Analysis: Justin Allgaier’s shining moment rings through NASCAR garage

Posted on November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by Zach Sturniolo

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Saturday night, under the bright lights of the Phoenix Raceway, Justin Allgaier finally found the peak of the mountain he has climbed so long.

Justin Allgaier is a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.

MORE: Allgaier wins title | Champ race recap

Every bit of his journey to the 2024 title was Allgaier-esque, too. The tribulation. The bad luck. The close calls. But what, too, is Allgaier-esque is his sheer perseverance in the face of every obstacle set before him.

The weekend alone was a microcosm of it all — a crash in practice that relegated him to a backup car; starting from the rear in the secondary vehicle; a restart violation that sent his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to pit road to serve a pass-through-penalty; a speeding penalty while atoning for the prior infraction.

In prior years, each would be a sign of his impending doom and demise, hills too tall for Allgaier to climb like those in his previous six Championship 4 appearances. Heck, Allgaier read all those signs mid-race.

“I was ready to pull down pit road, to be honest with you, and just park the car in the pit stall and get out,” Allgaier said. “If it could go wrong this weekend, it went wrong, and the team never gave up. I could tell the disappointment in their voices, they went radio silent for a while, and I could tell the disappointment in their voices. And that’s a hard spot to be in as a driver.

“Six times before me, I’ve come in here, and I’ve said we did a great job, and we executed the night well, and we built a great race car. And I’ve walked out of here as second, third, fourth and not had an opportunity to bring a championship back to the men and women at JR Motorsports. This 7 team right now is just different.”

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

That, in large part, is credited to crew chief Jim Pohlman, who Allgaier and team co-owners Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. showered with praise after showering him with champagne.

At the end of the 2022 campaign, JR Motorsports collectively determined it was time to shake up the No. 7 team, which won 16 races across seven seasons together from 2016-2022 with Allgaier and crew chief Jason Burdett. In those seven years, they reached the Championship 4 five times. So when Allgaier was presented with the decision to part ways with Burdett …

“Justin was not entirely sure about that choice,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “But Jim was his pick. I didn’t really know Jim, so I leaned on Justin to be sure about that decision. My gosh, he nailed it. Jim has made us better and made our entire company better. He makes his car fast. That drives everybody forward. He has a relationship with Justin that sort of polished or altered some of the rawness and some of the unpolished imperfections that Justin has in his game.

“I think the missing ingredient to Justin might be Jim.”

Because Pohlman kept Allgaier mentally engaged all weekend, the No. 7 Chevrolet had a chance to win the 2024 championship all the way through the checkered flag.

Allgaier’s disappointment in a Saturday practice crash — caused by the misfortunate of another competitor’s mechanical failure — turned to rare fury in the garage, leading to Allgaier’s fists slamming upon the team’s toolbox.

“To see the look on his face when he got out of that race car,” Pohlman said, “it was disappointment for me because he knew how hard his team had worked on that car, how much effort we had put into it. And it was like you lost your first child when he got out of the car, looking at me like: ‘I am sorry I wrecked your race car.’

“I had to go into damage control and really kind of rein him back in, like, hey, it’s OK. We’re here. We’ve got another car, and we’ll get to work on it. We’ll figure it out.”

Meg Oliphant | Getty Images

And so they did. Within 30 minutes of crashing into the Turn 1 wall in his primary car, Allgaier was back on the track in his backup – a car that quickly proved it was ready for the task at hand.

From the rear of the field Saturday, Allgaier stormed into 11th place after 20 laps and to sixth by Lap 40. By Lap 75, Allgaier was fighting Cole Custer for the championship lead.

“Jim Pohlman and his leadership is amazing,” Allgaier said. “And these 7 guys, I cannot begin to stress to you how out of the trenches they dig, and tonight is a great example of that.”

Pohlman had to lead a little harder once the final stage began. Allgaier pulled out of line early on the restart, incurring a penalty that required him to pass through pit road. Insult to injury came when he sped while serving that penalty.

Frustrated and off the lead lap, Pohlman worked strategy perfectly to their favor — with a touch of good fortune for Allgaier instead of the usual bad luck that’s haunted him.

Pohlman kept Allgaier on the track longer to get the No. 7 Chevrolet back onto the lead lap during the final green-flag pit cycle, hoping for a caution to fall their way. They got it with 45 laps to go when Anthony Alfredo suffered a flat tire and contacted the outside wall to trigger the yellow flag.

“Christmas in November,” Allgaier said.

Suddenly, Allgaier was back in the game all over again. And after a couple of heart-wrenching overtime attempts, all that scratching, clawing and fighting proved fruitful with a championship trophy.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

For every molehill, hurdle, obstacle and mountain placed in front of Allgaier, the Illinois native refused to throw in the towel even when the thought crossed his own mind.

That comes as no surprise to his parents, Dorothy and Mike Allgaier, who were soaking in every possible moment with their son at the championship stage Saturday night. Perseverance? That’s an Allgaier thing.

“It’s hard to even believe it,” Mike Allgaier told NASCAR.com. “It’s just been a special night. Things didn’t go our way, and then they did. And I don’t know what to say, other than thank you God and thank you to this team. They’re great people, great people to be around, and obviously very sharp.

“One minute you got tears because you’re sad; next minute you got tears because you’re so happy. Great, great, great day.”

WATCH: Final laps from Saturday’s finale

On Oct. 18, a day before the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Allgaier said his ultimate goal was to win a championship — not for himself but for outgoing NASCAR Xfinity Series director Wayne Auton. Auton’s presence has been a constant in the NASCAR garage for over three decades, but Saturday marked his farewell, his final event in the control tower.

He and Allgaier share a close bond. So it was only fitting that in Allgaier’s seventh appearance in the Championship 4, after 14 years of trying, Auton was the one to hand him the Xfinity Series championship trophy.

“He started at 16 years old with me in the trucks,” Auton told NASCAR.com, “and we’ve been through a lot. And I always wanted to see him get a championship. I don’t pull for people in the garage area; that’s not my job. I love every one of these drivers. I wanted all four of those guys plus the 20 car to win a championship. But somebody’s got to win it.

“And for that kid up there — I call him a kid — for that kid up there to finally get one of these things after so many shots at it. And for Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelly Earnhardt Miller, LW (Miller, senior vice president of motorsports at JRM), Mike Bumgarner that runs this Xfinity program for them. I mean, the list just goes on and on.”

Patrick Vallely | For NASCAR Digital Media

NASCAR’s chief operations officer Steve O’Donnell insisted Auton deliver the champion his trophy on the championship stage regardless of who won the title. That it was Allgaier made the moment sweeter for all involved.

