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CHEVROLET NCS AT CHARLOTTE: Post-Race Report

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
COCA-COLA 600
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
MAY 29, 2023

William Byron Leads Chevrolet with Runner-Up Finish in Coca-Cola 600
Team Chevy Drivers Take Four Top-10 Finishes

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
2nd William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1
6th Kyle Busch, No. 8 Alsco Uniforms Camaro ZL1
7th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger / Coca-Cola Camaro ZL1
9th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Camaro ZL1

TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Ryan Blaney (Ford)
2nd William Byron (Chevrolet)
3rd Martin Truex Jr. (Toyota)
4th Bubba Wallace (Toyota)5th Tyler Reddick (Toyota)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at World Wide Technology Raceway with the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter on Sunday, June 4, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 9th

“We never gave up all night, and it feels like we passed more cars than anyone else all race long in our Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet. It was a hard-earned top-10 finish. We started this year’s Coca-Cola 600 deep in the field – 33rd – after practice and qualifying were canceled due to weather, but I knew that we would have a chance to be in contention at the end because this is the longest race of the year and there are plenty of laps to work our way forward. It was challenging, though. Pit road was tight for us today, and it felt like every time we gained positions we would pit and get trapped in our box and lose everything we worked so hard for. We never gave up and to finish in the top-10 is a testament to the tenacity that this No. 3 team has. We were just too tight at the end to advance any further, but I think we showed how hard we are willing to work. Today is about our heroes who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m thankful that I can do what I love, which is race, because of them. Thank you to the families of Navy SEAL Mark Crampton and Army soldier Rusten Smith for allowing us to recognize them on our Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevy today as part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program.”

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 ALSCO UNIFORMS CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 6th

“Coca-Cola 600’s are normally up-and-down, so we definitely had an up-and-down day. But the guys fought hard all race long and made some good repairs. We made a lot of good adjustments. There were a couple that we had to go back on, and then go back on again. But all-in-all, just proud of everyone on the No. 8 Alsco Chevy team. Our car wasn’t as fast as we wanted on the fire-off’s there – we wanted the long run to finish. Even though we hadn’t been good on the long runs all night, we adjusted for that, but we just didn’t get it. We’ll take a good solid effort and top-10 finish.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA PATRIOTIC CAMARO ZL1

Sidelined by damage sustained in an accident on lap 185.

Finished: 34th

“The No. 11 (Denny Hamlin) ran us up into the fence there. Once you tear the right-side off these things, it’s kind of over. I hate it – I thought our No. 9 NAPA Chevy was getting better. It was nice to be making some gains there throughout the race. Our pit stops were really good. We had some pretty good fortune to get up towards the front there. It was just trying to get to mile 600 and have a shot, so unfortunately failed to do that again.”

Denny (Hamlin) said there was some retaliation there. Was there any retaliation on your part?

“No, like I said, once you hit the wall in these things, you can’t drive them anymore. So no, just unfortunate circumstances.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 2nd

Byron on what else he needed for the win:

“I think we just needed a little bit more. Our No. 24 Liberty University Chevy was good. We could move around and get through the field. We could get to the top-five, and then we would just kind of stay there and not have enough pace to really get further than that.

That’s the way it goes sometimes, for sure. We’ll keep working.”

It looked like you kept up with the track changes from the day to the evening.

“Yeah, it was easier with the fact that it was cloudy and cool out when the race started, and it stayed that way for three-quarters of the race. It wasn’t as much change as it normally is here. Honestly I think everyone’s dialed their cars in so much that I don’t know how much change there would be even if it was really hot out.”

How satisfying is it that you guys were good enough to win the Coca-Cola 600?

“Yeah, we have some work to do. I felt like our balance was as close as its probably ever been in some ways. But we would just get out-paced for 20 or 25 laps. So I think we need a little bit more speed, but overall, it was a good day. Our balance was close every time – good on both sides of it, so that was good.”

Talk about the battle with (Ryan) Blaney. Every restart, it was the two of you battling back and forth.

“Yeah, it was fun. I enjoyed it. I have trust in how he (Ryan Blaney) races. He caught me off guard with the last restart. He restarted first and I thought about it – I tried it in the simulator actually, but I never did it throughout the night. I was getting good pushes from the No. 5 (Kyle Larson). When we got wrecked or whatever happened there, I had lost my help. Anytime you have the same engine, you can kind of match your push-up pretty good. So yeah, he caught me off guard there that last restart. But like I said, I think he was just that good and cleared me anyways.”

JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 31 LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 15th

“We fired off tight today, but the No. 31 team made some great adjustments and had good pit stops. We made it as high as eighth and thought we would get a top 10 there but just got shuffled at the end. A top 15 is not a bad day, but our car was by far the best car we’ve had all year. We made some major gains today as a team.”

NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 42 BLACK RIFLE COFFEE COMPANY CAMARO ZL1

Sidelined by a mechanical failure.

Finished: 36th

“Bummer day for the No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevy team. We made it through the first stage clean. Something went through the radiator. We replaced the radiator and the motor blew up. Just frustrating.

Thank you to Black Rifle Coffee Company and the Menusa family for coming out here. Wish we could have had a better run for them, but it was an honor to have Sgt. Menusa on the windshield. It makes this weekend all worth it. Wish we could have given him and his family a better run, but we’ll try again at Gateway.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 32nd

“We had a fast No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevy, but nothing to really show for it. Appreciate the U.S. Air Force and their support. Just hate that we had the radiator issue, but hopefully we’ll go to Gateway with the same speed and have a good day.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER / COCA-COLA CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 7th

How are you feeling after 600 miles?

“I feel great. I got up and did the “Murph” workout this morning. My trainer wasn’t too thrilled about that, but went ahead and did that, and then came out here and ran 600 miles. Our No. 47 Kroger / Coca-Cola Chevy was so good all night. We just fought some track position every now and then, and then the No. 8 (Kyle Busch) fenced us there. I felt like we would have had a top-five if it wasn’t for that.

But all-in-all, it was a great Coca-Cola 600 for us. It was what we needed after last week at the All-Star Race.. we kind of got beat up there a little bit. But it’s cool to get another top-10. This team is doing a lot of good things.”

It was a wild weekend, obviously dealing with weather and no track time. As a driver with no preparation and going into 600-miles, was it easy or were you a little worried about it?

“Well it’s the same for everybody, so we weren’t too concerned about it. But I think all-in-all, you’re a little cautious the first few laps. I definitely was. We were a little looser than I thought we were going to be, so that kind of caught me off guard. But my guys did a really good job on pit road making adjustments and making the car better all night. It was a fun one.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 12th

First and most importantly, how is your back?

“It doesn’t feel very good at the moment, but about what I was expecting. There was no pain in the car really, but now that I’m out, I feel it a little bit.

Just proud of my No. 48 Ally Chevy team. We had a really fast long run car. Obviously the short runs was what we needed, but we were just too tight for that. We got stuck on pit road – every stop, we came in like 10th, but lost spots coming out. But that wasn’t on my guys, it was just pit stall selection. We’ll move onto Gateway. Hopefully we’ll get to qualify there, have a good pit box and just go have a normal day.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 84 CLUB WYNDHAM CAMARO ZL1

Sidelined by damage sustained in an accident.

Finished: 37th

“I just didn’t know we were put in that three-wide situation. There were a bunch of us cars that were wrecked and just trying to limp it home. Unfortunately I ended up in a situation I wasn’t aware of and got turned around. It’s a bummer for the No. 84 Club Wyndham Chevy team.”

