Ross Chastain will look to smash to competition when the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix goes green on Sunday, but before he even turned a lap in practice, the Trackhouse Racing driver had a different “smash” in mind.

A nod to his family’s watermelon farming roots, Chastain continued the celebration of his 2022 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix win – the first NASCAR Cup Series triumph for both the driver and his Trackhouse Racing team – the Alva, Florida native tossed watermelons from atop the iconic 251-foot observation tower at Circuit of The Americas. After sending the fruits flying, Chastain greeted fans in attendance with autographed hats and – what else – watermelons.

“Officially set a new high water mark for the highest point (throwing a watermelon),” Chastain said. “I was a little off to the right on the first one, but each one got better… I’d love to go out there on Sunday and get three more tries next year.”

Following the watermelon toss, Chastain finished third in EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix practice. Qualifying for the race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Tickets:

Tickets for the March 24-26 NASCAR at COTA tripleheader weekend are on sale now at NASCARatCOTA.com. Three-day weekend packages for adults including the Darius Rucker pre-race concert start at just $99 and just $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found on the NASCAR at COTA website.

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TMS PR

Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. were made available to media after practice at Circuit of the Americas on Friday: 

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing  

How did the package handle for you out there?

“I thought it was good. I’m just trying to get better, being honest with you. I’m trying to gauge myself off of (Tyler) Reddick and things he does so differently. It’s kind of a style change that I’m trying to convert myself to do 18 years later.”

Is that something that you an idea about when he joined Toyota?

“He has a different approach for sure. At his sim this week, I kind of just set in on his session and watched him and tried to emulate it. I did – I was just a few seconds off.”

Is there a preferred lane on the choose?

“I’m not really sure to be honest with you. It’s interesting. I know there was a couple of people on social media that wanted the choose, but I don’t know why we have it here. It doesn’t make much sense, and I think we just kind of got pressured into it.”

Does consistent rules across all races help?

“Every track is different, right? But the difference is the main spotters can’t see it, and it is hard to see on the race track. We will adapt. We will be fine.”

How do you expect the no stops at stage breaks to affect the race?

“Again, I think we got pressured into this one. I think this one has the potential to get really strung out – a lot. If we do, I don’t want to hear any complaining on things being strung out, because that is the potential. We had stages, certainly on road courses, this will make for more strategy, but if you are 10 seconds behind the car in front of you, strategy isn’t going to matter a ton.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing  

What are your thoughts with this new tire and aero package?

“It’s hard to compare to last year. We’ve done so many things car wise and everything. It feels slicker, less grip, sliding around more. It was fun. We need to work on our car to be better, but overall, I thought it was okay.”

If you are slipping and sliding, that should give opportunities for passing, right?

“Yeah, for sure. But I’m worried that I’m sliding more than the guys that I’m trying to race with, and hopefully beat on Sunday. We will get to work and hopefully get it it better for tomorrow and Sunday.”

How are the Toyotas compared to last year?

“I’m not sure. At certain spots, I feel better than last year. In certain things, I feel similar. I’m not real sure. Obviously, (Tyler) Reddick was real fast, so he has something figured out. We will have to take a look at that and hopefully get some of that info. I wasn’t super happy about our speed, but I thought we were closer at the end of practice than we were at the beginning.”

Is there a preference on the choose here?

“I think if you are at the front, you want to be the inside, just to defend better, but it is going to be four-to-five wide. I think the leader has the advantage at the jump and trying to beat them into one. Everyone else it is a free-for-all.”

What will be it like with no stage breaks?

“It will be like we used to do at road courses. You will have to have a car that takes off okay, and runs well on the long run depending on how many cautions we have. Fuel mileage could come into play – I haven’t really talked to James (Small, crew chief) about how that plays out or looks. I think everyone is going to be close, but I’m sure guys will be taking chances. It will be something we haven’t done in a long time, and something we’ve never done here.”

Will knowing you aren’t going to have those stage cautions affect how you as a driver approach pushing the car?

“I don’t think so. You are still going to run as hard as you can. You don’t want to throw caution to the wind and smoke the tires off of it, because you are going to pay the price. No matter what – that would happen. I think just knowing that it could come down to long runs and strategy, and things like that. You have to be smart and hit your marks and be smooth in how you do things and maybe put yourself in position to take advantage of guys on older tires.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing  

How was practice?