“Wayne is somebody special,” Allgaier said. “And I’m gonna be honest with you: Wayne has given me a lot in this sport, and I wanted nothing more than to than to be able to send him off and to celebrate a championship with Wayne on the stage. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but when we get that banquet, I told him, ‘I want to get you on stage. I want to embarrass you,’ and that’s my goal.

“His family was here tonight, and Wayne got emotional yesterday when we did our Championship 4 meeting because he truly cares about this sport and the people that are in this sport, and that was really special to me. And so it was really, really cool to be able to send him off that way.”

MORE: Celebrating Auton’s storied career

Allgaier recently signed a two-year extension to remain in the No. 7 Chevrolet through 2026, with longtime sponsor Brandt along for the ride. The elation and congratulations from so many encapsulates how highly those around Allgaier think of him, including Aric Almirola, Cole Custer and Austin Hill — all of whom were fighting Allgaier for some part of an Xfinity title Saturday night.

“He deserves this so much,” Earnhardt Miller told NASCAR.com. “His family, the Brandt family, has been behind him for a long time, and I’m just glad it happened because I don’t know how many more years he’s gonna race, but I’m just glad it finally happened for him.”

Even Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion and a member of this year’s Championship 4, swung by to congratulate the new Xfinity champ after his own midweek premonition.

“Justin’s a great guy and he’s been a huge staple in the Xfinity Series for a long time and just been super close,” Blaney told NASCAR.com. “He had to overcome a lot tonight. It obviously wasn’t looking good for a while, and he got back in the fight. I saw him on media day Thursday, and I was like, ‘I think you’re gonna do it, man.’ So I really just wanted to tell him, ‘I told you so.’ It’s cool when good guys like that can do it.”

Posted on November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by Nate Ryan

The most ruthless superstar of the NASCAR Cup Series also is perhaps its greatest altruist.

At the core of Joey Logano’s greatness lies a simple dichotomy: An unwavering commitment to being both boundlessly selfless in his personal life and incessantly merciless on the professional side.

The newly minted three-time champion is a humanitarian whose charitable foundation has invested more than $5 million in the service of helping children and youth through crippling crisis.

He also is a stone-cold killer behind the wheel who confidently (and without compunction) talks about putting his “foot on their throats” and figuratively snuffing out the competition.

That bellicose vow turned heads when uttered by Logano on Saturday after qualifying second at Phoenix Raceway for the season finale that he won a day later.

“That’s what we have to do,” he said matter of factly when asked about aggressively promising the forced submission of his Championship 4 rivals in rather brutal terms. “We have them where we want them right now. We just have to keep them there.”

His team owner, Roger Penske, is a racing icon whose legendary teams avoid disparagement of the competition whenever possible. Noting that “when you win, you can say whatever you want,” Penske still winced when he heard the violent framing by his most successful NASCAR driver.

“I might have used different words,” Penske said.

His driver might have, too, if he thought it possible.

But Logano admittedly believes it’s uncomfortable but necessary to embrace this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality to realize his Hall of Fame potential.

“I put myself in high-pressure moments, and part of the reason why I started talking crap a little bit is that it puts more pressure on me, and it seems like that helps,” he said. “It’s not comfortable, but it seems like as a driver, personally, I’m better that way.”

It’s a Faustian bargain that he struck long ago in the service of becoming an elite driver.

At 34 years old, Logano is two decades removed from being the baby-faced wunderkind from Middletown, Connecticut. Shortly after becoming a teenager, Logano was proclaimed a can’t-miss champion by no short of an authority than Mark Martin (an early mentor).

But the path never was so easy. Logano was accosted, bullied and taunted by several Cup peers (some nearly twice his age). He lost a high-profile ride and took countless arrows from fans known for harsh judgment of young drivers thrust into the spotlight before they have posted all-world results.

Logano learned to manage the criticism with the efficient calm of a cerebral assassin.

Sunday night, he spent much of a 30-minute news conference defending himself as only the 10th driver in NASCAR history to win at least three championships, joining the hallowed company of Petty, Johnson, Earnhardt, Gordon, Pearson, Stewart, Waltrip and Yarborough.

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR.com

If justifying that level of accomplishment seems an absurd premise, well, it is.

Over its 76-year history, NASCAR has changed its championship formats, points accumulation structures and its race track schedules numerous times.

Logano has won all three championships during the elimination era (which has existed for 11 of his 16 seasons in Cup). The statistics from his third title were less gaudy than those of prior champs, but the crown was no less legitimate. He might have more championships under other systems – as he and crew chief Paul Wolfe have noted many times, they tailor their approach to whatever wins the title.

So, how does it feel to answer the specious claims of being unworthy?

“It’s been my whole career, bud, like from the very beginning,” Logano said. “It’s just what it is. I’ve got thick skin. Bring it on.”

But he also has been known to chafe when his competitive persona is raised.

VIDEO: ‘Joey Logano deserves it’

Two years ago, a NASCAR beat reporter said on the debut episode of the “Race for the Championship” docuseries that, in contrast to being one of the sport’s most benevolent drivers off the track, Logano is “a bit of a jerk” when he dons the helmet.

Two days later, Logano saw the reporter at Playoff Media Day and lit into him.

Two days after that, he won the pole position for the Darlington Raceway opener and began an unrelenting march to his second championship.

Logano might not like being reminded that he draws power from a dark place (as many pro athletes do), but there also is no denying it works.

Apropos of nothing during his Sunday night championship trophy presentation, Logano suddenly harkened back to his firing 12 years ago by Joe Gibbs Racing (“it motivates me by scaring me to death this doesn’t last forever.”).

Immediately upon sitting at the media center dais for his championship news conference Sunday night, he pointed at FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, who left Logano out of his preseason playoff predictions, and began laughing uncontrollably with an impish giggle.

People can be left guessing how seriously he takes slights. The primary goal never is in doubt.

“All he wants to do is win; that’s all he thinks about,” Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook said. “He’s worried about every single element of the program and what it takes for the team to be successful. Joey is probably thinking now already what’s he going to do, what does he need Penske to do, what does he need us to do better to win it again next year.”

The offseason won’t have such a singular focus, though, for Logano, who pledged $250,000 to Hurricane Helene relief with his wife, Brittany, through their foundation.

He was in Western North Carolina last month to tour the devastation that was “worse than I thought it was going to be,” so he could game-plan a long-term response to place “hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe millions, to help people.” Logano talked at length about returning so he also could contribute the aid firsthand.

“That’s what we love about Joey,” Rushbrook said. “He’s such a good person in terms of what he does off the track with the charity … He is so focused as a competitor but able to have the time to do things like that; it means a lot to us in terms of who he is as a person.”

