Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Darlington #2 2023
Darlington Qualifying Results / Top Ten Starters
- Christopher Bell
- Denny Hamlin
- Tyler Reddick
- Ryan Blaney
- Brad Keselowski
- Joey Logano
- Kevin Harvick
- Chris Buescher
- Michael McDowell
- Aric Almirola
Darlington Pre-Race Notes
Kyle Busch started in the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments. Busch got into the wall during practice.
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 115): 11,45,5,4,12,6,9,20,17,10
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 230): 11,5,43,45,24,8,12,3,6,47
Darlington Race Notes
Christopher Bell who started on the pole led the opening 33 laps.
Running order on lap 10: 20,45,11,12,6,22,4,17,10,2 … 34,9,23,54,5,14,16,42,7,43 … 99,24,48,1,77,47,19,21,38,3 … 31,8,41,78,51,15
On lap 22, Kyle Busch who started in the back was up to 25th.
Running order on lap 30: 20,45,11,12,6,22,4,17,10,5 … 2,23,54,9,16,42,34,43,7,48 … 14,19,24,8,99,1,31,77,47,21 … 38,3,41,15,51,78
On lap 33, the opening green flag pit cycle started.
Christopher Bell had a little slow pit stop around lap 35 when his team had jack problems. Bell lost the lead.
On lap 35, Tyler Reddick was now the new race leader and he then led the next 28 laps.
Notable: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got a speeding penalty during his opening green flag pit stop. Stenhouse was running back in the high-20’s prior to the green flag pit cycle. This dropped him off the lead lap back to 35th.
Running order on lap 50: 45,11,20,6,12,22,4,17,5,10 … 9,2,23,54,43,34,16,48,42,24 … 8,19,7,14,3,99,31,41,1,21 … 38,15,51,77,47,78
Around lap 68, another green flag pit cycle started.
Around lap 69 during his green flag pit stop, Denny Hamlin was said to be really happy with his car.
Bubba Wallace’s pit stop around lap 70 was a little slow.
Running order on lap 75: 45,11,5,4,12,22,6,20,17,9 … 2,10,43,16,19,23,54,8,24,42 … 34,14,99,3,1,7,31,41,21,51 … 38,77,15,48,47,78
Around lap 89 a replay was shown of Joey Logano scrubbing the wall. A few laps later it was mentioned he didn’t have the speed he had before he hit the wall.
Running order on lap 100: 11,45,5,4,20,12,6,17,9,22 … 2,10,43,16,23,19,8,24,54,42 … 14,3,99 (first driver off the lead lap),1,7,31,34,21,51,38
Around lap 110, Austin Cindric who was running just short of the top ten was shown to have been getting into the wall. He fell back a few positions after that.
Running order on lap 113: 11,45,5,4,12,20,6,9,17,22 … 10,43,23,16,2,24,8,19,42,54 … 14,3,99,1,7,21,31,34,51,38 … 15,47,48,41,77,78
Notable: Right at the end of Stage #1, Bubba Wallace who was running just short of the top ten had a harmless spin which marked the end of the Stage.
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 115): 11,45,5,4,12,6,9,20,17,10
Stage #1 ended caution free. It was the longest green flag run at Darlington since 2013.
Notable: During the Stage #1 caution, Michael McDowell was shown to be pitting twice for some extended repair. Apparently, McDowell got into the wall at some point in Stage #1.
Notable: Joey Logano had a long pit stop for repair during the Stage #1 caution. This dropped him from just outside the top ten back into the low 20’s.
Running order on lap 123 (restart for Stage #2): 11,45,5,4,12,9,17,43,10,24 … 16,2,20,6,8,54,19,14,42,99 … 3,23,22,1,7,21,48,31,51,38 … 15,47,34,41,77,78
On lap 130, Christopher Bell was complaining about the toe of his car. Bell got into the wall at some point prior to that. He was really struggling and falling back at a steady pace.
Running order on lap 142: 11,5,45,4,24,12,17,9,10,16 … 8,43,2,6,19,14,3,23,54,99 … 22,42,1,20,48(first driver off the lead lap),7,21,31,47,34 … 38,51,15,41,77,78
Around lap 149, another green flag pit cycle started.
Christopher Bell had out of sync pit strategy and ran long during this green flag pit cycle hoping to catch a caution. He didn’t and eventually pitted on lap 165.
Big: On lap 155, Martin Truex Jr. who was in the mid-teens around 15th prior to the green flag pit cycle pitted twice because of a loose wheel. This dropped Truex two laps down to 32nd.
Running order on lap 160: 11,5,20 (still needed to pit),4,24,12,17,45,10,6 … 9,43,16,8,14,3,99,2,23,54 … 42,48,1,22,7,34,38,31,21,47 … 51,19,15,41,77,78
On lap 165, Christopher Bell who was running long finally pitted.
On lap 167, Michael McDowell was shown to be on pit road. He was struggling all race long.
On lap 180, there was an extended caution due to lights not turning on. This eventually brought out a red flag.
Running order on lap 191 under caution: 11,24,5,4,45,43,12,9,8,10 … 6,14,17,3,99,23,16,42,54,1 … 2,22,47,21,19,20,31,48,34,38 … 51,15,7,77,41,78
Running order on lap 200: 11,5,45,24,4,43,12,9,8,6 … 17,10,3,14,16,23,54,1,99,2 … 42,22,47 (first car off the lead lap),19,21,48,20,38,34,7 … 51,15,31,41,77,78
Notable: On lap 216, BJ McLeod came to a stop on the track which brought out a caution.
Running order on lap 216 during the McLeod caution: 11,5,45,24,4,43,12,8,9,6 … 17,3,10,14,23,16,54,1,99,2 … 42,22,47,48,19,21,20,38,34,7 … 51,31,15,41,77,78
Quite a few drivers took the wave around during the McLeod caution to get back on the lead lap. Notably Truex, Bowman and McDowell.
Running order on lap 223: 11,5,43,45,24,8,12,4,6,9 … 3,17,14,54,10,23,2,99,22,1 … 16,47,48,19,21,20,42,38,34,7 (first driver off the lead lap) … 31,51,15,41,77,78
Big: On lap 226, Austin Cindric and Ty Gibbs crashed. They were racing for 14th.Cindric had heavy damage. The #54’s damage wasn’t quite as heavy.
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 230): 11,5,43,45,24,8,12,3,6,47
Running order on lap 236 (restart for the final Stage): 11,5,43,45,24,6,4,17,14,23 … 1,99,16,48,42,21,38,20,22,54 … 10,3,8,12,47,19,9,7,34,31 … 15,51,2,41,77,78
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