Repko, Graf Jr., and H2 Motorsports debut in the Xfinity Series
By Jonathan Fjeld
NEWTON, Iowa — Ryan Repko, Joe Graf Jr., and H2 Motorsports each made their Xfinity Series debut Sunday in the CircuitCity.com 250.
Graf Jr., who sits fifth in ARCA Menards Series points, made his debut in the #21 RCR Chevrolet. Graf finished 19th after starting 21st. Graf finished three laps down but had a right front tire go down during the race. Graf noted the differences he observed between driving an ARCA car and driving an Xfinity car.
“These just have no rear grip. The rear is out of the track, the spoiler is so much smaller so there’s no rear downforce so you really gotta steer it with the throttle. It really reminds me more of dirt racing than ARCA racing.”
Graf’s remaining races with RCR this season will be at Daytona, Bristol, and Richmond.
Repko finished 22nd in his debut driving the #01 JD Motorsports Chevrolet. Repko comes from a late model background and noted what he found different running the race today.
“Most late model races you stay glued to the bottom and you don’t really run the top so that was something I definitely had to learn. I like that top lane, though, it’s fun.”
Repko could not comment on his future plans but noted that they will be out soon.
H2 Motorsports debuted with Shane Lee as the driver of the #28 CircuitCity.com Toyota. Lee finished 18th, 2 laps down, in his first start since last season’s Xfinity Series finale where he raced the #3 RCR Chevrolet. Lee explained what the team went through in its debut weekend.
“Overall it wasn’t that bad of a day for a debut team. It really sort of hurt us that we didn’t get to run 18-20 laps with a new car that’s never seen the racetrack. Coming back here in five, six weeks, we know the direction we need to go in.”
H2 Motorsports and Lee have plans to run the remainder of the season.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com