After multiple championships in quarter midgets, Ellis progressed through Legends Cars, NASCAR Late Models, Spec Miatas, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series, Grand-Am, and other series before NASCAR. He made his NASCAR debut in 2012 for Jimmy Means Racing and has raced for numerous small teams in the NASCAR Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series.

In 2016, Ellis stepped away from driving as a career to become the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Go Fas Racing. When Go Fas closed its doors in the 2020 season, Ellis was fortunate enough to find support from the long-time sponsor of the GFR team, CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts, owned by Tom and TJ Keen. Because of that sponsorship and friendship, he found himself with his best opportunity since 2016 to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car part-time.

The support of the Keen’s, along with other longtime partners like Audio Video Specialists, Rich Mar Florists, Limetree Marketing, Kansasland Tire, and others, helped Ellis back into the driver’s seat. He drove several races for BJ McLeod Motorsports in 2021 before making the transition to Alpha Prime Racing in 2022.

Since then, Ellis has worked diligently with his small marketing team to find and grow valued partnerships. In the 2022 season, the Keens joined Ellis at Alpha Prime, propelling Ellis’ career into the best opportunity he had ever had in his NASCAR career. Ellis’ marketing team – led by Sarah Handy and Garrett Miller and guided by the foundation of Phillip Smalley and Motorsports Management International.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Ellis, his internal team, and Alpha Prime Racing have grown their primary and secondary sponsorships at an unprecedented rate. In the 2023 season alone, the No.43 team has already announced/raced with primary sponsorships from Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Costa Oil (4 races), ShineWater, Rolling Plains Construction, Pella Windows + Doors of Georgia, Four Loko, Device42, Raising Cane’s, CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts (5 races), Flexcar, Gurtz Electric, Classic Collision, Rich Mar Florists, Renascent, AAGI, and Spider Energy Drink, with at least four new primary sponsors yet to be announced.

QUOTE FROM RYAN ELLIS

“This announcement is truly a dream come true,” said Ryan Ellis, driver of the No.43 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Camaro. “My team and I have been working so hard to be able to get to this point. Without so many people’s support throughout my life and, specifically, the help of Sarah Handy, Garrett Miller, and Phillip Smalley of MMI, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I’m so thankful that Tommy Joe Martins and Caesar Bacarella have had belief in me since day one, and so excited to have a shot at competing in the points standings next year. I’ve believed in their vision since Tommy first spoke about it, and it’s so exciting to be part of the program they’re building.

Ellis continued, Competing full-time in NASCAR has been a dream of mine my entire life. For most of my life, it seemed unattainable. However, even when I was working full-time in various office jobs and barely scraping together money to pay the bills and find enough sponsorship just to run a few races a year, I always had the support of my family and friends – my parents, my sister, and my entire extended family, and obviously, my beautiful wife Allison and my daughter Hayden. I feel so thankful for their support through it all, and I’m going to continue working just as hard to keep building a great future for my daughter and sustainability in this crazy world of racing. I want to be part of Alpha Prime’s continual growth, and I want to be doing it with the exact same No.43 group by my side – led by Crew Chief Michael Brandt, Ty Brazeal, Brandon Scercy, Cesar Rodriguez, everyone that helps us get to the track, everyone at the shop, our phenomenal pit crew and spotter, David Pepper.”

QUOTE FROM TOMMY JOE MARTINS

“Ryan has been a part of Alpha Prime Racing since we first announced it two years ago. He’s had to fight for every opportunity he’s had, and just like Caesar and myself, he’s committed to helping this team grow. We’ve been lucky to have him, and we’re both very excited to have him back in a car full-time next year. He’s earned it,” said Tommy Joe Martins, President of Alpha Prime Racing.

About Alpha Prime Racing
Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team co-owned by NASCAR driver Tommy Joe Martins and Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was initially founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing and has since grown into a three-car Chevrolet team, adding the No. 43 Chevrolet in 2023, primarily piloted by Ryan Ellis.

Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

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RSS Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Michigan International Speedway | Cabo Wabo 250

Fast Facts

No. 38 RSS Racing Team:

Driver: Joe Graf Jr.

