2023 Food City 300
{{Short description|27th race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=CUST|Location=Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee|Announcers=Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte|Year=2023|Race_Name=Food City 300|Scheduled_mi=160|Course_mi=0.533|Scheduled_laps=300|Scheduled_km=257|Avg={{Convert|85.521|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}|Car=7|First_Driver=Justin Allgaier|First_Team=JR Motorsports|Most_Driver=Justin Allgaier|Most_laps=110|Most_Team=JR Motorsports|Pole_Time=15.684|Pole_Team=Stewart-Haas Racing|Date=September 15|Network=USA|Pole_Driver=Cole Custer|Description=Race 27 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series|Official_name=42nd Annual Food City 300|Course_km=0.858|Radio=PRN|Image=Bristol Motor Speedway map.png|Distance_mi=160|Distance_laps=300|Distance_km=257}}
The 2023 Food City 300 was the 27th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the first race of the Round of 12, and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, September 15, 2023, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a {{Convert|0.533|mi|km}} permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 300 laps to complete. Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would complete a successful pit road strategy, driving through the field and passing Daniel Hemric for the lead with over 10 laps to go, earning his 22nd career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his third of the season. He would also earn a spot in the next round of the playoffs.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Wyatt |date=September 15, 2023 |title=Justin Allgaier Locks into Round of 8 with Xfinity Win at Bristol |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/09/15/justin-allgaier-locks-into-round-of-8-with-xfinity-win-at-bristol/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}} Allgaier and pole-sitter Cole Custer would end up dominating the entire race, leading 110 and 109 laps, respectively. To fill out the podium, Hemric, driving for Kaulig Racing, and John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Background
The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
- (P) denotes playoff driver.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 00
|Cole Custer (P) |Ford |
| 1
|Sam Mayer (P) |
| 02
|Blaine Perkins (R) |Gratis |
| 2
|Sheldon Creed (P) |
| 4 |
| 6
|Macc Door Systems |
| 07
|SOKAL, Nelson's Green Brier |
| 7
|Justin Allgaier (P) |BRANDT |
| 08
|Ford |Elite Petroleum |
| 8
|Josh Berry (P) |Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 9
|Patriot Lighting, Menards |
| 10
|Daniel Hemric (P) |Cirkul |
| 11
|Crav'n Flavor, Hardscape Construction |
| 16
|Chandler Smith (R) (P) |Barger Precast |
| 18
|Sammy Smith (R) (P) |
| 19 |
| 20
|nowrap|John Hunter Nemechek (P) |Pye-Barker Fire & Safety |
| 21
|Austin Hill (P) |Bennett Transportation |
| 24
|Connor Mosack (R) |
| 25
|Ford |AM Technical Solutions |
| 26 |
| 27
|Jeb Burton (P) | nowrap="" |Jordan Anderson Racing |
| 28
|Ford |Cook's Comfort |
| 31
|Parker Retzlaff (R) |FUNKAWAY |
| 35
|nowrap|Emerling-Gase Motorsports |Sci Aps |
| 38
|Ford |Food City, Bucked Up Energy |
| 39
|Ford |Sci Aps |
| 43
|Diamond Doors Assa Abloy |
| 44
|Rajah Caruth (i) |Gilreath Farms, AAN Adjusters |
| 45
|ForeverLawn "K9 Grass" |
| 48
|Parker Kligerman (P) |nowrap|Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers |
| 51
|All South Electric |
| 53
|The Meredith Haga Foundation |
| 66
|Timmy Hill (i) |Coble Enterprises |
| 78 |
| 88 |
| 91 |
| 92
|Alloy Employer Services, Dan-O's |
| 98
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-nxs-2023-entry-final.pdf Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
For practice, drivers will be separated into two groups, Group A and B. Both sessions will be 15 minutes long, and will be held on Friday, September 15, at 2:35 PM EST.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Bristol Motor Speedway Race Page |url=https://www.jayski.com/xfinity-series/2023-nxs-bristol-race-page/ |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} Chandler Smith, driving for Kaulig Racing, would set the fastest time between both sessions, with a lap of 16.038, and an average speed of {{Convert|119.641|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2023 |title=Practice Results: 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol |url=https://tobychristie.com/practice-results-2023-nascar-xfinity-series-food-city-300-at-bristol/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) (P) |16.038 |119.641 |
|---|
