The former ARCA Menards Series winner will pilot an RSS Racing Ford Mustang in a minimum of 28 Xfinity Series events, including Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April, the site of his career-best finish achieved during the 2022 season.

Veteran crew chief Steve Addington will lead Graf’s efforts at RSS Racing beginning at Daytona.

“I am very appreciative to be welcomed into the RSS Racing family,” said Joe Graf Jr. “I am opening a new chapter in my Xfinity Series career in 2023 and I am determined to make it my best yet.

“I’m looking forward to having Ryan (Sieg) who is not only respected in the garage as my teammate but also driving for a family-owned team is certainly going to bring back memories. I hope we are able to make some new memories of our own this season with all of our great marketing partners.” 

In his move to RSS Racing, Graf Jr. will bring a batch of previous marketing partners including Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal®, G-Coin, Gtechniq and JACOB Companies. He will also introduce a new primary marketing partner Lefcourt Brothers Racing, a group of exotic car collectors, enthusiasts and investors.

"My brother Jeff and I have been fans of motorsports our entire lives. Jeff even owns a local racetrack," said Lefcourt Brothers Racing co-owner Jonathan Lefcourt. "We have both spent many years cultivating extensive exotic car collections. Lefcourt Brothers Racing has given us the opportunity to be more involved in racing and to support a talented young driver."

Bucked Up (buckedup.com/energy) started in 2013 when twin brothers Ryan and Jeff Gardner started marketing a product called Deer Antler Spray. After selling thousands of bottles to GNCs nationwide, the company morphed into what is now Bucked Up, a full-fledged vitamins and supplements manufacturer.

The company has gone from its humble beginnings to becoming the No. 1 best-selling pre-workout brand that’s available in over 10,000 stores worldwide.

Based in Los Gatos, California, CoverSeal® (getcoverseal.com) protects vehicles, grills, and furniture with innovative patented design. Each weatherproof CoverSeal® product offers a 360-degree weighted bottom, sealing it effortlessly to the ground and prevents rodents from getting inside. This patented innovation also keeps the cover on in high winds. 

CoverSeal® solves several issues not addressed by other products. We keep things out that would degrade your investment in your prized car, patio furniture, barbecue, or many other things you can choose to store under our covers.

G-Coin (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where one G-Coin® is 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, sustainably sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar.

G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near real-time settlement. With G-Coin® you now can buy, sell, and track the value of your gold from the convenience of your smartphone.

In 2004, scientists at Gtechniq created a superior line of products aimed at perfecting all vehicle surfaces. And over the last 20 years, these products have been continually improved to provide a range that outshines and outlasts the competition.

Gtechniq’s line of surface preparation and finishing products are designed to clean, polish, and protect all automotive, marine and bike interiors and exteriors, in a way no traditional wax applications can match.

“Without the support of my longtime partners this season would not have been possible,” added Graf Jr. “It means a lot to continue to have the support of Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal®, G-Coin and Gtechniq while welcoming Lefcourt Brothers Racing front and center this season.

“I will work hard to continue to build their brands through our marketing initiatives while looking forward to having the opportunity to race near the front in their colors with RSS Racing in 2023.”

With the addition of Graf Jr., RSS Racing will field at least two full-time Xfinity Series entries this season with Ryan Sieg and Graf Jr.

Additional announcements from RSS Racing are pending. 

“We saw the improvement of Joe’s on-track performance during the course of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and we believe he can continue that progression with RSS Racing this season,” said team spokesperson Rod Sieg.

“Joe brings a welcomed enthusiasm with a determined focus to help make 2023 one of the best

seasons yet for RSS Racing.” 

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.

Joe Graf PR

The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum is NASCAR’s first event of its 75^th anniversary season. It’s also going to be a party for the ages.

That’s because NASCAR announced today that global DJ phenomenon Cheat Codes will perform during the caution breaks of its season-opening celebration and join forces with global superstar Dixie D’Amelio for a special performance of “I’ll Remember.”

Combined with a pre-race performance by Cypress Hill and a race-break performance by Wiz Khalifa, this addition creates a power-packed lineup of entertainment to accompany the stars and cars of the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, Feb. 5.

“Adding Cheat Codes and Dixie D’Amelio to the lineup of entertainment takes the Busch Light Clash to the next level,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing development and strategy. “They are current artists with a global reach that numbers in the billions. Their addition to the Busch Light Clash takes this event to the next level.”