TEAM CHEVY RACE HIGHLIGHTS:
Stage One

· After a battle with weather throughout the weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series finally hit the track for the first time Monday afternoon to take the green for the 64th running of the Coca-Cola 600.

· A scheduled competition caution flew on lap 35 with pit road opening for the first round of pit stops of the day. Polesitter William Byron was running in the fourth position at the time of the caution, and with the No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 pit crew firing off a fast four-tire stop, Byron won the race off pit road – gaining four positions to take a front-row starting position for the restart.

· The green-white checkered flag flew on lap 100 with Byron leading the field to the Stage One finish – his series-leading seventh stage win of the season and his first career stage win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

· Team Chevy Stage One: Top-10

1st William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1

7th Kyle Busch, No. 8 Alsco Uniforms Camaro ZL1

9th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1

10th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger / Coca-Cola Camaro ZL1

Stage Two

· After driving to an 11th-place finish in Stage One, Erik Jones was forced to take his No. 43 U.S. Air Force Camaro ZL1 to the garage to replace the radiator due to damage caused after hitting debris.

· After hitting the halfway point in Stage Two – precipitation began to fall, ultimately forcing the race to go under red flag conditions at lap 155.

· The race took the green flag following a brief weather delay, but was quickly brought back under caution on lap 163 following an incident involving the Jimmie Johnson and the No. 84 Club Wyndham Camaro ZL1 team. Damage sustained was deemed too much to repair, forcing the team’s early departure from the race.

· A handful of caution periods followed with an accident involving Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez bringing out the sixth caution of the race on lap 175. Both Camaro ZL1’s obtained minimal damage and were able to make quick repairs to return to competition.

· Stage Two ended under a caution flag, bringing the race to the halfway point. Two Team Chevy drivers scored stage points, led by polesitter William Byron and the No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 team in the eighth position.

· Team Chevy Stage Two: Top-10

8th William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1

9th Ross Chastain, No. 1 Advent Health Camaro ZL1

Stage Three

· At the conclusion of Stage Three – the 300 lap marker – the race had seen 24 lead changes among 11 different drivers.

· For the third consecutive stage, William Byron led Team Chevy to the green-white checkered at the stage end – driving his No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 to fourth-place stage points.

· Team Chevy Stage Three: Top-10

4th William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1

6th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1

7th Kyle Busch, No. 8 Alsco Uniforms Camaro ZL1

9th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger / Coca-Cola Camaro ZL1

10th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

Stage Four / Post-Race Notes

· William Byron led Team Chevy to the finish in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 – driving his No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 to a runner-up finish in the crown jewel event.

· Byron’s runner-up finish marked his third career top-10 finish in seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway; and his eighth top-10 NCS finish of the 2023 season.

· The No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 pit crew showcased a stellar performance on pit road throughout the 600-mile race – giving Byron the win off pit road on seven different occasions, gaining a total of 18 spots by the conclusion of the race.

· Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain maintained the NASCAR Cup Series’ driver points standings lead with a one-point advantage over the Coca-Cola 600 winner Ryan Blaney.

· In 14 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (eight), top-fives (31), top-10s (59), stage wins (11) and laps led (1,845).

 

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Toyota Racing – NXS Charlotte Post-Race Report – 05.29.23

By
Official Release
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NEMECHEK, GIBBS EARN TOP-FIVE FINISHES IN DELAYED CHARLOTTE XFINITY RACE
John Hunter Nemechek adds to his points lead with his runner-up finish

CONCORD, N.C. (May 29, 2023) – John Hunter Nemechek (second) and Ty Gibbs (fifth) led Toyota with top-five finishes in the rain-delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday evening.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap

NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race 12 of 33 – 200 miles, 300 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Justin Allgaier*

2nd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

3rd, Cole Custer*

4th, Austin Hill*

5th, TY GIBBS

10th, SAMMY SMITH

16th, KAZ GRALA

23rd, CONNOR MOSACK

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

Finishing Position: 2nd

How tough is it when you are saving fuel and you can see the car you are racing for the lead?

“It was definitely tough to not push as hard you could there at the end and try to run (Justin) Allgaier back down. We raced each other really hard – really clean, some aero games for sure, but overall Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra was as fast as Xfinity 10G. I didn’t do us any favors by stuffing it in the fence before we had our whole rain delay earlier. Just hats off to all the guys – the effort at this Joe Gibbs Racing organization. If consistency is key to win the championship, we are pretty consistent. Just keep plugging on and we will go click off some more wins.’

TY GIBBS, No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

900 miles today. What does that mean to you?

“I’m just young and work out – thanks to Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Racing for the performance centers. I appreciate them and all of their hard work. Not great finishes today, not what we wanted, but a great effort. Proud of my team at Joe Gibbs Racing and everybody getting after it.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Cindric/Blaney/Logano Charlotte (Coca-Cola 600)

By
Official Release
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CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

RACE: COCA-COLA 600 DATE: MAY 29, 2023

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS / DURACELL FORD MUSTANG

START – 21ST STAGE ONE – 19TH STAGE TWO – 21ST STAGE THREE – 13TH FINISH – 31ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric was credited with a 31st-place finish after an early departure in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the No. 2 Menards/Duracell Ford Mustang. After practice and qualifying went awash Saturday evening, the starting lineup for the longest race of the season was set based on NASCAR’s metric, which lined Cindric up 21st for the start. During a competition caution on Lap 35, Cindric was scored 25th and pitted for service to aid the balance. Cindric returned to pit road following a caution on Lap 74 and again at the conclusion of Stage 1 after finishing 19th. The Team Penske driver reported to his team that the car was tighter in Turn 1 and Turn 2,and headed to pit road for four tires and adjustments. Unfortunately, the No. 2 car was penalized for vehicle interference and had to restart at the tail. Rain moved into the area on Lap 158, bringing out the red flag. After a 30-minute red flag, a series of cautions ensued, and Cindric returned to the attention of the Menards pit crew for four tires and fuel on Lap 76, but unfortunately had to pit again for the crew to tighten the right-rear tire. The 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion finished Stage 2 21st. The No. 2 Ford Mustang restarted 20th and reported early in the segment that the car was tight firing off. Cindric moved up the charts, running as high as 12th before slipping to 13th at the end of Stage 3. The sophomore NASCAR Cup Series driver took the green flag 13th for the restart, but was unfortunately tagged from behind on Lap 371, sending the Menards/Duracell Mustang into the wall on the backstretch, collecting significant damage.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “You’re patient for 550 miles, why be patient for the last 40? I probably could have helped myself there by not drifting up the racetrack and knowing my own strength and weaknesses. It’s just unfortunate to get so close to the end of this race and not being able to finish it last year and the same with this year. I felt we had a lot of positives from today – some really good pit stops. We had good speed at times, but just having to put the whole race together as a team. I made some mistakes today and unfortunately not to be able to finish it off.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 BODYARMOR CHERRY LIME FORD MUSTANG

