Smithley Ready For The Road

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – It’s road-course month for NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. 

The stars and cars of the Xfinity circuit will hit three road courses this month, beginning with Watkins Glen International in New York for Saturday’s Zippo 200.

The series also is scheduled to race at Mid-Ohio and Road America in August.

Garrett Smithley, driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet, is ready. 

“The road courses always are a challenge for me,” said Smithley, who has competed twice at the Glen. “It’s a very different kind of racing than what I grew up with, but I like the challenge. I’m sure we’ll have a good car this weekend.” 

Practice for the 82-lap race over the 2.45-mile road course is scheduled at 12:35 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 11:35 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m. 

Seven races remain in the Xfinity regular season.

Miller Hits The Road At The Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Over the past dozen races, Vinnie Miller has improved his standing in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series from 31st in points to 24th. He gained another position last week at Iowa Speedway.

 Miller will be aiming for more this weekend as he races in the series for the first time at Watkins Glen International in the Zippo 200.

The road course event will be a new experience for Miller, driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 01 Chevrolet. 

“I am really excited about going to my first road course this weekend at Watkins Glen,” Miller said. “I am looking forward to my first laps around the track and seeing if I’m decent. I used to be good at road racing in karts, so it might just be a strong point of mine. 

“Hopefully, we will make it through the bus stop each lap, learn a ton and have a good run for Johnny Davis and the rest of the 01 Chevrolet team.”

Practice for the 82-lap race is scheduled at 12:35 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 11:35 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.

ROSS CHASTAIN HOPING TO TOP HIS 2017 IOWA SPEEDWAY FINISH

Gaffney, S.C. (June 14, 2018) – A lot of eyes will be on Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro, as he competes in the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway, one year after his career best finish.

Last year’s June NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway was one of the best in JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team history with Chastain finishing in fourth place, his first career top-five.

“This is one of the races that I’ve been really looking forward to this year,” said Chastain. “There’s a lot of pressure going into this one. After the way we ran last year, expectations are through the roof, but my No. 4 team has a great car ready for me to go race. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got and, hopefully, top what we did last year.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series practice is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. CT Saturday. Qualifying will start at 1:35 p.m. CT on Sunday, and the Iowa 250 will get the green flag at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on FS1.

GARRETT SMITHLEY HOPING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT IOWA SPEEDWAY

Gaffney, S.C. (June 14, 2018) – Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro, has a lot of confidence going into Sunday’s Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway.

Last year’s June NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway was one of the best in JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team history with Smithley finishing in tenth place and his teammate, Ross Chastain, finishing in fourth place.

“I’ve been really looking forward to going back to Iowa,” said Smithley. “We had such a good run there last year, and my ‘Number Nuthin’’ team has had some really great races this season, so I’m really excited for Sunday.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series practice is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. CT Saturday. Qualifying will start at 1:35 p.m. CT on Sunday, and the Iowa 250 will get the green flag at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on FS1.

VINNIE MILLER RETURNS TO IOWA SPEEDWAY

Gaffney, S.C. (June 14, 2018) – Vinnie Miller, driver of the No. 01 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet Camaro, is excited for the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen, his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway.  

Miller has raced at Iowa Speedway twice in other series. Last year in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, Miller started in second place and finished sixth in his first start at Iowa Speedway. Later that year, Miller returned to Iowa in the K&N Pro Series East race, in which he started the race 19th and finished 26th after having to pit for a flat tire while running in ninth place.

“I’m excited to go back to Iowa Speedway,” said Miller. “I’ve talked to my JD Motorsports teammates and some other friends that have run in an (NASCAR) Xfinity car there. They’ve told me that it will race differently than the ARCA (Racing Series presented by Menards) and the K&N (NASCAR K&N Pro Series) cars. I had success at Iowa in both those cars, so I’m anxious to get out there and see what we can do to have another good run for JD Motorsports.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series practice is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. CT Saturday. Qualifying will start at 1:35 p.m. CT on Sunday, and the Iowa 250 will get the green flag at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on FS1.

B.J. MCLEOD RACING THE NO. 15 CHEVY FOR JD MOTORSPORTS IN IOWA

Gaffney, S.C. (June 14, 2018) – B.J. McLeod will be joining team JD Motorsports with Gary Keller this weekend at Iowa Speedway. McLeod will pilot the No. 15 Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen.

