JR Motorsports is bringing back the No. 8 car for the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
In a Friday afternoon (Jan. 25) announcement, JRM will make the No. 8 the team’s car for pursing the owner’s title, rather than the No. 9. In doing so, the Chevrolet team is adding Ryan Truex, Jeb Burton, Spencer Gallagher and Ryan Preece to its driver lineup.
“Things will look a little different for team JRM when we unload at Daytona,” JRM General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said. “But we’re looking forward to it. I think anytime you make changes like this, it’s exciting. The No. 8 will always be a fan favorite and we take a lot of pride in being able to run that number.”
Gallagher will pilot the No. 8 car for each of the three restrictor plate races, while Preece and Truex will each drive the car for four events. Burton will drive the Chevrolet in five contests, in addition to Zane Smith’s previously announced eight races.
The No. 8 team will utilize the points accumulated by Elliott Sadler’s No. 1 squad in 2018.
Noah Gragson, who was originally slated to drive the No. 1 machine, will take over the No. 9 car, but with his previously announced crew. The No. 1 ride will instead go to Michael Annett. Annett’s No. 5 team points will move to the No. 1.
Justin Allgaier’s No. 7 team will remain unchanged in 2019.
Here’s a breakdown of the changes:
- The No. 1 team’s points go to the No. 8 team with multiple drivers vying for the owner’s title.
- The No. 5 team becomes the No. 1 team, but with the No. 5’s 2018 points.
- The No. 9 car’s points will stay with Gragson in the re-branded No. 9 team.
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What about the #88 team?
How come the #1, #7 & #9 can’t pursue the owner title too? The #7 has the best chance of winning the owner title.