CHASTAIN USES HIS MELON AND COMES HOME WITH A TOP 15 FINISH IN DOVER; McLEOD FOLLOWS UP IN 16TH

DOVER, DELAWARE –

On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series battled it out at Dover International Speedway for the running of the Use Your Melon – Drive Sober 200. JD Motorsports with Gary Keller drivers Ross Chastain, BJ McLeod, Stephen Leicht, and Garrett Smithley returned to Dover looking to back up some quality runs that they had in May, when the series rolled around for their first stop at the Monster Mile.

Dover marked a big weekend for JDM and the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, as they partnered up to support Ross Chastain in the No. 4 Use Your Melon Chevrolet in addition to spreading awareness of the campaign via the sponsorship of the race itself.

Ross Chastain, who returned to JDM this weekend once again with his familiar No. 4 watermelon-inspired Chevrolet, was back to form right away. The Florida native started from the 14th spot and battled up inside the Top 10 throughout most of the first half of the race. Chastain would finish 11th in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and had positioned himself for a great result during the final 100 laps. As green flag pit stops occurred coming to the finish, an unlucky caution trapped Ross and the No. 4 crew two laps down. Ultimately, though he was unable to get back on the lead lap, Chastain battled hard to a 13th place finish – exactly where he had finished in the previous year’s race.

BJ McLeod piloted the No. 15 Chevrolet to another impressive run at the Delaware mile. McLeod had to overcome adversity early on after having to start from the rear of the field due to a water leak, but he was on the move quickly at the start. He was already up to 21st at the end of Stage 1, and managed to gain another spot to finish Stage 2 in 20th place. As the race progressed, BJ managed to pick up some more spots under green, and managed to come home with a 16th place finish. This was BJ’s best finish of the season, and also marked his best career finish at Dover. Heading into Kansas, McLeod sits 20th in drivers’ points, just over twenty markers behind teammate Stephen Leicht.

Speaking of Stephen Leicht, the driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet appeared to be well on his way to a great finish on Saturday’s race before becoming involved in a multi-car accident late in the going. Leicht qualified deep in the field back in 31st, but was able to make up some spots early on to finish 25th in Stage 1. The North Carolina native picked up some more spots to finish 21st in Stage 2, and was up inside the Top 20 as the race neared completion. Bad luck struck once again for Leicht’s bunch, as his promising day came to an end on lap 183 of 200. High rates of attrition at the Monster Mile meant that Stephen would still be credited with a 23rd place run, keeping him 19th in drivers’ points, now just twelve back of the #NumberNuthin driver.

Garrett Smithley, who hopped back in the seat of his familiar No. 0 Camaro, looked to have a good run going in Dover, as he had his best qualifying run of the season in 20th. The Pennsylvanian finished 18th at the end of Stage 1, but just as Stage 2 commenced, a locker failure forced him behind the wall. Dozens of laps were lost, but the crew went to work on fixing it, and they managed to get him back on track to pick up some precious points. At the end of the day, Garrett would be scored with a 26th place finish, but he remains 18th in the drivers’ standings.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series has an off week for the first time since June this weekend, a much-needed break for the teams. Up next on the schedule is Kansas Speedway on Saturday, October 19th. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

ASCHENBACH ASCENDS TO HIS BEST CAREER FINISH AND LEADS THE WAY FOR JDM AT THE CHARLOTTE ROVAL

CHARLOTTE, NC –

The NASCAR Xfinity Series raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s “Roval” course this weekend for the tour’s final road course race of 2019. The JD Motorsports with Gary Keller driver lineup included road course ringer Lawson Aschenbach in the No. 0 Chevrolet, Garrett Smithley in the No. 4 Contec Chevrolet, Stephen Leicht in the No. 01 Chevrolet, and BJ McLeod in the No. 15 Chevrolet.

Lawson Aschenbach brought home JDM’s highest finish from the Roval, while also improving on his best career finish in the series. Aschenbach’s day started off with a 19th place run in Qualifying, but the road course ace quickly made his way through the pack. The Maryland native worked his way up to 11th at the end of Stage 1, and a strategy call by crew chief Bryan Berry brought him down pit road before the end of Stage 2, where he would finish back in 25th.

