CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 34TH
ERIK JONES
POINT STANDINGS: 30TH

JIMMIE JOHNSON

CLUB NOTES

EJ Stats: Erik Jones has sixteen NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, resulting in three top 10s and four top 15s. With an average finish of 19.875, his best finish was seventh in 2019. Jones has seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, and never finished outside of the top 10. Out of the three Truck Series starts, Jones won back-to-back events at Phoenix in 2013 and 2014.

JHN Stats: John Hunter Nemechek has 21 NASCAR starts at Phoenix Raceway across all three of NASCAR’s national series. Four of the starts have come in the Cup Series, but Nemechek has shined from a performance standpoint in the Xfinity Series as he has scored two runner-up finishes.

Four Wins: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner, Jimmie Johnson, has had a significant presence at Phoenix Raceway. He won at the track four times in his NASCAR Cup Series career. His victories there came in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Johnson’s next NASCAR Cup Series win would be his 84th.

Comcast Community of the Year Finalist: Last week, NASCAR Official Partner Comcast announced the finalists for the “2024 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award”. Four remarkable individuals have demonstrated unwavering dedication and inspiring acts of service, creating ripples of positive change that extend far beyond the racetrack. From championing melanoma research to empowering colleagues and ensuring the health of their communities through life-saving blood drives, the 2024 finalists embody the spirit of giving back. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Erik Jones was named one of these finalists. Jones has made significant strides in giving back to his community. Established in August 2021, Erik launched the Erik Jones Foundation (EJF), designed to provide charitable donations to various foundations and organizations within his community. The emphasis on cancer care is deeply personal to Erik following the loss of his father to the disease in 2016. Alongside his efforts with melanoma research, the Erik Jones Foundation has supported various initiatives including fundraising events supporting literacy for children across Michigan, with a notable donation in June 2022 to the Genesee District Library, a public library system with 19 locations serving the residents of Genesee County, Mich.

Sun Bus: The Erik Jones Foundation has partnered with the Sun Bus this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The Sun Bus offers free cancer screenings, preventative information and education, as well as research programs to prevent skin diseases and skin cancers. This will be the second year the EJF has partnered with the Sun Bus at Phoenix to deliver complimentary screenings and tools for cancer awareness and prevention.

Final Full-Time Race: Johnson’s last full-time NASCAR Cup Series race took place at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. To honor his LEGACY, the track named a street outside the venue “Jimmie Johnson Drive” He finished fifth in the race, ending a 10-race streak without a top 10 finish.

Fan Design Contest: Johnson and longtime partner, Carvana, recently engaged with fans through a design contest for the car that Johnson would drive at the Phoenix race. The winning design, inspired by the Arizona desert, features vibrant shades of orange, red, and purple. The grand prize included flights to Phoenix, VIP passes and a meet-and-greet with Johnson and other members of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. The winning design was created by Ben Moore.

ASU Homecoming: Kellen Mills, jackman of the No. 43 Dollar Tree team, returns to his home track this week as a Mesa, Arizona native. Before joining the “over the wall” crew, Mills played defensive end for Arizona State University’s football team in the early 2000s and was an all-state fullback at Mesa Mountain View High School before joining the Sun Devils. After college Mills moved to North Carolina and has been a pit crew member for the last five years.

Appearances: John Hunter Nemechek has a host of appearances this weekend. On Saturday, he will be conducting a question-and-answer session at the Busch Light Lounge / The Barn at Phoenix Raceway from 1:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sunday, Nemechek will make a visit to the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise rig located in the Fan Zone at 10:15 a.m. before he straps into his Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE for the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Superbird Supra: This week at SEMA in Las Vegas, Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled its tribute to Richard Petty’s 75 years in racing with a Toyota Suprabird concept, which will also be available as an official Hot Wheels™ die-cast car. According to the press release via Toyota, “This collaboration brings the iconic design to a broader audience, allowing fans of all ages to own a piece of this historic tribute to Richard Petty’s legacy. The Hot Wheels Suprabird promises to capture the spirit and excitement of the original, making it a must-have addition to any collection. The Suprabird is more than a tribute; it’s a celebration of the past, present, and future of racing.”

Going for G.O.L.D.: Partners Dollar Tree Family Dollar has a “Go for G.O.L.D.” (Grand Opening Look Daily) program. Each week throughout the season, the No. 42 and No. 43 will feature one of the local stores on the decklid of the Toyota Camry XSE.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE:

“I am looking forward to returning to Phoenix this weekend and hopefully closing out the 2024 season on a strong note. With having an extended practice, we should be able to fine tune on our No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE. Both Erik [Jones] and I had a good qualifying effort here in the spring; we are needing to put more emphasis on this part of the weekend — so we don’t get caught behind early in the race. Everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has been working extremely hard and I hope we can put it all together this weekend in Phoenix and go into the off-season with a solid weekend.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“Phoenix, we ran really well in the spring, so that’s encouraging. It’s another place we got to test in the offseason and hopefully what we did in the spring is able to transfer over here, coming back. Phoenix is unique, I don’t know if there’s a lot of places like it. Gateway in St. Louis reminds me a little bit of Phoenix. We had some things there that weren’t quite correct, but I think our car was decent. Hopefully, the spring race there where we got some good speed and got caught up in a wreck, we can take some things there to apply when we go back.”