| 2
|00 |Cole Custer (P) |Ford |16.047 |119.574 |
| 3
|20 |John Hunter Nemechek (P) |16.076 |119.358 |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-nxs-2023-practice.pdf Full practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, September 15, at 3:10 PM EST. Since Bristol Motor Speedway is a short track, the qualifying system used is a single-car, two-lap system with only one round. In that round, whoever sets the fastest time will win the pole.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/cup-qualifying-procedures/ |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} Cole Custer, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 15.684, and an average speed of {{Convert|122.341|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |last=Kornhoff |first=Taylor |date=September 15, 2023 |title=Cole Custer on Pole for Bristol Xfinity Race |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/09/15/cole-custer-on-pole-for-bristol-xfinity-race/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|00 |Cole Custer (P) |Ford |15.684 |122.341 |
|---|
| 2
|8 |Josh Berry (P) |15.712 |122.123 |
| 3
|20 |John Hunter Nemechek (P) |15.717 |122.084 |
| 4
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) (P) |15.740 |121.906 |
| 5
|10 |Daniel Hemric (P) |15.788 |121.535 |
| 6
|18 |Sammy Smith (R) (P) |15.792 |121.505 |
| 7
|39 |Ford |15.793 |121.497 |
| 8
|9 |15.800 |121.443 |
| 9
|51 |15.801 |121.435 |
| 10
|7 |Justin Allgaier (P) |15.807 |121.389 |
| 11
|1 |Sam Mayer (P) |15.816 |121.320 |
| 12
|19 |15.843 |121.113 |
| 13
|48 |Parker Kligerman (P) |15.860 |120.984 |
| 14
|31 |Parker Retzlaff (R) |15.899 |120.687 |
| 15
|88 |15.911 |120.596 |
| 16
|98 |Ford |15.917 |120.550 |
| 17
|45 |15.936 |120.407 |
| 18
|11 |15.965 |120.188 |
| 19
|38 |Ford |15.982 |120.060 |
| 20
|92 |16.019 |119.783 |
| 21
|2 |Sheldon Creed (P) |16.028 |119.715 |
| 22
|43 |16.038 |119.641 |
| 23
|08 |Ford |16.039 |119.633 |
| 24
|91 |16.058 |119.492 |
| 25
|44 |Rajah Caruth (i) |16.066 |119.432 |
| 26
|21 |Austin Hill (P) |16.068 |119.417 |
| 27
|28 |Ford |16.081 |119.321 |
| 28
|6 |16.095 |119.217 |
| 29
|24 |Connor Mosack (R) |16.112 |119.091 |
| 30
|4 |16.112 |119.091 |
| 31
|26 |16.115 |119.069 |
| 32
|78 |16.117 |119.054 |
| 33
|02 |Blaine Perkins (R) |16.175 |118.628 |
| colspan="7" |Qualified by owner's points |
| 34
|66 |Timmy Hill (i) |16.211 |118.364 |
| 35
|07 |16.214 |118.342 |
| 36
|25 |Ford |16.222 |118.284 |
| 37
|35 |– |– |
| 38
|27 |Jeb Burton (P) |– |– |
| colspan="7" |Withdrew |
| 39
|53 |– |– |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-nxs-2023-qual-results.pdf Official qualifying results] |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-nxs-2023-lineup.pdf Official starting lineup] |
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 85
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|00 |Cole Custer (P) |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |10 |
|---|
| 2
|7 |Justin Allgaier (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |9 |
| 3
|9 |Brandon Jones |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |8 |
| 4
|20 |John Hunter Nemechek (P) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |7 |
| 5
|19 |Trevor Bayne |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |6 |
| 6
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) (P) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |5 |
| 7
|48 |Parker Kilgerman (P) |Big Machine Racing |Chevrolet |4 |
| 8
|1 |Sam Mayer (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |3 |
| 9
|88 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|18 |Sammy Smith (R) (P) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 85
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|7 |Justin Allgaier (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |10 |
|---|
| 2
|00 |Cole Custer (P) |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |9 |
| 3
|21 |Austin Hill (P) |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |8 |
| 4
|88 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |7 |
| 5
|19 |Trevor Bayne |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |6 |
| 6
|20 |John Hunter Nemechek (P) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |5 |
| 7
|10 |Daniel Hemric (P) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |4 |
| 8
|98 |Riley Herbst |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |3 |
| 9
|16 |Chandler Smith (R) (P) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|45 |Jeffrey Earnhardt |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 130
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts |
| 1
