The Fascinating Stories of Casino Winners and Their Cars
In the world of chance and opportunity, the tales of casino winners often transcend the boundaries of mere luck, evolving into narratives of transformation and aspiration. Among these stories, a unique and enchanting intersection emerges – the bond between casino triumphs and the acquisition of dream cars.
Delving into the journeys of these fortunate individuals, we uncover a realm where gambling and automotive passions intertwine, creating a captivating tableau of celebration, luxury, and the fulfillment of lifelong dreams.
From Casino Wins to Car Showrooms
Imagine the scene: the roulette ball lands on the perfect number, the slot machine lights up with a cascade of coins, or the poker hand unfolds with unexpected brilliance. In those thrilling moments, casino winners find themselves thrust into a realm of unimaginable possibilities.
With newfound fortunes at their disposal, the allure of luxury cars often beckons, turning the casino floor into a springboard for realizing automotive dreams.
The journey from casino triumph to the car showroom becomes a symbol of both victory and the pursuit of personalized excellence. For these winners, the act of splurging on a dream car becomes a tangible representation of their accomplishments, a testament to the fortuitous turn of events that propelled them into the world of high-end automotive craftsmanship.
Cars as Symbols of Achievement
The choice of a specific luxury car serves as a canvas upon which winners paint their unique stories of success and aspiration. From sleek sports cars that exude power and adrenaline to elegant sedans that signify refinement and sophistication, each car is a reflection of the winner’s personality and desires.
The Lamborghini, often associated with speed and boldness, becomes a declaration of audacity and unapologetic opulence. The classic Rolls-Royce, with its timeless elegance and unmatched comfort, embodies a sense of achievement rooted in tradition and enduring values. As winners’ step into the driver’s seat of their chosen luxury car, they do more than take a ride – they embark on a journey that mirrors their personal odyssey of triumph.
Crafting Memories with Every Drive
The acquisition of a dream car isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a continuous celebration that unfolds with every drive. The roar of the engine, the touch of fine leather, and the seamless blend of technology and artistry – every aspect of the driving experience becomes a reminder of the journey from casino victory to automotive luxury.
As winners navigate the open road, their dream cars become vessels of memories and emotions. The winding paths they traverse symbolize the twists and turns of fate that led them to their triumph at the casino table. With every mile covered, winners relive the rush of excitement, the feeling of empowerment, and the realization of their most cherished aspirations.
The Power of Shared Passion
Beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfilment, the stories of casino winners and their fortunate cars have a unique ability to create connections and forge bonds. Enthusiasts from all walks of life are drawn together by their shared passion for both gambling and automobiles. Events, clubs, and gatherings dedicated to celebrating these dual passions offer a platform for winners to share their journeys, stories, and the unique motivations behind their choices.
The intersection of gambling and automotive passions becomes a focal point for camaraderie, exchange, and mutual admiration. Winners not only find a community of like-minded individuals but also contribute to a mosaic of experiences that enrich the broader narrative of both realms.
A Synergy of Triumph and Style
The fascinating stories of online slots real money jackpot winners and their cars illustrate the intertwining narratives of triumph and style, chance and design, luck, and luxury. In these tales, we witness the realization of dreams and the fusion of two powerful passions that shape destinies and create indelible memories.
As winners cruise through life in their dream cars, they become ambassadors of the unique synergy between gambling and automotive pursuits – a compelling reminder that the road to success is often paved with thrilling moments of chance and the pursuit of refined excellence.
The Exquisite Lineage of Casino-Branded Collector Cars
In the realm of collector cars, where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated as works of art, a unique lineage has emerged that captivates the imagination and stirs the passions of enthusiasts.
This lineage takes us on a journey through the evolution of limited-edition casino-branded collector cars – vehicles that have transcended mere transportation to become coveted masterpieces of automotive design. As we trace this exquisite lineage, we unveil a captivating narrative that merges the worlds of gambling and automotive artistry, creating a realm where luxury, rarity, and high-stakes allure converge.
The Birth of Casino-Branded Collector Cars
The inception of casino-branded collector cars marks the intersection of two worlds that, at first glance, may seem disparate. Yet, upon closer examination, the connection becomes apparent. Casinos, with their opulent interiors and air of exclusivity, share common values with luxury cars – values like precision, attention to detail, and the pursuit of perfection.
The fusion begins with visionary collaborations between renowned luxury car manufacturers and iconic casinos. These partnerships leverage the distinct identities of both entities to create vehicles that embody the essence of opulence, sophistication, and indulgence. The result is a limited-edition masterpiece that becomes a celebration of art, culture, and the thrill of both gambling and driving.
The Evolution of Casino-Branded Collector Cars
The evolution of casino-branded collector cars is a testament to the marriage of design excellence and the allure of high-stakes gaming. From playing at the poker table to enjoying the pokies online NZ offers, every type of gambling has an inherent thrill. Each iteration in this lineage represents a harmonious blend of automotive craftsmanship and the visual motifs that define the world of casinos.
From intricate interior detailing that mimics the patterns of a roulette wheel to exterior finishes that capture the sparkle of a deck of cards, these collector cars are meticulously curated expressions of creativity. Luxury car manufacturers, in collaboration with casinos, weave these design elements into the fabric of the vehicles, transforming them into rolling works of art that pay homage to the game of chance and the pursuit of fortune.
A Magnet for Collectors
One of the most compelling aspects of casino-branded collector cars is their rarity. With limited production runs, these vehicles become exclusive gems that only a select few have the privilege of owning. This exclusivity magnifies their allure, turning them into sought-after prizes for discerning collectors who value not only automotive excellence but also the stories and cultural significance behind each creation.
For collectors, these cars become more than just possessions – they become symbols of prestige, sophistication, and a shared appreciation for the convergence of two distinct worlds. The act of acquiring a casino-branded collector car is akin to holding a piece of history, a testament to the collaborative spirit of luxury car manufacturers and the allure of renowned casinos.
