NY Racing Team Overview
NY Racing Team is an American professional stock car racing organization that currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team fields the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, with car bodies supplied by Richard Childress Racing and engines built by Hendrick Motorsports. Owned by John Cohen, one of the few African-American owners in a major NASCAR touring series, the operation is based in Statesville, North Carolina. The team has also previously competed under the names Xxxtreme Motorsport and Team Xtreme Racing.
Across its history, the organization has fielded multiple drivers in both the Cup Series and the former Nationwide Series, with a primary sponsorship history that has included Steakhouse Elite and various historically black colleges. The team continues to operate on a part-time schedule focused on select high-profile events.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Johnathan John Cohen, an entrepreneur born in 1975, built his early business interests in nightclubs and taverns in New Jersey before turning to motorsports. In the spring of 2009, he formed the racing operation originally known as Xxxtreme Motorsport, beginning the team’s journey into NASCAR’s national touring series. The team’s initial step came in the Nationwide Series, with entries in 2009 under the Nos. 07 and 58, supported by sponsorship from Macy’s and Cavi Clothing.
The organization ran part-time across the 2009 Nationwide season at tracks such as Daytona, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Bristol, and Atlanta, with drivers including Mike Harmon, Josh Wise, and Chase Austin. When Macy’s and Cavi departed at the end of that year, the team temporarily shut down after sponsorship could not be secured for 2010.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Competition
The Cup Series debut came in November 2012 at the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, when the team entered a No. 44 entry for David Reutimann with sponsorship from No Label Watches. For 2013, Scott Riggs was hired as the team’s full-time driver and the operation switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Ford, though the team shut down midseason following repeated start-and-park results and limited sponsorship, with Riggs moving to RBR Enterprises in the Camping World Truck Series.
In 2014, the team re-emerged under John Cohen with J. J. Yeley as driver and acquired the owner points and assets of the recently defunct No. 30 from Swan Racing, including the race shop in Statesville, North Carolina that remains the team’s base. The acquisition was intended to provide a more stable points platform to address ongoing qualifying struggles. The operation also briefly competed as Team Xtreme Racing later in 2014 with Timmy Hill driving the AAA 400 at Dover.
NY Racing Team Competitive Journey
From a Nationwide Series debut in 2009 to a Cup Series return in 2012, the team has built a multi-year presence in NASCAR’s top national series. The path has been marked by part-time schedules, manufacturer changes, and technical partnerships with established organizations. Drivers such as David Reutimann, Scott Riggs, J. J. Yeley, Reed Sorenson, Travis Kvapil, Timmy Hill, Greg Biffle, Joey Gase, Derek Kraus, and Brennan Poole have all represented the team at various points.
Early Seasons and Development (2009-2014)
The team’s first competitive years began in the 2009 Nationwide Series with part-time entries shared between the Nos. 07 and 58 cars. Early efforts centered on building a baseline schedule with limited resources, ultimately pausing operations when sponsorship support disappeared. Returning to national series competition in 2012, the team entered its first Cup race with the No. 44 at Phoenix before expanding to a fuller 2013 campaign with Scott Riggs.
The organization faced significant early adversity, including repeated start-and-park results, engine failures, and difficulty qualifying for races. The acquisition of the Swan Racing assets in 2014 brought both a new Statesville, North Carolina shop and a more reliable owner-points base, providing the foundation for the team’s later growth.
Breakthrough in Cup Series (2015-2018)
The 2015 Daytona 500 marked a turning point, with Reed Sorenson crossing the line in 32nd to record the team’s first lead-lap finish despite a last-lap crash. The season was also marked by a major setback when the team’s car, truck, and hauler were stolen from a hotel parking lot before Atlanta, with the trailer and spare parts never recovered. Jason Terry later pleaded guilty to the theft in August 2015.
In May 2018, the team announced a return to Cup competition for the Coca-Cola 600 through a partnership with Premium Motorsports, signing a multi-year deal with Steakhouse Elite. J. J. Yeley drove the No. 7 to a 38th-place finish at Charlotte, and the team continued collaborating with Premium Motorsports and BK Racing through the remainder of the season, including a 17th-place result at Las Vegas with Yeley at the wheel.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2022-Present)
After a multi-year hiatus, NY Racing Team returned to the Cup Series in 2022 with Greg Biffle at the Daytona 500, finishing 36th in the team’s first race in four years. The No. 44 switched back to Chevrolet that season, drawing primary sponsorship from various historically black colleges, and posted a then-best 20th-place finish at Atlanta.
Following a year without attempts in 2023, the No. 44 re-entered competition in 2024 with J. J. Yeley attempting the Daytona 500 and running additional races at Las Vegas, Charlotte, Pocono, and Atlanta, where Yeley tied the team’s best finish of 20th. Joey Gase was later added for the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400, also finishing 20th. In 2025, the No. 44 has continued as a part-time entry, with J. J. Yeley, Derek Kraus, and Brennan Poole sharing driving duties across the schedule.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
NY Racing Team has consistently emphasized resourcefulness and continuity in a part-time Cup Series role, drawing on technical alliances with Richard Childress Racing for car bodies and Hendrick Motorsports for engines. The team has built its identity around providing opportunities for multiple drivers, including returning veterans and developing talents, while maintaining a single-car operation focused on marquee races.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team’s most significant milestones include its 2012 Cup Series debut at Phoenix, the 2015 Daytona 500 lead-lap finish, the 2018 return through Premium Motorsports and Steakhouse Elite, the 2022 Cup return with Greg Biffle, and the 2024 best finishes of 20th at both Atlanta and Daytona. The 2015 theft of the team’s car, truck, and hauler remains one of the most notable off-track incidents in team history.
NY Racing Team Achievements and Results
Across its Cup and Nationwide Series history, NY Racing Team has recorded zero race victories, zero pole positions, and zero Drivers’ Championships. The team’s verifiable competitive results center on race completions, best finishes, and a series of partnerships that have kept the operation active across more than 50 combined starts.
Cup Series Achievements
In the Cup Series, the team has competed in 47 races with zero wins, zero poles, and zero championships. Highlights include the 2012 debut with David Reutimann at Phoenix, the 2018 return with J. J. Yeley through Premium Motorsports and Steakhouse Elite, the 2022 re-entry with Greg Biffle, and best finishes of 20th place recorded at Atlanta in 2022, Atlanta in 2024, and the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Series Achievements
In the Nationwide Series, the team recorded 7 total starts in 2009 with sponsorship from Macy’s and Cavi Clothing across the Nos. 07 and 58 cars, earning zero wins, zero poles, and zero championships. The team has not returned to the series since that initial campaign.
