Jesse Iwuji Motorsports

Jesse Iwuji Motorsports
Owner(s)Jesse Iwuji
Emmitt Smith
Matt Casto
BaseGaffney, South Carolina
SeriesNASCAR Xfinity Series
ARCA Menards Series
Race driversXfinity Series:
34. Jesse Iwuji, Andre Castro (part-time)
ARCA Menards Series
TBA. Kyle Whisner
SponsorsXfinity Series:
34. Chevrolet, University of Chicago Medical Center, Wings & Wheels Foundation
ARCA Menards Series
TBA. Kyle Whisner
ManufacturerChevrolet
Opened2021
Career
DebutXfinity Series:
2022 Beef. It's What's for Dinner 300 (Daytona)
Latest raceXfinity Series:
2023 Pennzoil 150 (Indianapolis)
Races competedTotal: 33
Xfinity Series: 33
Drivers' ChampionshipsTotal: 0
Xfinity Series: 0
Race victoriesTotal: 0
Xfinity Series: 0
Pole positionsTotal: 0
Xfinity Series: 0

Jesse Iwuji Motorsports is an American stock car racing team that competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. It was founded in 2021 by NFL hall of famer, Emmitt Smith, with NASCAR driver and United States Navy Reserve officer, Jesse Iwuji, and they currently field the No. 34 Chevrolet Camaro SS for owner/driver, Jesse Iwuji and Andre Castro.

History

On August 21, 2021, Jesse Iwuji announced the formation of his new team, Jesse Iwuji Motorsports, that will compete full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022. He also announced that Emmitt Smith, a former NFL running back, would co-own the team with him.[1] In December 2021, Iwuji announced the sponsor for his team, which would be the Equity Prime Mortgage company.[2]

On December 9, 2022, Jesse Iwuji Motorsports filed a US$4.125 million lawsuit against Equity Prime Mortgage for breach of contract.[3] In February 2023, EPM filed a counterclaim on JIM.[4]

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Iwuji in the No. 34 car at Talladega Superspeedway in 2022.

Car No. 34 history

On February 7, 2022, Iwuji and Smith partnered with Chevrolet as the manufacturer for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, with the number being 34, as a tribute to Wendell Scott. The team was scheduled to run the full 33-race schedule, with Iwuji competing for Rookie of the Year honors.[5] The team operated out of the JD Motorsports race shop, with providing engines from Hendrick Motorsports.[6]

Iwuji started the 2022 season with a 27th place finish at Daytona, and followed with two top thirty finishes at Auto Club and Las Vegas.[7] At Phoenix, Jesse Little replaced Iwuji as a last-minute decision for an unknown reason, he would fail to qualify. Iwuji returned the following week at Atlanta, finishing 27th. After the team failed to qualify for a second time at Circuit of the Americas, it was announced on March 31 that Kyle Weatherman will drive the 34 car at Richmond, where he would finish 28th.[8] Although he was only scheduled for a one race deal, Weatherman returned the following week at Martinsville, giving the team their best-career finish of 16th. He beat that result after finishing 12th at Darlington. Iwuji and Weatherman would split the driver's seat for the rest of the season. At New Hampshire, Weatherman finished in 10th, giving JIM their first-career top ten and their best finish to date. After Noah Gragson and Landon Cassill were disqualified from second and third place, Weatherman would later be scored in the eighth position.[9] In the August race at Daytona, Iwuji survived numerous wrecks and earned his career best finish of 11th. He received sponsorship from Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in that race. On September 28, it was announced that Kaz Grala would drive the 34 car at the Charlotte Roval, finishing 35th after being involved in a late incident.[10] The team ended the season with one top ten and ten top twenties, finishing 29th in owner's points.[11]

The team returned for the 2023 season, but only for a partial schedule due to sponsorship issues.[12] Iwuji ran the season-opener at Daytona, finishing 30th after being involved in a wreck. He attempted to make the race at Talladega, but failed to qualify. On June 9, it was announced that the USF2000 Championship driver Andre Castro would make his Xfinity Series debut for the team at the Chicago Street Course, with sponsorship from the University of Chicago Medical Center.[13]

Car No. 34 results

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2022 Jesse Iwuji 34 Chevy DAY
27 		CAL
36 		LVS
34 		ATL
27 		COA
DNQ 		TAL
DNQ 		TEX
34 		PIR
26 		ROA
22 		ATL
32 		DAY
11 		KAN
36 		TAL
28 		29th 392 [14]
Jesse Little PHO
DNQ
Kyle Weatherman RCH
28 		MAR
16 		DOV
27 		DAR
12 		CLT
36 		NSH
38 		NHA
8 		POC
19 		IND
30 		MCH
16 		GLN
22 		DAR
16 		BRI
17 		TEX
22 		LVS
14 		HOM
20 		MAR
30 		PHO
14
Kaz Grala CLT
35
2023 Jesse Iwuji DAY
30 		CAL LVS PHO ATL COA RCH MAR TAL
DNQ 		DOV DAR CLT PIR SON NSH 49th 9
Andre Castro CSC
37 		ATL NHA POC ROA MCH IRC
36 		GLN DAY DAR KAN BRI TEX ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO

References

  1. ^ Wilhelm, Chase (August 21, 2021). "Jesse Iwuji partners with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to form full-time Xfinity Series team for 2022". Official Site of NASCAR. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Equity Prime Mortgage to Serve as Primary Sponsor in Eight Races for Jesse Iwuji in 2022". TobyChristie.com. December 10, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Jesse Iwuji Motorsports files lawsuit against sponsor Equity Prime Mortgage". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Furlan Nunes, Flavia (February 13, 2023). "EPM files a counterclaim against Jesse Iwuji Motorsports". HousingWire. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Montgomery, Shane (February 7, 2022). "Jesse Iwuji, Emmitt Smith announce partnership with Chevrolet for 2022 Xfinity season". Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Nguyen, Justin (February 7, 2022). "Jesse Iwuji Motorsports to field #34 Chevrolet in 2022". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Christie, Toby (March 5, 2022). "Video: Jesse Iwuji Loses Control, Collects Ryan Vargas, Stefan Parsons and Cassill in Hard Crash". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Christie, Toby (March 21, 2022). "Jesse Iwuji Making Way For Kyle Weatherman to Drive No. 34 Entry at Richmond". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Roller, Josh (August 9, 2022). "Eyes on Xfinity: Leave the Driver's Hat on Kyle Weatherman". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Christie, Toby (September 28, 2022). "Kaz Grala to Pilot Jesse Iwuji Motorsports No. 34 at Charlotte Roval". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Hopkins, Dalton (November 17, 2022). "For Jesse Iwuji, Kyle Weatherman Is the Future of Jesse Iwuji Motorsports". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Starcevic, R. J. (February 17, 2023). "Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Not Contesting Full Xfinity Series Campaign in 2023". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Andre Castro driving for Jesse Iwuji Motorsports in Xfinity race at Chicago Street Course". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Owner Standings". TobyChristie.com. February 3, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.