Primary Partner(s): No. 38 Gtechniq Marine Ford Mustang

Manufacturer: Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Steve Addington

Spotter: Joe Campbell

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 21st

Team Championship Point Standings: 24th

Notes of Interest:

Settling 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.

Welcome Back: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome back Gtechniq, a leader in automotive protective coatings products as the primary marketing of the No. 38 Ford Mustang for the 20th NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the 2023 season.

Headquartered in Cumming, Ga., the Gtechniq range includes composite ceramic coatings, leather protection, fabric protection, wheel and trim protection, shampoos and much more.

The Cabo Wabo 250 will mark the company’s sixth event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series but the fifth of the 2023 season.

Promoting Marine: This weekend, Graf, RSS Racing and Gtechniq will continue to promote one of their newest products, Gtechniq Marine.

Your boat is an investment and Gtechniq Marine strives to protect and clean all surfaces to maintain a pristine appearance.

Gtechniq Marine utilizes science and technology to develop top-of-the-line products for anti-staining, surface protection and cleaning.

Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 60 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 and ShopRite for their continued support.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 Gtechniq Marine Ford Mustang on Saturday, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, August 5, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring Gtechniq in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Michigan International Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Cabo Wabo 250 will mark Graf’s third Xfinity start at the 2.0-mile speedway.

In his previous efforts, Graf delivered a track-best of 23rd after starting 24th for SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt during the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

In addition to his previous two Xfinity starts, he has two ARCA Menards Series starts in Brooklyn, delivering two top-five finishes during the 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a speedway greater than 2.0 miles in length, Graf has competed in 23 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with three top-10 finishes. He holds an average starting position of 24.3 and an average result of 25.0.

Road America (Wisc.) | Road America 180 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America (Wisc.), Graf made his third start in Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

After experiencing engine issues during practice for the Road America 180, the RSS Racing team skipped qualifying in order to repair their No. 38 Gtechniq EXOv5 Ford Mustang.

Throughout the race, Graf steadily moved forward and withstood a chaotic ending to the race to finish a respectable 23rd – his best finish at the famed road course.

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 284th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday and his ninth at Michigan International Speedway.

In his previous 283 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 two teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 28 US RSS Racing Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 322nd career Xfinity Series start overall and ninth at Michigan.

Kyle Sieg is poised to make his 38th career Xfinity Series start and second at Michigan.

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), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839).

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On Michigan International Speedway: “I have always loved racing at Michigan International Speedway. Its incredible speed and room to race and the unique track characteristics certainly make it an entertaining race behind the wheel and for NASCAR fans.

“I feel like our RSS Racing team is trending in the right direction during the second half of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season. We continue to learn with every week on the track and it’s not out of the question that we can roll out at Michigan on Friday and have a successful weekend.

“I am excited to carry the Gtechniq Marine colors on our No. 38 Ford Mustang this weekend and I hope we’re able to have a productive race and carry some momentum towards the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course race next weekend.”

On The 2023 Season: “We started the year off really strong between RSS Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, but unfortunately we’ve been on a rollercoaster throughout the season. Lately, I feel like we have taken the right steps to get back on track.

“It’s been a good couple of weeks for myself personally between competing for the Joe Gibbs Racing and RSS Racing teams and I hope we’re able to continue our upward trend heading into the rest of the summer stretch and overall, the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with some strong results.

“I just need to continue to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to recover and have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Cabo Wabo 250 (125 laps | 250 miles) is the 21st of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, August 4, 2023, from 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Qualifying is set to follow practice beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, August 5, 2023, shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

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.

Cabo Wabo® Tequila and NASCAR Encourage Fans to Celebrate Safely with New Responsible Drinking Campaign

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Frankie Muniz and Rette Jones Racing Ready for Michigan International Speedway Debut

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BROOKLYN, Mich: Looking to bounce back from an electrical gremlin in the most recent ARCA Menards Series race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, rookie driver Frankie Muniz and his Rette Jones Racing team invade Michigan International Speedway set for a rebound in Friday afternoon’s Henry Ford Health 200.

