PREVIEW: Elliott Sadler’s final start, the return of several Truck Series teams, and good news for DiBenedetto highlight Las Vegas entry lists
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| PHOTO: @KauligRacing |
TRUCKS Race 19 of 23
World of Westgate 200 at Las Vegas
Round of 8 – Race 3 of 3
2018 Last-Place Finisher: Tanner Thorson
ENTRY LIST
There are 36 drivers entered for Friday’s return of the Truck Series, meaning four teams will fail to qualify.
WITHDREW: #0-Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing
Returning to action this Friday is Daniel Sasnett, who we last saw in this series at Michigan where a qualifying crash left him out of the race, and the Cobb team down to just two functioning trucks (other than their superspeedway truck). Sasnett takes the place of Ray Ciccarelli, who finished last at Mosport after early engine trouble. UPDATE: The team has withdrawn.
RETURNING: #5-DGR-Crosley
DRIVER CHANGE: #20-Young’s Motorsports
Following a 19th-place finish for Young’s Motorsports at Mosport, Dylan Lupton reunites with DGR-Crosley for the first time since Bristol. He also brings back the Gilliland team’s #5 truck for the first time since Chicagoland, where Lupton impressed with a 10th-place finish. A 5th in the next round at Kentucky remains Lupton’s best finish of the year. Spencer Boyd is listed to return to his ride in the Young’s #20.
MISSING: #6-Norm Benning Racing
Noticeably absent is Norm Benning, who had a spirited duel with Jennifer Jo Cobb at Mosport en route to a 24th-place finish. Benning ran 28th when the series last ran Las Vegas earlier this year.
DRIVER CHANGE: #8-NEMCO Motorsports
Joe Nemechek resumes his ride in the #8 Chevrolet, three weeks after Josh Reaume drove in his place driving one of Reaume’s Toyotas with NEMCO team numbers on the doors and roof. Berrys Bullets resumes sponsorship of Nemechek’s run. UPDATE: Make that John Hunter Nemechek behind the wheel, with Berry's also sponsoring him in XFINITY.
RETURNING: #9-CR7 Motorsports
Codie Rohrbaugh returns for the first time since Michigan, where he ran 17th, for his first attempt since a DNQ at Bristol. Another tall task awaits him this weekend as four teams will be sent home after qualifying. All but two of Rohrbaugh’s seven series starts came on 1.5-mile tracks, but none were at Las Vegas.
RETURNING: #11-Rette Jones Racing
Spencer Davis rejoins the circuit for the first time since his season-best 8th-place run in Kentucky, and as then drives the Rette Jones Racing #11 Toyota. Davis finished 13th in his lone Vegas start in the spring of 2018, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
RETURNING: #15-DGR-Crosley
Anthony Alfredo eyes his 10th start of 2019 and his first since Michigan, where he ran 26th. His season best remains an 8th back at Charlotte, another 1.5-mile oval, and he ran 18th in Vegas back in the spring. This team last ran at Bristol, where Dylan Lupton earned his aforementioned 27th-place finish after crash damage.
RETURNING: #19-Bill McAnally Racing
Derek Kraus and the McAnally team are back for the first time since Dover, where the K&N Pro Series West driver finished a strong 8th. If they qualify, it will be McAnally’s first Truck Series start at Las Vegas as an owner since 2001, when Brendan Gaughan earned an 11th-place finish in his Dodge.
RETURNING: #30-On Point Motorsports
Brennan Poole goes trucking again for the first time since Bristol, where he and the On Point crew finished 19th after a 9th-place qualifying run. The duo ran 20th here in the spring, and are currently on a streak of five consecutive top-twenty finishes since their runner-up showing in Charlotte.
DRIVER CHANGE: #33-Reaume Brothers Racing
Mason Massey is back in the Truck Series for the first time since Eldora, where he ran 23rd in the Reaume Brothers’ #34 Chevrolet. This time, he runs Reaume’s #33 in place of road racer Dan Corcoran, who crashed out in Canada. Anderson Power Services is the listed sponsor.