Beyond the Road
The influence of casino-branded collector cars extends beyond their presence on the road. These vehicles become ambassadors of a unique narrative that intertwines the glamour of casinos with the artistry of automotive design. They captivate the attention of enthusiasts, spark conversations, and contribute to a cultural legacy that celebrates the interplay of luxury, luck, and creativity.
Moreover, casino-branded collector cars often participate in exclusive events, charity auctions, and showcases, where their presence adds an element of excitement and anticipation. Their appearances become memorable moments that highlight the art of collaboration and the ability of vehicles to transcend their utilitarian function, assuming the role of cultural artifacts that bridge diverse passions.
The exquisite lineage of casino-branded collector cars weaves a narrative that is as captivating as it is unique. These vehicles stand as testaments to the synergy between the worlds of gambling and automotive artistry – a convergence that celebrates luxury, rarity, and the pursuit of exceptional design. As enthusiasts and collectors revel in the allure of these limited-edition masterpieces, they become participants in a grand symphony of creativity, culture, and the enduring thrill of both the game of chance and the art of driving.
In the realm of automotive design, where creativity knows no bounds, a fascinating convergence has taken place that elevates cars to a new level of allure and extravagance. This intriguing fusion finds its expression in the captivating world of casino-themed car designs, where the glitz, glamour, and thrill of casinos meet the sleek lines and innovative engineering of automobiles.
As we delve into this high-stakes realm, we uncover a realm where cars become rolling representations of luck and glamour, creating a visually stunning and culturally resonant phenomenon.
Casino Aesthetics Revitalize Automotive Artistry
At the heart of the casino-themed car designs lies the concept of design as a canvas. Just as casinos are renowned for their opulent interiors, vibrant lights, and striking visual elements, car designers draw inspiration from these iconic motifs to infuse vehicles with a sense of luxury and extravagance.
Imagine a car adorned with motifs reminiscent of a roulette wheel, featuring intricate patterns that evoke the anticipation of spinning luck. Envision a sleek exterior finish that captures the sparkle of casino chips and the allure of high-stakes betting. These designs transform automobiles into moving works of art, captivating not only car enthusiasts but also those with an appreciation for the finer things in life.
The Ingenious Integration of Casino Elements
The integration of casino elements into car design goes beyond aesthetics, venturing into the realm of engineering and functionality. Inspired by the unpredictability and excitement of games of chance, designers infuse vehicles with innovative features that surprise and delight.
From LED lighting systems that emulate the dazzling lights of a slot machine to interactive displays that mimic the thrill of hitting the jackpot, these features create an immersive experience for both drivers and passengers. The blend of luck and engineering innovation results in a sensory journey that evokes the emotions one might feel within the walls of a casino.
The Allure of Casino-Themed Luxury Cars
Luxury cars have always been associated with status, elegance, and exclusivity. Casino-themed luxury cars take this association to a new level by adding an element of playful indulgence. These vehicles become symbols of extravagance, invoking the exhilaration of a winning streak and the allure of a lavish lifestyle.
Just as high rollers at casinos seek exclusivity, these cars offer a unique sense of identity and distinction. Owners of casino-themed luxury cars become part of an elite club, driving vehicles that encapsulate the essence of both opulence and luck.
Iconic Casino-Themed Car Creations
Several visionary car designers and manufacturers have embraced the challenge of creating casino-themed car masterpieces, pushing the boundaries of creativity and engineering prowess.
One notable example is the Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ edition, which draws inspiration from the dynamic energy and anticipation found in casinos. Its bespoke design elements include a custom starlit headliner that mimics the sparkle of a roulette table and an intricate interior panel that evokes the patterns of a card shuffle. This remarkable creation captures the essence of casino glamour while maintaining the elegance and luxury that Rolls-Royce is renowned for.
The Legacy of Casino-Themed Car Designs
Beyond the world of design and engineering, casino-themed car designs hold a broader cultural significance. These creations serve as reflections of societal values, aspirations, and notions of luxury. They highlight the enduring allure of casinos as symbols of glamour and fortune, and their fusion with automotive design adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative of both industries.
In conclusion, the high-stakes world of casino-themed car designs presents an exhilarating fusion of aesthetics, engineering, and cultural resonance. These captivating creations transform vehicles into rolling representations of luck and glamour, captivating the imagination and stirring emotions akin to the thrill of online pokies and other casino games.
As automotive designers continue to push the boundaries of innovation, the allure of casino-themed cars remains a testament to the power of creative expression and the unending quest to infuse artistry into every facet of our lives.
1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin won Stage 2 at Indy and finished 19th.
“My No. 11 Toyota featured the ‘Yahoo’ paint scheme,” Hamlin said. “That explains the big ‘Y!’ on my car’s hood. It doesn’t explain ‘why’ I’ve never won a Cup championship.”
2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished seventh in the Verizon 200, posting his 14th top 10 of the season.
“With Michael McDowell’s win,” Truex said, “there are now only three playoff spots up for grabs. So, in the next two races, three tickets will be punched, which could also be a commentary on live attendance at NASCAR races.”
3. Kyle Larson: Larson finished eighth at Indy’s road course.
“This race had everything,” Larson said. “Five road course ringers, one road course ‘Dinger,’ and several road course fingers, which is what you get when you run another driver off the road.”
4. Chris Buescher: Buescher finished 11th at Indy.
“I was going for my third consecutive win,” Buescher said. “That’s called the ‘Try-fecta.'”
5. Christopher Bell: Bell finished ninth at Indy, joining Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex, Jr., who finished seventh, in the top 10.
“With drivers representing seven different countries,” Bell said, “the Verizon 200 At The Brickyard really had an international flavor. If you asked most NASCAR fans to describe ‘international flavor,’ they would say ‘Golden Corral.'”