“With (Tyler) Reddick doing well, Bubba (Wallace) was up there – I don’t know. I wasn’t where I wanted to be for sure, but hopefully we can learn something from our team cars and improve for tomorrow.”

What is the tire fall off like?

“I don’t know. We really haven’t run long enough to know. It was 50-minute practice session. I think the longest run I saw out of anyone was maybe five to seven laps. I haven’t dug into it too much, but I know the longest I ran was around five. I know I’m going to have to go 20 to 25 on Sunday. It is very slick that’s for sure. Slick on stickers, slick on old tires. I think the low downforce should at least make the cars hard to drive.”

Through the esses part of the track, what is the technique through there?

“It’s difficult. One thing that the esses provides is lap time opportunity if you cut the race track. I know that I got in trouble for cutting the race track, and I’m sure many others did too. You want to straighten it out as much as you can, but there is a fine line in breaking track limits and not breaking track limits. It’s a very important part of the race track and wide-open? I would say we are nowhere near on throttle, let alone wide-open throttle. It’s very hairy part of the race track.”

Is there a preferred lane for the choose?

“I don’t think so. At some road courses, I think there will be a preferred lane, but here, the way turn one is such a big breaking zone and it widens out so much, I think either lane can do good.”

What do you think about the lack of stage breaks?

“It’s going to be a tough race on Sunday. That is for sure. I know I’ve never ran a road course race without breaks and it has been a long time since the veterans have too. I think that it is going to be a very good race as far as rewarding those cars that run well. At road courses in the past, it really was two different races between collecting stage points and racing for the race win. Now I think we will see the same guys be able to run for the race win and collect the stage points, so you are going to have be good on Sunday to get points for sure.”

TRD PR

Making his first appearance in Southern California in 2023, Eddie Tafoya Jr. finished ninth in the “Sokola Shootout” at Perris Auto Speedway last Saturday night.  The race was his last scheduled start in California for at least two months as he will be concentrating on competition in the USAC National Sprint Car Series.

Tafoya, 25, of Chino Hills, California, was making his first start since competing in the USAC National series mid-February season openers in Florida. Things started off for the well-spoken driver when he timed in 11^th fastest in the 25-car field with a lap of 16.755.  He was hoping for a better result from his two laps on the famous half-mile clay oval.

“We set the cars up a little bit different than we did back east,” Tafoya said.  “Just with the dirt (different dirt composition), the moisture, and all the rain we had.  We were a little bit tight in qualifying. I was kind of wheels up on my fast lap and couldn’t really get the throttle to the ground.  So, I kind of gave up a few tenths there, but did what I could.”

While there was frustration from qualifying, the heat was a different story.  He placed second holding off one of the top drivers in the nation and he thought he could have taken the win.

“The car was really good for the heat race,” Tafoya enthused.  “We were really fast.  I probably could have won if I pushed the issue.  But I did not really want to put me or the other cars in any situations we did not need to be into in a heat race. I knew we were in a transfer spot.”

Tafoya and the crew were confident going into the main event.  They took a look at the track and based on the team’s success in the heat race, they pretty much left the same setup on the #51T.  Unfortunately, things did not turn out the way they wanted.

“We went and looked at the track before the main event and it still looked pretty good to me,” the handsome driver said.  “We were so good in the heat race, I really didn’t want to change much.   Then it (the track) just went away a lot quicker than we expected. Once I got out there, I was kind of stuck with what I had. I was trying different lines and all kinds of stuff.  So I did what I could, but I couldn’t really find the grip I needed.  Definitely need to be better.”

The Perris race was slated to be his last in the west until after returning from the Midwest in May, but a change in plans will now see the #51T at Arizona’s Mohave Valley Raceway on April 1^st.

“I was originally going to be off until we take off for Texas and Ohio near the end of April,” Tafoya stated about his decision to race in Arizona next week.  “After last weekend, me and dad decided to go to Mohave to get some laps in before we head to the races in Texas and Ohio.”