Penske fondly recalled Logano handing out Thanksgiving turkeys the night before he won his first Cup championship in 2018.

“The other side of him, when he puts the helmet on, there’s nobody out there that runs harder than he does,” Penske said.

Few know it better than Martin Truex Jr., who concluded his career Sunday with one fewer championship because of Logano. In the 2018 Round of 8 opener, Logano moved Truex aside on the last lap at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the Championship 4. Three weeks later, Truex was denied a second consecutive title when he finished second to Logano at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In one of those weirdly cosmic occurrences, Truex started on pole beside Logano in the last race of his full-time career – and with no hard feelings.

“I’ve always had a ton of respect for Joey off of the race track,” Truex said. “He is a great guy. Does things the right way. Treats people right. All of the things that a good human being does.

“It took a little while on the race track, obviously, to get over that and forgive someone for running you over, but at the end of the day, you have to; life goes on.”

As it does for Logano in balancing life on opposing ends of the spectrum.

A helpful hand to those most in need of assistance and compassion … and a heartless quest to vanquish anyone who stands in the way of more championships.

Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is the host of the NASCAR on NBC Podcast and also has covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Zack Albert

AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR officials often chalk off numbers during pre-race procedures to mark the spots where cars should line up on the starting grid. For Martin Truex Jr.’s last Cup Series race as a full-time competitor, officials had some fun with the placement, substituting “19” with a simple message: “Gone fishing.”

The great outdoors and the next chapter of his racing tenure await Truex after Sunday’s Cup Series season finale, where the 44-year-old veteran finished 17th in the 40-car field. He’ll enter his next phase as a former series champion and a 34-time Cup winner who sits just seven starts shy of 700 for his career, but Truex said he’ll take plenty more than stats from Sunday’s farewell ride.

“Just a lot of good memories,” Truex said. “I think I was able to accomplish a lot of things that a lot of people, including myself, at some point in my career didn’t think were possible. So I feel lucky and lucky to work with a lot of great teams and accomplish, again, more than I ever thought possible. I feel like I’ve earned the respect of a lot of people around here, and that means a lot. I mean, it’s probably more than everything, more than wins. So it’ll be fun to come back and see everyone and stick around and come have some fun still.”

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Phoenix

A crowd of well-wishers gathered around Truex’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota post-race as Joey Logano celebrated winning his third Cup Series championship on the frontstretch. A host of fellow drivers stopped by to offer kind parting words. NBA legend and 23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan was one of the first to greet him with a hug, and Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon also contributed a word of thanks after the finish.

The star-power wattage and their gracious words weren’t lost on crew chief James Small, who will stay with the No. 19 team next season to work with incoming driver Chase Briscoe.

“It’s amazing. They’re all legends of the sport in their own sport, and you know, that’s what he is as well,” Small said. “He’s had a great career. He’s been a champion. Man, things go a little differently, he could have been a four-time champion, so it’s pretty crazy. He’s a great person, and it’s been a pleasure to work with him.”

Truex’s final full-time weekend started off with a bright light — his second consecutive pole position, on the heels of his top qualifying performance the previous weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The speedy Saturday pole run was a crowd-pleaser, but more adulation was in store on race day Sunday.

Truex’s peers gave him a standing ovation in Sunday’s drivers’ meeting, and the fans’ cheers for him during driver introductions were among the loudest in pre-race ceremonies. “It was unexpected, I guess,” Truex said. “It’s very cool. Huge honor. Very honored, very humbled to be recognized like that.”

Truex led the first nine laps of Sunday’s race, finishing second in Stage 1. Small said a brake issue began to develop on the No. 19 Camry during the second stage, causing handling issues that the team was unable to offset.

MORE: Phoenix finale blog | Race Rewind

“So the pedal started getting long, couldn’t slow down, started getting tired — just a vicious cycle going backwards,” Small said. “So it started off so promising. Yesterday was great, and yeah, it’s just a frustrating way to end. It kind of sums up our season the way it kind of unraveled there.”

Sunday’s result will ultimately be a footnote to a Hall of Fame-worthy career and to the championship battle won by Logano. Tyler Reddick showed his disappointment in coming up short in his bid for a first Cup Series title, but he also made a post-race point to tip his cap to Truex with a pit-road visit.

“I just said it’s been a blast racing with him,” Reddick said. “I know his full-time stuff is done, but I enjoy — I was just basically telling him, hopefully still see you around the race track. He’s a great character. It’s been fun getting to know him. He stays true to himself. Then there’s obviously all the accomplishments that he’s had. I feel like he’s someone that races really hard on the race track, but he’s respected and just an all-around great guy. It’s been nice working closer with him since I came to Toyota, and yeah, I can only imagine what the emotions are like for him. But it’s been a blast being able to race with somebody that I think will one day be in the Hall of Fame.”

Truex walked away Sunday afternoon at Phoenix, saying he was ready for some offseason recreation and relaxation. All indications are he won’t be gone long: An arrangement to run next season’s Daytona 500 is in place as a potential part of a limited schedule in 2025.

MORE: Truex: I’m ready to go ‘wind down’

“I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, a lot to be proud of,” Truex said. “Yeah, going to enjoy some time off here, and do the banquet and all that fun stuff. It’s going to be fun to come back in a different role, and come race for fun. Hopefully, I’ll be able to have fun, I don’t know. It’s so hard to have fun when you take it this serious, and I was having fun early today, and then it got miserable. I was hoping today would go better, so it’d be more fun. But yeah, we’ll see. Look forward to Daytona.”

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Press Release

DALLAS — Veterans Day honors America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Julian Torres embodies all of those virtues.

The San Diego native enlisted six months after graduating high school, beginning boot camp in January 2007. By August 2009, Torres was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, known as the “Never to Quit Battalion,” where the second-generation military service member became a machine gun squad leader. In April 2010, Torres was promoted to sergeant. Two months later, Torres and his unit received their combat orders. They shipped out to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, with Marjah, a township in the Helmand Province, serving as their temporary home. Then on July 15, 2010, Torres’ life changed forever.

“There were 13 of us together and someone, four or five guys ahead of me, noticed a piece of cloth on a reed and he held the patrol and knew it was an indicator (for an IED),” Torres said. “So I go back a few steps and that’s when I stepped on it and it went off. I remember the chatter on the radio about who got hit. Everything was so bright and I thought about my son, I thought about my wife and all of my family.”

The IED, or Improvised Explosive Device, took both of Torres’ legs. His unit successfully evacuated him off the battlefield and a long, painful road of rehabilitation began. In three days, Torres went from Camp Dwyer and Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and on to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In September 2010, Torres checked into the Wounded Warrior Battalion West Detachment in his hometown of San Diego.

