SMITHLEY HITS THE ROAD AGAIN

ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – The Johnsonville 180 Xfinity Series race scheduled this weekend at Road America is a rarity for Xfinity drivers – an event on Sunday.

       With the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series enjoying an off weekend, Xfinity drivers and teams will be in the spotlight on Sunday at the four-mile, 14-turn track near Elkhart Lake.

       Garrett Smithley, driving the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet, will be racing at the track for the second time. But the race will be almost like a first for Smithley, who was taken out in last year’s event by a crash on the second lap.

       “I’m anxious to get back to Road America and show what we can do,” Smithley said. “Last year was frustrating, to go all the way there and have to go to the garage a few minutes after the race started. We’re looking for better things this year.”

       Xfinity teams will practice at Road America at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Qualifying is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Sunday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.

CREED RETURNS AT ROAD AMERICA

ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – Sheldon Creed will be back in the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 01 Chevrolet in Sunday’s Johnsonville 180 road-course race at Road America.

       Creed, driving with sponsorship from United Rentals, made his Xfinity Series debut two races ago at Mid-Ohio. A transmission problem early in the race forced him to the pits for repairs, and he finished 34th.

       Creed, 19, has won the Speed Energy Formula Off-Road Series for trucks championship twice. He also has raced in the K&N Pro Series East and West and in ARCA and has driven Camping World Truck Series races at Eldora Speedway.

       Sunday’s race is the only NASCAR national series race this weekend.

       Practice sessions are scheduled at 2 and 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Qualifying is set for 11:45 a.m. Sunday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.

CHASTAIN MOVING UP POINT LIST

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Ross Chastain advanced two spots in the Xfinity Series point standings with a 15th-place finish in Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

       With the playoffs approaching, the strong run kept Chastain eligible to make the post-season. He is the first driver on the bubble, 43 points out of a qualifying spot.

       Friday’s finish was Chastain’s 10th straight in the top 20. During that stretch, he has advanced from 19th to 13th in points and is at his highest point standing of the season.

       “Another good run for the Flex Seal Chevrolet tonight,” Chastain said. “The car performed great. I love this track. I was able to hang with the front group most of the night.”

       Kyle Busch won the race, and Elliott Sadler remained in the point lead.

       The series next races Aug. 27 at Road America.

SMITHLEY PARKS WITH SUSPENSION PROBLEMS

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Garrett Smithley finished 31st in Friday night’s Food City 300 Xfinity Series race after parking his No. 0 Chevrolet with suspension problems.

       Smithley completed 239 of the race’s 300 laps.

       “Not the finish we were looking for,” Smithley said. “We finally had to park the car after battling the suspension. We’ll be back stronger here next time.”

       Smithley remains 22nd in Xfinity points.

       Kyle Busch won the race, and Elliott Sadler kept the point lead.

       The series rolls on to Road America for an Aug. 27 race.

RHODES 34th IN FOOD CITY 300

 BRISTOL, Tenn. – Harrison Rhodes scored a 34th-place finish in Friday night’s Food City 300 Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

       Rhodes, in the Flex Tape Chevrolet, started 35th in a competitive field of fast cars.

       “It wasn’t our best night, but we hung in there,” Rhodes said. “Bristol is a tough, fast place. It’s easy to get behind, but we learned a lot and we’ll roll on from here.”

       Kyle Busch won the race, and Elliott Sadler kept the point lead.

       The series moves on to Road America for an Aug. 27 race. The event will be the third road-course race of the season.

CHASTAIN BACK AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Ross Chastain returns this week to a track where he has had success – Bristol Motor Speedway.

       Chastain will drive the Flex Seal No. 4 Chevrolet in Friday night’s Food City 300 Xfinity Series race.

       Chastain has raced in five Xfinity and two Camping World Truck Series races at BMS. In 2012, he finished third in a Truck race.

       “I feel like I know that track better than almost any other,” Chastain said. “Even those it’s changed over the years and they keep messing with the surface, the fast way around is the fast way around. I think we’ll be in good shape Friday night.”

       A blown tire left Chastain with a 31st-place finish in the spring race at Bristol.

       Practice for the 300-lap race is scheduled at 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday. Qualifying is set for 3:40 p.m. Friday, with the race to follow at 7:30.

SMITHLEY IN RACE FOUR AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Garrett Smithley is looking to improve on his finish in the season’s first Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway as the tour rolls into the fast half-mile for Friday’s Food City 300.

       In the spring race at BMS, Smithley was caught up in a late-race crash and finished 34th.

       “I love Bristol, and I hated to leave there with that kind of finish,” Smithley said. “I hope we’ll have a strong car this week so we can show what we can do there. It’s a great track.”

       Smithley has raced three times at BMS.

       Xfinity teams are scheduled to practice at 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday. Qualifying is set for 3:40 p.m. Friday, with the race to follow at 7:30.

RHODES RETURNS AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Harrison Rhodes will return to the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Flex Tape No. 01 Chevrolet in Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

       Sheldon Creed drove the 01 last week at the Mid-Ohio road course.

       Rhodes is almost a veteran at BMS. He has raced in five Xfinity Series events at the fast half-mile.

       “Bristol is a track that virtually every driver likes,” Rhodes said. “It’s short but fast, and you’re running full bore. There’s no time to relax.”

       Rhodes finished 23rd in the season’s first race at BMS.

       Practice is scheduled at Bristol at 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday. Qualifying is set for 3:40 p.m. Friday, with the race to follow under the lights at 7:30.

CHASTAIN FINISHES 15th AT MID-OHIO

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Ross Chastain continued his summer hot streak Saturday, finishing 15th in the Mid-Ohio Challenge Xfinity Series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

       The run is Chastain’s ninth straight in the top 20, as he finished on the lead lap.

       “It was great fun to run up there with the lead bunch,” said Chastain, who was fifth at the end of the race’s first stage. “We had a really good car, and I was able to move through the field. It was good to finish strong.”

       Chastain stayed 15th in Xfinity driver points.

       Sam Hornish Jr. won the race, and Elliott Sadler kept the point lead.

       The series rolls on to Bristol Motor Speedway for an Aug. 18 race.

SMITHLEY STALLED BY LATE-RACE CRASH

LEXINGTON, Ohio – A multi-car accident eight laps from the end of the race left Garrett Smithley with a 30th-place finish in Saturday’s Mid-Ohio Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

       Smithley, driving the Wheeling Nailers No. 0 Chevrolet, was involved in a 10-car crash that ultimately blocked the track. The accident resulted in an 11-minute red flag.

       “No way to get through that one,” Smithley said. “I hate we weren’t able to bring the car home. It was just a mess, cars everywhere.”

       Smithley is 22nd in Xfinity driver points.

       Sam Hornish Jr. won the race, and Elliott Sadler kept the point lead.

       The next Xfinity race is scheduled Aug. 18 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.