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Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.08.23

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Official Release
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FOUR TOYOTA DRIVERS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE ROUND OF 8
Ty Gibbs scores career-best finish in tremendous run at the ROVAL

CONCORD, N.C. (October 8, 2023) – As the checkered flag waved at Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400, four Toyota Cup Series Playoff drivers advanced to the Round of 8. Joe Gibbs Racing’s (JGR) Martin Truex, Jr., Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, along with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, are still in the championship fight with four races remaining. Reddick’s 23XI teammate, Bubba Wallace, was eliminated from the Playoffs at the conclusion of today’s race.

Once the Round of 8 begins next week in Las Vegas, Truex and Hamlin are 15 and 11 points, respectively, above the cutline, while Bell and Reddick begin the round below the cutline.

JGR’s fourth driver, Ty Gibbs, earned his career best finish of fourth today after battling up front during the ladder half of the action-packed race. Gibbs finished in the top-10 in four of the six road course races this season.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Race 32 of 36 – 252.88 miles, 109 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, AJ Allmendinger*

2nd, William Bryon*

3rd, Kyle Busch*

4th, TY GIBBS

5th, Joey Logano*

6th, TYLER REDDICK

15th, CHRISTOPHER BELL

16th, BUBBA WALLACE

20th, MARTIN TRUEX, JR.

37th, DENNY HAMLIN

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Interstate Batteries All Battery Center Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 4th

Can you describe your day, where you tied your career best finish?

“Yeah, it was a really good day for the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team. I need to be a little bit better and do a better job there towards the end. We made a couple adjustments on the car throughout the race, but overall, I just need to do a better job and capitalize on the restarts and finish it off at the end.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

Talk about your day and the execution behind it to advance to the next round.

“Yeah, we executed for sure all day long. Selfishly, I wanted to go forward and win the race on top of it all. We were good, but I feel like we were just one of the other cars there at the very end unfortunately. It’s hard to take any unnecessary risks when you’re in a good spot to advance to the round of 8. It just doesn’t make sense to put it all on the line to try to win a race.”

Did you feel you had the car to stay up front all day?

“When you look at the players that got to the front at the end, the 54 (Ty Gibbs), 8 (Kyle Busch) and 16 (AJ Allmendinger) qualified well. They probably get to the front, but it’s a lot like what we saw in Indy where the guy that gets control early has it. I was worried we weren’t going to be super strong in the first stage as the car didn’t seem great, but the rest of the race, the car was awesome.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Plumbing Solutions Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 15th

How was your race and do you feel there will be any ill feelings towards you after the incident with the 99?

“I mean, I’m sure he’s (Daniel Suarez) upset with me. That was not my intention to spin him out. Today was – I don’t know – it was what we needed it to be. We knew going into it that there was going to be a huge game between taking stage points and skipping stages to get track position. So, fortunately, it worked out and the first stage we were able to get both. We were able to pit and then still get the stage points, and then the second stage didn’t quite work out that way. Did what we needed to do. Our DEWALT Camry was plenty competitive this weekend. I’m excited about the challenge ahead.”

How does it feel to be moving on to the Round of 8?

“It’s definitely good to be advancing. We executed today and did what we needed to do. It’s disappointing to have to have a different strategy than when you need to win the race, but we did what we had to do to move on and it’s reset no matter how we finished today so that’s good.”

Do you feel like the 20 team has momentum going into the final four races?

“Yeah, I think if we execute, we can race with any of them.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 16th

What was missing today to not advance to the next round of the Playoffs?

“Texas. That’s what I thought about after we got spun there. This weekend was incredible. Just from the effort from the team and from myself. Just all clicking, right? And it felt really good to be competitive and run upfront, pass cars on road courses and not be passed. There’s a lot to look at. What I analyze is what could I have done and not be in that situation? Could I have been faster and passed another car? How to be better to not put yourself — when you’re racing around there with squirrels. It is what it is. Just didn’t have enough and it wasn’t in the cards. I guess that’s what 30 is. I’m not mad. I’m happy for the team. I’m pumped for our season. It’s not over yet. I’m really excited for next week and Homestead and Martinsville. Phoenix, eh, I might just go on vacation (laughter). But we’ve still got four races to go out and do it. I’m proud of the team so I appreciate them.”

What did you learn about yourself and the team that you were able to show people during the Playoffs?

“We’re putting all of the cards in the right places. Usually, you couldn’t count on the 23 at a road course race, right? I don’t think you can say that anymore and I don’t think I can say I suck at road courses. Back-to-back really good runs at road courses. Finishes were okay, obviously not today. Just got to keep working on your craft. No matter how hard it can get you’ve got to keep working and trying to learn and be better.”

How are you feeling right now?

“Just proud of where we’re at and how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. The 45 (Tyler Reddick) is in, correct? So, that’s good. I knew we had our work cut out for us. We gave up a lot of points last weekend. The way I look at it is the last restart at Texas. I look at how I put ourselves in the situation to get wrecked today. So, need to work on that, need to be better. Need to look at what the 45 did. He passed cars and he was up there in two laps, right? Just a bummer, but a lot to be proud of. I can actually focus on the positives out of here. Qualifying fourth, top of the board in practice, stage points. It’s a really good day. Hard to hang your head over that.”

What do you take away from this experience?

“We weren’t supposed to be here according to a lot of people, but we proved them wrong and then proved a lot of people in the garage wrong that you can’t really count on the 23 at a road course race. That’s cool to say. Got to continue to work. I don’t think we’re a winning car yet, but we’re light years from where we were a few races ago.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 20th

Will it be a relief to get to the next round of race tracks starting next weekend?

“Yeah, 100%. I’m definitely excited we’re not coming back here again. This track has just been a thorn in our side. Feel good about moving on and feel good about what we can do the next three races. Some good tracks for us and hopefully we can get something going. It’s been a pretty tough playoffs so far.”

How were you able to get through to the next round of the Playoffs?

“Stage points and bonus points. I didn’t create the system. We used it to our advantage. That won’t get us through the next one. The next one, you’ve got to be running up front. Two winners of the next three races are probably going to be Playoff guys that are still going. Need to turn it up and we need to figure it out quickly.”

Does it feel good that you can basically get a reset for the next three races?

“That’s the beauty and that’s the thing that sucks about this deal, you know what I mean? I’m sure there’s guys that are upset. They outran us enough to get in, but they didn’t have the bonus points. It is what it is. I hate that we didn’t run better today or finish better at least. I thought the first two stages maybe our car was pretty decent, but, man, I don’t know what happened. Need to go back and look at that. It wasn’t much fun, but we made it so here we go. We’ll try three more.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Mavis Tires & Brakes Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 37th

When you were trying to collect the car were you thinking about your teammate, Martin Truex Jr., there?