6. Michael McDowell: McDowell led 54 of 82 laps and won the Verizon 200 handily over Chase Elliott.
“I kissed the bricks,” McDowell said. “Some drivers who thought they might clinch a playoff spot on Sunday just had to hit the bricks.”
7. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished 17th at Indianapolis.
“My Trackhouse Racing teammate Daniel Suarez probably should have won this race,” Chastain said. “But the air gun hose got stuck under his left front tire during a pit stop, and it cost him. Drivers hate it when a bad pit stop costs them a win. Here at Trackhouse, we call that ‘Pit Bull.'”
8. Joey Logano: Logano finished 34th in the Verizon 200 At The Brickyard.
“I struggled early at Indy’s road course,” Logano said. “I was hitting everything except my marks.”
9. Kyle Busch: Busch suffered a flat-spotted tire midway through the race and posted a disappointing 37th in the Verizon 200 At The Brickyard.
“I just totally missed a corner,” Busch said. “And not even the best legal representation can’t help you recover from that mistake.”
10. William Byron: Byron finished 15th in the Verizon 200.
“I failed Friday’s pre-race inspection three times,” Byron said. “So I had to start the race by serving a pass-through penalty. So I was in last place. It’s what you should expect when you cheat your ‘tail’ off.”
Mike Rockenfeller, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
START: 37TH FINISH: 24TH OWNERS POINTS: 34TH
Mike Rockenfeller Post-Race Thoughts: [NBC Interview]
“First and foremost, I have to thank Sunseeker and the whole team, LEGACY M.C., for the opportunity. I think I didn’t do a great job on my end, we didn’t have the best car, that’s for sure, but we made small progress and learned a lot for next week. The big mistake was clearly my speeding in pit lane which shouldn’t have happened. Leaving the pits I basically saw the lines and realized I should have gone at the other lines so that wasn’t very good. So that was bad, and we got a drive through which cost us a lot of time. I think our pace was okay, but at the end I can only say sorry if I was holding up the No. 9 there a little bit. I tried not to, I know they were not very happy so I’m sorry for that. I will look into that. I did what the team asked me to do; go by the No. 47 to be the lucky dog if there was a yellow, which I did, and as soon as I did that, I let Chase go. I mean, I saw him in my mirror close, but again, I need to learn that, and that’s the least thing I wanted to do was to hold him up from trying to win the race. Especially with my connection with Hendrick and the past we had. I can only say sorry, but in my opinion, I had good pace and it’s not like I was holding him up. If he had been closer, I would have moved like I did for Michael.”
So, it sounds like some perspective for next week as you have another race in the car scheduled. You know how to race around the championship contenders a little bit more. How about the aggressive nature about racing in NASCAR, the fender-to-fender, a lot of knocking around out there?
“Well, you know, I knew that. Today, we didn’t have many cautions, right? So I was focusing on my driving on the car; what it’s doing, what we can improve, and what we need to work on. Didn’t have many restarts to play and to learn, so probably more next week, but yeah, there is a lot of stuff that I have to work on with the team.”
Lastly, I know these cars are very different, but you did run at Le Mans with the Hendrick folks, did that set you up a little bit better for what you did here today?
“Yeah, for sure, to work with Hendrick and be a part of that program was amazing. And definitely, it did help. It was a lot of work, right. But it was great to work with one of the best teams in the world. So for sure, it was great, and the plan was to take something out of it for myself as well as get better as a driver. And yeah, I hope I got better from that. I think today was not bad if you look at the pure race pace we had, so we need to work harder for next week.”
Erik Jones Post-Race Thoughts: “It was a tough day for the No. 43 Allegiant team, we had a really good start there and picked up a lot of spots. We ended up having a transmission issue during our first pit cycle and never recovered from it. I feel like we really found our balance there at the end and hopefully we can turn this into a positive for Watkins Glen.”
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.
In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.
Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.
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Castrol Edge Mustang Solid Despite Lack of Breaks in 82-Lap Race
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Track position was the name of the game in Sunday’s road course race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Chris Buescher drove to an 11th-place finish in a race that saw just one break in the action.
“It was not quite the day we wanted in our Castrol Edge Ford Mustang,” Buescher said following. “I felt like we were a little stronger than practice, but we got into the race and didn’t really get a lot of movement.
“The one restart we did have, somebody came in there really hot and got it all jammed up and we kind of pin-balled around. So, took a few good licks there and hopefully, everything was good afterwards. It’s valid to say that with no more cautions, it made it really hard to do much on the day. Proud of our group for sticking after it. We’ll take a little bit of a reset, then get back after it.”
The Castrol Edge Ford began the day from the 17th starting position following Saturday’s qualifying session. The only caution of the day flew at lap two, resetting the field for the only time all afternoon.
From there, varying pit strategies were the only action as Buescher ended the opening 15-lap stage in 21st. He first pitted in that stage break, then ran out the laps to the end of stage two, finishing 11th.
He later hit pit road under green at lap 48 from the 10th spot, and worked back up to just outside the top-10 from there, ultimately crossing the line 11th.
Up Next
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to its second-straight road course as Watkins Glen hosts racing action next Sunday. Coverage is set for 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Brad Keselowski earned stage points Sunday afternoon on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and went on to finish 20th in the Socios.com Ford Mustang.
In total, the race was paused just once for a caution on lap two, but otherwise ran under all green-flag conditions, with no stage break pauses on road courses in the Cup Series in 2023. Keselowski qualified 22nd in Saturday’s session, but employed some early strategy on Sunday to flip that.
He was one of a couple of cars to hit pit road under the first yellow, taking fuel only, but enough to stretch to the end of the opening stage. The strategy carried over to the 20-lap stage two, where Keselowski crossed the line fourth, earning more valuable stage points.