Jimmie Johnson, Driver of the No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE:

“This will be a special trip to Phoenix for me. In 2020 when I was there for the final race of my Cup Series career, it was as we were still taking so many precautions with Covid. So, all my photos from that race were photos of people wearing masks. This is a high-anxiety race for those in the championship and those not in the championship – as you don’t ever want to be a reason that someone loses a bid to win it. This years race should be very exciting. So, you have to drive with a lot of awareness that you don’t want to affect the outcome of what could be. With that said, I’m excited to see Tyler (Reddick), Joey (Logano), Ryan (Blaney) and William (Byron) dice it up.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. has celebrated the Petty family and shared countless memories with friends and fans at racetracks across the country.

Petty History in Phoenix: “The King” Richard Petty made five starts at Phoenix Raceway toward the tail end of his career from the inaugural race in 1988 to 1992. Kyle Petty made several starts at the 1.0-mile track, including a best finish of third in 1993. In 2008, Kyle made his 829th and final Cup Series start at the track. Adam Petty made one NASCAR Xfinity Series start here back in 1999, where he finished in 38th.

This Week in Petty History: On November 15th, 1992, Richard Petty drove in his last career race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The King’s Hat: One final commemorative Petty 75th King’s Hat will be unveiled this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The King’s Hat will feature a design honoring Richard Petty’s seven NASCAR Championships. The King’s Hat will be located in the Fan Zone and available for photo opportunities.

75th Merchandise: As the season comes to a close, Phoenix race weekend will be the final opportunity to purchase Petty 75th merchandise from the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise hauler. Be sure to stop by and grab an item to commemorate the special milestone.

BROADCAST INFO

PHOENIX RACEWAY

SUNDAY, NOV. 10 @ 3:00 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT MOBIL 1: For 50 years, Mobil 1 has been trusted by drivers to keep their engines running longer. Our products combine the latest technology and innovation to exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers and tuning shops—so consumers can get the most out of their time behind the wheel, both on the road and on the track. Turn every day into an adventure with Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Learn more at www.mobil1.us or and follow @Mobil1Racing on Instagram and X. Join us. For the love of driving.

ABOUT CARVANA: Carvana’s mission is to change the way people buy and sell cars. Over the past decade, Carvana has revolutionized automotive retail and delighted millions of customers with an offering that is fun, fast, and fair. With Carvana, customers can choose from tens of thousands of vehicles, get financing, trade-in, and complete a purchase entirely online with the convenience of home delivery or local pick up in over 300 U.S. markets. Carvana’s vertically integrated platform is powered by its passionate team, unique national infrastructure, and purpose-built technology. Carvana is a Fortune 500 company and is proud to be recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

Christopher Bell
Phoenix Season Finale Advance
No. 20 Interstate Batteries/DeWalt Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 10
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Outrageously Dependable for the 33rd Year and Counting: Interstate Batteries’ 2024 season featured 11 primary sponsorships on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule among the four Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota Camry XSEs. Bell and Ty Gibbs carried the Interstate Batteries colors for the majority of the Dallas-based company’s races this season with eight primaries in all between the two drivers. Denny Hamlin piloted the Interstate Batteries machine for two races this season, and Martin Truex Jr. once. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota will feature Interstate Batteries as co-primary sponsor on his No. 20 Camry in this weekend’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

● As We Stand: While Bell and the No. 20 team missed the Championship 4 by a narrow margin, he currently sits fifth in the standings with 2,363 points, 24 ahead of sixth-place Kyle Larson.

● Numbers Game: With one race remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 season, Bell’s season numbers are among the most impressive in NASCAR’s top series. He currently sits at three wins, 14 top-five finishes and 22 top-10s. Other impressive statistics include three pole positions and more than 1,000 laps led.

● Career Highs: Many of Bell’s overall stats for 2024 are already career highs. Bell has amassed the most top-five finishes and the most top-10s in his career, besting his previous career highs of 12 top-fives and 20 top-10s during the 2022 season. Bell’s 1,002 laps led so far this year eclipsed his career high by more than 400 laps. His previous high-water mark for laps led came last season, when he led 599 laps.

● Bell returns to Phoenix this weekend as the latest winner at the mile oval, having brought home the victory at there in March. Bell led 50 laps in his first trip to victory lane at Phoenix in NASCAR’s top series. In all, Bell has made nine career starts at Phoenix with five top-10s on his resume there.