Torres worked tirelessly to overcome the loss of his legs, with a goal of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. The double amputee advanced from prosthetic legs and a walker, to prosthetic legs and two canes, to no canes at all. On Veterans Day 2015, a little more than five years from the day of Torres’ IED encounter, he scaled Mount Kilimanjaro.

It was a monumental triumph over adversity, yet the loss of Torres’ legs still made getting from place to place a challenge. An adapted vehicle to transport Torres and his family was needed.

Enter Interstate Batteries and Toyota. In a partnership forged at NASCAR tracks across the country, the two longtime Joe Gibbs Racing partners banded together in support of Semper Fi & America’s Fund to secure a new Toyota Sienna with all the necessary upgrades to fit Sgt. Torres’ needs. The “gift of motion” as Torres calls it, has been invaluable in helping him live as normal a life as possible.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to cut down the stresses thanks to Interstate Batteries, Toyota and everyone at Semper Fi & America’s Fund,” said Torres, a married father of three. “One of those stresses is 100 percent mobility. There is no better means of transportation than a vehicle. The ability to be able to get up and move is a privilege. This Toyota Sienna is not only practical, but it’s also comfortable. Interstate Batteries coming together with Semper Fi & America’s Fund has given me the ability to express my freedom through liberty of motion. I’ll be forever grateful for what they’ve done for myself and my whole family.”

The average cost to secure and replace an adapted vehicle ranges between $20,000 and $80,000. While there are government assistance programs to help with securing these vehicles, the resources are limited and are available on a one-time basis. With the average lifespan of a vehicle being 12 years, the expense to replace an adapted vehicle quickly becomes burdensome.

“As Veterans Day approaches, we are so very grateful for Sgt. Torres and the countless others who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy. It is our honor to be a part of providing this adaptable Toyota Sienna to someone who has done so much for our country,” said Lain Hancock, president and CEO of Interstate Batteries.

Semper Fi & America’s Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides vital support to critically wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and military families. Interstate Batteries, a leading provider of automotive batteries and related products, has been raising awareness and providing financial support for The Fund’s transportation program, which supports injured veterans with stipends for vehicles repairs, adaptive vehicle purchases and vehicle modifications.

Posted on November 10, 2024November 12, 2024 by Zack Albert

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Paul Wolfe said he didn’t initially know there was an issue. His No. 22 Team Penske crew had completed a green-flag pit stop some 20 laps earlier, near the midpoint of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series championship race, keeping Joey Logano in contention for his third title.

Wolfe, the No. 22 group’s veteran crew chief, was locked in. The race broadcast feed on the pit-box screens told him there was a problem, one that would alter the lineup for his five over-the-wall personnel.

“I actually saw it on one of the TVs, my monitors in front of me,” Wolfe said post-race, “like, ‘what just happened to Graham?'”

Jackman Graham Stoddard was suddenly sidelined, leaving the pit stall to the attention of the track’s medical staff and forcing Team Penske’s pit crew department to make a change on the fly. Pressed into duty with a championship on the line was Patrick Gray, who moved over from the No. 2 Ford team for Austin Cindric.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Phoenix

His response was calm and collected, deflecting the high pressure that might go with being thrust into the winner-take-all finale.

“It’s not a matter of like, ‘Oh, man, now we’ve got to do this.’ It’s kind of like, ‘OK, what do I need to do? What I need to bring down?'” Gray told NASCAR.com, soaked from the champagne spray after popping corks near the champion’s stage. “It’s just a business thing, right? Let’s just say, ‘Hey, what do I need to do to help this team win the championship?’ And that was the best part was, I just had to do cruise control and let the guys around me do what they needed to do.”

The No. 22 crew reformed midstream with relative aplomb, finishing off a stalwart performance and letting Logano do the rest in Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, holding off teammate Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 down the stretch. The 34-year-old driver hoisted the Cup Series trophy for the third time, and his reshaped pit crew — four yellow Shell Pennzoil uniforms with one stray black-and-white Discount Tire fire suit — celebrated as one.

The organization had been in a similar situation before, subbing in the No. 2 team’s Keiston France at front-tire changer when the No. 22’s Joe Dilly was sidelined by a knee injury at Las Vegas. Sunday, with even higher stakes, the crew was near-seamless when it mattered most.

“For Pat to step in and be able to just not miss a beat, that’s a testament to Penske and the culture and the teams that we’ve built,” said Jake Seminara, the No. 22 team’s rear-tire changer. “We practice with this 2 car every day, and they challenge us. They push us to be better. We didn’t miss a beat. We actually did the fastest pit stop that we did all day on the last pit stop. So a testament to Ray Gallahan and Danny Kincaid, our pit coaches. We built a great culture at Penske, so anyone could swap around, be on any team, and we feel like we’re confident that we can go out there and succeed.”

James Gilbert | Getty Images

The Team Penske No. 22 crew faced snags early on during pit stops at the Stage 1 intermission. Dilly, the youngest of the group, had trouble switching over his pit gun on the right-front, and Logano dropped from the lead, losing four spots in the exchange.

“Shake it off,” Logano said with reassurance over his team communications. “It’s early.”

The next potential hitch came when the No. 22 team was forced to shuffle up its roster. Seminara said that Stoddard had complained of dizziness before leaving his post, and a Team Penske spokesperson said he had been transported to a local medical facility with an undisclosed ailment.

In stepped Gray, who was with the No. 2 Team Penske group when Brad Keselowski last competed for a championship at Phoenix in 2020.

“I’ve been wanting this opportunity again for a long time, four years,” Gray said. “It’s a little bit bittersweet, right? It’s going to be great to celebrate with these guys, but this is also Graham Stoddard’s team. He was with them all year. I hope he’s doing great, but, you know, we’re brothers. We’re in the same position. We practice with each other. So like I said, it’s bittersweet where I’m ecstatic to win a championship, help these guys win a championship. But this is just as much Graham’s championship, if not more.”

MORE: Phoenix blog: All the action | Every Cup Series champion in the modern era

Like Logano, Wolfe celebrated his third Cup Series crown, including his second in three seasons for Roger Penske’s No. 22 Ford. Wolfe’s painstaking attention to detail has been a key part of Logano’s recent tear, but Sunday’s team decision with its pit-crew personnel gave the veteran crew chief one less concern.

“I think that just shows, obviously, how well we work together as a company and how there’s always one common goal, right, and this weekend it was about making sure the 22 and the 12 had the best chance they could at racing for this championship,” Wolfe said. “I don’t think it was a hard decision for anyone to be able to grab Pat and come on over, and it was really seamless. We had solid stops for a guy just jumping in that didn’t practice all week. He did a great job, and it’s nice to know that we have that ability in these moments to be able to step up and not really affect our race at all.”

