Austin Hill captures Xfinity Series win at Pocono in overtime: Austin Hill survived an early race pit road speeding penalty, gambled on fuel strategy and prevailed in an incredible wheel-to-wheel run to the checkered flag in overtime to claim his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Saturday.(Read more)(7-22-2023)
#21-Austin Hill didn’t lead the Explore The Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway until overtime, but he led when it counted. #21-Hill pushed #8-Josh Berry down the frontstretch in overtime and #8-Berry missed the corner. #21-Hill prevailed and was leading when a caution flew on the final lap. It’s his fourth victory of the season.
#1-Sam Mayer tied his best career finish in second and made contact with #8-Berry, cutting down his right front tire on the final lap. In his first start of the season, #17-Chase Elliott finished third. #98-Riley Herbst stretched his fuel mileage to finish fourth, while #11-Daniel Hemric picked up his third consecutive top-five finish as he rounded out the top five.
#18-Sammy Smith finished sixth, with #9-Brando Jones, #25-Brett Moffitt, #48-Parker Kligerman and #10-Daniel Suarez made up the top 10.
#8-Berry won the opening two stages, moving his total to three or the season.
There were 11 lead changes among eight drivers and six cautions for 21 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was 122.922 mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Pocono Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Pocono:
Austin Hill won the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225, his sixth victory in 67 Xfinity Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Pocono Raceway.
Sam Mayer (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 11th
top-10 finish in 2023.
Chase Elliott(i) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway.
Sammy Smith (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
John Hunter Nemechek leads the point standings by 13 points over Austin Hill.
Xfinity Series Standings after Pocono (Race 19 of 33):
1)#20-John Hunter Nemechek (4 wins, regular season championship leader)
2)#21-Austin Hill (4 wins)
3)#00-Cole Custer (2 wins)
4)#7-Justin Allgaier (1 win)
5)#16-Chandler Smith (1 win)
6)#18-Sammy Smith (1 win)
7)#27-Jeb Burton (1 win)
8)#8-Josh Berry 577, +110
9)#11-Daniel Hemric 553, +86
10)#1-Sam Mayer 545, +78
11)#2-Sheldon Creed 516, +49
12)#98-Riley Herbst 493, +26
Currently below playoff cutline
13)#48-Parker Kligerman 467, -26
14)#25-Brett Moffitt 444, -49
15)#9-Brandon Jones 439, -54
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #02-Blaine Perkins,#4-Garrett Smithley, #91-Chad Chastain (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections
For the second time in his career, #8-Josh Berry won an Xfinity Series pole, as he will lead the field to the green flag of Saturday’s Explore The Pocono Mountains 225. Berry’s pole-winning speed of 167.951 mph was nearly three-tenths of a second ahead of second place.
#11-Daniel Hemric earned his best starting position of the 2023 season in second (167.128 mph). #2-Sheldon Creed ranked third (167.004 mph), while #19-Connor Mosack (166.982 mph) tied the best starting position of his career in fourth and #20-John Hunter Nemechek (166.834 mph) rounded out the top five.
#18-Sammy Smith will start sixth, with #9-Brandon Jones, #1-Sam Mayer, #7-Justin Allgaier and #00-Cole Custer completing the top 10.
Did Not Qualify: #74-Dawson Cram, #66-Timmy Hill, #07-Stefan Parsons
See the complete Pocono Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Fast Facts – New Hampshire
Josh Berry won the Pole Award for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 with a lap of 53.587
seconds, 167.951 mph.
This is his second pole in 81 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2023.
This is his first pole in three races at Pocono Raceway.
Daniel Hemric (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2023 and his fourth in six races at Pocono
Raceway.
Sheldon Creed (third) posted his second top-10 start at Pocono Raceway. It is his 15th in 19 races this season.
Sammy Smith (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway is complete. After 20 minutes, the top five, slowest, news and notes:
#7-Justin Allgaier 164.471 mph
#00-Cole Custer 164.405 mph
#21-Austin Hill 164.186 mph
#8-Josh Berry 164.096 mph
#2-Sheldon Creed 163.878 mph
Slowest: #66-Timmy Hill 156.421 mph
Most laps run: #21-Hill and #2-Creed, 19
There were no issues in the session.
See full Pocono Practice Results
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 41 cars on the entry list for Saturday’s Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. Three cars will fail to qualify for the race.
Notables: #3-Ty Dillon, #4-Garrett Smithley, #07-Stefan Parsons, #08-Alex Labbe, #10-Daniel Suarez, #17-Chase Elliott, #19-Connor Mosack, #24-Corey Heim, #35-Joey Gase, #38-Joe Graf Jr., #44-Sage Karam, #45-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #53-Patrick Emerling, #66-Timmy Hill, #74-Dawson Cram, #91-Chad Chastain.
See the full entry list on the Pocono Entry List page.
TandemDraft Stats – Pocono Xfinity
Pocono At-Track Schedule