DRIVER CHANGE: #34-Reaume Brothers Racing
Jesse Iwuji returns to Las Vegas for the first time since this past spring, where he ran 26th in the Fueltrax Chevrolet. He runs for the same team this week, Reaume’s #34, in what will be his fifth start of the year and first since a 21st-place run in Michigan. He takes the place of Jason White, who ran 20th in Mosport.
RETURNING: #38-Niece Motorsports
The #38 Chevrolet from Al Niece’s shop hasn’t run since Michigan with T.J. Bell. Whether or not it will run on Friday depends on Colin Garrett, who attempts his Truck Series debut with Wide Open Entrepreneurs as sponsor. Garrett does have one start in NASCAR national series competition, when he ran 26th in his XFINITY debut at Richmond earlier this year, driving for Motorsports Business Management.
DRIVER CHANGE: #44-Niece Motorsports
Angela Ruch rejoins the Niece team for the first time since her 30th-place showing at Bristol, and looks to end a streak of two consecutive DNFs from accidents. One of her best finishes of the year came the last time the series ran Las Vegas this past spring, where she ran 16th for NEMCO Motorsports. This time, she takes the place of NASCAR Pinty’s Series competitor Gary Klutt, who impressed with a 12th-place finish at Mosport.
DRIVER CHANGE: #51-Kyle Busch Motorsports
Victory eluded Alex Tagliani at Mosport, both when he was bumped in the final corner of the Pinty’s race by Kevin Lacroix, and then bested by Brett Moffitt by over five seconds in the Truck Series race. As Tagliani now recuperates from a heart condition that made him sit out the most recent Pinty’s race, Christian Eckes will take the controls of the KBM #51, his first series race since a 15th-place showing at Michigan. Following his third ARCA Menards Series win of the year in the most recent round at DuQuoin, Eckes also stands 70 points out of the lead, trailing Michael Self.
DRIVER CHANGE: #54-DGR-Crosley
Natalie Decker is another driver rejoining the Truck Series action this week, around a month following a disastrous evening in Bristol that left her with her eighth DNF due to a crash. She carries new sponsorship this week from Ruedebusch Development, and eyes a solid run like her 13th-place showing at Vegas this past spring. She takes the place of Canadian driver Raphael Lessard, who ran 10th at Mosport.
DRIVER CHANGE: #56-Hill Motorsports
DRIVER CHANGE: #04-Roper Racing
Following the herculean efforts of Jordan Anderson Racing at Mosport, where the owner-driver not only fielded entries for brothers Bobby and Roger Reuse, but rebuilt his own wrecked #3 Chevrolet, the Hill and Roper entries will once again field trucks from their respective shops. Tyler Hill takes Bobby Reuse’s place in the #56 Chevrolet, his first series start since Kentucky, where he ran a season-best 11th. Cory Roper climbs aboard his #04 Preferred Industrial Contactors, Inc. Ford, his own first since a 28th-place run at Michigan. The Reuse brothers both came home under power at Mosport with Bobby three spots ahead of Roger in 22nd.
RETURNING: #87-NEMCO Motorsports
Tony Mrakovich reunites with NEMCO Motorsports for the first time since his most recent series start at Pocono, where he ran a solid 12th. This time, he drives the returning #87 Chevrolet instead of the #8. This second entry from the NEMCO stables last ran at Michigan, where Camden Murphy finished 31st, and has yet to finish a race under power all season.
TEAM CLOSING: #97-JJL Motorsports
News came on Tuesday that the #97 team with driver Jesse Little will be closing down at the end of 2019. Little is currently looking for opportunities with other teams for next year. Driver and team are not entered this weekend, and their best run of the year remains a 13th in Texas in March.
DRIVER CHANGE: #02-Young’s Motorsports
Three weeks after he was wrongly suspended by NASCAR following a routine traffic stop, Tyler Dippel will return to action in Friday’s Truck Series race. He takes the place of D.J. Kennington, who ran 15th in his #02 following a last-lap spin. Dippel, who finished 17th in his most recent Las Vegas start back in the spring, will be sponsored by LOBAS! Productions.
