Go Green Racing (GGR) and Joey Gase have partnered to run the full NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule this season, CATCHFENCE.com has confirmed.
GGR is owned by Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series owner Archie St. Hilaire who fields the No. 32 Ford Fusion for driver Matt DiBenedetto under the Go Fas Racing banner.
Industry veteran Patrick Donahue will serve as crew chief for Gase who will drive the No. 35 entry this season. The team will be based in Mooresville, N.C.-within a mile of its current Cup operation and has obtained owner points for the year.
Go Green made its debut in 2009 in what was formerly known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Gase also made his series debut with the team in 2011 at his hometown track Iowa Speedway.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native made his Cup Series debut in 2014 with Go Fas, the sister team to Go Green Racing.
“It’s been such a pleasure being part of Joey’s career,” team owner Archie St. Hilaire said. “My family has been very lucky to be part of many firsts for Joey’s career and we look forward to creating great memories together again this year.”
Sparks Energy Inc., an electrical operations and restoration company based out of Danville, Ala. will continue its relationship with Gase and serve as the primary partner for the team this season.
Sparks Energy will also return as the title sponsor of the upcoming NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Apr. 28.
“Sparks Energy is a great family owned and operated company,” said Gase. The owners, J and Magen pour their hearts into the company and treat everyone like family. They’re truly living the American dream. I love their hardworking style and great ethics.
“It’s crazy to think that my partnership with Sparks all began with a Twitter message. I got an email back from the president of the company and the rest is history. I can’t wait to get to Daytona and run with this great team. I can’t thank Archie and everyone at Go Green Racing enough for the opportunity and Sparks Energy for making it happen.”
St. Hilaire says while he’s looking forward to having Gase back in the XFINITY Series this season and has set some high expectations for the team, his eventual goal is to move him to the Cup Series in 2019.
“With Sparks Energy, Donate Life, and many of our other great partners onboard, we hope to make the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs and compete with some of the big teams,” he added. “We see a lot of potential in Joey, and hopefully we can move him up to Go FAS Racing in 2019 with a two-car Cup operation.”
Go Green Racing’s best finish in 115 XFINITY starts is 13th at Road America (Wisc.) with Josh Wise. From 2009 – 2013, the team had fielded rides for Kelly Bires, Sean Caisse, Matt Carter, Maryeve Dufault, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Danny Efland, Danny O’Quinn Jr., Casey Roderick, Bryan Silas, Fain Skinner, among others.
Gase will make his 176th XFINITY Series start in the Feb. 17 running of the PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
The 24-year-old has earned two of his three career top-10 finishes at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, including a 10th place finish last Feb. driving for Jimmy Means Racing. A fifth-place finish at Talladega in 2015 is his best finish to date.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
