Preview: Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway

JR Motorsports | 9/8/2021

Bass Pro Shops Black Rifle Coffee Brandt Dale Earnhardt Jr. Justin Allgaier Michael Annett News Noah Gragson Pilot Flying J Race Preview Richmond Raceway TrueTimber Unilever United For America

Dale Jr. is back behind the wheel of the No. 8 car as the Xfinity Series makes its first trip to Richmond in 2021. Last season, JRM swept the Richmond races and amassed seven top-10 finishes in the two races.

TRACK: Richmond Raceway
RACE: Go Bowling 250 (250 laps / 188 miles)
DATE: Saturday, September 11, 2021
TV: 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
RADIO: 2 p.m. ET on MRN Radio Network and SiriusXM Ch. 90


Quotes:

Michael Annett: "We cut into the point deficit last week at Darlington and it could have been even more. We know we have more work to do, and with the cars that Bummy (crew chief Mike Bumgarner) and the No. 1 team have been giving me, we have that chance. Our No. 1 Pilot Flying J #ThankATrucker Chevrolet was really good last time we were here, hopefully we can unload with that same speed again this weekend." 

Justin Allgaier: "I'm really looking forward to getting back to Richmond on Saturday with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. We were really strong here in both races last year, and I feel confident we can repeat that same success this weekend and get back into Victory Lane and come away with maximum points. The playoffs are right around the corner and every point matters. Hopefully we can have a smooth day and be in the right position at the end to fight for the victory."

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: "I always have a lot of fun when I come back for my one race a year in this series. Richmond is one of my favorite tracks, and it's one I've had a lot of success at in the past. I know that Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and the entire No. 8 team will unload a fast Camaro and hopefully we'll have a shot at it towards the end of the race."

Noah Gragson: "It felt really good to finally get the first win of the season last weekend and Richmond is another track that has been really good to this No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team. We've led some laps and have consistently raced inside of the top 10. We finished eighth and fifth here last year, so hopefully we can continue this strong run and finish a few spots better again this weekend."


Notes:

• Having cut 22 points off his deficit last week at Darlington Raceway, Michael Annett enters the weekend 46 points out of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs with two races remaining.

• Richmond Raceway is a good track of late for the Iowa driver, as Annett has earned finishes of ninth, seventh and seventh in his last three starts on the .750-mile oval.

• Annett will again carry a special paint scheme this weekend in honor of Pilot Flying J's Driver Appreciation Month program. The scheme, which features the hashtag #ThankATrucker on the TV panel, will be on the car through the Sept. 25 event at Las Vegas.

• Justin Allgaier enters Saturday afternoon looking for his third consecutive victory at Richmond. The Illinois native swept the doubleheader weekend at the Virginia short track last season.

• In addition to the two wins, Allgaier has amassed seven top fives and 10 top 10s in 20 NXS starts at Richmond.

• Allgaier's seven top fives rank fourth best of any track he has competed on in the NXS, trailing only Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.

• With just two races remaining in the regular season, Allgaier currently sits third in the NXS Playoff Grid.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his first and only NXS start of the season at Richmond this weekend in the 9/11 United For America Chevrolet.

• In eight NXS races at Richmond, Earnhardt, Jr. has accumulated four wins (most recently in 2016), six top fives and seven top 10s while pacing the field for 829 laps.

• The 9/11 United For America Chevrolet pays tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on its 20th anniversary this Saturday. The hood showcases the 9/11 Memorial and Museum's Tribute in Light, which signifies the four locations targeted in the attacks (World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 site in Shanksville, Pa).

• Noah Gragson, the most recent winner in the NXS after his triumph at Darlington last weekend, clinched his spot in the NXS Playoffs by way of the victory.

• Gragson is stout at Richmond, having earned a pair of top-five finishes and four in the top 10 in his five starts there. His average finish at Richmond is 8.8, and he's completed all but one lap of competition on the .750-mile oval. 

• The 23-year-old from Las Vegas has been on a hot streak of late. Over his last 11 starts, Gragson has the victory at Darlington, five top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes.

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XFINITY Series Schedule

  • March 30 01:30 PM ET
    ToyotaCare 250Richmond Raceway
  • April 6 07:30 PM ET
    NXS Spring Race at MartinsvilleMartinsville Speedway
  • April 13 01:30 PM ET
    Andy’s Frozen Custard 300Texas Motor Speedway
  • April 20 04:00 PM ET
    Ag-Pro 300Talladega Superspeedway
  • April 27 01:30 PM ET
    A-GAME 200Dover International Speedway

XFINITY Series Standings

After Dead On Tools 250

Martinsville Speedway | 10/28/2023
Results are not available.