START – 8TH STAGE ONE – 3RD STAGE TWO – 5TH STAGE THREE – 1ST FINISH – 1ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney captured Team Penske’s third Coca-Cola 600 victory Monday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, marking the first time Team Penske has won the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500 in the same season. Blaney snapped a 59-race winless streak by leading a race-high – and career-high – 163 laps en route to his eighth-career win. The crown jewel victory also marks the first for Jonathan Hassler as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief. Blaney took his first lead of the afternoon on lap 41 before settling into third in the latter stages of Stage 1 but battled with the No. 24 and No. 20 for the stage win before taking third in the opening stage. After continuing to run third for most of the Stage 2, Blaney brought the No. 12 to pit road for a scheduled green flag stop on lap 147 before the race went under the red flag on lap 155 for rain. Following a 30-minute delay, Blaney battled side-by-side with the No. 45 for the top spot before regaining the lead once again. However, teams on fresher tires made their way to the front, shuffling him back to fifth, where Blaney ultimately finished Stage 2. Blaney made his way back to the lead on lap 227 by making his way around the No. 4 with a big run off turn 4 and continued to lead while making the high line work. After the caution flag flew on lap 274, Blaney made a trip to pit road for four tires and a round of adjustments to address a loose-handling condition that set in on the long run. Despite battling back-and-forth with the No. 45 during the ensuing laps, Blaney prevailed to pick up the stage win in Stage 3. After coming off of pit road second during the stage break, Blaney once again regained the lead on the restart on lap 307. The final caution flag of the night waved on lap 374 on the opening lap of the restart where Blaney was scored the leader over the No. 24. The field took the green for the final time with 20 laps to go and Blaney stretched his lead lap-after-lap, culminating in his eighth-career NASCAR Cup Series victory.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Obviously a big weekend for Team Penske. Watching the Indy 500 yesterday, how that played out, and watching Josef win his first one and watching Mr. Penske win No. 19, that’s really cool to see. Especially when that stuff happens, you’re like, well, the pressure is on for us to try to sweep the weekend, especially in two really big races. That was the goal, and fortunately we executed well enough to get it done. I’m really looking forward to talking to Roger here after I get done and back to the bus because I haven’t congratulated him enough, and I’m looking forward to hearing his voice. A big weekend, and obviously winning the 600 is massive. I grew up coming here watching my dad race for a long time as a kid. It’s just what we did every summer. Really cool, and it was cool for my parents to be here as well. So that was a special moment. Fun night, that’s for sure. Monday races seem to go really well for me. I don’t know what it is, but definitely a fun night.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START – 17TH STAGE ONE – 21ST STAGE TWO – 4TH STAGE THREE – 11TH FINISH – 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano battled a loose-handling Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang from the onset of Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600, but the No. 22 team went to work on the handling following a 21st-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop with a round of adjustments at the stage break, Logano worked his way back into the top-15 by lap 112 before green-flag pit stops began to cycle. After a 30-minute rain delay, the No. 22 team brought Logano to pit road under caution for a two-tire stop but suffered from a pit road penalty for equipment interference, relegating him to the tail end of the field. Logano used the No. 22 team’s off-sequence pit strategy to work his way up into the top-10 by the end of Stage 2, resulting in a fourth-place finish. He made his way up to second in the running order following the restart to begin Stage 3, but Logano began to suffer from a loose-handling condition through the corners as he was shuffled out of the top-10. Logano rallied for an 11th-place in Stage 3 and made his way back into the top-10 by the halfway mark of the final stage but was collected in the last caution of the night when the No. 5 went around on the exit of turn 2. Despite a pair of trips to pit road for four fresh tires and repairs to the nose and splitter, the No. 22 team was able to keep Logano on the lead lap and took the checkered flag 21st.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Tough night for the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang team. We struggled with the balance and unfortunately couldn’t miss the late accident and got damage. So happy for Team Penske, Josef, and Ryan on a weekend sweep.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Worldwide Technology Raceway on Sunday, June 4 for the Enjoy Illinois 300. Coverage of the event will be carried on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 3:30 pm E.T.

Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte Post-Race Report – 05.29.23

By
Official Release
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TRUEX LEADS TRIO OF TOYOTAS IN THE TOP-FIVE AT CHARLOTTE
Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick place two 23XI Racing Toyotas in the top-five

CONCORD, N.C. (May 28, 2023) – Martin Truex Jr. (third) led three Toyotas inside the top-five finishers in the rain-delayed 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday evening. Bubba Wallace (fourth) and Tyler Reddick (fifth) put two 23XI Racing Toyotas inside the top-five for the second consecutive weekend after the duo’s strong performance in the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin also spent time running at the front before all three were involved in on-track incidents.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race 14 of 36 – 600 miles, 400 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Ryan Blaney*

2nd, William Bryon*

3rd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.

4th, BUBBA WALLACE

5th, TYLER REDDICK

24th, CHRISTOPHER BELL

26th, TY GIBBS

35th, DENNY HAMLIN

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

Finishing Position: 3rd

How was your 600?

“It was a handful. We just battled really hard and never gave up on the car. We had some stumbles on pit road – had some issues there. We had some issues getting a flat tire with some contact leaving pit road, which wasn’t our fault either. Just battled a lot of adversity today, but our Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats Camry was really fast. At the end of stage three, I thought that we had a shot to win this thing and then we got some damage out of nowhere on the splitter, and then I got too tight. We made some adjustments to try to get us balanced back out, but it just wasn’t as fast then, and we still ran third. Just proud of everybody for the effort. We definitely had a shot at this one tonight, just didn’t get enough things to go our way and we didn’t do a good enough job on pit road.”

Can you talk about your rebound to third?

“Yeah, it was a fun day overall. We had just too many hiccups, too many issues on pit road with a couple of bad stops and the damage that sent us to the rear and had to come back. I thought through stage three we were going to have a shot at this thing, and out of the blue at the start of the final stage, we got some damage on the splitter from debris and the car was never quite as good. Unfortunate that happened, but all-in-all, great night for our Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats Toyota Camry. The car looked amazing with the red, white and blue. It means a lot to have all of the soldiers on our cars this weekend. I got to meet an amazing family this weekend. Really wish I could have taken them to victory lane, so it’s a little bittersweet, but overall, it’s a solid day for us.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Strawberries & Cream Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 4th

Can you talk about the battle to get back inside the top-five today?

“It started on Friday. We didn’t get through tech. We are trying to push all we can get, and didn’t happen, so bad pit selection really set us back all day. I knew it would be a grind. I need my pit crew to know that as well – they made a couple mistakes – but they rebounded. We were playing the cards that we were dealt. I’m super proud of this Dr. Pepper Toyota team. Just continuing to make strides and continuing to show up and be a part of the factor. Just makes you think – if you were that close on the final restart, or closer, what could have happened. It looked like the 12 (Ryan Blaney) was lights out all day. About time he got him one. I thought he was done washed up (laughter).”

What happened between you and Aric Almirola?

“Yeah, we were just frustrated on how we raced each other. We were in stage two of the Coke 600. I finished fourth and that’s a good day for our team.”

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

Finishing Position: 5th

How was your race?

“We had a great car. We were really, really strong there. Just made a lot of mistakes – we kind of went to the bad side of it on that one strategy in the second stage. We had a million cautions, because we just kept crashing. We got behind there and we had to fight to get our track position back after that and we did. We got to the 12 (Ryan Blaney), and just being too aggressive, got sideways and hit the wall, and front there, hit the wall about 10 more times and pretty much took all of the life out of the race car.”

What more did you need?

