Driver: Kris Wright

Primary Partner(s): First National Bank (FNB)

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2023 Driver Points Position: 18th

2023 Owner Points Position: 23rd

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back To The Team: Road racing standout Kris Wright returns to Young’s Motorsports for the full 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

The former IMSA and Formula 3 driver returns to Young’s Motorsports after spending the 2022 season competing in both Trucks and the Xfinity Series.

Wright competed in 16 Truck Series races during the 2021 season for Young’s Motorsports earning four top-20 finishes and a season-high 12th-place finish at Daytona.

Glad You Are Here: For the fourth time in 2023, F.N.B. Corporation will serve as the primary partner on Wright’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST.

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is one of the 50 largest bank-holding companies in the United States, and continues their partnership with Kris Wright for the second consecutive NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series weekend at the epicenter for everything speedy in Sin City, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports.

Crossroads of North America Details: This weekend marks Kris Wright’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) start at the Circuit of the Americas. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is heading to the Austin, Texas facility for the third time in its history.

Wright made his series track debut at the Circuit of the Americas, the only current FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States, on March 26, 2022, where he posted a season-best finish of 15th place.

Wright has one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at the Circuit of the Americas. In 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing, he qualified in 36th place and finished in 32nd place due to a mechanical failure.

Road Course Stats: In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on a road course, the Pittsburgh, Pa., - native recorded an average finish of 22.8. At the DAYTONA (Fla.) Road Course on August 16, 2020, Wright saw his debut in NASCAR national series competition in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, which was his single series start of the 2020 season.

This week at the Circuit of the Americas marks is the first of two road courses on the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Schedule, with the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course being the other.

Wright has competed on 22 different road courses and street circuits throughout his career.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Wright as crew chief of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

He will crew chief his 107th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 106 races, he has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes to his resume.

He has one prior Truck Series race as crew chief at COTA. Last March, he set up the truck that allowed Sheldon Creed to win the pole aboard the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@kriswrightraces).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Kris Wright Pre-Race Quotes:

On Circuit of the Americas: “The Young’s Motorsports No. 02 team is really confident going to the first road course of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. They have been top-15 contenders for the past two years.

“Studying data and past notes for this upcoming event has been key for our preparation, although the forecasted rain during qualifying could throw a few question marks into the itinerary. Nonetheless, we are all excited to be going to such a great motorsports venue in the Texas capital.” 

No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Spencer Boyd

Primary Partner(s): Record Rack

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Brad Means

2023 Driver Points Position: 26th

2023 Owner Points Position: 32nd

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd returns to Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the fourth race of the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season eyeing his first top-10 of the year but more importantly hunting his second win of his Truck Series career.

No. 144: This weekend at COTA, Boyd will make his 144th career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 50 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and will make his 91st start in Trucks when the green flag waves Saturday afternoon.

The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Welcome Aboard: This weekend at COTA, Young’s Motorsports and Boyd welcome Record Rack® as the primary partner on the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the first time in 2023.

Sportsman's Choice®’s Record Rack® wildlife products are engineered to attract and nourish deer for overall health and antler development.

Record Rack® like "Golden Deer Nuggets™" and “Sportsman” products help attract and grow a bigger class of bucks. Whether you’re a wildlife watcher looking to see more deer on your land, or an avid sportsman looking to bring in a trophy, they’ve got the right feed to meet your goals.

National Medal of Honor Day: In recognition of National Medal of Honor Day on Saturday, March 25, 2023, Sportman’s Choice® and Record Rack (brand owned by Cargill Inc.) designed a special paint scheme to honor all Medal of Honor Recipients and Vietnam War Veterans while inviting a special family to the race.

Gary Michael Rose, Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Army Medal of Honor Recipient will be the team’s guest of honor along with his grandson, Christian Bowen, who is also a Gold Star son.

Gary Michael Rose “Mike” was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 23, 2017, by President Donald Trump at the White House for his actions that went above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Special Forces Medic. 

Come Say Hi: Following Saturday afternoon’s Truck Series race, Spencer Boyd will be signing autographs at the Tractor Supply store in Buda, Texas on Sunday, March 26 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT. 

The Tractor Supply in Buda is located at 15555 S I-35 Frontage Road, Buda, TX 78610.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Circuit of the Americas Stats: Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 will mark Boyd’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 3.42-mile road course.

In his track debut in 2022, Boyd steered his No. 12 Derm Dude Chevrolet Silverado RST to a track best of 23rd after starting 30th in the 2022 XPEL 225 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Road Course Stats: At NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series tracks classified as a road course, Boyd has made six starts throughout his career. He also holds an average finishing position of 25.2.

Truck Series Rundown: In seven years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 90 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes, and a championship best of 17th in 2019 and carries an average finish of 23.8.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 12 Record Rack® Chevrolet Silverado RST is new crew chief Brad Means.

