SMITHLEY FINISHES 27th AT HOMESTEAD

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Garrett Smithley closed out the 2018 Xfinity Series season with a 27th-place finish in Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

Smithley, driving the KSDT No. 0 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, raced in mid-pack much of the afternoon as he completed another year with the Gaffney, S.C.-based team.  

The race was slowed by only two cautions – both for the end of stages. 

“It was a fast race with a lot of fast cars up in the front group,” Smithley said. “Going green so long made it tougher on us to make up spots. But we brought home another car with a decent run.  

“It’s been another interesting year with all the guys on the team. We’ve had some really good runs and some others where we should have gotten better spots, but the year was full of fun and a lot of learning.” 

Tyler Reddick won Saturday’s race and the seasonal championship. 

The 2019 Xfinity season will begin next February at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

HOUFF ENDS YEAR WITH 29th AT HOMESTEAD

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Quin Houff ended the Xfinity Series season with a 29th-place run in Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

Houff ran the final weeks of the season with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, gaining valuable experience and turning a lot of laps on tracks that were new to him. The payoff will come in the future as Houff advances in the series. 

“Homestead was definitely a challenge for me,” he said. “But my JDM guys stuck behind me all weekend. We got faster and faster all weekend. We ran all the laps and brought the car home in one piece.  

“That is a solid note to end the season on, and I can’t thank Johnny and the team enough for this opportunity to run for them this past month. I’m excited to see what the future holds!” 

Tyler Reddick won Saturday’s race and the seasonal championship. 

The 2019 Xfinity season will begin next February at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

CHASTAIN ENDING RUN WITH JD MOTORSPORTS

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Saturday’s season-ending Ford EcoBoost 300 will be an emotion-filled race for driver Ross Chastain. 

The event, scheduled at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will mark Chastain’s final run in JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolets. Chastain has built his career over a period of years with JDM, and he’ll move into a full-time Xfinity Series ride with Chip Ganassi Racing next year. 

But first there’s a final race and a good chance to finish in the top 10 in Xfinity driver points. Chastain is ninth entering Homestead.

“It seems like just yesterday we started all of this together,” he said. “The 4 car has come a long way, and Johnny Davis, Gary Keller, Gary Cogswell and every mechanic that has laid a hand on those red cars helped get it there.  

“Our group this year accomplished the unimaginable. We minimized our mistakes and brought cars that turned better than most and had good speed to go with it.” 

Chastain said excellent sponsors have contributed to the team’s success. 

“All of our partners were the ultimate reason we were able to step our game up this year,” he said. “We brought in more sponsorship than we ever had before and spent more than a red car ever has to improve our program. And it showed on the track.  

“The friendships I’ve built in Gaffney are ones that will last a lifetime. Johnny is like a dad to me. He’s been tough on me, and looking back it was exactly what I needed. I love him for doing what was best for me even when I didn’t see the bigger picture.” 

Practice is scheduled at Homestead at 2:35 and 5:05 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 12:35 p.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3:30. 

The race is part of NASCAR’s Championship Weekend and will determine the Xfinity champion.

SMITHLEY EYEING STRONG FINISH

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Garrett Smithley will wrap up his third season driving for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in the KSDT No. 0 Chevrolet Saturday in the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

The race is the season-ender for the Xfinity Series. 

“We want to close out the year strong,” Smithley said. “We’ve had a mix of really good runs and some that weren’t so good this year. Ending on a big note is important for us and for the folks at KSDT who came on board with us for the weekend.” 

Smithley has raced three times in Xfinity events at the 1.5-mile track. He enters Saturday’s race in 19th in series points. 

Practice is scheduled at Homestead at 2:35 and 5:05 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 12:35 p.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3:30. 

The race is part of NASCAR’s Championship Weekend and will determine the Xfinity champion.

HOUFF CONTINUES LEARNING CURVE

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Quin Houff has spent most of the final weeks of the Xfinity Series season learning things lap by lap. On Saturday, the season will end with the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Houff is ready for another educational experience. 

“The finale is here!” he said. “I know for many it’s been a long time coming, but these past five weeks I have been working with JD Motorsports have flown by. I have learned lots of valuable things to be able to help me grow as a driver in this sport, and I can’t thank the JDM team enough for allowing me to finish the season with them in the number 15. 

“We have one more chance in 2018 to show the speed we are gaining week in and week out. Homestead is a tricky track, with its abrasive surface and preferred line being up along the wall. It won’t be easy to get the hang of, but I know the team will do everything they can to get me comfortable and fast throughout the weekend.” 

The Virginia driver has built a solid foundation over the last few weeks as he looks to a future that should include more racing in NASCAR’s national series. 

