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Cindric to make 100th Xfinity Series start at Phoenix

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Bruce Nuttleman for SpeedwayMedia.com.

While Austin Cindric is set to contend for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, he is also set to achieve a milestone start in his third full-time season in the series. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s Xfinity season finale at Phoenix, Cindric will reach 100 starts in the Xfinity level.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Cindric made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Road America in August 2017. By then, he was a full-time NASCAR Truck Series competitor for Brad Keselowski Racing. Driving the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang for Team Penske, Cindric started on pole position and he finished in 16th place after making a late pit stop under green due to cutting a left-rear tire. 

Three months later and three days after Cindric concluded the 2017 Truck Series season in third place in the final standings, Roush Fenway Racing announced that Cindric will be splitting driving duties of the No. 60 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing along with Chase Briscoe and Ty Majeski for the 2018 Xfinity Series season.

In February, nearly a week before the 2018 season commenced, Cindric’s racing schedule became a full-time schedule when it was announced that he will be driving the Nos. 12 and 22 Ford Mustangs for Team Penske along with his part-time racing role with Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford, thus making him eligible for the 2018 Xfinity Playoffs and the Dash 4 Cash events.

Cindric’s 2018 season started off on a low note when he was involved in an early multi-car wreck at Daytona International Speedway and finished in last place of the 40-car field while driving Roush’s No. 60 Ford. He rallied the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway by collecting his first top-10 result, seventh place, while driving the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske. 

Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Cindric recorded a total of three top-five results, eight top-10 results and his first two career poles. By then, his best on-track result was second place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he started on pole position, led a race-high 59 of 75 laps and was leading in the closing laps before being overtaken by eventual winner Justin Allgaier. Despite being involved in a rollover accident at Daytona in July, losing 35 points following Bristol in August due to a lug nut infraction and posting three consecutive DNFs near the conclusion of the regular season that dropped him to 12th place in the standings, Cindric was able to claim a spot in the Playoffs. By then, his part-time stint with Roush Fenway Racing concluded as he transitioned to the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang for the Playoffs.

In the first round of the Playoffs, spanning three races, Cindric posted results of 13th, third and eighth to advance into the second round. In the first Playoff race of the second round at Kansas Speedway, he was involved in a multi-car wreck at the start of the race and finished in 39th place. Despite finishing third and fourth the following two races, he was one of four competitors who were eliminated from title contention. He went on to finish fifth in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and conclude his first full-time Xfinity season in eighth place in the standings.

A week before the 2018 season concluded, Team Penske announced that Cindric will be remaining in the Xfinity Series for the 2019 season and drive the No. 22 Ford Mustang on a full-time basis with MoneyLion to sponsor him for 18 races and Brian Wilson to serve as his crew chief. It was all in part of a new multi-year deal.

Cindric started the 2019 Xfinity season on a strong note at Daytona by finishing in fifth place. Through the first 19 races of the season, he posted one pole, five top-five results, 13 top-10 results and 30 laps led, with a best on-track result of second place at Richmond Raceway in April behind Cole Custer. By then, he was in fifth place in the regular-season standings.

The following race at Watkins Glen International, Cindric made a late charge on fresh tires and outlasted a late battle against road course ringer A.J. Allmendinger to score his first Xfinity Series career victory in his 54th series start. He backed it up the following race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, his home track, by leading a race-high 46 laps and running away from the field to claim his second consecutive victory of the season and of his career.

Following his first two career victories in the Xfinity Series, Cindric posted two additional top-five results, including a runner-up finish at Road America behind race winner Christopher Bell, and three additional top-10 results for the remaining five regular-season races before entering the Playoffs and with another opportunity to win his first Xfinity title. 

In the first round of the 2019 Playoffs, Cindric recorded podium results in all three races and advanced into the Round of 8. Like last season, Cindric ran into on-track issues during the first Round of 8 Playoff event at Kansas. Starting third, he fell behind early due to a loose wheel. Near the halfway point, he suffered a pair of cut tires on the right side of his No. 22 Ford Mustang, which cost him six laps behind the leaders. When the checkered flag flew, he finished in 25th place, six laps down, and was scored 77 points below the top-four cutline.

Cindric and the No. 22 Penske team rallied the following two Playoffs races by finishing third and sixth. The results, however, were not enough for him to transfer into the Championship 4 round for the second consecutive season. After finishing in seventh place in the season finale at Homestead, Cindric concluded his sophomore Xfinity Series season in sixth place in the final standings.

Returning for a second full-time season with Team Penske, Cindric started the 2020 season on a low note at Daytona by being involved in a late multi-car accident and finishing in 25th place. He rallied with three consecutive top-10 results the following three races, with a best result of second place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in February behind race winner and former teammate Chase Briscoe. 

When NASCAR returned to on-track racing at Darlington Raceway in May amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindric finished fourth. The following race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he led 30 laps and was leading on the final lap when he was overtaken by Kyle Busch on the final corner. He ended the race in third place after being overtaken by runner-up Daniel Hemric.

Since Darlington Raceway in May through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix Circuit, Cindric and the No. 22 Team Penske Ford team achieved five top-five results and were ranked in fourth place in the regular-season standings.

The following two races at Kentucky Speedway, Cindric claimed his first elusive pair of victories of the season. It all started on Thursday, July 9, when he emerged with the lead in the late stages. Leading a total of 41 laps, Cindric pulled away from Chase Briscoe on an overtime restart and under caution on the final lap to collect his third series career win and first on an oval-shaped venue. For the second Kentucky event on Friday, July 10, he led a race-high 130 of 200 laps and beat Briscoe by more than two seconds to score his second victory of the season and to sweep both Kentucky races.

Cindric’s momentum throughout the summer months continued as he was awarded his third consecutive victory of the season the following race at Texas Motor Speedway when initial winner Kyle Busch was disqualified due to his car failing post-race technical inspection. After leading 131 laps and finishing second the following race at Kansas, Cindric notched back-to-back victories for the second time this season after winning at Road America and NASCAR’s first event at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. 

Cindric went on to post four additional top-five results and six additional top-10 results for the remainder of the regular-season stretch. When the 2020 Xfinity Playoffs started, he finished in sixth place at Las Vegas. He was involved in a late accident the following week at Talladega, where he finished 34th, but he collected a bevy of stage points prior to the wreck, which kept him above the top-12 cutline entering the first Playoff elimination event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. For that event, he finished sixth and transferred into the Round of 8.

Cindric’s title hopes were put on jeopardy during the first Round of 8 event at Kansas when he was involved in an early multi-car incident involving Playoff contenders Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson. Despite sustaining substantial damage, Cindric’s crew repaired the car and the driver was able to maintain minimum speed to continue. When the checkered flag flew, he finished in 28th place, 27 laps behind the leaders. Nonetheless, he remained above the top-four cutline to the finale by two points. 

