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NASCAR's Next Gen car brought an abundant promise of new race teams to the sport. In no time, new teams made announcements with some never coming off paper but others actually hitting the race track.  Connor Daly on Pit Road During the 2023 Daytona 500. Image: TMT Racing FB In late 2019 the rumor mill started swirling about Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather's The Money Team brand coming to NASCAR. They even teased their TMT logo with a checkered flag on it's own website as The Money Team Racing. Mayweather's "The Money Team" promotional company has some power and some money behind it, so the expectation of that time of financial, sports promotion, and star power coming to NASCAR led many to expect this team to be a true contender in just a few years. The team stated that they would run the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami that season with that never coming to fruition. The team wouldn't even be heard from again until late 2020 when they were in talks with Spire Motorsports for a partnership for a few races to be run in 2021 with the team going full-time in 2022. Well, that never happened. But in February 2022, The Money Team Racing shared what would be one of the most famous paint scheme renderings of the season. A fantastical multi-colored Chevrolet Camaro boasting the sunglass giant Pit Vipers, as the primary sponsor with Kaz Grala behind the wheel for the Daytona 500. And they actually brought the car, and made the show!  Kaz Grala's No. 50 The Money Team Racing Chevrolet at the 2022 Daytona 500. Image: TMT Racing FB 2022 SeasonGrala and the 50 team would make the Daytona 500 field in 2022 by finishing 18th in his Duel race. Despite becoming one of the first teams to lose a wheel with NASCAR's new single lug, Kaz and The Money Team Racing finished the 2022 Daytona 500, and they did so in 26th place only 4 laps down. A respectable finish for the team's first outing and an improvement for the driver's second 500 entry. There would be a short absence from the grid with the team not appearing again until Circuit of the Americas 5 weeks later. Grala would wheel the 50 to a 25th place finish at the F1 track and then 23rd at the Coke 600 at Charlotte a couple months later. The team would not make another appearance until the Roval at Charlotte in the Playoffs, but this time with IndyCar driver Conor Daly behind the wheel. Daly would wheel the 50 car in its final 2022 entry to a 34th place finish of the 39 entries and 3 laps down. Many expected the end of the learning season for TMT Racing to mark a new beginning going into 2023, maybe even full-time. 2023 SeasonRight back where they started at Daytona in February, but this time Conor Daly would be the driver of the No. 50 Chevrolet. But trouble would start early for the team. Thanks to NASCAR's "No Practice" decision, Daly would not even get a chance to make a qualifying lap with the car basically braking coming off pit road that could have been caught and fixed during practice. he team would spend the entire qualifying session attempting to fix the handling issues. The team would however get the car out to finish 17th during their Duel qualifying race despite continuing to face those same issues, putting him in the show. Daly and the 50 team would start 34th of 40 cars and would finish P. 29 at the 500. The final start of the 50 team would come again with Conor Daly behind the wheel at Circuit of the Americas where he would finish 36th. As of writing this, it is not known when we will see The Money Team Racing enter another Cup race. I have reached out to the team but have not yet received a response. As a fan, it's a shame to see the new team with the best chance at success only make 6 starts with a best finish of 23rd. Does this mean it is over for the team? Of course not. We could potentially hear an announcement that the team is going full-time in 2024 with several more starts this season, but until that time comes... It's a shame we have not seen much success from The Money Team Racing. To me, the team is not so much a disappointment in their performance, it's the fact they really don't seem to be trying. By: Tom Luttermoser