At that point he pitted at lap 36, and again cycled back into the top five late, but hit pit road one last time with 18 laps remaining from the 10th position, before going on to finish 20th.
Up Next
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to its second-straight road course as Watkins Glen hosts racing action next Sunday. Coverage is set for 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
A major shakeup to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field was made at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course venue as Michael McDowell raced his way into this year’s postseason championship battle after scoring a dominant victory in the third annual running of the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday, August 13.
The 38-year-old McDowell from Glendale, Arizona, led three times for a race-high 54 of 82-scheduled laps in an event where he started fourth and quickly made his presence known after assuming the lead from pole-sitter Daniel Suarez on the sixth lap and following the event’s only caution period on the second lap.
After proceeding to win the first stage and gain valuable stage points towards his push above the Playoff cutline, McDowell benefited through a 77-lap green flag run to the finish with mixed pit strategies to lead Laps 36 to 48 before reassuming it for good on Lap 53 upon pitting for the final time with 34 laps remaining. From there, the Arizona veteran managed to preserve his car through each of the speedway’s 14 turns and fend off a late charge from Chase Elliott to win for the second time in the Cup Series level and add his name to this year’s Playoff picture.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, August 12, Daniel Suarez notched his first Cup pole position of the 2023 season and the third of his career after posting a pole-winning lap at 99.814 mph in 87.968 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Tyler Reddick, the reigning Brickyard winner who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 99.649 mph in 88.113 seconds.
Prior to the event, Brodie Kostecki, the current points leader of this year’s Supercars Championship season who was making his inaugural NASCAR presence driving the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing, dropped to the rear of the field in a backup car after wrecking his primary car during Saturday’s qualifying session. William Byron also dropped to the rear of the field and was assessed a pass-through penalty upon taking the green flag due to his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 failing pre-race inspection three times, an issue that prevented him from posting a qualifying lap on Saturday.
When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Suarez rocketed ahead from the field amid crossing the new restart zone in between Turns 13 and 14 and retained the lead through the frontstretch while the field fanned out. Through the first braking zone in Turn 1 before entering Turn 2, Suarez maintained the lead ahead of Reddick while Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell battled for third through Turns 3 to 6 in front of Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. As the field continued to fan out and jostle for early positions, Suarez maintained the lead through a brief straightaway exiting Turn 6 before entering another braking zone in Turn 7 and navigating from Turns 8 to 14. As Suarez proceeded to lead the first lap over Reddick, Byron served his pass-through penalty.
A lap later, the first caution of the event flew when Joey Logano ran over the curb in between Turns 5 and 6 and bumped into Justin Haley, which sent Haley off the course and into the guardrails and tire barrels in Turn 6 as Haley was left with significant damage to his No. 31 LeafFilter Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. By then, Kamui Kobayashi, a multiple World Endurance champion and former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner who was making his NASCAR debut for 23XI Racing, was in 37th despite starting 28th after getting hit by Andy Lally and spinning in Turn 2.
During the first caution period, select names that included Brad Keselowski, Mike Rockenfeller, Kamui Kobayashi, Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ty Dillon pitted while the rest led by Suarez remained on the track.
When the race restarted under green on the fifth lap, Suarez retained the lead through the restart zone and through the frontstretch while Michael McDowell challenged and overtook Reddick for the runner-up spot. As Logano spun entering Turn 1 after running into the rear of teammate Ryan Blaney while rookie Ty Gibbs got turned by Shane van Gisbergen, the event remained under green flag conditions as Suarez continued to lead from Turns 2 to 13 while the field behind scrambled and jostled for positions. Then through Turns 13 and 14, McDowell, who was announced to remain at Front Row Motorsports for the 2024 season, battled and overtook Suarez to assume the lead in his No. 34 Horizon Hobby Ford Mustang through the frontstretch and the first braking zone in Turn 1.
The following lap, McDowell maintained the lead by a tenth of a second over Suarez as Reddick, Elliott and Larson followed suit in the top five. With Kyle Busch in sixth, Christopher Bell, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman and Chase Briscoe were in the top 10 while Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric occupied the top 15.
Through the first 10 scheduled laps, McDowell was leading by four-tenths of a second over Suarez followed by Reddick, Elliott and Larson while Busch, Bell, Bowman, Briscoe and van Gisbergen were in the top 10. Behind, Truex was in 11th ahead of Blaney, Buescher, Wallace and Cindric while Todd Gilliland, AJ Allmendinger, Corey LaJoie, Harrison Burton and Austin Dillon occupied the top 20. Meanwhile, Ross Chastain was in 21st ahead of Denny Hamlin, Jenson Button, Erik Jones and Andy Lally while Ty Gibbs, Josh Bilicki, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Brodie Kostecki were scored in the top 30. By then, Byron was in 33rd in between Mike Rockenfeller and Kobayashi, Logano was down in 35th and Aric Almirola was running 37th in front of teammate Ryan Preece.
Two laps later, Harvick pitted his No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang under green. Jenson Button and Andy Lally pitted during the following lap while Blaney, Cindric and Gilliland followed suit on pit road during Lap 14 while McDowell continued to lead ahead of Suarez. Amid the pit stops, Button was penalized for speeding on pit road.
At the conclusion of the first stage period on Lap 15, McDowell, who came into the event three points below the top-16 cutline to race his way into the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs, claimed his first Cup career stage victory. Suarez settled in second while Elliott, Reddick, Larson, Kyle Busch, Bell, Bowman, van Gisbergen and Truex were scored in the top 10.
With the event remaining under green just past the Lap 15 mark to start the second stage period, Chase Briscoe and Buescher peeled off the track to pit their respective entries. On the following lap, Brodie Kostecki, Reddick, Allmendinger and Byron also pitted. McDowell would then surrender the lead to pit by Lap 17 followed by Suarez, Larson, Bowman, Chastain, Ty Gibbs and Mike Rockenfeller while Elliott assumed the lead. Elliott proceeded to lead a lap before he pitted by Lap 18 along with Kyle Busch and LaJoie. By then, Rockenfeller and LaJoie were both penalized for speeding on pit road.
