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Andres Perez de Lara set for Rev Racing Debut as Jack Wood takes to the track for his second race in the ARCA Menards Series

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Concord, NC- Rev Racing is ready for the second race of the ARCA Menards Series (AMS) and season opener for ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway for the General Tire 150 where they will field two drivers, Andres Perez de Lara behind the No. 2 and Jack Wood behind the No. 6. Perez and Wood will take to the 1 mile long track on March 10th, 2023, for 150 laps. This will be the fourth time AMS takes to Phoenix Raceway since 2020, and the 50th time AMS West returns to this host track. The team is looking to capitalize on their momentum from the 2022 season after securing the AMS championship with driver Nick Sanchez, driving the No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet.

Rev Racing collectively garnered 3 wins, 17 top 5’s and 30 top 10’s throughout the 2022 AMS season. Last week in the Daytona 200, Rev driver Lavar Scott finished 4th while Jack Wood was able to secure an 8th place finish, up 28 spots from his start at the beginning of the race.

This is the start of the season for Perez who, unfortunately, did not meet age requirements in Daytona. While this is Perez’s debut race with Rev Racing, he is no newcomer to the AMS. Perez has formerly raced at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2022, securing a top 10, and competed twice in the AMS West garnering two top 10s. Perez was also a Series Champion of the 2020 NASCAR Mikel’s Truck Series and the 2022 season champion of the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series making him the youngest winner in the Series.

“I’m extremely excited to finally start this year’s season at Phoenix.” Said Perez de Lara. “The whole team has been working hard together and I believe we are ready for Phoenix where we should see good results from start to finish.” Perez seems calm and confident about the upcoming weekend.

The No. 6 WB/Velocity Racing Chevrolet will be piloted by Jack Wood as he comes off of a top 10 finish in Daytona. This will be Wood’s second race, out of seven, with Rev Racing for the season and his second time at Phoenix Raceway in the AMS. “I’m looking forward to heading to Phoenix,” said Wood. “It’s probably the track where I have the most experience and I think it’s a good way to break up the gaps in the Truck Series for me.” Wood went on to mention ‘home’ stating “I look forward to being back at a track that’s somewhat close to home and I’m ready to put together a good weekend.”

The General Tire 150 will serve as the season opener for the ARCA Menards Series West, offering points for both AMS West and AMS. Raising the stakes even higher, the winner of the 150 mile race will be credited for a win in both series. Perez and Wood are set to take the track for a final practice at 5:00 pm EST before qualifying starts an hour later. Perez and Wood will start their engines just before 8:00 pm EST.

About Rev Racing: Rev Racing seeks to obtain the highest quality applicants representing diverse backgrounds and develop them into successful NASCAR drivers. Started by Max Siegel in 2009, Rev Racing manages the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Rev Racing currently operates and manages drivers in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, and a youth racing initiative.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 03.08.23

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This Week in Motorsports: March 6-12, 2023

· NCS/NXS/ARCA: Phoenix Raceway – March 10-12
· NHRA: Gainesville Raceway – March 12

PLANO, Texas (March 8, 2023) – It’s the end of NASCAR’s run of West Coast races at Phoenix Raceway this weekend, while NHRA starts its season at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Bell leads with top-fives… Christopher Bell is one of just two drivers to earn two top-five finishes in the first three NASCAR Cup Series races this season as the Oklahoma-native crossed the line in fifth in Las Vegas. Bell is looking for his first top-five at Phoenix but has finished inside the top-10 in three of the last four races at the track.

Truex earns Toyota milestone… Martin Truex Jr. is set to make his 400th career Cup Series start aboard a Toyota Camry this weekend. Truex has earned most of his career success while driving a Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, Furniture Row Racing and now Joe Gibbs Racing. The New Jersey-native has earned 29 of his 31 career Cup Series wins and the 2017 Cup Series championship while being a part of Team Toyota.

Wallace scores strong run… Bubba Wallace earned his first top-five finish of the season with a strong fourth-place run, which boosted him to inside the current Playoff positions. Wallace is looking for his first top-five at Phoenix but earned a top-10 finish at the track in 2018.

Nemechek looks to continue strong start… John Hunter Nemechek continued his strong run to start the season as the North Carolina-native scored his third straight top-10 finish to begin the year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Nemechek ran this race one season ago for Toyota’s other Xfinity team – Sam Hunt Racing. He led 11 laps and scored a top-five finish.