After finishing fourth the following Playoff race at Texas, he remained 14 points above the cutline to the finale entering the final elimination event at Martinsville Speedway, which occurred last weekend. At Martinsville, he started on pole position and led the first 42 laps before he got shuffled out of race-winning contention. While racing conservatively around the pack, he finished in 10th place and locked himself a spot to the Championship 4 round for the first time in his career, where he will contend for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series title against Chase Briscoe, Justin Allgaier and Justin Haley this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, the season finale.

In 99 Xfinity Series career starts, Cindric has won seven races. He has also achieved seven poles, 39 top-five results, 62 top-10 results, three Playoff appearances, over 1,200 laps led and an average result of 11.7.

Cindric is set to return for his fourth full-time season in the Xfinity Series in 2021 with Team Penske. In addition, he plans to compete in select NASCAR Cup Series races with Penske next season before driving in the premier series full-time and in the iconic No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford in 2022. 

Catch Cindric’s milestone start and pursuit of his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, the site of the finale, on Saturday, November 7. The event will start at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Phoenix

By
Official Release
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PHOENIX RACEWAY (1-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: AVONDALE, ARIZONA
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 36 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 3 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, NOV. 8 (NBC/MRN/SIRIUSXM)

Chase Elliott
No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia

2020 Season
2nd in standings
35 starts
4 wins
1 pole position
14 top-five finishes
21 top-10 finishes
1,094 laps led

Career
184 starts
10 wins
9 pole positions
58 top-five finishes
95 top-10 finishes
2,938 laps led

Track Career
9 starts
0 wins
1 pole position
2 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
249 laps led

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, will be available to members of the media via video conference on Thursday, Nov. 5, as part of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 Media Day. Visit NASCARmedia.com for details.

CLOCKING IN: Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, turned in a stellar performance Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, overcoming several obstacles and leading a career-high 236 laps en route to his first NASCAR Cup Series win at the track. The victory secured Elliott’s first-ever berth in the Championship 4. He joined teammate Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as Hendrick Motorsports drivers who secured a spot in the championship race by winning at Martinsville.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUN: This weekend, Bill and Chase Elliott could become the third father-son duo to win a NASCAR Cup Series title, joining Lee and Richard Petty and Ned and Dale Jarrett. Bill Elliott won the 1988 Cup Series champion while driving the No. 9 car. A title performance would also give crew chief Alan Gustafson his first Cup trophy in his 16th full-time season.

NAPA KNOW HOW: Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will showcase the familiar blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme in Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix. It will be the Atlanta-based company’s first time with a driver competing for the NASCAR Cup Series title in the season finale. In February, it was announced that NAPA AUTO PARTS and Hendrick Motorsports will continue their partnership for another two seasons through 2022. Click here to read the full release.

PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE: With only one race remaining in the 2020 season, Elliott leads all playoff drivers in laps led (564), points earned (364), stage points (110) and average running position (5.9) in the nine playoff races. He has also run the most laps in the top five (1,826) and the top 10 (2,500) of all drivers. Elliott has picked up the second-most top-five finishes (four) in the playoffs behind Joey Logano, who leads with five.

GUSTAFSON’S 30: No. 9 crew chief Gustafson ranks fifth among active NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs with 30 wins. His victories have come from four different drivers: Gordon (11), Elliott (10), Mark Martin (five) and Kyle Busch (four). Gustafson has won with more drivers than any other active crew chief.

2020 SEASON: As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into the final race of the 2020 season, Elliott has already turned in a record year by picking up career bests in wins (four), laps led (1,094), top-five finishes (14) and stage wins (10). Elliott’s 21 top-10s are tied for his most at the 35-race mark, and he is 108 laps away from doubling his personal record for laps led in a single Cup season.

YOUNG BUCK: On Nov. 8, 2014, at 18 years, 11 months and 11 days, Elliott became the youngest NASCAR Xfinity Series champion when he clinched the 2014 title a week early at Phoenix. In 2020, he could become the third-youngest NASCAR Cup Series champion at 24 years, 11 months and 11 days.

PHOENIX STATS: This Sunday, Elliott will make his 10th NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix. In his previous nine starts at the 1-mile oval, the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE has led a total of 249 laps – the fourth-most laps led at a track for Elliott. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native has collected two top-five finishes, five top-10s and won two stages at the Avondale, Arizona, venue.

GUSTAFSON AT PHOENIX: Gustafson will call his 32nd Cup Series race at Phoenix on Sunday. In his previous 31 races there, he has collected three wins, nine top-five results including two runner-up finishes, 20 top-10s and 680 laps led. Gustafson’s three wins are the third-most by a crew chief at Phoenix and came with three different drivers: Busch in 2005, Martin in 2009 and Gordon in 2011. He worked with the oldest winner ever at Phoenix Raceway (Martin at 50 years, 3 months and 9 days) and the track’s youngest winner ever (Busch at 20 years, 6 months and 11 days).

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William Byron
No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver William Byron Hometown Charlotte, North Carolina
Age 22 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
13th in standings
35 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
13 top-10 finishes
140 laps led

Career
107 starts
1 win
5 pole positions
9 top-five finishes
30 top-10 finishes
434 laps led

Track Career
5 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
2 top-10 finishes
15 laps led

END OF AN ERA: After 20 seasons, Sunday at Phoenix Raceway will be the final race for Chad Knaus as a full-time crew chief, marking the end of one of the most decorated careers in NASCAR Cup Series history. In his time atop the pit box, Knaus has worked with four different drivers: Casey Atwood, Stacy Compton, Jimmie Johnson and currently William Byron and the No. 24 team. His impressive résumé consists of seven Cup championships, including an unparalleled five in a row, with Johnson and the No. 48 team. Only NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Inman has more titles as a crew chief. Knaus also was part of two previous Hendrick Motorsports championships as a tire changer for Ray Evernham’s No. 24 team with driver Jeff Gordon. Knaus is the only crew chief to make the NASCAR playoffs in all 17 seasons since the format’s inception in 2004, collecting a record 29 post-season victories. He has 82 points-paying Cup wins, the third-most of all-time, coming at 20 different racetracks. The Rockford, Illinois, native has 42 pole awards, 227 top-five finishes, 370 top-10s and 18,943 laps led to his name across 707 starts.

PERFECT 10: When Byron and the No. 24 Axalta team take on Phoenix Raceway this Sunday, they will look to extend two streaks. Currently the 22-year-old driver holds two top-10 finishes at the 1-mile oval. Another this weekend would tie Phoenix with Kansas Speedway as tracks with the second-most top-10s by Byron, just behind Pocono Raceway with four. A top-10 Sunday would also give the third-year Cup Series driver 14 during the 2020 season – a personal best in a single year since entering the Cup Series.

VALLEY OF THE SUN: Heading to a track where he has found success at every level of NASCAR national series competition, Byron will return to Phoenix Raceway for the sixth time in his Cup Series career. Across his five Cup-level starts at the 1-mile oval, Byron has a personal-best finish of ninth (fall 2018) with 15 laps led. He also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix on his résumé, both in 2017. He started on the front row and finished in the top four in both races, including a win in November 2017. With that victory, he became the youngest Xfinity Series winner ever at Phoenix at 19 years, 11 months and 13 days. In 2016, Byron was behind the wheel for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series race at the track, where he led 112 laps and was in the hunt to make the final four of the playoffs before an engine failure ended his night early.

