SMITHLEY 24th AT RICHMOND

RICHMOND, Va. – Garrett Smithley scored a 24th-place finish in Friday night’s Go Bowling 250 Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway. 

Smithley, driving the No. 0 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, started the race 29th and settled into the middle of the field. 

“We were looking for a better run tonight,” Smithley said. “We haven’t found the right combo at Richmond. But we brought the car home in one piece and learned a lot.” 

Smithley is 19th in series points entering the final months of the season. 

The race was the playoff opener for the Xfinity Series. Christopher Bell emerged with the victory and leads the playoff standings. 

The series moves on to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Sept. 29 race.

LEGGE RACING WITH BUBBA BURGER AT RICHMOND

GAFFNEY, S.C. – Sports car veteran Katherine Legge is returning to NASCAR – and bringing BUBBA Burger along for the ride. 

JD Motorsports with Gary Keller announced Thursday that BUBBA Burger will sponsor Legge’s No. 15 Chevrolet in Friday’s GoBowling 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway in Virginia. 

BUBBA Burger is a sponsor in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series, where Legge is a regular competitor. Andy Stenson, BUBBA Burger’s vice president of marketing, said the company is thrilled to be involved with Legge as she continues her NASCAR journey. 

“We want to support Katherine and JD Motorsports any way we can,” Stenson said. “Katherine is a strong and accomplished driver, as was proven again this month by her win at Laguna Seca. We’re happy to encourage her entry into NASCAR racing and excited about what she can do going forward.” 

The British driver has raced in two other Xfinity events this year, finishing 30th on the road course at Mid-Ohio and 14th in another road-course race at Mid-America. Both races were in JD Motorsports with Gary Keller cars. 

Friday night’s race will be her first NASCAR oval attempt. 

“Katherine has been great to work with,” said team owner Johnny Davis. “We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do in her oval debut. It’s a different kind of racing, of course, but she has proven she can adapt quickly. Having BUBBA Burger along for the ride will make it even more special.”

CASSILL’S RETURN NETS 14th AT VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – Landon Cassill’s second run this season for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller produced a 14th-place finish in Saturday’s DC Solar 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Earlier this month, Cassill, who has a long history at JD Motorsports, returned to the team at Darlington Raceway and scored a 14th. 

He drove the team’s No. 4 Chevrolet to a lead-lap finish Saturday. 

“It’s always fun to be back with Johnny (team owner Johnny Davis) and the guys,” Cassill said. “We had a solid car today and were able to stay in the lead group. I appreciate this team and what they’re able to do.”  

The race ended the Xfinity regular season. The playoffs are scheduled to begin Sept. 21 at Richmond Raceway in Virginia.

MILLER 26th AT LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – Vinnie Miller rallied from a late-race spin to finish 26th in Saturday’s DC Solar 300 Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  

Miller spun in turn three on lap 177 (of 200), bringing out the race’s sixth caution, but there was no damage to the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 01 Chevrolet and he held on to finish the race.

“We were able to salvage a decent finish in the race for JAS Expedited Trucking after struggling in practice yesterday,” Miller said. “I got the air taken off me from another car and spun in the race, but we didn’t have any damage on the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Camaro. A big thank you to all the guys that work so hard on this team.” 

The race ended the Xfinity Series’ regular-season schedule. First-year driver Miller is 27th in points. 

The Xfinity playoffs open Sept. 21 at Richmond Raceway in Virginia.

SMITHLEY SCORES 18th AT LVMS

LAS VEGAS – Garrett Smithley ended the Xfinity Series regular season with a solid run, finishing 18th in the DC Solar 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Smithley stands 18th in points after the close of the regular season. 

He improved his Vegas finish by five spots over the spring race at the 1.5-mile track. 

“We were hoping for more, but we had a pretty decent run,” Smithley said. “We made some progress here from the spring race. Every lap gives you a little more knowledge.” 

Smithley drove the No. 0 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller. 

The Xfinity Series playoffs are scheduled to begin Sept. 21 at Richmond Raceway in Virginia.