While Pocono’s “Tricky Triangle” proved to be a tricky race for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, the Mark Rette-led team has reset and heads to the Irish Hills of Michigan looking to deliver Muniz his eighth top-10 finish of the season.

“I’m ready to get back after it,” said Muniz. “Pocono was tough. I really was getting comfortable with the track when we ran into our issue.

“I’m thankful for the hard work of my Rette Jones Racing team as they were able to quickly diagnose and repair the issue, I’m just bummed that it eliminated us from contending for a strong run.”

Muniz realizes that there will be forks in the road during his inaugural ARCA Menards Series season, but he said minimizing the issues like his team did in the Pocono Mountains is super important.

“We were able to pick up five or six spots after returning to the race and those points are super important,” added Muniz. “Yes, I hate that we dropped to third in the championship standings, but the points are so tight – especially between second and fourth, but there is time to recover and I have the utmost faith in my Rette Jones Racing team.”

With the halfway point of the season set to begin just outside the Motor City, Muniz is proud of what he has been able to accomplish during the first 10 races of the season.

“I think the first half of our season has gone better than expected,” offered Muniz. “Outside of Elko and Pocono, I think we have been extremely competitive and I have learned so much being behind the wheel of the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang.

“The second half of the season is going to present some more challenges, but also more opportunities and I’m diving in completely focused and ready to keep our name in the championship hunt and hopefully contending for a win or two before the season ends in October at Toledo Speedway.”

For the second time this season, Muniz and Rette Jones Racing will display the Ford colors for the 11th ARCA Menards Series race of the season.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say there wasn’t a little bit of pressure to perform in Ford’s backyard,” admitted Muniz. “Ford has been an instrumental player to my rookie ARCA Menards Series season and I continue to be appreciative of everything they do for our team.

“I am honored to carry their logo on our car at their hometown race track at Michigan International Speedway on Friday afternoon.”

Former ARCA championship-winning crew chief and co-owner Mark Rette has been extremely impressed with Muniz’s performances in the first 10 races of the year and looks forward to seeing him strengthen his craft in his Michigan International Speedway debut on Friday night.

“It’s another big track for Frankie and I think he is going to adapt well,” offered Rette. “We were all pretty bummed about what happened in Pocono, but collectively we know what caused the issue and we feel like we have taken preventive measures to ensure that it does not happen again.

“As for Michigan, it’s a fast track with a lot of room to race and although it will probably take Frankie a couple of laps to find his comfort zone, I think he will acclimate quickly and contend for a strong finish for our Rette Jones Racing team and Ford on Friday afternoon.”

Entering Michigan, Muniz sits third in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 74 markers behind championship leader Jesse Love with 10 races remaining.

Rette Jones Racing stands a respectable fifth in the ARCA Menards Series championship owner standings.

Since 2023, Muniz has 10 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with a career-best finish of sixth at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July 2023, Berlin (Mich.) Raceway in June 2023, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May 2023 and Phoenix Raceway in March 2023 and seven top-10s overall. He also maintains an average finishing position of 8.6 in his inaugural year of stock car competition.

For more on Frankie Muniz, please visit munizracing.com, like him on Facebook (FrankieMuniz4) and follow him on Instagram (@frankiemuniz4) and Twitter (@frankiemuniz).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Henry Ford Health 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, August 4 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will start a short time later at 2:30 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2023 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Brett Moffitt | AM Racing Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

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AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Michigan International Speedway | Cabo Wabo 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. 77

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 15th

Team Championship Point Standings: 17th

Notes of Interest:

Fitting In: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, AM Racing will embark on 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 Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

Saturday afternoon’s race signifies the fourth race of the second half of the 2023 Xfinity Series season for the Statesville, N.C.-based organization.

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue in the Badger State, 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, 30, arrives on the scene 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 21st 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.

AM Minute: Last weekend was another busy summer weekend for AM Racing.

In addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series team being in action at Road America, AM Racing’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series team was in action at Richmond (Va.) Raceway with driver Christian Rose.

Rose successfully made his debut aboard the No. 22 Secure Testing Services | Labworks USA Ford F-150, completing all the laps and finishing in a better position than he started.