After Arizona, the team will head to Texas for a race at the Rocket Raceway Park on April 27^th.  Following that race, they will make the short drive to the famous Devils Bowl Speedway on the 28^th and 29^th.  Then it will be a 1,000-mile journey to the north for two nights of racing at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway.

The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the 2023 campaign.  If you or your company would like to be a partner, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team’s plans.

Tafoya’s great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com.

Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU.

Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51.

Eddie Tafoya PR

Campers Inn RV has partnered with ThorSport Racing to become the Official RV provider of ThorSport Racing. Campers Inn colors will be the primary partner on the No. 99 Ford F-150 of Ben Rhodes for multiple races starting at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt event on April 8 and an associate partner starting at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Campers Inn RV was established in 1966 and has grown to become the nation’s largest family-operated dealership group with 36 dealership locations throughout all U.S. regions with its headquarters located in Jacksonville, Florida. It is Campers Inn RV’s goal to enrich the lives of its customers and all RVers, whether they are at home or on the road through five-star service and ensuring every customer is treated with dignity and respect.

"We are thrilled to partner with ThorSport Racing, a team that shares our goals of quality, performance, and a dedication to excellence," said Jeff Hirsch, CEO of Campers Inn RV. "Our RVs are designed to provide maximum comfort and convenience, making them the perfect choice for a winning team like ThorSport Racing. The partnership between Campers Inn RV and ThorSport Racing underscores both companies commitment to delivering the highest level of performance in our respective industries.”  

Rhodes is coming off his second consecutive top-five finish in three races this season. In two starts at COTA, he has finished 10th and fourth, respectively. 

Tune into FOX Sports 1 (FS1) to catch all the racing action from Circuit of the Americas Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Listen to the race on the Motor Racing Network Radio (MRN) or SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

Thorsport PR

Officials at Macon Speedway have now released tickets for the Saturday, April 22 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. In addition to discounted advance sale general admission tickets, reserved tickets are now available for the top two rows in many of the sections. The race, paying $15,000 to win, will bring a strong contingent of some of the best Super Late Model racers in the country.

The thrill level will be high as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series teams make their way to Macon Speedway. Rich in history, the 1/5-mile bullring that opened in 1946 is historically known to produce non-stop, door-to-door racing action. The event features Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains, highlighted by the 75-lap, $15,000-to-win main event. The BillingsleyRewards.com DIRTcar Big 10 Modifieds will also be in action, racing for $1,000 to win.

Macon Speedway has hosted five Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races. The first was in 2014 when Bobby Pierce claimed the win. Pierce also took the top prize at the 2016 and 2018 events. The other two events were won by Jimmy Owens in 2015 and Josh Richards in 2017. 2019, 2021, and 2022 events were canceled due to rain, while COVID-19 claimed 2020’s race.

The 2023 tour has currently had 11 events with Martinsville, IN driver, Ricky Thornton, Jr. leading the standings with two wins. Hudson O’Neal is second in points with two wins, while Brandon Overton, of Evans, GA is third with a pair of wins as well. Tim McCreadie and Devin Moran complete the top five in the current points.

Pits will open at 3:00 with grandstands at 4:00, hotlaps begin at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00 PM.

Advance tickets are available by going to https://bit.ly/LucasOilTix. Reserved tickets are $45 and come with free pit access once the grandstands open. General admission tickets are $35.

Macon Speedway PR

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.”

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.”

Young's Motorsports PR

For the 8th consecutive season, Olson Apartments of Agawam, MA has signed on to continue their participation in the Stafford Speedway contingency program.  Olson Apartments will provide a weekly $75 bonus to each SK Light third place finisher this season, providing an extra $1,650 for drivers during the 2023 season.  Combined with American Sign, Inc.’s SK Light contingency, all 3^rd place finishers will each receive an extra $150 in bonus money in 2023.

“We’re glad to help support Stafford and the SK Light competitors for another season,” said Mark Olson, owner of Olson Apartments.  “We really enjoy being at the track every Friday night and being on the racer’s side of things and talking with all the different drivers and crew members in the paddock area.  We know that the lower divisions race for a smaller purse than the premier divisions so every little bit helps and we hope our contingency contribution can be of help to teams who need that little bit extra.”