Seminara remarked about the achievement of Logano’s three Cup Series championships and how it brings him to a rare level in stock-car racing history. He joins Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Tony Stewart — Hall of Famers all — as legendary drivers who can claim that trifecta.

The night brought Seminara to the same status as a three-time champ among the over-the-wall crowd. He said he’s been hired, fired and swilled champagne through the years, calling Sunday night’s capstone celebration “the experience of a lifetime.”

Gray’s mismatched uniform stood out like a bit of an odd duck in the championship party as the crew joined Logano in donning goggles for the drinking and flinging of the bubbly.

The dissimilar fire suit ultimately didn’t matter. Resilience and winning did.

SHOP: Joey Logano championship gear

“You never know what’s going to happen until that checkered flag falls,” Seminara said. “We didn’t have the greatest night to start off. We had some issues on pit road, and our car was fast, and Joey said, ‘Hey, shake it off. Let’s do this,’ and we stuck with it, and Pat stepped right in and we were able to knock off some really fast pit stops at the end there. I think we did our fastest pit stop of the night on that last pit stop, so you never know what’s going to happen in these races.

“The best car doesn’t always win. I think we had the best car tonight, but we just had to put ourselves in position to do that with Paul and the strategy and Coleman (Pressley) spotting this thing. I wouldn’t take anybody in this sport other than Joey Logano driving it.”

Posted on November 10, 2024November 10, 2024 by Zach Sturniolo

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ryan Blaney was one spot short of collecting back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series championships Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

The driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford was forced to settle for second behind teammate Joey Logano by a mere 0.33 seconds.

Blaney, a three-time winner in 2024, mustered a masterful drive over the final 55-lap run to the checkers. After restarting sixth, Blaney quickly charged to fourth, eventually working through Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson for third and William Byron for second.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Phoenix

Blaney cleared Byron for the runner-up position with 22 laps remaining and sat 2.1 seconds behind Logano with the final handfuls of laps ahead. The 30-year-old rapidly erased that deficit and stormed to the back bumper of Logano’s No. 22 Ford, but Blaney ultimately had nothing left to throw at Logano.

Blaney was visibly exhausted upon exiting his Ford, crouching just to collect his breath after pouring his soul into chasing his second consecutive Cup title.

“I had to work my ass off to get by the 5, and I had to work my ass off to get to the 24 and pass him,” Blaney said. “And I worked my tail off to run Joey down from a long ways back. So as I’m doing it, I’m thinking to myself, like, I think I’m gonna get there (to Logano), get close, but I don’t know if I might have anything to pass him. But I can’t save because I’m never gonna get there if I save.”

WATCH: Logano on intense battle with Blaney: ‘He was there’

The turning point of the race was the Lap 251 caution that preceded the race-deciding restart. The final stage fired off on Lap 194 with 118 laps remaining, culminating in a fierce battle for the top spot between Logano and Blaney. Once Blaney cleared him on Lap 236, Logano darted to pit road with 77 laps left — with Blaney and Reddick following suit a lap later.

Brittney Wilbur | NASCAR Digital Media

Byron, on the other hand, stayed out an extra 12 laps to pit at Lap 248 while his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott stayed out even longer. Then came a shake-up three circuits later when the right-rear brake rotor on Zane Smith’s No. 71 Chevrolet exploded, sending Smith into a skid and into the Turn 1 wall.

The yellow flag waved with only seven cars on the lead lap – three of which were Championship 4 contenders Blaney, Logano and Reddick. Byron stayed out during the caution period to restart from the lead on his fresh tires — but any tire advantage they had was instantly wiped away.

SHOP: Joey Logano championship gear

The other of that coin, however, was the No. 24 Chevrolet finally had clean air as their competition had more traffic to work through.

“I think the biggest setback for us there was just the way that caution fell, allowing the Hendrick guys to kind of do an alternate strategy,” Jonathan Hassler, crew chief of Blaney’s No. 12 team, told NASCAR.com. “And that next restart, we ended up third on the outside (in sixth) behind the 9 and the 5. Really just slowed us down. Joey was able to get past us there. I think that was probably the key pivotal moment for us. We were almost able to recover and get back.

“I think the difference was the 24 was on more or less new tires, got to stay out, inherit the lead, and then you had two teammates that had ran long enough that they could position themselves ahead of us when they hadn’t ran in front of us all day, and just kind of get in our way.”

Like Blaney, Byron returned to the Championship 4 for the second straight season. The strategy play by crew chief Rudy Fugle positioned Byron atop the scoring pylon, but the Team Penske power behind them was too strong to keep at bay.

“Yeah, if it goes green to the end, then I’d like to see how that mixes us up too, right?” Fugle said. “I thought that they pitted too early for what I could stomach, so then you just run longer. And then the caution worked out. I think either way, it is what it is. We just didn’t have a fast enough car. But yeah, sometimes you have a tire advantage. Sometimes you can luck into something. But yeah, that’s all it was.”

While the Hendrick cars were able to fend off charges from Blaney, Logano allowed no time to rest. One lap after the restart, his No. 22 Ford stormed to the bottom of the track exiting Turn 4 and ripped past Byron and Bell in a daring three-wide move. Byron was almost caught off guard by the dramatic charge.

MORE: Byron: ‘We gave it everything we had’ | Reddick: ‘We have some things to learn’

“As good as they got through 1 and 2, it was just like, man, now they’re right on me,” Byron said. “I think going into the restart, I thought I had enough of a buffer and I didn’t really feel like one lap on tires that was that big a deal. I don’t think it was.

“I just think that they were fast on the short run all weekend, and that was kind of our struggle. Like we were decent throughout the run, but couldn’t really take off with a ton of speed. It wasn’t a huge surprise, but they were on me a little bit quicker than I thought they would be.”

Brittney Wilbur | NASCAR Digital Media

Tyler Reddick’s inaugural Championship 4 Sunday was quieter than his fellow members of the title quartet. The No. 45 Toyota from 23XI Racing was mired near the back of the top 10 through much of the 312-lap affair while Logano, Blaney and Byron were nestled inside the top five.

At the final stage break, Reddick was able to launch himself into the top five and stay within striking distance of his title foes, but that arrival was short-lived.

“I feel like Stage 2 when we broke out and got right behind the 24, 22 and 12, I thought, OK, let’s see where this goes,” Reddick said. “Over time, they kind of got away. I was within range of William and tried to make a move, and it didn’t work out. And then settled back in, and yeah, they steadily pulled away over time. That’s what kind of happened in Stage 3, as well.

