Because the division answerable for Toyota‘s NASCAR operations, Toyota Racing Growth will present full manufacturing unit help for 5 Xfinity Sequence automobiles in 2023, a rise from 4 the earlier 12 months. Introduced Thursday, TRD will proceed to again three Toyota GR Supras for Joe Gibbs Racing whereas Sam Hunt Racing expands to 2.
With Xfinity champion Ty Gibbs graduating to the Cup Sequence, his #54 has been changed by the #20 which shall be piloted by John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek spent the final two seasons within the Truck Sequence for Kyle Busch Motorsports, successful seven races and the 2021 common season championship. He additionally ran a part-time Xfinity schedule for JGR and SHR, successful with the previous at Texas in 2021 and recording the latter’s greatest race finishes to this point with a pair of high fives.
2023 shall be Nemechek’s second full season within the Xfinity Sequence after inserting seventh in factors in 2019 with GMS Racing.
“I’m appreciative of the chance to get again to competing full time within the Xfinity Sequence,” mentioned Nemechek. “JGR is a bunch that I do know I can win with after getting that win at Texas in 2021. I’m excited to get to work on the 2023 season so we will exit and win some races and compete for a championship.”
JGR’s #18 and #19 swap roles as Sammy Smith will run for Rookie of the Yr honours within the former, which was beforehand their multi-driver automobile. This position will now be crammed by the #19—vacated by Brandon Jones‘ transfer to JR Motorsports—with Ryan Truex as the primary confirmed driver with six begins deliberate. Like Nemechek, Truex raced for each SHR and JGR in 2022 with one and 5 begins respectively, recording a greatest end of third at Atlanta within the JGR #18.
His older brother Martin at the moment races the #19 Cup automobile for JGR.
“I’m thrilled to be behind the wheel of the #19 for a number of races subsequent season,” commented Truex. “It was enjoyable to run effectively with the group this previous 12 months. I recognize the chance to race for JGR once more subsequent 12 months. I feel we will construct from what we realized this 12 months and get some strong runs in.”
In the meantime, SHR’s #26 shall be raced completely by Kaz Grala after he shared the automobile with 9 different drivers. He completed twenty-third in his first race with the group on the finale in Phoenix.
Previous to becoming a member of SHR, Grala was a little bit of a mercenary as he raced for a number of groups throughout all three nationwide sequence. He has by no means run each race in an Xfinity season, together with his first crack at this in 2018 ending midway by means of after JGL Racing shut down. His solely full nationwide marketing campaign was the 2017 Truck Sequence the place he positioned seventh in factors with a win at Daytona.
“I’ve scratched and clawed for every alternative over the previous a number of seasons, and whereas it hasn’t been straightforward, it’s made me recognize this sport and its issue greater than I ever may have if issues had been straightforward,” Grala opined. “I really feel like all the pieces has lastly come collectively on the excellent time in my life with the appropriate group round me to start out that subsequent chapter in my profession. I couldn’t be extra proud and hopeful heading into 2023 with Sam Hunt Racing with an opportunity to compete for a championship. I’ve labored my complete life to get up to now, and I intend to make absolutely the most of it subsequent 12 months and past.”
One of many #26’s drivers in 2022 was Connor Mosack, who will run twenty races in SHR’s second automobile #24. Mosack, a Trans-Am Sequence TA2 common, ran his maiden NASCAR race at Portland in June with JGR earlier than becoming a member of SHR at Watkins Glen.
“With the ability to run twenty races within the Xfinity Sequence subsequent 12 months is a very massive deal to me,” mentioned Mosack. “Two years in the past, I didn’t actually know the place I used to be going or how I used to be going to get there. Racing on this sequence is a giant step towards the place I wish to go, and I’m excited it’s with a group like Sam Hunt Racing. With SHR being a rising group, I do know I can develop relationships with everybody concerned and proceed to be taught from them. I’ve loved attending to know Sam and belief that his group and values will assist to develop me as a driver.”
The #24 was launched in 2021 for a one-off with Will Rodgers earlier than returning a 12 months later with Truex at Daytona. Nemechek’s father Joe drove the automobile on the second Daytona date.
“Timing and endurance have been pivotal elements of our progress course of at SHR,” said SHR’s namesake and proprietor. “Increasing to 2 full-time groups in 2023 brings an pleasure degree solely matched by the duty and expectation to compete at a excessive degree each week.
“It goes with out saying that having a full-time driver within the #26 for the primary time is a blessing to our organisation and an necessary part of our progress. Kaz is a extremely gifted and skilled driver and has strived for a chance like this for a very long time. Having Connor anchor the #24 group is one thing we’re additionally actually wanting ahead to. He’s a really gifted younger man and has each trait and attribute I search for in a younger driver. We’re heading into 2023 with confidence in each groups and drivers, and I’m excited to proceed to construct this programme with every of them.”