KNAUS’ PHOENIX PROWESS: For the 36th time as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief, Knaus will sit atop the pit box at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday. With four wins at the track, all coming with Johnson and the No. 48 team, Knaus ranks second among active Cup crew chiefs, just one behind Rodney Childers. He also has three pole awards at Phoenix.

KNAUS JOINS DALE JR.: On Tuesday, Knaus joined former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his popular podcast, the “Dale Jr. Download.” On the show, Knaus talked about his early days before reaching championship crew chief status, his final season before taking over his new role, as well as revealing that he officially joined Twitter. Listen to the podcast by clicking here or watch the highlights on Wednesday, Nov. 4 on NBCSN at 5 p.m. ET.

HOMETOWN HYPE: While the NASCAR Cup Series will make its final stop on the 2020 circuit, Phoenix Raceway holds special meaning for one member of the No. 24 team. Michael “Too Tall” Madill, the rear suspension mechanic for the No. 24 Axalta team, hails from Glendale, Arizona, approximately 30 minutes from the track. At the age of 16, he made the move to North Carolina to begin his NASCAR career. Now 31 years old, Madill is finishing his 12th season in the sport and his third with the No. 24 team.

AT IT AGAIN WITH AXALTA: For Sunday’s season finale, Byron will pilot the iconic Axalta flames on board his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the final time this year. In 2020, Axalta was the 22-race majority partner of the No. 24 team. The company’s relationship with Hendrick Motorsports was extended, taking one of the most enduring partnerships in sports through 2027.

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Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 45 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
18th in standings
34 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
103 laps led

Career
685 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
231 top-five finishes
373 top-10 finishes
18,937 laps led

Track Career
34 starts
4 wins
3 pole positions
15 top-five finishes
21 top-10 finishes
994 laps led

#ONEFINALTIME: On Nov. 20, 2019, seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced that 2020 would be his final full-time NASCAR season. His career rewrote the record books. Johnson has won 83 Cup races and is tied for sixth on the all-time victories list. He is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for the most championships in history and became the youngest driver to amass seven titles. The El Cajon, California, native is the only driver ever to win five championships in a row (2006-2010) – a singular feat that is unlikely to be matched. Johnson has won 12 of NASCAR’s “crown jewel” races, including the 2006 and 2013 DAYTONA 500s, four times at Indianapolis and two Southern 500s at Darlington. He has four NASCAR All-Star Race victories and has won a record 28 times on 1.5-mile tracks. Johnson’s first victory came in his home state of California in April 2002 in his 13th start, and his most recent was at Dover in June 2017.

FINAL LAP: Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway will mark Johnson’s final start as a full-time NASCAR driver. His career began on Oct. 7, 2001, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Johnson recorded 663 consecutive races, never missing a NASCAR Cup Series start until July 5 of this season when a positive COVID-19 test kept him from competing at Indianapolis. He holds the fifth-most consecutive starts in NASCAR history, behind only Jeff Gordon (797), Ricky Rudd (788), Bobby Labonte (704) and Rusty Wallace (697). Phoenix will mark his 686th start in the Cup Series.

SUCCESS AT PHOENIX: Johnson is the proud owner of four NASCAR Cup Series wins at Phoenix Raceway. He has led 994 laps around the desert track and holds an average finish of 10.4. In 34 starts there, the 45-year-old driver has accumulated 15 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s.

FINAL SCHEME UNVEILED: Johnson took to his Instagram account on Tuesday to unveil the final paint scheme he will race on Sunday at Phoenix. The hand-painted No. 48 Chevy includes a silver base, which matches the seven NASCAR Cup Series championship trophies Johnson has collected. The car is topped with the colors of primary sponsor Ally and features the driver’s signature neon-yellow car number. Click here to watch the unveil.

ANOTHER CHANCE AT 84: On Sunday, Johnson will have one more chance to change the record books. If he wins at Phoenix Raceway, he will have scored his 84th points-paying NASCAR Cup Series win to tie Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth on the all-time list. Johnson has the most wins of all active drivers with 83.

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Alex Bowman
No. 88 Truck Hero/ChevyGoods.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
6th in standings
35 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
6 top-five finishes
15 top-10 finishes
440 laps led

Career
188 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
16 top-five finishes
41 top-10 finishes
914 laps led

Track Career
10 starts
0 wins
1 pole position
0 top-five finishes
1 top-10 finish
194 laps led

STRONG PLAYOFFS: Although Alex Bowman and the No. 88 team did not advance to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4, they had an impressive playoff run that concluded Sunday at Martinsville Speedway with a sixth-place finish. The 27-year-old driver earned the second-most points (337) through nine playoff races, behind only teammate Chase Elliott (364). He also had the best average finish in the playoffs at 8.0, and his seven top-10 results in the playoffs are tied for the most with Kyle Busch.

CAREER YEAR: The 2020 season has been a personal best for Bowman and the No. 88 team. The Tucson, Arizona, native has one win, six top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and has led 440 laps in 35 events. Bowman has recorded more top-10s and laps led this year than ever in his career, securing a spot in the playoffs Round of 8 for the first time in his six seasons at the Cup level. Bowman has finished inside the top 10 in nine of the last 11 races, a personal best. In the playoffs, he led laps in five of the nine races.

WELCOME HOME: Bowman has 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at his home track of Phoenix Raceway. His best finish of sixth came in the 2016 event when the No. 88 team started from the pole position and led a race-high 194 laps. His average running position during that event was 1.9 with 272 laps running inside the top two. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has six starts at the 1-mile oval in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Bowman’s best qualifying effort of fifth came in 2014 and 2017. In the fall event in 2017, he claimed his best finishing position of eighth. In 2011, Bowman ran the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Phoenix Raceway where he started ninth and led 23 laps en route to a second-place finish.

IVES IN PHOENIX: For the 12th time in his crew chief career in the NASCAR Cup Series, Greg Ives will call the shots for the No. 88 team this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The Bark River, Michigan, native claimed the victory in the 2015 fall event at the track with Dale Earnhardt Jr. after leading 22 laps. Ives led Bowman to a pole win at the track in 2016 and the No. 88 Chevrolet led 194 laps en route to a sixth-place finish. Ives has four starts at the venue as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a best finish of fourth place coming in 2013 with driver Regan Smith. From 2006-2012, Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. During that time, he was part of four wins, one pole award and 11 top-five finishes at Phoenix Raceway.

FINAL TIME FOR NO. 88: For the final time, the No. 88 Chevrolet will be on track this weekend with Bowman at the wheel. With the car number, the driver has two wins, 117 starts, 16 top-five finishes, 41 top-10s, two pole awards and has led 911 laps for Hendrick Motorsports. Ives has been with the No. 88 for six years and has accumulated five wins, 38 top-five results, 79 top-10s, four pole awards and 1,292 laps led in that span with three different drivers. The pair will move to the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2021.

