COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Chicago Street Race NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: The Loop 121 (Round 16 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, July 1
• Location: Chicago Street Course
• Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course
• Time/TV/Radio: 5 p.m. EDT on USA/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation team are ready to face the unknown as they head to Saturday’s inaugural The Loop 121 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Chicago Street Course. The playing field will be level as Custer and his fellow Xfinity Series competitors will be learning to navigate the 2.2-mile, 12-turn downtown street circuit. While he’s never raced on a street circuit before, Custer has enjoyed success turning left and right on purpose-built road courses. He’s earned 13 top-10s in his 18 Xfinity Series starts on road courses and he found his way to victory lane June 3 in the Portland 147 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. He won by a .142-of-a-second margin over runner-up Justin Allgaier.
• A man on a mission: Custer has locked in his spot in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs by virtue of his victory at Portland. With the stress of points racing behind him, he and his team are focused on going after more wins and the regular-season championship. Custer has been closing the gap on points leader John Hunter Nemechek in recent races. He heads to Chicago fourth in the standings, 51 points out of the lead. Custer is riding a string of nine consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to his fifth-place finish April 1 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
• Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway was kind to Custer in the series’ most recent race last Saturday. The native of Ladera Ranch, California, appeared to be on his way to his second victory of the season after scoring his third pole of the season. He led 32 laps on the 1.33-mile, concrete oval and finished second in the opening two stages. In the final stage, he was racing for the lead with A.J. Allmendinger when pit strategy and late-race restarts dropped him back to ninth. He earned 18 bonus points due with his stage finishes, which will come in handy in his pursuit of the regular-season title.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst is trading in the bright lights of his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the electricity of downtown Chicago during this weekend’s The Loop 121 on the Chicago Street Course. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang will bank on his family roots of racing in the deserts of Mexico and the Southwestern United States in SCORE International Trophy Trucks while learning to navigate the city streets of Chicago. While the two types of racing are significantly different, both are full of unknowns, but Herbst showed his propensity to overcome the unknown when he piloted the Herbst Motorsports Trophy Truck to a third-place finish in last November’s Baja 1000. He’s looking for a similar result when he takes to the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course this weekend.
• Herbst felt right at home at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway during last Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250. After posting top-three practice speeds Friday, Herbst went on to qualify fifth for Saturday’s main event. He ran in the top-10 for a majority of the race until a pit-road penalty put him at the back of the pack during the final stage. Undaunted, Herbst, working with new crew chief Davin Restivo for the first time, worked his way back into the top-10 by the time the race went to NASCAR overtime. He restarted second and held his ground as he finished in the runner-up position, 1.323 seconds behind race-winner A.J. Allmendinger.
• Prior to last week’s race at Nashville, Herbst spent the day with fellow Xfinity Series regular John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Allgaier in the “Windy City” to preview the street course and learn a little about Chicago. Photos and videos of the Monster Energy driver’s visit can be found HERE.

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

NASCAR is bringing a street course to the schedule for the first time, which puts everyone on a level playing field this weekend. How have you prepared for the Chicago Street Course?

“Honestly, it’s all sim sessions at this point. No one has raced this course before, so we really won’t know what to expect until we hit the track for practice on Saturday. The good news is that we’re all on an equal playing field. It’s such an unknown on the schedule, but I’m excited for the challenge. We’ve been fast all year, so hopefully that continues this weekend at Chicago.”

You’re coming off your ninth straight top-10 finish of the season. Do you feel like the No. 00 Haas Automation team has found its rhythm? What’s been the key factor?

“I think we’ve found the rhythm that we were missing in the beginning part of the session. We’re starting to hit our stride, and this top-10 streak and the Portland win show that. When we started the season, we were a brand new team, so we had to work on communication and figuring out what I needed in this No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang. I’m happy with where we are as a team at this point in the season. We’ve got our win to get us into the playoffs, so now we can just focus on getting our car faster so we can make that run for the championship.”

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

Chicago brings a new unknown to the 2023 season. What’s your outlook on the weekend, and how have you prepared for this race?

“First off, what a good city Chicago is for NASCAR’s first street race. It’s an old, iconic American city and I think we’re all excited to race there. This is definitely an unknown for all of us, though. I don’t think any of the fulltime Xfintiy Series drivers have experience on street courses, so we’ll have an equal playing field. I went up there last week with NASCAR to take a look at the circuit and it’s definitely a lot to take in. Luckily, we’ll have a full practice session on Saturday to try and get it figured out before we qualify and then go green on Saturday afternoon. I’m ready for the challenge.”

After several weeks of bad luck, it looks like you might be back on track to where you were during the first six races of the season with your second-place finish in Nashville. How does that boost your confidence, especially with the crew chief change and a good number of races to go in the regular season in leadup to the playoffs?