Mosack, Truex make season debuts… Connor Mosack and Ryan Truex will make their NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season debuts this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Mosack, who scored a runner-up finish in the season-opening ARCA Menards Series event at Daytona, will run 23 of the final 30 NXS races this season, with the majority of those behind the wheel of the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. For the second consecutive season, Truex will compete in a limited schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NXS. Saturday is his first of six scheduled starts for the team aboard the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Hingorani, Sawalich debut… Toyota development drivers Sean Hingorani and William Sawalich will make their national ARCA debuts this weekend. Newport Beach, California native Hingorani will run for Venturini Motorsports, while Eden Prairie, Minnesota’s Sawalich will compete for Joe Gibbs Racing. Both drivers are 16 and have quite a bit of success in the late models ranks.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota looking for milestone this season… After 12 victories in 2022, Toyota is looking for a big milestone in NHRA racing action to kick off the season – 200 victories. Toyota begins this season at 193 race wins in nitro competition.

Top Fuel Callout… Three Toyota drivers are involved in this weekend’s all-star event for the Top Fuel class, the Pep Boys Callout. Justin Ashley, Steve Torrence and Doug Kalitta will run in the specialty race, which will run on Saturday, with the drivers calling each other out on Friday. Torrence will have the second call-out, with Ashley choosing his opponent third.

Stay Connected

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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 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year.

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.

JR Motorsports — NXS Phoenix Preview

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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Phoenix Raceway
RACE: United Rentals 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
DATE: Saturday, March 11, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 4 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer heads to Phoenix Raceway off a strong seventhplace performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This puts him sixth in the points standings, 61 markers behind the leader.
• Saturday afternoon’s race at Phoenix will be Mayer’s fourth NXS start at the 1-mile track.
• On tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length, the young driver has tallied six top fives and 15 top 10s, while leading the field for 46 laps.
• In three starts this season, the Franklin, Wis. native has achieved one top-five and two top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at Auto Club Speedway two weeks ago.

Josh Berry
No. 8 JARRETT Chevrolet• Josh Berry’s best finish at Phoenix is third, coming in this race last year. In three career starts, the Tennessee native has one top-five and one top-10 finish.
• One-mile tracks have been good for Berry, as he has one victory (Dover 2022), a pole (New Hampshire 2022), three top-five and four top-10 finishes in seven starts on such tracks.
• Berry’s three starts so far this season have produced a pair of fifth-place finishes at Auto Club and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and 22 laps led.
• Of his 19 top-five finishes in NXS events, 14 of them have come on tracks measuring 1 to 1.5 miles in length.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards / Barracuda Pumps Chevrolet
• Brandon Jones has made 14 starts at the 1-mile Phoenix oval and has recorded one win, three top fives and six top 10s. The six top 10s are the second-most of any track in his NXS career.
• Jones’ lone win at Phoenix came during the 2020 season, where he battled Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch for the victory.
• At tracks between 1 and 2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded four wins, 18 top fives and 53 top 10s.
• Crew Chief Jason Burdett has called the shots for two wins at Phoenix and has only finished outside of the top 10 in three of the 16 events he’s been atop the pit box.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 hellowater Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier heads to Phoenix this weekend with a new look, as hellowater returns to the No. 7 team for the first time in 2023.
• In 25 career starts in the “Valley of the Sun,” Allgaier has scored two wins, nine top fives and 17 top 10s. Allgaier’s two victories at the 1-mile oval came while driving for JRM, with his first being in this event in 2017 and his second coming in the fall of 2019.
• The Illinois native’s 17 top 10s are the most at any track thatAllgaier has competed on in the NXS and his average finish of 8.5 ranks third among tracks where he has made more than one start.

Driver Quotes

“The No. 1 team continues to bring me a great Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet every single week and I am really looking forward to getting after it in the desert this weekend. Phoenix hasn’t been one of my stronger tracks but I have certainly learned a lot there the few times we have been there. I know Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and this team will have a fast car ready when we unload, so that adds a little confidence heading into this weekend.” – Sam Mayer

“I love racing at Phoenix. It’s a place that has always suited my driving style and is somewhere that we’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of success at here at JR Motorsports. Hopefully we can keep that going this weekend with our hellowater Chevrolet. We’ve started the season on a really strong note, which gives us a lot of confidence heading into Saturday. I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 7 team are ready, we just need to go out and do our part and I know we’ll be there in the end.” – Justin Allgaier

“This JARRETT team is performing well, having earned topfive finishes in the past two races. Phoenix is unique in that it has short-track characteristics but races like a much bigger track. Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and our guys have prepared great cars for me so far this year and we’re just a tick away from getting that first victory of the season. Phoenix would be a great place to do that this weekend.” – Josh Berry