This positioned Lawson to restarting up inside the Top 5, where he remained until getting spun by another car late in the going. Ultimately, Aschenbach would rally through the field once again, but a finish of 14th place was all he could manage after having very few laps left to make up track position. Solid points day and a great recovery by him in just his fourth career start.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet, capped off his road course season with yet another solid Top 20 finish. Leicht, who hails from nearby Asheville, NC, started from 26th on the grid. Stephen moved up nine positions in Stage 1 to a 17th place finish, but dropped back down to 23rd at the end of Stage 2. After narrowly avoiding disaster in the form of a multi-car crash near the end of the race, he was able to come home with a clean car in 19th position. This run keeps Leicht still positioned in 19th for the season standings after a clean finish at Charlotte.

BJ McLeod, who is a self-admitted newcomer when it comes to road courses, managed to come home with a finish that matched his best this season on the “right handers”. McLeod started deep in the field with a qualifying effort of 34th, but he did not let that stop his determination to make up spots when the opportunity presented itself. Stage 1 showed the Florida native up two spots to 32nd, with another spot coming in Stage 2 where he finished 31st. The final portion of the race is where BJ went on the attack, as he was able to pass eight cars in a smooth, calculated form. The results sheet will show the No. 15 Chevrolet coming home with a 23rd place finish, keeping him comfortably still in 20th for the season standings.

Garrett Smithley, who normally drives the #NumberNuthin, traded in his familiar surroundings for a chance to drive the No. 4 Contec Chevrolet. After a lightning fast lap in First Practice showed Garrett in 4th place, a brake line fire required him to sit out for Final Practice. Smithley started the race from the 27th position, and was involved in a crash on lap 1 of the race. Despite the crash, the Contec Camaro worked its’ way up to an 18th place finish at the end of Stage 1. The Pennsylvania native kept a solid Top 20 run going throughout Stage 2, where he finished 19th. Misfortunes plagued Smithley to an early exit due to a broken transmission, and he came home with a disappointing 33rd place finish. He still sits 18th solidly in the points standings.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Dover International Speedway this Saturday for the running of the Use Your Melon 200. Not only is the Delaware Office of Highway Safety sponsoring the race, but they will also be proudly displayed on the No. 4 Use Your Melon Chevrolet! The JD Motorsports with Gary Keller driver lineup will consist of the returning Ross Chastain in the No. 4, Garrett Smithley back in the No. 0, Stephen Leicht in the No. 01, and BJ McLeod in the No. 15. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 3:00 PM Eastern Time to see live coverage. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

ROOKIE RYAN REPKO RALLIES TO TOP 20 FINISH IN RICHMOND

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA –

On Friday night, the NASCAR Xfinity Series raced under the lights at Richmond Raceway for the 27th race of the 2019 season. JD Motorsports drivers Garrett Smithley. Stephen Leicht, BJ McLeod, and Ryan Repko entered the weekend looking to bring home solid finishes in the final short track race of the year while racing at “The Action Track”.

Ryan Repko, who drove the team’s No. 01 Chevrolet sponsored by The McLain Group, surprised many people in the garage area by coming home with the best finish of the team. Repko, who calls Denver, North Carolina, his home, started from the 19th position on Friday night. At the end of Stage 1, radio communication issues had placed the No. 01 in 25th, but he was quickly able to recover some spots to finish 21st in Stage 2. As the latter half of the race marched on, the nineteen-year-old rookie continued to make up spots, all while running times comparable to veterans who had much greater levels of experience. The No. 01 crossed the start/finish line in 19th at the end of the night, meaning that Repko had earned his best-career finish at the Virginia short track.

Garrett Smithley, the driver of the No. 0 Morooka/Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, shocked the garage area by posting a lap time good enough for 7th place in the lone Practice session of the day. Smithley had some rough luck in Qualifying, where he started from the 32nd spot, but he made up several spots early on in the race. The Ligonier, PA native finished 21st in Stage 1, but dropped back to 27th at the end of Stage 2. Garrett would stay around that same position for the remainder of the race, coming home with a 27th place finish. He remains in 18th place in the points standings leaving Richmond.

