2023 Food City Dirt Race

NASCAR Cup Series race
2023 Food City Dirt Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 8 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Date April 9, 2023 (2023-04-09)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 250 laps, 133.25 mi (214.445 km)
Average speed 46.68 miles per hour (75.12 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
  • Kyle Larson
 Hendrick Motorsports
Time 15 Passing Points
Most laps led
Driver Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 100
Winner
No. 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Tony Stewart
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (Backstretch)
Motor car race

The 2023 Food City Dirt Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 9, 2023, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 250 laps on the 0.533 miles (0.858 km) short track, it was the eighth race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

Background

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. Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking combined with short length, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating.

In 2021, the race shifted to a dirt surface version of the track and was renamed the Food City Dirt Race.[10]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Matt Crafton (i)[a] Rick Ware Racing Ford
54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Due to inclement weather, both practice sessions scheduled for Friday were cancelled.

Qualifying heat races

Qualifying race procedure similar to that used by the Chili Bowl qualifying nights and Bryan Clauson Classic. Starting order for heat races based on random draw. Grid determined by a combination of passing points and finishing points. Ties broken by owner points.

Race 1

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15
2 6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 15
3 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
4 2 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15
5 1 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 15
6 4 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 15
7 10 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 15
8 7 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15
9 9 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 15
10 3 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 15
Official race one results

Race 2

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 15
2 2 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15
3 5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15
4 4 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15
5 6 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15
6 9 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 15
7 3 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 15
8 8 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
9 7 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 15
Official race two results

Race 3

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 6 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15
2 5 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15
3 9 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 15
4 1 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 15
5 8 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 15
6 4 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 15
7 7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 15
8 3 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 15
9 2 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 15
Official race three results

Race 4

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 15
2 6 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15
3 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 15
4 2 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 15
5 8 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 15
6 4 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
7 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
8 9 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15
9 3 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 15
Official race four results

Starting Lineup

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
3 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
8 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
12 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
13 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
14 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
16 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
17 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
20 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford
21 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
23 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
26 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
27 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
28 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
31 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
33 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
35 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
36 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
37 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9
3 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
4 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 7
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6
6 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 3
9 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2
10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 10
2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9
3 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6
6 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 3
9 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2
10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 100

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 52
2 6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 250 48
3 2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 250 52
4 22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 250 33
5 14 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 41
6 25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 250 35
7 27 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 34
8 15 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 250 29
9 26 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 28
10 23 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 27
11 13 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 250 26
12 11 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 250 25
13 10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 250 25
14 18 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 250 23
15 20 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 250 22
16 29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 250 21
17 33 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 250 20
18 28 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 250 19
19 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 250 18
20 3 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 250 0
21 32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 250 16
22 30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 15
23 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 250 23
24 8 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 20
25 34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 250 12
26 37 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 250 11
27 31 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 250 0
28 16 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 249 9
29 17 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 248 8
30 35 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 247 7
31 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 240 7
32 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 236 19
33 36 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 205 4
34 24 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 185 0
35 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 177 20
36 21 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 176 1
37 12 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 96 1
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 4 among 4 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 14 for 71 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 40 minutes and 40 seconds
  • Average speed: 46.68 miles per hour (75.12 km/h)

Media

Television

The Food City Dirt Race was carried by Fox in the United States. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Tony Stewart		 Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Josh Sims		 Larry McReynolds

Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race in the booth when the field raced down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from atop the turn 3 suites when the field raced down the backstretch. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Matt Prieur, Lenny Batycki and Heather Debeaux covered the action on pit lane for PRN.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow		 Backstretch: Rob Albright Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Matt Prieur
Lenny Batycki
Heather Debeaux

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 1 Christopher Bell 281
1 2 Ross Chastain 268 (–13)
3 Kevin Harvick 255 (–26)
4 Kyle Larson 242 (–39)
7 5 Tyler Reddick 235 (–46)
6 Kyle Busch 234 (–47)
1 7 Martin Truex Jr. 232 (–49)
3 8 Joey Logano 223 (–58)
9 Brad Keselowski 216 (–65)
10 Ryan Blaney 211 (–70)
4 11 Alex Bowman 211 (–70)
1 12 Denny Hamlin 203 (–78)
3 13 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 194 (–87)
14 William Byron 193 (–88)
2 15 Austin Cindric 193 (–88)
1 16 Chris Buescher 183 (–98)
Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings
Pos Manufacturer Points
1 Chevrolet 302
2 Toyota 279 (–23)
3 Ford 268 (–34)
  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

Notes

  1. ^ Matt Crafton replaced Cody Ware after Ware had to miss the race due to what at time was announced as a personal matter. On April 10, 2023, Ware was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR after he was arrested and charged with felony assault;[11] the suspension ended on December 12, 2023 when the charges were dropped.[12]

References

  1. ^ "2023 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bristol Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Taranto, Steven (14 September 2022). "NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops". CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ^ "NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series". National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bristol Heat Races Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Food City Dirt Race Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "NASCAR Cup Series to go dirt trackin' at Bristol in 2021 - NBC Sports". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  11. ^ Staff Report (April 10, 2023). "NASCAR officials issue indefinite suspension to Cody Ware after arrest". NASCAR.
  12. ^ "NASCAR officials reinstate Cup Series driver Cody Ware".


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