“Not necessarily. No. Just once we got back there it’s just so hard to pass. Overdrove a corner that was about it, really. Thanks to the whole Mavis team for giving me a solid car we qualified with. Obviously, with the scenarios going on it’s like if you stay out for a stage, you just go back to the back and you’re never to be seen again. Unless, maybe, unless you’re Tyler Reddick. He’s going to the front.”

What happened on the track to end your day early?

“Just spun out and then got hit and knocked a toe link in. That’s about it.”

How would you describe the aggression out there today?

“It’s not much, because you really can’t get that close. Other than a restart. You can watch a couple laps of a restart, but after that we get single-filed out and that’s kind of all she wrote. Difficult to pass as we knew it would be and unfortunately, that caution in stage two where it let us get stage points, but I don’t think we were necessarily going for them, and we went to last and that’s about where we ended up.”

Can you reset as a driver going into this next round of tracks in the Playoffs?

“Yeah, we’re going to some tracks now where you can control your own destiny and feel like these are all really strong tracks for us. Really optimistic for the next three weeks.”

Are you disappointed ending the race early today?

“I wanted to keep flipping stages, but we can’t be the Miami Hurricanes. You can’t run the ball when you’re supposed to kneel it, you know? I think that we did the best we could and lock ourselves in early. But then it just puts you in the back and that’s about it. Once you get to the back that’s about it. We tried our best but obviously just made a mistake there and got hit.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCS Charlotte Roval Post-Race Quotes (10.8.23)

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Bank of America Roval 400 | Sunday, October 8, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

5th – Joey Logano

7th – Chris Buescher

11th – Ryan Preece

12th – Ryan Blaney

18th – Brad Keselowski

19th – Kevin Harvick

21st – Aric Almirola

23rd – Todd Gilliland

24th – Harrison Burton

25th – Austin Cindric

28th – Chase Briscoe

30th – Zane Smith

32nd – Michael McDowell

35th – Andy Lally

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 FIfth Third Bank Ford Mustang – “That was probably a little bit more stressful from on top of the box than what it was inside the race car. We basically did what we talked about doing, steadily moving up all day and being there to capture those end of day points. I sure would have loved some stage points, but at the same time didn’t want to throw away the race and it ended up being a great call from Scott and everyone on this 17 team. We had another fast race car. This Fifth Third Bank Mustang was good and I’m proud of that. I should have been able to run a little bit better than that, but certainly had to keep the big picture in mind. Another top 10 for the road courses, just got to break forward a handful of spots, but that’s a heck of a way to go onto the next round.”

HOW HARD DID YOU FIGHT FOR IT TODAY? “I tried not to get too caught up in points, just get to the front. I knew if we got to the front and as long as we didn’t have a new winner from behind us I felt like we had a pretty decent idea that a top 10 would do it no matter what else anybody else captured in points. WIth the 8 car being up there, again, that had us thinking a little bit differently for a little while. Once the 16 got up there and was able to hold him off time after time I felt a lot better about it. Congratulations to AJ. I’m happy for him. That’s really cool. He’s a good dude, so I’m proud of our day.”

YOU WILL REPRESENT RFK IN THE ROUND OF 8. “That’s it. I’m ready to go for it.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET TO THE ROUND OF 8? “That’s big. It’s huge for our organization and for our season and just to see the progression of what we’ve been able to accomplish. We talked about our goals a lot this season and they were to win races, to make it into the playoffs and to make it to Phoenix. We’re not here to be a placeholder in the playoffs and we’re proving that’s the case. I’m really proud of that. This round did not come without its own challenges, but onto the next one. I’m looking forward to going out to Vegas.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford Mustang — “It’s not the day we wanted for sure, but we’ve got a lot to be proud of. We kept clawing and it just wasn’t enough today. I felt like I could have done a few things better and obviously it’s frustrating when you don’t advance and you don’t get what you want out of the day, but we’ve got a lot of great things going on and we’ll learn from it and come back stronger.”

HOW DO YOU CHANGE YOUR MOJO NOW AND WHAT YOUR FOCUS WILL BE ON? “I don’t think it changes at all. I think we’ve got an opportunity to win the next four races and we’re gonna go for it.”

WHAT ABOUT CHRIS ADVANCING TO THE ROUND OF 8? “I’m happy for him. He ran a great round and did the things he needed to do and had a great day today. He certainly earned it.”

ANYTHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? “Oh, yeah. There are lots of things I could have done differently today. I don’t know if it would have been enough, but I probably could have had a better day if I executed a little better.”

CAN YOU COUNT HOW MANY TIMES YOU SPUN TODAY? “I think it was just once. I might be wrong, but we had the one stop early in the race where I hit the curb and I was just too far over and we had to do a pass through. We really recovered from that very well and got back up in the top 10, and then we just kind of faded a little bit. We pitted for tires to try to claw as we faded to like 10th or so, so we pitted for tires and then I spun with the 1 car. We clawed back out of that to an 18th, which isn’t a great day, but it certainly could have been a lot worse.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Ford Mustang — “It wasn’t a bad day. Our Discount Tire Ford Mustang was pretty decent on mainly long runs we could kind of go. I don’t think we had the short run speed, but the long runs was good and you’d kind of get to the back of a train of cars and just kind of stop. We were all running the same speed. We tried to get off strategy a little bit there. We stayed out long and then tried to pit after 10 laps to have a tire advantage and the caution came out and we had to restart last, so that kind of hurt us. Overall, I’m proud of the effort today and obviously last week and we’re really looking forward to getting to Vegas.”

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO START THE ROUND OF 8? “I’m really excited. It was great getting to think about it this past week and we’ll just try to get prepared as best as you can. That’s been a pretty good track for us in the past. Hopefully, we can go and have a good run and start this round off on the right foot. Obviously, winning it is a huge advantage if you’re a playoff car for Phoenix. The only bad thing is everybody else is trying to win that thing too. I’m looking forward to it. I know we’ll do our homework and do the best we can.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang – “We executed a decent race for the most part. We could have gotten maybe a couple more on being a little quicker on some other things, but, overall, we had the speed to win if you would have put us first but I’m pretty sure anybody in the top seven would say the same thing. It was whoever was out front goes there. We ran fifth most of the day and we finished fifth and that’s just what it is.”

PIT STRATEGY IS WHERE GAINING TRACK POSITION WAS TODAY. “Everyone realized that there was no passing at all, and then they started running the race backwards to try to make sure they didn’t get caught with their pants down without a caution. That’s kind of what happened to a few and we got lucky we pitted in time.”

