As Ryan Ellis and DGM Racing prepare to tackle their first full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign together in 2025, the organization is debuting a brand-new number.
Ellis, a native of Ashburn, Virginia, will drive the No. 71 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season, a car number that hasn’t been utilized in the second-tier series in more than a decade.
The number has significance for Ellis, as the first number that the 35-year-old driver used when he began racing go-karts.
“I ran the [No. 71] on everything growing up — go-karts, hockey jerseys, legends cars, and even video games,” said Ellis. “My father and I can’t quite remember how it started, but it could be considered homage to my grandpa, Vic, who ran the car number 51 two generations prior.”
“To be able to run it in a premier series like the NASCAR Xfinity Series is something that I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid creating my own schemes in NASCAR video games.”
Making matters even sweeter, the No. 71 has significance to Mario Gosselin, owner of DGM Racing, also. In 1998 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Gosselin made his Xfinity Series debut using the number, plus, he and his wife Michelle, were both born in 1971.
It’s the perfect alignment of history between the new driver and team combination for next season, and the perfect new beginning, being brought to fruition by Ronald Witt of Sweetwater Construction.
When Witt first caught wind of the number change, he was excited to help Ellis live out his dream of piloting a No. 71 in NASCAR.
“Working with Ryan is awesome, and I continue to be proud of the relationship that we’ve forged on and off the track,” said Witt. “I’m also looking forward to the move to DGM Racing to capitalize on the competitive advantages that the Gosselins and their organization bring as a race team. Supporting Ryan as he takes on the No. 71 is a fitting way to celebrate this new chapter.
Sweetwater Construction Corp. will return as a primary sponsor for at least four NASCAR Xfinity Series events in 2025, beginning at Pocono Raceway.
The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign will begin with a trip to Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15. Coverage will be found all season on The CW.