He will make his Truck Series crew chief debut at COTA on Saturday afternoon. 

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quote:

On Circuit of the Americas: “After a solid outing at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend, I am looking forward to getting back to a road course and having an opportunity not only to improve my road course craft but showcase our awesome looking No. 12 Record Rack® Chevrolet Silverado on National Medal of Honor Day.”

Driver: Ed Jones

Primary Partner(s): Little Caesars

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Joe Lax

2023 Driver Points Position: N/A |

2023 Owner Points Position: 30th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies 

Notes of Interest:

Welcome!: Ed Jones, a native of Dubai, United Arab Emirates joins Young’s Motorsports for the fourth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race of the 2023 season for Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

About Ed: Touted as arguably one of the most successful racing drivers from the United Arab Emirates, Jones joins the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene with a monstrous racing resume including experience in the Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula 3, Indy Lights, IndyCar, FIA World Endurance Championship and most recently the IMSA SportsCar Championship Series.

Jones, 28 is a four-time competitor in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 and finished third in his inaugural showing in 2017 driving for Dale Coyne Racing after qualifying 11th.

Sponsor Intel: Jones will pilot the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado with support from Little Caesars.

Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant. Today, Little Caesars is the third largest pizza chain in the world, with stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and 27 countries and territories.

Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars has been named “Best Value in America” for more than the past twelve years.

Little Caesars products are made with quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen, mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes.

Additional Support: In addition to Little Caesars, Jones will also carry partnership support from Spectra Resources Corporation, a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically for the 42-lap race on March 25.

Spectra Resources Corporation is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products.

Spectra Resources Corporation boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.

Ed Jones Truck Series History: 2016 Indy Light champion Ed Jones will make his inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) nestled in Austin, Texas.

Ed Jones Truck Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 will mark Jones’s first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 3.42-mile road course.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Jones as crew chief of the No. 20 Little Caesars Chevrolet Silverado is veteran crew chief Joe Lax.

He will crew chief his 99th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 98 races, he has one pole and eight top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his fifth race as crew chief at COTA.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Ed Jones, like him on Facebook (Ed Jones Racing), follow him on Instagram (@_edwardjones) and Twitter (@Edjonesracing).  

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports). 

Ed Jones Pre-Race Quote:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am excited to be racing in my first NASCAR Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas with Young’s Motorsports. This will be a new experience but I am ready for the challenge and I believe we can have a strong and productive day with our No. 20 Little Caesars Chevrolet Silverado RST.”

Race Information:

The XPEL 225 (42 laps | 143.22 miles) is the fourth of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., March 24, 2023, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying begins immediately following practice at 4:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sat., March 25, 2023, shortly after 12:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

Notes of Interest:

New Home: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.

In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Fast Start: With a career-best seventh-place finish earned at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with RSS Racing and two respectable top-15 finishes with Joe Gibbs Racing at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway respectively, Graf enters Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas 19th in the championship point standings.

RSS Racing’s No. 38 team has also had a solid start to 2023 – which has the team a respectable 21st in the owner championship standings likely guaranteeing Graf into Saturday afternoon’s starting field.

Welcome Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome G-Coin® as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250.

COTA marks the sixth race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and 15th race overall from 2021 to 2023 where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.

The first road course of the season will mark the company’s first event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr. at RSS Racing respectively.

Sponsor Intel: G-Coin® (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where 1 G-Coin® equals 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, ethically sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar. G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near instantaneous settlement times.

With G-Coin®, users can now effortlessly buy, sell, and monitor the value of their gold from the convenience of their smartphone.

Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and Go for Gold!

Thanks For Your Support: With just 15 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company,  Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.  

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, March 25, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a new commercial featuring G-Coin® in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, March 26, 2023.  

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 will mark Graf’s second start at the 3.42-mile road course

In his COTA debut last March, he delivered a 34th-place finish after experiencing mechanical gremlins throughout the 46-lap event after qualifying on speed in the 31st position.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Road Course Stats: At tracks classified as a road course, Graf has competed in 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 28.5 and an average result of 26.5.

Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway | RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Race Recap: In his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Graf and the RSS Racing team showcased the No. 38 JACOB Companies Ford Mustang in the fifth Xfinity Series race of the season.

Without the benefit of practice or qualifying due to inclement weather, Graf continued to showcase speed in his new tenure at RSS Racing but late-race contact with another car caused significant front-end damage to his automobile hindering him in the green-white-checkered finish.

Still, Graf clung to the lead lap and recorded a 25th-place effort. His finish was second best of the RSS Racing trio.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 269th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his second race at the prestigious road racing facility in the Lone Star State

In his previous 268 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has two teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford Mustang.  