|10 |7 |Justin Allgaier (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |300 |110 |Running |59 |
|---|
| 2
|5 |10 |Daniel Hemric (P) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |300 |33 |Running |39 |
| 3
|3 |20 |John Hunter Nemechek (P) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |300 |1 |Running |46 |
| 4
|1 |00 |Cole Custer (P) |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |300 |109 |Running |52 |
| 5
|4 |16 |Chandler Smith (R) (P) |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |300 |0 |Running |39 |
| 6
|7 |39 |Ryan Sieg |RSS Racing |Ford |300 |0 |Running |31 |
| 7
|12 |19 |Trevor Bayne |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |300 |0 |Running |42 |
| 8
|16 |98 |Riley Herbst |Stewart-Haas Racing |Ford |300 |0 |Running |32 |
| 9
|6 |18 |Sammy Smith (R) (P) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Toyota |300 |0 |Running |29 |
| 10
|31 |26 |Kaz Grala |Sam Hunt Racing |Toyota |300 |0 |Running |27 |
| 11
|21 |2 |Sheldon Creed (P) |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |300 |0 |Running |26 |
| 12
|18 |11 |Derek Kraus |Kaulig Racing |Chevrolet |300 |0 |Running |25 |
| 13
|38 |27 |Jeb Burton (P) |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |300 |0 |Running |24 |
| 14
|29 |24 |Connor Mosack (R) |Sam Hunt Racing |Toyota |300 |0 |Running |23 |
| 15
|14 |31 |Parker Retzlaff (R) |Jordan Anderson Racing |Chevrolet |299 |0 |Running |22 |
| 16
|36 |25 |Brett Moffitt |AM Racing |Ford |299 |0 |Running |21 |
| 17
|25 |44 |Rajah Caruth (i) |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |298 |0 |Running |0 |
| 18
|22 |43 |Ryan Ellis |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |298 |0 |Running |19 |
| 19
|35 |07 |Stefan Parsons |SS-Green Light Racing |Chevrolet |298 |0 |Running |18 |
| 20
|20 |92 |Josh Williams |DGM Racing |Chevrolet |298 |0 |Running |17 |
| 21
|27 |28 |Kyle Sieg |RSS Racing |Ford |298 |0 |Running |16 |
| 22
|28 |6 |Brennan Poole |JD Motorsports |Chevrolet |297 |0 |Running |15 |
| 23
|30 |4 |Kyle Weatherman |JD Motorsports |Chevrolet |297 |0 |Running |14 |
| 24
|9 |51 |Jeremy Clements |Jeremy Clements Racing |Chevrolet |297 |0 |Running |13 |
| 25
|32 |78 |Anthony Alfredo |B. J. McLeod Motorsports |Chevrolet |296 |0 |Running |12 |
| 26
|19 |38 |Joe Graf Jr. |RSS Racing |Ford |295 |0 |Running |11 |
| 27
|24 |91 |Josh Bilicki |DGM Racing |Chevrolet |294 |0 |Running |10 |
| 28
|33 |02 |Blaine Perkins (R) |Our Motorsports |Chevrolet |294 |0 |Running |9 |
| 29
|23 |08 |Chad Finchum |SS-Green Light Racing |Ford |276 |0 |Running |8 |
| 30
|15 |88 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |271 |47 |Ignition |16 |
| 31
|13 |48 |Parker Kligerman (P) |Big Machine Racing |Chevrolet |246 |0 |Running |10 |
| 32
|17 |45 |Jeffrey Earnhardt |Alpha Prime Racing |Chevrolet |229 |0 |Brakes |6 |
| 33
|26 |21 |Austin Hill (P) |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |217 |0 |DVP |12 |
| 34
|8 |9 |Brandon Jones |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |178 |0 |Suspension |11 |
| 35
|11 |1 |Sam Mayer (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |166 |0 |Accident |5 |
| 36
|2 |8 |Josh Berry (P) |JR Motorsports |Chevrolet |166 |0 |Accident |1 |
| 37
|37 |35 |B. J. McLeod |Emerling-Gase Motorsports |Chevrolet |117 |0 |Power |1 |
| 38
|34 |66 |Timmy Hill (i) |MBM Motorsports |Toyota |81 |0 |Rear Gear |0 |
| colspan="10" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-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 |
|---|
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,095 |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,085 (-10) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,069 (–26) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,051 (–44) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,048 (–47) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,042 (–53) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,035 (–60) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,034 (–61) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,030 (–65) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,020 (–75) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,012 (–83) |
| style="background:#87CEFA;"
|align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,010 (–85) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/9/15/27-nxs-2023-driver-points.pdf 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 Kansas Lottery 300|Series=NASCAR Xfinity Series|Monsteryear=2023|Next_race=2023 Andy's Frozen Custard 300}}
{{2023 NASCAR Xfinity}}
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