John Hunter Nemechek wins final Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway: After the sun set on Auto Club Speedway, John Hunter Nemechek drove his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to victory in Sunday’s Production Alliance Group 300 in the final race at the 2.0-mile track.(Read more)(2-26-2023)
In a race that was delayed for more than a day, #20-John Hunter Nemechek won the final Xfinity Series race on the two-mile layout at Auto Club Speedway. It’s his third career win — and second for Joe Gibbs Racing. Nemechek led a race-high 49 laps.
#1-Sam Mayer tied his best career finish in second. #7-Justin Allgaier got off strategy twice during the 300-mile race, but rebounded to finish third. #16-Chandler Smith placed fourth, with #8-Josh Berry finishing fifth, despite getting into a couple of incidents throughout the event.
#21-Austin Hill took the checkered flag in sixth, with #98-Riley Herbst, #10-Austin Hill, #25-Brett Moffitt and #48-Parker Kligerman rounding out the top 10.
#00-Cole Custer won both stages, but blew a right front tire during the final stage and finished 27th.
There were 23 lead changes among nine drivers and 10 cautions for 43 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was 115.471 mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Auto Club Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Auto Club:
John Hunter Nemechek won the Production Alliance Group 300, his third victory in 69 Xfinity Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-5 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in three races at Auto Club Speedway.
Sam Mayer (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2023.
Justin Allgaier (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Auto Club Speedway.
Chandler Smith (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Xfinity Series Standings after Auto Club (Race 2 of 33):
1)#21-Austin Hill (1 win, regular season championship leader, 98 points)
2)#20-John Hunter Nemechek (1 win), 91, -7
3)#7-Justin Allgaier 91, -7
4)#16-Chandler Smith 76, 22
5)#98-Riley Herbst 73, -25
6)#00-Cole Custer 60, -38
7)#1-Sam Mayer 58, -40
8)#19-Joe Graf Jr. 56, -42
9)#8-Josh Berry 52, -46
10#39-Ryan Sieg 52, -46
11)#48-Parker Kligerman 51, -47
12)#31-Parker Retzlaff 50, -48
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #02-David Starr, #31-Parker Retzlaff, #51-Jeremy Clements.
Pit Stall Selections
Qualifying for the Production Alliance Group 300 was canceled due to inclement weather. The starting lineup is based on the metric score from Daytona. Based off that, #21-Austin Hill will lead the field to the green flag for the second time in as many races to start the 2023 season.
#20-John Hunter Nemechek will line up on the front row. #7-Justin Allgaier, #31-Parker Retzlaff and #16-Chandler Smith round out the top five. #98-Riley Herbst will start sixth, as #27-Jeb Burton, #00-Cole Custer, #92-Josh Williams and #9-Brandon Jones make up the top 10.
Did Not Qualify: #74-Ryan Vargas, #99-Garrett Smithley
See the complete Auto Club Starting Lineup.
Practice for the Production Alliance Group 300 was canceled.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 40 cars on the entry list for the Production Alliance Group 300 Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Two drivers/teams will miss the race.
Notables: #10-Austin Dillon, #19-Joe Graf Jr., #24-Tyler Reddick, #28-Alex Labbe, #35-Joey Gase, #38-Kyle Sieg, #39-Ryan Sieg, #45-Rajah Caruth, #53-CJ McLaughlin, #66-Timmy Hill, #74-Ryan Vargas and #91-Ross Chastain.
See the full entry list on the Auto Club Entry List page.
TandemDraft Stats – Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club At-Track Schedule