In AM Racing’s Dirt Division, they were headed back to Victory Lane with Austin Wayne Self at East Lincoln Speedway. It was Self’s eighth victory of the 2023 season and the organization’s ninth overall.

Thanks For Your Support: With more than 60 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.

AMerican Heroes: NASCAR and its fans have always put Patriotism and American Pride at the forefront of every race weekend. That same passion runs just as deep at AM Racing, a team whose family lineage is deeply rooted in the Armed Forces and First Responders workforce.

We’re a team whose blood bleeds Red, White and Blue every day, which is why we are proud to launch, AMerican Heroes.

At AM Racing, it is our mission to recognize and highlight the men and women who continue to put their lives on the line every day, as well as honoring and paying respect to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

We are a nation that is united by one flag, which represents all the liberties and freedoms that we would not be able to enjoy without the sacrifices of those willing to answer the call.

Continuing with Michigan International Speedway this weekend, AM Racing will carry the AMerican Heroes livery, which will continue for the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

The team will work to salute all the men and women, past and present, who truly deserve the title of Hero, every weekend.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Michigan International Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Cabo Wabo 250 will mark Moffitt’s second start at the 2.0-mile speedway.

In his previous effort, Moffitt delivered a track-best eighth after starting 20th for Our Motorsports during the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

In addition to his previous Xfinity Series race, the popular driver also has four NASCAR Cup Series starts in the Irish Hills of Michigan to coincide with five NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts in the Great Lakes State.

Moffitt is a two-time winner in Trucks, capturing the checkered flag in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a speedway greater than 2.0 miles in length, Moffitt has made 21 starts throughout his career earning two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 15.8.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 104 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned three top-five and 29 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 17.5.

He earned a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fourth earlier this year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway with AM Racing.

In addition to 103 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Road America (Wisc.) | Road America 180 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America (Wisc.), Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing chased their seventh top-10 finish of the season.

In their lone trip to Elkhart Lake, Wisc., Moffitt qualified his No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang 15th and steadily climbed through the field in the opening stage.

Unfortunately, the AM Racing team battled an axle seal leak at the end of the stage which sent them to the garage and out of the race. The team left the famed Road Course with a disappointing 36th place finish.

In 20 races this season, Moffit has delivered one top-five, six top-10s, 13 top-15s, 14 top-20s and an average finish of 16.3.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 119th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his third at Michigan International Speedway.

In his previous 118 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), eight top-five and 27 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 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 Twitter (@brett_moffitt).

Brett Moffitt Quoteboard:

On Michigan International Speedway: “I am looking forward to Michigan International Speedway. I have always liked racing there. The track is very wide and there is plenty of room for racing.

“The draft always comes into play at Michigan too and that usually provides excitement for the fans.

“I am looking at Michigan as an opportunity to rebound from our misfortune at Road America last weekend. We had a good, fast car – but something things are just out of our control.

“The finish definitely hindered us a little as far as the Playoffs are concerned, so we’ll look to use some strategy and luck to hopefully shove our AM Racing team back in the Playoffs picture.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “We have just past the halfway point of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series and I feel like we have a lot to be proud of. I believe as the season has marched on, our team has gotten stronger and I believe the results have showcased that.

“We had a bump in the road at Road America, but we are not going to let that detour us from what we have accomplished in our first year together.

“With the Playoffs on the horizon, we are doing everything in our power to either point our way in or fight our way into Victory Lane so we can take up one of the coveted 12 spots and really bring some attention to our AM Racing team.”

Race Information:

The Cabo Wabo 250 (125 laps | 250 miles) is the 21st of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, August 4, 2023, from 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Qualifying is set to follow practice beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, August 5, 2023, shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

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.

Nashville To Host NTT INDYCAR SERIES Finale Sept. 13-15, 2024

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Official Release
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New Circuit, Victory Lap Celebration in Music City among Highlights

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023) – INDYCAR and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix have announced the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale is moving to Nashville on Sept. 13-15, 2024.