“It helps a lot, but you also have to remember that it’s a long season. I’m hoping that the bad luck is behind us, but I’m excited for what’s to come for the No. 98 Monster Energy team. We had a great first race with our new crew chief, Davin Restivo, and I think it’ll only get better as we continue to work on our communication. He promised fast racecars and that’s just what he brought to Nashville. I’m excited to work with him as we head into these summer races.”

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Chicago Street Course
RACE: The Loop 121 (55 laps / 121 miles)
DATE: Saturday, July 1, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 5 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 4:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet

• Sam Mayer heads to the Chicago Street Course for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series street race after a strong third-place effort at Nashville Superspeedway last week.
• In 12 starts on road courses in the NXS, the Franklin, Wis. native has recorded two top-five and eight top-10 finishes with his best (third) coming at Portland International Raceway this season.
• Mayer is currently sitting eighth in the championship point standings, 156 markers behind the leader.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros “Summer for Heroes” Chevrolet

• Josh Berry heads to the Chicago Street Course this weekend on the heels of a fifth-place finish last weekend at Nashville.
• Berry has been solid on road courses in his NXS career, earning three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 10 starts. His best came last season at Road America with a third-place effort.
• This week, Berry is set to run a new Tire Pros scheme as they honor their partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Little Hug Chevrolet

• Brandon Jones has made 34 career starts on road courses in the NXS and has recorded five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. His best finish of second came at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course in 2020.
• Jones has a victory on a road course in his career. The 26-year-old won at Watkins Glen International during an ARCA Menards Series race last season. He started second and led the most important lap – the last one – to claim the victory.
• Jones has made two career starts with Little Hug Fruit Barrels branding displayed on the hood and holds an average finish of 5.5 in those races.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

• It’s homecoming weekend for Justin Allgaier, as the Riverton, Ill. native returns home for the NXS event on the streets of Chicago. This weekend is also a homecoming for partner BRANDT, who is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. and crew chief Jim Pohlman, who hails from Oak Lawn, Ill.
• Allgaier has previously gone to Victory Lane twice in his homeland, taking the checkered flag at Chicagoland Speedway in 2011 and 2017.
• In his NXS career on road courses, Allgaier has scored three combined wins, 15 top fives and 29 top 10s in 47 starts.
• Miguel Paludo makes his return to JRM and the No. 88 for the second time this season.
• In Paludo’s first start in 2023, the native of Nova Prata, Brazil, came home with a 13th-place finish in the March NXS event at the Circuit of the Americas.
• In seven starts in the NXS for JRM, Paludo has scored a best finish of seventh, coming in 2021 at Daytona’s road course.
• As in his previous seven starts for JRM, BRANDT Professional Agriculture will be on board the No. 88 for the seven-time Porsche Carrera Cup Champion.

“I am really looking forward to trying something new this weekend with the Chicago Street Course. I think we will have some challenges but I am excited to see what this course brings. Super grateful for this No. 1 team and happy to have Huck’s back on the car this weekend. Hopefully we have the chance to get them in the winner’s circle.” – Sam Mayer

“This is going to be a really special weekend, especially with it being in the home state for myself and BRANDT. To come back to Chicago and race close to home is definitely going to be a great feeling. There’s a lot of unknowns heading into the race, but hopefully, we can keep all four corners clean on our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and be in contention for the win when it counts.” – Justin Allgaier

“This will be an interesting weekend, to say the least. It’s a new course, the first street course I’ve ever run and the first for the Xfinity Series, and it’s in the middle of a huge city. It’s going to be wild, I think, with the way the course is laid out. Our plan is to survive and be there at the end when it counts.” – Josh Berry

“This is definitely going to be a very unique weekend. We have been working hard in the sim the last few weeks to make sure we are ready when we hit the track Saturday morning. Hopefully we can keep the car clean all race and be in contention for a good finish when it’s all said and done. This team deserves it.” – Brandon Jones

“I can’t wait to get back the wheel of this No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet for JRM. We had a really good car in our last race together at COTA, and I think that we will be even better this weekend in Chicago. Street courses are definitely unique, but I have all the confidence in my guys on this team. Hopefully we bring home a 1-2 BRANDT finish with teammate Justin Allgaier.” – Miguel Paludo

JRM Team Updates

• JRM in Chicago: Having never raced through the streets of the “Windy City,” JR Motorsports has competed just down the road at the nearby Chicagoland Speedway a combined 48 times in the NXS. In those 48 starts, the organization has tallied three wins, 12 top fives and 25 top 10s, while pacing the field for 264 laps. The most recent winner for JRM in Chicago is Justin Allgaier. He claimed the checkered during the 2017 season.
• Road Course Racing: JR Motorsports has competed on road courses a combined 194 times in the NXS, recording five wins, 49 top fives and 104 top 10s. The most recent win on a road course for the organization came with Kyle Larson at Watkins Glen International last season in the No. 88 Chevrolet.
• Benefitting the Gary Sinise Foundation: During the Summer for Heroes Giving Campaign, a company-wide initiative that supports American troops, veterans, first responders and their families through unique programs designed to make a difference in the lives of everyday heroes across the country, Tire Pros customers can donate an amount of their choice on the designated Gary Sinise Foundation donation page. Donate now!