“I’ve run really well at Phoenix in the past and Jason (Burdett, crew chief) has a great track record there with Justin. I know we will have a fast Menards/Barricuda Pumps Chevrolet, so hopefully, we can get there this weekend and put a complete race together and be competing for the win at the end of the race. We’ve been fast all year, just don’t have the finishes to show for it. That starts this weekend.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

• JR Motorsports at Phoenix: JR Motorsports has competed in the desert a combined 92 times in the NXS. Over the course of those starts at the 1-mile facility, the organization has tallied four wins, 24 top fives and 49 top 10s. The 825 laps led for the organization comes in as the fourth-most at any track, just behind Bristol (1,230), Richmond (1,210) and Dover (944). The most recent win for the organization came during this race last season with the No. 9 Chevrolet to Victory Lane.
• Xfinity Series Autograph Session: On Saturday, March 11, JRM drivers Sam Mayer and Justin Allgaier will be signing autographs during the Xfinity Series autograph session located in the Phoenix Raceway Victory Lane from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. local time.
• Top-Five Streak Marches On: Both Allgaier’s and Berry’s top-five efforts at Las Vegas last weekend extended JRM’s organizational streak of top-five finishes to 13 consecutive races. Dating back to the fall event at Da

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: Phoenix Raceway

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Official Release
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Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR Cup Series race No. 4 of 36
  • Track Location: Phoenix Raceway – Avondale, Arizona
  • Race Name: United Rentals Work United 500
  • Broadcast: Sunday, March 12th at 3:30 PM ET live on FOX (TV), MRN (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Noah Gragson & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Chevrolet

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Phoenix Raceway Stats

  • NCS Starts: 1; Best start: 17th, Best finish: 11th (Fall, 2022)
  • NXS Starts: 8; Best start: 4th, Best finish: 2nd (three times), Top 5s: 7, Top 10s: 8, Laps led: 142
  • NCTS Starts: 3; Poles: 1 (Fall, 2018), Best finish: 12th (Spring, 2018), Laps led: 57

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 3; Best start: 20th, Best finish: 22nd (Auto Club), Current points position: 30th
  • About Sunseeker Resorts: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.
  • Homecoming: Gragson’s homecoming race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway didn’t go according to plan, as he suffered speeding penalties and a tight racecar throughout the 267-lap event. Unable to recover the track position, he drove the No. 42 Sunseeker Chevrolet home to a 30th place finish.

-Experience in Phoenix: The last time Gragson competed at Phoenix Raceway, he was one of the Xfinity Series Championship 4 contenders. Gragson qualified fourth for the event and led 35 laps but a slow pit stop in the final 40 laps caused him to fall back to eighth. He battled back to finish second at the checkered flag, .397 seconds behind rival Ty Gibbs, who ultimately won 2022 championship. In the Xfinity race one year ago, Gragson led 114 laps on the way to a win, which was the first of eight victories in 2022 for his JR Motorsports team.

-Testing: Gragson’s teammate Erik Jones was selected for a preseason NASCAR test session with the NextGen car at Phoenix Raceway back in January. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner Jimmie Johnson was also on hand. Gragson did not get behind the wheel but attended the test with his teammates as this weekend Gragson will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1-mile tri-oval.

-Lambert Knows Best: Gragson’s crew chief Luke Lambert has 18 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway. He won the 2017 spring race with driver Ryan Newman and has coached multiple drivers to three top-5 and four top-10 finishes throughout his career. In addition to Gragson’s win last season in the Xfinity Series, Lambert also coached driver Elliott Sadler to a win at the 1-mile tri-oval in 2012.

-Truckin’: Gragson has three starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports. His best start and finish came in the fall of 2018 where Gragson won the pole position, led 43 laps, and finished second by a margin of .456 seconds.

  • From the Driver’s Seat: “I’ve had some great success at Phoenix and we have some good notes from the No. 43’s test earlier this year. We had a tough race in Vegas last week and have some things to work on, but I love going to Phoenix and have had some really great runs there. We need a solid weekend – a good qualifying session and a good race – and that is our focus.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Phoenix Raceway Stats

  • NCS Starts: 13; Best start: 7th; Best Finish: 4th (Fall, 2017); Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 4; Laps Led: 11
  • NXS Starts: 7; Poles: 2 (Spring, 2016 and Fall, 2017); Best Finish: 2nd (Spring, 2016); Top 5s: 5; Top 10s: 7; Laps Led: 109
  • NCTS Starts: 3; Wins: 2 (2013 and 2014); Poles: 2 (2014 and 2015); Top 5s: 2; Top 10s: 3; Laps Led: 304

