2023 Ag-Pro 300
{{Short description|9th race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=CUST|Location=Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, Alabama|Announcers=Adam Alexander, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski|Year=2023|Race_Name=Ag-Pro 300|Scheduled_mi=300|Course_mi=2.66|Scheduled_laps=113|Scheduled_km=483|Avg={{Convert|106.960|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}|Car=27|First_Driver=Jeb Burton|First_Team=Jordan Anderson Racing|Most_Driver=Brett Moffitt|Most_laps=20|Most_Team=AM Racing|Pole_Time=52.483|Pole_Team=Richard Childress Racing|Date=April 22|Network=FS1|Pole_Driver=Austin Hill|Description=Race 9 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series|Official_name=32nd Annual Ag-Pro 300|Course_km=4.28|Radio=MRN|Image=Talladega Superspeedway.svg|Distance_mi=321|Distance_laps=121|Distance_km=516}}
The 2023 Ag-Pro 300 was the 9th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a {{Convert|2.66|mi|km}} permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was increased from 113 to 121 laps, due to multiple NASCAR overtime finishes. In a chaotic and caution-filled race, Jeb Burton, driving for Jordan Anderson Racing, would hold off Sheldon Creed and the rest of the field on the final lap, and earned his 2nd career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season.{{Cite web |last=Skala |first=Chris |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Jeb Burton Pulls Off Xfinity Series Upset at Talladega |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/04/22/jeb-burton-pulls-off-upset-at-talladega-in-xfinity-race/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}} This was also the first NASCAR win for Jordan Anderson Racing.{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Brad |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Jordan Anderson Leaves Talladega, This Time By His Own Accord, a Winner |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/04/22/jordan-anderson-leaves-talladega-this-time-by-his-own-accord-a-winner/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}} To fill out the podium, Creed, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Parker Kligerman, driving for Big Machine Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
This was also the third race of the Dash 4 Cash. Drivers eligible for the Dash 4 Cash were Cole Custer, Josh Berry, Sammy Smith, and John Hunter Nemechek, after they were the highest finishing Xfinity regulars following the race at Martinsville. Custer, who finished 4th and was the only driver from the D4C to finish the race, would claim the bonus cash.{{Cite web |last=Albert |first=Zack |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Cole Custer finds 'little bit of luck' in nabbing Dash 4 Cash bonus at Talladega |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/04/22/xfinity-2023-dash-4-cash-cole-custer-talladega/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=The Official Site of NASCAR |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}
Background
Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which is 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 00
|Ford |
| 1 |
| 02 |
| 2 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 07 |
| 7 |
| 08 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 10 |
| 11 |
| 13
| nowrap="" |Jason White |Ford |
| 16
|Chandler Smith (R) |
| 18
|Sammy Smith (R) |
| 19 |
| 20
|nowrap|John Hunter Nemechek |
| 21 |
| 24 |
| 25
|Ford |
| 26 |
| 27 |
| 28
|Ford |
| 31
|Parker Retzlaff (R) |
| 34 |
| 35
|nowrap|Emerling-Gase Motorsports |Ford |LOPA |
| 38
|Ford |
| 39
|Ford |
| 43 |
| 44 |
| 45 |
| 48 |
| 51 |
| 53
|Ford |
| 66 |
| 74 |
| 78 |
| 91 |
| 92
|nowrap|Alloy Employer Services, Coolray |
| 98
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/21/9-nxs-2023-entry-final.pdf Official entry list] |
|---|
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, April 21, at 4:35 PM CST.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Talladega Superspeedway Race Page |url=https://www.jayski.com/xfinity-series/2023-nxs-talladega-race-page/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} Since Talladega Superspeedway is a superspeedway, the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with two rounds. In the first round, drivers have one lap to set a time. The fastest ten drivers from the first round move on to the second round. Whoever sets the fastest time in Round 2 wins the pole.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/cup-qualifying-procedures/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}}
Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole after advancing from the preliminary round and setting the fastest time in Round 2, with a lap of 52.483, and an average speed of {{Convert|182.459|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Wyatt |date=April 21, 2023 |title=Austin Hill Wins Pole for Xfinity Talladega Race; RCR Fills the Front Row |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/04/21/austin-hill-wins-pole-for-xfinity-talladega-race-rcr-fills-the-front-row/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}}
