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2023 RAPTOR King of Tough 250

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2023 RAPTOR King of Tough 250
Race details
Race 5 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date March 18, 2023
Official name 32nd Annual RAPTOR King of Tough 250
Location Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia
Course Permanent racing facility
1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Distance 163 laps, 251 mi (403 km)
Scheduled Distance 163 laps, 251 mi (403 km)
Average speed 91.382 mph (147.065 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing
Laps 103
Winner
No. 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Adam Alexander, Daniel Suárez, and Joey Logano
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN

The 2023 RAPTOR King of Tough was the 5th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 163 laps to complete. In a chaotic finish, Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would hold off the field on the final restart, and earn his fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his third of the season.[1] Hill dominated the race as well, leading 103 laps. To fill out the podium, Daniel Hemric, driving for Kaulig Racing, and Ryan Truex, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Background

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Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021.[2][3] The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor(s)
00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Haas Automation
1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet Accelerate Pros Talent
02 Kyle Weatherman Our Motorsports Chevrolet The Original Larry's Hard Lemonade
2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
4 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet Trophy Tractor
6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet Walton Press
07 Blaine Perkins (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet To the Point NC
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet RaptorTough.com
08 Gray Gaulding SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet FollowMe Global Business Solutions
8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet Tire Pros Love The Drive
9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet Jeld-Wen, Menards
10 Justin Haley (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet LeafFilter Gutter Protection
11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Chevrolet Accessories
16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Quick Tie Productions
18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Pilot Flying J
19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Toyota Genuine Parts
20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Mobil 1
21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Bennett Transportation
24 Connor Mosack (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota Toyota Racing Development
25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford AM Technical Solutions
26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota CRUSH Lime Margarita
27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Rocky Boots
28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford Cedar Ridge Landscaping
31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet FUNKAWAY
35 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford Sci Aps
38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford Jacob Companies
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford CMR Construction & Roofing
43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Pella Windows & Doors
44 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Advanced Material Handling
45 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Til Valhalla Project
48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Big Machine Spiked Coolers
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet One Stop, All South Electric
53 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet Donate Life Georgia
66 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Prime Bites Protein Brownies
74 Dawson Cram CHK Racing Chevrolet ServiceMaster Restore
78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet JAG Metals
91 Chad Chastain DGM Racing Chevrolet Protect Your Melon
92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet Coolray, Alloy Employer Services
98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Monster Energy
Official entry list

Starting lineup

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Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 17, at 4:30 PM EST, but was cancelled due to constant rain showers.[4] The starting lineup would be determined by a performance-based metric system. As a result, Sammy Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would earn the pole.[5] Dawson Cram would fail to qualify.

Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
7 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
8 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
9 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet
10 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet
11 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
12 25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford
13 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet
14 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford
15 78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet
16 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet
17 31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet
18 10 Justin Haley (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
19 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet
20 02 Kyle Weatherman Our Motorsports Chevrolet
21 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet
22 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet
23 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet
24 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet
25 24 Connor Mosack (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota
26 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford
27 38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford
28 26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota
29 6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet
30 45 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet
31 44 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet
32 35 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford
33 53 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet
Qualified by owner's points
34 4 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet
35 08 Gray Gaulding SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
36 07 Blaine Perkins (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
37 91 Chad Chastain DGM Racing Chevrolet
38 66 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet
Failed to qualify
39 74 Dawson Cram CHK Racing Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Stage 1 Laps: 40

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 10
2 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9
3 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 7
5 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6
6 25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford 5
7 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 4
8 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 3
9 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2
10 10 Justin Haley (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 40

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 10
2 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 9
3 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 7
5 78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 5
7 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
9 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2
10 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clememts Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 3 Laps: 83

Fin[6] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 3 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 163 103 Running 53
2 11 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 39
3 4 19 Ryan Truex Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 163 0 Running 34
4 13 48 Parker Kligerman Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 163 5 Running 43
5 5 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 163 11 Running 47
6 12 25 Brett Moffitt AM Racing Ford 163 0 Running 36
7 9 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 163 0 Running 34
8 2 20 John Hunter Nemechek Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 163 10 Running 37
9 10 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 163 0 Running 28
10 18 10 Justin Haley (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 163 5 Running 0
11 14 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 163 0 Running 34
12 8 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 163 0 Running 29
13 29 6 Brennan Poole JD Motorsports Chevrolet 163 0 Running 24
14 15 78 Anthony Alfredo B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 163 18 Running 29
15 23 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 23
16 16 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 21
17 1 18 Sammy Smith (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 163 0 Running 20
18 32 35 Patrick Emerling Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford 163 0 Running 19
19 21 9 Brandon Jones JR Motorsports Chevrolet 163 10 Running 26
20 35 08 Gray Gaulding SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 163 1 Running 17
21 7 2 Sheldon Creed Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 32
22 36 07 Blaine Perkins (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 15
23 24 43 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 14
24 37 91 Chad Chastain DGM Racing Chevrolet 163 0 Running 0
25 27 38 Joe Graf Jr. RSS Racing Ford 163 0 Running 12
26 26 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 161 0 Running 11
27 17 31 Parker Retzlaff (R) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 154 0 Accident 10
28 6 16 Chandler Smith (R) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 127 0 Rear Gear 16
29 19 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 77 0 Accident 8
30 25 24 Connor Mosack (R) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 69 0 Accident 7
31 30 45 Sage Karam Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 43 0 Radiator 6
32 22 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 33 0 Accident 5
33 20 02 Kyle Weatherman Our Motorsports Chevrolet 26 0 Accident 4
34 31 44 Jeffrey Earnhardt Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 11 0 Accident 3
35 28 26 Kaz Grala Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 11 0 Accident 2
36 34 4 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 11 0 Accident 1
37 35 53 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 1 0 Accident 1
38 38 66 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1 0 Accident 1
Official race results

Penalties

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During the first stage, Josh Williams sustained heavy damage on lap 27. When debris from his repaired car caused another caution, NASCAR parked him under the Damaged Vehicle Policy. In response, Williams stopped his car on the start/finish line and walked back to pit road with the car behind.[7] As a result, NASCAR handed Williams a one-race suspension for the next race.[8]

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Skala, Chris (March 18, 2023). "Austin Hill Dominates Atlanta Xfinity Race for 3rd Win of 2023". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway to re-profile track in 2022 and drivers are expressing frustration with the changes". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  3. ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway track reprofile begins | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  4. ^ "2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring Race Page". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Watson, Wyatt (March 17, 2023). "Xfinity Qualifying Canceled; Sammy Smith Wins Atlanta Pole". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "2023 Raptor King of Tough 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Spencer, Reid (March 18, 2023). "Austin Hill fends off Kligerman, Hemric for Xfinity win at Atlanta". NASCAR. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Hembree, Mike (March 22, 2023). "Josh Williams suspended for one race after Atlanta infraction". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2023.


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NASCAR Xfinity Series
2023 season
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2023 Pit Boss 250