Asterisk Mark Report – Darlington (#1 2023)

Ross Chastain – This spring at Darlington, Ross Chastain was a standout performer and a factor to win but finished an asterisk mark 29th after crashing while battling Kyle Larson for the lead with 6 to go. In the race, Chastain finished 4th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 93 laps, had a 3.9 average running position and had the best Total Speed Ranking.

Martin Truex Jr. – In May at Darlington, Martin Truex Jr. was arguably the best but finished an asterisk mark 31st. In the race, Truex led 145 laps, won Stage #1, spun out while battling for the lead in Stage #2 (10th in Stage #2 as a result), battled back up to the front at the end only to crash while battling for 3rd in the closing laps during a restart. In terms of speed stats, Truex had the best Green Flag Speed and ranked 2nd for Total Speed Rankings.

Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson had a hot rod this spring and likely would’ve won if late mayhem didn’t kick into high gear. Following the final green flag pit cycle, Larson was the leader and looked to have the race in hand but during a late restart, him and Ross Chastain got together which led to Larson’s 20th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 5th but take note his speed over the segments were 14th, 7th, 2nd and then 1st.

Denny Hamlin – This spring at Darlington, Denny Hamlin finished 12th but for fantasy purposes, I would completely disregard his afternoon. In the race, Hamlin was in 7th on lap 35, but then on lap 38 he radioed his team that his car took off on him and he got into the wall. A few laps after that the caution came out for fluid on the track.

Christopher Bell – This spring at Darlington, Christopher Bell was a top five contender but he finished an asterisk mark 14th. During a late caution, Bell pitted twice which dropped him to the back. Prior to coming to pit road, Bell was running in 2nd.

Joey Logano – This spring at “The Lady In Black”, Joey Logano was steadily rising up thru the field over the course of the afternoon and was up to 5th on lap 266, which was just before Newman crashed which ushered in late mayhem. With 14 to go while running in 4th during a restart, Truex crashed into him and that led to Logano’s 18th.

Tyler Reddick – This spring, Reddick finished 9th in Stage #1, 11th in Stage #2, was running in 8th on lap 278 but then during the ensuing restart, he was collected in the carnage which led to his asterisk mark 22nd.

Daniel Suarez – This spring at Darlington, Daniel Suarez looked sporty early but finished an asterisk mark 34th. In the race, Suarez started 6th, raced his way up to 4th when the lap 30 competition came out but was then caught speeding on pit road which dropped him back to 30th. Suarez was then mired back in traffic for essentially the remainder of his race until his demise in the last Stage “Restart Big One” which led to his 34th.

Austin Dillon – This spring at Darlington, Austin Dillon didn’t look good but he wasn’t 35th place bad. Dillon was likely a high-teens performer but early in the final Stage he crashed in a “Big One” when Erik Jones lost his wheel which led to his 35th. At the conclusion of Stage #2 just prior to his demise, Dillon was in 20th.

Michael McDowell – This spring, Michael McDowell was a high-teens performer but finished an asterisk mark 33rd. In the race, McDowell finished around the mid-twenties in Stage #1, about 19th in Stage #2 but then in the final Stage he was collected in an early restart wreck which marked the end of his race.

Erik Jones – Erik Jones, the defending Southern 500 champ didn’t have an incident free race this spring and finished an asterisk mark 27th. “Performance Wise”, I think Jones was a mid to high-teens driver but at the start of the final Stage, he lost a wheel and then a “Big One” ensued which damaged the #43.

Aric Almirola – In 2022 at Darlington, Aric Almirola was 2 for 2 at finishing 11th. This spring, was running in in 11th late in the race on lap 178 but then shortly after that he was caught up in the late carnage which led to his 21st.

Notable drivers who benefitted from late attrition/ mayhem

Chris Buescher – Chris Buescher finished 10th this spring at Darlington thanks to attrition/late mayhem, but I wouldn’t say he was truly a 20’s performer.

Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick finished 2nd this spring at Darlington but “Performance Wise” I would say he was realistically around 10th place good.

Chase Elliott – Chase Elliott finished 3rd this spring but realistically I would say realistically he was around 10th place good.

Harrison Burton – Harrison Burton finished 6th this spring but realistically I would say he was around mid-teens good.

Justin Haley – Just Haley finished 8th this spring but “Performance Wise” I would say he was likely truly a high-teens performer.

Todd Gilliland – Todd Gilliland finished 11th this spring but without late mayhem/attrition, I would say he was poised to finish around 20th.