Practice is scheduled at Homestead at 2:35 and 5:05 p.m. Friday. Qualifying is set for 12:35 p.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3:30. 

The race is part of NASCAR’s Championship Weekend and will determine the Xfinity champion.

KSDT MOVES FAST, CONTINUES NASCAR SPONSORSHIP

MIAMI, Fla. -- Kabat, Schertzer, De La Torre, Taraboulos & Company (KSDT), one of the fastest growing accounting firms in the United States, has renewed its sponsorship of JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in the Ford EcoBoost 300 on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement, KSDT’s logo will be featured on Garrett Smithley’s No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro. This is the fourth year that KSDT is participating in NASCAR’s Championship Weekend and the third year it is sponsoring its hometown speedway. 

“Our NASCAR sponsorship can be considered unique in our profession, but we are pleased by the result this strategic partnership has had on growing our business,’ said KSDT Managing Partner Jeffrey Taraboulos. “The high energy and excitement of NASCAR represents our culture and work ethic, which has helped us attract some of the best and brightest professionals to our team while also helping us to earn the business of top-tier clients.” 

Saturday’s race will end the Xfinity Series season, and driver Garrett Smithley and team owner Johnny Davis are excited to have KSDT aboard for a very special race. 

“Having KSDT join us for Homestead gives us an extra level of energy,” Smithley said. “We want to close out the year really strong, and having this support can really make a difference. There’s a big spotlight on this race, and having them join us will just make it bigger and better.” 

Davis, who will have four cars entered in Saturday’s race, said first-class sponsorship always is a boost. 

“We’re thrilled to have KSDT on board,” he said. “We enjoy working with partners in various race markets across the country, and it’s great to have such a quality south Florida sponsor along for the ride this weekend.”

CHASTAIN SCORES SOLID 15th AT PHOENIX

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ross Chastain remains on target to finish in the top 10 in points in this season’s Xfinity Series standings. 

Chastain, driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 4 Chevrolet, finished a solid 15th in Saturday’s Whelen 200 at ISM Raceway, rolling home on the lead lap. 

The finish kept Chastain ninth in series points with only next weekend’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida remaining on the schedule. 

“It was another good run for us,” Chastain said. “The car was right all day, and we were able to hang in there with the lead bunch and get another good finish. Now it’s on to Homestead to wrap up what has been a great season.” 

Christopher Bell won the race and will join Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick in the hunt for the series championship at Homestead.

SMITHLEY 26th AT ISM RACEWAY

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Garrett Smithley finished 26th Saturday in the Whelen 200 Xfinity Series race at ISM Raceway. 

Running for the sixth time at the suburban Phoenix track, Smithley worked his way around six cautions and brought the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet home in mid-pack. 

“Phoenix is a tough track,” Smithley said. “We had a good car and got a decent finish. We’ll shoot to close it out strong next week at Homestead.” 

The Xfinity season will end with a Nov. 17 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. Smithley is 19th in Xfinity driver points. 

Christopher Bell won the race and will join Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick in the hunt for the series championship at Homestead.

HOUFF FINISHES 29th IN WHELEN 200

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Quin Houff finished 29th in Saturday’s Whelen 200 Xfinity Series race at ISM Raceway as the NASCAR season approaches its end. 

Driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 15 Chevrolet, Houff, still very much a newcomer to the series, started 29th and finished in the same spot. 

“Another solid weekend in the books with the JD Motorsports team,” he said. “I learned lots at Phoenix and felt I maximized the opportunity. I wish the strategy could have worked our way some more so we could have come away with a better finish, but finishing where you started without any damage is never a bad day.  

“I am excited to go to Homestead and end the season with another solid finish.” 

The Xfinity schedule will conclude Nov. 17 with a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. 

Christopher Bell won Saturday’s race and will be among four drivers seeking the Xfinity championship at Homestead. He’ll compete with Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick.

CHASTAIN 11th IN WILD TEXAS RACE

FORT WORTH, Texas – Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Xfinity Series race became an obstacle course. 

The race saw a record number of cautions – 13, making the Texas Motor Speedway course treacherous. 

Ross Chastain threaded his way through the trouble and finished 11th, one of his best runs in what has been his best season. 

“A great day for the team,” Chastain said. “It got crazy out there at times, but we held steady and kept pushing, stayed with the lead group and got a great finish. On to Phoenix.” 

The run kept Chastain in ninth in the Xfinity standings. 

Cole Custer won the 300 as the series playoffs continue. 

The series will race at ISM Raceway in Phoenix Nov. 10.