DENVER, N.C. (June 28th, 2023) – CHK Racing is excited to officially announce a partnership with NASCAR Driver Dawson Cram and Nexus Auto Transport, to sponsor the No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 125 at the Chicago Street Course on July 1st. The partnership was developed in conjunction with The Magnifyde Agency.

“I am very excited to be a part of the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series street race from Chicago and it is an honor to be bringing in a brand new sponsor, Nexus Auto Transport, for their first race. This unique event was created in part as a way to create new opportunities to attract new sponsors like Nexus Auto Transport, to the sport. I couldn’t think of a better partner to have for my first-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series road course race,” said Dawson Cram.

While Dawson Cram needs a dedicated, efficient team to take on the streets of Chicago, it’s the same thing at Nexus Auto Transport. The company offers car shipping for personal and commercial-use across the country to all 50 states.

Whether you’re a car dealer or a family of four, it doesn’t matter. Nexus Auto Transport goes the extra mile with their easy-to-use AI-boosted car shipping calculator, to get an instant quote. They pride themselves on having a five-star support staff around the clock with personalized service.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 125 at the Chicago Street Course will also be a home-race event for Nexus Auto Transport, with their company’s headquarters in Chicago.

Saturday’s race will also mark the debut for Dawson Cram on a road course in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The race will be Cram’s forth career-start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, after running over 30 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The Nexus Auto Transport No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro will take the track from Chicago, beginning this Saturday at 5pm ET on USA Network.

For more information on Nexus Auto Transport, visit https://nexusautotransport.com/.

ABOUT NEXUS AUTO TRANSPORT

Nexus Auto Transport is an industry-leader in auto-transport services. The company is based in Chicago, IL and has been in business for over seven years, with over 90,000 cars transported, a carrier network of over 59,000, as well as over 15,000 enclosed shipments. With operations in all 50 states, Nexus Auto Transport prides itself on being the most reliable car shipping company in the industry today.

ABOUT DAWSON CRAM

Dawson Cram is a rookie in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for CHK Racing. Cram started racing in Mini Dwarf race cars in his hometown of San Diego, CA. Prior to joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Cram’s racing experience included various starts in legends cars, Super Trucks and late models in the Whelen All-American Series, as well as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Cram comes from a family with deep roots in racing. His father Kevin Cram was the crew chief for driver Bill Elliott in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2000.

ABOUT THE MAGNIFYDE AGENCY

The Magnifyde Agency connects brands to exceptional marketing opportunities. After years of professional and personal experience, The Magnifyde Agency has not only found rapid success in growing brands through NASCAR’s demographics, but across a wide variety of marketing ventures.

Gaffney, SC- JD Motorsports is delighted to announce that Kyle Weatherman, will be proudly supported by Pure Kick as the primary sponsor for the upcoming race, The Loop 121 Chicago Street Course, scheduled to take place on July 1st. Pure Kick, known for its hydration and energy offerings, is the go-to solution for individuals striving to excel in all aspects of life, whether it’s conquering the turns on the racetrack or performing at their best in everyday endeavors. With its precise blend of caffeine, vitamins, and electrolytes, Pure Kick provides the necessary boost without the added sugar.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Kyle Weatherman racing on our home turf and provide his team with the kick in the glass they need to stay hydrated and secure the win,” stated a representative from Pure Kick, emphasizing their excitement about the partnership.

Weatherman, a seasoned competitor with an extensive background in the Xfinity Series, will showcase the Pure Kick branding as the primary sponsor on his No. 4 Chevrolet during the thrilling Chicago race. Known for his exceptional skills and dedication, Weatherman is poised to make a significant impact on the track, backed by the support of Pure Kick.

JD Motorsports invites fans, supporters, and race enthusiasts to join them in cheering on Kyle Weatherman as he races towards victory on July 1st. With Pure Kick as the primary sponsor, Weatherman’s No. 4 Chevrolet will represent the perfect blend of hydration, energy, and determination, setting the stage for an unforgettable performance.

Stay tuned for further updates and exciting developments as Kyle Weatherman, backed by Pure Kick and the entire JD Motorsports team, takes on the challenges of The Loop 121 Chicago Street race.

About JD Motorsports

Team owner Johnny Davis first began fielding a team in what is now the Xfinity Series in 1983 with Joe Henry Thurman as the driver. From 1983-1985, Davis and Thurman competed in 41 races and put the JD Motorsports name on the map. Although JDM has seen a sharp rise in on-track performance in the past few years, success is nothing new to this team. Years of good drivers and excellent runs have paved the way for what JDM is today. www.teamjdmotorsports.com

For all things JDM, follow along on our social media pages @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM #TeamJDMotorsports