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 3; Best Start: 22nd; Best Finish: 19th (twice), Current Points Position: 28th
  • About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.
  • Testing, Testing, 1-2-3: Jones and the No. 43 Allegiant team were one of only seven select participants in a preseason test session at Phoenix Raceway back in January, where teams worked with NASCAR on refining the short track package for the NextGen car. Testing alongside his LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner and part-time teammate in Jimmie Johnson, the duo were able to make the most of the session and update their notebook heading into this weekend’s race.
  • Erik Jones Foundation Announcement: The Erik Jones Foundation recently announced Brent Nickola as its newly appointed Executive Director. Nickola recently spent more than two decades at the University of Michigan’s Flint campus as a development and fundraising professional. The Erik Jones Foundation launched in August of 2021 with three goals: to ignite children’s passion for reading, encourage early cancer detection and care and promote animal welfare. For more information or to make a donation to the EJF go to: www.ErikJonesRacing.com/foundation.
  • Previous Success at Phoenix: Erik Jones knows how to get it done at Phoenix Raceway, boasting two wins at the facility. Jones put his name on the map by dominating the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event in just his fifth-career start for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2013. Driving in a limited part-time schedule, Jones led a race high of 84 laps in that race on the way to his first-career win. Then in the following year of 2014, Jones followed that win up with another dominant NCTS win, leading 114 laps from the pole en route to the victory, the fourth of his career. In his NASCAR Xfinity Series tenure, Jones earned two poles at the track, scoring the first in March 2016 and the second in November 2017.
  • Erik Jones Appearances: Fans attending the United Rentals Work United 500 will have a chance to meet Erik on race day:

Trackside Live! Stage: Sunday, March 12th – Jones will host a Q&A session for fans from 9:30 AM to 9:45 AM local time at the Trackside Live! stage in the Phoenix Raceway fan zone.

  • From the Driver’s Seat: You and your team were able to test back in January, so what are some key takeaways from your time spent in the session to help your team prepare for this weekend?

“Yeah, hopefully we are able to take some of what we learned from the test there as far as this new aero package goes. It’s nice to have some at least have some laps on it compared to the rest of the field and have somewhat of an idea of how the car is going to drive and handle. We did a couple of long runs as well at the test, so we have a baseline of where our car is going to trend. You know, Phoenix was a tough track for our LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team last year, but we got better in the second race, so hopefully with some of this extra knowledge, we can go out there and have a solid run with the No. 43 Allegiant Chevy.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, owned by Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson. LEGACY M.C. operates two full-time entries, the No. 42 Chevrolet of Noah Gragson and the No. 43 Chevrolet of Erik Jones. The team also fields a third part-time entry, the No. 84 Chevrolet, for Johnson’s limited racing schedule.

For the last 75 years, the iconic Petty family name has been synonymous in NASCAR, spanning four generations. Over the course of his driving career, Team Ambassador Richard Petty forever enshrined himself as “The King”, earning 200 wins and seven NASCAR Cup Series championships alongside NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman. GMS Racing entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, later acquiring Richard Petty Motorsports to form Petty GMS.

The team was rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2023 with the addition of Johnson, another seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, to the ownership structure. As a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for the automobile racing enthusiast, fostering a team environment that will breed success for years to come. LEGACY M.C.’s vision is to honor the rich history of its past and acknowledge the future of the sport with some of today’s most iconic drivers.

LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing, which fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS Racing in 2012, Gallagher, along with one of the NASCAR garage’s most accomplished figures, Team President, Mike Beam, built a victorious organization, capturing the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Phoenix Raceway

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United Rentals Work United 500
Phoenix Raceway
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX

  • Kaulig Racing has made four total starts at Phoenix Raceway with AJ Allmendinger and Justin Haley in both 2022 events.
  • Allmendinger led one lap in the 2022 season finale and earned a 12th-place finish.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made 21 NCS starts at Phoenix Raceway.
  • In his last three starts, two of them with Kaulig Racing, Allmendinger has two top-12 finishes.
  • Allmendinger also led one lap in the 2022 season finale race at Phoenix

“Phoenix will be interesting with the new, lower downforce aero package they are coming out with. Practice will be very important to go out there and get a good feel for it with the new car. I felt like we learned a few things in the fall race last year, so hopefully we can take what we learned and match it up with the aero package and try to make our short track program better. I felt like that was our weakness last year, so we are definitely going to focus hard on that to get ready for the short tracks we have coming up.” – AJ Allmendinger on Phoenix Raceway

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has made four starts at Phoenix Raceway in the NCS.
  • Haley finished eighth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend to earn his first top-10 finish of the 2023 season.

