STATESVILLE, N.C. – Connor Co. has joined Front Row Motorsports and will serve as the primary sponsor on David Ragan’s No. 38 Ford this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

Headquartered in nearby Peoria, Ill., Connor Co. is a family-owned distributor of heating, cooling, plumbing and industrial products that has been around for more than 80 years.

“With this being a home race for all the folks at Connor Co., we know this is a big weekend for them,” said Ragan. “They’ve got a big group coming out to the track for the race, and we’re excited to welcome them to the sport and the Front Row family.”

Ragan has made 11 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, with one top-10 and four top-15 finishes to his credit.

His career-best Chicagoland run of eighth came in 2008 for Roush Fenway Racing, which Front Row Motorsports has a technical alliance with.

“Chicago’s a fun track. It’s worn out. It races a lot like Atlanta,” noted Ragan, comparing the Illinois oval to his home track. “It’s really bumpy, and it’s really aged well with multiple grooves. It’ll be a different challenge in the hot summer month of July, but it should be fun.

“We might have more of a temperature swing from midday to the afternoon and evening. I think you might see maybe a little slower speeds compared to last year, just because it’s a little hotter outside.”

Ragan will also have a special obligation to kick off the weekend.

“Before we even get on track, we’re going to have some fun on Friday. I’m going to be driving our No. 38 team hauler in the hauler parade Friday afternoon,” he said. “Fans might remember I drove our hauler across the country to Sonoma a few years back. This trip will be a whole lot shorter, I’m happy to say, but it will be fun to be back in the driver’s seat of our Peterbilt and say hello to all the fans along the parade route.”