● Outside of the NASCAR Cup Series, Bell has made five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix. He has one win, three top-five finishes and three top-10s in those three Xfinity Series starts. Bell found victory lane for the first time at Phoenix in the Xfinity Series in November 2018, when he led a race-high 94 laps en route to victory lane.

Christopher Bell, Driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries/DeWalt Toyota Camry XSE

You’re the most recent winner at Phoenix. Does that give you any advantage this weekend after your win there in the spring?

“I think the advantage I have, and a lot of us have, is that we know we’re going to be competitive. But every race is a new race, and just because you won this race in the spring does not guarantee results by any means and it does not mean that you’re the favorite or whatever. You have a good feeling you’re going to be competitive because the track hasn’t changed, the cars haven’t changed, the rules package hasn’t changed. So, ‘You’ll be in the hunt,’ is a good way to look at it. But the results of the previous race don’t guarantee anything. I know we are going to give it our all this weekend at Phoenix and try to finish off the year on a high note with our Interstate Batteries/DeWalt Camry.”

What takeaways from that victory in the spring race can you bring to Phoenix this weekend?

“I mean, the biggest thing is knowing you have a good baseline and you’re going to be fast. And there’s going to be a group of us who will be fast in practice and qualifying and, yeah, you take your top-10 guys and they’re probably going to be the top-10 guys, but the running order will be shuffled a little bit here and there. The best way I can explain it is, we know we’re going to be competitive. We were competitive there last year and in the spring. You know, going back there we expect to be competing for the race win. But to say you’re going to win the race because you won the previous race is just false and inaccurate.”

What was the passion you had for the sport as a young driver? Was there a moment that you knew this is what you wanted to do for your career?

“Yeah, I mean, it’s tough as the path to get here (NASCAR Cup Series) is so unclear as a kid in my shoes, growing up dirt racing, and the thing that’s just so hard to fathom, there are 38 cars that race on Sunday, and how many racers in the United States want one of those 38 rides. It’s just that the number is so small, and to get yourself into this position is so hard, so, you know, for me, I never thought it was a possibility. Whenever the door started opening up, racing for Toyota in the USAC ranks, it was (pause), the door was opened up, but the path to get there was so far away. Now, all of a sudden, you’re in with a manufacturer, but at the time, we had JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and that was like six cars? I don’t know, but still, you go from 38 (cars) to six, it becomes so incredibly difficult to get one of those rides and, yeah, I never really saw the pathway to Cup. It was hard for me to envision that, even when I was in the Xfinity (Series) because, at the time, JGR had Erik Jones in the 20 car, and younger veterans with Denny (Hamlin), Carl (Edwards) and Kyle Busch. So it was, like, ‘How am I ever going to get in one of those seats? Those guys are young, Erik’s going to be there forever.’ So, I was always content with what I was doing and I never really tried to make it to the next level, just tried to execute what I could where I was at in my career. Fortunately, those results brought other opportunities from that, but I was never looking forward, just trying to do the best I could do in the situation I was in.”

Do you take that same mental approach for yourself?

“Yeah, I mean, I completely put the most pressure on myself out of anybody. But I always just try not to envision the end goal and focus on what the process is to get there. And that’s always been my M.O. I’ve never been one to set goals as far as, ‘You have to have this many top-fives, or this many wins, or whatever.’ So, yeah, I’ve always just focused on the job and not the end goal of, like, saying, ‘I need this many stats or race wins.’”

Where does that come from – your dad and family?

“It definitely stems from the people I grew up around and who have instilled knowledge in me. I go to my dad and my uncle and my car owners in my younger years and they just, I guess, molded me into what I am. Yeah, that was what I was always trained (to do) – to not focus on what’s out there, just focus on your job and to do the best you can.”

No. 20 Interstate Batteries/DeWalt Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Christopher Bell

Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma

Crew Chief: Adam Stevens

Hometown: Portsmouth, Ohio

Car Chief: Chris Sherwood

Hometown: Portsmouth, Virginia

Spotter: Stevie Reeves

Hometown: Speedway, Indiana

Race Engineer: William Hartman

Hometown: Laingsburg, Michigan

Team Engineer: Chris Whitenight

Hometown: Berwick, Pennsylvania

Road Crew Members

Truck Driver: John Maybry

Hometown: Campobello, SC

Mechanic: Wesley Lape Hometown: Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

Ride and Handling Engineer: Chris Chase

Hometown: Nichole, New York

Truck Driver: Glenn Funderburk

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Bryce Bratton

Hometown: Maiden, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Peyton Moore

Hometown: Buford, Georgia

Jackman: Derrell Edwards

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes

Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston

Hometown: Enochville, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

NOAH GRAGSON
Phoenix Season Finale Advance
No. 10 Nitro Circus Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 10
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Noah Gragson will make his milestone 75th career NASCAR Cup Series start when he takes the green flag for Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Thirty-six of those starts will have come with Stewart-Haas Racing, the team Gragson joined at the beginning of this year. But it’s one-and-done for Gragson, not because of anything he did, but because earlier this year Stewart-Haas announced it would cease operations at the conclusion of the season. With Phoenix serving as the final race of 2024, the news first learned on May 28 will become reality when the checkered flag drops on Sunday’s 312-lap race around the 1-mile, desert oval. After running limited Cup Series schedules in 2022 and 2023, this was Gragson’s first full season competing in NASCAR’s premier division. He comes into Phoenix with seven top-10 finishes on the year, with his best result being the best of his career – a third-place drive on April 21 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Phoenix allows one last opportunity to better that performance before Gragson moves to his new home in 2025, Front Row Motorsports.