Stephen Leicht’s bad luck unfortunately struck once again this past weekend while driving car No. 4 in Richmond. After starting the race right behind Repko in 21st position, Leicht was up into the Top 20 early on before a flat right front tire brought him down pit road right before the end of Stage 1, causing him to finish 32nd. Leicht was able to recoup a couple of spots in Stage 2, but because he was multiple laps down, he only moved up to 30th. The lack of cautions in the final two stages left Leicht unable to recover any lost laps, and he ultimately was only able to finish with a 29th place run. Taking a look at the points standings, Stephen remains 19th, still sandwiched in between his JDM teammates.

BJ McLeod, who drove the No. 15 Chevrolet on Friday, started from the 33rd position. BJ was able to make up four spots early on in Stage 1 to finish 29th, but dropped back one spot to 30th in Stage 2. McLeod stayed consistent near the end of the race, bringing his Chevrolet home with a 30th place finish at Richmond. Heading into Charlotte this weekend, the Wauchula, FL native still sits 20th in the season’s points standings.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s “Roval” layout this Saturday for the running of the Drive for the Cure 200. With this weekend being just the second time in history that this road course/oval combo has been ran, it’s bound to be an exciting show, with new sections of the track being changed just for this iteration of the track. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 3:30 PM Eastern Time to see live coverage of the last road course race of the season. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

LEICHT & CREW’S GAMBLE PAYS OFF IN LAS VEGAS; SMITHLEY’S STELLAR DAY SLOWED BY SPEEDING PENALTY

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA –

Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the site of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 night race. This weekend’s outing was the last race of the regular season, giving the drivers one last chance to make the playoffs. Entering the weekend, JD Motorsports drivers Garrett Smithley and Stephen Leicht had a shot at making the twelve-driver post season, but both were in a must-win situation.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet, rolled off from the 23rd starting position in Saturday’s 200 lap race. Leicht fell a few spots back to 26th at the end of a caution-less Stage 1, but started to get in a rhythm throughout the middle part of the race. He moved up to 25th for the finish of Stage 2, and with some key adjustments from Mark Setzer up on top of the pit box, Stephen was able to get back into contention of the race. The lack of cautions made it difficult for many positions to be made back up, however, Leicht was able to leapfrog a few competitors through strategy. When the checkered flag flew, the Asheville, NC native crossed the line in 21st position. Leicht remains 19th in the season standings leaving Sin City.

BJ McLeod, driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet, started the race from the 22nd position. McLeod fought some handling issues early on, finishing 23rd in Stage 1 and 24th in Stage 2, respectively. At the end of Stage 2, Crew Chief Paul Clapprood made some adjustments on the box to help BJ gain some ground on his nearest competitors. Like the No. 01 team, the No. 4’s strategy paid off in a big way by taking the wave around and saving a set of tires for the end of the race. BJ was able to get up on the wheel in Stage 3, and with the help of those adjustments, he was able to run up inside the Top 20 in the latter portion of the race. A green flag pit stop for fuel lost some track position for McLeod, but he was able to rally back and score a 22nd place finish. He remains in the 20th position for the drivers’ points standings once again and is looking to build on his momentum this weekend in Richmond.

It was shaping up to be a Top 15 run for Garrett Smithley in the No. 0 Chevrolet until a late race pit road penalty made him come back down and serve a stop and go. Smithley started from the 26th position, but quickly was able to force his way through the pack early on. By the end of lap 45 in Stage 1, Garrett was already up to 18th position. He slipped back a couple spots to 20th in Stage 2, but some minor adjustments and strategy allowed him to get one lap back and fight for more spots. As green flag pit stops started, the Ligonier, PA native found himself in the Top 15 with less than thirty laps remaining. Unfortunately, a speeding penalty relegated Smithley back to a 23rd place finish, not indicative of where the #NumberNuthin crew deserved to end up. Garrett remains 18th in the drivers’ points standings, and though his playoffs hopes are dashed, he still has eight races left in the season to leave his mark.