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Toyotas were dominant all evening long during the Southern 500 Sunday night, but Kyle Larson would come and spoil that party for his second Crown Jewel victory.  Credit: DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 03, 2023 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Toyotas led by Denny Hamlin absolutely DOMINATED Sunday's Southern 500 at Darlington. Even in the Stages Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick scored a combined 39 Stage points with Hamlin winning both Stages. With only the occasional pit cycle lap leaders really spoiling the party early on, the Toyota brigade led 307 out of 367 laps. Denny Hamlin led 177 until a loose wheel forced him to a 25th-place finish. Pole sitter Christopher Bell led 40 laps with 23XI's Tyler Reddick leading a runner-up 90 laps. But Hamlin's misfortune led to Kyle Larson scoring Hendrick Motorsports 299th Cup Series victory and the 500th for the Hendrick engine shop. Larson's win was also his first at the Lady in Black following 3 runner-up finishes at the track. arson only led 55 laps, but they were the ones that counted. He snagged the lead from Tyler Reddick following a late race pit stop on lap 313 where he would lead all 55 of the remaining laps and lock himself into the Round of 12. Overall Lap Leaders
By: Tom Luttermoser
The points remain tight following the Southern 500 at Darlington with winner Kyle Larson being the only safe driver leaving the Lady in Black.  Credit: DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 03, 2023 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Readers Guide: Bold Names = Winners Names in red = Under the Cut Line Names in Gold = Locked into the Round of 12 +/- = Movement in the Standings Following Darlington
Prepared By: Tom Luttermoser, Sr Editor
NASCAR's Playoff system has been in place for several years now and we've seen drivers we expect to do well, fail, and expect to fail, impress. But here are the 16 Playoff drivers and what you might be able to expect in the Round of 16. With the addition of the NEXT GEN car in 2022, we don't have a massive database of information for a single driver, but this is what we know based on the NEXT GEN.  Round of 16 drivers for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs. Image: NASCAR By: Tom Luttermoser Kyle Busch2023 Playoff Standings: 5th Seed. 3 Wins. 19 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff appearances: All of them: 2014-2023 2022 Round of 16: was a HORRIFIC season for the 2x Cup Champion. It was the first time he had been eliminated from the Round of 16 after 2 DNFs at Darlington and Bristol and finishing 2 laps down at Kansas. All of this despite being the car to beat at Darlington. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Busch has a combined average finish of 24th on the 3 upcoming tracks with an average finish of 23.3 at Darlington, 21.3 at Kansas, and 34th at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Busch is a very up-in-the-air driver for 2023's Round of 16. Denny Hamlin2023 Playoff Standings: 3rd Seed. 2 Wins. 25 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: All of them: 2014-2023 (Tied Most all-time with Harvick) 2022 Round of 16: Was VERY good to Hamlin, 2 runner-up finishes and a 9th place finish at Bristol propelled Hamlin easily into the Round of 12. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Denny Hamlin's combined avg of 7.28 is fantastic for the 7 times we have visited these tracks since the start of the '22 season. He has avg finishes of 11.66 at Darlington, 2.33 at Kansas, and 9th at Bristol all put him far toward the top statistically. '23 Statistical Expectations: His finishes in the NEXT GEN at all 3 tracks show Hamlin as a near guarantee to move on to the Round of 12, maybe even with a 3rd season victory. Chris Buescher2023 Playoff Standings: 4th Seed. 3 Wins. 21 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 2x. 2016, 2023 2022 Round of 16: Although not in the 2022 Playoffs, Buescher would have been a Round of 12 lock-in after his 2nd career win at Bristol despite finishes of 26 at Darlington and 15th at Kansas. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Buescher has a combined avg finish of 16th on the dot over the last season and a half with an avg finish of 17.33 at Darlington, 19.66 at Kansas, and a win at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Based solely on statistics, this is tough to say, but Buescher and RFK are the best Ford teams in the sport right now, momentum, his Playoff points and vast improvements over the last 12 months make him a sure fit for the Round of 12. Martin Truex JrPlayoff Standings: 2nd Seed. 3 Wins. 36 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 8x. 2015-2021, 2023 2022 Round of 16: Truex missed the Playoffs for the first time since 2014 in 2022 by only a couple points despite sitting 2nd in the points standings. His 3 finishes in the round were horrible and VERY un-Truex-like. Truex finished outside the Top 30 at Darlington and Bristol but 5th at Kansas. