Sam Hunt Racing has tapped Kaz Grala and Connor Mosack to be the team’s drivers in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
The team released the news on social media Thursday, with Grala set to pilot the No. 26 full-time, while Mosack will compete in the No. 24 in a 20-race schedule, starting at Phoenix Raceway in March.
Sam Hunt Racing, party of two ✌️
— Sam Hunt Racing (@Team_SHR26) December 8, 2022
We're excited to announce that we're fielding two full-time cars in 2023! @kazgrala will pilot our No. 26 Toyota GR Supra full-time with teammate @connormosack wheeling the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for 20 races starting at @phoenixraceway 💥 pic.twitter.com/2WE2fGSdrH
The team will field the No. 24 entry full-time, with the remainder of the team’s drivers to be announced at a later date.
“I’ve scratched and clawed for each opportunity over the past several seasons, and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s made me appreciate this sport and its difficulty more than I ever could have if things had been easy,” Grala said in a team release. “I feel like everything has finally come together at the perfect time in my life with the right team around me to start that next chapter in my career.”
For the first time in his career, Grala will compete in the Xfinity Series in a full-time capacity. He has 44 career Xfinity Series starts, collecting five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes over five years of competition.
The 23-year-old has competed in all three NASCAR national touring series. He earned a top-10 finish in his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2020 and is the youngest driver to win in NASCAR’s history at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway following his first win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2017. Grala will pilot the No. 26 with Allen Hart continuing as the team’s crew chief for a second season.
“I couldn’t be more proud and hopeful heading into 2023 with Sam Hunt Racing with a chance to compete for a championship,” Grala said. “I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, and I intend to make the absolute most of it next year and beyond.”
Mosack will continue to build on his stock car racing career throughout 2023. The 2020 CARS Tour Rookie of the Year and race-winning, championship-contending driver in the Pirelli TransAm TA2 series made the move to NASCAR’s national touring series level in 2022, competing in two NCTS races and two Xfinity Series races, including a top-15 finish for Sam Hunt Racing at Watkins Glen International in August.
“Being able to run 20 races in the Xfinity Series next year is a really big deal to me,” Mosack said. “Two years ago, I didn’t really know where I was going or how I was going to get there. Racing in this series is a big step toward where I want to go, and I’m excited it is with a team like Sam Hunt Racing. With SHR being a growing team, I know I can develop relationships with everyone involved and continue to learn from them. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sam and trust that his team and values will help to develop me as a driver.”
Kris Bowen will lead the No. 24 Toyota as crew chief after holding the role for the Our Motorsports No. 02 Xfinity Series team last season.