2023-07-30 23:16:14
Sunday July 30, 2023 by Julie Bouchard
While the Xfinity Series performed at the Road America road course in Wisconsin, the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series were in action this weekend 1,000 miles southeast at the Richmond Raceway oval in Virginia. The van race was contested yesterday and the Cup series rolled around this Sunday afternoon.
The 400-lap Cup race was dominated by the Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing drivers, back at the forefront with their Ford Mustangs. At the wheel of the No.17, Chris Buescher had never led a lap on the 0.75 mile D-shaped oval in Richmond before Sunday’s Cook Out 400. But the Texan led 88 of the 400 laps en route to his third victory in the series, the 1st this season. Enough to guarantee him a place in the playoffs at the end of the season.
A spin from Daniel Suárez, pushed by Noah Gragson, with 10 laps to go set up a raise just three laps from the end. Buescher, already leading before this neutralization (only the 3rd of the whole race), restarted inside with Denny Hamlin (Toyota / Joe Gibbs racing) on his right. Hamlin tried to go on the outside to take control with two laps to go but he locked up his left front tire somewhat under braking, ending his momentum and the fight for victory. Hamlin still finished second ahead of Kyle Busch (Chevrolet/Richard Childress Racing), Joey Logano (Ford/Team Penske) and Ryan Preece (Ford/Stewart-Haas Racing). Three Fords make up the Top 5, but all from different teams.
Buescher’s teammate and co-owner Brad Keselowski led the most laps in the 3 hour and 2 minute long race. He put his No.6 Ford front and center for 102 laps, but a very slow pit stop on lap 286 saw him lose control to Buescher. He finishes 6th.
Martin Truex Jr, Aric Almirola, Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick complete the Top 10. For the full ranking, Click here.
Yesterday, the Truck Series presented the final race of its regular season in Richmond, before the start of the playoffs. A race won by Carson Hocevar (Chevrolet / Niece Motorsports), who pushed Ty Majeski (Ford / ThorSport Racing) to take 1st place for the finish. Majeski had however dominated most of this 250 lap race. Zane Smith, Jake Garcia, Matt Mills, Corey Heim, Mat Crafton, Nicholas Sanchez, Grant Finallyger and William Sawalich. Only 27th, the Canadian Stewart Friesen finds himself eliminated from the playoffs, in favor of the former double champion Matt Crafton. For the full Richmond race standings, Click here.
The 10 drivers qualified for the playoffs are Corey Heim, also a regular season champion, Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Grant Finallyger, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, Nick Sanchez, Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton.
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