RYAN PREECE, No. 41 Wonder Bread Ford Mustang – “We had a pretty good day. I’m really happy with an 11th-place finish for our 41 team because we’ve been working so hard on our road course program and the results today show that. We were lacking front turn and rear grip at the start of the race, but we made the right adjustments at the end of Stage 1 to get us through and my team was on it on pit road. I’m so proud of this team and we’re making progress each week. We definitely had some momentum on our side after a strong day last weekend at Talladega, but that’s a completely different track than this one. So, to come out here today and put all of our focus on the pit strategy and track position and to be able to stay up front until the end shows the resilience of this team. I’m looking forward to getting to Las Vegas and keeping it going.”

TPC Racing Takes Triple Porsche Sprint Challenge Championships, a 992 Race Win and Four Podiums at Indianapolis

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Official Release
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  • David Williams Scores Porsche 992 Am-Class Driver Championship and Boosts TPC Racing to the 992 Am Team Title With a Friday Race Win
  • Chloe Chambers and Tillman Schmid Podiums at Indy Wrap-Up TPC Racing Cayman Pro-Am Class Team Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (October 8, 2023) – TPC Racing capped a strong 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama campaign on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) where a race win and four total podium finishes on the weekend secured a driver championship and a pair of team titles in one of the most competitive seasons on record for TPC Racing in the team’s more than 20-year history.

The TPC Racing team leaves Indianapolis holding the trophies for the Porsche Sprint Challenge 992 Am and Cayman Pro-Am Team titles while David Williams took home the hardware for winning the Porsche 992 Am Driver Championship.

After tiptoeing to second place Thursday on a rainy IMS road course, Williams only needed to start Friday’s finale to claim the 992 crown. Instead, Williams ended with an exclamation point, running from the class pole to his fourth victory of the year to complete his championship run and convincingly clinch the team title for TPC Racing in his No. 237 Mission Barbecue Porsche 911 GT3.

The Cayman title was a complete team effort all season and was anchored by Chloe Chambers and her class-leading seven race wins in the No. 70 Monoflo International Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Chambers didn’t have a chance to battle for the Cayman Pro-Am driver title after missing the season-opening doubleheader in Sebring last March, but her teammate Tillman Schmid stepped up that weekend to earn the championship points.

In his first professional sports car race on racing slick tires, Schmid finished third in the season-opening race at Sebring and bookended his season with another third place showing Thursday at Indy in the No. 77 Monoflo International Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

A third-place Pro-Am finish by Chambers in Friday’s season-ending sprint at IMS put the final touch on TPC Racing’s Cayman Pro-Am team championship.

William, Chambers and Schmid were part of a season-high six TPC Racing Porsche Sprint Challenge entries at Indy. The other trio of drivers running under the TPC Racing tent narrowly missed bringing home their own trophies from the Brickyard.

Tom Kerr, a TPC Racing stalwart, made a successful return to the track at Indy for the first time since finishing second and third in the Cayman Am class at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) last June. Driving his No. 73 Got Veins Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Kerr secured a pair of fourth-place Am class finishes in the Indy doubleheader.

Shaun McKaigue also ran a limited schedule this season but ended the year on a high note at Indy with a top-five finish Thursday in his No. 134 TPC Racing Porsche 911.

Aaron Farhadi debuted with TPC Racing this weekend in a partnership with Dream Racing. The successful 17-year-old kart racer impressed out of the box in his first auto race with a pair of Cayman Pro-Am fourth-place finishes in the No. 2 Dream Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations: “It’s an incredible way to end the year. David had two pole positions and a race win, there were two podiums in the GT4 Cayman Pro-Am class. We won the 992 Am Driver and Team championship and the Cayman Pro-Am Team Championship. Just couldn’t ask for more. The TPC Racing team worked so hard all year, from the crew to the driver coaches to the engineering staff, everybody played a huge role in this. I can’t thank this hardworking team enough. You don’t get these a lot, especially three championships. We’ll take it, it was deserved and earned by every person on this team. David has just been outstanding. The more testing we’ve been able to do, he’s shown that he’s a really great driver. It’s so rewarding to watch. For him to have a drivers championship, to start the year with a race win and end it with a race win, it should just be incredible for him and I’m extremely proud of all that David has accomplished, and really every driver on the TPC team. To see where everyone has come from is really great.”

David Williams, Driver, No. 237 Mission Barbecue Porsche 911 GT3: “It’s been a great season. The truth is, I’ve been consistent all season and that’s what gave me what I needed to win the championship. But it feels really good to be on that top step. Qualifying first for the weekend was big for me. The rain race didn’t go exactly how I wanted, but I didn’t hurt my chances. I just need the race experience. Friday was a lot of fun, no pressure really to do the best I could. I’m a Porsche guy, so I love the platform. This 992 car is just amazing. It’s a great series, it’s well organized, it’s competitive. I’ve known Mike Levitas for 30 years, and Harris is a great asset to the team. Sebastian Moreno has been a great coach this year. The camaraderie is fantastic, but there’s a seriousness to it too. We’re here to win.”

Chloe Chambers, Driver, No. 70 Monoflo International Porsche Cayman: “This is my first year in sports cars, so to come in and get seven wins this year and having missed the first round, even though the points don’t really show it everyone had their eye out for me. I’ll be moving up to the 992 next year, so I’m sure people will still be looking at how I’m doing. I’ve done some testing in the 992, so I’m pretty excited for that. I’m pretty much ready to go in the 992, so I’m looking forward to next year. For my first year in sports car racing, I think it went as good as it could. To come in, especially in my debut at Barber in front of IndyCar and all of the fans, I think that was pretty cool to make my mark that early. For the rest of the year, I stayed pretty consistent with the wins. I had a couple of misfortunes but I think people admired my consistency and speed.”

Tillman Schmid, Driver, No. 77 Monoflo International Porsche Cayman: “It was a great season, everyone was very happy with the team and it was a great team effort. It was a great season and a great result. What we had to work on during my first year on slick tires was just maximizing the peak grip in the car. Coming to the slicks, they just have a little bit extra when you get that lateral grip and you’re loaded up. Maximizing that is the key, especially in this series when it’s so close and that allows you to stay with the top guys and be there if they have an issue. My biggest surprise is that it became a very routine, we came here with the guys and got the job done every weekend.”

Shaun McKaigue, Driver, No. 134 Porsche 911 GT3: “We had a lot of fun. The TPC crew are so great. They helped me out and got the car back in shape to go back after a couple of setbacks. The coaching has been great, the team has been great and we’ve had a lot of fun. A few ups and downs, Thursday we had a great race and came from 13th overall to 8th and P5 in class, which is a great finish for us. The car has been really quick, but the guys overnight did a change for us from qualifying and the car was great. Friday we had a really great car, there was an unfortunate incident at the start when we got going again and unfortunately I just got squeezed a little bit into the brake zone and spun the car. It ended the race for me, but the car was good.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Hall of Famers Knaus, Allison Share Charlotte Memories

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2023) – Chad Knaus and Donnie Allison thrived in their NASCAR careers, albeit from different vantage points.