WE GOT THE GOODS: The black and yellow ChevyGoods.com paint scheme featuring Truck Hero will be on board Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE during Sunday’s event at Phoenix Raceway. In January, Hendrick Motorsports announced its partnership with ChevyGoods.com, which includes primary sponsorship of Bowman for 26 events. Associate brands that were featured throughout 2020 are Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero.

NEW DISCOUNTS: During the month of November, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on various accessories on its website. For the “Buy More, Get More” sale, customers can get 15% off (CHEVYGOODS15) with a purchase of $100-$249, 20% off (CHEVYGOODS20) with a purchase of $250-$499 and 25% off (CHEVYGOODS25) when customers spend $500 or more.

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Hendrick Motorsports

LUCKY 13: Chase Elliott’s clutch win at Martinsville locked him into Sunday’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway and a chance to compete for the NASCAR Cup Series title. A 2020 Cup championship would be the record-extending 13th for car owner Rick Hendrick, with each coming in the last 26 seasons (50%). It would also mark the fourth decade in which Hendrick Motorsports has secured a Cup title: the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

ON THIS DATE: Hendrick Motorsports has won two of the last three NASCAR Cup Series races held on Nov. 8, the date of Sunday’s championship-deciding event at Phoenix. Jeff Gordon went to victory lane in the 1998 season finale at Atlanta, and Jimmie Johnson won at Texas in 2015.

FINALE PERFORMANCE: Hendrick Motorsports has won the NASCAR Cup Series season finale on six occasions, including its inaugural year. Geoff Bodine and Tim Richmond won Riverside in 1984 and 1986, respectively. Gordon (1998) and Jerry Nadeau (2000) took the checkered flag at Atlanta. Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gordon won in 2012 and Johnson in 2016. Hendrick Motorsports won the Cup championship in 1998 and 2016.

PHX HISTORY: Phoenix Raceway has been a successful venue for Hendrick Motorsports. The team is the track’s all-time leader in wins (10), pole positions (12), top-five finishes (47), top-10s (86) and laps led (2,746). It also has nine runner-up results at Phoenix, which is tied for the most there.

PLAYOFF RECORD: Since the inception of the format in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports has 46 NASCAR Cup Series playoff wins – 16 more than any other team. Including Elliott’s two 2020 playoff victories, the organization has scored at least one in a record 16 different seasons, missing only 2017. A series-topping seven different drivers have won a playoff race for Hendrick Motorsports.

THE STATS: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 262 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (12), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,099), top-10s (1,897) and laps led (70,666) in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is six wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.

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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott’s outlook for the week leading into the season finale at Phoenix:
“I’m still kind of wrapping my head around everything, I feel like. I’ve never been in this position before, so I think myself, much like a lot of people around me are kind of learning this together. For me, I’m just taking it a day at a time and just enjoying the moment. I’ve been saying that a lot lately, and I think it’s really important to do that. I’ve heard my dad say that over the years that he wished he enjoyed certain moments more and didn’t just run through them. So I’m just trying to enjoy it. This is a big opportunity – it’s not an easy thing to make the final four, it’s not something you should ever take for granted, may not ever be here again, so I recognize that and I recognize that we have a very solid team. As the No. 9 team in general, I think we are very capable of going and contending this weekend and I believe that and I think we just have to make the most of a great opportunity and enjoy it and try to thrive in the moment and hope for the best.”

Crew chief Alan Gustafson on team preparation for the Championship 4 at Phoenix:
“I don’t think I have to keep them focused or hungry. Everybody is really motivated, we want to do this for each other, for Hendrick Motorsports and for Chase. We are just going to work really, really hard and do everything we can. The best thing I can do is make these decisions to guide throughout the week – how we are going to set the car up, or how we are going to configure for Phoenix or what path we will go. I just give the guys the best guidance I can and let them do their job. Certainly, their input and influence are huge to me, collectively we make a pretty strong team. I am excited about that and working with the pit crew, the T.J. (Semke) thing is a great example of that. You want to be very energetic, excited, enthusiastic, and determined, but you can’t let that be debilitating either or put you over the edge or consume your thoughts. I think you got to throw caution to the wind, and just work hard, entrusting what you’ve done and go execute.”

Driver William Byron on the season finale being at Phoenix Raceway:
“It’s going to be a lot different, I feel like, finishing the season in Phoenix instead of Homestead. Phoenix put on a good race the last time we were there this spring. Between the PJ1 and the low downforce, I think it was a really good recipe for good racing. I envision it being about the same when we go back this weekend. Intensity will be high with the Championship 4 battling it out, but hopefully we can go out there and be the ‘best of the rest’ and take the win. That would be a lot of fun to end the season that way.”

Byron on the characteristics of Phoenix Raceway:
“While it’s a mile in length, Phoenix really races more like a short track. With the way you use the brakes and how much you are on and off the throttle, it really has the rhythm of a short track. It has long straightaways but then short track-like corners. It does have higher speeds, though, which is a characteristic of a bigger track, including the downforce aspect.”

Crew chief Chad Knaus on his final race:
“I don’t know that it has really set in just yet that this will be my final race as a crew chief. Honestly, I’ve been trying to keep myself really busy. Every time I think about it I start to get pretty sad, so I’ve been staying as busy as I can. I’m sure that when we get to the end of the race Sunday that it’s going to be a tough moment for me and for my brother Jimmie (Johnson). Obviously, it’s going to be tough to walk away from this full time on the crew chief level, but it will be a good thing. It’s a good opportunity for me and it’s a great opportunity for the No. 24 team and for Rudy (Fugle) to really get started on their future.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on his final race as a full-time NASCAR driver:
“I’m excited, honestly. It’s been an amazing journey and one that I could have never dreamed of. To be here at the end of what has been a crazy year, going out on my terms, is really special. I’ve had the great support of Hendrick Motorsports, Ally, Cliff Daniels and my team. So many people have been there for me, especially my incredible family and friends. I’m happy. I’m in a great head space. Will it hit me in Phoenix? I’m sure it will, but I’m glad I will have my loved ones there to celebrate all we have accomplished and toast to the future.”

Johnson on crew chief Chad Knaus’ final race:
“Without Chad Knaus, there absolutely would not have been the powerhouse that came to be the No. 48 team. The guy never slept. He ate and breathed racing, always making us stronger, making us better and finding the edge. Now he doesn’t sleep because he has young kids, which makes me smile more than anything because he absolutely loves being a dad. Knaus is one of my best friends. I love him like a brother. I am so incredibly happy for him, for Brooke and his growing family, and I know he is going to take Hendrick Motorsports to the next level in a way only Chad can. For 17 years we accomplished so much. It’s mind blowing. He is my brother, there’s just no way around it. I couldn’t be happier for him for this next chapter.”

Driver Alex Bowman on his best Cup Series season:
“It is a bummer to not be going for a championship this weekend at my home track, but we have nothing to be disappointed in. This No. 88 team has worked their butts off all season, but especially these last 12 or 13 weeks. We have had great Chevrolet Camaros each and every week and it shows. I think people saw us as a wildcard throughout the playoffs and it was our goal to show everyone that we deserved to be here.”