Cheat Codes is considered an inescapable musical force hopscotching through genres of electronic, dance, pop and now country. The Los Angeles trio’s impact of innovation and collaboration throughout popular culture has produced a total stream tally eclipsing a staggering 6 billion plays. Their diverse discography includes the platinum Pop Radio Top 5 smash “No Promises” (feat. Demi Lovato), the gold certified “Feels Great” (feat. Fetty Wap & CVBZ), and gold-selling breakout “SEX” with Kriss Kross Amsterdam.

Dixie D’Amelio is a multifaceted talent whose music has topped 625 million streams to date and a social media reach eclipsing 100 million followers. In addition, she has a successful TV show on Hulu (The D’Amelio Show), her own clothing brand with Hollister, Social Tourist, and brand partnerships with Puma, Valentino, Burberry, and more. She is one of the top 10 most followed creators on TikTok and was named one of YouTube’s Top 10 Breakout Creators of 2020 with one of the fastest growing channels globally. Her entrepreneurship combined with her influence on social media, has earned her coveted spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Forbes’ top creators list as well as, AdWeek’s Young Influentials and Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Impact List.

In 2020, Dixie’s debut single “Be Happy” landed on the US Top 40 and Billboard’s Top Triller U.S. chart within a week and garnered more than 300 million streams. Most recently, her collaboration with Cheat Codes, and country singer Russell Dickerson on a remix of the hit song “I Remember (Dixie Remix)” has propelled her to even greater heights. On November 4th, 2022, Dixie made a cameo at Marquee Nightclub in New York City and joined Cheat Codes on stage for a surprise performance of the single.

Now, the powerhouses will join forces again at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for an unforgettable day of NASCAR racing and entertainment.

Tickets for the 2023 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum begin at $65, and kids 12-and-under are $10. Fans who want to take their race-day experience to the next level can upgrade to the Ally Pre-Race Party, which includes brunch, a drink ticket for Busch & Coca-Cola products, exclusive entertainment, a pre-race track walk and a special appearance from driver Alex Bowman.  Fans are encouraged to get their tickets now while supplies last by visiting www.nascarclash.com. It’s one of the many anticipated events taking place this year as a part of the venue’s centennial anniversary celebration – “Coliseum Forever.”

College students can experience the Busch Light Clash from The Coca-Cola Torch Party Porch for just $40. This standing-room-only general admission section, located on the Coliseum’s peristyle steps, provides college students with up-close access to all the musical entertainment, driver introductions and racing action. College students can take advantage of this exclusive offer by visiting www.nascarclash.com/student.

NASCAR PR

South Boston Speedway and the Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System are partnering to create a new reading initiative, Race to Read.

The Race to Read campaign is a comprehensive reading program for children, teens and adults that includes a reading contest for all ages during the month of February. The individual in each category that reads and logs the most books between February 1 and February 28 will win prizes including tickets to South Boston Speedway’s season-opening race on Saturday, March 18, pace car rides on event day, and a certificate from South Boston Speedway and the Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System.

In addition, “Speedway Storytime” will be held each month March through October at the South Boston Public Library. “Speedway Storytime” will feature books about cars and racing being read to young children, with racing-related coloring sheets provided to all children at the end of the program.

Along with those program components, a South Boston Speedway Collection consisting of books and DVDs related to racing, competitors, tracks, and race cars will be housed at the South Boston Public Library. All items in the collection will feature a South Boston Speedway logo for easy recognition.

A special program, “Saturday with the Speedway” will be held Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. at the South Boston Public Library. Highlighting the event are a question-and-answer session with a guest speaker from South Boston Speedway, an up-close look at the South Boston Speedway pace car and refreshments provided by the South Boston Public Library.

“The speedway is ecstatic about partnering with the Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System to bring this fun campaign to life and provide new, exciting ways for the community to experience the local libraries and speedway,” said South Boston Speedway Senior Director, Marketing & Administration Carly Brashears. “This campaign between the libraries and speedway truly aligns with the family values that are important and dear in our work at the speedway. We look forward to a wonderful partnership encouraging reading in the community.”

Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System Director Jay Stephens is excited about the library system’s new partnership with South Boston Speedway.

"We are very excited to be partnering with South Boston Speedway to promote racing and reading in Halifax County,” Stephens remarked.

