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Auto Transport Myths Busted

Hiring an auto transport company is a great way to get your vehicle from one place to another without having to do the driving yourself. But there are many myths surrounding the industry. It is important to know the truth before you decide if this is the right choice for you. Thus, busting some of the most common auto transport myths is important. 

A myth is a common misconception so, never just assume. Assumptions are often not based on facts. You should do your research and verify all necessary facts. And when it comes to vehicle transport myths, one great way is to contact some of the best car shipping companies and ask them questions. But first start online. In this post, we examine and clarify some common misconceptions about auto transportation.

What are the most common car transportation myths?

Myth #1:

Terminal-to-terminal transport is cheaper than door-to-door transport!

If you’ve never shipped a car, you don’t know what’s true. The most cost-effective method of vehicle transportation is door-to-door vehicle delivery. The fact is that terminal-to-terminal shipping saves fuel and money for the carrier, but not for the customer. Terminals often charge extra to store your car until you pick it up. Also, you have to get to the terminal somehow. This means extra travel and extra costs, and often these terminals are located on the outskirts of the city. As a result, door-to-door car transportation is cheaper than terminal-to-terminal.

Myth 2:

Driving your own car is always cheaper. Incorrect! In fact, it doesn’t have to be. Driving a car can incur costs such as fuel, tolls, lodging and meals. Additionally, wear and tear on your car during long drives can lead to expensive repairs down the road. Depending on the vehicle, location and distance, means of transportation, and current supply and demand, the cost of transporting a car can certainly be less than the cost of driving it yourself. Check current prices.

Myth 3:

Open transport is always cheaper and just as secure as enclosed car transport. Open car transport is generally cheaper, but may not be suitable for certain vehicle types and certain weather conditions. Covered trailers provide protection from road and weather elements and possible damage especially important for sports and luxury automobiles.

Myth 4:

Vehicle transportation costs depend only on distance

Incorrect. Several important factors that affect the cost of transporting a car – distance, make and model of vehicle, whether the car is in operation, type of transport – open or closed, change of vehicle, reaching the final destination. Possibilities, mainly supply and demand situations. So, keep all these factors in mind when it comes to price to ship a car if you are looking to book a service. Distance is an important factor, but it’s not the only one. Delivering a car to a rural area cost more because the carrier has to go off the main highway. In addition, the cost of shipping a car depends on current fuel prices, so the prices of shipping a car always fluctuate and often change every few days.

Myth 5:

Delivery to terminals increases the likelihood of delays

This is a quick rant. Car transportation from terminal to terminal ensures no delays in shipments. Delivery time is entirely dependent on the customer’s ability to pick up the car at the terminal.

Myth 6:

All car shipping companies are the same.

Companies vary greatly in terms of prices, services offered and certainly quality of service. It is important to do your research and choose a company with a proven track record and a good reputation. Read customer reviews online, ask for references, or call the company to discuss their car shipping services and pricing. 

Suppose you have to ship a car from Boston to Florida. Think of all the miles you have to drive. Think non-working hours, hotels, gas, meals. Finally, think about unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Comparing the final amount, you have to spend to a car shipping price, you will see that you won’t be able to save much. In fact, you may even pay more to drive your own car than to ship it. Shipping your car will save you money, miles and stress. Just remember those myths and research even more. 

4 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car

Do you ever feel like the world is quickly changing and evolving, but your car isn’t keeping up? It’s time to make a change for you—and for the environment! 

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as an eco-friendly transportation alternative, especially now that technology has become so advanced. But why should you get one? 

In this blog post, we’ll give you four compelling reasons why electric cars are worth investing in: environmental benefits, cost savings, convenience, and technological advancements. 

So if you want to know more about EVs and how they could benefit your life (and the entire planet!), keep on reading!

4 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car

Don’t let their sleek design and quiet engines fool you, electric vehicles come with a whole host of benefits that the gas-guzzlers just can’t compete with. 

So, if you’re on the fence about making the switch, let’s take a closer look at four reasons why buying an electric car is shockingly good for you.

1. Environmental Benefits

Let’s start with the basics. Gas-powered vehicles emit carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other harmful gasses into the air. These gasses trap heat in the atmosphere, which leads to global warming and climate change. But that’s not all.

Nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide cause acid rain, which can harm plants, animals, and infrastructure. Cars produce air pollutants like particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, which can cause respiratory problems and other health issues.

Now let’s talk about electric vehicles. Unlike gas-powered cars, they don’t have an internal combustion engine, so they produce zero tailpipe emissions. That means there are no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gasses emitted directly from the car. 

EVs do generate emissions indirectly, since the electricity used to charge them might come from fossil fuels. But even when taking into account the full life cycle of an EV, it still produces fewer emissions than a gas-powered vehicle.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, EVs emit far fewer greenhouse gasses per mile than gasoline vehicles.

2. Cost Savings

Sure, EVs may cost slightly more upfront than conventional cars, but they undoubtedly pay off in the long run. As electric cars do not have a traditional internal combustion engine, they have far fewer mechanical components that can wear out, break down, or require regular servicing. So, owning an electric car surely means fewer trips to the mechanic and more money in your pocket.

Electric vehicles’ method of propulsion is through a battery, and they draw their energy from an electric plug source. As an EV driver, you might pay anywhere between $500 – $1000 annually, depending on your transportation needs and your device’s power level. 

However, gasoline prices fluctuate, and owners of conventional vehicles will pay more than double that amount to refuel their car each year. With EVs, you don’t have to worry about the inconvenience of fuelling up, as you could do it from the convenience of your own home, thereby cutting out the cost of gas station stops.

Furthermore, governments across the globe are encouraging renewable and energy-efficient transportation methods by offering various electric vehicle incentives to individuals who buy electric cars. For instance, owners of EVs are entitled to tax credits and exemptions from state and federal taxes. 

3. Convenience

No more stopping at gas stations, getting out of your car in the freezing rain, and smelling like gasoline. With electric cars, you can charge your car from the comfort of your own home. Conveniently plug your car into an outlet, and your car will be fully charged overnight. 

Plus, public charging stations are starting to pop up all around the country, which means you can charge your car while running errands or at work. It’s like having a personal refueling station available 24/7.

4. Technological Advancements

Another convenience of owning an electric car is the technological advancements happening in the industry. Electric cars are becoming more efficient and have longer driving ranges, thus reducing the need for frequent charging stops. 

Plus, new features and advancements are regularly emerging, such as autonomous driving, smart charging, and regenerative braking systems, just to name a few. Owning an electric car is not only convenient but also fun and futuristic.

Conclusion

Whether your goal is to save money, benefit from improved technology, or reduce emissions from tailpipes, electric vehicles are the way of the future. When it comes time to purchase your next car, don’t hold back — an electric vehicle could be just what you need to upgrade your daily drive. 

So what are you waiting for?

Evans returns to the top step with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

Car 33 (Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin)

Toyota City, Japan, Apr 24, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin have returned to the top step of the podium with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, taking victory at the Croatia Rally.

Together with their fellow podium finishers, Evans and Martin dedicated the result to their friend and fellow competitor Craig Breen, who tragically lost his life in the build-up to the event. Martin was previously co-driver to Breen between 2014 and 2018, claiming their first WRC podiums together.