Bowman on returning to his home track:
“Going home to Arizona is always special and to see Phoenix Raceway get the Championship race is great. Phoenix is one of those tracks where I feel like we have just had some bad luck. The 2016 race is still a race where we look back and know that we could have gotten the win there. This 88 team has been working hard on our cars both at the track and the shop, so I know we are going to unload a fast Chevrolet on Sunday. Winning at my home track would be a great ending to this crazy season. Being so close in 2016 was tough, but this team never gives up.”

Pala Casino – Phoenix II – Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Events: Season Finale 500k

Venue: Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Arizona)

Date/Broadcast: Sunday, November 8 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC

Come Sunday, the 312-mile season finale at Phoenix Raceway will be a big, and likely emotional, day for many reasons. Not only will a 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion be determined, but Go Fas Racing will make its final start as a full-time team at NASCAR’s premier level with its No. 32 entry.

Team owner Archie St. Hilaire announced on October 22 his plans to scale back operations and compete on a part-time basis going forward in 2021, following seven seasons of full-time competition.

“It definitely has been great working with Ford and all of our great marketing partners over the last 10 years and we look forward to continuing with them on a smaller scale going forward,” said St. Hilaire.

Since joining the ranks for its first full-time campaign in 2014, a multitude of drivers have etched their name in the GFR history books by piloting the No. 32 for the single-car, Mooresville, NC-based organization. That includes the likes of past champions like the Labonte brothers and some of the sport’s most notable names.

In 2016, Jeffrey Earnhardt primarily drove for the team, competing in 19 of the 36 races on the schedule, while six other drivers filled the remaining races. For the 2017 season, Matt DiBenedetto was tabbed as the first full-time driver of the No. 32 for GFR, and remained in the seat for the ensuing year.

For the next two years in 2019 and 2020, the organization signed Corey LaJoie to wheel its Ford Mustang. The North Carolina native recorded the team’s best-ever finish last year in July at Daytona by placing sixth.

Despite some of the unexpected twists and turns presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this year, LaJoie and his team have remained focused on putting together a strong 2020 campaign. And with Sunday’s race marking the final race for LaJoie with GFR, the grouping has their sights set on finishing the season on a high note with the Pala Casino Spa & Resort Ford.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000+ slot machines, 84 table games, eight poker tables and a 15,000-square-foot smoke-free casino area; a 507-room hotel; five swimming pools with two hot tubs and 14 luxury cabanas; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 17 treatment rooms, two cabanas and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 15 consecutive years.

LaJoie previously drove the Pala colors in the third race of the season at Auto Club Speedway in early March.

So while GFR embarks on its closing race Sunday at Phoenix as a full-time team, the St. Hilaire family is already looking forward to returning in 2021 and adding a new chapter to the GFR history book as a part-time team.

Tune in to the 36th and final race of the 2020 NCS season on Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. ET, live on NBC and MRN Radio.

LaJoie on the upcoming race:

“This year has really flown by. It’s been great working with the Go Fas group over the last two years and we were able to do some really cool things together. We’re going to do our best to wrap this season up with a great finish for everyone and finish off GFR’s last full season in a strong way. We’ve got Pala Casino on board for another race and we were able to spend some time with them at their resort earlier this year. It’s a phenomenal facility and I hope everyone looks at staying there when things calm down from Covid. We’ve been really fortunate to work with some great partners like Pala in our few years together and I’m really thankful for all of them. I’m really excited for this weekend and to see what the future brings for both myself and GFR.”

LaJoie’s Cup history at Phoenix Raceway:
Starts: 6
Best Finish: 26th (2019)
Average Start: 30th
Average Finish: 32.3

Looking back on the Xfinity 500:
Corey LaJoie started in the 26th position in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, after the lineup was set based on NASCAR’s mathematical formula. LaJoie battled to 23rd in the opening 20 laps. LaJoie was thrown a penalty for speeding on the first stop, but quickly recovered as he reached 21st by lap 87. The No. 32 team continued to show muscle as the Keen Parts Ford finished stage one in the 17th position and headed to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.

Under caution on lap 185, the North Carolina native radioed to crew chief Ryan Sparks that he was tighter than he was on previous runs. He pitted for a routine stop, as well as a track-bar adjustment. He returned to the pit stall under caution with just over 40 to go in stage two for a larger air pressure adjustment to go with a fresh set of tires and fuel and restarted 24th. With a fast CorvetteParts.net Ford, LaJoie charged to 18th when the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end stage two.

Following a trip down pit road for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, LaJoie took the green for the start of the final stage at “The Paperclip.” Continuing his strong run, LaJoie was contesting in 15th with 200 laps to go. A caution on lap 400 allowed LaJoie to pit for service and a track-bar adjustment after relaying that the car needed to be freed up. Out of fresh tires at the next caution, Sparks opted to keep LaJoie on track. WIth the call, LaJoie lined up as the race leader for the restart. After suffering a restart violation, LaJoie cycled into 24th, one lap down. Over the remainder of the 500-lap event, the 28-year-old crossed the finish line in 25th, netting the team’s 18th top-25 finish of the season.

About Our Team

About Pala Casino:
Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000+ slot machines, 84 table games, eight poker tables and a 15,000-square-foot smoke-free casino area; a 507-room hotel; five swimming pools with two hot tubs and 14 luxury cabanas; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 17 treatment rooms, two cabanas and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Pala also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 15 consecutive years.

About Go Fas Racing:
Go Fas Racing (GFR) currently fields Ford Mustangs in the NASCAR Cup Series for driver Corey LaJoie. Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, GFR has competed in the NASCAR’s premier series since 2014; fielding cars for some of NASCAR’s top drivers, including past champions. To find out more information about our team please visit www.GoFasRacing.com.

Stay up-to-date on Corey LaJoie:
To get live updates during the race weekends follow @coreylajoie on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to give Corey a “like” on Facebook – “@CoreyLaJoieRacing”. For a detailed bio and updated in-season statistics, please visit www.coreylajoieracing.com.

Chastain Looks to End Season on a High Note with Kaulig Racing

By
Official Release
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Ross Chastain Notes

  • Best start at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS): 5th (2020)
  • Best finish at Phoenix Raceway in the NXS: 9th (2020)
  • Laps led in 2020: 543 laps
  • Laps complete in 2020: 98.7%

Kaulig Racing Notes

  • Best start at Phoenix Raceway in the NXS: 4th (2016 & 2017)
  • Best finish at Phoenix Raceway in the NXS: 5th (2020)

Race Notes

  • Saturday, November 7 at 5PM ET on NBCSN
  • Stages: 45/90/200 Laps

Ross Chastain Quote“We’re going to Phoenix. Justin Haley and the LeafFilter Gutter Protection car have a chance at the championship! I’m so excited for those guys – Alex Yontz and everyone on that car. This No. 10 team is going to go finish fifth in the points after we win this race and end the season on a high note. We had a really fast car there in the spring, but we had one small power-steering leak. We lost power steering, but we were able to get it fixed and get back on the lead lap late in the race and finish 10th. I know we will have the speed, so we will go spoil the party and try to just outrun everybody. We’ve shown the speed all year, and if we get the car working good and turning good in the center up in that VHT spray, the sticky spray painted high in the corners, I think the track will migrate up there.