“As an organization, Phoenix is one of our weaker tracks, but it’s also a track that you have to go into with a new mindset. Phoenix is always changing, due to the resin formula, as well as the new, short-track package, so there are some unknowns going into the weekend. I feel like we’ve had decent speed at Phoenix in the past, so hopefully we are able to get a feel for the track early and execute.” – Justin Haley on Phoenix Raceway  

United Rentals 200
Phoenix Raceway
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, March 11 at 4:30 p.m. EST on FS1

  • Kaulig Racing has made 24 total starts at Phoenix Raceway in the NXS.
  • The team has earned five top fives, 16 top-10 finishes and has led 14 laps at Phoenix.

Kyle Busch, No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet Camaro

  • Kyle Busch has made 24 starts at Phoenix Raceway in the NXS, winning 11 (45.8%) of those starts.
  • Busch has also earned 10 pole awards, 17 top fives, 20 top-10 finishes and led 2,234 laps at Phoenix.

“I would say the key to running well at Phoenix is just having grip. Obviously being able to roll the center of the corner. If you can have really good grip in your car where the car turns in the middle of the corner and then you can get the throttle down on exit that’s hugely important because that just makes up all your lap time. In our first Xfinity race together at Kaulig Racing, we learned a lot together and found some areas we can improve on. Hopefully Phoenix is an even better weekend for us.” – Kyle Busch on Phoenix Raceway

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric has earned one win at Phoenix Raceway, when he secured the 2021 NXS Championship.
  • Daniel Hemric has made 10 starts at Phoenix Raceway and has earned one win, three top fives, seven top-10 finishes and has led 93 laps.

“I’m excited to get to Phoenix. I feel like, as a company, we made some pretty big strides last year and have been building off that over the off season. It is one of the most crucial races of the year as far as early in the year goes to prepare you for what is a possible chance of racing for a championship when we go back in the fall. I look forward to going there and building our notebook, executing and having a good weekend. I’m looking forward to having Cirkul back on board and giving them a good showing. ” – Daniel Hemric on Phoenix Raceway

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Chevrolet Camaro

  • Chandler Smith will make his debut at Phoenix Raceway in the Xfinity Series during the United Rentals 200 Saturday.
  • Smith made four starts at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), recording one win and finishing in the top five in his other three starts.
  • Smith also won the 2020 ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) race in his only start at Phoenix Raceway.
  • So far in the 2023 NXS season, Smith has earned one pole award and recorded two top-five finishes.

“We’ve had a really great start to the season with two top fives and being just outside the top 10 at Daytona. It’s always important to end the west coast swing with momentum. Phoenix is a track that I’ve had a ton of success at in other series. I came close to winning the Truck Series title there last year, and I’ve always finished near the front whenever I’ve raced at Phoenix. I think we have as good of a chance as anyone to win this weekend.” – Chandler Smith on Phoenix Raceway  
 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Leland Honeyman Jr. debuts at Phoenix Raceway

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MOORESVILLE, N.C (March 7, 2023): Leland Honeyman Jr. will be making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in this weekend’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway in the No. 45 Klean Freak Body Wipes Chevrolet Camaro. Honeyman, a Phoenix-area native, is scheduled for seven starts in 2023 on a variety of tracks and will put his short-track racing background to the test at the 1-mile track located just west of Phoenix.

Klean Freak Body Wipes are single use body wipes infused with amazing, natural ingredients and conveniently packaged for the on-the-go individual. Teaming up with scientists to formulate the “best of the best” body wipes, Klean Freak Body Wipes provide a refreshing, confidence-boosting kind of clean while hydrating skin and ridding it of bad bacteria. All Klean Freak products have been cleared by the FDA and are safe for even the most sensitive skin. You can find Klean Freak Body Wipes on Amazon and the Klean Freak website.
“Joining Alpha Prime Racing for my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Phoenix Raceway is a dream come true,” said Honeyman Jr., driver of the No. 45 Klean Freak Body Wipes Chevy Camaro. “I’m ready to push myself to the limit and compete against the best competition this series has to offer. It’s an honor to represent this team and I’m grateful for the opportunity to prove myself on the track. My main goal is to bring a clean racecar back after the checkered flag waves.”

“The paint scheme captures everyone’s attention immediately,” said David Schildhouse, Vice-President of Alpha Prime Racing. “Klean Freak is all about being fresh and the car looks the part. We’re looking forward to seeing Leland and the entire 45 team clean up the competition in Phoenix.”

Tune in to the United Rentals 200 this Saturday on FS1 at 4:30 PM ET.

