Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Beef-a-Roo Ford Team
Kansas Speedway Competition Notes
Hollywood Casino 400

Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Event: Race 33 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile)
#of Laps: 267
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

The Kansas Speedway is up next for Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Team. Gragson has had his fair share of success at the 1.5-mile Kansas City, Kansas speedway. He started from the pole and dominated the May 2018 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, leading 128 of 167 laps en route to victory. In the Xfinity Series, Gragson has made five starts at the track, earning three top-15 finishes and one win. In the Cup Series, his best result in six starts is a ninth-place finish with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Beef-a-Roo returns at this weekend’s Kansas event! Don’t miss out on their latest deals and rewards. Download the new Beef-a-Roo app today and automatically receive a free drink. As a loyalty member, you’ll earn two (2) points for every dollar spent at any Beef-a-Roo location—bringing you closer to exclusive rewards, a free shake on your birthday, and tasty treats with every bite. Start earning Roo Rewards today on Google Play or the Apple Store. Plus, for the month of September, take advantage of the 2 for $7 Mix & Match Deal. Choose from favorites like the Beef ‘n Cheddar, Wild West Burger, Loaded Fries, or Large Fry—mix any two for only $7 at participating locations.

“Kansas has always been a solid track for me,” said Gragson. “We had a strong run there earlier this year with a 14th-place finish, and we’re coming off a 16th at New Hampshire that gives us some momentum. I’ve had wins at Kansas in both Xfinity and Trucks, and even in the Cup car we’ve shown good speed. It’s a track where I feel confident and know what I need out of the car. If we can execute and put the full weekend together, I think we’ll be in a good spot again.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo

Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Michael Louria

Hometown: Gibraltar, Michigan

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Quan Hampton

Hometown: Compton, California

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT BEEF-A-ROO

Beef-a-Roo is a fast casual restaurant chain known for fresh, made-to-order American faire such as juicy burgers, famous cheddar fries, slow-roasted beef sandwiches, and a variety of hand-made milkshake flavors. Founded in 1967, Beef-a-Roo has 58 years of famously delicious flavor and success. The legacy began in Rockford, Illinois, with 7 locations and has grown to 18 company-owned restaurants and three franchise locations spanning eight states. For a complete menu and to find the location nearest to you please visit: https://beefaroo.com/. Follow Beef-a-Roo on social media: Instagram at @beefaroousa and Facebook at facebook.com/beefaroousa.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Kansas Speedway
September 27-28, 2025

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series playoff schedules have finally aligned as the duo will head to the heartland to Kansas Speedway, where the mile-and-a-half oval will serve as the second race of the Round of 12 for each division.

The Bowtie brigade is coming off a strong start to the second round of the 2025 Cup Series playoffs with all four title contenders collecting top-10 finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. For the Xfinity Series, a weekend refresh is in the rearview mirror as the division returns to nonstop competition for the final stretch towards the championship. The regular season champion, Connor Zilisch, finds himself in a familiar position atop the playoff rankings heading into the penultimate race of the series’ opening round.

 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas:

It’s been a Chevrolet-powered machine that has made its way to victory lane in the past three-straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, with Kyle Larson’s win in the series’ most recent appearance marking the manufacturer’s series-leading 16th all-time triumph at the track. The 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native is a back-to-back winner in the track’s spring date, with his May 2024 triumph going down as the closest finish in NASCAR history. Returning to the heartland in the fall, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain drove to a playoff upset victory to complete Chevrolet’s Kansas season sweep. All four of Team Chevy’s title contenders have earned a top-10 finish in one of the past-two Kansas races with William Byron placing second and Chase Elliott placing ninth one year ago.

Matching the record-setting ways of its manufacturer partner, Hendrick Motorsports also leads the division in wins at Kansas Speedway with the Chevrolet organization reaching a double-digit win count of 10 victories in the spring. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kansas success began right out of the gate with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, driving the famed No. 24 Chevrolet to victory lane in the series’ first-two races at the track (Sept. 2001; Sept. 2002).

 ROUND OF 12 REBOUND

Team Chevy hit the ground running for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – becoming the only manufacturer to see all of its playoff contenders earn top-10 results in the opening race. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson were among just the four playoff drivers that earned points in each stage of the race, which paid dividends for their cutline cushions as the duo sits in the top-two provisional points positions heading into the Kansas race weekend with Byron in second (+47) and Larson in third (+41). The next-two stops in this round fit right in the wheelhouse for Team Chevy’s title contenders with Larson and Chase Elliott holding victories at both Kansas and the Charlotte ROVAL and Ross Chastain entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas.

