2023 GEICO 500

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 10 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = GEICO 500

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2023 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2023-nascar-cup-series-schedule/|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=October 10, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Talladega Superspeedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/talladega-superspeedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=March 29, 2023|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428035211/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/talladega-superspeedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/nascar-releases-2023-cup-series-schedule-highlighted-by-new-chicago-all-star-race-stops/ |title= NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops |author=Taranto, Steven |date=14 September 2022 |accessdate=29 March 2023 |publisher=CBS Broadcasting Inc}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/09/14/nascar-unveils-2023-schedule-three-national-series/ |title=NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series |date=14 September 2022 |accessdate=29 March 2023 |publisher=National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/21/talladega-cup-entry.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=April 17, 2023|date=April 17, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/talladega-superspeedway-1/stn/qualifying/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=April 22, 2023|date=April 22, 2023}}{{cite web|title=GEICO 500 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/talladega-superspeedway-1/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=April 23, 2023|date=April 23, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/23/12310_UNOFFDRIVPTS-1.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=April 23, 2023|date=April 23, 2023}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2023|04|23}}

| Year = 2023

| Image = Talladega Superspeedway.svg

| Caption =

| Location = Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama

| Course_mi = 2.66

| Course_km = 4.28

| Distance_laps = 196

| Distance_mi = 521.36

| Distance_km = 838.88

| Scheduled_laps = 188

| Scheduled_mi = 500.08

| Scheduled_km = 804.64

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|146.575|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Denny Hamlin

| Pole_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing

| Pole_Time = 52.979

| Most_Driver = Ryan Blaney

| Most_Team = Team Penske

| Most_laps = 47

| Car = 8

| First_Driver = Kyle Busch

| First_Team = Richard Childress Racing

| Network = Fox

| Announcers = Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Tony Stewart

| Ratings =

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle

| Turn_Ann = Dave Moody (1 & 2), Mike Bagley (Backstretch), and Dillon Welch (3 & 4)

}}

The 2023 GEICO 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 23, 2023, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 196 laps – extended from 188 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.66 mile (4.28 km) superspeedway, it was the 10th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

=Background=

File:TalladegaSuperspeedway2.jpg, the track where the race was held.]]

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).

{{clear}}

==Entry list==

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1Ross Chastainnowrap| Trackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Riley Herbst (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Zane Smith (i)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47nowrap| Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
54Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
62Austin Hill (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet
77Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsChevrolet
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/21/talladega-cup-entry.pdf Official entry list]

Qualifying

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.979 and a speed of {{Convert|180.751|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Hamlin beats Almirola to NASCAR Cup pole at Talladega|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/hamlin-beats-almirola-nascar-cup-pole-talladega/10459421/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=April 22, 2023|location=Lincoln, Alabama|date=April 22, 2023}}

=Qualifying results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}}

! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}}

1

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 53.308 || 52.979

2

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 53.309 || 53.011

3

| 54 || Ty Gibbs (R) || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 53.292 || 53.025

4

| 14 || Chase Briscoe || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 53.280 || 53.085

5

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford || 53.333 || 53.124

6

| 20 || Christopher Bell || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 53.388 || 53.245

7

| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 53.315 || 53.281

8

| 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 53.341 || 53.299

9

| 5 || Kyle Larson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 53.440 || 53.302

10

| 17 || Chris Buescher || RFK Racing || Ford || 53.417 || 53.303

11

| 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 53.455 || —

12

| 23 || Bubba Wallace || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 53.470 || —

13

| 45 || Tyler Reddick || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 53.496 || —

14

| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 53.497 || —

15

| 2 || Austin Cindric || Team Penske || Ford || 53.499 || —

16

| 41 || Ryan Preece || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 53.509 || —

17

| 8 || Kyle Busch || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 53.548 || —

18

| 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 53.559 || —

19

| 16 || A. J. Allmendinger || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 53.568 || —

20

| 6 || Brad Keselowski || RFK Racing || Ford || 53.611 || —

21

| 34 || Michael McDowell || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 53.629 || —

22

| 99 || Daniel Suárez || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet || 53.651 || —

23

| 1 || Ross Chastain || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet || 53.671 || —

24

| 43 || Erik Jones || Legacy Motor Club || Chevrolet || 53.693 || —

25

| 21 || Harrison Burton || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 53.695 || —

26

| 31 || Justin Haley || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 53.745 || —

27

| 48 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 53.750 || —

28

| 36 || Todd Gilliland || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 53.849 || —