“Both the speedway and the library have long histories as integral parts of the community and we are all looking forward to this joint venture. Our partnership will give racing fans an opportunity to learn more about the library, and it will give readers some exciting new programs that will perk their interest in racing.  We are especially excited about the Race to Read contest that will be held in February, with entrants having the opportunity to compete to win tickets to the season opening race at the speedway.

"Racing is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, much the same as reading,” Stephens added. “It makes perfect sense for South Boston Speedway and the Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System to work together to promote both racing and reading."

South Boston Speedway’s first spectator event of the 2023 season will be the SoBo Drifts Powered by Barlow’s Tire on Saturday, March 4. Drifting is set to begin at 11 a.m.

The track will host its annual pre-season test day on the following weekend, Saturday, March 11.

South Boston Speedway’s first NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing event, the Danville Toyota presents the 2023 Season Opener, is set for Saturday afternoon, March 18, featuring twin 75-lap races for the Sentara Healthcare Late Model Stocks, twin 30-lap races for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division, a 25-lap race for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division and a 20-lap race for the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division.

A total of 13 events are currently set on the 2023 South Boston Speedway schedule. Advance tickets for all 2023 racing events are on sale on the track’s website, southbostonspeedway.com. Tickets for the March 4 SoBo Drifts powered by Barlow’s Tire event will be sold only at the gate on the day of the event.

The latest news and updates from South Boston Speedway are available on the speedway’s website, southbostonspeedway.com, and through the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

SBS PR

After a career best season at Stafford Speedway in 2022, Plainville, CT native Adrien Paradis, III is set to move from the Street Stock up to the Limited Late Model division in 2023 and challenge for Rookie of the Year honors behind the wheel of his #19 CSB Communications Chevrolet. 

“I’m excited to make the move up,” said Paradis.  “We had talked about this as a team back in 2020 but things didn’t quite work out for us then.  Last year we hurt a motor and we wrecked a car so the plan was that this was a perfect time to make the move since I had to rebuild the motor.  It will be nice to get a little bit of extra money from the Limited Late Model purse versus the Street Stock purse and everything kind of fell into place for me to make the move now with my great sponsors CSB Communications, JSB Motorsports, Laser Crazy, D & F Wraps, Smedley Crane, and Paula’s $5 Paparazzi.”

The 2022 season, which marked Paradis’ fourth year in the Street Stocks, saw him set career highs with 2 wins, 15 top-5, and 16 top-10 finishes in 18 races, including 9 podium finishes.  Paradis’ on track efforts also resulted in a career best finish of third in the points standings and he is hoping that the last four seasons worth of experience will help to make his transition from Street Stock to Limited Late Model a smooth ride.

“With my experience I have the track down, I’ll just have to get used to a new style of car,” said Paradis.  “I hope I can get adjusted to it quicker than I did when I came from Waterford to the Street Stock division.  The car will be a little different and it will have a little harder tire than the Street Stock car.  It should be an easier transition for me to make and I’m hoping that it won’t take 2 years to get my first win like it did with the Street Stock.  That was a long waiting period for sure.”

Paradis will have Joe Brockett as his crew chief to help him get adapted to a brand new car.  Paradis looked into purchasing an existing car but when that didn’t pan out, he teamed with former 2-time Stafford Street Stock champion Zack Robinson to build a brand new car from the ground up.

“When it comes to fender cars, Joe Brockett knows a lot,” said Paradis.  “He won two championships with Zack in the Street Stocks and Zack was able to win a Late Model race as a rookie and we all know the Late Model division has some pretty stout competition.  We were actually talking with a team about possibly buying a car but they weren’t ready to sell the car.  Zack was building a car and I told him I needed a Limited Late Model and he said he would sell me the car he was building.  Building a new car was a better option than buying a car from someone because I’m not dealing with a car that might have been bent.  It also gives me the opportunity to learn every square inch of the car.  I have to give a big thank you to Joe and Zack because without their help, I wouldn’t be able to make this move up.”

Paradis came to Stafford for the first time in 2019 and he took down Rookie of the Year honors in the Street Stock division, a feat that he would like to repeat in 2023.  Paradis has finished in the top-5 of the points standings in three of his four Street Stock seasons and he would like to once again be a top-5 car in 2023.

“We’d like to win Rookie of the Year and put a win on the board this season,” said Paradis.  “There’s some really good competition at Stafford and we just have to try to stay with the frontrunners.  I would like to be in the top-5 again in the points at the end of the year.  If we can do like we did last year and keep our nose clean and avoid some wrecks, I think we can definitely be there.  I just have to get the week 4 or 5 monkey off of my back of wrecking a car.  It seems like the last couple years that’s where trouble starts for us and I think it was 2020 when I wrecked the car in the first race.  I’d like to keep that momentum of improving every year going.”

With Paradis looking to get as much track time as he can to be ready for the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler® on Saturday, April 29, Paradis will take part in a track rental session in early April to get his first taste of a Limited Late Model car and shake down his new machine. 

“We have a track rental already scheduled for early April and that will be good to try to get the car figured out with the harder tire than what I’ve been used to,” said Paradis.  “Hopefully we’ll have everything right on the car and it’ll handle well but you know how racing can go.”

Paradis is also anxious to get on track with other cars so he can start getting an idea of the competition that he will be facing throughout the 2023 season.

“I haven’t really paid much attention to the competition in the Limited Late Model division,” said Paradis.  “I’d rather start doing that once I get on the track with the Limited Late Model drivers because a lot of times what you see from the stands versus what you see on the track are two totally different things.”

Paradis will take to the track for the first time in Limited Late Model competition during the 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®, which kicks off on Saturday, April 29 and will consist of feature events for the Limited Late Model, Street Stock, and Vintage All-Star divisions along with two 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races for the Open Modified division that will set the field for Sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler®. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models will also make their return to Stafford Speedway on April 29th with a 75-lap feature with over 40 cars expected for the race.

Order 51st NAPA Spring Sizzler® Tickets

Sunday, April 30th will play host to the $20,000 to win 51st NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®.  Filling out Sunday’s racing card will be qualifying and feature racing for the SK Modified®, SK Light Modified, and Late Model divisions along with last chance qualifiers for the Spring Sizzler®.

For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.

Stafford Speedway PR

GM PR

Alpha Prime Racing is proud to announce that Rajah Caruth will be returning to the team for select races during the 2023 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.

“Rajah is a special young racecar driver who is exactly the type of person we want in our building,” said APR Vice President David Schildhouse. “Keeping him here at Alpha Prime Racing for his Xfinity starts was a top priority for us this offseason. We look at Rajah as a vital part of our future and look forward to giving him the best tools possible to continue his growth in this sport.”

Caruth made 7 starts in the Xfinity Series in 2022, all with APR, and experienced the highs and lows of competing at the second highest level in NASCAR. Despite 2 DNFs in his first 4 starts, Rajah finished his campaign with 3 straight top-20 finishes including a 12th place run at Martinsville last October. For Rajah, his desire to return to APR was not only fueled by the performance of the team but also the people within it.

"I'm so enthused to bolster my NASCAR schedule this year by returning to Alpha Prime Racing for some Xfinity races,” said Caruth. “Tommy and his family took a chance on me before I had even ran an ARCA race, and to represent them as well as Caesar (Bacarella), his family and every man and woman in the APR fold is a blessing. I can't wait to build on the finishes we put together late last year and continue to show what both myself and this team is capable of.”

Details regarding sponsorship and Rajah’s scheduled events will come at a future date.

APR PR

The opportunity to further develop business-to-business connections is what prompted BDO, the world’s fifth-largest advisory and accounting network, to become an IMSA Corporate Partner, in an announcement made today.

BDO’s specialty areas include advisory, tax and assurance services provided to a diverse range of clients with a broad array of needs. By making this service platform available to new and existing clients within the IMSA paddock, BDO’s aim is simple: helping businesses thrive in a complicated and dynamic environment that is in many ways similar to the challenges faced by an IMSA participant.

“Racing and business are very similar; strategies to win are formed under pressure, tough decisions arise quickly, risks must be mitigated and cash flow must be managed” said Brad Knight, Managing Director.  “With that in mind, this partnership only made sense, and provides BDO with a unique opportunity to live our core purpose of “helping people thrive, every day”. We look forward to building new relationships and working with new partners to achieve exceptional outcomes in their businesses, families and communities.”

As part of the multiyear agreement, BDO will also provide VIP experiences for current and prospective clients at IMSA events across the U.S. that include credentials, at-track hospitality, behind the scenes paddock/pit tours and IMSA Hot Lap rides. In turn, this presence affords BDO the opportunity to make important B2B connections with companies already involved with IMSA, as well as leverage the excitement of IMSA racing with clients and prospects with a passion for sports cars.

“IMSA welcomes BDO as a Proud Partner,” said IMSA Vice President, Partnership Marketing and Business Development Brandon Huddleston. “This is important because it brings a new, global, non-endemic partner to our sport. BDO sees IMSA as a great place to do business, introduce clients to the exciting world of sports car racing and make effective connections.”

The agreement recognizes BDO as a Proud Partner of IMSA, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. In addition, a new BDO Knows Strategy Award will be featured during IMSA Radio broadcasts of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship throughout the season. The award is designed to recognize a winning strategy or decision made by those who embody BDO’s core values.

IMSA PR

Kubota Tractor Corporation and Trackhouse Racing announced today that drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez will carry the familiar orange Kubota paint scheme in six races in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. With the sponsorship, Kubota becomes the Official Tractor Company of Trackhouse Racing after serving as the primary sponsor of Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet last season at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 23, 2022.

“Kubota's accelerated entry into the world of NASCAR is about more than just a commitment to racing,” said Todd Stucke, Kubota Tractor Corporation Senior Vice President of Marketing, Product Support, and Special Projects.

Chastain will drive the No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet at the Feb. 26 race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The 30-year-old Alva, Florida native will also race the Kubota paint scheme at Phoenix Raceway on March 12, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on July 16, Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on Sept. 10, and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Oct. 22.

“Growing up in a farming family, the hard work and lessons I learned are what has molded me into the racecar driver you see on the track today,” said Chastain, who is an eighth-generation watermelon farmer. “This sponsorship from Kubota is especially meaningful to me because it allows me to use my platform to shine a bright light on agriculture and on the men and women who work so hard to feed all of us. I’m excited to get the Kubota orange paint scheme back out on the track this season and also help military veterans get their start in farming with each top-10 finish.”

Suárez, 31, of Monterrey, Mexico, will drive the No. 99 Kubota Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 24. The Texas race marks Suárez’s first time in a Kubota-liveried race car.

“I feel like I am joining a new family,” said Suárez who became the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR Xfinity title in 2016 and a Cup race in 2022. “Ross has told me so many good things about Kubota and their equipment, so I’m looking forward to joining him in Kubota Country.”

Kubota and Trackhouse Racing are taking this sponsorship the extra mile in support of farmer veterans. In the five races Kubota is serving as the primary sponsor of Chastain’s No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet, a $10,000 donation will be made to the Farmer Veteran Coalition for a top-10 finish. The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is a national nonprofit organization that assists military veterans and currently serving members of the Armed Forces to transition into careers in farming, and since 2015, Kubota has partnered with FVC on the “Geared to Give” program which has provided $800,000 to the coalition in the form of organizational support, grants to veterans and 36 pieces of donated equipment.

Trackhouse Racing has high expectations for the 2023 season after serving as the breakout team in 2022. Competing for the first time as a two-car team, the two-year-old Trackhouse team won three races, posted 21 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes. Chastain finished second and Suárez 10th in the standings – career bests for each.

Kubota is known for its versatility, reliability, and durability across its complete lineup of equipment–from sub-compact, compact, and utility tractors, hay tools, and construction equipment, to residential lawn and garden, commercial turf equipment, and utility vehicles. Kubota customers take pride in getting things done on their properties and jobsites, and it’s that ‘do-it-yourself’ spirit that led Kubota to become the #1 selling compact* and sub-compact** tractor brand in the U.S., as well as #1 rated for durability and owner experience in the U.S. ***

Trackhouse Founder and Owner Justin Marks credits the team’s corporate relationships as key to his organization’s quick success in the sport. “We are very proud to carry the Kubota brand on our race cars in 2023. I know many NASCAR fans are Kubota customers and will welcome Kubota’s increased involvement with the sport this year.”

The NASCAR season begins Feb. 5 with the Busch Clash non-points race at the Los Angeles Coliseum before the sport holds the 65th-running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 19.

* Based on EDA tractor sales data of under 20 horsepower models from 2009 to 2020

** Based on EDA tractor sales data of under 40 horsepower models from 2009 to 2021

*** Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study

Trackhouse Racing PR