Four drivers would fail to qualify: Jason White, Jesse Iwuji, David Starr, and Mike Harmon.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time ({{Tooltip|R1|Best Time in Round 1}}) !Speed ({{Tooltip|R1|Best Speed in Round 1}}) !Time ({{Tooltip|R2|Best Time in Round 2}}) !Speed ({{Tooltip|R2|Best Speed in Round 2}}) |
| 1
|21 |52.578 |182.129 |52.483 |182.459 |
|---|
| 2
|2 |52.741 |181.567 |52.722 |181.632 |
| 3
|20 |52.955 |180.833 |52.843 |181.216 |
| 4
|31 |Parker Retzlaff (R) |52.905 |181.004 |52.877 |181.100 |
| 5
|5 |53.050 |180.509 |52.902 |181.014 |
| 6
|78 |52.693 |181.732 |52.922 |180.946 |
| 7
|7 |53.001 |180.676 |52.950 |180.850 |
| 8
|27 |52.867 |181.134 |52.954 |180.836 |
| 9
|11 |52.976 |180.761 |52.999 |180.683 |
| 10
|25 |Ford |53.055 |180.492 |53.167 |180.112 |
| colspan="9" |Eliminated in Round 1 |
| 11
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) |53.057 |180.485 |— |— |
| 12
|18 |Sammy Smith (R) |53.076 |180.421 |— |— |
| 13
|19 |53.088 |180.380 |— |— |
| 14
|10 |53.141 |180.200 |— |— |
| 15
|98 |Ford |53.185 |180.051 |— |— |
| 16
|1 |53.216 |179.946 |— |— |
| 17
|6 |53.217 |179.942 |— |— |
| 18
|00 |Ford |53.226 |179.912 |— |— |
| 19
|44 |53.286 |179.709 |— |— |
| 20
|8 |53.307 |179.639 |— |— |
| 21
|9 |53.315 |179.612 |— |— |
| 22
|66 |53.375 |179.410 |— |— |
| 23
|92 |53.400 |179.326 |— |— |
| 24
|24 |53.401 |179.322 |— |— |
| 25
|38 |Ford |53.403 |179.316 |— |— |
| 26
|08 |53.433 |179.215 |— |— |
| 27
|28 |Ford |53.436 |179.205 |— |— |
| 28
|43 |53.452 |179.151 |— |— |
| 29
|4 |53.489 |179.027 |— |— |
| 30
|26 |53.581 |178.720 |— |— |
| 31
|39 |Ford |53.592 |178.683 |— |— |
| 32
|53 |Ford |53.609 |178.627 |— |— |
| 33
|35 |Ford |53.613 |178.613 |— |— |
| colspan="9" |Qualified by owner's points |
| 34
|02 |53.631 |178.553 |— |— |
| 35
|91 |53.727 |178.234 |— |— |
| 36
|45 |53.799 |177.996 |— |— |
| 37
|51 |53.816 |177.940 |— |— |
| 38
|48 |— |— |— |— |
| colspan="9" |Failed to qualify |
| 39
|13 |Ford |53.682 |178.384 |— |— |
| 40
|34 |53.773 |178.082 |— |— |
| 41
|07 |53.797 |178.002 |— |— |
| 42
|74 |54.560 |175.513 |— |— |
| colspan="9" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/21/9-nxs-2023-qual-results.pdf Official qualifying results] |
| colspan="9" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/21/9-nxs-2023-lineup.pdf Official starting lineup] |
Race results
= Summary =
The race would be marred by several violent wrecks and flips. On lap 47, Dexter Stacey (making his first series start since Texas in 2016) would get loose and spin as the field went into turn 2. His car would clip the side of Blaine Perkins' car, causing him to hit the outside wall, make contact with Jade Buford, get airborne, and flipped violently six times before coming to rest on all four tires. During the wreck, Kaz Grala hit Perkins' wheel with the front of his car. Perkins was able to evacuate his car under his own power, but was later transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.{{Cite web |last=Srigley |first=Joseph |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Video: Blaine Perkins Transported to Local Hospital After Nasty Barrel Roll at Talladega |url=https://tobychristie.com/2023/04/22/video-blaine-perkins-transported-to-local-hospital-after-nasty-barrel-roll-at-talladega/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}} On lap 110, Daniel Hemric attempted to make an aggressive block on Sheldon Creed for the lead, but would ultimately misjudge his entry. He would end up spinning and catapulting up the racetrack after he was hit by Riley Herbst, hitting the outside wall, and flipping on his roof. He even took out the turn four camera during his wreck. His car came to a rest on its roof off of turn four on the apron of the track. He remained on his roof until safety crew arrived to assist him. Hemric was able to climb out of his car under his own power. At least 14 cars were involved in the wreck.{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Toby |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Video: The Big One Erupts With Three Laps Left in Xfinity Race at Talladega |url=https://tobychristie.com/2023/04/22/video-the-big-one-erupts-with-three-laps-left-in-xfinity-race-at-talladega/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}} The race restarted with two laps to go, but the caution would fly moments later, after a piece of debris was found on the racetrack. The field made a second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish; Jeb Burton was able to take advantage of the lead on the final lap, and held off a fast charging Sheldon Creed to pick up his 2nd career Xfinity Series win, and the first for Jordan Anderson Racing.
