2023 Worldwide Express 250
{{Short description|16th race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=CUST|Location=Richmond Raceway, Richmond, Virginia|Announcers=Adam Alexander, Phil Parsons, and Michael Waltrip|Year=2023|Race_Name=Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation|Scheduled_mi=187|Course_mi=0.750|Scheduled_laps=250|Scheduled_km=301|Avg={{Convert|94.116|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}|Car=42|First_Driver=Carson Hocevar|First_Team=Niece Motorsports|Most_Driver=Ty Majeski|Most_laps=168|Most_Team=ThorSport Racing|Pole_Time=22.689|Pole_Team=ThorSport Racing|Date=July 29|Network=FS1|Pole_Driver=Ty Majeski|Description=Race 16 of 23 of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series|Official_name=4th Annual Worldwide Express 250|Course_km=1.207|Radio=MRN|Image=Richmond International Speedway.png|Distance_mi=187|Distance_laps=250|Distance_km=301}}
The 2023 Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation was the 16th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the final race of the regular season, and the 4th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Richmond, Virginia at Richmond Raceway, a {{Convert|0.750|mi|km}} permanent quad-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. Carson Hocevar, driving for Niece Motorsports, would make a late-race pass for the lead on Ty Majeski with under five laps to go, and held on to earn his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win.{{Cite web |last=Skala |first=Chris |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Carson Hocevar Steals Truck Series Win at Richmond |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/07/29/carson-hocevar-steals-truck-series-win-at-richmond/ |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}} Majeski would dominate the entire race, starting from the pole, winning both stages, and eventually came back from an early pit road speeding penalty. Majeski's pit road strategy to stay out for the remainder of the final stage would be unsuccessful, as Hocevar would take advantage in the final laps. To fill out the podium, Majeski, driving for ThorSport Racing, and Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The ten drivers that would qualify for the NASCAR playoffs are Corey Heim, Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, Nick Sanchez, Matt DiBenedetto, and Matt Crafton.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2023 |title=2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff field set |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/07/29/2023-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-playoff-field-set/ |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}} Heim would also claim the Regular Season Championship during the race.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Corey Heim wins regular season Truck Series championship |url=https://www.jayski.com/2023/07/29/corey-heim-wins-regular-season-truck-series-championship/ |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}
Background
Richmond Raceway (RR), formerly known as Richmond International Raceway (RIR), is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the IndyCar series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted two USAC sprint car races.
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 1
|Starkey, SoundGear |
| 02
|Kelly Benefits |
| 2
|Nick Sanchez (R) |Gainbridge |
| 4
|Bama Buggies |
| 5
|Thompson Pipe Group |
| 9
|Grant County Mulch |
| 11
|JBL |
| 12
|Latitude Aero |
| 13
|Ford |
| 14
|Quality Roof Seamers |
| 15 |
| 16 |
| 17
|Taylor Gray (R) |Dead On Tools |
| 19
|nowrap|McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Instacoat Premium Products |
| 20
|nowrap|Mason Massey (i) |BRUNT Workwear |
| 22
|Ford |Secure Testing Services |
| 23
|Champion Power Equipment |
| 24
|Rajah Caruth (R) |Camp Cultivation |
| 25
|Rackley Roofing |
| 30
|Williamsburg Contracting |
| 32
|Bret Holmes (R) |
| 33
|Ford |Levrack |
| 34
|Ford |Motorsports Safety Group |
| 35
|Jake Garcia (R) |
| 38
|Ford |
| 41
|Unishippers |
| 42
| nowrap="" |Niece Motorsports |Worldwide Express |
| 43
|Daniel Dye (R) |Bull & Boar Barbecue Shop |
| 45
|IEDA |
| 46
|Memphis Villarreal |Zoe Freedom, Eco Pile |
| 51
|J. F. Electric |
| 52
|Halmar International |
| 56
|UNITS Storage |
| 66
|Ford |TSport |
| 88
|Ford |Ideal Door, Menards |
| 90
|nowrap|Carroll's Automotive, Duratain |
| 98
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |Campers Inn RV |
