Jordan Anderson Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report – Texas Motor Speedway; October 16, 2021
Track: Texas Motor Speedway – Oval (1.5-Miles)
Race: Andy’s Frozen Custard 335
Date: October 16, 2021
Format: 200 Laps– 45/45/110; 300 Miles
No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group/ EasyCare Chevrolet Camaro SS – Kaz Grala
Start: 32
Stage 1: 14
Stage 2: 22
Finish: 15
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 200
Laps Led: 0
Stage One Recap:
– Making his second NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start of the 2021 season 22-year-old Kaz Grala of Boston, Mass. would roll off 32nd for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 after the starting lineup was determined by the competition-based performance metrics system; fastest lap in the previous race 15 percent, driver finish from previous race 25 percent, owner points 25 percent, and driver points 35 percent.
– The opening lap of the Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 would see Grala advance the No. 31 Bommarito.com Chevrolet one position into the 31st spot.
– Losing ground on Lap-2, Grala would fall back into 32nd as the No. 17 would work its way past.
– Remaining in 32nd for the next four laps, the No. 66 would get around Grala on Lap-5 shuffling him back to 33rd.
-Two laps later Grala would fight back and drive back around the No. 66 into 32nd.
– Continuing to feel more comfortable behind the wheel Grala would continue his charge forward picking off the No. 99 on Lap-6 moving him into the 31st position.
– Lap-7 would see Grala get around the No. 6 putting the No. 31 in the 30th spot a place it would hold for the next five laps before overtaking the No. 17 on Lap-13.
– Grala would circle the Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in the 29th position until Lap-18 when he would move around the No. 39 into 28th.
– Lap-19 would see Grala drop a position to the No. 66 shuffling him back to 29th in the running order.
– The first caution would fall over the 1.5-Mile TMS on Lap-21 for the planned competition caution.
– Running in the 29th position at the time of the caution Crew Chief Arthur Haire would use the opportunity to have Grala come to pit road to make some adjustments, two fresh right-side tires, and a can of Sunoco fuel.
– Grala would return to the track in the 29th position for the Lap-25 restart.
– On the restart the No. 4 car would come to a stop on back stretch resulting in the second caution of the day.
– Having just come to pit lane Grala would remain on the track, and would line up 26th for the Lap-30 restart.
– Continuing to run in the 26th position for three laps Grala would drive around the No. 6 on Lap-33 to move into 25th in the running order. A position he would hold steady for the next six laps.
– Next in Grala’s sights would be the No. 0 and he would successfully make the pass on Lap-39.
– However, the No. 0 would battle back and move back in front of Grala. Placing the No. 31 24th in the running order.
– The third caution flag would be displayed on Lap-40 for a stalled No. 17 on the exit of Turn-4.
– Lead cars would use the caution to pit before the completion of the Stage-1.
– Looking to gain track position Grala would remain on track and line up in the 13th position for the single-lap shootout to the end.
– As the Green-White-Checkered Flag waved on Lap-45 signally the completion of Stage-1 Grala would let the No. 18 slip by coming out of Turn-4 and would go on to be credited with a 14th place finish.
Stage Two Recap:
– During the stage break Grala would once again be called to the pit lane by Crew Chief Arthur Haire for four new Goodyear Eagles, and a full tank of Sunoco fuel.
– Grala would rejoin the field in the 18th position for the Lap-51 restart.
– As the green flag waved to restart Grala would not get a good jump and would slip back to the 23rd position during the next four laps.
– The fifth caution of the day would be displayed on Lap-56 for debris on the track.
– Running in the 23rd position Grala at the time of the caution Grala would remain on track and restart in 18th for the Lap-61 restart.
– Getting a much better restart the Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet would drive around two cars into the 16th position on Lap-62.
– As cars continued to jockey for position Grala would drop back to 17th in the running order a lap later, and by Lap-64 would fall back another two positions.
– The No. 39 would bring out the sixth caution on Lap-65 when it would spin exiting Turn-2 and would keep going without making any contact.
– Running in the 19th position at the time of the caution Grala would remain on track, and line back up in 19th for the Lap-68 restart.
– On the restart Grala would lose a position to the No. 15 dropping him back to the 20th spot in the running order.
– Grala would drive the No. 31 around the No. 44 on Lap-70 into 19th, but the No. 44 would fight right back the very next lap retaking the position.
– Slipping up out of the groove on Lap-72 Grala would get shuffled back to the 23rd position.
– Regaining his line Grala would get around the No. 66 on Lap-74 to move up a spot, but would eventually settle in 23rd and would run there for the next 12 laps.
– Looking to continue the battle from 20 laps prior Grala would move around the No. 44 on Lap-88 into the 22ndposition.
