(Photo: Mitchell Richtmyre | The Podium Finish)
RICHMOND, Va. — Kaz Grala finally put it all together at the right time.
In Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway, Grala recorded his best finish of the season for Sam Hunt Racing — fourth — in the ToyotaCare 250.
“There was no crazy pit strategy, no cycling, no attrition – we were just straight up pretty good today,” Grala said after the race. “We were good on the short run, and really, really good on the long run.”
After rain washed away practice and qualifying on Saturday, Grala started 21st based on the rulebook. He picked his way through the field, getting up to 12th at the end of Stage 1 and eighth at the end of Stage 2 to earn three points.
Through most of the final stage, Grala ran between eighth and 12th but benefitted from a series of late cautions. With 18 to go, Brandon Jones and Riley Herbst crashed in front of him, allowing him to elevate into the top-five and stay there.
Grala’s best run of the season before Richmond came at Phoenix Raceway, a similar racetrack, where he finished 13th.
“I think our short-track program is really good,” Grala said. “I know a lot of people want to label me a road course driver, but I’d label myself as a short-track racer. That’s where I come from. So for me, this is my bread and butter, places like here, Phoenix [and] Martinsville.”
In its short history, SHR has performed well at Richmond. John Hunter Nemechek finished fourth in the No. 26 car in 2021, the first time the team raced at the track. Derek Griffith finished 26th in his series debut last year and Connor Mosack showed speed in the No. 24 car on Saturday.
Richmond is special for team owner Sam Hunt. He spent his high school years in the Richmond area before attending Virginia Commonwealth University for college. Although the team is based out of Mooresville, North Carolina, Hunt calls the area home at heart.
(Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
“It means a lot. Especially, because it has been a tough year so far, we’ve had fast cars and things just haven’t fallen our way,” Hunt said. “We were good all day long. We were really hoping it went green, because I think we had a car to beat in the long run, but for this team, this group, to run with these guys and beat the cars we beat, it is special.
“I’m just grateful for all of the people that have believed in us, believed in me. I feel like I really don’t deserve this stage, this situation, this finish. I have just been so lucky to have great people help me and help this program.”
Grala knew how much Saturday meant to Hunt.
“Sam [Hunt] has a lot of friends, family and guests here this weekend, so this being his home race – this was a huge one,” Grala said. “It is always a little bit sweeter to run well in your home race.”
After an off-week, Grala heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Call811.com Before You Dig 250. He missed the final Dash 4 Cash spot by just one — Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Josh Berry and Richmond Dash 4 Cash winner Justin Allgaier will participate.
Regardless, Grala is excited for what’s ahead.
“I’ve been told we’re taking the same car, so really glad we didn’t damage it [Saturday] and it was fast,” Grala said. “Good points day for us and much-needed momentum heading into an off-weekend and the next stretch of the season.”