| colspan="5" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/7/24/32316_PREENTNUM.pdf Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, July 28, at 5:05 PM EST, and would last for 20 minutes.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Richmond Race Page |url=https://www.jayski.com/truck-series/2023-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-richmond-race/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} Ty Majeski, driving for ThorSport Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.813, and an average speed of {{Convert|118.354|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2023 |title=Practice Results: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond |url=https://tobychristie.com/practice-results-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-worldwide-express-250-at-richmond/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|98 |Ford |22.813 |118.354 |
|---|
| 2
|88 |Ford |22.844 |118.193 |
| 3
|19 |22.995 |117.417 |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/7/28/32316_PRACFINAL.pdf Full practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, July 28, at 5:35 PM EST. Since Richmond Raceway 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=July 24, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} Ty Majeski, driving for ThorSport Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 22.689, and an average speed of {{Convert|119.000|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Wyatt |date=July 28, 2023 |title=Ty Majeski Earns Richmond Truck Pole |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/07/28/ty-majeski-earns-richmond-truck-pole/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|98 |Ford |22.689 |119.000 |
|---|
| 2
|11 |22.741 |118.728 |
| 3
|1 |22.839 |118.219 |
| 4
|99 |Ford |22.842 |118.203 |
| 5
|51 |22.872 |118.048 |
| 6
|19 |22.887 |117.971 |
| 7
|15 |22.896 |117.925 |
| 8
|88 |Ford |22.952 |117.637 |
| 9
|4 |22.975 |117.519 |
| 10
|25 |22.998 |117.402 |
| 11
|41 |23.004 |117.371 |
| 12
|35 |Jake Garcia (R) |23.015 |117.315 |
| 13
|23 |23.062 |117.076 |
| 14
|2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |23.070 |117.035 |
| 15
|38 |Ford |23.120 |116.782 |
| 16
|24 |Rajah Caruth (R) |23.136 |116.701 |
| 17
|42 |23.144 |116.661 |
| 18
|43 |Daniel Dye (R) |23.144 |116.661 |
| 19
|17 |Taylor Gray (R) |23.150 |116.631 |
| 20
|5 |23.199 |116.384 |
| 21
|16 |23.217 |116.294 |
| 22
|45 |23.283 |115.964 |
| 23
|52 |23.297 |115.895 |
| 24
|66 |Ford |23.351 |115.627 |
| 25
|13 |Ford |23.368 |115.543 |
| 26
|32 |Bret Holmes (R) |23.370 |115.533 |
| 27
|9 |23.402 |115.375 |
| 28
|30 |23.597 |114.421 |
| 29
|02 |23.600 |114.407 |
| 30
|56 |23.620 |114.310 |
| 31
|33 |Ford |23.708 |113.886 |
| colspan="7" |Qualified by owner's points |
| 32
|12 |23.797 |113.460 |
| 33
|20 |Mason Massey (i) |23.897 |112.985 |
| 34
|90 |23.905 |112.947 |
| 35
|22 |Ford |23.908 |112.933 |
| 36
|34 |Ford |24.034 |112.341 |
| colspan="7" |Failed to qualify |
| 37
|14 |24.106 |112.005 |
| 38
|46 |Memphis Villarreal |24.828 |108.748 |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/7/28/32316_QUALRES.pdf Official qualifying results] |
| colspan="7" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/7/28/32316_STARTROW.pdf Official starting lineup] |
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 70
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |10 |
|---|
| 2
|99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |9 |
| 3
|11 |Corey Heim |Tricon Garage |Toyota |8 |
| 4
|19 |Christian Eckes |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |7 |
| 5
|88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |6 |
| 6
|1 |William Sawalich |Tricon Garage |Toyota |5 |
| 7
|35 |Jake Garcia (R) |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |4 |
| 8
|4 |Chase Purdy |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |3 |
| 9
|51 |Matt Mills |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|25 |Matt DiBenedetto |Rackley WAR |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 70
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |10 |
|---|
| 2
|99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |9 |
| 3
|11 |Corey Heim |Tricon Garage |Toyota |8 |
| 4
|19 |Christian Eckes |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |7 |
| 5
|42 |Carson Hocevar |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |6 |
| 6
|35 |Jake Garcia (R) |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |5 |
| 7
|88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |4 |
| 8