Chastain Eyes Opportunity at Kansas:

Carrying the momentum from a top-10 finish to open the Round of 12, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain has an extra boost of confidence – entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas Speedway. One year ago, the 32-year-old Alva, Florida, native disrupted the playoff field by stealing the checkered flag for the team’s first win of the season. Since joining Trackhouse Racing, Chastain has proven he knows how to navigate the mile-and-a-half oval – posting four top-seven results in seven starts. Chastain has also found consistency in qualifying at the track – earning four top-six starting positions behind the wheel of the organization’s Chevrolet-powered machines.

Larson’s Hendrick Dominance in the Heartland:

Looking to turn a strong points position into a guaranteed ticket into the Round of Eight is Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, who return to Kansas Speedway as the track’s most recent winners. The victory – Larson’s third in his Cup Series career at Kansas – came in dominating fashion by claiming the pole, sweeping the stages and leading 221 of the 267 laps. Throughout his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has tallied six top-four finishes in nine career Cup Series starts at Kansas.

 SPIRE CONTINUING TO BUILD LATE-SEASON MOMENTUM

Continuing to show speed during the late-season push is Spire Motorsports, who once again proved to be a threat for a playoff upset at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. At the drop of the checkered-flag, Michael McDowell drove his No. 71 Chevrolet to an eighth-place finish – becoming one of just two non-playoff drivers to earn a top-10 result. His teammate, Carson Hocevar, collected his fourth-straight top-15 finish of the season after putting together a race that saw a fifth-place finish in both stages before bringing home an 11th-place result.

ZILISCH HOLDS STRONG POINTS LEAD INTO RACE TWO

With their final idle weekend in the books, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is now full-throttle towards the race for the championship with Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 marking the penultimate race of the series’ opening playoff round. Three Team Chevy title contenders will head to the heartland above the playoff cutline – led by JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, who sits in the top position with an 85-point advantage. His teammate and the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, also shares a strong points position in second and 53-points above the cutline. The pair are the only two playoff drivers that could potentially point their way into the Round of Eight following this weekend’s event.

All seven of Team Chevy’s playoff drivers will seek their first Kansas triumph this weekend. In the series’ most recent appearance at the venue (Sept. 2024), it was Zilisch that led the Bowtie brigade to the finish with a fourth-place result, which came in just his second career Xfinity Series start. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native carries a streak of 15-straight top-five finishes into the weekend – a run that dates back to Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. The rising star has the opportunity to break the series’ record for consecutive top-five finishes this weekend, which was previously set by Sam Ard in 1983.

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 30 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 12
Poles: 11
Laps Led: 3,255
Top-Fives: 56
Top-10s: 122
Stage Wins: 22

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 27 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:

Wins: 23
Poles: 17
Laps Led: 3,293
Top-Fives: 90
Top-10s: 176
Stage Wins: 41

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 21 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:

Wins: 6
Poles: 2
Laps Led: 939
Top-Fives: 44
Top-10s: 96
Stage Wins: 7

 BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway:

Kyle Larson – three wins (2025, 2024, 2021)

Kyle Busch – two wins (2021, 2016)

Ross Chastain – one win (2024)

Chase Elliott – one win (2018)

· In 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 16 victories – including both the series’ inaugural race (Jeff Gordon – Sept. 2021) and the most recent race (Kyle Larson – May 2025).

· Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are among the five remaining NASCAR Cup Series title contenders that have found victory lane in two of the three tracks in the Round of 12.

o Larson: three-time Kansas winner and two-time Charlotte ROVAL winner, including the defending winner at each track.

o Elliott: one Kansas victory and two Charlotte ROVAL victories.

· Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 13 of the 30 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

· In 138 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 46.4%.

· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 878 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Playoffs Round of 12: Race Two

Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet

Sunday, September 28, at 3 p.m. ET

(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Playoffs Round of 12: Race Two

Kansas Lottery 300

Saturday, September 27, at 4 p.m. ET

(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

How do the playoffs test a race team? Is there tension when it comes to being in the playoffs?

“I wouldn’t say there’s any more tension. Everyone is professional and you can’t get into the playoffs and all of the sudden change everything you’ve been doing. Everyone goes in each day putting their best effort into the task at hand. You got into the playoffs because you did well, so I wouldn’t say the attitudes or anything change just because we’re in the playoffs.”

You won last year at Kansas and this year at Charlotte. How do you feel your intermediate program is?

“I feel our intermediate program is the strongest for the No. 1 car out of the different types of tracks. I think if we can replicate how we ran at Kansas last year and Charlotte this year, that we’ll have a strong shot to win or definitely run inside the top-five. We haven’t been able to do that at all of the mile-and-a-half tracks this year though. The little bit of a question mark going into Kansas is if we can replicate those races.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Kansas Speedway has been one of the most competitive races in the Next Gen era. Do drivers feel that on the track?

“When I think of Kansas (Speedway), I think of wild restarts, racing four-wide, and running the wall. It has definitely become one of the best mile-and-a-half tracks that we go to. Weather wise, we might have cooler temperatures than years prior. The track has gotten slick since they repaved it, and it has become a make-or-break race for a lot of guys in the Playoffs.”