“We had a fantastic car. We just couldn’t get around the 12 (Ryan Blaney). We were way faster that he was for most of the day. I tried to take our time, because it’s obviously a 400-lap race, but yeah, made a few mistakes along the way and then I knocked the fence down and then every time we did, we lost a little speed in our Jordan Brand 23XI Toyota. So yeah, fifth.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 35th

What happened there between you and Chase Elliott?

“I got right-rear hooked in the middle of the straightaway.”

Do you think there was some sort of retaliation?

“It’s a tantrum and he shouldn’t be racing next week. Right rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. I don’t care. It is the same thing that Bubba Wallace did with Kyle Larson. Exact same. He shouldn’t be racing. It’s a tantrum.”

What happened there, Denny?

“He right rear hooked me down the straightaway. The same thing that happened with Bubba (Wallace) and Kyle (Larson) last year.”

What should happen to Chase Elliott?

“He shouldn’t be racing. He shouldn’t be racing.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – Blaney Drives Mustang to Coca-Cola 600 Victory

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Coca-Cola 600 | Monday, May 29, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

1st – Ryan Blaney
8th – Chris Buescher
10th – Zane Smith
11th – Kevin Harvick
13th – Ryan Preece
16th – JJ Yeley
18th – Harrison Burton
19th – Brad Keselowski
20th – Chase Briscoe
21st – Joey Logano
25th – Aric Almirola
28th – Michael McDowell
31st – Austin Cindric
33rd – Todd Gilliland

RYAN BLANEY AND MUSTANG WIN COCA-COLA 600

  • Ryan Blaney won his first race of the season and eighth of his career today.
  • The victory snaps a 59-race winless stretch for Blaney, whose last win came at Daytona on Aug. 28, 2021.
  • This marks the first time Roger Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same season.
  • Blaney won Stage 3 and led the most laps in today’s race.
  • Today’s win is Ford’s 722nd all-time in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
  • Of Team Penske’s 91 NCS wins with Ford, 64 have come since rejoining Ford in 2013.

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 BodyArmor Cherry Lime Ford Mustang – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW

HOW ARE YOU FEELING? “It’s just so cool. What a weekend with Newgarden and Roger winning at Indy and us winning the 600, I mean that’s just so cool. That kind of snaps our winless streak right there and that’s even better. I’m just really thankful to everybody who stuck around with us. It’s huge to have BodyArmor on the car. It’s such a cool car and looking forward to celebrate with these guys and I’m just really proud of the car and the effort that we had and was able to hang on.”

YOU WEREN’T SURE WHAT YOU HAD WITH YOUR CAR. HOW CONFIDENT WERE YOU AS THE RACE WENT ON? “We just kept working on it all night and I think the track took a change. I didn’t feel great at the end of Stage 3. I was kind of getting pressured by a couple guys and we had to work on our car, and it was getting cooler outside. We just did a great job. Jonathan did a great job of working on it all night and getting it close enough at the end to where we could really take advantage of restarts, and then once we got the lead was able to stretch it out.”

HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE WITH YOUR GUYS? “I don’t know. I’m looking forward to seeing those guys. Only time will tell. We’ll see.”

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang – YOU WON A STAGE, SO YOUR THOUGHTS ON TONIGHT’S EFFORT? “It was a really strong day. Our Fastenal Mustang was really good. We got hit on pit road and definitely took a decent amount out of us, so I’m upset about that, but at the end of the day it was a good recovery. We kept digging back and it’s cool to have this camo paint scheme up front for a lot of the day, but I want to do more.”

ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford Mustang – “I am so happy, as happy as could be, really. I was worried when we didn’t take tires there and were running really good and had a really good day. It just worked out, so just a great job by this whole 38 Boot Barn FRM team. We got our Mustang better and better every single stop and that’s so cool. We run on half the budget, if that, than a lot of these guys, so to finish top 10 in our sixth start at the Coke 600 is really cool.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? “It’s been a rough three weeks for me. The Cup Series is a different level and obviously I’m trying to prove I belong here and it’s just an outstanding run. Ryan does an outstanding job and it’s so cool to finish this race, but better yet with a top 10.”

THIS MUST HAVE BEEN THE LONGEST RACE YOU’VE RUN? “Yeah, no doubt. I got to about halfway and I had heard that story coming into this of how long this race feels and I did a lot of preparation for the past month of just trying to prepare myself for this one. I feel like I could go another 100 more, so I did a good job there. I’m just so proud of everyone at FRM and on this 38 car. It’s an outstanding job, I thought.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Menards/Duracell Ford Mustang – “You’re patient for 550 miles, why be patient for the last 40? I probably could have helped myself there by not drifting up the racetrack and knowing my own strength and weaknesses. It’s just unfortunate to get so close to the end of this race and not being able to finish it last year and the same with this year. I felt we had a lot of positives from today – some really good pit stops. We had good speed at times, but just having to put the whole race together as a team. I definitely made some mistakes today and unfortunate not to be able to finish it off.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang – WHAT HAPPENED WITH BUBBA WALLACE? “It was early in the race and I felt like he ran me all over the racetrack and then when he got by me he shot me the bird, so I just went by and asked him why you shot me the bird. I felt like I gave him a lot of room and a lot of respect and he started mouthing off and saying a lot of bad things and cussing at me after he shot me the bird, so I just wasn’t gonna take that.”

IS IT SQUASHED AT THIS POINT? “I think it’s squashed. I got my point across. I let him know it’s not acceptable. He’s not gonna cuss at me and shoot me the bird. It was a good night, honestly, for our Smithfield Ford Mustang. It’s Memorial Day and such an honor and privilege to race on Memorial Day. We were running 10th there with twenty-something to go and got caught up in that restart wreck in the middle of one and two and got a lot of heavy damage the really killed the race car after that. I hate we didn’t get out of here with a top 10. I felt we certainly had a top 10 race car, got loose on a restart early and hit the right-rear toe link, we fixed it, got two laps down, got all of our laps back and drove from the back to the top 10. I’m really proud of the effort and the fight, not the result, but we certainly fought hard. We’ll go get ready for Gateway. That was a really good racetrack for us last year.”

RYAN PREECE, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang – “What a night. We battled all night long. Some of those cautions just did not work in our favor at all, but we had a good car and just needed track position and clean air. We made strong adjustments throughout the night and my crew was on it. I think we had a top-10 car. We’ll take 13th after a day like that and it’s definitely the momentum our team needed. Those top 10s and top fives are coming and I’m looking forward to St. Louis.”

UniqueGraphs Review: Five Golden Tips for Successful Metal Trading (ugraphs.com)

By
SM
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Metal trading is one of the common ways of investing in the financial markets. This is also one of the oldest forms of trading. Most traders include precious metals in their trading portfolio because metals are relatively safe to trade in critical times. However, the price of the precious metals also fluctuates, allowing you to make profits from the price difference of the metals. To take advantage of the price change of metals, you should trade with a supportive investment platform. Uniquegraphs is an authorized brokerage platform where you will find user-friendly trading conditions, various advanced functionalities, and analytical tools to earn exciting money using market opportunities. This article aims to offer you five golden tips to accomplish success in metal trading.

About Metal Trading

The economic value of precious metals is high as the metallic elements are rare. Metals are also one of the most valuable trading assets in the commodity market. Metal trading also helps you to understand the health of an economy. In critical times when the market is extremely volatile, precious metals are considered a safe haven. 