|1 |William Sawalich |Tricon Garage |Toyota |3 |
| 9
|2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |Rev Racing |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|51 |Matt Mills |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 110
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts |
| 1
|17 |42 |Carson Hocevar |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |250 |64 |Running |48 |
|---|
| 2
|1 |98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |250 |168 |Running |55 |
| 3
|15 |38 |Zane Smith |Front Row Motorsports |Ford |250 |0 |Running |34 |
| 4
|12 |35 |Jake Garcia (R) |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |250 |0 |Running |42 |
| 5
|5 |51 |Matt Mills |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |250 |0 |Running |35 |
| 6
|2 |11 |Corey Heim |Tricon Garage |Toyota |250 |9 |Running |47 |
| 7
|8 |88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |250 |0 |Running |40 |
| 8
|14 |2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |Rev Racing |Chevrolet |249 |0 |Running |31 |
| 9
|13 |23 |Grant Enfinger |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |249 |0 |Running |28 |
| 10
|3 |1 |William Sawalich |Tricon Garage |Toyota |249 |0 |Running |35 |
| 11
|6 |19 |Christian Eckes |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |249 |0 |Running |40 |
| 12
|4 |99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |249 |9 |Running |43 |
| 13
|21 |16 |Tyler Ankrum |Hattori Racing Enterprises |Toyota |249 |0 |Running |24 |
| 14
|19 |17 |Taylor Gray (R) |Tricon Garage |Toyota |249 |0 |Running |23 |
| 15
|25 |13 |Hailie Deegan |ThorSport Racing |Ford |249 |0 |Running |22 |
| 16
|7 |15 |Tanner Gray |Tricon Garage |Toyota |249 |0 |Running |21 |
| 17
|10 |25 |Matt DiBenedetto |Rackley WAR |Chevrolet |249 |0 |Running |21 |
| 18
|11 |41 |Bayley Currey |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |248 |0 |Running |19 |
| 19
|16 |24 |Rajah Caruth (R) |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |248 |0 |Running |18 |
| 20
|24 |66 |Conner Jones |ThorSport Racing |Ford |248 |0 |Running |17 |
| 21
|18 |43 |Daniel Dye (R) |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |248 |0 |Running |16 |
| 22
|9 |4 |Chase Purdy |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |248 |0 |Running |18 |
| 23
|30 |56 |Timmy Hill |Hill Motorsports |Toyota |248 |0 |Running |14 |
| 24
|27 |9 |Colby Howard |CR7 Motorsports |Chevrolet |247 |0 |Running |13 |
| 25
|20 |5 |Dean Thompson |Tricon Garage |Toyota |247 |0 |Running |12 |
| 26
|29 |02 |Will Rodgers |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |247 |0 |Running |11 |
| 27
|23 |52 |Stewart Friesen |Halmar Friesen Racing |Toyota |247 |0 |Running |10 |
| 28
|22 |45 |Lawless Alan |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |247 |0 |Running |9 |
| 29
|26 |32 |Bret Holmes (R) |Bret Holmes Racing |Chevrolet |247 |0 |Running |8 |
| 30
|28 |30 |Ryan Vargas |On Point Motorsports |Toyota |246 |0 |Running |7 |
| 31
|34 |90 |Justin Carroll |TC Motorsports |Toyota |245 |0 |Running |6 |
| 32
|35 |22 |Christian Rose |AM Racing |Ford |244 |0 |Running |5 |
| 33
|31 |33 |Derek Lemke |Reaume Brothers Racing |Ford |243 |0 |Running |4 |
| 34
|33 |20 |Mason Massey (i) |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |242 |0 |Running |0 |
| 35
|32 |12 |Spencer Boyd |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |240 |0 |Running |2 |
| 36
|36 |34 |Josh Reaume |Reaume Brothers Racing |Ford |239 |0 |Running |1 |
| colspan="10" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/7/29/32316_UNOFFRES.pdf Official race results] |
Standings after the race
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| ! Pos
! Driver ! Points |
|---|
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,030 |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,022 (-8) |
| align="left"| 10px 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,021 (-9) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,019 (-11) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,017 (-13) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,014 (-16) |
| align="left"| 10px 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,013 (-17) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,005 (-25) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,002 (-28) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,002 (-28) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|Official driver's standings |
- Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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