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 307th career Xfinity Series start overall and third at COTA. His best Xfinity COTA track finish occurred in the 2022 Pit Boss 250, where he finished 11th after starting 35th for his family-owned RSS Racing team.

Kyle Sieg is set to make his 24th career Xfinity Series start overall and first at Circuit of the Americas. 

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr), Instagram (@joegrafjr) and YouTube.

For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839). 

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard: 

Richard Childress Racing at Circuit of The Americas... RCR has four starts at the 3.41-mile, 20-turn road course in Austin, Texas with one top-five and three top-10 finishes led by Tyler Reddick’s fifth-place finish in 2022. Reddick also won the pole for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas, his first-ever Cup Series pole.

RCR in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Circuit of The Americas... RCR has three starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Circuit of The Americas led by Austin Hill’s second-place finish in 2022. The Welcome, N.C., company has one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

Did You Know? Since NASCAR began competing at the Austin, Texas, road course, RCR drivers have every possible lap in all NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the track (384 laps, 1,309.44 miles).  

Catch Saturday's Action... The Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of The Americas will be televised live on Saturday, March 25 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. 

Follow Sunday's Action in Austin... The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will be televised live on Sunday, March 26 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and FOX Deportes. The race will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Circuit of The Americas… Austin Dillon has two previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Circuit of The Americas, finishing 10th in last year’s event and earning a 12th-place finish in 2021. Dillon also has experience at the track competing in the World Racing League endurance races in December 2020, 2021 and 2022, most recently winning the event with teammates Kyle Busch and Sheldon Creed. Dillon has also enjoyed COTA as a fan at a Moto GP race.

Delivering Performance on the Track and For the Planet… Dillon will race the Get Bioethanol Chevy at Circuit of The Americas, showcasing the performance benefits of racing with earth kind and engine smart bioethanol blended fuel, Sunoco Green E15. Whether it’s delivering cleaner and cooler high-octane on the racetrack or a more affordable option for summer road trips, plant-based bioethanol makes a positive impact on our planet. NASCAR drivers have raced more than 20 million NASCAR miles driven on Sunoco Green E15, a notable milestone for the environment as NASCAR’s partnership with Get Bioethanol has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent across its three national touring series while also increasing horsepower on the track. Learn more about bioethanol at getbioethanol.com.

A Historic Test… Dillon was one of three NASCAR Cup Series drivers who participated in a Goodyear Tire Test at North Wilkesboro Speedway this week in preparation for this year’s NASCAR All-Star Race, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 21. It marked the first time NASCAR Cup Series cars have been on the track since the last race there in October 1996.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts heading into COTA. It can be a difficult track for drivers.

“COTA is a tough racetrack. It’s got a lot of different corners. Every corner connects to each other, and now with less downforce it’s going to be an interesting race to see how it plays out. We’ve had some success recently on road courses so we’ll be heading to COTA with the goal of backing up some of the runs we’ve had on road courses of late. Last year, Richard Childress Racing brought two fast Chevrolets. We finished 10th and the No. 8 car finished fifth, so we have a very fast road course setup.”

What makes COTA so difficult?

“COTA can be challenging because I feel like it has multiple road courses in one, and it’s one of the biggest tracks we go to. Overall, we all have less experience at COTA than many of the other tracks on the schedule, even though we’ve raced there for a few years now. It makes our simulator time that much more important. My confidence is definitely higher heading into these road course races now compared to early in my career. We’re really focused on being aggressive with the adjustments to the car and how I drive in the race.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Netspend Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Circuit of The Americas… Kyle Busch has one top-10 finish (10th-place in 2021) in two previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Circuit of The Americas. His best starting position is fourth and the driver of the Netspend Chevrolet has led 12 laps and completed all 123 possible laps in those two starts. He won from the pole position in his only NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 3.41-mile road course in 2021, leading 35 of 46 laps. He has one previous start at Circuit of The Americas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a third-place effort in 2022.

Road Course Prowess... In 47 career road course starts in NASCAR Cup Series competition, Busch has four wins (two at Sonoma Raceway and two at Watkins Glen International) plus 16 top-fives and 25 top-10 finishes.

About Netspend... Netspend is a leading provider of payments and financial solutions for consumers and businesses. As the trusted partner to many of the world’s most recognized brands, Netspend connects people, brands and payment products to deliver innovative financial solutions for everyone.

A pioneer in providing financial services to traditionally underserved consumers, Netspend is continuing to make payments accessible to more markets in more ways. Netspend’s open technology platform enables businesses to quickly and securely embed payments solutions into their ecosystems, and seamlessly brings innovation to market. From prepaid debit solutions to digital accounts and money movement services, Netspend has a broad suite of products and technologies that deliver exceptional experiences for its customers and business partners.