Back on the track and by Lap 20, Bell, who assumed the lead on Lap 18, was leading by more than four seconds over van Gisbergen followed by Truex, Wallace and Austin Dillon while Hamlin, Harrison Burton, Keselowski, Kobayashi and Ty Dillon were scored in the top 10. Meanwhile, Suarez, who exited ahead of McDowell on pit road following his green flag pit stop, was in 12th ahead of McDowell while Elliott, Larson, Kyle Busch, Reddick and Bowman were running 14th through 17th, respectively.
At the Lap 25 mark, Bell continued to lead by more than 15 seconds over Austin Dillon while Hamlin, Keselowski and Suarez trailed in the top five ahead of McDowell, Elliott, Ty Dillon, Larson and Kyle Busch. With Reddick, Bowman, Briscoe, Buescher and Blaney running in the top 15, Truex, who pitted on Lap 22, was in 17th while van Gisbergen and Wallace, both of whom pitted on Lap 23, were back in 20th and 21st.
A lap later, the leader Bell pitted his No. 20 Rheem Toyota TRD Camry for his first service of the event. This allowed Austin Dillon to move into the lead followed by Hamlin and Keselowski despite all three still having to make at least their first pit stop of the day while Suarez and McDowell cycled and followed suit in the top five. Dillon would then pit his No. 3 Cowboy Chanel Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by Lap 28, which moved Hamlin into the lead. By then, Larson, who was running eighth, missed the corner in Turn 12 and fell back to 12th while blending back into the racing groove.
On Lap 30, trouble struck for Allmendinger after he got turned by Blaney through Turn 14 while both were battling for 16th place, a move that prompted Allmendinger to issue a potential payback to Blaney, as he managed to proceed without drawing a caution. By then, Hamlin, who has yet to pit, retained the lead ahead of Keselowski while Suarez, McDowell and Elliott were in the top five.
At the conclusion of the second stage period on Lap 35, Hamlin, who nearly missed the turn entering Turn 7, fended off Suarez, McDowell and Keselowski to capture his fifth Cup stage victory of the 2023 season in his No. 11 Yahoo! Toyota TRD Camry. McDowell and Suarez followed suit in second and third along with Keselowski, who missed the turn in Turn 12 and allowed both McDowell and Keselowski to cycle past him, while Elliott, Kyle Busch, Reddick, Bowman, Briscoe and Larson were scored in the top 10.
With the final stage commencing under a continuous green flag period with 47 laps remaining, McDowell reassumed the lead through Turns 12 and 13 as Hamlin and Keselowski both pitted after both were successful in stretching their fuel tanks and gaining valuable stage points. With Hamlin and Keselowski pitting, Elliott cycled his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 up to second followed by Suarez while Kyle Busch and Reddick were scored in the top five.
At the halfway mark with 41 laps remaining, McDowell was leading by nearly six-tenths of a second over Elliott followed by Suarez, Busch and Reddick while Bowman, Briscoe, Larson, Truex and Bell were in the top 10. Behind, van Gisbergen was in 11th followed by Buescher, Cindric, Blaney and Wallace while Austin Dillon, Ty Gibbs, Chastain, Byron and Kostecki occupied the top 20. Meanwhile, Harvick was in 24th ahead of Kobayashi, Keselowski and Hamlin were back in 26th and 27th, Button was scored in 30th, Rockenfeller was in 35th behind Logano and Allmendinger was back in 37th.
With 37 laps remaining, Harvick and Andy Lally pitted under green. By then, Josh Bilick, who spun off the course, was back in 30th while McDowell stabilized his advantage to more than seven-tenths of a second over Elliott as third-place Suarez trailed by more than a second.
A lap later, another cycle of green flag pit stops slowly commenced as names including Briscoe, Larson, Cindric, Blaney, Brostecki, Gilliland and Jenson Button pitted while Suarez bumped Elliott entering Turn 12 to move into the runner-up spot. McDowell then surrendered the lead to pit under green with 34 laps remaining along with Suarez, Elliott, Reddick, Buescher, Truex and Ty Gibbs. Amid the pit stops, Suarez endured a slow pit service after the air gun hose got stuck under the front tire of his No. 99 Freeway.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which resulted in Suarez’s car having to be jacked for a second time as Elliott and McDowell overtook him on pit road.
With 30 laps remaining, Bell assumed a brief lead before he pitted under green. McDowell would cycle back into the lead during the following lap as Wallace pitted his No. 23 MoneyLion Toyota TRD Camry, which allowed Elliott, Suarez, Reddick and Hamlin to move up into the top five.
Down to the final 25 laps of the event, McDowell was leading by nearly three seconds over Elliott followed by Suarez, Reddick and Hamlin while Keselowski, Bowman, Briscoe, Truex and Larson were running in the top 10 ahead of Bell, van Gisbergen, Buescher, Cindric and Blaney. By then, Kyle Busch, who was running 11th, pitted under green after flat-spotting his tire on his No. 8 3Chi Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 while missing a braking zone in Turn 12 while Stenhouse bumped and sent Button’s No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for a spin entering Turn 8 while both were battling for 30th.
Five laps later, McDowell stabilized his advantage to nearly three seconds over Elliott followed by Suarez and Reddick, both of whom trailed by more than nine seconds, as Bowman cracked the top five. As a result, Keselowski fell back to sixth while Briscoe, Hamlin, Truex and Larson occupied the top 10. By then, Gilliland, McDowell’s teammate at Front Row Motorsports, was scored in 38th after getting into the wall in Turn 12 without drawing a caution.