A well-managed drive enabled Evans and Martin to claim their fifth win with TGR-WRT and their first since Rally Finland in 2021. The asphalt stages around Zagreb proved to be challenging once again, with frequent surface changes and a lot of mud and gravel being dragged onto the road, but Evans was able to find the right balance between caution and speed.

After gaining the lead on Saturday morning, he could increase his advantage in tricky conditions in the evening to 25.4 seconds, and extended that margin over half a minute in the first of Sunday’s four tests. This allowed a more cautious approach to the final stages, with a winning margin of 27s.

Team-mates Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier completed the top five, recovering after hitting trouble in the same place on Friday’s second stage when heavy impacts in a compression in the road forced them to stop and change a wheel.

Both showed strong pace thereafter while competing closely with each other for position. Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen won six stages in total to finish fourth, with Ogier and navigator Vincent Landais setting seven fastest times across the weekend as they took fifth.
Rovanpera and Ogier took second and third respectively in the rally-ending Power Stage. Ogier and Evans are now joint leaders of the drivers’ championship, one point ahead of Rovanpera.
As a mark of solidarity ahead of this event, only two drivers per team were nominated as eligible to score manufacturers’ championship points. With the results of Rovanpera and Ogier taken into account, TGR-WRT has a lead of 29 points.

Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top six finishers in his GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID supported by the TGR WRC Challenge Program.

For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2023/rd04-day3/.

Leasing a Tesla: A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Luxury

Photo by Martin Katler on Unsplash

The rise in sustainable living has led to conscious efforts toward embracing eco-friendly practices, with electric cars at the movement’s forefront. Tesla, one of the market’s most popular electric car brands, has taken the automotive world by storm. The company’s innovative technology, sleek design, and eco-friendly mission have made Tesla a favorite among environmentally conscious individuals.

What is a Tesla?

Tesla is an American electric car company founded in 2003. The company aims to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla’s electric cars are known for their innovative technology, including the autopilot system, self-driving capabilities, and zero-emission powertrains. When drivers are interested in leasing a Tesla, the vehicles are available in different models, including the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and the newest addition, Model Y.

Why Lease a Tesla?

Leasing a Tesla comes with impressive benefits, including saving money on fuel, cutting down on carbon emissions, and enjoying a luxurious driving experience. When an individual leases a Tesla, they will enjoy the perks of the latest technologies, such as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Additionally, they will save money through a lower monthly payment than buying the car outright. Leasing a Tesla is the perfect choice for those looking to drive a premium car while contributing to the environment’s sustainability.

Where to Lease a Tesla

Leasing a Tesla is relatively straightforward. The best place to lease a Tesla is through the company’s website or one of its dealerships. Tesla offers competitive deals on electric car leasing that vary depending on the model, lease duration, and monthly payments. Alternatively, drivers can lease a Tesla from a third-party leasing company. Ensure that the leasing company has a good track record and reputation and understands the lease agreement terms.

Lease Terms to Consider

When leasing a Tesla, there are a few things to consider when selecting the lease terms. The lease term is a critical factor and should reflect a person’s driving habits. A lower term may be a better option if a user uses their vehicle daily or for a commute.

The mileage limit is also an essential factor. Tesla offers different mileage limits, and it’s important to determine how many miles are needed need. Overage fees will add up quickly, so pick something that aligns with your needs.

Regarding end-of-lease costs, factor in fees such as excess mileage, wear and tear, and disposition fees. Knowing limits and staying within the lease agreement’s parameters will save on additional costs when the lease term ends.

How to maintain a leased Tesla

Maintenance of a leased Tesla is easy, with simple steps that ensure long-term performance. Tesla offers owners and lessees over-the-air updates, which allows them to keep up with the latest software updates, improving the car’s reliability and performance. Additionally, Tesla recommends regular maintenance service appointments for their vehicles, ensuring they operate at optimal performance levels. To keep the leased Tesla in excellent condition, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, and seek professional help when necessary.

Leasing a Tesla is an excellent choice for anyone looking for efficiency, convenience, luxury, and eco-friendliness. The benefits of leasing a Tesla are manifold, from the cost savings on fuel and energy to the cutting-edge technology that provides a premium driving experience. With this beginner’s guide, an individual is now equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision when considering leasing a Tesla. Embrace sustainable luxury by choosing to lease a Tesla and contribute towards the global mission to reduce the carbon footprint in the world of automotive transportation.

Shattered: The Risks of Ignoring Broken Auto Glass

Photo by Jilbert Ebrahimi on Unsplash

Driving with a cracked windshield doesn’t seem dangerous, and many drivers believe that it’s not a big deal. However, even the smallest cracks and chips will worsen with time, posing serious legal consequences and safety risks. Here, we’ll explain why you shouldn’t drive a vehicle with broken glass.

It’s Dangerous

While it’s possible to drive a car with a cracked or broken windshield, it’s not the best idea. Driving with broken auto glass makes a vehicle more likely to sustain serious damage in an accident. If a crack or chip blocks your view, it’s impossible to pay attention to the road. Furthermore, cracks reflect sunlight, which increases the risk of blinding glare. Reduce the risk of injury by getting your windshield fixed as soon as possible. You can get affordable replacement glass at Discount Auto Glass and still get the highest quality auto glass and service-oriented assistance.

It May Be Against the Law

Depending on your location, it may be illegal to drive with a chipped or cracked windshield. State laws differ in this regard, and drivers should familiarize themselves with local regulations before driving with damaged glass. Arizona, Florida, and other states have laws prohibiting vehicle operation if:

  • A glass crack has spread in several directions.
  • A chip is more than three-quarters of an inch wide.
  • Damaged areas are less than three inches apart.
  • Damage is present above the steering wheel.
  • A crack or chip has developed near the windshield’s top edge.

Again, learning about your state’s laws before driving with a damaged windshield is a good idea. With a little research, you can avoid the hassle and expense of a citation. The safest option is to find a local auto glass replacement and repair company.

What Happens When You Drive a Vehicle With Broken Glass?

Windshields serve a crucial purpose: they keep drivers and passengers safe during accidents. This type of auto glass is composed of laminated layers, and if it’s chipped or cracked, it may:

  • Compromise the vehicle’s structural integrity. Windshields contribute to a car’s rigidity and structural soundness, keeping the roof from caving in during a rollover crash.
  • Increase the risk of ejection during an accident. An unbroken windshield keeps occupants inside the vehicle during crashes.
  • Cause airbags to deploy improperly. The windshield allows a car’s airbags to deploy in the right position. If they deploy the wrong way, they won’t do their job.

With all the safety risks we’ve listed, it’s best to think twice before driving with a cracked windshield. Click for more information or call us to schedule an appointment.

Should You Ignore a Broken Windshield?

Thanks to speeding and distracted driving, traffic accidents are all too common—and driving with broken glass can be dangerous. Cracks and chips won’t go away; in fact, they’ll only get worse with time. All glass damage poses a risk, but bigger cracks are more problematic. As soon as you notice a chip or a crack, bring your car in for glass repair or replacement.