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Average combined finishes of 20.14 shows the struggles of the 19 team in 2022 and early in '23 with avg finishes of 28.66 at Darlington, 6.33 at Kansas, and 36th at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Truex and the 19 team have really changed their fortunes since the first 1/3 of the '23 season. He is still the all-time Stage Point earner and continues that climb which will help greatly... Plus that 15 Playoff Points for winning the regular season title. Round of 12, here he comes. William ByronPlayoff Standings: 1st Seed. 5 Wins. 36 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 5x. 2019-2023 2022 Round of 16: Byron's 2022 Round of 16 propelled him to the Round of 12 with 3 Top-10s including a 3rd place finish at Bristol Round of 16 Track Avgs: Combined, Byron's Round of 16 tracks net him an avg of 7.14 with a Darlington avg of 7.33, 8.33 at Kansas, and 3rd at Bristol '23 Statistical Expectations: Byron will go right along with Truex into the Round of 12 due to his 36 playoff points. But his average at these tracks since the introduction of the NEXT GEN is more than enough to ensure him in. Bubba WallacePlayoff Standings: 16th Seed. 0 Wins. 0 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 1st appearance 2022 Round of 16: Wallace is making his first appearance into the Playoffs, but last season's Round of 16 would have been a lock into the Round of 12 with a win at Kansas. His 9th place finish at Darlington wouldn't have hurt either and the 29th at Bristol wouldn't have hurt anything. Round of 16 Track Avgs: A combined avg finish of 12.14 isn't too shabby with his 29th at Bristol really pulling him down. He has a track average of 13.66 at Darlington and 5th at Kansas with a win. '23 Statistical Expectations: Statistically this is his best round in the Playoffs, and if you use your head and not personal opinions on the driver, especially as close as each driver is points-wise, you will NOT count Wallace out of a Round of 12 showing. Brad KeselowskiPlayoff Standings: 9th Seed. 0 Wins. 10 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 9x. 2014-2021, 2023 2022 Round of 16: Brad missed the Playoffs for the first time since 2013 last season. Brad's "Round of 16" was an average one with a Top-10, a Top-15, and a 25th-place finish at the Ro16 tracks. Round of 16 Track Avgs: A Combined avg finish of 16.57 since the NEXT GEN was introduced is not a terrible number, and not the worst on this list. His track avgs of 15th at Darlington, 19.33 at Kansas, and a finish of 13th at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: This is NOT the same RFK as 2022 and both Brad and Chris have proven that. With that being said, I don't think you can count Brad out as a contender for the Round of 12, his best friend or worst enemy though can be... How close the points are from Top to bottom. +29 to -8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Playoff Standings: 14th Seed. 1 Win. 5 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 2x. 2017, 2023 2022 Round of 16: Stenhouse Jr. had a decent year in 2022 for JTG Daugherty despite missing the Playoffs. But his Ro16 record last season would have absolutely kept him out of the Round of 12. Round of 16 Track Avgs: A combined avg. of 19.85 at the Ro16 tracks in a year and a half with track avgs of 18.6 at Darlington, 16.66 at Kansas and a 33rd place finish at Bristol '23 Statistical Expectations: JTG's No. 47 team has had a dream season in 2023, but Stenhouse Jr and the 47 crew have not had a spectacular mid-season and momentum can make a difference, even for a Daytona 500 champion. Unless there is a drastic change, I expect Stenhouse out after Bristol. Kyle LarsonPlayoff Standings: 6th Seed. 2 Wins. 17 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 7x. 2015-2019, 2021-2023 2022 Round of 16: Larson's 2022 Ro16 was pretty damn good with a worst finish of 12th at Darlington and a best of 5th at Bristol, he moved on to the Round of 12 pretty easily. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Larson has one of the better avg combined finishes at 10.57 in the Ro16 with track averages of 22.66 at Darlington, 4th at Kansas, and a 5th at Bristol '23 Statistical Expectations: Larson is not lighting the world on fire in 2023, a lack of momentum coming into the first round of the Playoffs could hurt. Statistically though, Larson at these tracks basically grant a 2nd round lock. Christopher BellPlayoff Standings: 7th Seed. 1 Win. 14 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 3x. 2020-2023 2022 Round of 16: 3 Straight Top-5 finishes in 2022's Ro16 was more than enough to lock Bell into the Round of 12 Round of 16 Track Avgs: Bell's avg Ro16 