Two laps later, Keselowski, who was running in the top 10 a lap prior, pitted his No. 6 Socios.com Ford Mustang under green. Another two laps later, trouble struck for Kobayashi after he got hit and sent for a spin by Stenhouse, who made earlier contact again with Button, entering Turn 1. With Kobayashi continuing under green, McDowell continued to lead by more than two seconds over Elliott and more than seven seconds over third-place Suarez.
Down to the final 10 laps of the event, McDowell retained the lead by more than two seconds over Elliott while third-place Suarez trailed by more than six seconds followed by a hard-charging Reddick. With Bowman running in the top five, Briscoe, Truex, Larson, Bell and van Gisbergen followed suit in the top 10.
With five laps remaining, McDowell stabilized his advantage to more than two seconds over Elliott while Suarez, Reddick and Bowman remained in the top five. By then, Allmendinger went off the course and ran his car through the gravel through Turn 4, but the event remained under green as Allmendinger blended back onto the racing surface. As the laps continued to dwindle, McDowell, who also navigated his way through lapped traffic, retained his lead to more than two seconds over Elliott.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, McDowell remained as the leader by more than a second over a hard-charging Elliott, who now had McDowell close within his sights after clearing his way through lapped traffic. As Elliott continued to gain slight ground on McDowell’s advantage from Turns 1 to 6, he then tried to close in on McDowell’s rear bumper through two braking zones from Turn 7 and Turn 12, but it was not enough as McDowell, who retained the lead through 14 turns for a final time, was able to cycle his way back to the frontstretch and beat Elliott by nine-tenths of a second to triumph for the second time in his Cup career and punch his ticket into the Playoffs.
With the victory, McDowell, who became the 13th different competitor to be guaranteed a spot for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs based on winning, achieved his second career victory in NASCAR’s premier series and his first since winning the 2021 Daytona 500, thus giving him two crown-jewel victories in NASCAR. The victory was the fourth overall for Front Row Motorsports owned by team owner Bob Jenkins, the fifth of the season for the Ford nameplate and the first for new full-time crew chief Travis Peterson as McDowell became the 18th different competitor to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, third to do so on the track’s road course layout.
Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“Man, this is such a dream come true,” McDowell said on NBC. “I’m so thankful to everybody at Front Row Motorsports. Man, we had a fast Ford Mustang. Everybody at Roush Yates Engines Shop, [CEO] Doug [Yates]. These guys gave me everything today. We had the fastest car. We executed and we did what we needed to do. Just so thankful to still be grinding it out in the Cup Series. To put on a performance like that, I don’t know if it was dominant, but it felt pretty dominant to me.”
“I was really trying to pace myself,” McDowell added. “I figured there would be a late-race caution. I didn’t want to burn my stuff up. I was just trying to maintain that gap. Then when I got into traffic [and Eliott] started closing, I had to push it. I just can’t believe it. It’s been a grind and I’m so proud. I thought we could point our way in [to the Playoffs], but after the car that we had yesterday in practice, I thought man, we got a good shot at winning if we could just get track position and maintain it. I can’t believe it. Winning the Daytona 500 was one of the coolest moments you could ever have, but going to Victory Lane without your family, that was tough. We cherry-pick. My family comes to the races we think we can win. We thought we could win this one. Just so proud.”
While McDowell celebrated both a race victory and a Playoff berth, Elliott and Suarez were both left disappointed, but still optimistic, over their top-three results at Indianapolis. For Elliott, who lost ground on the Playoff cutline amid wrecking early during the previous scheduled event at Michigan International Speedway, the runner-up result was his second of the season, but not enough for him to narrow the gap between himself and the cutline as he is now tied with teammate Alex Bowman for 19th place in the regular-season standings while trailing the cutline by 80 points.
“[I needed] Just to be a little better through the back half over there and get off of [Turn] 14 a little better just to have myself in a better spot getting into [Turn] 1,” Elliott said. “Just really appreciate the effort, man. Our Napa Chevy was really good. Just needed just a little bit more and came up a bit short. But congrats to Michael, man. He did a good job. Ran a great race and stayed mistake-free, and that’s what you’ve got to do to win. [The race] was great. It felt good. Ready to go for 77 [laps] more.”
For Suarez, the late pit road issue involving an air gun hose getting stuck underneath his car during his final pit service under green evaporated his hopes of regaining ground on McDowell for the victory, but the third-place result marked his third top-five result of the 2023 season. Currently, Suarez is situated in 17th place in the regular-season standings and trails the cutline by 28 points.
“We win and we lose as a team, and that’s all I can say,” Suarez said. “The guys brought a very fast race car. I felt that maybe we were one adjustment behind in the first run with the back of the car, but then we made it a little bit better. But I felt like I was always one step behind [Elliott McDowell], and then at the end, I felt that when my car came alive again, we had that [pit road] issue. Just a little bit heartbreaking, but that’s part of the sport. All we can do is continue to push, continue to build race cars like this, and I’ll keep on winning races. I mean, definitely, we can perform, I think, ever better [next weekend]. I’m pretty sure we’re gonna go back and analyze everything, and come back stronger next week.”
Reddick, the reigning Brickyard winner, came home in fourth place while Alex Bowman finished fifth despite still being 80 points below the top-16 cutline towards the Playoffs. Briscoe Truex, Larson, Bell and Shane van Gisbergen completed the top 10 on the track.
Notably, rookie Ty Gibbs finished 12th behind Buescher, Byron rallied from his pass-through start of the event by finishing 14th behind Blaney, Wallace came home in 18th in front of Hamlin and Keselowski, Harvick finished 23rd in his final start at Indianapolis, Allmendinger ended up 26th, Logano capped off his long event in 34th and Kyle Busch ended up 36th.
In addition, Brodie Kostecki and Kamui Kobayashi finished 22nd and 33rd in their Cup Series debut, respectively, while Mike Rockenfeller and Jenson Button finished 24th and 28th, respectively.
