Longtime NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Eric McClure will have a new home for the 2015 season. McClure confirmed to Catchfence.com of his new endeavor with JGL Racing, which will begin with the Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona International Speedway. An official announcement is expected this week. McClure who has 254 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts departs Mark Smith’s TriStar Motorsports after four seasons and 117 starts. McClure earned his career-best finish in 2013, finishing eighth at Daytona International Speedway in the season-opening race. JGL Racing owned by James Whitener and Gregg Mixon will begin its second year of competition with McClure behind the wheel of the #24 Toyota Camry for the entire season. Longtime supporters Hefty and Reynolds Wrap will also make the move with the Chilhowie, Virginia-based driver. However, McClure has primary sponsorship sealed for all but eight XFINITY Series races. Hefty and Reynolds Wrap will serve as associate sponsors for those eight races. McClure currently has the longest active driver-sponsorship partnership in the series dating back to 2006. JGL Racing officials have not yet announced how many cars they will run in 2015, or whether J.J. Yeley will return.(Catchfence)(1-5-2015)
UPDATE: Team McClure Inc. & JGL Racing announced a partnership that will place Eric McClure in a JGL Toyota Camry for the full 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Reynolds Consumer Products marks a tenth consecutive season as a series team partner and will serve as primary sponsor on the #24 entry for a minimum of 25 events. The relationship with McClure continues the longest active driver/sponsor combination in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and one of the longest current partnerships in the overall industry. JGL Racing, with owner James Whitener and General Manager Gregg Mixon, made its debut during the 2014 season-opening event at Daytona Int’l Speedway. The freshman team featured various driver combinations throughout the season for its two-car operation and, collectively, scored one top-five, two top-10, and three top-15 finishes. Jay Guy, a 28-year NASCAR veteran, has joined JLG Racing and will serve as crew chief of the #24 team. Guy brings vast knowledge and race-winning experience to the team from his time leading teams in both the Xfinity and Sprint Cup Series. McClure, a Chilhowie, Virginia native, will be beginning his 13th season of NXS competition, piloting the #24 Camry in all 33 scheduled events. RCP will feature its well-known Reynolds Wrap and Hefty brands on the #24 entry throughout the season, with the first scheduled race being the series’ first event at Daytona. RCP’s remaining races and additional program details will be announced at a later date.(TMI)(1-5-2015)