All roads along the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will lead to Nashville, as the year-long championship battle will be settled and a champion crowned on downtown Nashville’s iconic Honky-Tonk row. The 2024 season awards ceremony will also take place in the Music City, on Sept. 16 at the iconic Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

More than 250,000 fans are expected to converge on downtown Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, which has quickly become one of the sport’s marquee events since its debut in 2021 and will become a championship-crowning celebration watched by viewers across the globe. The new 2.17-mile, seven-turn circuit will continue across the iconic Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and route directly past the Country Music Hall of Fame. The racecourse will run through the city’s honky-tonk district, home to bars owned by the biggest names in country music, including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, John Rich and Blake Shelton. Each day of racing will culminate with a takeover of Broadway and a massive street party that only Nashville can throw, featuring live performances by many of music’s biggest artists.

Considered one of the world’s finest venues, Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center will host the 2024 INDYCAR Victory Lap Celebration on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the building boasts distinctive design elements that pay homage to the history, culture and people of Middle Tennessee. The Schermerhorn has been a favorite venue for legendary artists spanning different genres, from country music stars like Dolly Parton to contemporary pop sensations like Harry Styles.

“Nashville and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix team are ready to host a can’t-miss, action-packed event that transforms the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale and elevates it to an even higher peak on the global stage,” said Mark Miles, president & CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “Next year’s race in Nashville will be an unbridled celebration of the most fierce and competitive motorsport on the planet, set against the backdrop of an innovative and breathtaking stage that includes one of the premier global entertainment districts in the world. We’ll have more to share soon on an entire weekend of activities, both on and off track, that fully taps into the growing reach and relevance of an ascendant and marquee city.”

While the season finale is moving to Nashville, this year’s final venue on the 2023 schedule, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, will remain on the 2024 calendar. More details about the entire 2024 season schedule will be forthcoming.

“WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains a beloved, historic venue for our teams, drivers and fans in an important and scenic market,” Miles said.

“The fact that INDYCAR has chosen Nashville and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix as the crowning event is a testament to our fans, partners, stakeholders and truly the Nashville hospitality industry as a whole,” said Matt Crews, CEO, Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “The ability to promote our city and state year-round and bring our race into the heart of Nashville is an absolute honor. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix continues to grow to levels that I never dreamed could have been possible.”

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has become a marquee event for Tennessee and across the motorsport landscape, bringing fans from all 50 states and dozens of countries annually. With a global TV audience in over 200 countries and territories, the Grand Prix is elevated across a worldwide stage.

“Tennessee is already leading the nation in automotive manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, and this announcement takes it to the next level, as the focus will be on world-class racing in the Volunteer State for the entire 2024 INDYCAR season,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “As the home state of two-time series champion and current Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden, it just makes sense that Tennessee would host one of the biggest races of the season. With the national and international spotlight on Nashville, the world will see what Tennesseans already know to be true – that there’s no better stage for racing than Music City.”

For more information and to receive future news on the 2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, please visit www.musiccitygp24.com.

Jason Kitzmiller; A.L.L. Construction Racing Ready to Race in the Irish Hills

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Official Release
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Jason Kitzmiller; A.L.L. Construction Racing Ready to Race in the Irish Hills

BROOKLYN, Mich: On the heels of his season-best finish of 11th at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway last month, ARCA Menards Series veteran Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team trek to Michigan International Speedway (MIS), site of Friday afternoon’s Henry Ford Health 200 riding the momentum.

Kitzmiller was super competitive at Pocono – contending for his fifth top-10 of his ARCA career.

The Todd Myers-led team ran in the top-10 for a majority of the Sunset Hill Shooting Range 150, but late-race contact stumbled Kitzmiller’s pace leaving the team with a frustrating but competitive 11th-place finish.

With a fast race car in the hauler and all eyes focused on the Irish Hills of Michigan, Kitzmiller returns to the 2.0-mile oval hungry for a top-10 finish in his fifth ARCA start of 2023.

“I’m pretty proud of our A.L.L. Construction Racing team,” offered Kitzmiller. “Pocono was a disappointment as far as our finish, but we were definitely encouraged by our overall performance.

“We had a fast No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet and I believe we learned some things that we can apply and hopefully make Michigan our best race yet of the season.”