track finishes is 9.85 with track averages of 8.33 at Darlington, 14.66 at Kansas, and a th place finish at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Bell and the 20 team's statistical averages are nearly enough to lock him into the Round of 12, but close points, no momentum and middle of the road Playoff Points could hold him back from a repeat of 2022's Playoff accomplishments Joey LoganoPlayoff Standings: 11th Seed. 1 Win. 8 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 9x. 2014-16, 2018-2023 2022 Round of 16: Logano had a less than spectacular 2022 in the Ro16, starting off with a 4th at Darlington, things got worse and worse until the 20 team left Bristol with a 27th-place finish. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Logano's 12.85 average finish in the 7 trips to these 3 tracks is more mid-range in this list but track averages seem a bit better with a 7.66 at Darlington, 13.33 at Kansas, and he finished 27th at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Logano's statistical average says he should be mid-pack for the Ro16 and with a less than spectacular 8 Playoff Points and nothing real to show they are a major contender, he's a potential to miss the Round of 12. Kevin HarvickPlayoff Standings: 15th Seed. 0 Win. 4 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: All of them, 2014-2023 (Tied for Most All-Time with Denny Hamlin) 2022 Round of 16: Happy Harvick's 2022 Ro16 was horrific, it was his earliest Playoff exit ever since the implementation of the elimination format. Finishes of 33, 36 & 10 sealed his fate. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Harvick's combined average finish at the 3 Ro16 tracks is 15.85 in the NEXT GEN. His track averages are 13th at Darlington, 20.66 at Kansas, and 10th place at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: "The Closer", "Happy Harvick", has 1 last shot at going out on top. He sits second to last in the Playoff standings, with 4 Playoff points to his name and a pinch of momentum. Harvick is going to need Top-5s to move on. Or a win. Or some of his competition not performing, to move on to the Round of 12 Michael McDowellPlayoff Standings: 13th Seed. 1 Win. 7 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 2x. 2021, 2023 2022 Round of 16: Last season's Ro16 was kind to McDowell despite not being in the Playoffs. The 6th at Darlington, the 16th at Kansas, and the 11th at Bristol are all good finishes for the 34 crew. Not sure it would have transferred them, but solid. Round of 16 Track Avgs: A combined average finish of 17.42 puts McDowell a little higher on this list. Mile-and-a-half tacks are not Front Row Motorsports bread and butter. Track averages of 15.33 at Darlington, 24th at Kansas, and 11th at Bristol '23 Statistical Expectations: McDowell and the FRM crew have really done something special in the middle part of the season, if not for electrical issues at Watkins Glen, McDowell could have even run his way to his 3rd career victory. But Statistically, I just cannot see McDowell moving to the Round of 12. Ross ChastainPlayoff Standings: 8th Seed. 1 Win. 11 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 2x. 2022-2023 2022 Round of 16: Ross Chastain's first Playoff appearance went pretty well through the Ro16. Despite a 20th-place finish at Darlington, Ross scored 2 Top-10s to close out the Round. Round of 16 Track Avgs: A combined average of 14.85 in the Ro16. Chastain's track averages are 26.33 at Darlington, 6.33 at Kansas and a 6th place finish at Bristol '23 Statistical Expectations: Ross doesn't have the 5 Playoff points from a second win that he had last season, and his averages are not spectacular. In a season where there is a 37-point gap from 1st seed to 16th, anything can happen. Good or Bad. Ryan BlaneyPlayoff Standings: 12th Seed. 1 Win. 8 Playoff Points Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 7x. 2017-2023 2022 Round of 16: Blaney's Ro16 in 2022 was less than average, but he did manage to move on. finishes of 13th, 9th, and 30th were Juuuust enough to squeak by. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Blaney's combined average is 15.14 in the Ro16. A 30th place finish at Bristol, 13th average at Darlington, and 12.33 at Kansas. '23 Statistical Expectations: Blaney doesn't get me to excited in the Round of 16, His averages are not spectacular and Penske as a whole just doesn't seem to have it all together. Could they have been saving for the Playoffs? Sure. But is that where you want to put your money? I don't Tyler ReddickPlayoff Standings: 14th Seed. 1 Win1. 0 Playoff Points