Speaking to the parity in Stafford’s SK Light division, the 2022 season saw 11 different drivers record a third place finish after the same number of drivers claimed a third place finish in 2021.  Alexander Pearl led all drivers with four third place finishes, followed by George Bessette, Jr. with three, and Nick Anglace, Bob Charland, and Chris Matthews all scoring two.  Zach Aszklar, Jason Chapman, Cassandra Cole, Derek Debbis, Norm Sears, and Amanda West all notched a single third place effort and all 11 drivers will return to SK Light competition in 2023.

Stafford Speedway PR

SS Racing PR

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:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am incredibly thankful to welcome G-Coin® to the RSS Racing and have them onboard for their first race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season Saturday at Circuit of the Americas.

“Even though our finish did not reflect it, we had a very good race car at Circuit of the Americas last year. We were able to qualify on speed and progress forward before a mechanical failure ultimately hindered our day and kept us at bay from contending for a stronger finish.

“You could say that Saturday is an opportunity for us to rebound and I’d like nothing more than to do that and give my guys at RSS Racing something to be excited about.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “This is a year of opportunity for me. I’ll be competing for two different teams which brings some pressure for me but only because I want to go out there and do my very best in every race run for both Joe Gibbs Racing and RSS Racing.

“I just need to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Pit Boss 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 6:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on Sat., Mar. 25 with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

RSS Racing PR

It’s supposed to be the race that secures NASCAR a legion of new fans.

The first-ever street race in Chicago, which marks the return of racing to Windy City after a four-year hiatus from the Chicago Motor Speedway circuit, has been billed as one-of-a-kind as Kyle Larson and co power their way through Chi-town.

It won’t be the first time that a NASCAR Cup Series race has taken place on a road track, but it will be one of the most eye-catching spectacles in the sport’s history as the cars hammer along Lake Shore Drive and pass the Buckingham Fountain.

The concept, coming in a year in which Formula 1 will host its own race on a specially-designed street track in Las Vegas, could attract a whole new audience to NASCAR in North America as the popularity of motorsports grows thanks, in part, to the success of the Drive to Survive series on Netflix.

So, while NASCAR is ready to return to Chicago, is Chicago ready for the return of NASCAR?

There are still concerns over logistical issues that are yet to be resolved, and with race day slowly approaching – the Grant Park 220 is scheduled to be the season’s 18th race on July 2 – numerous technical details are yet to be confirmed.

It can take up to two weeks to set up a street race and then clean up afterwards, and for a city as busy as Chicago that could have major ramifications on road closures and access to key areas.

Grant Park itself is home to summer camps and cultural events, while the nearby Shedd Aquarium has forecast that it could lose between $2-3 million due to road closures and disruption. Shedd marketing officials have revealed that as many as ‘10,000 guests per day’ could be affected by the race at what would normally be its busiest period of the year over the July 4th weekend.

In response, NASCAR have issued a statement revealing their ‘detailed meetings’ with city departments to come up with a traffic management strategy, with residents as much as possible.

But exact details, they say, won’t be ready for a number of weeks yet.

Making Hay In the Sunshine

A NASCAR race under the summer sun should be a doozie.

It’s well-timed too, with NASCAR racing seeing a resurgence in popularity in 2022. According to reports, the TV broadcasts of the Cup Series on Fox and FS1 saw a 6% increase in viewers last season – the best ratings since the 2017 campaign.

Both the Truck Series and IndyCar Series saw gains too as more motorsport fans in America tune in to the latest action.

That gain in popularity is having knock-on effects in other areas too. Many sportsbooks in the United States are now offering betting lines on NASCAR and other motorsports, with fans in Chicago this summer able to bet on the street race given that wagering in the state of Illinois is now legal – just one of more than two-dozen states to relax their laws.

Although they don’t have a NASCAR race to call their own, Canada is another country in which the popularity of motorsports is soaring. They too have now legalized single-game wagering on a province-by-province basis, meaning that many fans are able to enjoy the excitement of sports betting in Canada.

Lines for the Cup, Truck and Xfinity Series championships are readily available, with Larson and Kyle Busch leading the way in the Cup Series odds. There's also a chance to bet on each race individually, too.

With the Chicago street race and a host of other innovations, 2023 is shaping up to be a golden year for NASCAR racing.