Stay Safe: Don’t Drive With Broken Glass

Today’s drivers face many perils, not the least of which is windshield damage. If your auto glass is chipped, cracked, or shattered, do not drive the vehicle. Instead, call a windshield repair and replacement company for immediate assistance. While it won’t be cheap to fix the glass, it’s an investment in your safety. Call now or click to book an appointment.

How Motorsports Sportsbooks Has Evolved

Three decades ago, betting on motorsports was a vastly different landscape and has changed rapidly to become more accessible, popular, and profitable. Motorsport bets have gone from paper receipts and over-the-phone bets in the 90s to online webpage betting in the 00s to today where anyone can place sportsbooks anywhere with their mobile phone. With this newfound ease of access, sportsbook gambling has also exploded in popularity. Motorsports bets went from the occasional news story of a bettor winning large amounts to becoming a daily occurrence anyone can do from within their home.

The evolutions in motorsport gambling haven’t just stopped at accessibility and popularization. Similar to how many of our favorite racing formats have changed, so too have the betting formats. Additional bet formats are great for sportsbook fans because they allow for many different avenues of profitability. This is because many bets don’t rely on a single outcome, and your money can still be in play after many hiccups.

As mentioned before, online and mobile sportsbooks and motorsports betting has become the most common method of playing. Finding a good website or app is vital for the quality of your experience. If you are in the United States, research your state’s laws and pick what’s best for you. If you live outside the U.S., websites like 22Bet México are a fantastic option as they offer all the various types of bet formats mentioned later in this article.

Motorsports Bet Formats

Race Winner

The most straightforward and common bet in motorsports. Simplicity is elegant, and this bet is simply betting on which driver will take the first position in the race.

Top Finishers

Typically, the second-most common bet in motorsports. A Top Finisher bet is betting on the final position of a particular driver in a race, such as the top 5 or top 3. This is one of the evolutions of motorsports betting as it offers far more flexibility and keeps your money in play.

Futures

As the name implies, this bet is a wager on future outcomes, often related to the entire race season. Good examples of futures bets are betting on who won the most races, who will win the season, who will be in the playoffs, and who had the most accidents. This type of bet requires extensive knowledge and can often be riskier than a standard race bet.

Props

Similar to futures, but on occurrences within the race such as the number of position changes, number of accidents, amount of caution flags, and which driver is in a specific position on a specified lap. These are low-amount bets and are a fun and exciting thing to do to spice up a race as a viewer.

Head-to-Head Matchup

This type of bet is a wager on which of two chosen drivers will finish ahead of the other. The outcome of the bet is only dependent on the positions of the two drivers, and the race outcome is irrelevant.

Live Betting

Lastly, live betting has become more popular along with the evolution of motorsports gambling. This type of betting allows you to place bets live while viewing the race, such as prop bets. Reputable websites and bookies such as 22Bet offer this exciting type of betting, which can increase the thrill of Race Sunday.

Conclusion

Whether it is NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy, or others, motorsports and sportsbook gambling have evolved to become one of the most thrilling and popular pastimes. Remember to stay responsible when gambling and only risk what you are willing to lose, as that is key to doubling up on the fun.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

The NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, 2023 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Christopher Bell: Bell finished eighth at Talladega, recording his seventh top 10 of the season.

“Noah Gragson accidentally turned Harrison Burton on Lap 142,” Bell said. “Those two have a history. They got into a fight in 2020 at Kentucky. Gragson’s car had Wendy’s sponsorship, which conveniently answers the question, ‘Where’s the beef?'”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch survived a series of late restarts and was just ahead of Ryan Blaney when the final caution ended the race, giving him the win in the Geico 500 at Talladega.

“I’m not too proud to say that lots of things worked out in our favor,” Busch said. “Sometimes it’s best to be good. Sometimes, it’s best to be lucky. And sometimes, it’s best to have the best legal representation money can buy.”

3. William Byron: Byron finished sixth at Talladega.

“As is usually the case,” Byron said, “my car sported the Liberty University paint scheme. For those not familiar with Liberty U., it’s in Lynchburg, Virginia, and is unofficially known as ‘Mind If I Watch U.'”

4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started on the pole at Talladega and finished 15th.

“Michael Jordan was in attendance to watch Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs race,” Hamlin said. “It’s got to be a huge thrill for fans lucky enough to bump into the greatest basketball player of all time at a race track in Alabama. I mean, what are the odds? Well, MJ could probably tell you exactly what the odds are.”

5. Ryan Blaney: Blaney led a race-high 47 laps, but came up short at Talladega when a caution ended the race with Blaney trailing Kyle Busch in the lead.

“Bubba Wallace pretty much cost me the win,” Blaney said. “Michael Jordan would be proud of him because Bubba ‘blocked’ me with a ‘lane violation’ and ‘assisted’ Kyle Busch to the win. And, of course, the race went into overtime.”

6. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 27th, the last car on the lead lap, after he was collateral damage in the final wreck that ended the race.

“Congratulations to my former teammate Kyle Busch,” Truex said. “He was extremely fortunate to win that race. He can now call himself the luckiest man in two countries, Mexico and the United States.”

7. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished 22nd at Talladega.

“There are superspeedways,” Chastain said. “And then there is ‘Super Speed Way,’ which is the street named after Jeremy Mayfield.”

8. Kevin Harvick: A late pit stop for fuel cost Harvick a chance at a top-five finish, and instead settled for 20th in the Geico 500.

“I made my 800th Cup start at Talladega,” Harvick said. “Unlike my car at Talladega, I get great mileage.”

9. Kyle Larson: Larson was knocked out of the Geico 500 on lap 190 when a wild restart sent him hurtling into the path of Noah Gragson. Larson finished 33rd.

“Talladega is always such an unpredictable race,” Larson said. “I think that’s exactly what fans want to see: unpredictability. If fans are looking for something predictable, they should go watch a Hendrick car post-race inspection.”

10. Joey Logano: Logano bounced back from an early speeding penalty, and was in contention late before contact with Corey Lajoie wrecked him on Lap 184. Logano was able to continue and finished 30th.

“Talladega is always a race in which any driver in the field can win,” Logano said. “It’s also a race in which any driver in the field can be the reason you don’t win.”

Kyle Busch avoids final lap carnage for wild Cup victory at Talladega

TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 23: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 McLaren Custom Grills Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, 2023 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).

In a similar scenario to the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course a year ago, Kyle Busch found himself situated at the right place to strike at the right time as he dodged a final lap carnage involving race leaders Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney to net a big victory in the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 23, amid two overtime attempts.

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, led three of 196 over-scheduled laps as he placed himself in contention to win while starting on the front row during the second of two overtime attempts. Despite being overtaken by Wallace and a hard-charging Blaney on the frontstretch and as the final lap started, the seas parted ways for Busch as Wallace, who went from the bottom to the top lane to block Blaney, got bumped and turned sideways in front of Blaney on the outside lane.

The result triggered a multi-car pileup between Turns 1 and 2 as Busch dodged the carnage to reassume the lead before the caution flag waved to officially conclude the event on the final lap. Amid fuel concerns, Busch had enough fuel to coast his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 across the finish line first and claim his second checkered flag of the 2023 season and his first at Talladega in 15 years.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Denny Hamlin started in pole position for the first time in 2023 after posting a pole-winning lap at 180.751 mph in 52.979 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Aric Almirola, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 180.642 mph in 53.011 seconds.