CHASTAIN CONTINUES TARGETING PLAYOFFS

INDIANAPOLIS – Ross Chastain solidified his chances of making the Xfinity Series playoffs with a 12th-place finish in Monday’s Lilly Diabetes 250 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

With only this week’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway remaining on the regular-season schedule, Chastain sits in the 12th and final qualifying spot for the playoffs. 

“A great run today at Indy,” said Chastain, who finished on the lead lap in the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 4 Chevrolet. “We had a really good car, stayed with the lead pack and managed a great finish. Now we need a good run at Las Vegas.” 

Wet weather plagued Indy all weekend. The Xfinity race was originally scheduled for Saturday, but rain wiped out all practice and qualifying and forced NASCAR to reschedule the race Monday. 

“It was a tough set of circumstances for the team to deal with, not even getting one lap on the track before the race, but we pushed through it,” Chastain said.   

Justin Allgaier won the race.

MILLER SCORES AT INDY

INDIANAPOLIS – Vinnie Miller had to wait two extra days to make his first laps at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the delay was worth it. 

Miller produced one of his best outings of the season in one of the schedule’s biggest races, finishing a solid 17th Monday in the Lilly Diabetes 250 Xfinity Series race at IMS. The finish tied the first-year driver’s seasonal best. 

The race was postponed by rain Saturday and was held Monday as part of an Indy doubleheader with the Monster Energy Cup race. Wet weather washed out practice and qualifying for both series.

“It was a really successful weekend for us at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Miller said. “With no practice or qualifying laps, due to the rain, we were supposed to start 30th, but we dropped to the rear for the start of the race. We wanted to make sure the car was good and nothing was rubbing that we’d have to adjust on the first pit stop, but the car was solid.   

“We were able to stay out of trouble and had a good strategy for the end of the race. It was a great day for me and the guys on the No. 01 JAS Expedited Trucking, LLC., JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet Camaro team.”  

Justin Allgaier won the race. 

The series races next at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 15 in the regular season finale.

SMITHLEY 20th AT INDIANAPOLIS

INDIANAPOLIS – Garrett Smithley finished 20th Monday in the weather-delayed Lilly Diabetes 250 Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Drivers and teams participating in one of the series’ biggest races of the season faced a tough task Monday. The race was scheduled Saturday, but rainy weather in the Indianapolis area wiped out all practice and qualifying, meaning drivers started Monday’s race with no time on the track. 

“It was kind of a grab bag as far as what we might be able to do,” Smithley said. “It’s tough to miss practice anywhere, but especially so at Indy where the track is so demanding. But we did a good job and brought the car home with a decent finish.” 

Smithley, driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet, is 19th in series points. 

Justin Allgaier won the race. 

The series races next at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 15 in the regular season finale.

CASSILL HAS EXCELLENT RUN IN HOMECOMING

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Landon Cassill’s “homecoming” at JD Motorsports with Gary Keller was a roaring success.

Cassill, driving the Flex Seal No. 01 Chevrolet in a “throwback” to his days racing full-time with JD Motorsports, finished a strong 14th in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway.

Cassill finished on the lead lap in one of the season’s toughest races. He started 21st.

“What a fun day,” Cassill said. “It was cool to be back with Johnny (team owner Johnny Davis) and the guys – like old times. We had a great car, raced with the lead group and had a fine finish. Couldn’t have asked for much more.”

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

The series rolls on to Indianapolis for a Sept. 8 race.

SMITHLEY TAKES 20th AT DARLINGTON

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Garrett Smithley drove the South Carolina Education Lottery Chevrolet to a 20th-place finish in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway.

Smithley’s third race on NASCAR’s toughest track – in the intense heat of a South Carolina summer Saturday -- left him pleased.

“It was a good day – another top-20 run,” he said. “I fought tight all day but made some good gains. I only had a scratch on the right side. That’s a good day at Darlington in my book.”

Smithley is 19th in Xfinity Series points with two races left in the regular season.

Brad Keselowski won the race, and Justin Allgaier remained in the point lead.

The series rolls on to Indianapolis for a Sept. 8 race.