I’ve got a lot of family coming out. We are going to have some good times out in phoenix, enjoy a little vacation, and finish this season on a high note. Check us out Saturday in the Nutrien Ag Solutions car – the final race in our black and green colors this Saturday.”

About Kaulig Racing™Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car 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. Kaulig Racing fields two full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain and the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, as well as, a part-time entry – the No. 16 driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned two wins in 2019 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com. 

About Nutrien Ag Solutions™Nutrien Ag Solutions™ is the retail division of Nutrien™ Ltd. It combines global innovation with local expertise to provide full-acre solutions through a network of trusted crop consultants at retail locations around the world. Nutrien Ag Solutions strives to help growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible, offering a wide selection of products, including our proprietary brands: Loveland Products, Inc.®, Proven® Seed and Dyna-Gro® Seed. 

Ford Performance NASCAR: Grant Enfinger Championship 4 Media Availability

By
Official Release
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NASCAR GANDER RV & OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020
GRANT ENFINGER CHAMPIONSHIP 4 MEDIA AVAILABILITY

GRANT ENFINGER, No. 98 Champion Power Equipment/Curb Records Ford F-150 — DO YOU FEEL UNDERAPPRECIATED OR LIKE AN UNDERDOG GOING INTO THIS RACE? “I don’t at all, and I haven’t necessarily noticed the lack of with the exposure or anything like that. I can say it’s been a crazy season for us. It’s been a little bit uncharacteristic. I feel like last year and the year before that we kind of prided ourselves on consistency and stage points and didn’t get many wins during the course of those years. I only had one win the last couple years and this year has been drastically different. We can’t get a dad gum stage point to save our life, but we’ve been able to put ourselves in position and to take advantage of the situations and win four races. I’m definitely proud of that. I’d much rather be in this position than the position we were the last couple years, but I’m just proud we’ve made it to this point. I don’t feel like we’re entering Phoenix as an underdog. Obviously, only one of our ThorSport trucks made it. We’re going against three GMS trucks. I understand all that and I feel like Phoenix is a good style track for us this year. I feel like we’ve excelled at the short tracks, so I don’t actually feel like we’re going into this as an underdog at all.”

DID BEING THE ONLY THORSPORT TRUCK CHANGE ANYTHING AS FAR AS BRINGING A DIFFERENT TRUCK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? “No, we already had this truck sent out. We were hoping for this instance to happen. It’s the same truck we ran at Richmond earlier this year. We were very happy with it there, so this is all kind of business as usual for us. We’ve nut and bolted it a couple more times or something like that, but pretty much everything is the same as we would have been approaching it otherwise.”

DO YOU THINK THE RACING SHOULD BE A BIT CLEANER THAN IT’S BEEN THE LAST TWO WEEKS? “I feel like in general truck racing is, unfortunately, pretty rough. I don’t like that, but that’s the world we live in in the Truck Series. You have to be so aggressive, especially on restarts to be able to make anything happen. Honestly, a lot of the reason is because it’s so hard to pass once we get going. I don’t anticipate anybody intentionally taking anybody out or anybody dumping anybody like that, but I definitely expect guys throwing sliders, guys throwing something in there and hoping it sticks, and I’m sure the guys up front will be doing that. You also have to realize there are other guys out here racing too, and I don’t think anybody is gonna intentionally make it harder for one of us that’s in the Championship 4 or anything like that, but you can bet that they’re gonna be going for the win and you just kind of have to expect that as a driver.”

DO YOU HAVE TO RACE ANY DIFFERENTLY SINCE IT’S ONE AGAINST THREE IN THE FINAL FOUR? “I don’t feel like we do. Obviously, we’d love for it to be four ThorSport Racing drivers there in the final four, but that’s not this situation we’re in. We’re going against those guys, but I don’t feel like we necessarily have to race any differently. Our strategy going in there is just to win the race flat out. I feel like with the competitors that we’re going against that any one of them are capable of pulling off the win. They’ve all won races this year. I feel like at the end of the day that may not be how it looks when the green flags comes out, but I feel like by the time the checkered flag comes out you’re gonna have to have won this race to be the champion.”

DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE EARLY IN THE RACE BECAUSE YOU ARE BY YOURSELF AND DON’T HAVE ANY TEAMMATES TO RACE AGAINST FOR THE TITLE? “I don’t know if there’s an advantage or a disadvantage, but we’re gonna go for broke from the time the green flags drop to the time the checkered flag drops and hope that it works out in our favor. We’re gonna not do anything stupid, definitely not intentionally put anybody in a bad spot, but we’re gonna go for broke. That’s where our mindset is. I don’t think it’s necessarily an advantage or a disadvantage going into it like that, but that’s how we feel like we have to play the hand we’re dealt and that’s how we feel like we need to play it.”

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE SO MANY FIREWORKS IN THE TRUCK SERIES? “I think there are a lot of younger drivers in here that are starting out, so you can throw some of that inexperience in there. But you also have to look at the package and it is so hard to pass once we get going that you have to make these wild and crazy moves on starts and restarts and at the end of the day, as much as I hate to say this, there’s not big repercussions for putting somebody in a bad spot. You can obviously get taken out yourself and that happens, but you almost have to put yourself in bad spots and just hope it works out to be able to get that advantage on a restart because you have to be dramatically faster than somebody to pass them on a normal given race weekend. So I feel like that’s a big part of it as well, and I feel like as we’ve seen the Cup Series kind of go more to this package at the mile-and-a-halves I fee like you’ve seen more of that stuff happening there as well.”

WHY HAVEN’T WE SEEN THE CHOOSE RULE RESULT IN MOST OF THE TRUCKS ENDING UP IN ONE LINE AT SOME POINT? I think it just depends on where you go. I’m definitely a big fan of that rule. I think there are certain places that we go, kind of like last week at Martinsville, but especially when we go back to Atlanta next year, I feel like there are games that are played on pit road. When you were leaving your pit stall, you may check up a little bit to try to get on that bottom line and I just don’t like that. I think that’s silly. I think it adds for more issues in the pits, so I’m a big fan of this choose rule. I think if you count the average out of all the races for us it’s kind of been a non-factor as far as results. I think there’s been a couple times that I’ve chosen right and there have been a couple times where I’ve made the wrong choice, but I am a fan of the rule. I can’t tell you why it hasn’t produced as big of a results swing as maybe you expected, but I will definitely tell you to watch the restarts this weekend, not necessarily the choose rule, but it could definitely come into play with people short-cutting the dogleg and the four and five-wide racing you’re gonna see on the frontstretch is gonna be wild.”