Prior to the event, Austin Cindric, AJ Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Hamlin and Almirola dueled for the lead amid two tight-packed lanes entering the first turn until Almirola received a strong push from teammate Chase Briscoe to launch ahead and assume control of both lanes through the backstretch. With the field fanning out to two tight-packed lanes, Almirola proceeded to lead the first lap ahead of Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Hamlin and Chris Buescher.

Then prior to the second lap and as Logano challenged Almirola for the lead, the first caution flew when Michael McDowell, who was running within the top 20, spun in the middle of the pack through Turns 3 and 4 after losing a right-rear tire. Amid the spin, the field scattered to avoid hitting McDowell as he pitted his No. 34 Love’s Travel Stop Ford Mustang for repairs.

During the first caution period, a host of names that included Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Justin Haley, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Riley Herbst, Corey LaJoie, JJ Yeley, Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, BJ McLeod and Austin Hill pitted while the rest led by Almirola remained on the track.

When the event restarted on the sixth lap, Almirola maintained the lead on the outside lane followed by Logano while Briscoe challenged Buescher for third. As the field returned to the frontstretch, Briscoe drew himself into a side-by-side battle with teammate Almirola for the lead as the former led a lap for himself. Then on the eighth lap, Bubba Wallace was drafted into the lead on the outside lane as he had rookie Ty Gibbs and Ryan Blaney drafting him. As Wallace fought for the lead on the outside lead, Briscoe also fought back on the inside lane with drafting help from teammate Almirola and Logano.

At the Lap 10 mark, Wallace was leading ahead of Gibbs, Briscoe, Blaney and Almirola as the field battled amid two tight-packed lanes. Despite being pressured by Briscoe on the inside lane, Wallace maintained the lead on the outside lane through the Lap 20 mark.

By Lap 25, Wallace continued to lead as Blaney moved up to second. Martin Truex Jr. also moved up to third followed by Gibbs and Daniel Suarez while Briscoe fell back to sixth ahead of Kyle Busch, Almirola, Harrison Burton and Ross Chastain. By then, all but one of 38 starters were separated within two seconds amid a tight pack and two lanes.

Then as the first wave of green flag pit stops commenced approaching Lap 35 with Wallace leading his Toyota teammates to pit road, early trouble struck for teammate Tyler Reddick, who made a late dart to the left and locked up his front tires while trying to slow his car prior to entering pit road. After getting loose, Reddick then spun and hit the inside wall as he was dodged by Wallace and all four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota competitors. Despite the incident, the race proceeded under green as Reddick navigated his No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota TRD Camry back to pit road for repairs.

On Lap 39, another wave of competitors, mainly Chevrolet competitors, led by Chastain, who passed Kyle Busch for the lead on Lap 36, pitted as Preece cycled to the lead. Then as another wave of competitors, mainly Ford competitors, led by Preece pitted by Lap 41, trouble struck for Briscoe, who spun after locking up his tires and trying to slow his No. 14 Mahindra Tractors YOG Ford Mustang while trying to enter pit road.

While the rest of his Ford competitors proceeded to pit, Briscoe’s event then went from bad to worse when he flattened his tires and was left stranded on pit road while the rest of his fellow competitors pitted. As a result of his mishap, the caution returned on Lap 42. By then, Erik Jones was leading ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ty Dillon, Haley, Corey LaJoie and AJ Allmendinger. During the caution period, some led by Erik Jones, who had yet to pit, pitted while the rest led by Elliott remained on the track.

When the event restarted under green on Lap 47, teammates Elliott and Bowman dueled for the lead in front of the pack. They continued to duel for the lead through the backstretch and entering Turns 3 and 4 until Bowman peeked ahead in his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and led the following lap. While Bowman had drafting help from teammate Kyle Larson, Elliott had drafting help from Chastain as both Hendrick Motorsports teammates continued to swap back and forth for the lead.

Nearing the Lap 55 mark, the battle for the lead continued to intensify as Elliott reassumed the top spot with drafting help from Chastain on the inside lane while Bowman fought back on the outside lane with drafting help from teammate Larson. As the field remained dead even in a tight pack, Almirola tried to start a third lane towards the outside lane entering the frontstretch. Kyle Busch would then move up in front of Almirola along with Blaney and Zane Smith towards the outside lane as Elliott retained the lead.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 60, Elliott, who swapped the lead with teammate Bowman since the previous restart amid the draft, claimed his first Cup stage victory of the 2023 season. Bowman, Chastain, Byron, Larson, Cindric, Gragson, Logano, Preece and Suarez were scored in the top 10. By then, the event featured 15 lead changes for 10 different leaders while 36 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap.

Under the second stage, the field led by Elliott returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops and amid mixed strategies, Hamlin exited first after only opting for fuel. Harvick, who pitted for two fresh tires, exited second followed by Haley, Chastain on four tires, Truex and Cindric. Amid the pit stops, Todd Gilliland was penalized for having his crew members jump over the pit wall too soon. Buescher was also penalized for running over equipment along with Herbst, who was nabbed for pitting outside his pit box. JJ Yeley was also assessed a penalty for vehicle interference.

Prior to the start of the second stage, the following names that included Buescher, Kyle Busch, Zane Smith, Erik Jones, Keselowski, Stenhouse, Austin Hill and Herbst pitted to top off on fuel.

The second stage started on Lap 67 as Hamlin and Justin Haley occupied the front row. At the start, Hamlin pulled ahead on the outside lane in his No. 11 FedEx Toyota TRD Camry through the first two turns as Haley tried to fight back on the inside lane with drafting help from Chastain. Hamlin, however, had drafting help from Harvick as he maintained the lead in front of the field battling in tight formation through two lanes.

Four laps later, Harvick, who drew himself in a side-by-side battle with Hamlin for the lead, led a lap for himself as he tried to receive drafting assistance from Truex while Hamlin moved in front of Haley on the inside lane. With Harvick in the lead, Logano then drew himself behind Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang in the draft while Truex drew himself in a side-by-side battle with Harvick for the lead.

At the Lap 75 mark, Harvick was leading ahead of Logano, Preece, Truex and Hamlin while Larson, Haley, Wallace, Chastain and Ty Dillon were scored in the top 10. By then, the top-36 competitors were separated by two seconds, with the first 21 separated by under a second.

Two laps later, Logano was drafted into the lead as he led a lap for himself. Another lap later, however, Truex made his move to the front after receiving a draft from teammate Hamlin and Harvick on the outside lane while Logano remained on the inside lane.

Through the first 90 scheduled laps, Truex, who had been swapping the lead with Logano since Lap 77, was out in front ahead of Logano while Hamlin, Haley and Harvick were in the top five. By then, Chastain was in sixth followed by Preece, Cindric, Wallace and Bell while Ty Dillon, Larson, Austin Dillon, Byron and LaJoie were scored in the top 15 ahead of Elliott, Almirola, Harrison Burton, Bowman and Blaney. In addition, 36 of 38 starters scored on the lead lap were separated within two seconds.