“We’ve got to find a little bit more speed, but we made the car better throughout the day. We maintained on pit road. We did all that we could, I think, with it. But certainly, it’s tough when they just get further and further away over time.”

Crew chief Billy Scott was proud of what he saw from both his driver and his team at large, representing an organization that only just completed its fourth season in the Cup Series.

“Some days, you get beat,” Scott told NASCAR.com. “This sport is tough. You certainly lose a lot more than you win. Those Penske cars have been tough here for a while, and that’s what happened today. We just got beat, but it was not for lack of preparation or lack of effort.”

Posted on November 10, 2024November 10, 2024 by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Joey Logano pulled off a masterful restart and held on for dear life.

Fifty-four laps later, Logano had his third NASCAR Cup Series championship — most among full-time active drivers — by a scant 0.330 seconds over Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney.

On the final restart on Lap 259 of 312 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, Logano drove like a cannon shot from sixth place past Blaney, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and finally, race leader and Championship 4 contender William Byron to seize the top spot on Lap 260.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Phoenix

Logano remained out front the rest of the way, though Blaney got as close as 0.167 seconds back over the last 10 laps.

The victory was Logano’s fourth at Phoenix, his fourth of the season and the 36th of his career. As a three-time champion, Logano ties Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Tony Stewart, all NASCAR Hall of Famers.

Only four drivers have more titles: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jimmie Johnson with seven each and Jeff Gordon with four.

The championship was the third straight for team owner Roger Penske, with Logano winning in 2022 and Blaney claiming the crown last year.

“I love the playoffs, I love it, man,” Logano said. “What a race! What a Team Penske battle there at the end. Had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12 (Blaney). And he had a lot of long-run speed there, and it was all I had there to hold him off.

“Man, three (championships), that’s really special to get that. What a team. To fight through today, we went through a little bit of adversity throughout the race.

“I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team, and together, we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most. We’ve got a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters.”

Logano’s team, however, had issues on pit road. The No. 22 Ford lost four spots under caution for the Stage 1 break, and after green-flag stops during the second stage, Patrick Gray from Austin Cindric’s No. 2 team replaced Logano’s jackman, Graham Stoddard, who was ill.

After the final restart, Logano took charge, with considerable help from his spotter.

SHOP: Champion gear

“Coleman Pressley,” said Logano, who led twice for 107 laps, second to Christopher Bell’s 143. “He was telling me where (Blaney) was. He was up there telling me the best lanes to run. And it’s a balance of putting dirty air on him and running the fastest laps for my Ford. We just got a little too tight there at the end and couldn’t really wrap the bottom as well as I wanted to.

“One-two for Team Penske, three championships in a row since this Next Gen car (was introduced in 2022). Couldn’t be more proud of everyone at the shop that’s built these things.”

Byron finished third behind Logano and Blaney. Tyler Reddick was last among the Championship 4 drivers in sixth.

After the final restart shook out, Blaney was fourth behind Logano, Byron and Larson. He passed Larson on Lap 277 and Byron on Lap 290. Over the next 22 suspense-filled laps, Blaney got close to Logano’s rear bumper but not close enough to make a move for the lead.

“I had to work really hard to get by the 5 (Larson) and the 24 (Byron). Joey was pretty far away, and I was working really hard to try to get to Joey. I was kind of nervous that if I ended up getting close to him, a lot of my stuff would be burned off of it, and it kind of was. But didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t really wait.

“Yeah, just took too long. The restart didn’t play out for us. I feel like if I came out behind Joey and didn’t have two cars in between us that I had to pass, I would have been able to have a better shot. But just the restart didn’t work out, and that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”

Logano followed a strange path to the championship. He was eliminated from the playoffs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, only to get a second life when the Chevrolet of Alex Bowman failed post-race inspection by not meeting minimum weight.

WATCH: Logano presented the Bill France Cup | Logano after third Cup title: ‘I love the playoffs’ | Watch full race highlights

Logano took full advantage, winning at Las Vegas the following week to earn his place in the Championship 4 round.

Larson and Bell finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Bubba Wallace, Elliott, Chris Buescher and Daniel Suárez came home seventh through 10th.

After the race ended, Logano looked around in bewilderment.

“Where’s my crew?” Logano asked, then realized that his team was hustling from pit stall No. 24 on the backstretch, the stall assigned by NASCAR after Logano’s car failed pre-race inspection twice.

The final race marked a season of endings. Pole winner Martin Truex Jr. finished 17th in his final race as a full-time driver.

Kyle Busch’s record streak of 19 straight years with at least one Cup victory ended in a 21st-place finish. Logano now holds the longest active streak at 13 years.

Stewart-Haas Racing is ceasing to operate after the end of the race, with 12th-place Noah Gragson finishing highest among the four SHR drivers.

Jeff Striegle called his last race in the booth for the Motor Racing Network (MRN). Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing, announced his retirement after 45 years with NASCAR’s exclusive tire maker.

Harrison Burton finished 16th in his final drive for the Wood Brothers. And FedEx sponsored Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for the final time.

NOTE: Post-race inspection in the Cup Series garage concluded without issue, confirming Logano as the Phoenix winner and 2024 Cup Series champion.

Contributing: Staff reports

Posted on November 10, 2024November 10, 2024 by Holly Cain

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Perhaps there was “something” that seemed almost inevitable about Joey Logano’s impressive run to his third NASCAR Cup Championship Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

The 34-year-old Connecticut native, father-of-three and perpetual race and title contender once again proved why competitors can never take him lightly and shouldn’t count him out. He is not one to mince words and is absolutely convinced he can win every single time he climbs into his No. 22 Team Penske Ford to race.

That confidence and bravado powers him and his team. And it’s been, well, very effective.

RELATED: Race results | Joey Logano driver page

“I knew we were capable. This team and myself and the more pressure I could put on myself, the better I’m going to be,” Logano said Sunday from the Champion’s Stage. “I don’t know what that is, but it seems like the playoffs are always better for the 22 and it’s not just myself that thrives under pressure, it’s my whole team. And it’s contagious. If we can bring that confidence and believe it, we are very dangerous.

“We’ve got a really great group all the way through, and our pit crew delivered in the end when it needed to,” he added. “I’m so fortunate to be in this car.”

Even before Sunday’s 312-lapper for the title, Logano’s team was penalized for failing initial technical inspection and lost his choice of pit stall for the big race. On Sunday, he had to overcome a slow first pit stop and lost a vital crewman to illness mid-race.