Five Important Tips

Choose Your Platform Carefully:

When you are investing your money, you will definitely expect a good return. If you feel that your money is in safe hands, you can trade confidently. This is why you should trade with a brokerage platform that secures your funds and helps you to earn exciting profits from the financial markets. Uniquegraphs is one of the most supportive brokers for financial trading. This brokerage organization offers the most comfortable environment for trading, plentiful tools and functionalities, an account assortment facility, up-to-the-minute market information, exciting leverage, and many more facilities to its clients so that they can achieve their goals in financial trading.

Build a Strategy:

Besides choosing the right broker, you should build an efficient strategy to engage in metal trading. You should stick to your trading strategy despite certain movements in the commodity market. The Uniquegraphs WebTrader platform is a user-friendly and customizable platform where you can implement any trading strategy.

Make Use of the Tools:

To predict the direction of the commodity market, you have to analyze different elements of the market. There are various analytical tools and advanced charts, multiple indicators, and risk-management functionalities available on this brokerage platform. You should effectively use the tools and functionalities to guess the market growth and determine whether to go for a short or long-term investment.

Monitor the Commodity Market:

The commodity market continuously moves ups and downs. If you want to take advantage of the new opportunities and minimize the risks of losses, you should always monitor the commodity market. The Uniqugraphs platform offers current market news and important information and helps you to execute trades immediately so that you can earn exciting profits utilizing every market opportunity.

Diversify Your Trading Portfolio:

Finally, to minimize your trading risks and expand profit gains, you should build a diversified portfolio. Do not overly depend on one trading asset. At Uniquegraphs, you can invest in multiple trading assets, including various metals, energy assets, cryptocurrencies, currency pairs, shares, futures, and many more.

Start your trading journey now with Uniquegraphs to enjoy a successful career. 

How Much Can You Use Using Electric Motor Bikes

By
SM
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Nothing quite like going at peak speed on a well-maintained road on an electric motorcycle. But how far can an electric-powered motorbike make trips on this surreal ride before its battery expires? 

Trying to calculate the riding range of an electric motorcycle is like competing in an amateur running competition. This means that you might assume you know where your boundaries are, but you will only know when you’ve beyond them. 

If you’re like most motorcyclists, you want to know how far your bike can go before it shuts down. Don’t worry; we’ll get into average electric motorcycle riding ranges and all the elements that influence them in this article. 

Factors Affecting the Range of Electric Motorbikes 

The decent range for an electric motorcycle is at least 45 miles, even though some advanced models may reach more than 100 miles. This is mainly determined by the capacity of your electric motorbike’s battery pack and a few other factors. 

Below are the explanations for those affecting factors. 

1. Battery Size 

The mAh rating of a battery indicates how much electricity it can give to an outside supply. As a result, the overall size and mAh value of the integrated battery will be the most important factors influencing maximum trip range. 

In general, the higher the mAh, the better, albeit this may raise the weight of the battery. Of course, there are motorcycles with swappable batteries, which means you can carry extra cells to extend your motorcycle’s range, but keep in mind that it will increase weight, which will reduce range. 

When buying new batteries, ensure that they are fully charged before usage because, otherwise, you risk reducing battery life. Additionally, if you usually wait until your battery is completely discharged before charging, you should quit that habit. 

2. Vehicle Weight 

The maximum battery range of an e-motorcycle battery can also be influenced by the vehicle’s weight. This is because as the weight increases, more energy is required to drive it, lowering the optimum travel distance.

And, when calculating the maximum range of an electric bike, keep in mind any extra weight, such as your body weight and cargo weight. It is not hard to come to the conclusion that the less the total weight, the longer you can bike. 

However, while lighter weight often equates to a longer range, the design and other features of the bike must also be considered. Tromox’s Ukko S is a fantastic example of a bike that combines lightweight and excellent features. 

3. Tire Pressure 

The tires on your motorbike do more than just support the weight of the bike and the cargo you put on it. They also play an important role by producing friction between the motorbike and the road. This is the primary reason they may have an impact on how much electricity your e-motorcycle transfers per time. 

When your tire is properly inflated, it will operate more smoothly and provide a greater surface area on the road. Tires with low pressure, on the other hand, increase road resistance and consume more energy. So the key is to strike a balance between tire pressure and carrying capacity, and your ideal tire pressure should be found in your owner’s manual. 

4. Riding Condition and Habit 

Going up a hill takes more power than moving on a smooth road, and the same is true for uneven terrain. As a result, uneven and steep terrains frequently restrict a motorcycle’s range more than riding on a smooth surface would. 

Furthermore, riding with the throttle pinned all around is a surefire way to quickly deplete your available electricity. In contrast, if you ride like an old lady, you may even exceed the manufacturer’s recommended mileage. Find the right balance and you’ll come close to what the manufacturer states. 

How to Travel Long Range With Electric Motorbikes 

First and foremost, you must ensure that your electric motorcycle is capable of cruising on the open road. On top of that, when traveling long distances on electric motorcycles, you must ensure that the battery pack is efficient and capable of providing stable speed with a reasonable range. 

1. Vehicle Preparation 

While it is necessary to pack some gear, before embarking on long bike rides, it is critical to inspect all of your e-motorcycle’s components. Examine your vehicle’s brakes, lights, and other critical components.

Furthermore, updating all navigation apps is critical to ensure you are fully prepared for the long haul. Finally, once you’ve packed breathable and waterproof riding clothing, you can add extra items you might need along the way, but keep it to the essentials. 

2. Route Planning 

The next step before you go riding is to arrange your route. Because your bike has a limited range, find out the location and distance between charging stations. 

This is particularly important because your motorcycle battery will normally drain faster as the load increases. It is also critical to check the weather along this route because weather conditions can affect your journey. 

Keep your batteries in good condition by riding at a comfortable temperature and keeping your bike in well-insulated areas. While electric motorbikes can withstand severe weather, it would be far better if you could ride without fear of being caught in a downpour. 

The Takeaway 

Many brand-new electric motorcycle owners believe their machines aren’t designed for long-distance riding. One of the key concerns, as previously said, is the issue of charging the batteries, which may have a negative impact on their riding enjoyment. 

However, as battery capacity increases and investments in EVs expand, charging infrastructure is quickly improving the riding journey for electric vehicle owners. This means that electric motorcycle users will be able to go on long-distance journeys. 

Riding becomes more enjoyable when your bike can travel longer distances. However, you can only properly plan for such long rides if you know how far your electric motor bikes can travel. This article should have given you some ideas.

Casino Employee Culture: A Rollicking Ride Through the World of Casino Staff

By
SM
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Picture this: the dazzling lights, the sweet sound of coins clinking, and the anticipation of the next big win. Yes, we’re talking about house of jack login, and not just any casino, but the fabulous Houseofjackcasino official. But have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in such a thrilling environment – at a land-based or online casino?

Behind the Scenes: The Magical Maze of Casino Life

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the casino floor, but behind the scenes, there’s an entirely different world to explore. Casino employees often describe their work environment as a magical maze, with secret passages and hidden treasures lurking around every corner. From the security team keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings to the friendly dealers who make each game an unforgettable experience, every casino employee plays a crucial role in creating a captivating atmosphere.

The Glitz, the Glamour, and the Grueling Work Schedule

Working at a casino certainly has its perks. The glitz and glamour of the casino floor can be intoxicating, and rubbing elbows with high rollers and celebrities is undoubtedly a unique experience. However, it’s not all fun and games. Casino employees often face grueling work schedules, with long hours and late nights being the norm. Nevertheless, many staff members find the excitement of the job outweighs the challenges.

