Will Rodgers will have another chance to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.
Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announced on Friday that former NASCAR Next alumnus Rodgers will drive the team’s flagship entry in the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 9.
Rodgers will race alongside teammate Kris Wright who will drive the No. 15 F.N.B. Corporation Toyota Supra in a collaborative effort with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the ROVAL with Sam Hunt Racing this year,” said Rodgers. “I had a great run in 2019, qualifying in the top-10 and running there for most of the race, so confidence is high for the event.”
The Charlotte ROVAL will be Rodgers third Xfinity Series start of 2021 and an opportunity for redemption from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in August when Rodgers successfully qualified a second SHR entry in the No. 24 Good RX | Race To End Hep-C Toyota Supra in the top-10.
Rodgers kept the team in contention for a top-10 finish until a mechanical issue on Lap 37 ended the team’s day.
“After our showing at the Indianapolis Road Course and having more experience with SHR and their equipment, I have no doubt we will go perform at Charlotte,” added Rodgers. “The ROVAL definitely fits my driving style. Being that there is no practice or qualifying, it should give me an edge over some of the competition.”
Rodgers, a four-time winner in ARCA Menards Series competition, including both the ARCA Menards Series East and West brings GoodRX back on-board the No. 26 Toyota Supra for the final Xfinity Series road course race of the season.
GoodRX is America’s leading resource for healthcare savings, connecting consumers with affordable and convenient prescriptions and medical care.
Rodgers made his debut for Sam Hunt Racing earlier this season at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.
With minimal experience in a Xfinity car, Rodgers qualified and finished 14th, his second best effort in Xfinity Series competition.
“I’m really excited to have Will back in one of our cars next week at the Charlotte ROVAL,” said Sam Hunt, 28-year-old owner of SHR. “He proved at Indianapolis that he is a force to be reckoned with on road courses, and hopefully his prior experience at Charlotte will play into our hands.
“We’re also extremely excited to welcome much of the GoodRX family to the Charlotte race, and am thankful for them stepping in and being such a big part of this program. I think it will be a great weekend for both Will and Kris (Wright) and I’m eager to get both cars on track.”
Rodgers is NASCAR’s only active driver from Hawaii, was diagnosed with a chronic liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) at the age of three. He has since lived healthy with PSC and is on a lifelong mission to use his platform as a professional athlete to help in the fight to eliminate liver diseases for both himself and others around the world.
Through his personal experiences, Rodgers vowed to take his purpose to the next level and established the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to help realize his goals and visions in this space.
The foundation’s effort, driven by Rodgers, is culminating into his overall vision – a brand new philanthropic campaign to raise awareness for HCV – RaceToEndHepC.com.
“Having our Race To End Hep C campaign featured at the ROVAL is very meaningful to me and, of course, my foundation,” sounded Rodgers, the president of the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation. “Promoting education, awareness and prevention of liver diseases like Hep C at this level is imperative to hopefully one day reduce the number of individuals affected. I hope
fans will recognize the car and our messaging and take steps to be more aware of their liver health and how to prevent conditions like Hep C.
“Of course, representing GoodRX for our third race of the season is very motivating. They have been behind me from the start of this campaign, and I look forward to giving them the best run possible.”
In six prior Xfinity races, Rodgers logged a career-best 12th place finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2019, driving a second entry for Brandonbilt Motorsports.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