Knaus – one of NASCAR’s greatest crew chiefs – won seven Cup Series championships with Jimmie Johnson, and claimed eight points-paying Cup victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway atop the pit box. Allison drove his way to three Cup Series races at Charlotte, and is known as the co-founder of racing’s famed “Alabama Gang.” The duo met with media prior to Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400, celebrating their 2024 induction – along with Johnson – into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Among a slew of stories, the pair of legends recalled their favorite victories at Charlotte.

“One of the things that we always strove for was to be fastest in all the practice sessions, fastest in qualifying, and then to go win the race,” Knaus said of his time as a crew chief.

“That would be a perfect weekend. And, in (October of 2009), we did it. I kept all those time sheets from that weekend, which was really cool. Just had the No. 48 on top of every single NASCAR print off sheet, which was really special.”

Allison considers his 1976 victory in Charlotte’s 500-mile fall race as his favorite moment at the track. He piloted a No. 1 Hoss Ellington-owned Chevrolet to an emotional victory in only his second Cup Series start since the Coca-Cola 600, more than four months prior.

“I got fired from DiGard Racing in 1975, on the back of a boat in July,” Allison recalled. “And I came back home. … I didn’t have any money. I didn’t even own a wrench. I went to my brother, Bobby, and said, ‘I’ve gotta build a race car. I need to rent a place in your shop.’ He said, ‘OK, a hundred dollars a month.’

“I bought a car and I rebuilt it in a week. And I won all the races from there. … So, I won the race at Charlotte, and I walked up to (DiGard Racing team owner) Bill Gardner, and I punched him in the chest – pretty hard, I guess. And I said, ‘I’m the son of a, you know, who couldn’t drive, remember?’

“So that race, to me, is very, very important.”

TICKETS:
To purchase Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 race tickets, fans can shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.

MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, becoming a Facebook fan or downloading the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Stewart-Haas Racing: NXS Race Report from the Charlotte Roval

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Official Release
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STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

Date: Oct. 7, 2023
Event: Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (Round 29 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval (2.28-mile, 17-turn road course)
Format: 67 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/20 laps/27 laps)
Race Winner: Sam Mayer of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 7th / Finished 2nd, Running, completed 67 of 67 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 9th / Finished 4th, Running, completed 67 of 67 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (5th with 3,018 points, Advanced to the Round of 8)
● Riley Herbst (12th with 739 points)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 12th top-five of the season and his first top-five in three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Roval.
● Custer has never finished outside the top-10 at the Roval in his Xfinity Series career.
● This was Custer’s third straight top-10 at Charlotte. He finished eighth in his last Xfinity Series career start at the track in September 2019.
● This was Custer’s third straight top-10. He finished fourth Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and sixth Sept. 23 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
● Custer’s second-place finish bettered his previous best finish at the Charlotte Roval– seventh, earned in his first start at the track in September 2018.
● Custer led once for four laps to increase his laps-led total on the Charlotte Roval to 9.
● Herbst earned his sixth top-five of the season and his first top-five in four career Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Roval.
● Herbst’s fourth-place finish bettered his previous best finish at Charlotte– 12th, earned in his first start at the track in October 2020.

Race Notes:

● Sam Mayer won the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina to score his third career Xfinity Series victory, his third of the season, and his first at Charlotte. His margin over second-place Cole Custer was .909 of a second.
● There were four caution periods for a total of 12 laps.
● Thirty-three of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Sound Bites:

“Man, second-place is always hard. We just really struggled on the short runs, for sure. It’s frustrating as a driver when you’re so close to a win like that. There are definitely things that I’m going to replay in my head from those last laps. I could have done something different, but our No. 00 Haas Automation team did a great job all day. JT (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) and all of the guys got the car better with each pit stop to where we could compete for the win. We just needed a little bit more. I think we’ll surprise people with just how good we’ll be in this Round of 8 though. Excited to head to Vegas.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“I’m proud of the No. 98 Monster Energy team and Stewart-Haas Racing as an organization today. Both of our cars did really well and had a ton of speed. I think overall, my Ford Mustang handled really well and this was probably one of the best cars that I’ve had at the Roval. We had a car that could run up front and contend for the win. It’s exciting to get back on track and have such a strong finish at a track that I’ve struggled at in the past though.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Alsco Uniforms 302 on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is the fourth race of the Xfinity Series playoffs and the first race of the Round of 8. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Toyota Racing – NXS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.07.23

By
Official Release
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SMITH ADVANCES TO ROUND OF 8; JOINS TOYOTA TEAMMATE NEMECHEK
Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala gets second top-five of the season

CONCORD, N.C. (October 7, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith, both advanced to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 8 after today’s Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Nemechek clinched his way in with a win at Texas two weeks ago, whereas Smith was able to transfer to the next round by being four points above the cutline with an 11th place finish. This will be both driver’s first appearance in the Xfinity Series Round of 8.

Kaz Grala of Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) captured his second top-five and second-best result of the season, finishing fifth after a tight battle at the end with drivers fighting to advance in the playoffs.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Race 29 of 33 – 155.44 miles, 67 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Sam Mayer*

2nd, Cole Custer*

3rd, Josh Berry*

4th, Riley Herbst*

5th, KAZ GRALA

8th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

11th, SAMMY SMITH

14th, MYATT SNIDER

24th, CONNOR MOSACK

33rd, ALEX GUENETTE

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

KAZ GRALA, No. 26 CRUSH Strawberry Lemonade Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

How would you describe your day and the great run you had?

“Today was great! We had the speed all weekend. Was able to run in the top-five there at the end even with a couple guys (Sheldon Creed and Daniel Hemric) fighting hard, battling for the playoff bubble. I had to be aggressive and smart at the same time knowing what we had to lose, and that they didn’t care. Really happy to end up in the top-five with Sam Hunt Racing and Toyota this weekend. We ran the pink, strawberry lemonade CRUSH paint scheme which looked great for Breast Cancer Awareness Month here in October. A good weekend for us all around and I look forward to big things for us in the future.”

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

You had an interesting day. Can you talk us through your race today?

“Overall, a solid day. Had to start last due to an issue after practice and before qualifying. We were able to get up through the field, won stage two and came home eighth. We play the strategy to come and get extra Playoff points from stage wins and also from trying to win the race. We saw the Playoff point there and went and grabbed it. Now, on to the next round. Today didn’t really mean too much to us other than stage wins or a race win for Playoff points. Solid day overall. I’m excited for the next round to get going at Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville and then on to Phoenix.”