Stage 1 Laps: 25
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|7 |Justin Allgaier |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |10 |
|---|
| 2
|2 |Sheldon Creed |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |9 |
| 3
|1 |Sam Mayer |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |8 |
| 4
|27 |Jeb Burton |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |7 |
| 5
|21 |Austin Hill |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |6 |
| 6
|48 |Parker Kligerman |Big Machine Racing |Chevrolet |5 |
| 7
|19 |Ryan Truex |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |4 |
| 8
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |3 |
| 9
|8 |Josh Berry |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|98 |Riley Herbst |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 25
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|27 |Jeb Burton |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |10 |
|---|
| 2
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |9 |
| 3
|19 |Ryan Truex |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |8 |
| 4
|8 |Josh Berry |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |7 |
| 5
|11 |Daniel Hemric |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |6 |
| 6
|21 |Austin Hill |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |5 |
| 7
|10 |Derek Kraus |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |4 |
| 8
|2 |Sheldon Creed |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |3 |
| 9
|9 |Brandon Jones |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|7 |Justin Allgaier |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 71
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts |
| 1
|8 |27 |Jeb Burton |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |121 |17 |Running |57 |
|---|
| 2
|2 |2 |Sheldon Creed |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |121 |11 |Running |47 |
| 3
|38 |48 |Parker Kligerman |Big Machine Racing |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |39 |
| 4
|18 |00 |Cole Custer |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |121 |0 |Running |33 |
| 5
|17 |6 |Brennan Poole |JD Motorsports |Chevrolet |121 |2 |Running |32 |
| 6
|28 |43 |Caesar Bacarella |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |31 |
| 7
|4 |31 |Parker Retzlaff (R) |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |121 |2 |Running |30 |
| 8
|26 |08 |Gray Gaulding |SS-Green Light Racing |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |29 |
| 9
|33 |35 |Joey Gase |Emerling-Gase Motorsports |Ford |121 |0 |Running |28 |
| 10
|23 |92 |Josh Williams |DGM Racing |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |27 |
| 11
|36 |45 |Ryan Ellis |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |26 |
| 12
|10 |25 |Brett Moffitt |AM Racing |Ford |121 |20 |Running |25 |
| 13
|32 |53 |C. J. McLaughlin |Emerling-Gase Motorsports |Ford |121 |0 |Running |24 |
| 14
|21 |9 |Brandon Jones |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |25 |
| 15
|27 |28 |Kyle Sieg |RSS Racing |Ford |121 |0 |Running |22 |
| 16
|29 |4 |Garrett Smithley |JD Motorsports |Chevrolet |121 |0 |Running |21 |
| 17
|13 |19 |Ryan Truex |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |121 |9 |Running |32 |
| 18
|1 |21 |Austin Hill |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |121 |14 |Running |30 |
| 19
|37 |51 |Jeremy Clements |Jeremy Clements Racing |Chevrolet |120 |0 |Accident |18 |
| 20
|25 |38 |Joe Graf Jr. |RSS Racing |Ford |113 |0 |Running |17 |
| 21
|9 |11 |Daniel Hemric |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |110 |15 |Accident |22 |
| 22
|31 |39 |Ryan Sieg |RSS Racing |Ford |110 |18 |Accident |15 |
| 23
|15 |98 |Riley Herbst |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |110 |0 |Accident |15 |
| 24
|30 |26 |Kaz Grala |Sam Hunt Racing |Toyota |110 |0 |Accident |13 |
| 25
|11 |16 |Chandler Smith (R) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |110 |1 |Accident |24 |
| 26
|35 |91 |Josh Bilicki |DGM Racing |Chevrolet |110 |0 |Accident |11 |
| 27
|14 |10 |Derek Kraus |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |110 |0 |DVP |14 |
| 28
|7 |7 |Justin Allgaier |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |100 |7 |Accident |20 |
| 29
|16 |1 |Sam Mayer |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |100 |0 |Accident |16 |
| 30
|20 |8 |Josh Berry |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |100 |0 |Accident |16 |
| 31
|19 |44 |Jeffrey Earnhardt |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |83 |0 |Transmission |6 |
| 32
|3 |20 |John Hunter Nemechek |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |81 |0 |Accident |5 |
| 33
|12 |18 |Sammy Smith (R) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |63 |0 |Accident |4 |
| 34
|34 |02 |Blaine Perkins |Our Motorsports |Chevrolet |47 |0 |Accident |3 |
| 35
|22 |66 |Dexter Stacey |MBM Motorsports |Chevrolet |47 |0 |Accident |2 |
| 36
|5 |5 |Jade Buford |Big Machine Racing |Chevrolet |47 |0 |Accident |1 |
| 37
|6 |78 |Anthony Alfredo |B. J. McLeod Motorsports |Chevrolet |37 |5 |Accident |1 |
| 38
|24 |24 |Parker Chase |Sam Hunt Racing |Toyota |37 |0 |DVP |1 |
| colspan="10" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/22/9-nxs-2023-results.pdf Official race results] |
Standings after the race
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| ! Pos
! Driver ! Points |
|---|
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 328 |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 324 (-4) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 309 (–19) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 296 (–32) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 292 (–36) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 287 (–41) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 279 (–49) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 276 (–52) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 258 (–70) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 255 (–73) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 247 (–81) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 237 (–91) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|Official driver's standings |
- Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2023 Call 811.com Before You Dig 250|Series=NASCAR Xfinity Series|Monsteryear=2023|Next_race=2023 A-GAME 200}}
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