The 2023 Toyota Owners 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 2, 2023, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps on the 0.75 mile (1.2 km) asphalt short track, it was the seventh race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Report
Background
Richmond Raceway (RR) is a 0.75 miles (1.21 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it has formerly hosted events such as the International Race of Champions, Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, and the USAC sprint car series. Due to Richmond Raceway's unique "D" shape which allows drivers to reach high speeds, Richmond has long been known as a short track that races like a superspeedway. With its multiple racing grooves, and proclivity for contact Richmond is a favorite among NASCAR drivers and fans.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 13 Chandler Smith (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Anthony Alfredo (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice Practice was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Qualifying Qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. Alex Bowman was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 3.050.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 5 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 6 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 8 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 9 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 14 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 16 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 17 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 18 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 19 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 20 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 21 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 22 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 23 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 24 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 25 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 26 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 27 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 29 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 30 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 32 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 33 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 34 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 35 78 Anthony Alfredo (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 36 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 37 13 Chandler Smith (i) Kaulig Racing ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Race results
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 70
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 84 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 75 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 66 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 57 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 210 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 160
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 66 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 57 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 210 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 170
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 9 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 522 30 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 03 4 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 400 484 21 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 455 10 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 416 15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 400 31 7 18 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 400 368 1 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 -239 14 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 29 10 24 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 400 3411 12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 3312 19 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 2613 33 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 2414 2 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 2315 13 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 400 2216 5 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 400 2617 37 13 Chandler Smith (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 400 018 32 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 1919 26 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 400 1820 11 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racinfg Toyota 400 2721 16 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 400 1622 28 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 400 1523 20 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 400 1424 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 -2925 27 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 399 1226 17 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 399 1127 25 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 399 1028 6 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 399 929 29 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 399 830 7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 398 731 22 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 398 632 36 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 398 533 35 78 Anthony Alfredo (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 396 034 31 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 395 335 8 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 384 236 34 15 J. J. Yeley Rick Ware Racing Ford 383 137 23 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 303 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 22 among 11 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 8 for 54 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 17 minutes and 37 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television Fox Sports covered their 22nd race at the Richmond Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Richmond winner Clint Bowyer, and Larry McReynolds called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side.
FS1Booth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Larry McReynolds Jamie LittleRegan Smith
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth when the field raced down the frontstretch. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field raced down the backstretch. Steve Post, Jason Toy, and Brienne Pedigo handled pit road for the radio side.
MRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff StriegleAnnouncer: Rusty Wallace Backstretch: Mike Bagley Steve PostJason ToyBrienne Pedigo
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Alex Bowman 263 2 Ross Chastain 259 (–4) 4 3 Christopher Bell 229 (–34) 1 4 William Byron 228 (–35) 1 5 Kevin Harvick 227 (–36) 3 6 Kyle Larson 222 (–41) 2 7 Joey Logano 222 (–41) 4 8 Kyle Busch 215 (–48) 2 9 Martin Truex Jr. 198 (–65) 2 10 Brad Keselowski 196 (–67) 3 11 Ryan Blaney 188 (–75) 2 12 Denny Hamlin 188 (–75) 13 Tyler Reddick 187 (–76) 4 14 Austin Cindric 175 (–88) 1 15 Chris Buescher 164 (–99) 1 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 161 (–102)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 268 2 Toyota 239 (–29) 3 Ford 236 (–32)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
References