● Sunday’s season finale will serve as Gragson’s third career NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix. He finished 29th in his first Cup Series race at the desert mile in March 2023 during his rookie campaign with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Gragson improved on that result significantly when he returned to Phoenix with Stewart-Haas earlier this year, finishing a strong 12th in the series’ March visit to the track.

● The bulk of Gragson’s experience at Phoenix has come in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the stepping-stone division to the elite NASCAR Cup Series. From 2019 through 2022, Gragson made eight career Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix and had only one finish outside the top-12. His five top-10s were punctuated by three top-two finishes, a mark highlighted by Gragson’s win in March 2022. It was a race he thoroughly dominated as Gragson started second and then led seven times for a race-high 114 laps, including the final 15 to beat runner-up Brandon Jones by 2.555 seconds.

● In Gragson’s final NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix in November 2022, he was competing for the series title. Gragson was in the Championship 4 with Ty Gibbs, Justin Allgaier and Josh Berry. Gragson qualified fourth and finished second, but in the winner-take-all format, polesitter Ty Gibbs finished the race exactly where he started to take the championship by five points over Gragson. Today, Gibbs, Gragson and Berry are all in the NASCAR Cup Series, with Berry ready to wrap up his rookie season as a teammate to Gragson at Stewart-Haas.

● Gragson has also made three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at Phoenix with his best finish coming in his most recent Truck race at the track – second in November 2018. Gragson finished 16th in his first Truck Series race at Phoenix in November 2016, but when he returned for his last two Truck Series starts in 2017 and 2018, Gragson was a contender. He qualified second in 2017 and led four times for 55 laps before getting caught up in a late-race accident that left him 15th. A year later, Gragson qualified on the pole and led twice for 43 laps before finishing .456 of a second behind race-winner Brett Moffitt.

● Gragson’s first Phoenix start came back in November 2015 when he competed in the NASCAR K&N Series West, known today as the ARCA Menards Series West. It was a disappointing outing as Gragson qualified 20th and finished 14th, and in a season where he battled for the championship with Chris Eggleston, Ryan Partridge and Gracin Raz, the result left Gragson seven points shy of the title. However, Gragson handily secured the rookie-of-the-year crown.

● Nitro Circus adorns Gragson’s No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Phoenix. The nationwide tour, which kicked off this past weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, electrifies and engages audiences with a jaw-dropping show that thrills fans of all ages with unbelievable stunts, dynamic performances, boundless energy and non-stop excitement. Nitro Circus’ elite roster features top athletes like Australian Ryan ‘R Willy’ Williams, the holder of over 100 ‘World’s Firsts’ on both scooter and bike and one of the most viral sports figures on social media, with videos garnering more than 500 million views. Joining him are Adam Jones, a six-time X-Games medalist in Freestyle Motocross, and Andy Buckworth, a BMX icon and the first rider to successfully land the superman double front flip. These athletes will push the boundaries of what’s possible with high-flying stunts, tricks and heart-pounding excitement. Fans will witness all-new competitions, pitting the best against the best in friendly showdowns that showcase Freestyle Motocross, Skate, BMX, Scooter and Crazy Contraptions. With nonstop energy underscored by a live DJ, attendees can join in on the fun with new interactive elements that bring them closer than ever before to the competition. Fans are also invited to elevate their experience with the exclusive Nitro Circus Track Pass, designed for the ultimate fan and an unforgettable adventure. With the Nitro Circus Track Pass, fans will enjoy early entry to beat the crowds, floor access for an up-close view of the Nitro Circus track, FMX and BMX bikes, an exclusive athlete autograph session to meet the stars behind the stunts, a commemorative lanyard, a limited-edition poster and more. To see where and when the Nitro Circus will be near you, go to www.NitroCircus.com.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Nitro Circus Ford Mustang Dark Horse

It was a little more than five months ago, May 28 to be exact, when Stewart-Haas Racing announced it would cease operations at the end of the season. That moment is nearly upon us with Phoenix serving as the season finale. What’s your takeaway from your time at Stewart-Haas, which only began this year?