Netspend products can be acquired online, through its mobile apps, and at more than 100,000 locations nationwide including retail outlets, tax preparation offices and financial service providers. For more information, visit www.netspend.com and follow Netspend on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Get To The Points... Busch is seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, 24 points behind the leader. The driver of the Netspend Chevrolet claimed an eighth-place finish this past weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his third top-10 in five races this season.  

Test Those Tires… Busch and the No. 8 team participated in a Goodyear Tire Test at Circuit of The Americas in January.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What's it like racing a stock car at a track like Circuit of The Americas?

“I enjoy road course racing and COTA is really fun. It’s obviously high prestige with it being a Formula One track, so it’s nice to have a shot on a big stage like that. Our cars are really big, really heavy and it makes for a big challenge getting those vehicles around the track fast. There’s a lot of rhythm sections to the esses and down through the back area in the stadium section. It really is tough to get a car that has a really good set up for there. Our big, heavy stock cars are a challenge to try and slow them down in the braking zones. We obviously have to brake much earlier than many other divisions that get to race there but it still makes it for a fun road course."

Has road course racing gotten more difficult in the NASCAR Cup Series?

“Road course racing has definitely gotten a lot tighter and the competition level has increased for sure. It used to be easy to go to a track and think that you can come away with a top-five finish. Now you go to a road course and you think you can come out of there with a top-10 finish and you’re hoping for a top-five finish. I think a lot of it, obviously, has to do with driver preparation. Everybody is getting more accustomed to road racing and with more road courses on our schedule plus the parity within the car and everybody running much of the same stuff. You don’t really have teams that are able to splurge on brakes or suspension components and things like that to make your stuff better than someone else’s. That makes it tough.” 

Was the extra track time during the off-season Goodyear tire test at Circuit of The Americas a help to you when preparing for the Cup race?

“Getting to go to COTA and run the Goodyear Tire Test earlier this year was really important for the chemistry of the team and getting started off on the right foot. I think, though, with the aero changes that have now come about, we weren’t prepared for that, so we didn’t test that aero package that we’re going back to the road course with this weekend. We did get laps, but it wasn’t laps and reps in the proper setting.”

Sheldon Creed and the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Circuit of The Americas… Sheldon Creed has one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Circuit of The Americas, earning a 10th-place finish behind the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet in 2022. The Alpine, California native started from the sixth position, received contact from a fellow competitor in the final stage, and drove from 28th-place to 10th-place in the last six laps. In addition, Creed has competed in two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at the Austin, Texas road course, collecting one pole (2022) and one top-five finish (2021).

Lights 1, 2, 3… If wet weather dampers on-track activities at Circuit of The Americas, NASCAR has the option to allow teams to implement the wet weather package, which includes Whelen red lights. Each vehicle is equipped with Model M4 Series lights for inside the rear window and Model ION T-Series lights for under the rear bumpers.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

SHELDON CREED QUOTE:

Do you enjoy road course racing? What have your preparations been for the first road course of the season?

“I love road course racing. It’s one of my favorite styles of tracks we go to throughout the season. I have been putting in a lot of time and effort on both the simulator and my iRacing rig to get laps and be in a rhythm by the time we take the track for practice on Friday. Our No. 2 Whelen Engineering team has been bringing fast Chevrolet Camaros to the track each week, but bad luck always seems to strike at some point. I’m hoping we can have a smooth, problem free day and contend for the win on Saturday.” 

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Circuit of The Americas… Austin Hill has one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Circuit of The Americas, posting a second-place finish in 2022 while driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The Winston, Georgia native also has one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at the Austin, Texas facility, earning a ninth-place finish in 2021.

Bennett Texas Fest… McDonough, Georgia-based Bennett Transportation and Logistics is celebrating “Texas Fest” this weekend in support of Hill. BOSS, RoadMasters, and American Eagle logos will adorn the decklid of the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, representing Bennett Family of Companies’ Texas footprint in the transportation and logistics industry. A quarter of the company’s employees live in the great state of Texas, handling freight with truckers coming in and out of the state every day, and over 100 Texas-based employees, drivers, customers, and freight agents will be on property to cheer on Hill.

Three for Five… With his win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hill joined elite company – Mark Martin and Kyle Busch – as only the third driver to win three of the first five NASCAR Xfinity Series races. Martin accomplished the fete twice, while Busch completed the achievement three times.

Top of the Standings… After five races, Hill extended his lead in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship point standings. The sophomore driver has a 46-point lead over John Hunter Nemechek and Riley Herbst.

About Bennett Family of Companies... McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

How are you feeling heading into the first road course race of the season?

“I feel very confident in our road course package. Our No. 21 Richard Childress Racing team worked on our road course package last year and by the end of the season, we had it in a place where I really felt comfortable and liked the overall feel. I believe we have a good chance at getting another win and going back-to-back in our Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet. We will at least have a shot at it, which is all you can ask for as a driver.”