Rookie Tyler Matthews, who drove the No. 15 Linetec Services Chevrolet in Saturday’s race, made his 1.5-mile intermediate track debut at Las Vegas. A natural born short track racer, Matthews initially found himself struggling to find the way to master the bigger track. The Richlands, NC native started the 300-mile race from the 28th starting position, but dropped back to 34th at the end of Stage 1. Some adjustments from Crew Chief Wayne Carroll made Matthews more comfortable with the track, and he was able to move up three spots to 31st at the end of Stage 2. It seemed as if the race went on, Tyler began to adapt more and more to the fast speeds of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway high banks. When the checkered flag flew, Matthews was able to come home in the very same spot where he started in 28th. Expect him to be back with the team for more races in the 2019 season.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ next stop on the tour will be a return to Richmond Raceway on Friday night for the running of the Go Bowling 250. JD Motorsports’ team lineup will consist of Stephen Leicht in No. 4 Chevrolet, Garrett Smithley in the No. 0 Chevrolet, Ryan Repko in the No. 01 Chevrolet, and BJ McLeod in the No. 15 Chevrolet. This will be Repko’s first start at the ¾ mile oval in just his third-career start in the Xfinity Series. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 7:30 PM Eastern Time to see live coverage of the last short track race of the season. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

SMITHLEY IMPRESSES AT INDY WITH A TOP 15 FINISH IN THE INDIANA 250

INDIANAPOLIS, IN –

The historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway played host to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this past Saturday for the running of the Indiana 250. JD Motorsports drivers Garrett Smithley, Landon Cassill, BJ McLeod, and Stephen Leicht took on Indy with full force, knowing that there would be just one more chance at making the NXS playoffs.

Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Chevrolet sponsored in part by Contec, maintained a really solid weekend throughout the race at Indy despite starting deep in the pack in 32nd. The Ligonier, PA native worked his way through the pack early on, moving up nearly twenty positions to finish 14th in Stage One. Smithley slipped back just a tad in Stage Two to finish 16th, but it was late in the going that the #NumberNuthin showed its’ strength. After narrowly avoiding disaster, Garrett found himself sitting inside the Top 10 with less than ten laps to go. Though he wasn’t able to secure the Top 10, he still came home with a respectable 14th place, keeping him in 18th for the drivers’ points standings.

Landon Cassill, driver of the No. 4 Flex Seal/Contec Chevrolet, fought through tremendous adversity all day long. Cassill started from 34th position and was able to make some passes early on in the race, finishing out Stage One in the 25th spot. Stage Two earned Landon some more track position from some good changes atop the pit box to 19th, and he was running solidly up inside the Top 15 late in the going when overheating issues forced him to come down pit road. The “no quit” attitude of the No. 4 team got him back on track, and Landon was able to fight back to a 16th place finish, not far back behind Smithley.

BJ McLeod, driver of the No. 15 Chevrolet, rolled off the starting grid from the 21st position on Saturday. Stage One showed McLeod in 26th position, and he unfortunately lost a lap during Stage Two to finish 30th. Some quality adjustments were made up on the pit box, and BJ was able to get back on the lead lap to finish 22nd. Leaving Indianapolis, McLeod remains 20th in the drivers’ points standings.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet, started in 30th for the 100 lap race. Leicht stayed consistent early on and passed two cars to finish 28th at the end of Stage One and Stage Two. As the laps wound down and carnage picked up, Stephen was able to maneuver his Camaro through the smoke to come home with a 23rd place finish on the lead lap. He is still scored in 19th for the drivers’ points standings heading into Las Vegas.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will head out west to the beautiful Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Saturday for the running of the Rhino Linings 300. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 7:30 PM Eastern Time to see JD Motorsports drivers BJ McLeod, Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht, and the return of Tyler Matthews tear up the track in Sin City. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

CASSILL’S TOP 10 RUN GETS HINDERED BY LATE RACE CRASH; RECOVERS NICELY TO EARN A TOP 20 FINISH

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA -

On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series made its annual trip to Darlington Raceway for the SportClips 200. The track known as “Too Tough To Tame” brought plenty of stressful and challenging situations for drivers, all while putting on a great show for a big crowd of fans that came out to watch.

Landon Cassill, driver of the No. 01 Flex Seal Chevrolet, started off his day by impressing many with a 10th place qualifying effort, and it appeared as if he was on his way to a solid run all throughout the first half of the race. Cassill earned one stage point in Stage One by finishing 10th, and was on the cusp of gaining another in Stage Two, but ultimately finished 12th. With fifteen laps remaining, however, the Iowa native got caught up in a spin off of turn four, which significantly hurt the No. 01’s aerodynamics. The crew was able to work hard on repairing the damage, and Landon was able to bring the car home with an 18th place finish.

BJ McLeod, driver of the No. 4 South Carolina Education Lottery Chevrolet, rolled off from the 23rd position to start the 147 lap race. McLeod layed low early on in Stage One and Stage Two, finishing 26th and 22nd respectively, but really started to gain some positions later on once the halfway mark was crossed. The pit crew made some important changes to McLeod’s Chevrolet late in the race, and he was able to earn a 19th place finish, right behind his JDM teammate in Landon Cassill. This finish keeps BJ McLeod solidly in 20th position in the drivers’ points standings heading into Indianapolis.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 15 JD Motorsports Chevrolet, overcame adversity throughout the entire day on Saturday. Leicht was feeling under the weather in the morning, and took a trip to the infield care center to make sure that he would be hydrated for the grueling race on Darlington’s wore-out track surface. Stephen qualified in the 24th position, but fought an ill-handling car for the majority of Stage One and Stage Two, where he finished 34th and 31st, respectively. The #15Machine crew went to work on making significant changes to his Chevrolet in the final stage, and they were able to elevate Leicht to a 26th place finish. Stephen remains 19th in the drivers’ points standings leaving Darlington.

Similar to Leicht, Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Mike Mittler Tribute Chevrolet, also had to overcome adversity throughout Saturday’s race. The Ligonier, PA driver rolled off the starting grid in 29th, and fought handling issues throughout the race. Smithley finished in 30th for Stage One, and followed it up with a 29th place ruin in Stage Two, and had to make a green flag unscheduled pit stop late in the race during the final stage for four tires. The issue kept Garrett trapped a few laps down, and the lack of cautions meant he was unable to position himself back in contention at the end of the race. The #NumberNuthin driver earned a 29th place finish at Darlington, keeping him 18th in the drivers’ points standings.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Saturday for the tour’s yearly stop at the oldest racetrack on the circuit. Different aerodynamic packages will throw the teams a curveball, and if last year’s race is any indication, this weekend will be one of the most exciting races of the season. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 4:00 PM ET for live coverage. For all things JD Motorsports, follow our social media channels with the username @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

BJ McLEOD AND JD MOTORSPORTS LOOK TO TAME THE LADY IN BLACK IN DARLINGTON WITH THE S.C. EDUCATION LOTTERY

GAFFNEY, S.C. –

JD Motorsports with Gary Keller is proud to announce the South Carolina Education Lottery and BJ McLeod will be partnering with the No. 4 Chevrolet for this Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

This will be the South Carolina Education Lottery’s fifth year partnering with JDM. This year, the team plans to honor 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Labonte by running a throwback paint scheme to his 1992 Slim Jim Chevrolet.

McLeod, who currently sits 20th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings, cites Darlington Raceway as one of his favorite tracks. “I truly am excited to get behind the wheel of the No. 4 South Carolina Education Lottery Chevrolet this weekend. Add in the fact that we’re running the throwback paint scheme to the Slim Jim car, and it feels like I’m back to being a kid again! I mean, I grew up watching that car win races and championships, so this is all really cool for me. I’m sure we will be able to go out and have a good run for all of our supporters and fans,” McLeod said.

In four starts at Darlington, McLeod has a best finish of 23rd. Entering the weekend, his best finish of the 2019 season is 17th, which came at Pocono Raceway earlier this year.

“Darlington has been circled on my calendar for a while now, because I feel like I seem to excel at the tracks that are hard to drive,” McLeod said. “We will be slipping around out there on the ragged edge, and that all fits perfectly with my driving style. It will be a fun one, that’s for sure!”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will race at Darlington Raceway this Saturday for the running of the Sport Clips 200. The race can be viewed live on NBC, or listened to on MRN. Be sure to tune in to see JD Motorsports with Gary Keller drivers BJ McLeod, Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht, and Landon Cassill try to tackle the track dubbed “Too Tough to Tame.” For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

About the South Carolina Education Lottery:

The South Carolina Education Lottery’s mission is to enhance educational funding in South Carolina through fun and entertaining games and products offered to adults. Since the Lottery launched in 2002, more than 1.9 million scholarships and grants have been awarded to South Carolina students, and more than $5.5 billion has been contributed to education.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488-1276

VARGAS STAYS ON TRACK AND LEADS THE WAY FOR JD MOTORSPORTS AT ROAD AMERICA; SMITHLEY & LEICHT OUT LATE DUE TO ENGINE TROUBLES

PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN –

On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series made its’ final trip out to a permanent road course on the year out at Road America near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This was the series’ third road course race in a month, and it turned out to be a very exciting race for the fans to watch.

Entering the weekend, Ryan Vargas, driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet, didn’t have much road course experience, but he was eager to gain some valuable seat time in just his second career NXS start. Vargas started deep in the field in 33rd when a slower car blocked his timed lap, but that didn’t prevent him from learning how to pass smoothly and make his way up through the pack. At the end of the caution less Stage One, Vargas was scored in 25th, and the eighteen-year-old made up some more spots to 22nd at the end of Stage Two. In the final stage, the NASCAR Next driver was able to climb even further up the leaderboard, coming home with a respectable 18th place finish in just his second start.

BJ McLeod, who drove the No. 15 Chevrolet on Saturday, continued his learning process on the road courses, where he is self-admittedly unaccustomed to racing on. McLeod drove a clean, conservative race all day, after rolling off the starting grid in 34th position. A pair of 30th place finishes in both Stage One and Stage Two were due to the #15Machine crew electing to hang back and keep their Camaro in one piece, but as chaos ensued in the final stage, BJ was able to steer clear of all the mess and come home with a 23rd place finish. The solid run keeps McLeod scored in 20th in the drivers’ standings heading into Darlington next weekend.

Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Chevrolet, had a very promising run going at the 4-mile road course. Smithley practiced in 17th, and started the race from 21st, and when it came to race time, many thought he would have a great finish. Stage One showed Garrett in 15th, with Stage Two showing him 13th, but unfortunately, on lap 37/45, the engine let go, forcing him behind the wall. Smithley would end up coming home with a 33rd place finish, keeping him 18th in the drivers’ points standings.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet, faced the same fate as Garrett Smithley. Leicht started his Camaro from the 25th position, but was able to make up some ground early to 18th at the end of Stage One. Stephen was all the way up to 11th at the end of Stage Two, and appeared to have a solid run going, until he lost his engine one lap prior to Garrett. Stephen remains in the 19th position in drivers’ standings heading into Darlington.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will race at Darlington Raceway this Saturday for the running of the Sport Clips 200. The race can be viewed live on NBC, or listened to on MRN. Be sure to tune in to see JD Motorsports with Gary Keller drivers BJ McLeod, Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht, and Landon Cassill try to tackle the track dubbed “Too Tough to Tame”. For all things JDM, follow us along on social media with the handle @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

A CASSILL FIT FOR A KING – LANDON EARNS JD MOTORSPORTS’ FOURTH TOP 10 FINISH OF THE SEASON AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE –

On Friday night, the NASCAR Xfinity Series made its’ second trip to Bristol Motor Speedway for the annual Food City 300 night race at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile”. The night race at Bristol always brings excitement and action to the forefront, and this year was no different. JD Motorsports with Gary Keller drivers Landon Cassill, Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht, and BJ McLeod brought their best gladiator suits with them for a hard-fought race - all under the lights.

Landon Cassill, driver of the No. 4 Flex Seal Chevrolet, qualified his Camaro in 20th position, but with the help of some strategy from atop the pit box, he was able to earn some stage points at the end of Stage 1, where he finished an impressive sixth place. Stage 2 showed Cassill in 14th position, but the crew worked hard on adjusting the car to stay up with the racetrack and keep Landon happy. At the end of the day, the Iowa native was able to come home with a 10th place finish, which is his best-career finish at the half mile short track. The finish was JD Motorsports’ fourth Top 10 of the season, two of which have been scored by Landon.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Flex Glue Chevrolet, started from the rear of the pack in 37th, but was able to slice his way through the field to come home with another solid finish. At the end of Stage 1, Leicht was up to 28th position, and he was able to make his way up through the pack even further to 23rd at the end of Stage 2. The #FlexGlueCrew led by Mark Setzer made some sizable changes near the end of the race to help earn Stephen some extra track position, enabling him to bring home a 19th place finish. Leicht remains 19th in the drivers’ points standings leaving Bristol, and looks to gain more points next weekend at Road America.