Elimination Format Playoff Appearances: 2x. 2017, 2023 2022 Round of 16: The Ro16 was not kind to Reddick in his last season with Richard Childress Racing, he was quickly removed from Playoff contention with a poor showing following a pretty damn good mid-season. Round of 16 Track Avgs: Reddick has an average finish of 18th at the 3 Ro16 thracks. Track averages of 9th at Darlington, 24.66 at Kansas, and a finish of 25th at Bristol. '23 Statistical Expectations: Reddick's first season with Toyota and 23XI started strong and slowed down in the second quarter of the season, Reddick could potentially have had better performance if it weren't for the notoriously inconsistent 23XI Pit Crews. They are, in my mind, going to be a MASSIVE variable in himself or his teammate moving on. Tony Stewart and Donald Hawk's highly popular Superstar Racing Experience short track racing series are currently in talks to host a race in the Middle East before the end of 2023.  SRX at Slinger Speedway 2023. Image: Slinger Speedway The short, 6 race season of SRX could soon be getting a 7th race in 2023. Currently, SRX is in talks to host a race in either Saudi Arabia or Qatar. SRX CEO Don Hawk is full steam ahead for the next season of the series already revealing the dates for the 2024 season, adding that he has already heard from both drivers and venues interested in the new season.
Hawk revealed to the Sports Business Journal that SRX was evaluating an international race without giving anything more. It appears however that they are close to an agreement to bring the sport to the Middle East for an exhibition race of some sort. This event could see 8 US drivers, 4 international drivers and 4 host nation drivers for a total of 16 cars. The sport just finished it's 3rd full season at Lucas Oil Speedway on August 17th crowning Ryan Newman as the 2023 SRX Champion.
A 3 wide race all evening long led to 2 Cautions for cause, one ending Stage 2 with a massive hit on Blaney, the other toward the end of the race with a tumbling Preece. Despite these massive wrecks, only 10 cars failed to finish the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Credit: DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Yahoo! Toyota, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 26, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Despite what many predicted to be a shit show ow a wreck fest, Saturday Night's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona only had 3 cautions. First for the end of Stage 1, the second being "the Big One" on lap 96 becoming the end of Stage 2, and the last being a 2 car wreck for Stewart-Haas teammates Preece and Briscoe.
The Big One. The Big one came from Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell placing an untimely push on the rear bumper of Ty Gibbs in the corner of 3 & 4. Gibbs lost his Monster Energy Camry resulting in the car turning left into Ryan Blaney as the two raced for the Stage 2 win. Blaney made hard contact with the outside wall in one of the hardest hits I've seen in a LONG time. NASCAR credits 12 vehicles being involved in the Lap 96 wreck. Overall, 18 cars were involved in the accident resulting in 5 DNFs. Blaney's impact garnered a lot of attention on Social Media due to the angle and how much the Outside wall moved on contact. Preece's Flips On Lap 157, Ryan Preece was pushed at the wrong angle coming down the backstretch resulting in the No. 41 car spinning hard toward the inside wall, collecting teammate Chase Briscoe in the process. Preece's No. 41 car would get airborne causing the car to tumble end over end and onto it's roof several times in what was one of the scariest crashes we've seen in a great many years. Preece's drivers window opening would also make contact with the ground and appeared to brake open the escape hatch on the roof as well as possibly even tearing open the driver's window net. The car tumbled 12+ times (some have said they counted up to 22 times, Most common appears to be 10-15 times). Despite not toggling his radio or responding to spotters or his Crew Chief, Preece got out of the car under his own power and was immediately put on a stretcher. After arriving at the infield care center, Stewart-Haas Racing's Director of Competition, Greg Zipadelli later Tweeted that Preece was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Within a couple hours, Preece was on X and Tweeted;
By: Tom Luttermoser