At the halfway mark on Lap 94, Truex continued to lead ahead of teammate Hamlin while Harvick, Logano, Preece, Haley, Wallace, Chastain, Ty Dillon and Cindric were battling within the top 10. By then, the top-26 competitors were separated by less than a second while a total of 36 lead lap competitors were separated by over a second and a half.

Three laps later, the field fanned out to three tight-packed lanes as Wallace mounted a charge on the outside lane with drafting help from Erik Jones. Another lap later, Wallace was drafted into the lead as he moved in front of Truex and Hamlin while Harvick and Logano occupied the top five. By Lap 100, Harvick moved back into the lead as he battled Truex to maintain the spot while Preece and Ty Dillon moved up into the top five.

Three laps later, the second wave of green flag pit stops commenced as a host of competitors, mainly Chevrolet competitors, led by Chastain pitted. Another lap later, a mix of Toyota and Chevrolet competitors led by Truex and Hamlin pitted under green for service. Another wave of competitors, mainly Ford competitors, led by Harvick would then pit under green by Lap 105, mainly for fuel. Amid the pit stops, Logano was penalized for speeding on pit road.

Nearing the Lap 106 mark, the top-four competitors led by Keselowski and followed by teammate Buescher, Yeley and Riley Herbst pitted. Once the second cycle of green flag pit stops concluded, Truex cycled his No. 19 Bas Pro Shops Toyota TRD Camry into the lead followed by Austin Dillon and Byron while Kyle Busch, Bowman and Elliott were scored in the top six. By Lap 110, however, Wallace navigated his way back into the lead over Elliott, who led the previous lap.

Then on Lap 115, the field split Logano in the middle as Logano, who was left out of the draft prior to the field catching him, was mired a lap down following his pit road penalty. As Logano received drafting help from teammate Cindric to battle Briscoe for the free pass spot, Elliott, who spent the previous several laps battling Wallace for the lead, was out in front. By then, Almirola moved up to second followed by Harvick, Burton and Preece while Wallace was left battling Truex for sixth.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 120, Almirola executed a move on Elliott with drafting help from teammate Harvick on the outside lane to claim his first Cup stage victory since 2020. Elliott settled in second followed by Harvick, Wallace and Burton while Truex, Preece, Hamlin, Stenhouse and Gragson were scored in the top 10. By then, the event featured 33 lead changes for 16 different leaders. In addition, Logano was the beneficiary of the free pass and cycled back to the lead lap after managing to remain ahead of Briscoe and BJ McLeod, both of whom were a lap down, on the track.

Under the stage break, nearly the entire field led by Almirola returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Almirola exited first to retain the lead followed by Hamlin, Wallace, Elliott, Burton and Harvick.

With 62 laps remaining, the final stage started as Almirola and Wallace occupied the front row. At the start, Wallace peeked ahead with the lead on the inside lane with drafting help from Burton as he then darted up the track to block Almirola. This enabled Burton to be drafted into the lead on the inside lane followed by Gragson as Wallace battled Truex for third. Burton would then maintain the lead in front of Gragson, Wallace, Truex, Blaney and Almirola as the event reached its final 60-lap mark.

With 50 laps remaining, Blaney was leading NY a hair over Burton and followed by Wallace, Gragson and Almirola while Hamlin, Truex, Reddick, Elliott and Harvick were running in the top 10. By then, the top-22 competitors were separated by under a second while 35 lead lap competitors were separated by less than two seconds amid the tight two-lane packed racing.

Then with 47 laps remaining, the caution flew when Burton, who was being drafted by Gragson while battling for the lead, spun off the front nose of Gragson as he spun his No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang below the Turn 3 apron, though he managed to sustain no significant damage. As the field checked up to avoid Burton’s spin, however, Logano got into the rear of Zane Smith, who then collected Austin Dillon as Dillon spun his No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 below the apron and the grass while Smith made more contact with Austin Hill.

During the caution period, the field led by Blaney pitted, mainly for fuel, and Blaney retained the lead after exiting first followed by Almirola, Wallace, Hamlin, Truex and Gragson. Prior to the restart, names that included Keselowski, Buescher, Erik Jones, Logano and Hill pitted to top off with enough fuel for the finish.

With the event restarting with 41 laps remaining, Blaney and Wallace dueled for the lead before Wallace received a draft from his owner Hamlin to move into the lead on the outside lane. With Blaney remaining on the inside lane and in front of Almirola, Wallace maintained his momentum and lead on the outside lane in front of Hamlin and Truex as the field fanned out to three tight-packed lanes.

With 38 laps remaining, the outside lane led by Wallace briefly stacked up, which enabled Preece to try to ignite a drafting charge on the outside lane as Blaney was pushed clear to the lead followed by Almirola, Gragson and Harvick. As the field continued to fan out through three tight-packed lanes, Gibbs charged his way into third in front of Gragson, Wallace, Hamlin and Harvick as Blaney retained the lead. Gibbs then started to challenge Blaney for the lead with 35 laps remaining while running in the middle lane while Preece launched another bid for the front on the outside lane.

A lap later, the battle for the lead fanned out to three tight-packed lanes amid the draft as Blaney, Gibbs and Preece, all of whom were the front-runners of each of the three lanes, dueled for the lead. As Gibbs managed to peek ahead to lead a lap for himself, Blaney and Preece fought back from their respective lanes, with Blaney receiving a strong push from Almirola on the inside lane to move ahead. With Preece slowly falling back on the outside lane, Gibbs received drafting help from Wallace and his Toyota teammates to keep Blaney within his sights under the final 30-lap mark.

Down to the final 25 laps of the event, Blaney was leading ahead of Almirola, Gragson, Gibbs and Harvick while Wallace, Chastain, Hamlin, Truex and Larson were scored in the top 10. By then, the top 20 competitors were separated by less than a second, with the top 33 separated by one-and-a-half seconds amid the tight-packed draft racing fanning out to three lanes.

Five laps later and with the field still fanned out to three lanes, Blaney and Gibbs continued to duel for the lead ahead of Almirola, Wallace and Gragson while Stenhouse tried to form a third drafting lane to the front. Another two laps later, the inside lane gained momentum as Blaney started to pull ahead followed by Almirola, Gragson, Harvick, Chastain, Larson, Kyle Busch and Allmendinger while Gibbs, Wallace and Hamlin were losing touch with the leaders while running on the outside lane. With 15 laps remaining, however, the outside lane led by Gibbs and followed by Wallace, Hamlin and Truex regained their momentum as Gibbs started to challenge Blaney for the lead.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event and with fuel becoming questionable for the front-runners, the top-33 competitors were separated within a second and in tight formation amid the draft as both Blaney and Gibbs continued to fight for the lead followed by Wallace, Hamlin, Almirola, Gragson, Truex, Harvick, Haley and Chastain.

With seven laps remaining, the top-four competitors that included Blaney, Almirola, Gragson and Harvick broke away from the tight pack while Gibbs was trying to maintain momentum as the lead competitor on the outside lane. Then as the intensity toward the front continued, the caution flew with five laps remaining when Logano, who darted to the outside lane to ignite a charge to the front while running in the middle of the pack, got bumped and loose by LaJoie as he briefly bounced off of Suarez before making contact with the backstretch’s outside wall and spinning below the track. Stenhouse and Herbst also sustained damage along with Byron, who made contact with Burton as Burton spun and slapped the inside wall, as the event was sent into overtime.