“The people are the most important thing, and being able to build relationships with what were once strangers in January to near and dear friends today – the people we go to battle with every weekend. So, it’s definitely emotional. I’ve only been there for less than a year, but at the same time there have been guys who have been there for two decades. To be able to see everybody come together when Chase Briscoe won, that was big and powerful and moving for the company as a whole. It kind of sparked a lot of excitement under everybody’s tails, and I’m just extremely grateful for the opportunity that Tony (Stewart, co-owner) and Greg Zipadelli (chief competition officer) gave me to be able to get back into the sport, and to do it at the highest level of the Cup Series means the world to me. I’m tremendously grateful for that, tremendously grateful for the friendships and experiences and memories that we’ve been able to make over the past year. It’s allowed me to get back on my feet in the Cup Series, and we’ve had some strong runs and it’s given me my confidence back. So, it’s definitely going to be emotional at Phoenix when that checkered flag drops, and I’ve only been there for a year. I can’t imagine what it’s like for other guys and gals who have been there for a much longer period of time. We’re one group, we’re in it to the end, and just extremely grateful. It’s going to be a bittersweet week, for sure.”

You only have two NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix, but you still have plenty of experience there with eight Xfinity Series starts, three Truck Series starts and one K&N West start. Talk about your career progression at Phoenix – how you’ve learned and developed overall, and what you’ve learned by making laps at that track.

“I first started going there in 2015 for the K&N West championship race. Didn’t run great there, thought I hated the place, and then ran pretty good in the Trucks, and didn’t run too good there in Xfinity, but started running really good and ended up winning a race there in Xfinity and got a lot of second-place finishes, third-place finishes there. It’s a fun track, it’s a challenging track, and it always seems like it’s different, the way the sticky stuff is sprayed down in the corners. But it always puts on a good show for the fans.”

Restarts at Phoenix can be a little crazy. How crazy are they, and when is it smart to cut through the dogleg and when is it a riskier proposition?

“I’m not really a fan of cutting the dogleg. I like staying up and getting my speed up to angle into turn one. You feel like you usually cut through the dogleg, but your entry into turn one that way – you’re so low on the racetrack that you never get out to the outside wall to arc the car. I’ve never really liked going down there, especially in the Cup cars – it seems super sketchy to cross down there. But at the same time, it’s one of those things that, situationally, you might need to go down there sometimes, but I’ve always focused on the exit of turn two on restarts there.”

You cut through the dogleg and you’re carrying a bunch of speed – what do you need to do to get slowed down enough to make that first corner, which just got a whole lot tighter because you cut the corner – and how do you merge into traffic with those who stayed on the track and arced their way into turn one?

“A lot of it is based on hope. You hope they don’t slide up in front of you, or you hope they have you cleared and they keep on sliding up and up and up and you’re already turning on the gas. Each guy does it differently, which is what makes it pretty crazy. You see in Trucks, Xfinity and Cup, they’re always four-, five-, six-wide. I think in the Truck race last year they were eight-wide, which might be the record in NASCAR for side-by-sides. Overall, it’s pretty chaotic. It’s pretty wild.”

What did you not like about cutting through the dogleg?

“Just that I’ve always felt like I was never in control. I’d end up in the center of the corner or I’d have to lift way too long and too much to get the thing to stick on the bottom after entering so low and straight. I just never felt like I was in position to grab the bull by the horns. I always felt like I was putting myself in a bad position. I can control it more if I just arc the corner.”

No. 10 Nitro Circus Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steve Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

PHOENIX CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, November 8 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, November 9 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, November 10 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)

A year ago, Ford made history by sweeping all three major NASCAR championships for the first time, with Ben Rhodes (Truck), Cole Custer (Xfinity), and Ryan Blaney (Cup) each taking home their respective titles. This marked the first time a manufacturer had completed the sweep since 2001 and only the sixth time overall. This season, Ford’s past two Cup champions, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, are competing for the 2024 crown, while Ty Majeski (Truck) and Cole Custer (Xfinity) look to repeat for ThorSport and Stewart-Haas Racing, respectively.

LOGANO IN SIXTH CHAMPIONSHIP 4

Joey Logano is making his sixth appearance in the Championship 4 since the format was introduced in 2014—all coming in even years (2014, ‘16, ‘18, ‘20, ‘22, and ‘24). The two-time Cup Series champion aims to become the 10th driver to win at least three titles, joining legends like Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson, and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty. Logano secured his spot in the Championship 4 by winning the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has three points victories this year (Nashville, Atlanta-2, and Las Vegas-2), plus a triumph in the All-Star Race.

BLANEY LOOKING TO GO BACK-TO-BACK

Ryan Blaney was a man on a mission last weekend at Martinsville Speedway, and as a result, he’ll defend his 2023 championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway after winning the Xfinity 500 in Martinsville for a second straight year. This will be Blaney’s second time in the Championship 4 and he’s trying to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson to win back-to-back Cup titles (2006-10). Another title would also make him the 18th driver in NASCAR history to win two or more.