A Unified Force: The Casino Family

Despite the demanding nature of the job, casino employees often describe a strong sense of camaraderie among their colleagues. Whether it’s celebrating a big win with a fellow dealer or sharing a laugh with a bartender during a slow shift, the bond between casino staff is akin to a family. This sense of unity helps employees navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of the casino world together.

The Perks and the Pitfalls: An Employee’s Perspective

As with any job, working in a casino has its pros and cons. For many employees, the chance to be part of the enchanting world of casinos and the opportunity to meet interesting people from all walks of life are significant perks. Additionally, casino staff often enjoy generous benefits, including health insurance and paid time off.

However, there are also challenges to consider. The stress of handling large sums of money, dealing with difficult customers, and the pressure to maintain a high level of professionalism can be taxing. Furthermore, the temptation to gamble and the potential for addiction are an ever-present concern for some casino employees.

FAQs

What is it like to work in a casino?

Working in a casino can be exciting and glamorous but also demanding, with long hours and late nights. The job involves meeting interesting people, handling large sums of money, and maintaining professionalism.

What are the perks of working at a casino?

Perks of working at a casino include being part of the captivating casino world, meeting fascinating people, and enjoying generous benefits like health insurance and paid time off.

What challenges do casino employees face?

Casino employees may face challenges such as stress, dealing with difficult customers, and the temptation to gamble.

The Final Chip: A Dynamic and Exciting Career

In conclusion, the world of casino employees is filled with excitement, challenges, and camaraderie. Working at a gambling establishment can be both rewarding and demanding, with the unique environment offering a one-of-a-kind career experience. As you place your bets and immerse yourself in the casino atmosphere, take a moment to appreciate the hard work and dedication of the staff who make it all possible.

Factors Behind The Smaller Count Of Mobile Pokies In New Zealand Compared To Desktop

By
SM
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Digital betting provides a plethora of prospects for contemporary business people who are irrepressible in their efforts to build excellent casino solutions, propel their brand to maximal achievement, and surpass all competitors in New Zealand. 

However, the issue is, is it simple to initiate offering mobile pokies? Let’s take a look at the mobile pokies industry today. But before that, let’s give huge kudos to the Betpokies team, and especially John Gold, for making this article possible with their research efforts.

The Amount of Money Needed to Invest

The first thing that makes it challenging to create a pokies app is the price. It starts with the licensing fee obtained from the New Zealand Lotteries Commission of NZ$110,000. If your mobile pokies company’s total resources are below NZ$2,000,000, you can pay a cheaper license fee of only NZ$5,500. Take a look at the licensing regulations of New Zealand to know more.

But this doesn’t end here since building the app is another expense you should take into account. In New Zealand, it is estimated that building an app costs around NZ$3,000 up to NZ$120,000. Other operating expenses should be noted, such as marketing and promotions, software development, and maintenance costs.

Choosing a Reliable Gambling Software Provider

You will encounter various solutions and toolkits at various price points. The forthcoming supplier and software provider must be established, have a solid profile and extensive expertise, and provide a variety of alternatives within your spending plan.

You will have the following options when commencing your gaming enterprise:

  • Software design firms that create their games and systems. This advantageous type of collaboration enables you to obtain a highly configurable and one-of-a-kind product.
  • B2B organizations that provide assistance as well as instrument bundles that include gaming content from other contractors.

Regardless of the sort of collaboration you select, software developers are your best teammates for launching and running your functions effectively and adaptively. Each mobile pokies provider provides a unique set of features in New Zealand. You must therefore see what the builder can offer you.

Porting and Mobile Optimization

The web edition of pokies uses the entire display of a laptop or personal computer display to showcase special visual impacts and playable functionalities, while also using a cursor to quickly explore and command the system’s multiple aspects. It is not easy to translate these specifications to mobile devices. This includes design planning and layout, ease of use, and ensuring that the gameplay will not be compromised.

To check whether the app is running smoothly, one can release it in early access or beta-testing to accumulate reviews from New Zealand players. Out of this feedback, re-align and fix the issues that the players found.

Finding a Provider of Payment Services

Arrange your methods of payment so that gamblers from all over the country can quickly connect and start games at the mobile pokies. To accomplish this, a provider with numerous payment options is required.

Note that mobile pokies and other sorts of wagering activities are regarded to have high-risk operations in New Zealand. This implies the company is much more probable to face a refund request. Financial institutions, in turn, levy higher costs on these businesses in an attempt to reduce suspicious practices.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Mobile Pokies

Advantages:

  • As long as you have access to an Internet service, you can play whenever you want.
  • Utilize the touchscreen interface to play games with simplicity using just a single tap.
  • Quick and easy access through browser play means there is no need to download any apps.
  • Several of the same incentives and promotions are available on the desktop version.
  • Pick from several secure payment choices.
  • Enjoy it any time of the day and anywhere in New Zealand.

Disadvantages:

  • Compared to a personal computer or laptop gambling, there are far fewer mobile games available.
  • Some pokies only provide a subset of the payment alternatives that are available on their desktop version.
  • Barely available on mobile devices, live dealer gambling typically needs a fast 4G network to take advantage of all of its functions in real-time mode.
  • You could occasionally skip out on excellent incentives because some casino promos are for activities that are not yet mobile-optimized.

Final Thoughts

It is difficult to assert against the whole gambling impression still being offered on PC. There is a larger assortment of games, better viewing, and a quicker reaction time. However, without question, the age of mobile has arrived. 

Even though desktop users remain to expend greater time on websites than mobile users, embracing the thriving mobile pokies industry will not harm them. The challenge is now on the pokies operators in New Zealand and their application developers to keep up with this trend.

Gambling can be a dangerous and addictive habit. If you or a loved one has a gambling problem, please seek assistance by calling the National Gambling Helpline at 0800 654 655.

Allgaier gambles for first Xfinity victory of 2023 at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In an event that was delayed for two days and more than nine hours, the early season wait for Justin Allgaier and JR Motorsports evaporated under the lights at home turn after Allgaier made a late fuel strategic call work to perfection by winning the rain-postponed Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday, May 29.

The 36-year-old Allgaier from Riverton, Illinois, led three times for a race-high 83 of 200-scheduled laps in an event where he started on pole position, led early and ran up front throughout the event that was scheduled to start on Saturday, May 27, but was postponed to Monday and delayed yet again for another nine hours amid ongoing precipitation and steady rain.

Once the racing resumed nearing the one-quarter mark, Allgaier, who remained in contention as the race proceeded, seized upon an opportunity to pit for a final time with less than 70 laps remaining during a caution period. Then during the final 66-lap dash to the finish, Allgaier swapped the lead with John Hunter Nemechek before assuming it for good with 33 laps remaining. He then stretched his low fuel tank to the absolute distance as he managed to coast across the finish line and claim his first elusive Xfinity victory of the 2023 season.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Justin Allgaier notched his first Xfinity pole of the 2023 season after posting a pole-winning lap at 181.172 mph in 29.806 seconds. Joining him on the front row was John Hunter Nemechek, who clocked in the second-best qualifying lap at 180.246 mph in 29.959 seconds.