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

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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Phoenix NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: United Rentals 200 (Round 4 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, March 11
• Location: Phoenix Raceway
• Layout: 1-mile oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• As this year’s West Coast Swing comes to an end with Saturday’s United Rentals 200, Cole Custer would like nothing more than to pick up where he left off in his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series outing at Phoenix Raceway in November 2019. At the same time, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and his team look to garner as much information as they can this weekend with their eyes also focused on their return to the desert mile oval 29 races hence, when they hope to be battling for the Xfinity Series championship during the Nov. 4 season finale.

• The United Rentals 200 will be Custer’s seventh Xfinity Series start at Phoenix. After a 21st-place finish in his debut at the track in March 2017, he went on to never finish worse than eighth in his next five Xfinity Series starts there, highlighted by a second-place finish in the November 2019 race. Custer also has 12 starts outside of the Xfinity Series at Phoenix – six in the Cup Series with a best finish of ninth in March 2020, three in the Truck Series with a best finish of third in November 2014, and three in the K&N Pro Series West. His victory from the pole in March 2014, when he led a race-high 62 of 80 laps, was his best of his three K&N Pro Series West outings, with finishes of third and sixth in the other two starts.

• Custer’s return to the Xfinity Series has been a roller coaster in terms of results, but the speed in his Haas Automation Mustang has been evident each of the first three weekends. He earned a ninth-place finish in the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, his best finish at the track. The following week at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, he won the opening two stages and led 46 laps before a cut right-front tire relegated him to a 27th-place finish. Last weekend at Las Vegas, Custer qualified third but was forced to start from the rear of the field after going to a backup car due to damage sustained from the Fontana race. He worked his way up to 12th, where he finished the race, despite struggling with the balance of his No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang. Custer is currently seventh in the Xfinity Series points standings.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst will feel right at home at the desert-mile oval of Phoenix Raceway this weekend. The third-generation racer from just up the road in Las Vegas has taken his family name from the iconic off-road events of the Desert Southwest to the asphalt tracks of NASCAR. He began racing go-karts up and down the West Coast at age 5. He soon followed in his family’s footsteps in 2006 when he transitioned to off-road racing, where his grandfather Jerry, his dad Troy, and his uncles Tim and Ed, all became Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees after their numerous championship-winning campaigns. But by age 10, Herbst sought a return to pavement, which began with Legends cars, then transitioned to Speed Trucks, Super Late Models, the K&N Series, NASCAR Trucks Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series. Last weekend, FOX aired a feature story highlighting the Herbst family motorsports legacy, and third-generation racer’s story about breaking away from the off-road scene. Watch it HERE.

• Saturday’s race will mark Herbst’s eighth career Xfinity Series start at Phoenix, which has proven to be one of his better tracks. After an early race accident in his series debut there in November 2019 earned him a 30th-place result, Herbst finished 11th or better in his next four Phoenix starts, highlighted by fourth-place finishes in both the March and November 2021 events. He earned a seventh-place finish in the series’ latest visit to Phoenix for last November’s season finale. Herbst also finished 10th in his lone NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at the track in November 2019, and 15th in his only NASCAR Truck Series start there in November 2018.

• With three races down this season, Herbst is continuing the momentum he closed the season with in 2022. He is one of four Xfinity Series drivers to finish in the top-10 in every race so far this season, joining Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, and Justin Allgaier. After running in the top-three for a majority of the season opener at Daytona, the Monster Energy driver avoided mayhem in the final laps to finish sixth. When the series rolled into Fontana two weekends ago, he ran in the top-10 for most of the day before finishing seventh. Last weekend in his hometown of Las Vegas, he was putting down some of the fastest lap times on his way to a seventh-place finish. He is currently fifth in the Xfinity Series points standings.

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

You’re heading into the final race of the West Coast swing at Phoenix Raceway. Talk about your expectations.

“Phoenix means a lot just because it’s where the championship race takes place. You want to have a strong spring race there so you can take it into the fall race. It’s the first short-track race of the year, so we’ll see where we’re at as a team at that point. I’ve done well there in the past, so hopefully we can find the speed and have a perfect day.”

Is there any extra pressure heading into Phoenix knowing that the championship race will be held there in November and you could very well be racing for the title?

“You definitely put a little more emphasis on Phoenix at this time of the year just because you know how big this race will be when we return in November. It’s a race that means a lot later in the year, and you never know if you’ll be one of the ones racing for a championship or not. You’re always going to bring the best you’ve got to a race, but there might be a little more pressure to get it right this time so you can be as perfect as possible later on.”

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

After a solid run at Las Vegas last weekend, you’re heading to Phoenix, which has been one of your stronger tracks. You finished fourth in both races there in 2021 and came back to finish seventh in last year’s season finale. What are your goals heading into the race this weekend?