LOGANO AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

Joey Logano has made 31 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, finishing in the top 10 in over half of them. He has three wins (2016-2, 2020-1, 2022-2), along with eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. Those three victories tie Phoenix with Michigan, Talladega, and Kansas for second on Logano’s personal-best list, following his fourth career win at Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

BLANEY AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

This will be Ryan Blaney’s 18th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway, and while he’s still looking for his first win, there has been consistent success. It starts with the fact that he has three poles, which is a personal best for any track on the circuit. He also comes into the race with a streak of six straight finishes of fifth or betting, including three consecutive runner-up finishes during the 2022-23 seasons. Blaney finished second a year ago in earning his first series title and was fifth earlier this year when Phoenix hosted for the first time in March.

FORD’S CUP SERIES CHAMPIONS

Ford has won the NASCAR Cup Series championship 11 times by nine different drivers, including the last two seasons by Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. Logano’s championships in 2018 and 2022 make him only the second multiple Ford champion along with David Pearson, who won titles back-to-back in 1968 and 1969 driving for Holman-Moody. Ford’s other champions include: Ned Jarrett (1965), Bill Elliott (1988), Alan Kulwicki (1992), Dale Jarrett (1999), Matt Kenseth (2003), and Kurt Busch (2004).

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK NUGGETS

Ford is coming off a 2023 season that saw it win all three NASCAR championships for the first time in its history.
That marked the first time since 2001 that a manufacturer swept all three titles in the same season.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Ford has a chance to win three straight NASCAR Cup Series titles for the first time in its history.
Ford has won the championship 11 times by nine different drivers.
Joey Logano can become the first Ford driver to win three NASCAR Cup Series championships.
Logano will look to become the 10th driver to win at least three titles and join the likes of three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson, and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.
Ryan Blaney can be the first driver to win back-to-back Cup championships since Jimmie Johnson (2006-10).
Blaney can also become the 18th driver in NASCAR history to win multiple series championships.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Cole Custer can become the ninth driver to win multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and the second Ford driver (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.). Others include: Sam Ard, Jack Ingram, Larry Pearson, Randy LaJoie, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., and Tyler Reddick.
Since joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2011, Mustang has won a driver’s or owner’s championship in 10 of 13 seasons.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Ford has won the last two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships (Zane Smith, 2022 and Ben Rhodes, 2023).
When you add in Matt Crafton’s title in 2019, Ford has won three of the last five.

LOGANO WINS 2022 TITLE IN PHOENIX

Joey Logano claimed his second NASCAR Cup Series championship after winning the season finale race in 2022 and giving Mustang its first championship at NASCAR’s highest level. The Connecticut native dominated the weekend as he won the pole and then led the first 87 laps of the 312-lap event. He took the lead for good after passing fellow Ford driver Chase Briscoe with 29 laps to go and never looked back. The championship was the second for Logano, who claimed the 2018 title after winning the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

BLANEY WINS 2023 CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryan Blaney drove Mustang to its second straight NASCAR Cup Series title last year at Phoenix Raceway by finishing second and beating fellow Championship 4 drivers Kyle Larson and William Byron, who ended up right behind in third and fourth, respectively. The race came down to a 31-lap dash to the finish. Blaney restarted sixth while Larson was third and Byron fifth, but the Team Penske driver passed Byron three laps later and then battled Larson for the next eight circuits before finally getting past him on lap 292 of the 312-lap event. From that point on, he was able to maintain his advantage and finish runner-up to race-winner Ross Chastain.

CUSTER GOING FOR CONSECUTIVE TITLES

Cole Custer is making his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 appearance after finishing fourth at Martinsville last weekend. In his previous three title appearances, Custer has a pair of runner-up finishes (2018-19) and a championship he won last season after a thrilling overtime restart. Custer emerged victorious for the first time at Phoenix and comes into Saturday’s race with an average finish of 7.6 in nine career series starts. In addition to his win a year ago, he has four top-five and seven top-10 performances.

FORD’S NXS CHAMPIONS

Ford has won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship seven times and Cole Custer has an opportunity to join Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as being the only multiple title winners for Ford if he can do it again on Saturday. That would also match Stenhouse’s achievement of winning back-to-back titles in 2011-12. Greg Biffle claimed Ford’s first series championship in 2002 for car owner Jack Roush and Carl Edwards did the same in 2007. Chris Buescher gave Roush his fifth title in 2015 before Austin Cindric came through in an overtime restart to win the championship in 2020.

MAJESKI COMPETING IN SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP 4

Ty Majeski qualified for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship 4 for the second time in his career after an 11th-place finish last weekend at Martinsville Speedway sewed up his spot. Majeski, who has a pair of wins this year (Indianapolis and Richmond), will be seeking his first career title while Ford is going for its third straight after Zane Smith (2022) and Ben Rhodes (2023) won the last two years.