Prior to the event, the following names that included Josh Berry, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Stefan Parsons, Parker Retzlaff and Kyle Sieg dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries. Ryan Sieg also dropped to the rear of the field due to an engine change to his RSS Racing entry. Then with the event being postponed to Monday, Justin Haley also dropped to the rear of the field due to a driver change as he replaced Kyle Busch in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing entry, with Busch setting his focus on the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 that occurred prior to the Xfinity Charlotte event.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced amid a two-day delay due to the ongoing precipitation, Allgaier launched ahead on the inside lane and assumed an early command through the first two turns while teammates Nemechek and Ty Gibbs battled dead even for second. As the field fanned out to three and four lanes through the backstretch and in Turns 3 and 4, Allgaier proceeded to lead the first lap. Allgaier then managed to extend his advantage to half a second over Nemechek while Ty Gibbs settled in third and trailed by less than eight-tenths of a second.

Through the first five scheduled laps, Allgaier was leading by more than a second over Gibbs while Nemechek, who got loose in Turn 1, fell back to third as Brandon Jones and Cole Custer were in the top five. Behind, Sheldon Creed was in sixth ahead of Daniel Hemric and rookie Chandler Smith while Jeb Burton and Riley Herbst were battling in the top 10. Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar was in 11th in his No. 77 Premier Security Chevrolet Camaro ahead of Brett Moffitt and Austin Hill while rookie Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer and Anthony Alfredo battled within the top 16.

At the Lap 10 mark, Allgaier continued to hold a steady advantage over a hard-charging Gibbs, who cut the deficit to within half a second in his No. 19 He Gets Us Toyota Supra, while Nemechek trailed by more than a second in third place. Behind, Creed moved up to fifth place behind Custer while Brandon Jones fell back to sixth. Jones would then slip to ninth as Hemric, Chandler Smith and Moffitt overtook him for spots while Gibbs tried to challenge Allgaier for the lead.

When a scheduled competition caution flew on Lap 20, Allgaier fended off Gibbs’ challenges on the outside lane to maintain the lead. By then, Nemechek, Custer and Creed were scored in the top five ahead of Hemric, Chandler Smith, Moffitt, Hocevar and Brandon Jones.

During the competition caution period, nearly the entire field led by Allgaier pitted, except for Ryan Sieg as Sieg remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Nemechek exited pit road first ahead of Gibbs, Custer, Creed, Allgaier and Hemric.

Not long after, the field was brought down to pit road and the race was placed in a red flag period on Lap 25 due to a steady increase of mist. Nearly 27 minutes later, the red flag lifted and the field led by Ryan Sieg returned to the track under a cautious pace.

When the race restarted under green on Lap 31, Nemechek quickly assumed the lead in his No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota Supra followed by teammate Gibbs as the field fanned out entering the first turn. As Ryan Sieg began to slip and lose spots while on worn tires, Nemechek assumed a steady advantage over teammate Gibbs followed by Creed, Hemric and Allgaier while Custer, who tried to launch to the front during the restart and ended up with a tire rub, was mired back in seventh behind Chandler Smith.

At the Lap 40 mark, Nemechek was leading by two-tenths of a second over teammate Gibbs, with both Joe Gibbs Racing teammates battling close for the lead, while Hemric trailed in third place by more than two seconds. Behind, Allgaier was in fourth ahead of Creed and Chandler Smith while Custer slipped to eighth behind Austin Hill.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 45, Ty Gibbs, who assumed the lead from teammate Nemechek on Lap 42 after Nemechek scrubbed the outside wall between Turns 1 and 2, captured the stage victory. Teammate Nemechek settled in second while trailing by more than a second while Allgaier, Hemric, Creed, Chandler Smith, Hill, Josh Berry, Custer and Riley Herbst were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, the field led by Gibbs returned to pit road and the race was placed under a second red flag period on Lap 48 due to the return of the mist that eventually resulted in an increase of rain. Not long after and with the precipitation increasing, NASCAR declared that the event would resume at the conclusion of the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 which was scheduled to commence within 3 p.m. ET.

More than nine hours later and moments after Ryan Blaney withstood a long, chaotic and delayed Coke 600 event to emerge victorious, the red flag period for the Xfinity Series competition was lifted and the field returned to track under a cautious period. During the caution period, the field led by Gibbs returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Gibbs retained the lead ahead of teammate Nemechek, Allgaier, Hemric, Creed and Chandler Smith.

The second stage started on Lap 55 as Gibbs and Nemechek occupied the front row. At the start, Gibbs retained the lead as the field fanned out through the first two turns. With Gibbs maintaining the lead, teammate Nemechek retained second in front of Allgaier as Hemric fended off Creed, Chandler Smith and Hill for fourth.

Just past the Lap 60 mark, Gibbs was leading by eight-tenths of a second over Nemechek while Hemric moved up to third after he overtook Allgaier for position. Hemric, however, shortly pitted under green after reporting concerns of a loose wheel to his No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro. The move dropped Hemric out of the lead lap category as Gibbs continued to lead by six-tenths of a second over teammate Nemechek and more than two seconds over Allgaier.

By Lap 70, Gibbs stretched his advantage to more than a second over teammate Nemechek while third-place Allgaier trailed by nearly four seconds. Behind, Richard Childress Racing’s Hill and Creed occupied fourth and fifth while Chandler Smith settled in sixth in front of Mayer, Brandon Jones, Hocevar and Sammy Smith.

At the Lap 80 mark, Gibbs continued to lead by eight-tenths of a second over teammate Nemechek while Allgaier, Hill and Creed remained in the top five.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 90, Ty Gibbs notched his second consecutive stage victory of the night after cruising to the start/finish line with an advantage of more than a second. Teammate Nemechek settled in second while Allgaier, Hill, Creed, Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer, Brandon Jones, Cole Custer and Carson Hocevar were scored in the top 10. By then, 27 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap. In addition, Brett Moffitt was scored out of the lead lap category after making contact against the wall a few laps earlier and pitting under green.

Under the stage break, the field led by Gibbs returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, however, Nemechek emerged with the lead after exiting first followed by Creed, Allgaier, Hill, Chandler Smith and Custer. Meanwhile, Gibbs was mired back in 28th amid an extensive pit service to resolve a radio issue.

With 103 laps remaining, the final stage started as Nemechek and Creed occupied the front row. At the start, Nemechek launched ahead with a strong start while Creed and Allgaier dueled for second. With Allgaier moving up to second, Custer challenged Creed for third as the field fanned out and jostled for late positions.

At the halfway mark with 100 laps remaining, Nemechek was leading by four-tenths of a second over Allgaier while Custer, Creed and Brandon Jones trailed in the top five. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs, who restarted just outside the top 20, had carved his way up to 13th while Josh Berry overtook Creed for fifth. In addition, Hill was in seventh ahead of Chandler Smith, Mayer and Sammy Smith while Justin Haley carved his way up to 11th.

Ten laps later, Nemechek continued to lead by more than a second over Allgaier while third-place Custer also trailed by more than a second. With JR Motorsports’ Brandon Jones and Berry trailing in the top five, Ty Gibbs re-entered the top 10 as he was in ninth behind Creed, Hill and Chandler Smith. Gibbs would then get bottled within a tight battle involving himself, Mayer, Sammy Smith and Hocevar as his fast charge to the front stalled.

Another 15 laps later, Nemechek stabilized his advantage to more than a second over Allgaier followed by Custer, Brandon Jones and Berry while Hill, Ty Gibbs, Creed, Chandler Smith and Mayer were scored in the top 10. As Sammy Smith, Hocevar, Haley, Herbst and Kaz Grala were scored in the top 15, Hemric was still mired a lap behind in 28th.