RETURNING: #08-Kart Idaho Racing
The Kart Idaho team makes a surprising return to the Truck Series for the first time since their solid debut at Eldora, where Tim Ward finished 16th. This time, the driver of the #08 Toyota is Justin Johnson, who we haven’t seen in the series since April 22, 2011, the last of a four-race stint for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Johnson, who also has competed in the K&N Pro Series West, carries sponsorship from Sigma Engineering, and seeks his first Las Vegas start.
CUP INVADERS: None.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
XFINITY Race 26 of 33
Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 at Las Vegas
Regular Season Finale
2018 Last-Place Finisher: Michael Annett
ENTRY LIST
There are exactly 38 drivers entered in Saturday’s race, meaning all drivers will qualify.
DRIVER SWAP: #4-JD Motorsports
DRIVER CHANGE: #15-JD Motorsports
Two of Johnny Davis’ four teams will change drivers this week as B.J. McLeod moves from the #15 he ran at Indianapolis back to the #4. This makes way for a returning Tyler Matthews, whose most recent of four XFINITY starts this year came at Bristol driving for Mike Harmon. Matthews carries sponsorship from Lintec on the #15.
DRIVER CHANGE: #8-JR Motorsports
The #8 team looks to continue a streak of strong finishes with a returning Ryan Truex, whose most recent of three series starts this year was a 7th in Loudon. Truex takes the place of Jeb Burton, who followed two of his teammates in a strong 4th-place run at Indianapolis.
DRIVER CHANGE: #10-Kaulig Racing
Saturday is reported to be the final NASCAR start for Virginia’s favorite son, Elliott Sadler. This week, Sadler returns to the Kaulig team for the first time since the spring race at Richmond, where he ran 12th. The Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet carries a pale yellow scheme resembling the #16 late model stock car that both he and brother Hermie Sadler raced in competition. Hermie just brought the original car out of storage this past week, posting it on social media. It will be Sadler’s 855th combined start across NASCAR’s top three series, where he has 17 combined wins and six last-place finishes.
DRIVER CHANGE: #13-Motorsports Business Management
DRIVER SWAP: #61-Motorsports Business Management
DRIVER SWAP: #66-Motorsports Business Management
Carl Long changes the lineup for two of his cars as Timmy Hill returns to action for the first time since Darlington, only this time runs the #13 Toyota in place of Chad Finchum. Finchum slides over to the #66, bumping Tommy Joe Martins to the #61 in place of Austin Hill, who isn’t entered after a sterling 9th-place run in his series debut at Indy with tires from Hattori Racing Enterprises. UPDATE: Timmy Hill is back out of the #13, which will be driven by a returning Stan Mullis.
DRIVER CHANGE: #17-Rick Ware Racing
The preliminary entry list did not have a driver listed for the Rick Ware Racing #17 driven by Kyle Weatherman to a 35th-place finish at Indianapolis. Joe Nemechek will drive this week, attempting triple-duty in Vegas. UPDATE: Just double-duty for Joe as John Hunter will run his truck on Friday.
DRIVER CHANGE: #18-Joe Gibbs Racing
Riley Herbst rejoins the XFINITY circuit for the first time since Iowa in July, where he ran 13th. Monster Energy will back his return, as it had in his previous seven races this year. He takes the place of Kyle Busch, who won his final XFINITY start of the year in a close contest with Justin Allgaier.
DRIVER CHANGE: #89-Shepherd Racing Ventures
Morgan Shepherd’s team reported Monday their driver is “doing some better, but still has a cough” following the bronchial infection that hampered him at Darlington and Indianapolis. Taking the controls this week in Vegas is Landon Cassill, who has consistently showed speed in the #89 car, including his most recent drive for them at Loudon. Cassill looks to pull double-duty, shaking off a brutal crash last Sunday at Indianapolis.
DRIVER CHANGE: #90-DGM Racing
Alex Labbe rejoins the Gosselin team for the first time since Darlington, where he ran 17th in an unsponsored car. He takes the place of Ronnie Bassett, Jr., who was running in and around the 20th spot for most of the day at Indianapolis before he climbed to 15th in the final stretch.