There were 10 lead changes for seven different leaders. The race featured a single caution for three laps. In addition, all 39 starters finished the event, with 22 finishing on the lead lap.
With two regular-season events remaining of this year’s Cup Series schedule, Martin Truex Jr. continues to lead the regular-season standings by 60 points over teammate Denny Hamlin.
William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are currently guaranteed spots for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs based on winning at least once throughout the regular-season stretch. Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace occupy the remaining vacant spots in the Playoffs based on points, with Wallace occupying the 16th and final vacant spots by 28 points over Daniel Suarez, 49 over Ty Gibbs, 80 over both Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, 87 over AJ Allmendinger and 105 over Austin Cindric.
Results.
1. Michael McDowell, 54 laps led, Stage 1 winner
2. Chase Elliott, one lap led
3. Daniel Suarez, six laps led
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Alex Bowman
6. Chase Briscoe
7. Martin Truex Jr.
8. Kyle Larson
9. Christopher Bell, 11 laps led
10. Shane van Gisbergen, one lap led
11. Chris Buescher
12. Ty Gibbs
13. Ryan Blaney
14. William Byron
15. Austin Cindric
16. Austin Dillon, one lap led
17. Ross Chastain
18. Bubba Wallace
19. Denny Hamlin, eight laps led, Stage 2 winner
20. Brad Keselowski
21. Harrison Burton
22. Brodie Kostecki
23. Kevin Harvick, one lap down
24. Mike Rockenfeller, one lap down
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., one lap down
26. AJ Allmendinger, one lap down
27. Ty Dillon, one lap down
28. Jenson Button, one lap down
29. Corey LaJoie, one lap down
30. Andy Lally, one lap down
31. Ryan Preece, one lap down
32. Josh Bilicki, one lap down
33. Kamui Kobayashi, one lap down
34. Joey Logano, one lap down
35. Erik Jones, one lap down
36. Kyle Busch, two laps down
37. Todd Gilliland, two laps down
38. Justin Haley, two laps down
39. Aric Almirola, three laps down
Next on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is another road course event as the series travels east to Watkins Glen International in New York for the Go Bowling at The Glen. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, August 20, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang finished 21st in Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
Burton lined up 24th for the 82-lap run over the 2.439-mile 14-turn course inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He moved into the top 20 by Lap Seven and was running 18th when the first Stage ended at Lap 15.
As drivers began making their first green-flag pit stops the DEX Imaging team opted for a two-stop strategy for the 200-mile race. Burton cycled into the top 10 before making his first pit stop at Lap 24.
The only caution flag of the race flew at Lap Two, and there were no cautions for Stage breaks as is standard for road courses. Burton had moved back to 25th place when the second Stage ended at Lap 35, and was in 21st place by Lap 44.
He made his second and final pit stop with 33 laps to go. He returned to the track in 28th place and was back in 21st with 16 laps to go. He moved into 20th place for an eight-lap stretch then fell back to 22nd with five laps to go.
He regained one position on the white flag lap and ended the race in 21st.
Next up for Burton and the No. 21 team is another road course race, at Watkins Glen International, next Sunday.
About DEX Imaging DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES: Reducing Operating Costs Reducing Paper Consumption Increasing Productivity
DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
AJ Allmendinger qualified 26th for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
Allmendinger drove up to 25th before the caution came out on lap two. Staying out under caution, Allmendinger restarted from 23rd on lap five and was able to drive up to 19th on the restart when the No. 22 spun. The No. 16 Chevy continued to move up through the field, reporting on lap 11 that he needed more turn in both directions while running 17th. Allmendinger made it as high as 12th place during green-flag pit stops, where he went on to finish the opening stage.
On lap 15, Allmendinger came down pit road for a scheduled green-flag pit stop. As the field continued to cycle through, Allmendinger ran 17th on lap 27. On lap 30, the No. 16 spun as a result of contact with the No. 12. Allmendinger came down pit road for four fresh tires under green and finished the stage in 38th place, one lap down.
Allmendinger slowly worked his was through the field, making it up to 23rd before pitting under green on lap 63. Allmendinger came off pit road in 33rd and made it up to 26th where he finished in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
“I’m proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing for the improvement we made after qualifying yesterday. Our Dyno-Gro Seed Chevy had speed, but we got caught up in an unfortunate incident and never had the chance to get back into it with the race running green. We’re disappointed in our finish, it’s not a representation of the car we had today.” – AJ Allmendinger
Justin Haley qualified 15th for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
On lap two of the race, the No. 22 jumped the curb of turn six, sliding into Haley and sending the No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 into the tire barrier. Haley was forced to pit twice and make repairs under the damaged vehicle policy (DVP) clock. The field went back to green on lap six, and Haley sat 39th one lap down, where he finished the stage.
Haley made his next pit stop under green on lap 34 for four tires and fuel, still sitting 39th where he would finish the second stage, as the race remained green.
On lap 42, Haley radioed that he was just not fast enough due to the amount of damaged he sustained. Haley pitted again on lap 60 after telling his team the rear end of the No. 31 Chevy was moving around quite a bit. The race stayed caution free until the end, and Haley was scored 38th.
“It was a disappointing start to the day that continued to be an uphill battle. I thought I had position on the No. 22, but he jumped the curb and sent me into the tire barrier. Unfortunately, our No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy just lacked speed from the heavy damage, and we never could get back on the lead lap. Hopefully we can turn our luck around next week at Watkins Glen, another road course I really enjoy.” – Justin Haley
Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts
AJ Allmendinger, No. 10 Leaf Home Water Solutions Chevrolet Camaro
AJ Allmendinger qualified on the pole for the Penzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Allmendinger led the first lap of the race but fell to second on lap two, reporting the front end of his No. 10 Leaf Home Water Solutions Chevy was tight, lacked grip, and was loose off the corner. Allmendinger sat in second place when the caution came out, followed by the red flag, on lap eight for lightening. Before the field restarted, teams put wet-weather tires on. Before the drop of the green on lap 11, Allmendinger came down pit road to under caution to put slick tires on. He restarted 29th, falling back on the restart to 33rd before charging up to 11th by lap 15. As more leaders came down pit road, Allmendinger cycled through to regain the lead on lap 19 where he went on to finish the opening stage.