With 73 laps remaining, the caution flew when Mayer, who was running 10th, spun off of the Turn 2 outside wall, slid down to the track and pounded the inside wall as he limped to pit road with a shredded right-front fender as a result of a flat tire. During the caution period, the field led by Nemechek returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Nemechek retained the lead after exiting first ahead of Allgaier. During the pit stops, Creed pitted for a second time for repairs after making contact with Berry on pit road.

As the race proceeded under green with 66 laps remaining, Nemechek and Allgaier dueled for the lead as Allgaier tried to peek ahead through the backstretch. Then as Hill launched himself into the picture and made it a three-wide battle at the front, Allgaier assumed the lead during the following lap while Hill battled Nemechek for second. Nemechek would fend off Hill for second as Custer tried to challenge Hill for third in front of Berry and Brandon Jones.

With less than 60 laps remaining, Allgaier maintained the lead by nine-tenths of a second over Nemechek while Hill trailed in third by a second and a half. With Custer and Brandon Jones running in the top five, Chandler Smith was in sixth followed by Ty Gibbs while Berry fell back to eighth. Behind, Hocevar was in ninth ahead of a battle between Sammy Smith and Haley while Kaz Grala, Jeb Burton, Connor Mosack and Kyle Weatherman battled inside the top 15.

Down to the final 50 laps of the event, Allgaier’s advantage evaporated to a tenth of a second over Nemechek as he re-ignited his battle for the lead. Not long after, they both made contact, but both competitors continued to run straight as Allgaier retained the lead by nearly half a second while third-place Hill trailed by more than a second. Meanwhile, Custer occupied fourth while Brandon Jones and Ty Gibbs battled for fifth.

With less than 40 laps remaining, Allgaier and Nemechek re-ignited their battle for the lead before Nemechek reassumed the top spot off of Turn 4 with 36 laps remaining. Then just as Alfredo pitted under green with 33 laps remaining, Allgaier muscled his Chevrolet back to the top of the leaderboard. He would maintain the lead over Nemechek under the final 30-lap and 25-lap marks of the event.

Then with 20 laps remaining and as Allgaier continued to lead by four-tenths of a second, Hill surrendered third place to pit his No. 21 Alsco Chevrolet Camaro. He would then be followed by Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Ty Gibbs, who had worked his way up towards the front. By then, Allgaier, who was leading, started to back off his pace in an attempt to save fuel under the direction of his team.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Allgaier stretched his advantage to more than a second over Nemechek while trying to stretch his fuel tank to the finish. By then, Nemechek, who was trying to pounce on Allgaier, started to back off on his pace to have enough fuel to finish. Nearing the final five-lap mark, more names that included third-place Hocevar, Brandon Jones and Haley pitted, but Allgaier continued to run under power with the lead. As runner-up, Nemechek trailed by more than five seconds with third-place Custer trailing by more than nine seconds, Hill, who pitted earlier and had enough fuel to finish under full power, was in fourth, but trailing by more than 25 seconds.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Allgaier, who continued to run under a conservative pace on the track, remained as the leader by more than seven seconds over Nemechek, who too was still remaining on the track while on low fuel. Despite being overtaken by lapped competitors while managing his throttle through the turns and straightaway, Allgaier was able to make the low fuel tank last to perfection as he cycled his No. 7 Unilever Military DeCA RCPT Chevrolet Camaro back to the frontstretch and streaked across the finish line for his first victory of the season.

With the victory, Allgaier notched his 20th career victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and his first at Charlotte. He also returned to Victory Lane for the first time in the Xfinity circuit since winning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2022. By recording his 17th victory as a driver for JR Motorsports, the Illinois veteran recorded the first NASCAR victory of the season and the second consecutive victory at Charlotte for JRM. In addition, Allgaier, who became the ninth different winner of this year’s Xfinity season, achieved his first victory with new crew chief Jim Pohlman.

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“I’m speechless, man,” Allgaier said on FS2. “You fans that stuck it out here tonight, thank y’all so much. I just cannot say enough about [crew chief] Jim Pohlman, everybody on this No. 7 team. It’s not been for lack of speed this year. We’ve battled. Tonight was kind of the opposite. We had to go slow to go fast. I’m speechless, man. I really am…I didn’t know how much [fuel] to save. Just lucky we had enough.”

Nemechek, who led 57 laps and was pursuing his third Xfinity victory of the season, settled in second place for the third time this season as he trailed Allgaier by seven seconds to the finish.

“It was definitely tough to not push as hard as you could there at the end when trying to run Allgaier back down,” Nemechek said. “We raced each other really hard, really clean. Overall, our Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra was fast as Xfinity 10G [Internet]. I didn’t do us any favors by stuffing [the car] in the fence before we had our whole rain delay today. Just hats off to all the guys, the effort at this Joe Gibbs Racing organization. Man, if consistency is key to win a championship, then we are pretty consistent. Just gotta keep plugging on and we’ll go click off some more wins.”

Custer, who also gambled late on fuel, came home in third place while Hill ended up fourth after narrowing the gap to only 16 seconds. Ty Gibbs ended up in fifth after leading 52 laps followed by rookie Parker Retzlaff and Jeb Burton, all of whom rounded out the top-seven lead lap finishers. Carson Hocevar, the first competitor to finish a lap down, ended up eighth while Brandon Jones and Sammy Smith completed the top 10 on the track.

There were eight lead changes for four different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 31 laps. While all but one of 38 starters finished the race, seven finished on the lead lap.

Following the 12th event of the 2023 Xfinity Series season, John Hunter Nemechek leads the regular-season standings by 10 points over Austin Hill, 50 over Justin Allgaier, 74 over Cole Custer and 85 over Josh Berry.

Results.

1. Justin Allgaier, 83 laps led

2. John Hunter Nemechek, 57 laps led

3. Cole Custer

4. Austin Hill

5. Ty Gibbs, 52 laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner

6. Parker Retzlaff

7. Jeb Burton

8. Carson Hocevar, one lap down

9. Brandon Jones, one lap down

10. Sammy Smith, one lap down

11. Kyle Sieg, one lap down

12. Justin Haley, one lap down

13. Chandler Smith, one lap down

14. Riley Herbst, one lap down

15. Josh Berry, one lap down

16. Kaz Grala, one lap down

17. Joe Graf Jr., one lap down

18. Josh Williams, one lap down

19. Jeremy Clements, two laps down

20. Kyle Weatherman, two laps down

21. Jeffrey Earnhardt, two laps down

22. Daniel Hemric, two laps down

23. Connor Mosack, two laps down

24. Ryan Sieg, two laps down, eight laps led

25. Rajah Caruth, three laps down

26. Stefan Parsons, three laps down

27. Ryan Ellis, three laps down

28. Sheldon Creed, three laps down

29. Brett Moffitt, three laps down

30. Brennan Poole, three laps down

31. Patrick Emerling, five laps down

32. Anthony Alfredo, five laps down

33. Garrett Smithley, five laps down

34. Natalie Decker, five laps down

35. Sam Mayer, seven laps down

36. Dawson Cram, seven laps down

37. Blaine Perkins – OUT, Engine

38. Parker Kligerman, 56 laps down

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is a trip back to the West Coast for the series’ second-ever event at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, June 3, at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

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