The Petersburg, W.V. native heads to the Great Lakes State eyeing his fourth track-start and looking to best his eighth-place finish in the 2020 VizCom 200.

Overall, Kitzmiller hasn’t finished worse than 12th at MIS and maintains an average finishing position of 10.7.

“Michigan is one of those tracks that I really seem to adapt well at,” Kitzmiller. “Michigan is a fun track to race, but it’s important to have a good balance on your race car that gives you the speed to be competitive.

“Finishing 12th in my last two races there is definitely solid, but I’m aiming for a top-10 or better on Friday afternoon. Anything below that would be a disappointment.”

In addition to the ARCA Menards Series this season, A.L.L. Construction Racing has been and will also participate in select Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour Series events.

“While we may not have had the results we wanted at this point in the year, we are still having a lot of fun,” sounded Kitzmiller. “I am hoping as we dive into the rest of the year, we can even have more fun and keep our race car near the front in both the CARS Tour and the ARCA Menards Series.

“I want to thank my team for their endless efforts of making sure we go to the track with a competitive race car and having a positive outlook. The fan vibe at Michigan is always incredible, so I cannot wait to get there and not only have a good race but hang out with the race fans as well.”

Michigan is the last planned ARCA Menards Series race on Kitzmiller’s schedule this season, although the successful entrepreneur hasn’t ruled out adding a race or two before the season concludes in October at Toledo Speedway.

“Right now, we don’t have anything solidified on our 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule, that could change though,” added Kitzmiller. “Having a good run at Michigan this weekend could certainly boost the opportunity to compete at Kansas or Bristol next month, but we will see.

“Things are pretty busy and we’re already starting to prepare for 2024, so we will see how things unfold in Michigan and let everyone know our remaining plans in the coming weeks.”

Since 2020, Kitzmiller has 21 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with four top-10 finishes overall, including a career-best eighth-place finish twice at Talladega Superspeedway (April 2020) and Michigan International Speedway (August 2020) respectively.

The Henry Ford Health 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, August 4 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will start a short time later at 2:30 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Michigan NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Michigan NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Michigan 250 (Round 21 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 5
  • Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn
  • Layout: 2-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on NBC/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to Saturday’s Michigan 250 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn looking to return to the form they exhibited during a dominating 11-race run from the first weekend in April to the second weekend in July. Starting with the season’s first top-five April 2 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway through their third-place finish July 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Custer and the Haas Automation team reeled off 11 consecutive top-10s, including victories at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on June 3 and the Inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 1-2 among their eight top-fives during that stretch. Misfortune has struck at each of the last three races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, however, despite running in the top-five for a majority of all three. Late-race incidents at all three either ended Custer’s day early or sent him multiple laps down. He and the team are hoping to make a turnaround on the high-speed, 2-mile Michigan oval this weekend.
  • Saturday’s Michigan 250 will mark Custer’s fourth Xfinity Series start at the track. In his three prior starts from 2017 to 2019, he never finished outside the top-12 with a best finish of third earned in June 2018. Custer also has five starts outside of the Xfinity Series at Michigan – four in the NASCAR Cup Series and one in the NASCAR Truck Series.
  • Only six races remain before the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Custer has already locked in his spot in the 12-driver post-season by virtue of his two wins. He and the team plan to use the final six races of the regular season to perfect their performance before racing for the championship in earnest. In the race for the regular-season championship, Custer sits fourth in the driver standings, 84 points behind leader Austin Hill.
  • Custer will be pulling double duty once again this weekend as he’ll also be back behind the wheel of the No. 51 BioHaven Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. His best of four previous Cup Series outings at Michigan is 23rd, earned in August 2021.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team for SHR hope to keep their stretch of solid runs going as they head into Saturday’s Michigan 250. While Herbst is still looking to score his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, the 24-year-old racer is already a winner at Michigan. Herbst scored his second career ARCA Menards Series win in August 2020 at the track. He started from the pole, led four times for 39 laps and took the checkered flag 1.456 seconds ahead of runner-up Bret Holmes. In a prelude to that win, Herbst finished second at Michigan in his second career ARCA race in June 2018, when he started eighth and led seven laps.
  • Saturday’s race at Michigan will mark Herbst’s fourth Xfinity Series start at the 2-mile oval. He posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two starts there in August 2021 and 2022, finishes of seventh and ninth, respectively. Both came with SHR in the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang.
  • The No. 98 Monster Energy driver showed his drive and perseverance in earning a fifth-place finish last weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Herbst ran in the top-five for a majority of the first stage before finishing sixth to earn stage points. On the ensuing restart on lap 25, his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang was spun, sending him to the pits for repairs. Herbst was able to stay on the lead lap but restarted at the rear of the field. He would go for another spin on lap 33 after hitting oil on the track but was able to continue and make steady progress toward the front. Herbst survived two attempts at a green-white-checkered finish on his way to his career-best Road America finish.
  • With only six races remaining before the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Herbst is currently defending his spot in the 12-driver playoff field and trying to continue working his way higher in the standings. Heading into the weekend at Michigan, he sits 10th in the regular-season standings but 11th in the playoff standings. Herbst’s fourth-place result on July 22 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and his fifth-place finish last weekend at Road America helped him extend his buffer over 13th-place Parker Kligerman from 18 to 25 points. In addition, last weekend’s result put him ahead of Sheldon Creed in the playoff standings, who is now on the bubble. The Monster Energy driver is in position to secure his top-12 position on points, but a win, of course, would guarantee Herbst a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, he and the team are focused on continuing their string of solid finishes through the regular-season finale Sept. 9 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

