NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Noah Gragson hopes to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Daytona 500 on Feb. 14. He’ll attempt to qualify the #62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet for the 2021 Cup Series season opener.
“I’m excited and humbled to have this opportunity with Beard Motorsports,” Gragson said. “As a young racer from Las Vegas, I had always dreamt of racing in the Daytona 500. I’m very appreciative of the faith the Beard family and Brendan [Gaughan] have in me, and equally appreciative to JR Motorsports for allowing me to pull double duty and compete for them in the Xfinity Series and also Beard Motorsports while we’re down in Daytona.”
Beard Motorsports is a part-time Cup Series team that has contested the superspeedway races at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway since 2017 with Brendan Gaughan as driver of the #62. Gaughan contested 17 races with the team before retiring as a driver in 2020. In those races, Gaughan posted four top-10s, including seventh-place finishes at Daytona in 2017 and 2020.
“I loved racing for the Beard Family and, even though I’m retired, I’m honored to be a part of their team, and I’m very protective of what they’ve built,” Gaughan said. “I’ve known Noah a long time, and I know he’s a very good race car driver who is ready to do some Cup racing. Just as importantly, he takes good care of his equipment, and he’s there at the end of races. In his entire Xfinity Series career, he’s only had four DNFs [did not finish]. That’s important no matter who you’re racing for, but it’s especially important for Beard Motorsports. I’m proud to see Noah have this opportunity and proud to see another Las Vegas guy in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
Gragson drove for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series in 2019 and 2020 and will continue as driver of the JRM #9 Chevrolet in 2021. In 69-career Xfinity Series races, he has two wins, both coming in 2020, including the season-opening race at Daytona last season. Gragson also has two-career NASCAR Truck Series wins in 47 races with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
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