With a repeat winner at the Glen, Wallace continues to hold the one spot remaining for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs.  Credit: WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - AUGUST 20: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 20, 2023 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) With Byron's win at the Glen, Keselowski and Harvick are locked into the 2023 Playoffs. That leaves just 1 single spot, that sport is currently held by Bubba Wallace. Wallace leaves Watkins Glen 4 points better than he entered the race, but that does not make the Playoff spot his. Wallace, currently searching for the first Playoff appearance in his career, is going to one of his best tracks this upcoming weekend at Daytona. Ty Gibbs sits only 32 Points behind him with Suarez 43 points back. A grave miscalculation on fuel mileage has cut fan favorite Chase Elliott from the bubble back to 21st. Let's look at the Playoff clinching scenarios for this weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Bubba Wallace.With a repeat winner. Bubba Wallace can score 0 Stage Points and finish P.13 and lock himself in regardless of any other driver's positions or points. He only needs 24 Points on the day or a win Ty GibbsWith a repeat winner. Gibbs can clinch a Playoff spot as a Rookie with 33 Points over Wallace at Daytona or a win Daniel SuarezWith a repeat winner. Daniel Suarez needs to score 43 Points on Wallace (Suarez has the tiebreaker) so he will need to score big Stage Points and a great finish or a win Allmendinger, Bowman...... WinPlayoff Bubble: Top-20 not locked into the playoffs By: Tom Luttermoser
On the final restart after feeling he was raced wrong on the previous restart by a dominant Ty Gibbs, Sam Mayer "wheel hopped" into turn 1 cleaning out Ty and eventually fighting off Sheldon Creed for the win.  Sam Mayer scored his second career Xfinity Series win following a fantastic last lap battle against Sheldon Creed who was fighting for his first. This comes after the previous restart, Gibbs drove Mayer hard with Mayer losing ground in the battle through the S's. The final restart, Mayer "wheel hopped" into Turn 1 making contact with Gibbs. Gibbs lost his car and collected several others including Regular Season Championship contender Austin Hill. Hill voiced his frustrations after the race referring to Mayer "not even attempting to race us."
Mayer's win puts him in the Playoff's 5th Seed with 10 Playoff Points. Mayer led 8 laps all race long while scoring 13 Stage Points on the day. Your Top-10 finishers
By: Tom Luttermoser Austin Hill and Richard Childress Racing have penned a multi-year deal for Hill to remain with RCR in the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Xfinity Series.  Hill's RCR Bennett No. 21 Camaro at the Indy Road Course 2023. Image: RCR.com Hill is now a 6x Xfinity Series winner and the points standings leader for the 2023 Xfinity Series Championship. Hill will remain with crew chief Andy Street, the duo has scored 24 Top-5s and 38 Top-10s atop their 6 wins since Hill joined the organization full-time in the No. 21 in 2022.
“Austin Hill has set a benchmark for competitiveness within the garage and has proven to be a talented racer who wants to win,” said Richard Childress, chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re pleased that Austin has found success at RCR and are looking forward to competing for a championship in 2023, 2024, and beyond." “I’ve found a home at Richard Childress Racing and it’s an honor to be able to continue my career racing for one of the most successful organizations in the garage,” said Hill. “In looking at the next step of my career, I was presented with several opportunities, but it all came down to being surrounded by racers who want to win, believe in me, and will do their best to give me every opportunity to be successful. I want to thank Richard Childress and everyone at RCR and ECR Engines. I’m excited to race for wins and championships within the NASCAR Xfinity Series for years to come.” By: Tom Luttermoser In what very well could be the final Indy Road Course Cup race, McDowell holds off NASCAR's former road course king Chase Elliott to score his second career Cup Series victory.  With the removal of Stage Cautions on road courses, Sunday's Verizon 200 only had a single caution on lap 2 for the 31 of Justin Haley wrecking on the backstretch. The race went green for the remainder forcing strategy calls to be made across the field. Stage 1 winner Michael McDowell scored Front Row Motorsports first ever Stage win and he would go on to absolutely dominate the entire event.
Leading a race high 54 laps compared to Christopher Bell's 2nd highest 11, McDowell would score a total of 19 Stage Points in rout to his second career win. McDowell who's only other NASCAR Series win came at the 2021 Daytona 500 puts both of his wins at 2 of the biggest venues in all of international motorsports. Verizon 200 top-10
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