SAMMY SMITH, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

What was the balance of aggression and caution you had to use in order to make it through to the next round of the Playoffs?

“It was a struggle all day. It was definitely not the day we wanted to try and have in a cutoff race. Thanks to everybody. Pilot Flying J, TMC, Allstate Peterbilt Group, JGR and Toyota. We needed to have a good, solid day and that’s what we did. It was stressful, but we advanced and that’s what we needed to do.”

How do you feel going into the next round of the Playoffs?

“I feel confident with Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville there. Just gotta go and probably win one of those to make it to Phoenix, but at least we know what we need to do.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

Sam Mayer stays alive in NASCAR Xfinity Playoffs with dominating win

By
Official Release
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Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BCBS at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 07, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

CONCORD, N.C. – The NASCAR Xfinity Series has a new road course ace.

“We may be Allmendinger 2.0,” Sam Mayer quipped after winning Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course and clinching a spot in the Round of 8 in the series Playoffs.

The reference was to AJ Allmendinger, winner of the previous four Xfinity races at the 2.32-mile, 17-turn circuit. With Allmendinger ineligible for the race as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver this year, Mayer took over and got the win he needed to advance in the Playoffs.

Mayer earned the final spot in the Round of 8 at the expense of seventh-place finisher Daniel Hemric, who ran third in a three-way drag race to the finish line with Parker Kligerman and Kaz Grala—when a fifth-place result would have been enough to survive the round.

“They came out in the bottom of the seventh and hit a home run,” said Hemric, who finished second in each of the first two stages and was bounced from the postseason only because Mayer won from last place in the Xfinity Playoff standings.

Lining up second next to Cole Custer for a restart on Lap 63 of 67, Mayer muscled his way past Custer’s No. 00 Ford through Turns 3 and 4 a lap later and pulled away to win by .909 seconds.

“I knew we had time,” said Mayer, who led five times for 50 laps. “Our car was so fast—it really felt unbeatable… We kicked their tails today, and it just feels so great.”

The victory was the third for the 20-year-old driver of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet—all this year and all on road courses.

“This is our second-chance moment,” Mayer said. “I think we can make something out of it… We can go on and do great things because of this win.”

Kligerman, Josh Berry and Jeb Burton joined Hemric on the Playoff sidelines. Kligerman missed out by five points after coming home sixth.

Berry finished third despite battling issues with his power steering but fell short in a must-win situation, as did Burton, who stayed out on old tires for a restart on Lap 60 and crashed into Justin Allgaier’s Chevrolet in Turn 1.

Sheldon Creed, on the other hand, squeaked into the Round of 8 by two points over Hemric after running 10th on Saturday.

“We had no front turn,” Creed said. “I was talking to our teammate Austin (Hill) about it. Both of our cars did not turn all day… I had to work for that one. I did not think we would be in by two—I thought we would be better than that.”

After the Lap 63 restart, Hemric’s fate was in the hands of Custer, who couldn’t keep Mayer behind him.

“We struggled on the short run, for sure,” Custer said. “It’s frustrating. There are definitely things on the replay I could have done different, but our guys did a great job all day, getting our car to where we could compete for a win—but we just needed a little more.”

Riley Herbst ran fourth, with Kaz Grala fifth. Kligerman, Hemric, Stage 2 winner John Hunter Nemechek, Hill and Creed completed the top 10.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Concord, North Carolina
Saturday, October 7, 2023
(1) Sam Mayer (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(7) Cole Custer (P), Ford, 67.
(3) Josh Berry (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(9) Riley Herbst, Ford, 67.
(14) Kaz Grala, Toyota, 67.
(6) Parker Kligerman (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(4) Daniel Hemric (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(38) John Hunter Nemechek (P), Toyota, 67.
(8) Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(5) Sheldon Creed (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(22) Sammy Smith # (P), Toyota, 67.
(17) Chandler Smith # (P), Chevrolet, 67.
(25) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 67.
(31) Myatt Snider (P), Toyota, 67.
(10) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 67.
(12) Jordan Taylor, Chevrolet, 67.
(32) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 67.
(29) Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 67.
(28) Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 67.
(33) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 67.
(26) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 67.
(23) Parker Retzlaff #, Chevrolet, 67.
(15) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 67.
(16) Connor Mosack, Toyota, 67.
(18) Josh Bilicki, Ford, 67.
(13) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 67.
(20) Sage Karam, Ford, 67.
(24) Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, 67.
(11) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 67.
(21) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 67.
(35) Joe Graf Jr., Ford, 67.
(36) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 67.
(37) Alex Guenette, Toyota, 67.
(19) Jeb Burton (P), Chevrolet, 66.
(34) Conor Daly(i), Chevrolet, 66.
(30) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Accident, 63.
(2) Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 60.
(27) Brett Moffitt, Ford, Ignition, 40.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 77.387 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 0 Mins, 31 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.909 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 4 for 12 laps.

Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Allgaier (P) 1-4;S. Mayer (P) 5-17;J. Allgaier (P) 18-22;S. Mayer (P) 23-38;J. Nemechek (P) 39-40;S. Mayer (P) 41-57;J. Burton (P) 58;J. Allgaier (P) 59;C. Custer (P) 60-63;S. Mayer (P) 64-67.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Sam Mayer (P) 4 times for 50 laps; Justin Allgaier (P) 3 times for 10 laps; Cole Custer (P) 1 time for 4 laps; John Hunter Nemechek (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Jeb Burton (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,10,2,48,21,16,18,1,27,07

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,10,48,2,91,18,1,16,07,08

How to Estimate Repair Costs in Wholesale Real Estate

By
SM
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Photo by Terry Magallanes

In the world of wholesale real estate, understanding how to estimate repair costs is pivotal accurately. It ensures that you make a profit and builds your reputation as a reliable wholesaler. 

When estimating repair costs in wholesale real estate, it’s crucial to consider the local market dynamics and property values. For instance, understanding the specific needs and trends in areas like Albany, Oregon, can provide valuable insights. As you evaluate potential investments, it’s beneficial to explore Albany OR homes for sale now to get a sense of the current market conditions and typical property features. This approach not only aids in accurate cost estimation but also helps in identifying properties with the best potential for return on investment. By staying informed about local real estate trends, investors can make more strategic decisions and optimize their repair budgets effectively.

This guide offers a comprehensive look into gauging repair costs, ensuring that you are always a step ahead in your wholesaling journey.

1. Understand the Basics 

Before you can make precise estimates, it’s essential to understand the rudiments of repair work. Houses often require a variety of repairs ranging from simple cosmetic fixes to intricate structural overhauls. Begin by acquainting yourself with these categories. 