During the caution period, select names that included Byron, Bell, Stenhouse and Ty Dillon pitted for fuel while the rest led by Blaney remained on the track.

At the start of the first overtime attempt, where Blaney and Gragson occupied the front row, Gragson received a push from Chastain to peek ahead of Blaney entering the first turn. Then through Turns 1 and 2, Chastain tried to make a move between Blaney and Gragson for the lead. Amid the tight racing, Chastain and Gragson ended up making contact as Gragson’s No. 42 Wendy’s Beef is in the Bag Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ended up shooting back across the track and hitting the outside wall. In the ensuing process, Larson got turned by Harvick as he spun below the apron. Larson then came back across the track and despite being dodged by most of the oncoming field, he was T-boned by Preece’s No. 41 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang as both of their events came to an end.

Under the caution period, Harvick, Hamlin, Chastain and Haley pitted for fuel while the rest led by Blaney remained on the track.

During the start of the second overtime attempt, where Blaney and Kyle Busch occupied the front row, the momentum occurred on the outside lane as Busch was drafted into the lead followed by Wallace and Keselowski while Blaney was left to battle Truex for fourth. By then, Gibbs pulled his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota TRD Camry below the track after running out of fuel. Through the backstretch, the inside lane led by Busch continued to gain more momentum while Truex was mired back in sixth despite remaining on the outside lane.

Then through the frontstretch, Wallace made his move on Busch and assumed the lead on the outside lane in his No. 23 Columbia Toyota TRD Camry with drafting help from Blaney’s No. 12 Wurth Ford Mustang as he started the final lap of the event. Through Turn 1, however, Blaney tried to make a move beneath Wallace for the lead but was blocked. He then moved up the track along with Wallace and the two made contact, which resulted in Wallace getting loose and spinning sideways as he came down the track and clipped Keselowski before spinning within the middle of the pack and towards oncoming competitors. Among those involved on the final lap included Keselowski, Truex, Allmendinger, Cindric, Gilliland and Byron while the rest of the field scattered to avoid the carnage.

With the caution waving and the race deemed official, Kyle Busch was back in front ahead of Blaney. Amid concerns of not having enough fuel to finish, Busch was able to have enough to remain ahead of Blaney and navigate his No. 8 McLaren Custom Grills Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 through the frontstretch before claiming the checkered flag and the official victory.

With the victory, Busch, who won earlier at Auto Club Speedway in late February, notched his second NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2023 season, which makes him the third multi-time winner of this season. He also notched his 62nd career win in NASCAR’s premier series, which makes the 2023 season Busch’s 13th of 19 full-time seasons with multiple Cup victories. The Talladega victory was also Busch’s second of his Cup career, with his first dating back to April 2008, and the 13th overall for Richard Childress Racing. Ironically, Busch’s Talladega victory marked his first restrictor-plate victory since winning at Daytona International Speedway in July 2008.

“Sometimes, you got to be lucky,” Busch said on FOX. “Some of these races come down to that. You gotta take’em when they come your way. The seas kind of parted there when [Wallace and Blaney] went up the racetrack. They were trying to push draft. These cars are just not stable enough to do that. Seeing [Wallace] just turn a little bit sideways, I was like get out of the way, just miss it and try to see if I was ahead of [Blaney] by the time [the race] was called. Just a great day for another new sponsor at [Richard Childress Racing] with McLaren Custom Grills. We have a great time being able to come out here and race and be a part of Team Chevy and get this Camaro in Victory Lane.”

“We were sweating it being close [on fuel],” Busch added. “I thought back to California, Fontana, earlier this year where we have a win. I’m like we gotta gamble. We’re up here, you gotta take the track position when you have it and go give it what you can on the restarts and see what happens. Low and behold, it worked out. Knock on wood for this one.”  

Following an extensive review of the finishing order amid the final lap chaos, Blaney settled in second place after leading a race-high 47 laps. Buescher made his way to third followed by Briscoe, who rallied from losing a lap to the leaders, while Keselowski ended up fifth.

“You get big runs and you take’em when you can,” Blaney said. “I’m glad everyone’s OK, but on my mind, you kind of triple move like that, triple block and you can’t block three times. Just the runs are so big and as the leader, with Bubba, he’s trying to block, which is the right thing to do, but I think he kind of moved three times. You don’t really get a lot of those. I gotta go somewhere, so I hate that good cars got torn up. I hate for us being so close for the win. I’m not blaming anybody. It’s just hard racing at the end of this thing. Unfortunate [that] cars got tore up and we just missed out on another win.”

Erik Jones, Byron, Bell, Suarez and Todd Gilliland finished in the top 10. Notably, Elliott finished 12th in front of Bowman, Ty Dillon and Stenhouse while Hamlin ended up 17th behind Reddick. Almirola fell back to 22nd behind teammate Harvick, who made his 800th Cup career start, while Truex ended up 27th. Meanwhile, Wallace, who led 35 laps, was left in 28th place while Ty Gibbs ended up 31st after not having enough fuel to finish.

There were 57 lead changes for 21 different leaders. The race featured eight cautions for 34 laps. In addition, 27 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the 10th event of the 2023 Cup Series season, Christopher Bell leads the regular-season standings by 12 points over Ross Chastain, 20 over Kevin Harvick, 36 over Kyle Larson, 41 over Kyle Busch and 45 over Tyler Reddick.

Results.

1. Kyle Busch, three laps led

2. Ryan Blaney, 47 laps led

3. Chris Buescher

4. Chase Briscoe, one lap led

5. Brad Keselowski, two laps led

6. Erik Jones, three laps led

7. William Byron, one lap led

8. Christopher Bell

9. Daniel Suarez, five laps led

10. Todd Gilliland

11. JJ Yeley

12. Chase Elliott, 18 laps led, Stage 1 winner

13. Alex Bowman, eight laps led

14. Ty Dillon

15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

16. Tyler Reddick

17. Denny Hamlin, seven laps led

18. BJ McLeod

19. Justin Haley

20. Riley Herbst

21. Kevin Harvick, 11 laps led

22. Aric Almirola, 11 laps led, Stage 2 winner

23. Ross Chastain

24. Austin Hill

25. Corey LaJoie

26. Austin Cindric

27. Martin Truex Jr., 19 laps led

28. Bubba Wallace – OUT, Accident, 35 laps led

29. AJ Allmendinger – OUT, Accident

30. Joey Logano, one lap down, three laps led

31. Ty Gibbs – OUT, Fuel, four laps led

32. Noah Gragson – OUT, Accident, one lap led

33. Kyle Larson – OUT, Accident

34. Ryan Preece – OUT, Accident, two laps led

35. Michael McDowell, 13 laps down

36. Harrison Burton – OUT, Accident, 11 laps led

37. Zane Smith – OUT, Accident

38. Austin Dillon – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the series’ lone visit of this season to Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m. ET on FS1.

