2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225

The 2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 was the 19th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania at Pocono Raceway, a 2.0 miles (3.2 km) permanent triangular-shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 90 laps, but was extended to 92 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would have a wild battle with Josh Berry on the final lap, and held on to win the race after the final caution came out. This was Hill's sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his fourth of the season.[1] Berry had dominated the entire race, leading a race-high 51 laps, until he hit the wall on the final lap, dropping him back to the 24th position.[2] To fill out the podium, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, and Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
Race details
Race 19 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date July 22, 2023
Official name 8th Annual Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
Location Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 92 laps, 230 mi (370 km)
Scheduled Distance 90 laps, 225 mi (362 km)
Average speed 122.922 mph (197.824 km/h)
Pole position
Driver JR Motorsports
Time 53.587
Most laps led
Driver Josh Berry JR Motorsports
Laps 51
Winner
No. 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network USA
Announcers Rick Allen, Steve Letarte, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN

Background

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Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval speedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1970s. Nicknamed "The Tricky Triangle", the speedway has three distinct corners and is known for high speeds along its lengthy straightaways.

From 1982 to 2019, the circuit had two race weekends. In 2020, the circuit was reduced to one race meeting of two races. The first race was moved to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis starting in 2022.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Haas Automation
1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet Accelerate Pros Talent
02 Blaine Perkins (R) Our Motorsports Chevrolet AUTOParkIt
2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
3 Ty Dillon (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Ferris Commercial Mowers
4 Kyle Weatherman JD Motorsports Chevrolet Graze Craze Charcuterie Boards
6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet Members First Credit Union
07 Stefan Parsons SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Ollie's Bargain Outlet
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Reese's Ice Cream
08 Alex Labbé SS-Green Light Racing Ford Refology
8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet Tire Pros Love the Drive
9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet Pelonis, Menards
10 Daniel Suárez (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet LeafHome Water Solutions
11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Chevrolet Accessories
16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Quick Tie Products
17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet HendrickCars.com Archived 2021-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota TMC Transportation
19 Connor Mosack (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Irwin Industrial Tools
20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Yahoo!
21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Global Industrial
24 Corey Heim (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota Lehigh Valley Phantoms
25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford AM Technical Solutions
26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota Island Coastal Lager
27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Puryear Tank Lines
28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford US Hydrations, Sparkling Ice
31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet FUNKAWAY
35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet Adkins Automotive
38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford CoverSeal
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford CMR Construction & Roofing
43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Rich Mar Florist
44 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet CRC Brakleen
45 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Erie Sports Center, ForeverLawn
48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet Wings Etc. Grill & Pub
53 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet Emerling-Gase Motorsports
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota Coble Commercial Properties
74 Dawson Cram CHK Racing Chevrolet Troopers United Foundation
78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet BOTTICELLI
91 Chad Chastain (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet MAR-Delicious Watermelons
92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet Alloy Employer Services, Star Tron
98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Monster Energy
Official entry list

Practice

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The first and only practice session was held on Friday, July 21, at 3:35 PM EST, and would last for 20 minutes.[3] Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.721, and an average speed of 164.471 mph (264.690 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.721 164.471
2 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 54.743 164.405
3 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.816 164.186
Full practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, July 21, at 4:05 PM EST.[3] Since Pocono Raceway is a superspeedway, the qualifying system used is a single-car, one-lap system with only one round. In that round, whoever sets the fastest time will win the pole.[5] Josh Berry, driving for JR Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 53.587, and an average speed of 167.951 mph (270.291 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 53.587 167.951
2 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.851 167.128
3 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.891 167.004
4 19 Connor Mosack (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.898 166.982
5 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.946 166.834
6 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.973 166.750
7 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.046 166.525
8 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.049 166.516
9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 54.134 166.254
10 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 54.136 166.248
11 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.235 165.945
12 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 54.241 165.926
13 17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.286 165.789
14 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 54.321 165.682
15 24 Corey Heim (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 54.394 165.459
16 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 54.440 165.320
17 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 54.444 165.307
18 25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford 54.445 165.304
19 31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 54.448 165.295
20 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 54.504 165.125
21 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 54.575 164.911
22 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 54.579 164.899
23 10 Daniel Suárez (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 54.601 164.832
24 26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 54.742 164.408
25 3 Ty Dillon (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.825 164.159
26 78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 54.912 163.899
27 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.233 162.946
28 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 55.334 162.649
29 44 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.349 162.605
30 38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford 55.503 162.153
31 6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet 55.749 161.438
32 08 Alex Labbé SS-Green Light Racing Ford 55.805 161.276
33 91 Chad Chastain (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet 55.872 161.082
Qualified by owner's points
34 4 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 55.875 161.074
35 45 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 55.975 160.786
36 53 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 56.125 160.356
37 35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 56.274 159.932
38 02 Blaine Perkins (R) Our Motorsports Chevrolet 56.278 159.920
Failed to qualify
39 74 Dawson Cram CHK Racing Chevrolet 56.018 160.663
40 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 56.318 159.807
41 07 Stefan Parsons SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 56.424 159.507
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Stage 1 Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 9
3 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6
6 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 19 Connor Mosack (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6
6 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2
10 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 3 Laps: 52

Pos.[7] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 11 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 92 2 Running 41
2 8 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 92 0 Running 43
3 13 17 Chase Elliott (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 92 9 Running 0
4 21 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 92 3 Running 36
5 2 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 43
6 6 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 92 0 Running 43
7 7 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 92 12 Running 42
8 18 25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford 92 0 Running 29
9 22 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 28
10 23 10 Daniel Suárez (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 92 5 Running 0
11 3 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 32
12 12 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 25
13 26 78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 92 0 Running 24
14 25 3 Ty Dillon (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 0
15 14 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 22
16 20 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 92 0 Running 21
17 30 38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford 92 0 Running 20
18 27 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 19
19 35 45 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 18
20 16 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 92 0 Running 18
21 34 4 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 92 0 Running 16
22 17 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 92 0 Running 15
23 9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 92 8 Running 26
24 1 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 91 51 Running 33
25 24 26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 91 0 Running 12
26 36 53 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 91 0 Running 11
27 38 02 Blaine Perkins (R) Our Motorsports Chevrolet 91 0 Running 10
28 32 08 Alex Labbé SS-Green Light Racing Ford 91 0 Running 9
29 31 6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet 91 0 Running 8
30 33 91 Chad Chastain (i) DGM Racing Chevrolet 91 0 Running 0
31 37 35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 90 0 Running 6
32 5 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 89 0 Running 21
33 10 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 87 2 Running 10
34 4 19 Connor Mosack (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 85 0 Accident 5
35 19 31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 84 0 Running 2
36 28 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 82 0 Running 1
37 15 24 Corey Heim (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 81 0 Suspension 0
38 29 44 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 7 0 Transmission 1
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Skala, Chris (July 22, 2023). "Austin Hill Steals Pocono Xfinity Win in Overtime". Frontstretch. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (July 22, 2023). "Josh Berry on Late Pocono Wreck: 'It Definitely Wasn't Sam's Fault'". Frontstretch. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Raceway Race Page". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "Practice Results: NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono". TobyChristie.com. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "2023 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Watson, Wyatt (July 21, 2023). "Josh Berry Takes Pole for Pocono Xfinity Race". Frontstretch. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 22, 2023.


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2023 Road America 180