FORD’S NCTS CHAMPIONS

Ford has produced four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions, including three of the last five overall after Ben Rhodes won the crown a year ago. Greg Biffle was the first to lift the trophy in 2000 while driving for Jack Roush. He was followed by Matt Crafton in 2019, which marked his third overall title, and then Zane Smith in 2022 as Front Row Motorsports celebrated its first championship in one of NASCAR’s major series.

FORD’S PHOENIX CUP SERIES WINNERS

1988 – Alan Kulwicki

1989 – Bill Elliott

1991 – Davey Allison

1992 – Davey Allison

1993 – Mark Martin

1995 – Ricky Rudd

1997 – Dale Jarrett

1998 – Rusty Wallace

2000 – Jeff Burton

2001 – Jeff Burton

2002 – Matt Kenseth

2005 – Kurt Busch (1)

2010 – Carl Edwards (2)

2013 – Carl Edwards (1)

2016 – Joey Logano (2)

2018 – Kevin Harvick (1)

2020 – Joey Logano (1)

2022 – Chase Briscoe (1) and Joey Logano (2)

FORD’S PHOENIX XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

2000 – Jeff Burton
2001 – Greg Biffle
2003 – Bobby Hamilton Jr.
2005 – Greg Biffle (1) and Carl Edwards (2)
2006 – Matt Kenseth (2)
2008 – Carl Edwards (2)
2009 – Greg Biffle (1) and Carl Edwards (2)
2010 – Carl Edwards (2)
2014 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2015 – Joey Logano (1)
2018 – Brad Keselowski (1)
2020 – Austin Cindric (2)
2021 – Austin Cindric (1)
2023 – Cole Custer (2)

FORD’S PHOENIX CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS

1997 – Joe Ruttman
1998 – Mike Bliss
2001 – Greg Biffle
2022 – Zane Smith

Martin Truex Jr.
Phoenix Season Finale Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops 2004 Throwback Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 10
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Back to the Beginning: As Truex hits the track one final time as a fulltime driver in the NASCAR Cup Series Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, a familiar look will adorn his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Camry that will take him and his fans back to where it all started. When Truex made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 31, 2004, it was also the debut of now longtime partner Bass Pro Shops in NASCAR’s top series with the New Jersey native. While the race itself did not turn out how he had hoped when an engine issue forced him to the sidelines early, the scheme from that day will always be remembered by Truex and Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris. This weekend at Phoenix, Truex will run that scheme one final time as a fulltime participant in the Cup Series, which will no doubt bring back memories of where it all began.

● The Finale: Following last weekend’s penultimate race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Truex arrives at Sunday’s 2024 season finale and final race of his fulltime Cup Series career in the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE 10th in the driver standings.

● Ironman: Truex will be making his 684th consecutive Cup Series start inSunday’s Season Finale 500k at Phoenix. While it’s the longest streak among current drivers by a significant margin, Truex also sits among NASCAR’s all-time greats as far as consecutive starts go. Truex started the streak on Feb. 19, 2006, when he started the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Only five drivers have amassed more consecutive starts than Truex – Rusty Wallace (697), Bobby Labonte (704), Kevin Harvick (784), Ricky Rudd (788), and the all-time record holder, Jeff Gordon (797).

● Truex has one win, six top-five finishes and 14 top-10s and has led a total of 259 laps in 35 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix. Truex’s average Phoenix finish is 15.6.

● Truex notched his Phoenix victory in March 2021, when he led 64 laps en route to his first victory at the 1-mile desert oval.

● Looking for 35: Truex’s July 2023 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon was his most recent in the Cup Series, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 64 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn in August 2023. Truex scored his fourth stage win of the season Sept. 15 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops 2004 Throwback Toyota Camry XSE

Is there one word to sum up your career?

“Stressful? (Laughs). I don’t know, I’m not sure there’s one word. There are so many different emotions and things I’ve been through over the years. It’s been a roller coaster, there’s no question. Just thankful for everyone who has done so much for my career, there’s more than I could even begin to thank. I’m looking forward to celebrating a lot of those people this weekend. I’ll have some friends and family at Phoenix and I know a lot of people from Bass Pro Shops and Toyota will be there, as well. I’m thankful for so many people and hope we can celebrate with them during the weekend for all we have been able to do together.”

Do you view your career in two different parts?

“Yeah, I think certainly if you’re just looking at my Cup career, then yes. There was certainly a first half and a second half somewhere around the same number of years. But if you look at the rest of it, then no. If you look at my Xfinity years, growing up and running my dad’s cars and all of that, it’s all one. It’s all the same, so you have to take the good with the bad, I guess. Definitely had a lot of reality checks along the way.”

Did you ever think you’d accomplish all you have?

“I always dreamed I could. Always thought I could. But you know, in this sport and in life in general, that’s all just talk. So, it’s been fun to get it done a few times and be able to accomplish what we have during my career.”

As you wind down your final fulltime season, are you ready to stop racing or do you still feel like you have some racing left to do, even if it’s not in a fulltime capacity?