DRIVER CHANGE: #93-RSS Racing
C.J. McLaughlin eyes his third XFINITY Series start with a third different car number, following a 28th at Loudon in RSS Racing’s #39 and a 23rd at Bristol in B.J. McLeod’s #99. As of this writing his primary sponsor is not listed as Sci Aps, which backed him in both those races and sponsored Ryan Sieg’s return to Cup competition last Sunday in Indy. McLaughlin takes the place of Josh Bilicki, who ran 21st last Saturday.
DRIVER CHANGE: #99-B.J. McLeod Motorsports
Speaking of the McLeod #99, Jairo Avila, Jr. is back for the first time since his last-place finish in Kentucky. He takes the place of Stefan Parsons, who drove the car the last two rounds with finishes off 22nd and 19th. Avila ran the spring race at Vegas for this team, finishing 25th.
CUP INVADERS: None.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
CUP Race 27 of 36
South Point 400 at Las Vegas
Round of 16 – Race 1 of 3
2018 Last-Place Finisher: Erik Jones
ENTRY LIST
There are 39 drivers entered for 40 spots, marking the 21st short field in 27 races this season.
TEAM UPDATE: #21-Wood Brothers Racing
SPONSOR UPDATE: #95-Leavine Family Racing
The news broke early Tuesday that Paul Menard will be retiring from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the 2019 season, closing out a career where he'd never missed a Cup Series race since a DNQ for the 2007 Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. Reports indicate that Menard immediately recommended Matt DiBenedetto to take over the ride in 2020, which has also been announced. All this comes on the eve of Barstool Sports' first sponsorship of DiBenedetto's current ride at Leavine Family Racing, a deal that came about following his sterling runner-up finish at Bristol. Barstool will also sponsor DiBenedetto at Talladega.
DRIVER CHANGE: #27-Premium Motorsports
Last week saw a strong run by Ryan Sieg, whose return to Cup competition saw him finish 24th – the #27 team’s second-best finish all season, and best overall on a non-superspeedway. This week, Joe Nemechek is entered in his first Cup race since Darlington, where he ran 31st. As at Darlington, this means the two drivers with the most last-place finishes in Cup Series history will have a chance to break the tie in the same event. Michael McDowell, currently tied with Nemechek for 33 finishes apiece, returns to the Love’s Travel Stops scheme on his #34.
TEAM UPDATE: #51-Rick Ware Racing
The preliminary entry list did not have a driver named to run in place of B.J. McLeod, who ran a team-best 25th among the Ware quartet at Indianapolis. McLeod was confirmed by late Tuesday.
TEAM UPDATE: #52-Rick Ware Racing
The preliminary entry list did not have a driver named to run in place of Garrett Smithley, who ran 28th at Indianapolis. Smithley was confirmed by late Tuesday.
DRIVER CHANGE: #53-Rick Ware Racing
MISSING: #54-Rick Ware Racing
The preliminary entry list likewise did not have a driver named to run in place of Josh Bilicki, who finished 29th at Indianapolis. J.J. Yeley was listed to drive late Tuesday, moving over from the #54, which isn't entered. Yeley ran 26th at Indy after starting last.
RETURNING: #66-Motorsports Business Management
Joey Gase and the MBM team are back in action after taking the Indianapolis weekend off, looking to make their second Cup start in the last three rounds. Gase looks for a turnaround following a frustrating trip to Vegas this past spring, where he finished last in both the XFINITY and Cup Series races.
MISSING: #96-Gaunt Brothers Racing
Not making the trip west this week is the Gaunt Brothers, who had a respectable run going with Parker Kligerman until he was collected in the pileup triggered by Jimmie Johnson, leaving them 36th.
LASTCAR STAT OF THE WEEK
Today in LASTCAR history (September 12, 1987): The only XFINITY Series race yet run on this date was held at the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, where Tommy Ellis’ #04 Falk Auto Pontiac lost an engine after 24 laps. It was the second last-place finish of Ellis’ career. The race also saw Mark Martin’s third career series victory, and his last for car owner Bruce Lawmaster in the #31 Fat Boys Bar-B-Q Ford.