– As the Green-White-Checkered flag waved on Lap-90 signally the end of Stage-2 Grala would go on to be credited with the 22nd position.
Final Stage Recap:
– Under the stage break, Grala would bring the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group/ EasyCare Chevrolet to pit road for the over the wall crew to go to work applying four fresh Goodyear Eagles, and a can of Sunoco Fuel.
– Once service was completed Grala would return to the track in the 16th position for the Lap-97 restart.
– On the restart Grala would not get up to speed right away, and slip back a position as the No. 02 would overtake the 16th spot.
– Grala would pull up behind the No. 44 on Lap-99 working his way by moving back into 16th spot.
– The eighth caution would drop over the speedway on Lap-100 for a large accident when the No. 23 would come up the track into the No. 26 and the No. 48 would have nowhere to go making contact with the No. 26. All three vehicles would inquire heavy damage.
– Running in the 16th position at the time of the caution Grala would restart in 17th on Lap-109 by virtue of the choose rule.
– Able to get a good run on the restart Grala would move around the No. 02 back into the 16th position on Lap-110.
– Fighting back the No. 02 would work his way back around Grala on Lap-119 to regain the position.
– For the next 20 laps Grala would run comfortably in the 17th position logging laps around TMS.
– The caution plagued event would see the ninth caution period on Lap-141 when the No. 47 would spin off Turn-4.
– Grala would come to pit road for four tires and fuel and would restart 14th for the Lap-149 restart.
– The restart would see Grala get a jump with fresh tires and work his way around the No. 02 into the 13th spot.
– Not settling there Grala would motor around the No. 8 a lap later capturing the 12th position back and would remain there for the next four laps.
– On Lap-156 the No. 54 would move around Grala to claim the 12th position.
– Grala would remain in 13th until the No. 8 would retake the position on Lap-161.
– Holding the 14th position for the next five laps Grala would lose another spot to the No. 02 on Lap-166.
– The tenth and final caution of the day would fly on Lap-173 when the No. 68 would get out of the groove in Turn-2 and make contact with the inside wall.
– Running 15th at the time Grala would get called to pit road for a two tire stop and a top off of Sunoco fuel.
– The No. 31 Chevrolet would return to the track in the 14th position for the Lap-179 restart.
– On the restart Grala would settle into the 14th position and remain there for the next 14 laps until the No. 39 would work its way around Grala on Lap-195 sending the No. 31 back to 15th.
– Grala would remain in the 15th position the final five laps to bring home a respectable 15th place finish for the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group/ EasyCare Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 Race Recap:
– Having to overcome a late-race pit road penalty, #54-John Hunter Nemechek was able to rebound and score the win in Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. Restarting in the rear, Nemechek soared to the top 10 when a caution flew with 28 laps to go. Chris Gayle, Nemechek’s crew chief, elected to go for two tires giving the No. 54 car track position. Nemechek was able to pass #20-Harrison Burton a few laps after the restart and cruise to the win.
– #18-Daniel Hemric finished second, leading 55 laps. #9-Noah Gragson finished third, with #7-Justin Allgaier and #22-Austin Cindric rounding out the top five.
– #16-AJ Allmendinger placed sixth, as #11-Justin Haley, #20-Harrison Burton, #1-Michael Annett and #19-Brandon Jones made up the Top-10.
– There were eight lead changes among five drivers and 10 cautions for 54 yellow flag laps.
– The average speed of the race was: 115.553 mph.
– Bommarito Automotive Group; A primary supporter of Jordan Anderson Racing, Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating almost 50 years in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.
For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
– EasyCare/ APCO Holdings; Since 1984, EasyCare has been helping some of the most successful dealerships in the nation drive results in their stores with a full suite of F&I products, forward-thinking training, dealership development, consultative participation programs, and a best-in-class claims experience. EasyCare has the only F&I products named a “MotorTrend Recommended Best Buy” for franchised dealers and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. EasyCare is part of the APCO Holdings, LLC, a family of brands, which has protected over 11 million customers and paid over $3.5 billion in claims.
For more information about what EasyCare has to offer, visit EasyCare.com for information about the APCO Holdings family of brands, visit APCOHoldings.com.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Owners Point Standings:
After 30 events and the 20th race JAR has been eligible for, JAR advances one position to 26th in the NXS Owner Point Standings after Grala’s 15th place finish on Saturday.
Next Race:
Team Owner/ Driver Jordan Anderson will make his fifth start of 2021 behind the wheel of the Jordan Anderson Racing No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS when the NASCAR Xfinity Series moves to Kansas Speedway; Saturday, October 23, 2021 for the Kansas Lottery 300. LIVE coverage will begin at 3:00 PM ET on NBC, Motor Racing Network (MRN), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