This might involve reading books on construction, attending seminars, or even visiting construction sites. Further, it’s prudent to understand the materials in play. This not only helps in estimating costs but also ensures that quality isn’t compromised. 

By embedding oneself in the nuances of construction and repair, you lay a solid foundation for accurate cost estimation.

2. Property Inspection is Key 

A superficial glance at a property rarely reveals the complete picture. This is why a meticulous property inspection is non-negotiable. Collaborate with a seasoned home inspector who can shed light on potential problem areas. 

These professionals delve deep, assessing structural components, electrical systems, plumbing intricacies, and much more. Their insights, often provided in a detailed report, become the bedrock of your repair estimation. 

Moreover, regular inspections instill confidence in potential buyers, solidifying your standing as a thorough wholesaler.

3. Categorize Repairs 

Systemizing the repair estimation process can immensely simplify it. Start by categorizing repairs into tiers – cosmetic, functional, and major structural. Cosmetic enhancements like painting or landscaping uplift property aesthetics. 

Functional fixes, on the other hand, ensure the property’s utilities, such as electrical circuits, plumbing lines, and HVAC systems, are in prime condition. Then, there are major structural repairs that address foundational issues or extensive property damages. 

By segregating repairs this way, you’re better poised to allocate funds and prioritize tasks effectively.

4. Leverage Technology 

In this digital epoch, technology offers unprecedented advantages, with numerous apps and software, including those designed for MLS listings, crafted specifically to assist real estate wholesalers. These tools, infused with vast datasets, can provide preliminary repair estimates almost instantaneously. 

While they should complement and not replace manual scrutiny, they are invaluable for cross-referencing. Moreover, they often come equipped with features that allow you to save and compare estimates, ensuring you always stay on top of your repair game.

5. Local Material and Labor Costs 

Geography plays a pivotal role in influencing repair costs. Local labor and material charges can fluctuate vastly between regions, cities, and even neighborhoods. Engage in research to gauge these local variations. Frequent visits to nearby hardware stores, interactions with craftsmen, and securing multiple quotations can provide clarity. 

By embedding oneself in the local repair ecosystem, not only do you get the most competitive rates, but you also remain insulated from sudden price hikes.

6. Factor in the Unseen 

Wholesale properties, often riddled with wear and tear, can harbor hidden damages. While a thorough inspection can reveal most issues, always be prepared for unforeseen repair needs. It’s a savvy move to incorporate a contingency margin in your repair cost estimates. 

Typically, a buffer of 10-20% of the overall projected cost should suffice. This ensures that even if unexpected problems rear their head during the repair phase, your budget remains unshaken.

7. Network with Contractors 

Your rapport with local contractors can be a goldmine. These professionals, well-entrenched in the repair milieu, can offer invaluable insights. Regular interactions and collaborations can lead to mutual trust. 

Consequently, you might gain access to discounts, expedited services, or even insider knowledge about upcoming real estate trends by using a real estate agent.

Over time, these relationships become cornerstones of a successful wholesaling venture.

8. Experience is the Best Teacher 

Theory and advice, while essential, can only take you so far. There’s an undeniable value in hands-on experience. With every property you assess and every repair estimate you make, your acumen sharpens. 

Documenting these experiences, perhaps in a dedicated journal or digital log, can be enlightening. Over time, patterns emerge, enabling you to anticipate costs and challenges even before they manifest.

Conclusion 

Estimating repair costs in wholesale real estate is a blend of meticulous research, keen observation, robust networking, and continuous learning. By meticulously scrutinizing each property, leveraging technological advancements, and cultivating a network of skilled professionals, you position yourself for sustained success. As wholesale real estate continues to evolve, these foundational principles remain timeless. Embrace them, refine them, and watch as your wholesaling journey flourishes.

Mayer avoids title elimination with dominant Xfinity victory at Charlotte Roval; Playoff’s Round of 8 field set

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

After crashing out of his last three consecutive starts, including his latest two that nearly derailed his championship hopes, Sam Mayer capitalized after being in a “must-win” situation and earned a walk-off win into the Playoff’s Round of 8 by dominating from pole position and winning the sixth annual running of the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Saturday, October 7.

The 20-year-old Mayer from Franklin, Wisconsin, led four times for a race-high 50 of 67 scheduled laps in an event in which he entered 34 points below the top-eight cutline and in a “must-win” situation to transfer to the next round after crashing and not finishing his previous two events. Commencing his weekend by winning the pole position, Mayer briefly lost the lead to teammate Justin Allgaier at the event’s start before claiming it for the first time on the fifth lap. Despite surrendering the lead to pit prior to the first two stage’s conclusion and sacrificing stage points, Mayer, who restarted in the top six with 11 laps remaining, capitalized on two late caution periods to overtake Cole Custer with four laps remaining and rocket away to score his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the 2023 season and be one of eight Playoff competitors to race their way into the Round of 8.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Playoff contender Sam Mayer started on pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 101.798 mph in 82.045 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate and Playoff contender Justin Allgaier, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 101.751 mph in 82.083 seconds.

Prior to the event, a bevy of names that included Playoff contender John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Sieg, Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, Conor Daly and Josh Williams dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.

When the green flag waved and the race started, teammates Mayer and Allgaier dueled for the lead amid two stacked lanes through the first three turns until Allgaier managed to muscle ahead from the inside lane and assume the lead through the infield road course turns. With the field navigating its way through the road course turns and back onto the oval turns, Allgaier managed to retain the lead as he proceeded to lead the first lap while Mayer, Josh Berry, Sheldon Creed and Daniel Hemric followed suit.

Through the second to fourth lap, Allgaier stabilized his advantage to as high as half a second over a hard-charging Mayer while Berry, Creed and Hemric remained in the top five. Behind, Parker Kligerman was in sixth while Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst and Alex Labbe were running in the top 10.

Through the fifth lap, Mayer, who used the frontstretch chicane to claim the lead back from Allgaier, was leading by four-tenths of a second over teammate Allgaier while Berry, Creed and Hemric were scored in the top five. Behind, Kligerman was in sixth ahead of Custer, Hill, Herbst and Alex Labbe while Kaz Grala, Brandon Jones, Jordan Taylor, rookie Chandler Smith and Kyle Weatherman were in the top 15. Meanwhile, Playoff contenders Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton were in 17th and 18th while John Hunter Nemechek was mired in 27th.

At the Lap 10 mark, Mayer continued to lead by six-tenths of a second over teammate Allgaier while Berry, Creed and Hemric retained their respective spots in the top five. With Custer, Kligerman and Hill running sixth through eighth, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton were in 13th, 15th and 16th, respectively, while Nemechek was still back in 27th.

