UPDATE – Thursday, January 12th, 2023:
On Thursday, Sam Hunt Racing announced Connor Mosack’s official 20-race schedule, via social media. The newly-announced schedule features minor alterations from the original version of the schedule posted to Mosack’s website in December.
Mosack will pilot the No. 24 Toyota Supra at Phoenix (March 11), Atlanta (March 18), COTA (March 25), Martinsville (April 15), Charlotte (May 27), Portland (June 3), Sonoma (June 10), Nashville (June 24), Loudon (July 15), Indy’s Road Course (August 12), Watkins Glen (August 19), Daytona (August 25), Kansas (September 9), Bristol (September 15), Charlotte’s ROVAL (October 7), Las Vegas (October 14), Homestead (October 21), Martinsville (October 28), and Phoenix (November 4).
Changes from December’s schedule include the addition of Charlotte, Nashville, and Bristol, and the removal of Chicago’s Street Course and Road America.
? @connormosack's 20-race schedule is here ?
Excited to get him on track with the 24 team! #TeamToyota | #SHR24 pic.twitter.com/fsDBJ4mWjs
— Sam Hunt Racing (@Team_SHR26) January 12, 2023
UPDATE – Saturday, December 17th, 2022:
The exact schedule of events for Connor Mosack’s announced 20-race NASCAR Xfinity Series stint with Sam Hunt Racing in the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra has been revealed, via the driver’s website.
Mosack will make his first start of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season at Phoenix Raceway on March 11th, before contesting an additional 18 races with Sam Hunt Racing’s newfound two-car operation.
The 23-year-old will also compete in events at Atlanta (March 18), COTA (March 25), Martinsville (April 15), Portland (June 3), Sonoma (June 10), Chicago’s Street Course (July 1), Pocono (July 22), Road America (July 29), Michigan (August 5), Indy’s Road Course (August 12), Watkins Glen (August 19), Daytona (August 25), Kansas (September 9), Charlotte’s ROVAL (October 7), Las Vegas (October 14), Homestead (October 21), Martinsville (October 28), and Phoenix (November 4).
Although originally announced as a 20-race agreement, Mosack’s schedule currently only shows 19 races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023.
Via his website, @connormosack is set to drive the No. 24 @Team_SHR26 Toyota Supra in these 19 #NASCAR Xfinity Series races:
Phoenix
Atlanta
COTA
Martinsville
Portland
Sonoma
Chicago
Pocono
Road America
Michigan
Indy
WGI
Daytona
Kansas
ROVAL
Vegas
Homestead
Martinsville
Phoenix— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) December 17, 2022
ORIGINAL STORY – Thursday, December 8th, 2022:
Sam Hunt Racing announced its 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup on Thursday. The organization has added Kaz Grala as the full-time driver of its No. 26 team and the team has hired Connor Mosack in a 20-race deal to pilot the No. 24 entry.
The team will continue to field Toyota GR Supras.
For Grala, a journeyman driver in the NASCAR National Series ranks, he has finally found a home.
“I’ve scratched and clawed for each opportunity over the past several seasons, and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s made me appreciate this sport and its difficulty more than I ever could have if things had been easy,” said Grala in a team release. “I feel like everything has finally come together at the perfect time in my life with the right team around me to start that next chapter in my career. I couldn’t be more proud and hopeful heading into 2023 with Sam Hunt Racing with a chance to compete for a championship. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, and I intend to make the absolute most of it next year and beyond.”
Grala, 23, has made 44 starts in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition and he has scored a total of five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. Grala also has two top-10 finishes in seven NASCAR Cup Series starts and he has a win, six top-fives and 18 top-10s in 48 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts.
While Grala is happy to finally get the opportunity that he has fought so hard for over the years, Mosack is just elated to have a chance to develop his skills behind the wheel in a 20-race schedule with the team.
“Being able to run 20 races in the Xfinity Series next year is a really big deal to me,” said Mosack. “Two years ago, I didn’t really know where I was going or how I was going to get there. Racing in this series is a big step toward where I want to go, and I’m excited it is with a team like Sam Hunt Racing. With SHR being a growing team, I know I can develop relationships with everyone involved and continue to learn from them. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sam and trust that his team and values will help to develop me as a driver.”
Mosack, 23, made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts last season. Those were the first four NASCAR National Series starts of his young career, and he scored a best finish of 15th, which came at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving for Sam Hunt Racing.
The young driver, who began on short tracks and earned the 2020 CARS Tour Series rookie of the year award, also has a road racing background as he has been competing in the Trans Am TA2 Series in recent years.
While Mosack will drive the No. 24 entry in 20 races, the second SHR entry will expand to a full-time effort in 2023 with other drivers to be announced at a later date. Team owner Sam Hunt calls the expansion of his race team a blessing.
“Timing and patience have been pivotal components of our growth process at SHR. Expanding to two full-time teams in 2023 brings an excitement level only matched by the responsibility and expectation to compete at a high level every week,” said Hunt. “It goes without saying that having a full-time driver in the No. 26 for the first time is a blessing to our organization and an important component of our growth. Kaz is a highly talented and experienced driver and has strived for an opportunity like this for a long time. Having Connor anchor the No. 24 team is something we are also really looking forward to. He is a very talented young man and has every trait and characteristic I look for in a young driver. We’re heading into 2023 with confidence in both teams and drivers, and I’m excited to continue to build this program with each of them.”
SHR has added Kris Bowen, formerly of the No. 02 Our Motorsports team, as the crew chief for the No. 24 car this season.
Sponsorship for both entries will be announced at a later date.