Michigan is one of the faster intermediate tracks on the NASCAR Xfinity Series circuit. How do you approach this race and prepare for it as a driver?

“I mean, Michigan provides a type of different racing for us just because you have to worry so much about dirty air there. You also have to worry about how you position your car, when to make moves and when not to. You can get freight-trained if you make a move at the wrong time. Ultimately, it’s just a little bit different kind of racing than a typical intermediate track. At the end of the day, though, you have to have a good car that you can be aggressive with at Michigan, just like any other track on the circuit. The No. 00 Haas Automation team has done a great job at providing me with fast Ford Mustangs all season, so hopefully we can get it done this weekend.”

Your fellow SHR driver Kevin Harvick has won at Michigan five times in the past seven Cup Series races. Have you gotten any advice from him on how to navigate this track or any others?

“I definitely asked Kevin for a lot of help when I was a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. I tried to call him every week to try to get an idea of what to expect at each of the racetracks in the Cup cars. He’s definitely been a big help to me in my career, and I’m thankful to have had him as a teammate. There are little things that you can do at Michigan to try and help your car, and he’s been very good at learning what those things are. So, I’m lucky to have been able to get a chance to go to him for advice on racing and life. He’s done so much for the sport.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

You’ve had success at Michigan in the ARCA Menards Series. In August 2020, you started on the pole and led four times en route to your second career ARCA win. Talk about that win and what it meant to you.

“It was so cool to win in ARCA at Michigan. It’s such a fun and fast track, but it’s also a very difficult track where you can get into trouble really fast. I had the opportunity to get behind the wheel in ARCA when Xfinity didn’t race there in 2020, and I started on the pole. We ended up in victory lane by the end of the 100 laps, leading a couple times along the way. I led the one that mattered – the final one. It was a good day for me and my career. Hopefully, I can find my way back this weekend with the No. 98 Monster Energy team.”

The No. 98 Monster Energy team overcame multiple incidents in last Saturday’s race at Road America to earn a fifth-place finish, your third top-five since Davin Restivo became your crew chief at the end of June. Do you feel like you’re getting back into the rhythm that you and the team had at the beginning of the season?

“We’ve been on a roll, even if we’ve also had some bad luck thrown in there. Davin’s been great to work with, but just like in any new relationship, we’ve had to work on communication. I didn’t really get a chance to work with him prior to him coming to the No. 98 team, so we’ve had to learn a lot about each other in a short amount of time. It’s been great so far, so I’m excited for what the rest of the season has in store. This team deserves to be in victory lane, so I’m hoping we can get there soon.”

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