Sure, last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a significant milestone for Ty Gibbs, collecting his fifth victory in just 21 starts in the second-tier series.
Yet, the race was likely an even-bigger milestone for journeyman driver Ryan Ellis, who notched a career-high 13th-place finish in the No. 44 for Alpha Prime Racing, formerly known as Martins Motorsports.
This result, only the second in Ellis’ 89-race NASCAR career inside the top-15 — has allowed the journey to continue into Phoenix, Arizona, where the 32-year-old will return to the seat of the No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet.
Keen Parts – announced as a multi-race sponsor of Ellis’ 2022 program — will adorn the entry at the one-mile facility, in what an Alpha Prime Racing representative tells TobyChristie.com was a ‘last-minute decision’.
Just like at Las Vegas, Ellis will be joined in the Alpha Prime Racing stable by Kaz Grala, the organization’s official reserve driver, who will pilot the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro with sponsorship from Lilly Finance.
As a result of the organization’s roster changes ahead of Phoenix, Howie DiSavino III – originally scheduled to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Phoenix — will instead debut at his home track, Richmond Raceway.
After a P13 in Vegas, @TeamAlphaPrime has made a 'last-minute decision' to put @ryanellisracing in the No. 44 at @phoenixraceway, per a team rep.@HDisavino – scheduled to make his series debut at Phoenix — will instead debut at his home track, @RichmondRaceway.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/o4AsF534Gf
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) March 7, 2022
UPDATE: Howie DiSavino III Lands Part-Time Gig with Alpha Prime, Debut Pushed to Richmond
