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Chandler Smith – No. 81 Wheelers Toyota GR Supra Preview – Focused Health 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

by MikeSeptember 5, 2024

SMITH AT ATLANTA: Georgia-native Chandler Smith will return to his home track this weekend as the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Smith has one top-five finish in three starts at AMS, which came earlier this year when he finished in second.

DARLINGTON RECAP: Smith started the latest NXS race at Darlington Raceway in fifth and struggled with handling for most of the race. The No. 81 earned an eighth-place finish.

ON THE PITBOX: Crew Chief of the No. 81, Jeff Meendering has visited Victory Lane 10 times as a NXS crew chief, most recently with Smith at Richmond in March 2024. His teams have collected 67 top-five finishes, 138 top-10 finishes, and 14 pole positions under his leadership. (more…)

Taylor Gray – No. 19 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra Preview – Focused Health 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

by MikeSeptember 5, 2024

GRAY AT ATLANTA: Taylor Gray started 19th and finished fourth in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this year. That race was his only experience at the 1.54-mile track so far.

GRAY XFINITY SEASON: Gray has claimed a pair of top-five finishes and three top-10s in nine NASCAR Xfinity Series starts this season. He made an incredible first impression with a third-place finish in his debut at Richmond Raceway in March. More recently, Gray posted top-five qualifying efforts in his last two starts at Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway on the way to back-to-back top-10 finishes. (more…)

Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Mavis Tire Toyota Camry XSE Preview – Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

by MikeSeptember 4, 2024

HAMLIN AT ATLANTA: Denny Hamlin owns one win in 28 starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Overall, he has posted six top-five finishes, 10 top-10s, and 452 laps led at the 1.54-mile track. Hamlin has led in six of the past seven Atlanta races, including 15 laps when the series visited in February. Earlier this year, Hamlin finished 23rd at Atlanta after being collected in multiple accidents during the 400-mile race.

REGULAR SEASON RECAP: During the 26-race regular season, Hamlin scored three wins, nine top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, three pole awards, and 917 laps led. According to Loop Data provided by NASCAR, Hamlin leads the series in green flag speed, fastest on restarts, fastest drivers late in a run, and laps in the top 15. He also ranks second in laps led, average running position, driver rating and laps run on the lead lap. (more…)

Ty Gibbs – No. 54 He Gets Us Toyota Camry XSE — Quaker State 400 – Atlanta

by MikeSeptember 4, 2024

SECOND SEASON: Ty Gibbs is competing in his second full NASCAR Cup Series season driving the No. 54 He Gets Us Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. He has 11 top-10 and seven top-five finishes and is 15^th in points which qualified him for the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time.

LAPS LED: He has led 352 laps this season, which is the most he has led in any Cup season.

FIRST: In May at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gibbs scored his first career pole position in the Cup Series. He second pole position was won on July 13 at Pocono Raceway. (more…)

Unofficial Points Standings Following NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Toyota Mod Classic 150 at Oswego Speedway

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 2, 2024

Here’s unofficial points standings and unofficial race report following the recent NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Toyota Mod Classic 150 at Oswego Speedway. (more…)

Joe Graf Jr. / No. 19 G-Coin Toyota GR Supra Preview – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway

by MikeAugust 30, 2024

GRAF JR. 2024 NXS 3^rd Race of Season: The August 31^st race at Darlington Raceway will mark Joe Graf Jr.’s 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) 3^rd race thus far in the season. With 2 of the 4 scheduled starts for Graf Jr. behind him, Joe has returned to the Xfinity series better than ever. With an average finish through the first two races of 14.5, he is on pace to shatter his previous season’s number of 25.3. Joe will look to continue his success thus far at Darlington.

RETURN TO JGR: Graf Jr. competed in the full, 33 race NXS season in 2023 where he had three impressive top-10 performances at Daytona, Homestead, and Kansas, highlighted by a best finish of seventh at Daytona.

