CHASTAIN STRONG AT MICHIGAN

BROOKLYN, Mich. – The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns this weekend to Michigan International Speedway, one of driver Ross Chastain’s best tracks.

       Chastain, who will drive the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 4 Chevrolet in Saturday’s Irish Hills 250, has had good runs at MIS.

       In three Xfinity races at MIS, Chastain has an average finish of 16.3. He has been running at the finish of each race.

       Chastain also has driven in a Camping World Truck Series event at the wide two-mile track.

       “I’ve always been able to do pretty well at Michigan,” Chastain said. “The track is really wide and makes finding a lane where you can run well relatively easy. We always have good cars there.”

       MIS practice is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 1:30 p.m.

SMITHLEY ROLLS INTO MIS

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Garrett Smithley hopes to bounce back from a 35th-place finish last week at Pocono in Saturday’s Irish Hills 250 Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

       Smithley will drive the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet at MIS. The car will be sponsored by Operating Engineers 324, a 14,000-member-plus organization in Michigan.

       “We didn’t get to finish at Pocono, and that was disappointing,” Smithley said. “We’re looking for big improvement this week, and I’m sure we’ll have a good car for Michigan. It’s a track I really like.”

       Smithley has raced in both Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races at Michigan.

       Operating Engineers 324 has played a central role in building, operating and maintaining Michigan’s industrial infrastructure. Its members began working on internal combustion engines, electric motors, hydraulic machinery, refrigeration systems and the operation of nuclear power plants. Today, more than 100 years from its founding, they are the highest trained, certified and experienced experts in the industry.

       Practice is scheduled at MIS at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 1:30 p.m.

RHODES SET FOR MICHIGAN

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Michigan International Speedway is one of the fastest tracks the NASCAR Xfinity Series visits. And Harrison Rhodes is ready.

       Rhodes will drive the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 01 Chevrolet in Saturday’s Irish Hills 250 at MIS.

       “Michigan is super fast and wide and a great race track,” Rhodes said. “It’s all the things I like about racing. If your car doesn’t work well in one lane, you can move to several others. You can make the track come to you.”

       Rhodes has raced in three Xfinity events at MIS.

       Practice for the 13th race of the Xfinity season is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. (ET) Friday. Qualifying is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 1:30 p.m.

CHASTAIN 24th AT POCONO

LONG POND, Pa. – Ross Chastain scored a 24th-place finish in Saturday’s Pocono Green 250 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

       Chastain started 24th and raced with the lead pack much of the day. He finished on the lead lap and remained in 19th place in Xfinity driver points.

       “We raced pretty well on a day in which there were limited cautions (only three for 15 laps),” Chastain said. “We hung in there with some of the faster cars on a tough track. We’d like a better finish, but we made some gains.”

       Brad Keselowski won the race, and Justin Allgaier moved into the series point lead.

       The series moves on to Michigan International Speedway for a June 17 race.

SMITHLEY PARKS WITH ENGINE TROUBLE

LONG POND, Pa. – An engine problem sent Garrett Smithley to the garage with 15 laps remaining in Saturday’s Pocono Green 250 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

       Smithley finished 35th.

       “Tough luck with the engine,” Smithley said. “We were a handful of laps away from bringing it home. Just bad luck.”

       Smithley is 21st in Xfinity driver points.

       Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski won the race. Justin Allgaier moved past Elliott Sadler into the Xfinity point lead.

       Michigan International Speedway will host the next Xfinity race June 17.

RHODES SIDELINED WITH CLUTCH ISSUE

 LONG POND, Pa. – A clutch problem forced Harrison Rhodes to park his No. 01 Chevrolet halfway through Saturday’s Pocono Green 250 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

       Rhodes completed 49 of the race’s 100 laps and finished 37th.

       “I’m disappointed we didn’t get to finish, but our car ran pretty well,” Rhodes said. “We’ll come back strong at Michigan next week.”

       Brad Keselowski won the race, and Justin Allgaier moved into the point lead.

       The series races next June 17 at Michigan International Speedway.

Nailers Team up with Garrett Smithley for Pocono Green 250

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are teaming up with NASCAR race car driver Garrett Smithley during Saturday's Pocono Green 250.

Smithley, 25, is a native of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and is a big fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Garrett drives the number zero car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which in hockey terms, is equivalent to the American Hockey League. Saturday's Pocono Green 250 will take place at Pocono Raceway, which is less than 30 miles away from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza - the home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The race will be aired nationally on FOX, starting at 1:00. Smithley races for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller. Look for the Nailers logo on the side of Smithley's car.

"I'm very excited about representing the Nailers this weekend at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series," said Smithley. "Being a Pittsburgh native, I'm a big Pittsburgh sports fan, so naturally I thought it was pretty cool to work with the Nailers, especially given the Penguins run in the Stanley Cup Finals. I think it's a great way for some cross promotion in NASCAR and hockey, and I hope we have the opportunity to continue a relationship past this race!"

In addition to Saturday's race with Garrett Smithley, the Nailers have two other connections in the racing world. Tim Hall, who was a member of the 2015-16 team, is now in the Hendrick Motor Sports Pit Crew Development program. Also, three-year Nailer Adam Krause's wife's cousin, Chais Eliason, is an engineer with seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson's team.

CHASTAIN RIDING WITH MOMENTUM

LONG POND, Pa. – After a big weekend at Dover International Speedway, Ross Chastain rolls into Pocono Raceway this week with momentum.

       Chastain had fine runs in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Camping World Truck and Xfinity races at Dover.

       On Saturday, he’ll drive the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 4 Chevrolet in the Pocono Green 250 Xfinity race at Pocono.

       Chastain has some positive history at the track known as the Tricky Triangle. He has driven in two Truck races at Pocono, finishing fifth in 2013 and 10th in 2012. He also has raced in an Xfinity event at the 2.5-mile track.

       “Being in the Cup car last week at Dover really gave me a new look at driving and is going to help with the Xfinity program,” Chastain said. “I’m hoping we can keep things moving along at Pocono, a place I really like.”

       Pocono practice sessions are scheduled at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 9:35 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 1 p.m.

SMITHLEY ROLLS INTO POCONO

LONG POND, Pa. – Garrett Smithley will race in his third NASCAR event at Pocono Raceway when Saturday’s Pocono Green 250 Xfinity Series race gets the green flag.

       Smithley has driven in Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races at the tough 2.5-mile track.

       “Pocono is a great combination of a very fast track and one that has tough turns,” Smithley said. “All three turns are different, so you have to come up with a compromise that will make you fast all the way around the place. It’s a challenge.”

       Smithley is 20th in Xfinity points entering the race.

       Practice is scheduled at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, with qualifying set for 9:35 a.m. Saturday and the race at 1 p.m.

RHODES DEBUTS AT POCONO

LONG POND, Pa. – The Tricky Triangle has baffled more than a few drivers over the years.

       Harrison Rhodes gets his first shot at Pocono Raceway in an Xfinity car in Saturday’s Pocono Green 250, a 100-lap chase around the triangular, fast track.

       “I’m looking forward to racing there,” Rhodes said. “The track is super fast and has a lot of room for racing. It will be a big test for me, but I’m ready to roll.”

       Rhodes sits 22nd in Xfinity driver points entering the season’s 12th race.

       Practice is scheduled at Pocono at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 9:35 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 1 p.m.