McLeod has raced at Iowa Speedway five times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“I’m honored to be racing for JD Motorsports this weekend,” said McLeod. “I raced go-karts for Johnny (Davis, team owner) back in the early 90’s, and I have a lot of respect for him and his team. I’m excited to work with the No. 15 team this weekend, and I’m hoping to bring home a good finish for everyone.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series practice is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. CT Saturday. Qualifying will start at 1:35 p.m. CT on Sunday, and the Iowa 250 will get the green flag at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m.ET) on FS1.

ROSS CHASTAIN FINISHES 14TH AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

GAFFNEY, S.C. (June 11, 2018) – Ross Chastain, driving the No. 4 Flex Seal Chevrolet Camaro, came home with a top-15 finish for team JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in the rain-shortened LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

With NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying cancelled because of rain, Chastain started the race in 16th place. The No. 4 Flex Seal Chevy was fast all day, and Chastain finished stage two of the race in 6th place. The rain set in again and ended the race on lap 91 with Chastain in 14th place.

“This was a very productive day for the No. 4 Flex Seal team,” said Chastain. “The guys made a good bit of adjustments on the first pit stop and made really good headway on the mechanical grip. They made it so that I could carry a lot more throttle, and that really paid off later in the race and helped me get some stage points. We were really hoping that the rain would hold off a little while longer. We pitted at the end of stage two for fuel so that we could go awhile longer than some other cars, but there were a couple more cautions before the end that let everyone else stop for fuel too. But, all in all, we gained points on the guys that we needed to and got a good finish for Flex Seal and Hungry Howie’s Pizza.”

Next up for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on June 17th, 2018.

VINNIE MILLER SCORES A TOP-25 FINISH IN MICHIGAN

GAFFNEY, S.C. (June 11, 2018) – Michigan native and NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie, Vinnie Miller scored a top-25 finish for team JD Motorsports with Gary Keller at his home track, Michigan International Speedway.

With LTi Printing 250 qualifying cancelled because of rain, Miller started the race in 32nd place. Miller’s No. 01 JAS Expedited Trucking Chevrolet Camaro had good speed, and Miller was able to work his way through the field. The rain set in again and ended the race on lap 91 with Miller in 25th place and on the lead lap.

“I had a good race in Michigan,” said Miller. “It was my first experience with a three-hour rain delay, which was not fun, but it gave me time to spend with all my family and friends that came to support me at my home track. I’m glad we were able to get the race in and bring home a top-25 finish for the JAS Expedited Trucking, JD Motorsports team. The package NASCAR gave us for the weekend was quite interesting, and I really felt we had a top-20 car. We will keep digging and working hard to get to where I need to be finishing. I can’t thank the No. 01 team and Tony from JAS Expedited Trucking enough for all their support.”

Next up for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on June 17th, 2018.

GARRETT SMITHLEY FINISHES 26TH IN THE LTI PRINTING 250

GAFFNEY, S.C. (June 11, 2018) – After a long rain delay at Michigan International Speedway, Garrett Smithley finished in 26th place in the NASCAR Xfinity Series LTi Printing 250.

Qualifying was cancelled because of the rain, so Smithley started the race in 22nd place. Smithley’s No. 0 VehicleKEYS.com Chevrolet Camaro was fast on the long runs, but a motor issue held him back on the restarts. The race was deemed official on lap 91 due to heavy rain.

“I had an interesting day in Michigan for me and my team, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller,” said Smithley. “The car was kind of tight at the beginning, but once my No. 0 guys got it turning, I had a fast car. Unfortunately, we had some sort of motor issue that made restarts a struggle, but it was fine once I got up to speed. The last restart just killed us, though. All in all, it was a good points day. We gained on the guys that we needed to and the car’s in one piece. I owe a huge thanks to Joe and Joanna from VehicleKEYS.com for continuing to support me and even waiting out the rain delay with us.”

Next up for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on June 17th, 2018.

CRASH ENDS MATT MILLS’ RACE AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

GAFFNEY, S.C. (June 11, 2018) – Matt Mills, driving the No. 15 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet Camaro, was scored in 36th place in the LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Speedway.  

NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying was cancelled because of the rain, so Mills started the race in 30th place. Mills was racing on the lead lap before a blown tire sent him into the wall on lap 54, ending his day. The race was deemed official on lap 91 due to heavy rain.

“This was a very disappointing day for my team,” said Mills. “My No. 15 guys gave me a very fast car, and we were doing great at the start of the race gaining positions and staying on the lead lap. I’m very proud of these guys, and I wish we’d got a better finish out of today’s race.”

Next up for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is the Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on June 17th, 2018.