Max McLaughlin, a series regular in the Super DIRTcar Series, has partnered with first-year NASCAR Xfinity Series organization FRS Racing to make his series debut later this year at Watkins Glen International.
The 22-year-old is a previous winner at the 2.45-mile road course, securing a victory in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2019, driving for Hattori Racing Enterprises. McLaughlin will pilot the No. 96 Chevrolet Camaro in the event.
“Collin [Fern] is not only one of the hardest-working people I know, but he’s also one of my closest friends,” said McLaughlin. “So, I’m super excited to be a part of his debut season as a car owner, especially racing at a place where my family has so much history.”
McLaughlin is the first driver to be announced as part of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup for FRS Racing, which is expected to debut its No. 96 Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond Raceway in April.
“I am super excited for Max [McLaughlin] to race for FRS, not only are we such good friends, but he is a wheelman in anything he gets in. He has shown that time and time again,” said Colin Fern, owner of FRS Racing. “He has shown that time and time again. On top of that, with me being from Upstate NY, he lives there and races full-time on the Super DIRTcar Series, it will be exciting for both of our families and the team to be on track.”
A native of Mooresville, North Carolina, McLaughlin has one prior start in NASCAR’s top-three series, competing for Niece Motorsports at Eldora in 2018, where he drove the No. 38 Chevrolet Silverado to a 12th-place result.
Additional driver and sponsorship announcements for FRS Racing’s 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign will be announced at a later date.
