Noah Gragson on JR Motorsports report: ‘Main focus’ is to win 2018 title

Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Noah Gragson said his 2019 plans “are not really my focus" during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, hours after a report indicated he's in line to jump to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports next season. "Well, I think the key word to that whole phrase was 'rumor mill,' " the 20-year-old Gragson said when host Dave Moody asked about the Wednesday report from the Sports Business Journal. “Right now that’s not really my focus. I know my (management) guys have been working really hard on finding me an opportunity next year, but my main focus is to win a championship at Kyle Busch Motorsports and compete for wins on a weekly basis. "That's my main focus, to try to get that championship for all the employees over there, for myself and my sponsors. Hopefully we can win a few more races and the rest will take care of itself." Gragson is in his second full season driving the No. 18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. News about the potential shift was first reported by the Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern. A Kyle Busch Motorsports spokesperson said the organization had no announcements about its 2019 driver lineup. A JRM spokesperson said the team had nothing to announce at this time. Gragson would replace Elliott Sadler in JRM's No. 1 Chevrolet, according to the report. Sadler, 43, announced Aug. 15 that he would end his full-time racing career at the end of the season. He currently sits third in the Xfinity Series standings. Gragson has made three Xfinity Series starts this season for Joe Gibbs Racing, recording top-10 finishes in all three appearances. The former NASCAR Next driver has two Camping World Truck Series wins, including one this season at Kansas Speedway. MORE: Gragson's career stats "I'm not really sure on what I'm going to do next year," Gragson said on SiriusXM. "I think it would be a great opportunity if I was in a position to race in the Xfinity Series. Going back to my career debut in the Xfinity Series this year … I had a really good showing and I felt like I was able to compete with those guys. "Time will tell. We'll see how everything gets laid out and where it goes, but definitely have a lot of options on the table and feel very fortunate to be in this position right now at Kyle Busch Motorsports and have people looking at me from the outside." Gragson was at the center of a controversial finish last weekend, crashing with teammate Todd Gilliland in a last-lap contest for the lead at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Gragson accepted blame for the mishap, which cost Kyle Busch Motorsports a potential 1-2 finish and allowed Justin Haley to sneak through for his second win of the season. Gragson said he and Gilliland are "back on good terms." "We talked," Gragson said. "I wanted to get his opinion on that last lap, he wanted to get my opinion. At the end of the day, we were racing for the win. I hate the result for everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports." INTERVIEWS: Gragson | Gilliland