Seven laps later, a host of names that included Berry, Custer, Herbst, Labbe and Grala pitted under green. More names that included Connor Mosack, Brandon Jones, Jordan Taylor, Parker Retzlaff, Myatt Snider and Nemechek would follow suit on pit road before the leader Mayer pitted on Lap 18, just before pit road closed and as Allgaier reassumed the lead.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 20, Allgaier, who had already secured his spot for the Playoff’s Round of 8 by virtue of winning the Playoff opener at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, claimed his 12th Xfinity stage victory of the 2023 season. Hemric settled in second followed by Creed, Kligerman and Hill while Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Mayer, Jeb Burton and Josh Bilicki were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Allgaier pitted while the rest led by Mayer remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Jeb Burton was penalized for speeding on pit road while Conor Daly was also penalized for his crew being over the pit wall too soon.

The second stage period started on Lap 24 as teammates Mayer and Berry occupied the front row. At the start, the field quickly fanned out entering the first turn as teammates Mayer and Berry dueled for the lead. After being locked in a dead even battle against Berry through the first three turns, Mayer muscled ahead from the outside lane and retained the top spot through the infield turns before blending back on the oval turns ahead of the field. As the field continued to jostle for spots back on the oval turns and through the backstretch chicane, Mayer was leading by nearly a second over teammate Berry while Custer, Riley Herbst and Alex Labbe followed suit. Mired within the on-track battles was the battle for the transfer spots to the Playoffs with Mayer, Hill, Chandler Smith, Creed and Sammy Smith currently scored above the cutline while Hemric, Kligerman, Berry and Jeb Burton were scored below the cutline.

Through the Lap 30 mark, Mayer extended his advantage to more than two seconds over teammate Berry with Custer, Herbst and Labbe were in the top five. Behind, Nemechek, Brandon Jones, Allgaier, Hemric and Creed were in the top 10, Sammy Smith, Kligerman and Hill were running 12th through 14th, Chandler Smtih was in 20th and Jeb Burton was back in 28th.

Two laps later, Berry, who came into the event below the cutline, spun and backed his No. 8 High Rock Vodka Chevrolet Camaro into the wall in between Turns 3 and 4 while running second, which dropped him to 13th. Amid Berry’s incident, the race remained under green flag conditions as Mayer continued to extend his advantage by more than five seconds over Custer. With Herbst, Nemechek and Brandon Jones running in the top five, Playoff contenders Allgaier, Hemric, Creed and Kligerman were battling in the top 10 while Sammy Smith, Berry and Hill were in the top 14. Meanwhile, Chandler Smith was in 19th and Jeb Burton was up to 23rd.

By Lap 37, green flag pit stops ensued for a second time as Herbst pitted his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang from third place followed by Hill, Grala, Berry, Myatt Snider, Mosack, Jordan Taylor, Sage Karam and Retzlaff as Mayer stabilized his lead by more than six seconds over Custer. Mayer then pitted during the following lap along with Custer, Jones and Allgaier as Nemechek assumed the lead just as pit road closed. Shortly after, Conor Daly drew a caution after he blew a left-rear tire and spun towards the outside wall in Turn 15 before he limped his damaged car and came to a stop towards the frontstretch chicane. Daly’s incident was enough for the second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 40 to conclude under caution. As a result, Nemechek, who had already secured his spot into the Round of 8 based on winning the previous Xfinity Playoff event at Texas Motor Speedway, captured his 10th Xfinity stage victory of the 2023 season, Hemric followed suit in second while Kligerman, Creed, Labbe, Sammy Smith, Mayer, Chandler Smith, Bilicki and Stefan Parsons were scored in the top 10.

During the stage break, some led by Nemechek pitted for service while the rest led by Mayer remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Brandon Jones was penalized for speeding on pit road.

With 24 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Mayer and Custer occupied the front row. At the start, Mayer used the outside lane to retain the lead from Custer through Turn 1. As the field behind jostled for positions, Mayer started to pull away from Custer while Allgaier was in third ahead of Herbst and Grala. By then, Hemric and Creed were currently tied for the eighth and final transfer spot to the Playoffs, with Hemric owning the tie-breaker by virtue of securing a higher result within the Round of 12, while Kligerman, who was in 12th, was two points below the cutline.

With 20 laps remaining and amid the on-track battles, Mayer extended his advantage to a second over Custer followed by Allgaier, Herbst and Grala while Hill, Berry, Connor Mosack, Ryan Sieg and Myatt Snider were in the top 10. Meanwhile, Kligerman was in 11th ahead of Hemric, Jeb Burton, Sammy Smith and Creed while Nemechek and Chandler Smith were in 17th and 18th, respectively.

Five laps later, Mayer continued to lead by more than a second over Custer while Allgaier, Herbst and Grala were in the top five. Meanwhile, Kligerman and Hemric were in ninth and 10th while Creed was back in 15th, which currently placed him a single point above the cutline over Hemric while Kligerman trailed the cutline by three points. In addition, Sammy Smith, who was in 14th, was five points above the cutline while Jeb Burton and Berry were currently scored out of the cutline. Shortly after, Hemric and Creed were scored tied for the final transfer spot after Hemric moved into 10th place on the track, with Creed in 15th and eighth-place Kligerman behind by two points while Sammy Smith was still scored above the cutline while running 14th on the track.

Then with 12 laps remaining, Allgaier pitted under green as Mayer continued to lead by more than a second over Custer. Shortly after, the caution flew due to debris reported in Turn 17. During the caution period, Allgaier along with Jeb Burton and Blaine Perkins remained on the track while the rest, led by Mayer, pitted.

Down to the final eight laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, Jeb Burton and Allgaier dueled for the lead until trouble struck after Burton got sideways and sent him and Allgaier sliding into the wall, with Perkins also hitting the wall while slamming on the brakes as the caution quickly returned and Allgaier was left eliminated from contention. With the leaders wrecked, Custer assumed the lead followed by Mayer, Bery, Herbst and Hill.

During the proceeding restart with five laps remaining, Custer and Mayer dueled for the lead entering Turn 1 until Custer managed to muscle his No. 00 Haas Ford Mustang ahead entering Turn 2 and the infield turns. With Mayer keeping Custer within his sights, Custer retained the lead through infield turns and the oval turns. Amid Ryan Ellis getting into the wall and Brandon Jones spinning on the frontstretch, the race remained under green as Custer retained the lead back to the frontstretch ahead of Mayer, Berry, Herbst and Grala.

Then during the following lap, Mayer, who came into the event below the cutline and in a “must-win” situation, overtook Custer for the lead through Turn 4. Mayer’s move moved him back above the cutline. As a result, Creed was now scored a single point above Hemric on points and above the cutline with Kligerman behind by six points. Amid the battles, Sammy Smith was also scored above the cutline by three points.

