PREVIEW: Two Truck Series upstarts look to make XFINITY debut in Texas

IMAGE: Daniel Dye Racing

by Brock Beard

LASTCAR.info Editor-in-Chief

Saturday, September 23, 2023 (3:30 P.M. ET, USA)

XFINITY Race 28 of 33

Round of 12: Race 2 of 3

Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas

2022 Last-Place Finisher: Jeffrey Earnhardt

ENTRY LIST

There are 40 drivers entered for 38 spots, meaning two will fail to qualify.

DRIVER CHANGE: #4-JD Motorsports

DRIVER SWAP: #91-DGM Racing

Garrett Smithley rejoins the Johnny Davis team with his Trophy Tractor sponsorship, his first XFINITY start since he ran 25th in Kansas. Smithley takes the place of Kyle Weatherman, who returns to DGM Racing in the #91 with DriveSmartWarranty.com. One week after taking 23rd in Bristol, Weatherman takes the place of 27th-place finisher Josh Bilicki.

DRIVER CHANGE: #11-Kaulig Racing

The first of two Truck Series drivers making their XFINITY Series debuts this weekend is Layne Riggs, announced as the latest driver of the team’s renumbered “all-star” entry, the #11. Riggs arrives after six Truck Series starts, most recently his career-best 3rd-place finish at IRP for Spire Motorsports. Carrying sponsorship from Infinity Communications Group, the second-generation racer takes the place of 12th-place Bristol finisher Derek Kraus.

DRIVER CHANGE: #28-RSS Racing

RETURNING / DRIVER SWAP: #29-RSS Racing

The Sieg team brings back their part-time fourth entry, the #29, which goes to 21st-place finisher Kyle Sieg and sponsor Pathway Homes. Sieg’s team switch leaves open the #28 for a returning C.J. McLaughlin, back in action for the first time since he finished 22nd at Kansas, his second-best run of 2023.

DRIVER CHANGE: #35-Emerling-Gase Motorsports

DRIVER SWAP: #35-Emerling-Gase Motorsports

It was a difficult weekend in Bristol for the Emerling-Gase effort, which following Patrick Emerling’s practice crash in the #35 withdrew their #53 to serve as its backup, only for B.J. McLeod to drop out with a persistent power steering issue for a 37th-place finish. Emerling will this week pilot the #53, joined by team co-owner Joey Gase in the #35. Gase’s most recent start in Kansas yielded a 24th-place finish.

DRIVER CHANGE: #44-Alpha Prime Racing

The other Truck Series driver seeking a debut on Saturday is Daniel Dye, who this week pilots Alpha Prime’s struggling #44 entry. Just like his current Truck Series entry at GMS Racing, Dye’s car carries car numbers in the style of Petty Enterprises, bringing with him sponsor Champion Container. Dye takes the place of Rajah Caruth, who earned a solid 17th-place finish in Bristol. For Dye, the challenge will be in qualifying as the #44 has failed to qualify for four of its last seven attempts. Dye is also entered in the upcoming races at Las Vegas and Phoenix.

DRIVER CHANGE: #66-Motorsports Business Management

Sage Karam makes his 11th XFINITY start of the year and first since he scored back-to-back 15th-place runs in Alpha Prime’s #45 at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen. This time, he reunites with Carl Long for the first time since Michigan, where he led a lap during late-race pit stops and finished 25th. AmeriDream Mortgage Group, LLC joins as primary sponsor with PRS Stormwater Management and Coble Enterprises. Karam replaces Timmy Hill, whose rear gear issues at the start resulted in a last-place finish.

RETURNING: #74-CHK Racing

The Harmon team returns to action for the first time since the team’s season-best 28th at Michigan, and again enlists the aid of Dawson Cram, who got the CHK effort into its first race since Charlotte in May. The team is also preparing to run at the upcoming Charlotte “Roval” with the car Casey Carden DNQ’d in their most recent attempt at Watkins Glen, but will this time bring in sports car racer Devin Jones for his first XFINITY attempt since 2017.

MISSING: #88-JR Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is not entered along with the team’s part-time #88 entry after Junior’s top-five run at Bristol was spoiled late by an electrical fire, leaving him 30th.

DRIVER CHANGE: #07-SS-Green Light Racing

Two veteran drivers will pilot Bobby Dotter’s Fords this weekend, starting with Texas native David Starr, who makes only his fifth series start of the ear and first since his 22nd-place run for Emerling-Gase in Atlanta this past July. Starr’s only previous attempt this year for SS-Green Light came at Talladega, where he had his only DNQ of 2023. He takes the place of Stefan Parsons, who ran 19th in Bristol.

DRIVER CHANGE: #08-SS-Green Light Racing

The other veteran is J.J. Yeley, who will pull double-duty with the Cup Series this weekend. Yeley pilots the #08 in place of 29th-place Bristol finisher Chad Finchum, and MPV Express is the listed sponsor. This will be only the second XFINITY start of Yeley’s season, following his 30th-place showing in Dotter’s #07 last month in Daytona.

CUP INVADERS: None

Sunday, September 24, 2023 (3:30 P.M. ET, USA)

CUP Race 30 of 36

Round of 12: Race 1 of 3

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas

2022 Last-Place Finisher: Kyle Busch

ENTRY LIST

For the 29th straight Cup race, there are not 40 entrants for this week’s action, and for the 19th time and fourth in a row, only the 36 Chartered teams will occupy the Cup garage.

DRIVER CHANGE: #38-Front Row Motorsports

DRIVER SWAP: #51-Rick Ware Racing

Just days after it was announced Zane Smith will drive for Trackhouse in 2024, Smith will again pilot Front Row’s #38 in place of 6th-place Bristol finisher Todd Gilliland, who goes to the #51 in place of Ryan Newman, last that night. Ambetter Health is the listed sponsor for Smith’s eighth Cup Series start, his first since a 34th-place showing at Sears Point in June.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

TRUCKS Race 21 of 23

Round of 8: Race 2 of 3

Talladega 250 at Talladega

2022 Last-Place Finisher: Jordan Anderson

The Truck Series takes the week off and returns to action on the superspeedway in Talladega.

TODAY IN LASTCAR HISTORY (September 22, 1985): Buddy Baker picked up the 14th last-place finish of his NASCAR Winston Cup Series career when his #88 Bull Frog Knits Oldsmobile had brake issues after 24 laps of the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville. Baker made just two more Cup starts at Martinsville, finishing last a second time on September 27, 1987, then 7th in his 39th and last race there on April 24, 1988.