On lap 20, Allmendinger had a six-second lead over the car in second place, but he quickly reported on lap 22 that he still needed a little more turn. Under caution on lap 26, Allmendinger told the team his racecar was still tight. The No. 10 Chevy came down pit road under caution on lap 28 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment to free up the car. Allmendinger restarted lap 60 in seventh place and quickly took over fifth on the restart, making his way up to second before lap 31. From second place, Allmendinger reported his Chevy was still tight and one lap later, Allmendinger regained the lead, going on to win the second stage.
Allmendinger came down pit road under green on lap 43 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment and exited pit road in eighth place. The caution came out on lap 43, and Allmendinger stayed out under caution to restart from sixth on lap 46. By lap 47, Allmendinger had taken over second reporting on lap 52 that he had no grip. Continuing to battle the handling of his race car for the remainder of the race, Allmendinger went on to finish third.
“Congrats to Ty [Gibbs] and the 19 group. He did a great job; he earned it. I thought I was fighting a losing battle. We fought lack of grip all day and our Leaf Home Water Solutions Chevy just wasn’t quite quick enough this weekend. I’m proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing, and we’re going to keep working to get better.” – AJ Allmendinger
Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro
Daniel Hemric qualified fifth for the Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
By lap six of the opening stage, Hemric dropped back to seventh, losing the most time in turn seven. The red flag was displayed on lap eight due to lightning. Once the red flag was lifted, all teams were required to put on rain tires before the restart. The restart on lap 12 was single file, and Hemric restarted sixth. While many other teams made green-flag pit stops around lap 15, Hemric stayed out, taking the lead with four laps to go in the stage. With the cars behind him having put on slick tires, he was passed with two laps to go in the stage. Hemric was still able to finish third in stage one, earning eight stage points.
Hemric pitted on lap 22 for slick tires and fuel. After he pitted, he was 18th and attempted to regain his track position before the caution flag came out on lap 27. Reporting that his left rear was starting to give up, Hemric came down pit road under the caution for four tires, fuel and adjustments to help the balance. The field returned to a double-file restart, where Hemric restarted as the ninth car on the inside lane with 10 laps to go in the stage. Hemric made it up to eighth with three laps to go in stage two before spinning on track. He quickly recovered to finish the stage in ninth.
In the final stage, Hemric came down pit road for a green-flag pit stop on lap 42 for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment before the next caution came out on lap 44. He restarted as the fourth car on the inside lane with 16 laps to go in the race. After being hit by the No. 24 in turn seven, along with teammate, Chandler Smith, Hemric was forced to come down pit road on lap 47 to assess the damage. Once back on track, he was unable to get back on the lead lap and went on to finish 27th.
“I’ve had a hard time just getting a finish at Indy, and today was another tough result. I’m proud of the speed that we showed at times though, and I feel like it gave us more of a direction of what I need in the car when we go to road courses. There are a couple more opportunities to go to road courses throughout the rest of the year and an opportunity to keep fighting and clawing next week at Watkins Glen.” – Daniel Hemric
Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Chevrolet Camaro
Chandler Smith qualified 18th for the Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts at the Indianapolis Road Course.
During the opening lap, Smith fell to 22nd, but regained two spots by lap five. That same lap, raindrops started falling, and the red flag came out for lightning on lap eight. Once the red flag was lifted, the field made a mandatory pit stop for wet-weather tires under yellow. Crew chief, Bruce Schlicker, gambled and told Smith to come down pit road the moment it opened during the caution to change back to slick tires, and after doing so, the No. 16 relaunched from 34th on the single-file restart on lap 12. Smith ran faster lap times on slick tires than most of the field on wet tires for the remainder of stage one, and because almost everyone pitted under green due to the rapidly drying track, Smith finished eighth at the conclusion of stage one on lap 20.
Smith moved up to sixth before a stopped car brought out the yellow again on lap 27. He pitted under yellow for tires and fuel and restarted fifth in line on the right side on lap 31. He battled hard with multiple cars on the cusp of the top 10 for the next few laps and made contact with the No. 26 on lap 34 while in 13th, causing a minor tire rub on the right front. It subsided, and over the next five laps, Smith took advantage of mistakes from cars in front to move up to seventh, which is where he’d finish stage two on lap 40.
The No. 16 came down pit road at the end of lap 41. The pit crew changed tires and added fuel, while ensuring the tire rub would not return. Three laps later, the caution came out again for another stopped car. Smith stayed out and restarted third on the left side with 16 laps to go. On the restart lap, down the straightaway and into the turn seven left-hander, Smith went inside on teammate Daniel Hemric, but both cars were hit by the No. 24 from five rows back. Smith, like Hemric, sustained heavy damage and pitted for repairs. He came back out 30th at the tail-end of the lead lap, but quickly went a lap down and reported that his right-front tire was going down. He pitted again with 11 to go for right-side tires and more damage repair, falling two laps down to 33rd. With four laps remaining for the leader and Smith still two laps down, he suffered a suspension issue, and was forced to bring the car back to the garage, relegating him to a 34th-place finish.
“That was not the finish we wanted, but I’m proud of the fight in our No. 16 Quick Tie Products team. We went off-strategy once the rain delay came and went and gave ourselves a real shot at a good result. Unfortunately it just did not pan out for us.” – Chandler Smith
About Kaulig Racing™
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.