During the proceeding laps, Mayer extended his advantage to more than a second over Custer with Berry, Herbst and Grala were in the top five. Behind, Kligerman was in sixth and scored five points below the cutline, Hemric was in sixth and scored two points below and Creed was in 10th behind teammate Hill while scored two points above the cutline.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Mayer remained as the leader by more than two seconds over Custer. With Custer unable to close the gap, Mayer was able to smoothly navigate his way around the infield road course and oval circuits for a final time before returning to the frontstretch chicane and crossing the finish line to claim his third checkered flag of the 2023 Xfinity season.

With the victory, Mayer notched his third NASCAR Xfinity Series career victory in his 80th series start, all occurring on road course events, and his first since winning at Watkins Glen International in August. The victory was also the sixth of the season for JR Motorsports and the 15th for the Chevrolet nameplate. By winning the Playoff’s Round of 12 finale, Mayer clinched his spot for the Round of 8 as he continues in his pursuit of winning his first Xfinity Series title.

“I knew we had time,” Mayer said on NBC. “Our car was so fast. What a day. We kicked their tails today. It just feels so great. Bonus points feel great, winning feels great. Winning solves everything. That’s the name of the game. Getting another shot at [the title], I think this is our second chance moment and I think we can make something out of it. Winning still feels great.”

Meanwhile, as Custer, Berry and Herbst finished second through fourth, Kligerman, who was locked in a tight battle against Kaz Grala for fifth place, made contact with Grala through the frontstretch chicane before he, Grala and a hard-charging Daniel Hemric crossed the finish line in a three-wide photo finish as Grala edged Kligerman and Hemric, respectively, to finish fifth. The sixth- and seventh-place results for Kligerman and Hemric, however, were not enough for both to transfer into the Round of 8 as Creed, who ended up 10th on the track, claimed the eighth and final transfer spot by two points over Hemric and four over Kligerman.

As a result, Creed joins Sam Mayer, John Hunter Nemechek, teammate Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith and Sammy Smith as competitors to transfer into the Playoff’s Round of 8 while Daniel Hemric, Parker Kligerman, Josh Berry and Jeb Burton were eliminated from title contention.

“[I] Just kind of stumbled our way through this first round to make it,” Creed said. “Really just fortunate that we have the luck we did at the times we did. At the end of the day, we need to bring faster race cars. Just proud of everyone’s fight. We can’t stumble our way through the next [round], that’s for sure.”

“It’s the way it is,” Hemric said. “Before the day started, I said I’m gonna be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. We were defeated this round. It’s the way it goes. We carry on. I put [my team] in a hole, for sure, there in Texas. I hate it for these guys. We got a long road ahead of us. It’s just part of the journey, man. Journey makes the man. Looking forward to what’s ahead and  what’s ahead for this race team.”

“[I was saying] Just get every spot I could and hope something happen,” Kligerman said. “I just knew I had to pass people and I was just trying everything I could to get spots. I’m more upset because I love the pressure of all of this. I love the idea of fighting for something so big like we were, but it’s been a big achievement to be a part of the Playoffs for this race team. I think I can be a better driver in 2024 than I was this year for [the team]. Man, I feel like every move, aside from that one restart, I felt like we were money. Just not enough.”

There were 10 lead changes for five different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 12 laps. In addition, 33 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results.

1. Sam Mayer, 50 laps led

2. Cole Custer, four laps led

3. Josh Berry

4. Riley Herbst

5. Kaz Grala

6. Parker Kligerman

7. Daniel Hemric

8. John Hunter Nemechek, two laps led, Stage 2 winner

9. Austin Hill

10. Sheldon Creed

11. Sammy Smith

12. Chandler Smith

13. Ryan Sieg

14. Myatt Snider

15. Alex Labbe

16. Jordan Taylor

17. Brennan Poole

18. Stefan Parsons

19. Rajah Caruth

20. Josh Williams

21. Leland Honeyman

22. Parker Retzlaff

23. Jeremy Clements

24. Connor Mosack

25. Josh Bilicki

26. Kyle Weatherman

27. Sage Karam

28. Blaine Perkins

29. Brandon Jones

30. Anthony Alfredo

31. Joe Graf Jr.

32. Kyle Sieg

33. Alex Guenette

34. Jeb Burton, one lap down, one lap led

35. Conor Daly, one lap down

36. Ryan Ellis – OUT, Accident

37. Justin Allgaier – OUT, Accident, 10 laps led, Stage 1 winner

38. Brett Moffitt – OUT, Ignition

*Bold indicates Playoff competitors

Playoff standings

1. John Hunter Nemechek – Advanced

2. Justin Allgaier – Advanced

3. Sam Mayer – Advanced

4. Cole Custer – Advanced

5. Austin Hill – Advanced

6. Chandler Smith – Advanced

7. Sammy Smith – Advanced

8. Sheldon Creed – Advanced

9. Daniel Hemric – Eliminated

10. Parker Kligerman – Eliminated

11. Josh Berry – Eliminated

12. Jeb Burton – Eliminated

The Round of 8 in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs is scheduled to commence next Saturday, October 14, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event’s broadcast is slated to occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Tyler Reddick captures Cup Series Pole Award for playoff race at Charlotte

By
Angie Campbell
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Tyler Reddick poses for photos with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 Pole Winner trophy during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 07, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Tyler Reddick outpaced the qualifying field to capture the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series  Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course with a 102.839 mph lap in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. It was his second pole this season, and his sixth Cup Series career pole.

The race is the final event in the series Playoffs Round of 12 with only eight drivers advancing to compete for the 2023 championship. The significance of starting on the pole cannot be overstated as Reddick is currently ranked ninth in the driver standings.

“This is what we needed to do,” Reddick said. “We had hoped and put a lot of effort into this, as all the playoff teams do for this race. For the most part, this is as good of an outcome as possible for the No. 45 team today.”

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, currently fourth in the driver standings, will join Reddick on the front row after qualifying second with a 102.695 mph lap in the No. 20 Toyota as Daniel Suárez starts in third place. Playoff contenders Bubba Wallace (currently 10th in the driver standings) will start fourth and Kyle Busch (currently 12th in the driver standings) will start in fifth place.

AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top 10 in qualifying.

Playoff contenders William Byron, with a win at Texas and Ryan Blaney, who won last week at Talladega, are safe from elimination. Playoff drivers starting outside the top 10 include Martin Truex Jr. (11th), Ross Chastain (12th), Brad Keselowski (19th) and Chris Buescher (20th). Kyle Larson crashed during practice and will start 36th as he will go to a backup car for Sunday’s race.

You can tune into Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Starting Lineup:

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