Stewart-Haas Racing: GEICO 500 from Talladega

STEWART-HAAS RACING
GEICO 500

Date: April 23, 2023

Event: GEICO 500 (Round 10 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Cup Series

Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/68 laps)

Note: Race extended eight laps past its scheduled 188-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Race Winner: Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

Stage 1 Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Stage 2 Winner: Aric Almirola of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

SHR Race Finish:

● Chase Briscoe (Started 4th, Finished 4th / Running, completed 196 of 196 laps)

● Aric Almirola (Started 2nd, Finished 20th / Running, completed 196 of 196 laps)

● Kevin Harvick (Started 11th, Finished 21st / Running, completed 196 of 196 laps)

● Ryan Preece (Started 16th, Finished 34th / Accident, completed 189 of 196 laps)

SHR Points:

● Kevin Harvick (3rd with 311 points, 20 out of first)

● Chase Briscoe (15th with 243 points, 88 out of first)

● Aric Almirola (24th with 170 points, 161 out of first)

● Ryan Preece (28th with 149 points, 182 out of first)

Briscoe Notes:

● Briscoe earned his third top-five and his fourth top-10 of the season. It was also his first top-five and second top-10 in five career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega.

● This was Briscoe’s best finish so far this year. His previous best was a pair of fifth-place finishes – April 9 on the dirt at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and last Sunday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

● This was Briscoe’s fifth straight top-15. He finished 15th March 26 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, 12th April 2 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, fifth April 9 on the dirt at Bristol and fifth last Sunday at Martinsville.

● Briscoe led one lap, increasing his laps-led total at Talladega to two.

Almirola Notes:

● Almirola won Stage 2 to earn 10 bonus points and one playoff point.

● Almirola led three times for 11 laps to increase his laps-led total at Talladega to 118.

Harvick Notes:

● The GEICO 500 marked Harvick’s 800th career NASCAR Cup Series start. He is the 10th driver in NASCAR’s 75-year history to reach this milestone and, at age 47, the fifth-youngest driver to make 800 starts. Harvick joins an impressive lineup that includes Richard Petty (1,185 starts), Ricky Rudd (906), Terry Labonte (890), Dave Marcis (883), Mark Martin (882), Kyle Petty (829), Bill Elliott (828), Darrell Waltrip (809) and Jeff Gordon (805). Harvick is on track to finish the year with 826 career starts, which would put him eighth all-time.

● Harvick finished third in Stage 2 to earn eight bonus points.

● Harvick led twice for 11 laps to increase his laps-led total at Talladega to 303.

● Harvick has now led 11,560 laps since joining SHR in 2014. He has led 15,975 laps in his entire NASCAR Cup Series career.

Preece Notes:

● Preece finished ninth in Stage 1 to earn two bonus points and seventh in Stage 2 to earn four more bonus points.

● Preece led once for two laps, increasing his laps-led total at Talladega to 14.

Race Notes:

● Kyle Busch won the GEICO 500 to score his 62nd career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his second at Talladega. Ryan Blaney finished in the runner-up position as the race ended under caution.

● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● There were eight cautions for a total of 34 laps.

● Christopher Bell remains the championship leader after Talladega with an 11-point advantage over second-place Ross Chastain.

Sound Bites:

“Wild day. I made a huge mistake coming to pit road. We’re two laps down, and then we were one and was going to get the Lucky Dog at the end of Stage 2, and then (Joey) Logano had that speeding penalty and barely got us for the Lucky Dog. It was a battle all day long – very similar to how we kind of were at the end of last year, just continuing to fight and keep doing everything we could to try to maximize our day. At the end, found ourselves up there and in the top-five. I would’ve loved to have a little bit more, but if you told me we were going to finish fourth there – at any point of the race really, even there with 20 (laps) to go. We were so stuck in the back and couldn’t really do anything. So, cool to get this Mahindra ‘Old Goat’ Ford Mustang in the top-five and looking forward to next week.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang

“There’s so much to be proud of. We had a great racecar and ran up-front, led, was in position all day, and then just Ross (Chastain) doing Ross things on that restart. Wiped out the right side of our car, and either broke something in the right-front suspension or had the right-front tire go flat. So, it took a racecar that had a great shot to win and crashed. That part is frustrating, but we have a lot to be proud of. Drew (Blickensderfer, crew chief) and these guys gave us an unbelievable speedway car again, and we keep showing up to these places with an opportunity to win. The last few weeks we’ve had really fast racecars and run up front, so at some point we’re going to convert and win us one.” – Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Würth 400 on Sunday, April 30 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. The race begins at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

CHEVROLET NCS AT TALLADEGA: Post-Race Notes and Quotes

NASCAR CUP SERIES
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
GEICO 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 23, 2023

Kyle Busch Prevails in Overtime Finish for Talladega Victory
Chevrolet’s Seventh NCS Win of 2023; Chevrolet Sweeps Talladega Doubleheader Weekend

In a double attempt at an overtime finish, Kyle Busch and the No. 8 McLaren Custom Grills Camaro ZL1 team came out on top to score Chevrolet’s seventh NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2023 season.

· The win is Busch’s second NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2023 season and his 62nd career win in NASCAR’s premier series.

· Busch is now the third repeat winner in the series this season, joining fellow Chevrolet drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson.

· The victory extended Chevrolet’s series-leading NASCAR Cup Series win record at Talladega Superspeedway to 44 all-time victories, including the past three races at the Alabama superspeedway.

· Chevrolet has now won the past five NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway races, dating back to Ross Chastain’s win at Talladega Superspeedway one year ago.

· The winningest manufacturer in NASCAR Cup Series history, Chevrolet now sits at 840 all-time wins in NASCAR’s premier series.

· Chevrolet swept the NASCAR doubleheader race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, with Jeb Burton and the No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing Camaro SS team taking the victory in the Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

Kyle Busch, No. 8 McLaren Custom Grills Camaro ZL1 – Race Winner Quotes

“Sometimes you gotta be lucky. Some of these races comes down to that, and you have to take them when they come your way. The seas kind of parted there when they went up the racetrack. They were trying push draft, and these cars just aren’t stable enough to do that. I saw the 23 just turn a little bit sideways and I was like, ‘Get out of the way.’ Just missed it and tried to see if I was ahead of the 12 when it was called. A great day for another new sponsor at RCR with McLaren Custom Grills. If you ain’t got a custom grill yet, these McLarens are pretty bomb so you gotta check them out. We have a great time being able to come out here and race and be a part of Team Chevy and Chevrolet and get this Camaro in Victory Lane.”

HOW CLOSE WERE YOU ON FUEL? “Well, it shut off here when I was trying to do a burnout so maybe it’s out. I went left instead of right. The fuel-pickup is on the right so maybe I ran it out. We were sweating it being close. I thought back to California and Fontana earlier this year where we have a win, and I’m like we have to gamble. We’re up here, you have to take the track position when you have it and go give it what you can on the restart and see what happens. Lo and behold, it worked out.”

MORE ON THE WIN: “You never know what’s going to happen, right? We had the track position and had the opportunity to be up front there. Short on fuel, you just don’t know so you take that chance. Luckily I thought about it, and I’m like, ‘We gotta take the chance.’ That win at Fontana really opened that door for us today. If we didn’t have that, I felt like we would have to come in to get some fuel to get points. You know, I guess I’d rather be lucky somedays and we were certainly that today. It feels good to see the seas part finally and me squeeze through and not get torn up in a couple of those wrecks late. Thanks to McLaren Custom Grills. Appreciate them, another new RCR partner for us this year. It’s awesome to get them up to Victory Lane. I hope their website is blowing up right now and they’re getting a lot of likes and selling some grills. We need all the help we can get. Our sport is doing well but things can always be better. We want to see full fields of sponsored cars.”

HOW WAS YOUR DAY BEFORE THE LAST LAPS? “Every time I got near the front, I got shuffled. That’s about what happens in these restrictor plate races for me. There in that last lap, Bubba Wallace was helping push and getting us out there and getting us to the lead. I got a little too far out, and I knew they were going to have a run so I was like, ‘You know what… take the run. We’ll see what happens in the next corner.’ Lo and behold they got crossed up. Sometimes you’re quiet sometimes and you just kind of squeak one out.”

WINNING FOR RCR WITH RICHARD CHILDRESS AT THE RACE: “It’s awesome. I know they’ve had a lot of superspeedway love for a long, long time. One of the best to ever do it was obviously one of the winningest ones. It’s fun to be able to come out here and be a part of this team and work with Randall (Burnett, crew chief) and all my guys. Pit stops today were fine. We were never really in a position to push hard, but we got everything to go our way and came out on top.”

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:

POS. DRIVER

1st Kyle Busch, No. 8 McLaren Custom Grills Camaro ZL1

6th Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Camaro ZL1

7th William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1

9th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Camaro ZL1

TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:

POS. DRIVER

1st Kyle Busch (Chevrolet)

2nd Ryan Blaney (Ford)

3rd Chris Buescher (Ford)

4th Chase Briscoe (Ford)

5th Brad Keselowski (Ford)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Dover Motor Speedway with the Würth 400 on Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1

Finished: 33rd

“Thankfully I’m OK but my car is absolutely destroyed. The cockpit’s a mess. I’m just thankful that I’m alright and all that. It’s just a bummer. We put ourselves in position once again on a superspeedway and the results don’t show it. Another wreck not of my doing on a superspeedway. I just hate it but we’ll keep getting better, and eventually it’ll have to work out I would think.”

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

Finished: 18th

“This one stung a little. We had a fast No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy and had really good pit strategy all day. We thought we would set ourselves up for the end there and avoided all the wrecks, but we just couldn’t quite the track position back that we had all day.”

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Wendy’s Biggie Bag Camaro ZL1

Involved in a crash on Lap 189

“I’m good. It was a really solid day for our Wendy’s Biggie Bag team and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. This 42 team was really on top of it today. Good pit stops and a fast car there in the race. I felt like we were in a good position restarting on the front row on a green-white-checkered. I got kind of shoved out there and bobbled a little bit by the 1. I just gotta look back and see what I could do better. Obviously not let the 1 get inside me. Overall it was a good day until it wasn’t. The results have sucked here lately, but we’ve been running strong. We ran in the top-five, the top-10 all day and I’m really proud of that. I appreciate Wendy’s and everybody coming out to Talladega and all the fans. We’re close. We’ll get there one day.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Camaro ZL1

Finished sixth

“It was kind of an up and down day. We weren’t really running how we wanted to during the day. But obviously there at the end some attrition got us toward the front. I felt like our car was good and that the Air Force Chevy had speed. We just weren’t up there to show it. We’ll take it, thought. A (top-six) is obviously a strong run. I was hoping to come here and have a good day for us and get us rolling with some momentum to Dover and forward. We’re on to some good tracks for us, so hopefully we can repeat the same next week – bring a good car and kind of keep this momentum rolling.”

GRAGSON WAS UP THERE UP FRONT PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU GUYS GOING TO DOVER? “It was good. I was rooting for him at the end. Obviously I, at that point, didn’t have much of a shot. I was hoping just to get up in the top-10. I saw he was up there on the front row and was hoping he could grab one for us. It would have been pretty cool for him and the team. I hate to see how it worked out for him. I felt like we had good speed too, but just some stuff didn’t go our way to get track position. Some runs didn’t work out. I thought it was good. The team definitely had more speed this weekend than what we’ve had. Hopefully we can translate it.”

WHY DID THREE-WIDE SEEM A BIT EASIER TODAY? “I don’t know. We were a big proponent of most of them up there kind of pushing and leading. I felt like we could get the third lane rolling really well a couple of times. We got to the front and just couldn’t quite clear myself down. I think people are just getting more confident with their pushes and more aggressive with them. I think that’s leading to more three-wide racing.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Camaro ZL1

Finished: 9th

“It was an up and down day for the No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevy team. I felt like we had a very, very fast car. The guys did a very, very good job with that. This is probably one of the best cars I’ve had at a superspeedway. We did a good job in the first stage. In the second stage, we just couldn’t recover on track position and the final stage was the same story. It’s part of it. We will learn from it and see what we could have done differently. But the positive is that we finished in one piece for the most part and the car was very fast.”

TEAM CHEVY RACE HIGHLIGHTS:

Stage One

· Defending NASCAR Cup Series winner Kyle Larson led Chevrolet to the green flag from the ninth starting position in today’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

· A single-car spin brought out an early caution on lap three. A handful of cars opted to hit pit road during the caution, including Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez to make a fuel only stop.

· The first green flag pit cycle started during the latter part of Stage One, with a majority of the Bowtie brigade coming to pit road together on lap 39.

· The second caution of the day flew after an incident entering pit road on lap 43. The top-six of the running order were occupied by Team Chevy drivers that had yet to make a pit stop, led by LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Erik Jones and the No. 43 U.S. Air Force Camaro ZL1 team.

· The field took the green for the restart at lap 47, with the top-six positions taken by Team Chevy drivers who had already made a green flap pit stop.

· After starting 29th, Elliott moved his way up through the field throughout the stage, ultimately taking the green-white checkered flag for his first stage win of 2023.

· Seven Team Chevy drivers scored stage points in Stage One, including a sweep of the top-five positions:

1st Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

2nd Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

3rd Ross Chastain, No. 1 Moose Fraternity Camaro ZL1

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

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

7th Noah Gragson, No. 42 Wendy’s Biggie Bag Camaro ZL1

10th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Camaro ZL1

Stage Two

· The majority of the field came to pit road during the Stage One break. Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley came down for a fuel only stop, gaining 14 spots on pit road to take a front-row spot for the start of Stage Two.

· A relatively quiet race throughout the first half of Stage Two, a third line began to form with 24 laps remaining in the stage, led by a string of Camaro ZL1’s coming from four different Chevrolet teams.

· During the closing laps of Stage Two, manufacturers began another round of green-flag pit stops with Chevrolet leading the charge to pit road with 17 laps to go in the stage.

· Once green-flag pit stops cycled through, Elliott regained the top spot with a continued battle for the lead building in the closing laps of the stage.

· With a side-by-side battle to the line, Aric Almirola edged out Elliott at the line for the Stage Two win, with Elliott taking second-place stage points.

· Elliott led Chevrolet to three top-10 finishes in the stage, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (ninth) and Noah Gragson (10th). This is the first time this season that Gragson has tallied top-10 finishes in both stages in a single race.



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.