“The goal is to win. Always. Phoenix is no exception. We obviously want to keep being consistent and running in the top-10, but we also want to get better. These guys deserve to go to victory lane, and we have the speed to get there. Phoenix is a fun racetrack, and I’ve had strong runs there in the past. You need to have a perfect day to make it to victory lane. Hopefully, we can figure out how to do just that this weekend. In addition, this is an important race in terms of preparing for the championship race at the end of the season. Anyone can make it to the Championship 4, so you always want to be prepared.”

You’ve been consistent to start the 2023 season with three straight top-10 finishes. How does kicking off the season with such consistency help you and the team?

“It’s a confidence booster, for sure. It just shows how much hard work we’ve put in the past two seasons and during the offseason. The addition of Cole Custer to the team only strengthens us more because he has so much knowledge and experience in the Xfinity Series. I think this will be a big year for us, and to kick off the season like this only gives us more hope. It proves that we can run well at a variety of tracks, as well.”

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS TO FIELD ENTRY FOR CARSON HOCEVAR IN MULTIPLE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES RACES

By
Official Release
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Michigan Native to Make NXS Debut at Dover Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. (March 7, 2023) – Spire Motorsports announced today it will field an entry in six NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races in 2023 with Carson Hocevar behind the wheel and Premier Security Solutions as the team’s primary sponsor.

Hocevar, 20, is a veteran of 56 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) starts and will race a Spire Motorsports prepared No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, beginning with the April 29 A-Game 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.

Kevin “Bono” Manion and Mike Greci will lead the effort with technical support provided by JR Motorsports.

“I am eager to make my Xfinity Series debut for Spire Motorsports with support from JR Motorsports,” said Hocevar “I am very grateful for their partnership and for Premier Security’s belief in me. Together, they are providing me with a fantastic opportunity to grow as a driver and I intend to make the most of it.”

Hocevar made his Truck Series debut August 1, 2019 at Eldora Speedway for Jordan Anderson Racing. Since then, the Portage, Mich., native has collected one pole, 10 top fives and 20 top 10s, including four runner-up efforts. He finished 10th in NCTS points in 2021 and 2022. Hocevar won the famed Winchester 400 super late model race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in 2020.

“Premier Security Solutions has supported Carson since his days racing short tracks in the Midwest,” said Premier Security Solutions CEO Dave Forystek. “We continued to support him when he moved up the ladder to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and we are looking forward to seeing him compete at the next level. We are so proud to partner with Spire Motorsports and Chevrolet as Carson makes the leap to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.”

In addition to his NXS debut, Hocevar will also race the No. 77 machine at the following races in 2023:

  • Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 27
  • Nashville Superspeedway – June 24
  • Michigan International Speedway – August 5
  • Darlington Raceway – September 2
  • Bristol Motor Speedway – September 15

“Carson Hocevar is a rising talent who earned the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Spire Motorsports prides itself on identifying talented race drivers who are still in the early stages of their career and pairing them with veterans who can help get the most out of that talent. Carson fits the bill perfectly. We’re eager to provide him with the opportunity to showcase his talent and work with Bono, Mike Greci and the group from JR Motorsports.”

Hocevar began racing USAC quarter midgets when he was seven-years-old and went on to amass 79 feature wins and 15 national championships. He has close ties to fellow Michigan driver Johnny Benson Jr., a former NXS and NCTS Champion.

Hocevar earned his first super late model victory at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway at just 13-years-old and went on to win the track’s premier division championship in 2017. He continues to be a regular at some of the nation’s most high-profile pavement super late model races as he continues to pursue NCTS Championship honors for Niece Motorsports.

“Carson Hocevar is a proven winner and has absolutely shown he’s ready for this opportunity,” offered Manion. “I’ve been around the sport a long time and it’s always exciting to work with a young driver like Carson. Dover is definitely a big challenge and one we’ll all embrace.”

“We’re looking forward to supporting Spire Motorsports and Carson for these six Xfinity Series races,” added JR Motorsports Senior Vice President of Motorsports, L.W. Miller. “This is a great opportunity for Carson to take another step up the racing ladder while getting next-level experience with a solid team.”

The A-Game 200 from Dover Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, April 29 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The NXS 2023 visit to the Monster Mile will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Premier Security Solutions …
Premier Security Solutions provides both armed and unarmed security guards as well as state of the art video surveillance with real time, live monitoring. The combination of guards on site and live surveillance monitoring brings a level of unparalleled safety and detection to all types of commercial, industrial, and residential locations. Premier Security Solutions has a large presence of security personnel in K12 schools, protecting nearly 25,000 students in many southeast and central Michigan public and private school districts.

