MARTINSVILLE – April 16, 2023 – Anthony Holbrook
NASCAR Cup Series travels to Martinsville, Virginia for the NOCO 400 hosted by Martinsville Speedway. This event will be the 8th points scheduled race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Season and scheduled for 400 laps, compared to 500 laps of previous years.
Race teams whom computing the “tire-fall off “will be essential value determining pit service for future track position.
NOCO 400 – Stage 1 Recap:
Ryan Preece muscle past Daniel Suarez to securing the lead.
Ryan Preece continues to hit his mark as laps descend, collecting Stage 1 honors uncontested.
NOCO 400 – Stage 1 Results:
1. Ryan Preece
2. Aric Almirola
3. Tyler Reddick
4. Daniel Suarez
5. Chase Briscoe
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Bubba Wallace
8. Denny Hamlin
9. Kyle Larson
10. William Byron
NOCO 400 – Stage 2 Recap:
Stage 2 introduces Aric Almirola battling Daniel Suarez for runner-up position while Ryan Preece guards the post. Aric Almirilo settles in second position as Stage 2 continues.
Harrison Burton’s confrontation with Erik Jone’s bumper horn, waves a pivotal caution flag on Lap 133.
Race leader Ryan Preece is clocked speeding out of the pit zone and suffers a penalty to descend back of the pack. After leading majority of the opening race laps, the pit speeding penalty will hamper Ryan Preece winning any chance of this year Grandfather’s clock.
Retiring Cup Champ Kevin Harvick sharp shoots inside of Ross Chastain to secure the lead with 13 laps remaining in Stage 2.
Happy Harvick wins Stage 2 at the Paperclip.
NOCO 400 – Stage 2 Results:
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Chase Briscoe
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Ross Chastain
7. Todd Gilliland
8. Daniel Suarez
9. Aric Almirola
10. Kyle Larson
NOCO 400 – Final Stage Recap:
Lap 348 Caution flag, courtesy of JJ Yeley, leaves options for Race Teams to pit for a final shoot out dash. As teams take advantage of pit service, others including Joey Logano, Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin opts to stay on track for track position.
Counting the laps down Kyle Larson who changed left side tires in pits, sets his sights on race leader Joey Logano. Joey Logano relinquishes his lead to an advancing Kyle Larson.
Kyle Larson will pull away from Joey Logano and the completion onward to his first Grandfather Clock and second win of the 2023 Season.
NOCO 400 – Final Stage Results:
Pos | Driver
1. Kyle Larson
2. Joey Logano
3. Martin Truex Jr
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Chase Briscoe
6. Aric Almirola
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
9. Bubba Wallace
10. Chase Elliott
11. Alex Bowman
12. Austin Dillon
13. Ross Chastain
14. Chris Buescher
15. Ryan Preece
16. Christopher Bell
17. Daniel Suarez
18. Ty Gibbs
19. Michael McDowell
20. Kevin Harvick
21. Kyle Busch
22. Tyler Reddick
23. William Byron
24. Brad Keselowski
25. Todd Gilliland
26. Corey LaJoie
27. AJ Allmendinger
28. Justin Haley
29. Harrison Burton
30. Noah Gragson
31. Erik Jones
32. Ty Dillon
33. Austin Cindric
34. Zane Smith
35. Anthony Alfredo
36. JJ Yeley
NASCAR Cup Series
Points Standing
After Martinsville Race (NOCO 400)
4/16/23
Pos | Driver / Points | Wins
1. Christopher Bell / 302 | 1 Win
2. Ross Chastain / 297
3. Kevin Harvick / 287
4. Kyle Larson / 285 | 2 Wins
5. Martin Truex Jr / 266
6. Tyler Reddick / 265 | 1 Win
7. Joey Logano / 258 | 1 Win
8. Kyle Busch / 250 | 1 Win
9. Denny Hamlin / 247
10. Ryan Blaney / 241
11. Alex Bowman / 237
12. Brad Keselowski / 235
13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr / 223 | 1 Win
14. Chase Briscoe / 210
15. William Byron / 208 | 2 Wins
16. Chris Buescher / 206
17. Daniel Suarez / 200
18. Michael McDowell / 200
19. Austin Cindric / 197
20. Ty Gibbs / 193
21. Austin Dillon / 182
22. Bubba Wallace / 175
23. Corey LaJoie / 173
24. Todd Gilliland / 162
25. AJ Allmendinger / 144
26. Aric Almirola / 143
27. Ryan Preece / 140
28. Erik Jones / 134
29. Harrison Burton / 114
30. Noah Gragson / 98
31. Chase Elliott / 76
32. Justin Haley / 70
33. Cody Ware / 65
34. Ty Dillon / 58
35. BJ McLeod / 38
36. Travis Pastrana / 26
The NASCAR Cup Series travels to Talladega, Sunday, April 23, 2023 for the annual Geico 500 hosted by Talladega Superspeedway 3 p.m. ET (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 90)