How unique is Kansas Speedway compared to some of the other 1.5-mile tracks, and how will you attack the track this weekend?

“Kansas Speedway has its own personality for sure. Even though it’s a mile-and-a-half like some other tracks, the surface has aged a bit, so you get a lot of tire fall-off and have to manage your run. It’s wide, which gives you options—up by the wall or down on the bottom—so you can move around depending on how your car’s handling. This weekend, we’ll focus on getting the balance right early in the run and try to keep the speed over the long haul. If we can do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

You’ve had solid showings on intermediate tracks this year. How do you feel heading into Kansas this weekend?

“We’ve had lots of speed at the mile-and-a-half tracks this year and that’s credit to the team at Spire Motorsports and their remarkable attention to detail. I feel really comfortable at Kansas and we were fast in the Spring. Hopefully, we can get luck back on our side and have a good day.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend?

“I really like Kansas Speedway. I would love to go back there and get a little bit of redemption with not during fall of 2024 after getting taken out late in the race while trying to race around a lapped car. We were fast in the fall of 2023 until I crashed in practice, so, we want to make sure that we do all we can in order to not have that happen this time around and carry our speed in and through the race and have a good finish.”

What do you think is most challenging about Kansas Speedway?

“Kansas is tough all around and a lot of it has to do with the wind. The wind can really play havoc on the car’s handling, depending on which direction it’s blowing. I would say that you are trying to maximize your speed at all areas of the track and sometimes when you’re running high against the wall you overstep those bounds and get in trouble.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“It’ll be good for our group to get back to a mile-and-a-half this weekend at Kansas; those have probably been our best racetracks. The spring race was difficult but with what we have learned at Charlotte and a couple of the other racetracks since then, it will help us this weekend. Our No. 16 group has been putting together solid weekends and we we’re working hard to continue to do that.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“Kansas has always been a place where momentum can shift, and I’m excited to head there with Ram Self Storage back on the car.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

A lot of drivers refer to Kansas Speedway as the perfect 1.5-mile track, what makes it so versatile and dynamic?

“I think it’s probably because it’s the easiest to get multiple lanes going, even Lap 1 in practice you can run the top there where you know places like Charlotte, Texas, and other 1.5-mile tracks, you don’t you have to build up to it. So, the track has multiple lanes, multiple grooves and that all comes together fairly early in the run. In general, Kansas seems to produce a pretty good race.
I’d mostly say because you can move around.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

You’ve expressed your excitement for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. Given your team’s recent performance and your personal preference for mile-and-a-half tracks, what do you think will be key to success?

“I’ve always loved mile-and-a-half tracks. They’re where I feel most comfortable and our team’s been showing a lot of speed the last few weeks. We won the truck race at Kansas in May, and I’m hoping we can translate that into success in the Delaware Life Chevy this weekend. I love running on the fence, but you really have to move around and try different lanes. I think we’re in a good position to have a strong weekend.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

“Kansas is one of my favorite tracks. You’re up on the fence and it’s just a unique racetrack with low banking, low grip and it races really well. There are so many grooves and seems and you can run right up against the fence. There are a lot of different ways you can go around that track and that definitely makes it one of the more unique racetracks that we go to. We were able to cleanly get through Bristol and I think we’re in a good spot heading to Kansas this weekend.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2024

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2025 STATISTICS:

Wins: 12

Poles: 11

Laps Led: 3,255

Top-Fives: 56

Top-10s: 122

Stage Wins: 22

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 878 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 764

Laps led to date: 255,966

Top-fives to date: 4,425

Top-10s to date: 9,129

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,212

       Chevrolet: 878

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 846                                                                               

       Ford: 746

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 201

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team head to Kansas Speedway this weekend looking to build on momentum after snapping a three-race run of misfortune with a runner-up finish at New Hampshire.

Berry said the approach remains the same – just without the tough luck – as they prepare for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

“I think, for one, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Berry said. “The last few weeks we’ve shown up with really fast Ford Mustangs, qualified up front and put ourselves in position to contend.

“After a tough few weeks, New Hampshire was a big step for us, starting third and finishing second, and that gives our group a lot of confidence.”

Kansas also brings optimism given the team’s performance in May, when Berry drove to fourth in Stage 2 and a sixth-place finish overall.

“We had a lot of speed at Kansas in the spring, and if we execute, I feel like we’ll give ourselves another great opportunity,” he said.

On-track activity begins Saturday with practice at 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:10 p.m. on truTV. The Hollywood Casino 400 goes green Sunday at 3 p.m. ET with live coverage on USA Network.

Stage breaks are scheduled for Laps 80 and 165 of the 267-lap, 400.5-mile race.

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!

Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.