2023 Food City Dirt Race Explained

Type:CUST
Description:Race 8 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Race Name:Food City Dirt Race
Details Ref:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Year:2023
Location:Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Mi:0.533
Course Km:0.858
Distance Laps:250
Distance Mi:133.25
Distance Km:214.445
Avg:46.68mph
Pole Driver:Kyle Larson
Pole Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Pole Time:15 Passing Points
Most Driver:Christopher Bell
Most Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
Most Laps:100
Car:20
First Driver:Christopher Bell
First Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
Network:Fox
Announcers:Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Tony Stewart
Radio:PRN
Booth Ann:Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Ann:Rob Albright (Backstretch)

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 0.533miles 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

DriverTeam Manufacturer
1 nowrap
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 Josh Berry (i)
10
11
12
13 nowrap
14
15 J. J. Yeley (i)
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
31
34
38
41
42 Noah Gragson (R)
43
45
47
48
51 Matt Crafton (i)
54 Ty Gibbs (R)
77
78 Chevrolet
99
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

PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
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

PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
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

PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
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

PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLaps
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

PosDriverTeamManufacturer
15 Chevrolet
23 Chevrolet
315 J. J. Yeley (i) Ford
420 Toyota
58 Chevrolet
645 Toyota
72 Ford
841 Ford
912 Ford
1024 Chevrolet
1123 Toyota
1222 Ford
1334 Ford
1414 Ford
1538 Ford
161 Chevrolet
1748 Chevrolet
1843 Chevrolet
1910 Ford
2021 Ford
2113 Chevrolet
2247 Chevrolet
2354 Ty Gibbs (R) Toyota
2451 Matt Crafton (i) Ford
2531 Chevrolet
264 Ford
2719 Toyota
2817 Ford
2916 Chevrolet
3011 Toyota
319 Josh Berry (i) Chevrolet
3277 Chevrolet
336 Ford
3499 Chevrolet
357 Chevrolet
3642 Noah Gragson (R) Chevrolet
3778 Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Stage Results

Stage OneLaps: 75

PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
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 TwoLaps: 75

PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
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 ThreeLaps: 100

PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPoints
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

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.

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.

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
11Christopher Bell281
12Ross Chastain268 (–13)
3Kevin Harvick255 (–26)
4Kyle Larson242 (–39)
75Tyler Reddick235 (–46)
6Kyle Busch234 (–47)
17Martin Truex Jr.232 (–49)
38Joey Logano223 (–58)
9Brad Keselowski216 (–65)
10Ryan Blaney211 (–70)
411Alex Bowman211 (–70)
112Denny Hamlin203 (–78)
313Ricky Stenhouse Jr.194 (–87)
14William Byron193 (–88)
215Austin Cindric193 (–88)
116Chris Buescher183 (–98)
Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings
PosManufacturerPoints
1Chevrolet302
2Toyota279 (–23)
3Ford268 (–34)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023 schedule . Jayski.com. . October 10, 2022.
  2. Web site: Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. March 15, 2023. January 3, 2013. April 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170428170112/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/bristol-motor-speedway.html. dead.
  3. News: NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops . Taranto, Steven . 14 September 2022 . 10 March 2023 . CBS Broadcasting Inc.
  4. News: NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series . 14 September 2022 . 10 March 2023 . National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC.
  5. Web site: Entry List. Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 3, 2023. April 3, 2023.
  6. Web site: Bristol Heat Races Results. NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. April 8, 2023. April 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Starting Lineup. NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. April 8, 2023. April 8, 2023.
  8. Web site: Food City Dirt Race Results. NASCAR.com. NASCAR. April 9, 2023. April 9, 2023.
  9. Web site: Points standings. Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 9, 2023. April 9, 2023.
  10. Web site: 2020-09-30. NASCAR Cup Series to go dirt trackin' at Bristol in 2021 - NBC Sports. 2020-09-30. NASCAR Talk NBC Sports. en-US.