When the entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 dropped on Monday, the list contained 39 cars, which would vie for the 38 positions. However, there will no longer be a DNQ this weekend as JD Motorsports has decided to withdraw its No. 6 entry according to an updated entry list from NASCAR.
Garrett Smithley was slated to pilot the entry with primary sponsorship from his longtime partner Trophy Tractor.
The withdrawal of the No. 6 car will mark the first time since the 2011 NASCAR Xfinity Series season that JD Motorsports didn’t attempt to lock at least two cars into the field for a race.
With JD Motorsports withdrawing one of its entries, Mike Harmon Racing will officially make the race. The Harmon team had failed to lock into the field in all five of its attempts this season prior to this weekend’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225. This will mark a massive reprieve for a team that has suffered through a frustrating campaign.
This weekend, the No. 74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet Camaro is being driven by Dawson Cram, who has spent the majority of the year as the driver of the No. 4 JD Motorsports entry. Jade Buford was initially listed as the driver of the No. 74 on this week’s entry list but was changed to Cram later in the week.
In addition to the No. 74 team, the withdrawal of the No. 6 entry from the Pocono Raceway entry list will ease any potential stress for the other go-or-go-home teams that were planning to clock their ways into the field for this weekend’s race.
The No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet driven by Daniel Dye, No. 35 Joey Gase Motorsports entry driven by Stephen Mallozzi (series debut), No. 4 JD Motorsports entry driven by Thomas Annunziata, and the No. 07 SS-GreenLight Racing entry driven by Patrick Emerling made up the remainder of the bottom five cars in NASCAR Xfinity Series Owner Points on this weekend’s entry list. This put these teams at the highest risk of missing the field had there been a DNQ this weekend.
They can all breathe a little easier tonight knowing they’re locked in as they make the trek to Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