“I still want to race, I don’t think I want to completely stop going forward. I don’t know when and in what, but I’ll still try to have some fun. I still love racing and driving cars, just ready to not travel 40 weekends a year more than anything. That’s the only thing, just the travel and, every week, having to pick up and go again. So now I’ll be able to make a schedule, I can pick and choose when and where I go and I’m looking forward to that.”

What is the biggest challenge for you when racing at Phoenix?

Phoenix is very straightforward-looking, but the two ends are so different that it’s a big challenge to get your car working good, especially with this current car we have, we are shifting a bit. It’s definitely a fun place and it’s been really racy there the last couple of years and I enjoy going there. I think we’ve definitely improved at these flats tracks the last couple of years and I think we should be strong this weekend with our Bass Pro Shops Toyota.”

Let’s say you are in the lead on the final restart at Phoenix. What’s going through your mind?

“I think just getting a good jump and getting through turns one and two. That dogleg breeds opportunities to cut the corner. If you can get to turn one with a little bit of a cushion, you are in generally good shape, so it’s all about the restart there to be able to maintain the lead and be able to bring it home.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

RYAN PREECE
Phoenix Season Finale Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 10
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● It’ll be the end of an era for Ryan Preece and Stewart-Haas Racing when the Berlin, Connecticut, native makes his 72nd and final NASCAR Cup Series start for the organization during Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Stewart-Haas announced on May 28 it would cease operations at the end of the season. Preece, the recently turned 34-year-old veteran of 186 Cup Series races began his run with Stewart-Haas at the outset of the 2023 season. In his 71 races as the driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Preece has logged a pair of top-five finishes, seven top-10s and a pole position, with 151 laps led.

● Sunday’s 312-lap race around the 1-mile, desert oval will be Preece’s 11th NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix. Best of his previous 10 starts was his 12th-place finish in his first Phoenix start with Stewart-Haas in March 2023. He returned last November to post a 14th-place finish. Preece endured an eventful race in his most recent Phoenix outing this past March. After narrowly avoiding a accident on just the seventh lap of the race he made a relentless ascent, climbing from his 27th-place starting spot to as high as second during the final stage. But a 92-lap, green-flag run to close out the race thwarted the No. 41 team’s fuel strategy and necessitated a late-race pit stop, which left Preece and the team with an unsatisfying 23rd-place result.

● Outside of the NASCAR Cup Series, Preece has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix with a best result of fifth in November 2018.

● Joining Preece and the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Phoenix is HaasTooling.com, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation. HaasTooling.com allows CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

It was a little more than five months ago, May 28 to be exact, when Stewart-Haas Racing announced it would cease operations at the end of the season. That moment is nearly upon us with Phoenix serving as the season finale. What’s your takeaway from your time at Stewart-Haas, which began three years ago when you served as a reserve driver before being promoted to the No. 41 team in 2023?

“For me, the May, June, July months were tough, really tough, I think tough for everybody, tough for our team, but what I appreciate the most is my group of team members and that the guys haven’t quit. They haven’t quit and I think it’s shown. It’s almost built this thick skin layer on us because, when you look at late August, September, October, we’ve been strong. Have we been winning like we want to be? No. I don’t think our company is there. But I also think that we’ve persevered in times when everybody’s just like, ‘Well, **** it, we’re moving on to our next deal.’ Everybody here said, ‘We’ve got 10 more, we’ve got eight more, we’ve got six more, we’ve got four more.’ And not to just be done, but to try and finish on a note that we’re proud of. I think that’s the thing that I take away most from being at this organization, the group of people that we’ve been surrounded by, and the perseverance that each and every one of them has. You know, wherever they end up going, whatever team, they’re going to be lucky to have them because they’ve taken a tough time and made the most of it. And, as far as the team goes, I think those are the people that you want around you when you go to war. You don’t want somebody that’s going to run and hide. You want somebody who’s going to fight.”

What approach are you and the team taking this weekend at Phoenix?

“I feel like our strength as a company the last couple of years has been at the short tracks, and Phoenix falls under that category to us. In the last race at Phoenix, I had a car that I could drive to the front, but we just got on the wrong end of the fuel mileage game with the long, green-flag run at the end. The race before that, we had a top-15 car. Our approach is that, with the improvements that have been made, we can continue to take steps forward and consistently be where we want to be on performance, with us running up front. We’re always excited for the short tracks and want to run a clean race with a car that is able to do everything right, and end this thing on the highest note possible.”

Historically, Stewart-Haas has been particularly strong at Phoenix. How much more confidence does that give you and the No. 41 team this weekend?

“Obviously, it can only help everyone’s confidence and makes everyone more motivated to keep that going. We’ve constantly made gains with the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, and we’ve had a great history at Phoenix. We had some good moments in the spring race, so we expect to be even better this weekend with the progress we’ve been making with our cars.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania