Ryan Truex to Make 50th Xfinity Series Start at Charlotte

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

CONCORD, N.C. – After two weeks off, Ryan Truex is ready to pick back up where he left off in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Truex and his Kaulig Racing team have a new sponsor as they head into the ALSCO 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Phantom Fireworks will adorn his No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro SS in Saturday afternoon’s race. It will also be the Mayetta, NJ native’s 50^th career start in the Xfinity Series.

Truex has six career starts at the home track for most NASCAR teams, including Kaulig Racing, across all of NASCAR’s National Series. His best finish came in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last year when he finished fourth. The last time Truex competed in the Xfinity Series at Charlotte was 2015, he started 16^th and finished 17^th that day.

“We’ve got a new sponsor, Phantom Fireworks,” Truex said. “We’re excited to the Phantom Fireworks on the track. We test last week, so we’ve got some good notes. Charlotte’s a tough track, it’s bumpy and rough, and I kind of have no idea what I’m doing when I get on it. Luckily, we had the test, because its’ been rough to me in the past. The big thing is to get our Phantom Fireworks Chevy handling well, seeing how it reacts to the PJ1, the trackbite that they put down on the track. That’ll make for an interesting race, and hopefully we’ll get them a good finish on Saturday.”

Entering the ALSCO 300, Truex is eighth in the Championship Standings, 116-points behind Points Leader Elliott Sadler. He also has a comfortable gap, 77-points, over the cutoff for the Playoffs, held by Ross Chastain. Truex has earned four top-10 finishes, but has yet to earn any Playoff Points this season.

In the two Thursday practice sessions, Truex was 15^thand 16^thon the speed charts. In the 10 consecutive lap average, he was 12^thof 15 cars to make 10 or more consecutive laps.

Now Truex and Kaulig Racing will look to make a statement as he makes his 50^th career start.