BJ McLeod, driver of the No. 15 Flex Shot Chevrolet, started from the 34th spot on the grid, but like Leicht, he was able to make up some ground early on in the 300 lap race. By Stage 1, McLeod was up to 23rd, and by Stage 2, he had continued his climb up to 21st. In the final stage of the event, BJ was running up inside the Top 20, and looked to have a promising finish for the #15Machine until an electrical failure brought his Camaro behind the wall on lap 242. McLeod would bring home a 26th place finish, and remains in 20th in the drivers’ points standings.

Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Flex Tape Chevrolet, rolled off from the 36th position in Friday night’s race. Along with Landon, Garrett was also able to gain a stage point at the end of Stage 1, where he placed 10th. It appeared to be shaping up for a great showing for Smithley at Bristol. Midway through Stage 2 however, a power steering issue forced him behind the wall, where he spent many laps waiting for the crew to fix the problem. Smithley was able to return to the racetrack and came home with a 28th place finish, keeping him 18th in the drivers’ points standings heading into Road America.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to road course racing this weekend on Saturday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The Midwest track will be the end of a string of road course races in the month of August, and is always known for its’ exciting opportunities for aggressive “dive bomb” passing action. Be sure to tune into NBCSN at 3:00 PM ET to watch the Road America 180.  For all things JDM, follow along on our social media pages @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873

SMITHLEY EARNS TOP 20 IN MID-OHIO, ASCHENBACH & LEICHT TAKEN OUT LATE IN THE RACE

LEXINGTON, OHIO –

On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series raced at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the B&L Transport 170. JD Motorsports with Gary Keller (JDM) drivers Lawson Aschenbach, Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht, and BJ McLeod looked to have some solid runs in the second road course race of the season, coming off a rough weekend at Watkins Glen International.

Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 0 Chevrolet, had a very busy schedule this weekend as he raced double duty in both NXS and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition at two completely different tracks in two states. It would be a challenge, but the 27-year old from Ligonier, PA was ready for it. Garrett started the Mid-Ohio 75 lapper from the 28th position, and kept his car clean and on the track for the entire race. Stage 1 showed Smithley in 15th, with a one spot improvement for Stage 2 in 14th. Though he lost a few spots in Stage 3, Garrett was able to come home with a respectable 20th place finish, keeping him 18th in the drivers’ points standings heading into Bristol.

BJ McLeod, driver of the No. 15 Chevrolet, looked to improve on his road course racing skills as this would be just his second ever start at Mid-Ohio. McLeod would start the race from the 33rd position, and made it his goal to stay on track and keep the car clean so he could learn as much as possible. He ended Stage 1 in 28th, and made some spots up in Stage 2, where he finished 25th. The Florida native would finish the race in 26th position, two laps down, marking it his best career finish at the racetrack. McLeod still sits 20th in the drivers’ points standings.

Lawson Aschenbach, driver of the No. 4 GoPro Motorplex Chevrolet, was by far the most experienced road course racer JDM had this past weekend. Though it was just his third NXS start, years of experience racing open wheel and sports cars provided him with hundreds of laps on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Maryland driver qualified in the 19th position, and made some big advances during the race under green flag conditions. Strategy put Lawson in 8th at the end of Stage 1, where he gained some stage points, and 16th in Stage 2, where he would pit before the end of the stage. However, on a restart, Aschenbach was handed a drive through penalty, followed up by a speeding penalty, which put him back in the pack. Unfortunately, contact on track after a late race restart put Lawson out of the race, where he finished 28th.

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet, had bad luck strike once again on Saturday. Leicht rolled off from the 24th position, and ran solidly within the Top 20 for the start of the afternoon. Stage 1 showed Stephen in 13th, and he was running right around the same mark late in Stage 2 where he unfortunately got caught up in a big wreck coming out of the “keyhole” turn. His Camaro was left in nothing but a mangled mess of fiber glass and sheet metal, and he was forced to retire early. Leicht comes home with a 32nd place finish, but he remains 19th in the drivers’ points standings heading into Bristol.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 16th for the running of the Food City 300. Bristol, which is known affectionately as the Last Great Coliseum, always puts on a great show for the fans, and a challenging one for the drivers. Be sure to tune into the race broadcast live on NBCSN and PRN radio at 7:30 PM ET to see JD Motorsports’ drivers take on the World’s Fastest Half Mile. For an all-access behind the scenes look at the race weekend, follow our social media accounts @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leighton Sibille

lsibille@jdavismotorsports.com

Office: (864) 488 - 1276

Cell: (909) 486 – 5873