TC Daily Pit Stop: Berry, Stewart-Haas Working on 2024 Contract; Joe Gibbs Racing Makes Leadership Additions; Xfinity Race Start Bumped Up; Friday's TV Schedule

TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, May 26th, 2023

May 26, 2023

Photo Credit: Craig White, TobyChristie.com

According to a report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Josh Berry and Stewart-Haas Racing are nearing the finish of a contract that will see Berry move to the organization to run the full 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

The news of Berry to SHR isn’t shocking, as it’s been a hot rumor for months. The rumor took serious legs in early May when Berry signed a management deal with KHI Management, Kevin Harvick’s driver management company.

Berry, a five-time winner in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, has three top-10 finishes (including a second-place finish) in eight NASCAR Cup Series starts subbing for injured Hendrick Motorsports drivers this season.

Joe Gibbs Racing Hires Michael Guttilla as Chief Operating Officer

Photo Credit: Jonathan McCoy, TobyChristie.com

On Thursday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced some key additions to its organizational leadership group.

Michael Guttilla, a 35-plus year engineering executive in the automotive industry, has been hired as JGR’s Chief Operating Officer. Guttilla will start work at his new position on June 19th.

JGR also promoted Toni Rogers to Chief People Officer, as she will head up a newly re-envisioned human resources department.

NASCAR Moves Start Time of Xfinity Series Race to Noon ET on Saturday

PC: James Gilbert / Getty Images

Due to expected inclement weather at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, NASCAR has opted to bump the start time of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300 from 1 PM ET to 12:00 PM ET.

FS1 will still carry TV coverage of the race, and the radio broadcast will remain on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The green flag is set to fly at approximately 12:19 PM ET for the Alsco Uniforms 300.

As of now, Cup Series practice and qualifying are still set for Saturday afternoon/evening.

Giovanni Ruggiero wins the Tar Heel 250 After Late Race Dive Bomb on William Byron

PC: Will Bellamy, Racing America

WOW! What a finish to Thursday night’s ASA STARS National Tour Tar Heel 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway. 16-year-old Gio Ruggiero was willing to do whatever it took to score his first-career ASA STARS win, and what it took was roughing up NASCAR Cup Series star William Byron to do it.

Ruggiero won by a narrow 0.036 sec. margin, and said that while he didn’t want to win by using excessive contact on Byron, he had to get the job done.

“Not how I wanted to win the race, but I didn’t come here to finish second,” Giovanni said in his victory lane interview. “We were good on the long run there. I think we had something for him. I think I just burned it up for those last ten laps, but I got it done. So that’s all that matters,” he added.

Needless to say, Byron wasn’t happy about it.

NASCAR and ARCA TV Schedule Friday May 26, 2023

1:30 PM ET - NASCAR Truck Practice and Qualifying (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
3:00 PM ET - NASCAR RaceHub: Weekend Edition (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
3:30 PM ET - NASCAR Xfinity Practice and Qualifying (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
5:00 PM ET - NASCAR RaceHub: Weekend Edition (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
6:00 PM ET - ARCA Menards Series Race (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
8:00 PM ET - NASCAR Truck Pre-Race Show (FS1 / FOX Sports App)
8:30 PM ET - NASCAR Truck Race (FS1 / FOX Sports App)