HOW MUCH WOULD IT MEAN TO WIN A TITLE FOR JEFF HENSLEY? “It would be huge for Jeff. It would be huge for me. I think he’d probably tell you the same thing I’d tell you. It would be even bigger for us to bring the owner’s championship to Duke and Rhonda Thorson and to Mike Curb for everything that they’ve done in this series for so long. Man, I’ll be honest with you, maybe if I look back on it and we’re fortunate enough to win this championship, maybe I’ll look back on it and think differently, but right now these are the guys that kind of took a chance on us, that paired us together and we want to make them proud and that’s one of the few things that Duke and Rhonda have not yet accomplished in this series. They’ve done everything you can imagine, so I feel like an owner’s championship would be even more important and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeff told you the same thing.”

Trevor Bayne – Phoenix Raceway Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Lucas Oil 250 | Phoenix Raceway Race Advance

Team: No. 45 AirPower Foundation Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Trevor Bayne

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport, @TBayne6

Bayne on Racing at Phoenix: “We’re thankful to have the AirPower Foundation back on the truck, and I’m ready to finish the season strong this weekend at Phoenix,” said Bayne. “A good result in the last race of the year is always important for momentum into the offseason.”

Bayne at Phoenix: Friday’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Phoenix Raceway marks Bayne’s first Truck Series start at the track.

Bayne has 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, with one top-five and six top-10 finishes. Bayne’s best finish of fourth came in 2013.

The Tennessee-native has eight NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway.

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet will carry the AirPower Foundation colors at Phoenix Raceway on Friday night.

The AirPower Foundation was established by the nation’s oldest civilian military support organization.

Since its formation in 1999, the AirPower Foundation provides funding for programs dedicated to supporting active duty military, veterans, and their families. AirPower also supports projects to assist wounded warriors, ill or injured service members, our GoldStar families of the fallen, veterans of previous wars and educational projects to make sure the next generation understands the honor and sacrifice of serving our country. AirPower is the only organization authorized by the Vietnam POW organization NAMPOW to support them.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel / lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Phoenix International Raceway

By
Official Release
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Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Race Info:
Race: Season Finale 500
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 8/3:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 312 Laps/312 Miles
Track Shape: Oval
Track Length: 1 mile
Banking: 9-11 degrees
2019 Winner: Kyle Busch

Express Notes:

Press Kit: Download the 2020 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

Martinsville Recap: Denny Hamlin and the FedEx Racing team earned a berth in the Championship 4 with an 11th-place finish Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin had a strong FedEx Shipathon Toyota for the early part of the race, winning Stage 1 and leading 42 laps spanning the first two stages. But the event turned into a nail-biter for the team in Stage 3 when their front-running car showed some vulnerability. Before the first green flag of the final stage, Hamlin had to return to pit road to get loose lug nuts tightened, forcing him to the back of the field. The car also lost some of its nimble handling as the sun set and the track cooled in the third stage, making it more difficult to climb back up the leaderboard. But crossing the line in 11th was enough to earn a Championship 4 spot along with Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski.

Phoenix Preview: Hamlin will compete in his third Championship 4 as he works toward his first NASCAR Cup Series title on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. The FedEx Racing driver is the defending winner of the fall Phoenix race and owns career totals of two wins, and 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes at the one-mile oval in the Arizona desert. He’ll look to top his seven wins on the 2020 season with the ultimate prize – the Cup trophy – with his team and long-time sponsor FedEx.

Hamlin Statistics:

Track: Phoenix Raceway
Races: 30
Wins: 2
Poles: 2
Top-5: 13
Top-10: 17
Laps Led: 821
Avg. Start: 10.2
Avg. Finish: 11.3

Hamlin Conversation – Phoenix:

How do you see your championship chances at Phoenix?

“I think we can win any given week for sure. The short tracks haven’t been great for us all year, but you just never know. Last year, we went there and nearly lapped the field, so who knows how it’s going to turn out. One race, winner take all, you never know.”

Is there any data or experience you can lean on to help your chances of success at Phoenix?

“It’s an entirely different ballgame now. It really is. The aerodynamic package is a lot different for Phoenix. There’re no similarities that you can really draw to it. You just never know. Obviously, we’re going to be ready and we’re going to be prepared and hopefully we’ll go out there and show what we’ve got.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings – Martinsville

By
Briar Starr
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Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson and Austin Cindric race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Draft Top 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 31, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images.

For the first time in 13 years, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returned to Martinsville Speedway for race No. 32 of the 2020 season and the final race in the Round of 8 Playoffs.

Heading into Martinsville, just one driver was locked into the Championship 4 at Phoenix, and that was Chase Briscoe thanks to his Kansas victory a couple of weeks ago. However, three other spots were up for grabs with seven drivers jockeying for those final three positions to race for a championship.

At the end of the 250-lap race Saturday afternoon, it was Chase Briscoe, Justin Allgaier, Austin Cindric and Justin Haley who would make the Championship 4 at Phoenix this coming Saturday afternoon.

While the race was geared toward the final three that had a chance to make it in, there was also a race winner to keep an eye on. That race winner turned out to be Harrison Burton in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing machine. Burton took the lead on Lap 198 and never looked back to lead the final 53 laps en route to his fourth win of the season.

Nevertheless, we’ll take a look at how others fared in this week’s Xfinity Series Power Rankings following the Draft Top 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

  1. Chase Briscoe – A seventh-place run in Saturday’s race was certainly uncharacteristic as the team is used to running in the top three or winning most of the time. Thankfully, with help from his Kansas victory a few weeks ago, he was able to take a breather before the Championship 4 race without having to worry about being in a must-win situation. For the race itself, Briscoe could only earn a stage finish of 10th in Stage 1 before settling for his 21st top-10 of the year. Now, all eyes will be on Briscoe Saturday to see if he can capitalize on what has been a dominant season with nine victories.

    Previous Week Ranking – First
  2. Ross Chastain – Chastain finished fifth once the checkered flag flew Saturday and earned his 15th top-five of the year. In addition, the Floridan finished fourth in Stage 1 and won the second stage. Unfortunately, the stage finishes weren’t enough for Chastain to be a part of the Championship 4 as he would fail to move on despite the top-five finish. It was certainly a disappointing effort for the Kaulig Racing driver who will be moving on to the Cup Series next year to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing.

    Previous Week Ranking – Fifth
  3. Justin Haley – Speaking of Kaulig Racing, Haley, the Indiana native, will now be racing for a championship come Saturday after earning three wins, 10 top fives and 20 top-10 finishes this year. This won’t be the first time that Haley has been a part of Championship 4. The last time he was a part of the season finale was two years ago in 2018 at Homestead, which is no longer the site where the champion is crowned. Throughout Saturday’s race, Haley finished fifth and third, respectively, in both stages, before finishing 12th.

    Previous Week Ranking – Fourth
  4. Harrison Burton – After a few disappointing finishes at Talladega and transmission woes at the Charlotte Roval, Burton has been on a roll the last few weeks winning back to back races that started with a last-lap pass at Texas. On Saturday, the North Carolina native led 81 laps and finished second and ninth in the first two stages. One has to wonder, had Burton not been eliminated early in the Playoffs, he most likely would be challenging for the championship. But, like most drivers, Burton will have to wait until next year to have his opportunity.

    Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked
  5. Justin Allgaier – Allgaier is back for a second year in the Championship 4 following his second-place outing at Martinsville. The JR Motorsports driver didn’t lead any laps but finished eighth and fourth in both stages. Allgaier’s 16th top-five of the year was enough to move him on to fight for a championship again. He’s been close many times but we’ll have to wait and see if Allgaier will be crowned champion this Saturday.

    Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked

Fell Out

  1. Ryan Sieg – While Sieg has enjoyed one of his best Xfinity Series seasons to date with seven top-fives and 11 top-10 finishes, he missed out on competing for a championship due to his 1tth place finish. However, while it was disappointing for the team not to be a part of the finale, Sieg has definitely put up a great fight in the Playoffs and moved on further than anyone was expecting.

    Previous Week Ranking – Third

Raphael Lessard – No. 4 Mobil Tundra Gander Trucks Phoenix Preview

By
Official Release
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Raphael Lessard: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview:

Event: Lucas Oil 150, Race 23 of 23, 200 Laps – 45/45/60; 150 Miles
Location: Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (one-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Nov. 6, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Racing with Raphael:

Raphael Lessard and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team head to Phoenix Raceway for the final race of the 2020 season. The talented teenager will make his first career start at the one-mile facility. Last week, Lessard was in contention to win at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway until a spin and contact from another competitor in the final ten laps relegated the rookie driver to a 20th-place finish.

The 19-year-old Canadian rookie became just the fifth foreign-born driver earn a Gander Trucks victory when he narrowly edged former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne under caution in NASCAR overtime at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 3. Overall, in 2020, Lessard has 22 starts with one win, 20 laps led, three top-fives, six top-10s, an average starting position of 13.0 and an average finishing position of 15.7.

The rookie driver has delivered improved finishes in the second half of the season. After posting an average finish of 18.3 and a best result of 11th across the first 10 races of the season, Lessard has posted an average finish of 13.6 across the last 12 races, including his win and all six of his top-10 finishes.

While Lessard may be a newcomer to the Gander Trucks, crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has plenty of experience. The veteran crew chief has 322 Gander Truck Series starts under his belt, with 23 wins, 23 poles, 118 top-five and 176 top-10 finishes with drivers including Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Kyle Busch and last season, Harrison Burton. At Phoenix, Hillman has 13 starts, six top-fives, nine top-10s, an average starting spot of 10.2 and an average finish of 6.7. He earned one win in 2005 with Todd Bodine.

Due to Lessard’s presence in the series, all 23 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series races this season will be broadcast throughout Canada on RDS and RDS DIRECT.

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1, features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.

Raphael Lessard, Driver Q&A

It’s the final race of the season. How would you assess your season?

“It’s the last race of the season at Phoenix. I’ve never been there. I’m excited to go and try it out. We are going to try and end on a good note. Overall, I learned a lot this season. I can’t thank everyone enough at Kyle Busch Motorsports, TRD, Mobil 1, JBL, CANAC and everyone that makes it possible. It’s been a crazy year with no practice or qualifying, but we battled through it. We had some challenges. I gained a lot of experience throughout the season. I feel like I am a way better driver than I was at the beginning of the season. I have way more experience, so I am happy with the results we had. Hopefully we can go get a win now!”

As you’ve began studying for this week’s race, how crazy do the restarts look to be with the dogleg right after the start finish line?

“Phoenix looks really unique especially with the dogleg. On the restarts, I feel like it gets crazy. Even during the race, it gets crazy as everyone goes down there trying to cut the racetrack to get the shortest way around. It should be exciting. I’m excited to try it out. Hopefully, we can take the dogleg to our advantage and get more speed out of the truck doing it. I’m excited. I’m just going to go for it again this weekend.”

What’s on top of your list for things to do when season is over?

“There are a lot of things on my list for this offseason that I want to do. Mostly, I feel like it’s going to be going back to Canada and see my family that I haven’t seen all year and spend time with them. I would say I am sad that the season is over already because I wanted to race more and more and race everyday if I could. It’s been a good season. We are going to finish it on a high note and go have a good time with my family.”

Raphael Lessard Career Highlights:

Across 27 career Truck Series starts has produced one win, three top-fives, eight top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.9.
In 2019, Lessard posted 83 laps led, two top-five and three top-10 finishes across three ARCA Menards Series starts and one win, one top-five and two top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. His Pinty’s Series victory came at his hometown track, Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec, on June 29 when he led a race-high 153 laps en route to the sentimental win.
Won two marquee events driving KBM’s famed No. 51 Super Late Model in 2018: The Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May and the Red Bud 400 ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Anderson Speedway in July.
Overall in 16 starts for KBM in 2018 split across the CARS Super Late Model Tour, the Southern Super Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series, posted two wins, three poles, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2018.Started seventh and led 68 laps in the prestigious Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
Captured the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour championship after recording four wins, one pole, 157 laps led, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes across 10 races.

Raphael Lessard’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra:

KBM-062: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload chassis number KBM-062, which has been raced five times. Most recently, Lessard piloted the chassis to an 18th-place finish earlier this season at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The Tundra’s best finish was sixth at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in August.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected five wins, five poles, 914 laps led, 11 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.7 across 28 starts at Phoenix Raceway.
  • The organization’s five victories at the Arizona track have come with four different drivers. Kyle Busch won in 2011, Brian Scott in 2012, Erik Jones went back-to-back in 2013-2014 and Daniel Suarez claimed the top spot in 2016.
  • KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).

Elliott awarded final Cup Series pole of 2020

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Chase Elliott will start on pole position for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 8.

Elliott, who won last weekend’s event at Martinsville Speedway and led a race-high 236 of 500 laps, was awarded the pole for Phoenix based on four stats: current owner points standings, the driver’s results from a previous Cup race, the owner’s results from a previous Cup race and the fastest lap established from a previous Cup race.

This marks Elliott’s first appearance in the Championship 4 round in his fifth full-time season in NASCAR’s premier series, all with Hendrick Motorsports, as he will contend for his first Cup Series championship.

Joey Logano, the 2018 Cup champion who won at Phoenix in March, will start alongside Elliott on the front row. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Cup champion, will start in third and Denny Hamlin reigning three-time Daytona 500 champion, will start in fourth, with the final four contenders occupying the top-four starting spots.

Ryan Blaney, who finished in the runner-up spot last weekend at Martinsville, will start in fifth place. Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and teammate Aric Almirola will start in the top 10. Bowyer is set to make his 541st and final career start in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Starting in positions 11-26 are Kevin Harvick, Matt DiBenedetto, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Cole Custer, Matt Kenseth, Christopher Bell, Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Tyler Reddick, Ty Dillon, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Preece, William Byron and teammate Jimmie Johnson, who will be making his 686th and final start in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Starting in positions 27-39 are John Hunter Nemechek, Corey LaJoie, Michael McDowell, Daniel Suarez, Chris Buescher, J.J. Yeley, Timmy Hill, Quin Houff, Brennan Poole, James Davison, Joey Gase, Josh Bilicki and Garrett Smithley.

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway will occur on Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

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