DAYTONA RECAP: Joe Graf Jr. started off his weekend strong in Daytona qualifying in 4^th position. The No. 19 Reagan Toyota GR Supra even got to start front row due to the 21 car making an adjustment to their race car. Joe kept it clean and managed to secure a strong finish of 12^th for his team. (more…)

Sheldon Creed / No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra Preview – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway

by MikeAugust 30, 2024

CREED AT DARLINGTON: Sheldon Creed heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200. Creed has claimed Darlington as one of his favorite tracks throughout his Xfinity Series career, making this weekend a highlight on his 2024 schedule. As he heads into his seventh NXS start at the lady in black, Creed holds one top-five, three top-10s. and 47 laps led. He narrowly missed his first career win at the track in 2022 as he lost the lead on a pass in the final corner by Noah Gragson. In his last run at Darlington in the spring, Creed came home in ninth.

DAYTONA RECAP: In typical Daytona fashion, Creed had an up-and-down day under the lights of Daytona, but he showed up when it mattered. After starting seventh, Creed raced his way to a fourth-place finish in stage one and a seventh-place finish in stage two, thus securing a crucial 11 stage points on the day. After falling back in the lead pack during the third stage, Creed worked his way back up to an eighth-place finish, which secured his 14^th top-10 on the year. (more…)

William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Southern Illinois 100 at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

by MikeAugust 30, 2024

SAWALICH ON DIRT: William Sawalich claimed his first victory on dirt two weeks ago at Springfield. Last year, the 17-year-old earned the pole for the race at DuQuoin and finished fifth after suffering damage during the race.

LAST TIME OUT: Sawalich claimed his second-consecutive victory at the Milwaukee Mile last weekend. Sawalich won the pole and led all but two laps on his way to the win. The 17-year-old has won his last four starts across ARCA Menards Series (AMS) – Salem Speedway, Elko Speedway, Springfield Mile, and the Milwaukee Mile. His strong day at Milwaukee helped him gain six points in the ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) driver standings. He now sits 16 points behind the leader headed into the AMSE season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. (more…)

Chandler Smith – No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra Preview – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway

by MikeAugust 30, 2024

SMITH AT DARLINGTON: Chandler Smith has three previous NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) starts at Darlington Raceway with a best finish of 12^th earlier this year. He also has four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at the Lady in Black with one top-10 finish.

DAYTONA RECAP: Smith finished runner-up to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate Ryan Truex on Friday night at Daytona. The No. 81 team earned their first pole of 2024 Friday afternoon and ran in the top-10 for most of the night, finishing Stage 1 in second and Stage 2 in eighth. (more…)

Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry XSE Preview – Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

by MikeAugust 28, 2024

HAMLIN AT DARLINGTON: Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with four wins, 13 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and 979 laps led at Darlington Raceway. His 8.8-average starting position and 8.3-average finishing position are also best among active drivers. Last September, Hamlin led 177 laps and won both stages before an unscheduled pit stop dropped him to a 25th-place finish in the Southern 500. Earlier this year, Hamlin started seventh and finished fourth at the 1.366-mile oval. He has led in nine consecutive Darlington races dating back to May 2020. Hamlin’s Darlington resume also includes six NASCAR Xfinity Series wins.

FLYING 11: The No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry XSE will feature the Flying 11 this weekend to pay homage to the late Roy Hendrick. Hendrick, who passed away earlier this month, was a weekly competitor at Hamlin’s home track, Southside Speedway. The No. 11 Sport Clips team previously honored the Hendrick family, including Roy’s father, Ray Hendrick, by carrying the Flying 11 colors to victory lane in the 2017 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. (more…)

Ty Gibbs – No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE — Southern 500 – Darlington

by MikeAugust 28, 2024

SECOND SEASON: Ty Gibbs is competing in his second full NASCAR Cup Series season driving the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. He has 11 top-10 and seven top-five finishes and 15^th in points 39 points ahead of 17^th place Bubba Wallace. The top-16 advance to the Playoffs.

LAPS LED: He has led 351 laps this season, which is the most he has led in any Cup season.

FIRST: In May at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gibbs scored his first career pole position in the Cup Series. He second pole position was won on July 13 at Pocono Raceway. (more…)

Christopher Bell – No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE Preview – Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

by MikeAugust 28, 2024

BELL AT DARLINGTON: Christopher Bell had one of his strongest NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) runs at Darlington a year ago when he qualified on the pole and led 40 laps. Overall, Bell has one top five and two top-10 finishes in his previous 10 starts at Darlington Raceway.