29

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 53.874 || —

30

| 42 || Noah Gragson (R) || Legacy Motor Club || Chevrolet || 53.902 || —

31

| 62 || Austin Hill (i) || Beard Motorsports || Chevrolet || 53.973 || —

32

| 77 || Ty Dillon || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 54.033 || —

33

| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 54.039 || —

34

| 7 || Corey LaJoie || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 54.059 || —

35

| 38 || Zane Smith (i) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 54.063 || —

36

| 15 || Riley Herbst (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 54.106 || —

37

| 78 || B. J. McLeod || Live Fast Motorsports || Chevrolet || 54.297 || —

38

| 51 || J. J. Yeley (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 54.424 || —

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/22/12310_QUALRES.pdf Official qualifying results]

Race

During the overtime lap, Kyle Larson's car was t-boned by Ryan Preece in a collision triggered by Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson. The wreck collapsed Larson's passenger side roll cage, described by race winner Kyle Busch as "brick getting rammed into a stick of butter".{{cite web |last1=Gelston |first1=Dan |title=Larson: Aftermath of violent Talladega wreck 'unsettling' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/larson-aftermath-violent-talladega-wreck-unsettling-98961994 |website=ABC News |access-date=April 30, 2023 |date=April 30, 2023}} Neither Larson nor Preece were injured from the collision, but the carnage reignited safety concerns regarding the Next Gen car. NASCAR took both cars to the R&D Center for further investigation.{{cite web |last1=Crandall |first1=Kelly |title=Preece to meet with NASCAR to analyze Talladega crash |url=https://racer.com/2023/04/25/preece-to-meet-with-nascar-to-analyze-talladega-crash/ |website=RACER.com |access-date=April 30, 2023 |date=April 25, 2023}}

=Race results=

==Stage Results==

Stage One

Laps: 60

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

19Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10
248Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
31Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet8
424William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
55Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6
62Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord5
742Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet4
822Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord3
941Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord2
1099Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/23/12310_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 60

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

110Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord10
29Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
34Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord8
423Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota7
521Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord6
619Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota5
741Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord4
811Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3
947Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet2
1042Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/23/12310_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 68

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

1178Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19640
2512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord19635
31017Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord19634
4414Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord19633
5206Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord19632
62443Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet19631
71824William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19637
8620Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19629
92299Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet19629
102836Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord19627
113851J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1960
12299Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19644
132748Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19633
143277Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet19623
153347Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet19623
161345Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota19621
17111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19623
183778B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsChevrolet19619
192631Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet19618
203615Riley Herbst (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1960
21114Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord19624
22210Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord19625
23231Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet19623
243162Austin Hill (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet1960
25347Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet19613
26152Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord19616
27719Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota19615
281223Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota19516
291916A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet1958
30822Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord19510
31354Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1946
323042Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet18910
3395Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18910
341641Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord1899
352134Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord1892
362521Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord1837
373538Zane Smith (i)Front Row MotorsportsFord1410
38143Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1411
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/23/12310_UNOFFRES-1.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 57 among 21 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 34
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 25 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|146.575|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

Fox Sports covered their 23rd race at the Talladega Superspeedway. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and 2008 fall Talladega winner Tony Stewart called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims handled the pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|Fox
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Tony Stewart
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Josh Sims
Larry McReynolds

=Radio=

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden & Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field raced down the backstretch & Dillon Welch called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 4 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Steve Post, Georgia Henneberry, Chris Wilner and Brienne Pedigo worked pit road for the radio side for MRN.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Backstretch: Mike Bagley
Turns 3 & 4: Dillon Welch
Steve Post
Georgia Henneberry
Chris Wilner
Brienne Pedigo

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Christopher Bell

| style="text-align:center;"| 331

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Ross Chastain

| style="text-align:center;"| 319 (–12)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 311 (–20)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 295 (–36)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 290 (–41)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Tyler Reddick

| style="text-align:center;"| 286 (–45)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 281 (–50)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 276 (–55)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 270 (–61)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 270 (–61)

align="left"| 10px 4

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 268 (–63)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 267 (–64)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 247 (–84)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| William Byron

| style="text-align:center;"| 245 (–86)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Chase Briscoe

| style="text-align:center;"| 243 (–88)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Chris Buescher

| style="text-align:center;"| 240 (–91)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/4/23/12310_UNOFFDRIVPTS-1.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 382

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 342 (–40)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 338 (–44)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
  • . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2023

| Previous_race = 2023 NOCO 400

| Next_race = 2023 Würth 400

}}

{{2023 NASCAR Cup}}

GEICO 500

GEICO 500

GEICO 500

Category:NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway