ROCHESTER, Ind. – TOPP Motorsports announced Thursday that Justin Grant will return to the No. 4 sprint car for the 2020 season.
The duo will continue their chase for the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series championship, racing the full sprint car schedule for next year.
“Having Justin on our team has been such a blessing,” said Kevin Birchmeier, owner of TOPP Motorsports. “We’ve learned a lot the past two years and we have a lot of great support behind us. Our crew chief, Mark, is phenomenal. We’re lucky to have him and the rest of the talented crew we’ve put together. We can’t wait for the 2020 season to gear up and get back to the track.”
“We’ve been together two years and it’s been such a great experience,” explained Grant. “It wasn’t really a question of whether or not we were going to continue the partnership next year – it’s a solid team and we work well together. I’m excited to get things kicked off again next year and get back in the No. 4.”
While the team didn’t earn the top spot they were looking for in 2019, they had multiple successes throughout the season.
With veteran crew chief, Mark Shambarger turning the wrenches, the team achieved three total USAC race wins and one additional non-points win at Kokomo Speedway.
Grant’s season stats show 20 top-five feature finishes and 28 top-ten feature finishes,
leading a total of 86 feature laps throughout the 2019 season. He also earned four fast qualifying times and 10 heat race wins throughout the season.
Ultimately, Grant and the team finished fifth in overall USAC points. Additionally, some extra practice evenings at Kokomo Speedway led Grant and the team to the Kokomo Speedway track championship in 2019 as well.
Birchmeier was quick to add that Grant may not just be running non-winged sprint car shows next year, either.
“We’ve got some exciting things coming up this season. We haven’t gotten the wing car out in a while and I think it’s time Justin took a shot at some wing races,” noted Birchmeier. “Justin is so talented and so versatile. Keep an eye out for us in a wing car in 2020.”
The team will continue to have the support of sponsors including NOS Energy Drink, TOPP Industries Inc. and Challenger Construction in the upcoming season.
The team will also continue their partnership with nonprofit partner The Bow Foundation, helping to raise awareness for GNAO1-related disorder, an extremely rare disease, throughout the season.
“We’re really lucky to have the backing and support from our partners,” said Grant. “We couldn’t do it alone. NOS Energy Drink was a big supporter last year, and we’re happy that they are sticking with us for 2020.”