Premier Security Solutions seeks to provide peace of mind and is known for their efficient service and the ability to deliver a safe environment. With extensive experience securing property and inventory for major corporations and logistics companies, they specialize in rapid deployment of security personnel to locations around the Midwest. On any given day, Premier Security Solutions is guarding billions of dollars of property in storage facilities in multiple states.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports statement on Chase Elliott

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (March 7, 2023) – As NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Elliott recovers from a leg injury, Josh Berry will continue to drive the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports at upcoming oval tracks while road racing standout Jordan Taylor will compete for the team at Circuit of The Americas.

Elliott, 27, suffered a fractured tibia while snowboarding in Colorado on March 3 and underwent successful surgery that evening. He was released from the hospital Saturday and did not race Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the first missed start of his career. The 2020 Cup Series champion is currently rehabilitating in Colorado. His recovery is expected to last approximately six weeks.

“We’re focused on getting Chase back to 100%, so we’ll take however much time is necessary and make sure he has the best resources available,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Josh was impressive this weekend under difficult circumstances, and we look forward to having him drive the oval tracks until Chase is able to return. Jordan is a world-class road racer and has recently been working with our Garage 56 team preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He’ll be able to step in and do a great job at COTA.”

Berry, 32, filled in for Elliott at Las Vegas, finishing 29th in his third career Cup start. Driving for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports, the Hendersonville, Tennessee, native is a five-time race winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series: Martinsville Speedway (2021), Las Vegas (2021 and 2022), Dover Motor Speedway (2022) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (2022).

Taylor currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing. The Orlando, Florida, native won the 2017 24 Hours of DAYTONA and the 2017 championship in the IMSA prototype class. Although the March 26 race at Circuit of The Americas will represent his first career Cup Series start, the 31-year-old driver has competed at the road course multiple times, including two wins (2016 and 2017) in four IMSA appearances.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (292) and laps led (more than 77,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 39 different seasons, including an active streak of 38 in a row (1986-2023). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Pilots No. 47 Thomas’® Camaro at Phoenix and Makes Appearance at Fry’s Food Stores

By
Official Release
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Stenhouse Jr. meets consumers before racing his No. 47 Thomas’ ZL1 Camaro at Phoenix Raceway.

PHOENIX (March 7, 2023) – – The West Coast swing is in effect for the NASCAR Cup Series and next on the schedule is the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This Friday, DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION and No. 47 Thomas’® Camaro driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is appearing at the Fry’s Food Store on 13730 W. Camelback Road in Litchfield Park, AZ from 6 PM to 7 PM thanks to presenting sponsors, Coca-Cola®, Cottonelle®, and Thomas’®.

“We are thrilled to treat our NASCAR fans and shoppers with this special visit by Daytona 500 Champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the No. 47 NASCAR Cup Series show car. Prior to his visit beginning at 6 PM, we will have our mobile pharmacy unit on hand offering vaccinations, blood pressure/diabetes screenings, and more. Like Ricky’s premium Camaro, our pharmacy team is driven to help people live healthier lives,” said Stephanie Spark, Fry’s Food Stores director of pharmacy/health & wellness.

“I enjoy spending time in and around the Phoenix market and meeting people in the community that shop at Fry’s,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Our CPG (consumer packaged goods) partners make it exciting and possible for us to get into the community and meet our fans.”

The day after the store activation, Stenhouse Jr. qualifies his fully branded No. 47 Thomas’ Camaro and then races 312 laps on Sunday at the one-mile oval.

“Thomas’ is one of our favorite brands, and we are looking forward to having them back with us at Phoenix,” said Stenhouse Jr. “It was fun to have them and several of our partners with us at the Daytona 500 to celebrate the big win.

“We’re optimistic about the race this weekend after being one of a handful of teams that tested there in January,” continued Stenhouse Jr. “We’ve learned some things, and we’re excited to have Thomas’ on our Camaro at Phoenix.”

On Sunday, March 12th, live coverage of the United Rentals Work United 500 starts at 3:30 PM ET on FOX, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).

About Fry’s Food Stores:

At Fry’s Food Stores, a division of The Kroger Family of Companies (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. Headquartered in Tolleson, we employ more than 21,000 associates and operate 127 Fry’s Food Stores and 100 fuel centers across the state. Fry’s has been serving Arizonans since 1960 and was selected as the 2019 Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. As a division of The Kroger Family of Companies, we care about the communities we serve, working to end hunger and eliminate waste across the company through our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan. In 2021, we provided nearly 12 million meals to Arizona’s hungry families.

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