DOUBLE DUTY: Bell will be driving the No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200. This is the second NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start for Bell this season. Bell ran double duty at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and swept the weekend. (more…)

Joe Graf Jr. / No. 19 REAGAN Toyota GR Supra Preview – Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway

by MikeAugust 22, 2024

GRAF JR. 2024 NXS 2^nd Race of Season: The August 23^rd race at the Daytona International Speedway will mark Joe Graf Jr.’s 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) 2nd race thus far in the season. Graf Jr. has a total of 9 previous starts at Daytona and scored a top 10 finish in 2023. Graf Jr. will be back at the World Center of Racing this weekend piloting the No. 19 JGR Toyota GR Supra for the first time this year on the two-and-a-half-mile oval course.

Ryan Truex / No. 20 Toyota Certified Collision Center GR Supra Preview – Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway

by MikeAugust 22, 2024

TRUEX AT DAYTONA: Ryan Truex heads to Daytona for his eighth start of his 2024 Xfinity Series campaign. Truex has five prior starts at Daytona, highlighted by a best finish of seventh in 2018. In total, Truex has accumulated one top-ten, three laps led, and an average finish of 16.8. In his last start at the track back in February, Truex was running in the top-five before a last lap wreck sent him back to a 21^st place finish. (more…)

William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry – Preview Sprecher 150 at The Milwaukee Mile

by MikeAugust 22, 2024

SAWALICH AT MILWAUKEE: William Sawalich has two starts at The Milwaukee Mile in two different series. In last year’s ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) race, Sawalich dominated the day. He earned the pole award and led 141 of 150 laps on his way to the victory. Afterwards, he hopped in TRICON Garage’s #1 Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race (NCTS) where he finished 26th. The 17-year-old will run double-duty again this weekend for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and TRICON Garage. (more…)

Chandler Smith – No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra Preview – Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway

by MikeAugust 22, 2024

SMITH AT DAYTONA: Chandler Smith had a strong Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) debut at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year. The team positioned themselves for a great chance at the win, starting second for the final restart. The No. 81 crossed the finish line fifth, giving him a great start to the 2024 season. (more…)

Sheldon Creed / No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra Preview

by MikeAugust 21, 2024

Sheldon Creed heads into Daytona International Speedway following back-to-back runner-up finishes at the track, including a narrow loss in last year’s Wawa 250. Throughout the length of his young Xfinity Series career, it has been boom-or-bust for Creed at Daytona, as he has scored three top-tens and three DNFs across six starts. In total, Creed holds an average finish of 19.0 at Daytona highlighted by two top-fives, three top-10s, and 28 laps led. (more…)

Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Yahoo Toyota Camry XSE Preview – FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway

by MikeAugust 15, 2024

Denny Hamlin is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Michigan International Speedway after posting wins in 2010 and 2011. In 33 career starts at the two-mile track, Hamlin has earned 12 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, one pole award, and 263 laps led. The Virginia native has led in eight consecutive Michigan races dating back to August 2018. He has finished sixth or better in the past six Michigan races. (more…)

Sheldon Creed / No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra Preview – Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway

by MikeAugust 15, 2024

Sheldon Creed and the No. 18 GR Supra crew return from the Xfinity Series’ three-week hiatus to run the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Creed has two prior NXS starts at the 2-mile oval and has finished just shy of the top 10 both times, as he scored finishes of 11^th and 12^th in his two starts, respectively. Creed is familiar with victory lane in the Irish Hills as he scored an ARCA Menards Series victory at the track in 2018. (more…)

William Sawalich / No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Springfield ARCA 100 at Illinois State Fairgrounds

by MikeAugust 14, 2024August 14, 2024

William Sawalich has won his last two AMS outings. The most recent came in at his home track – Elko Speedway. The win was a big one for the local 17-year-old driver. Sawalich dominated the day, leading practice, earning the pole, and leading the first 149 laps before he was spun by a lap car. Despite damage to the car, Sawalich came through the field to battle for the lead on the final restart, securing the win at the checkered flag in a photo finish. (more…)