And then ultimately, Logano — who led two times for 107 laps — had to hold off a hard-charging defending series champion — his Penske teammate — Ryan Blaney in the closing laps at Phoenix to have the chance to hoist the Bill France Cup for a third time (2018, 2022, 2024) – most among all active full-time drivers.

MORE: Logano after third title: ‘I love the playoffs!’ | Race Rewind

So, the exuberance Logano showed on the Phoenix victory stage, taking his young family on track to the flag stand with him to retrieve that important championship checkered flag, was heartfelt and heart-spoken. His very presence in the Championship 4 was a “bonus” chance to race for the championship — restored to the title chase eligibility following the Round of 8 elimination race when Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman was dropped from the field and Logano re-inserted. A four-race winner this season, he did not waste the opportunity.

The combination of Logano and team owner Roger Penske presents one of the most powerful pairings in NASCAR history. This is the third consecutive championship for the NASCAR Hall of Famer owner Penske — with Logano (2022) Blaney (2023) and Logano (2024) — and the fifth title of Penske’s career.

SHOP: Joey Logano championship gear

The Logano and Blaney one-two finish even gave Penske a new accolade – rare at this point in his career of mega-accomplishment — marking the first time in the championship team’s history it had finished one-two in the NACAR Cup Series standings.

“It’s just one thing; it’s the people, the ones that have worked so hard with us,” Penske said when asked what it was about his team’s perpetual run to success.

And as for that driver proudly, jubilantly hoisting a trophy Sunday night?

“When he puts the helmet on, there’s nobody that gets after it like he does,” Penske said, smiling.

Just this season, Penske’s organization won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the WEC title, the Indianapolis 500 and now claims the NASCAR Cup Series title. Again.

It’s an ever-mounting list of accomplishments, and even the team’s competitors appreciate this team’s impact on the sport.

“I think it shows you not only what Joey’s capable of behind the wheel but the whole team, the Penske organization,” said four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Hendrick Motorsports executive Jeff Gordon, whose driver William Byron finished third in the title chase.

“Joey is a heckuva champion. I knew when he got in [to the Championship 4] he’d be a major threat. You can’t ever count him out and he’s obviously very experienced and very mature behind the wheel. And that team is obviously a very strong team.”

MORE: Joey Logano through the years

Blaney, who ultimately finished a slight 0.330-second behind his teammate Logano was disappointed to not become the first back-to-back series champion since Jimmie Johnson’s five straight from 2006-2010. But even in defeat recognized what the efforts meant for the team – said about the team.

“I’m really proud of our effort, proud of our year and at least a Penske car won the championship,” Blaney said.

“Obviously, I want to win, but if we can’t, we want the 22 to win and Roger and Ford to get another championship. A Penske 1-2 in the championship, a lot to be proud of and it’s really all we talked about was how great it would be for us two to battle it up and that’s what it ended up with, I just didn’t have the track position at the end. I’m really happy for them and for Roger.”

“Joey is one of the best ever, I feel like, and he didn’t make any mistakes,” Blaney continued. “That group does a good job of knowing what they need to do all the time and a testament to that whole team to rise to the occasion and Joey in particular to know what he needs to do behind the wheel to get it done.”

Contributing: Staff reports

Posted on November 10, 2024November 11, 2024 by Press Release

PHOENIX (Nov. 10, 2024) — A Louisiana Lottery player has claimed victory in the NASCAR Powerball Playoff™ and the $1 million top prize!

Meagan Lewis, 47, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was declared the $1 million winner of the national Powerball® promotion during a drawing broadcast live from Phoenix Raceway® on NBC before the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race™. Lewis, who was present for the drawing alongside the other three lottery finalists, gasped when her number was drawn by the machine.

“I have no words,” said Lewis. “I got 42 text messages by the time I got off the stage!”

Lewis, a casting director, was joined on stage by her mother, Patricia Brehm, after she was declared the $1 million winner. Lewis said she’s going to save the money, but eventually would like to take her family on a cruise to Alaska.

Lewis was one of four lottery players nationwide who entered the Powerball promotion through their state lottery and won a VIP trip for two to NASCAR Championship Weekend™, Nov. 8-10, at Phoenix Raceway and entry into the $1 million drawing.

In addition to winning a VIP trip, the three lottery players eliminated in the championship drawing of the NASCAR Powerball Playoff have each won $10,000; they include:

·       Anthony Lawrence — Magnolia, Del.
·       Beverly Lipford — Goldsboro, N.C.
·       Michael Wells — Columbia, S.C.

The VIP trip included roundtrip airfare for two to Phoenix, Ariz., three nights hotel accommodations, two Ally Curve Hospitality Club passes for both the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race on Nov. 9 and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Nov. 10, two passes for VIP experiences at Phoenix Raceway during the NASCAR Championship Weekend including Cup Series™ VIP access, NASCAR team hauler tour, MRN radio booth tour, pace car rides, Victory Lane access, welcome dinner and all meals, and ground transportation to scheduled events and activities.

“This weekend has been thrilling from start to finish!” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “As the official lottery game of NASCAR, this was our second year of adding to the anticipation and excitement of NASCAR Championship Weekend, while offering players the chance to win this premier experience and $1 million prize.”

“Powerball will be back next year for a third installment of the NASCAR Powerball Playoff. Stay tuned to your state lottery for 2025 entry dates!”

“This Powerball promotion has quickly become a fun, NASCAR-centric way to further engage our loyal fans and lottery players alike,” said Michelle Byron, NASCAR executive vice president, chief partnership and licensing officer. “Fans should be on the lookout for lottery activations at NASCAR races throughout the country next year for new chances to win.”

The four finalists entered the Powerball portion through one of 27 participating state lotteries. Participating lotteries held in-state contests and second-chance drawings throughout the 2024 NASCAR regular season to form a national pool of entrants. Sixteen lottery players were randomly selected from the national pool in a preliminary drawing to advance to a series of playoff-style drawings, with cash prizes awarded to all 16 lottery players based on their elimination position.

Lotteries that participated in the 2024 NASCAR Powerball Playoff include Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hoosier (Indiana), Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Players can follow the NASCAR Powerball Playoff on Facebook, Instagram, and online at Powerball.com.

NASCAR® is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. Copyright ©2024 National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NASCAR®, LLC is not a sponsor of this promotion.

Powerball

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Brandon White

HICKORY, N.C. — The expectation was simple for Connor Hall ahead of his debut race with JR Motorsports: Just win.

Hickory Motor Speedway’s prestigious Fall Brawl served as the setting for Hall’s first appearance driving one of the most famous rides in Late Model Stock history. Nearly everything went according to plan for Hall, who dominated the evening and held off a valiant charge from Landon S. Huffman to park JR Motorsports’ No. 8 in Victory Lane.

🏁 Wild finish to the Fall Brawl at @hickoryspeedway! @connorhallweb wins it with a last lap pass in his @JRMotorsports debut! pic.twitter.com/tXTLn6umFW

— FloRacing (@FloRacing) November 10, 2024

Hall knew what kind of legacy he was carrying on when he agreed to drive for JR Motorsports’ Late Model Stock program. Delivering a checkered flag in his first outing with the organization provided Hall plenty of optimism as he prepares to fully embark on this new chapter in his life.

“The only way to truly repay all these people is to end up in Victory Lane,” Hall said. “I’ve dreamed of being a super competitive race-car driver my whole life, and this is the biggest opportunity of my racing career so far. I know it’s only one race, but it’s super rewarding to make things happen, and it means the world to work with these guys.”

JR Motorsports has been a gold standard for efficiency in Late Model Stocks since the mid-2010s when they had Josh Berry as their driver. Among the plethora accomplishments Berry accumulated in a JR Motorsports car included a ValleyStar Credit Union 300 win at Martinsville Speedway and a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national title in 2020.

When Berry moved up to JR Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series program, Carson Kvapil was tasked with carrying on the proud tradition of success. Kvapil had no issues shouldering those massive expectations, as the impressive resume he built over the past three years featured a ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory of his own earlier this season.

Among the accomplishments JR Motorsports has enjoyed in the past couple of years include a ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory with Carson Kvapil in September. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Responsibility has now fallen upon Hall to build upon the momentum established by Berry and Kvapil. Being able to pilot the famed No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was a goal Hall had quietly worked toward, but he admitted he needed time to fully develop into a driver worthy of such a seat.

“I tried coming after this ride in 2021 when it came up after Josh,” Hall said. “I thought I was ready, but looking back on it, I don’t think I was. I had two wonderful seasons with Chad [Bryant Racing] and a wonderful season with Nelson [Motorsports]. That gave me some time to mature, and now was the time to strike while the iron was hotter.

“I’d like to lose a couple pounds, but as far as my race craft goes, I feel like it’s where it needs to be.”

Hall more than capitalized on the three years he patiently waited for the JR Motorsports ride to become an option again. Along with branching out into touring competition, the consistency Hall displayed at his home track of Langley Speedway was pivotal towards him winning two consecutive Weekly Series national championships.

Armed with more accomplishments and experience, everything lined up perfectly for Hall to find his place under the JR Motorsports banner, a move that became official in October. Both sides were eager to start building some cohesion before the 2025 racing season commenced.

The Fall Brawl made the most sense for Hall and long-time JR Motorsports crew chief Bryan Shaffer to start building their notebook. Hickory worked for Hall from a logistical standpoint, but the success he and JR Motorsports have each enjoyed at the facility cemented them as the team to beat for Saturday’s festivities.

Hall cultivated a similar drive in the Fall Brawl that had guided him to Victory Lane several times at Hickory before. Leading every lap was not paramount for Hall, who effectively managed his tires around the abrasive surface and put himself in a perfect position to secure his maiden Fall Brawl trophy.

The Fall Brawl was a perfect opportunity for Connor Hall and crew chief Bryan Shaffer to start developing on-track chemistry. (Photo: NASCAR)

As the laps dwindled, Hall saw Huffman’s white No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet get closer in his rearview mirror. Having grown familiar with the young competitor’s driving style during past Hickory visits, Hall mentally prepared himself to dig in and fend off Huffman.

The two drivers engaged in an intense battle to the finish, with Huffman showing no trepidation with plenty of tires left for him to utilize. Huffman’s bravery enabled him to power his way around Hall and hold the lead at the white flag.

It took a last-lap bump and run for Hall to survive Huffman’s onerous drive and formally notch his first victory with JR Motorsports.

“[Landon] and I have had a couple of awesome battles here,” Hall said. “The last one he came out on top, so I’m happy to come out on top in this one. [The bump and run] is not something you can do to anybody. You have to know who you’re racing with, and I credit Landon for being a really talented race-car driver. It was a hell of a battle those last 10 laps.

“Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.”

A disappointed Huffman put responsibility on himself for falling one spot short of a Fall Brawl triumph despite getting moved by Hall. Burning up his rear tires earlier in the run is what Huffman believes set into motion everything that happened in the closing laps.

Despite this, Huffman was not ready to surrender a potential victory to Hall. He has appreciated every chance to battle Hall on-track this year and did not see anything egregious about what they did to settle the Fall Brawl.

“[Connor and I] have talked about it,” Huffman said. “I hold no grudges against him and still don’t, even though he won. I feel like he does the same with me. I have a lot of respect for him and you can’t hide what he’s done the past few years, along with what he could do next year. Hopefully I’m in the way of that.”

Saturday’s Fall Brawl was the latest in a series of battles between Landon S. Huffman (28) and Connor Hall (77). (Photo: NASCAR)

Since his father Shane previously competed for JR Motorsports himself, the younger Huffman knows what kind of standard permeates from that organization. Saturday’s Fall Brawl showcased why no punches can be pulled against JR Motorsports regardless of who is driving for the team.

Finishing second to Hall in only his first race with JR Motorsports provided Huffman plenty of motivation, but making gains with PRG’s own Late Model Stock program is the most sensible method for him to consistently defeat JR Motorsports and everyone else in the discipline.

“This definitely helps the confidence, but it doesn’t change the mentality,” Huffman said. “You still have to stay hungry and do all you can. We didn’t win, and even if we did, there’s still more cars to race the next race.”

By outlasting Huffman in the Fall Brawl, Hall now has the first of what he hopes will be many crown jewel Late Model Stock victories with JR Motorsports.

Hall put together a strong debut performance even though there are still many details, both big and small, he is still ascertaining in his new environment. The support system in place at JR Motorsports has allowed the transition to be more seamless for Hall, who now finds himself leaning on both Kvapil brothers, Carson and Caden, for advice.

Winning in his first outing for JR Motorsports was a reasonable goal for Hall, but the process toward achieving long-term efficiency is ongoing. Hall feels there is still room for improvement after the Fall Brawl triumph, but he is ready to work with Shaffer and everyone else at JR Motorsports to see how much progress they can make together.

“We still have a little ways to go,” Hall said. “Everything is so new, and every time I sit in the thing, I learn to drive it a little bit differently or think of something that needs to be moved. After another race or so, I think we’ll be a well-oiled machine.”

Following in the footsteps of drivers like Berry and Kvapil would not be an easy task for any driver regardless of experience. If the Fall Brawl is any indication, then Hall is on the right trajectory to carving out his own legacy in a JR Motorsports Late Model Stock.