Sunday, October 8th, 2023
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Concord, NC
Road course aficionado AJ Allmendinger stole some thunder from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers with a convincing victory in Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.
Driving the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Allmendinger led twice for a race-high 46 laps, including the last 33, and beat runner-up William Byron to the finish line by 0.666 seconds to win his first Cup race of the season, his first at the Charlotte Road Course and the third of his Cup Series career—all on road courses.
Kyle Busch finished third at the 2.32-mile, 17-turn circuit, two spots short of the win he need to advance to the Playoffs’ Round of 8. Joining Busch on the Playoff elimination list were Ross Chastain (who finished 10th), Bubba Wallace (16th) and Brad Keselowski (18th).
Allmendinger took the lead for the final time when Ryan Blaney pitted from the top spot on Lap 77, under caution for a wreck in the frontstretch chicane involving Denny Hamlin, Ty Dillon and Mike Rockenfeller.
The 41-year-old from Los Gatos, Calif., survived four more cautions and four more restarts before he completed what he termed “the drive of my life.”
Allmendinger was weeping during the cool-down lap and teared up in his post-race interview.
“Ihate crying right now, but it’s a freaking Cup race, man,” he said. “You don’t know when it’s ever going to happen again…
“This is why you do it. This is the only reason you do it. You fight. All the blood, sweat, tears, everybody at Kaulig Racing has just been such… I’d say a down year, but up-and-down year. It’s our second year in the Cup Series.”
Byron and Ryan Blaney already had advanced to the Round of 8 in the Playoffs by virtue of their respective victories at Texas and Talladega.
Joining them in the next round, which starts next Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, are Tyler Reddick (who ran sixth from the pole on Sunday), Denny Hamlin (37th), Christopher Bell (15th), Chris Buescher (seventh), Kyle Larson (who started from the rear in a backup car and finished 13th) and Martin Truex Jr. (20th).
The regular-season champion, Truex, claimed the final berth in the Round of 8 by 12 points over Chastain, the first driver out.
Ill-fortune that befell Chase Elliott near the end of Stage 2 facilitated Allmendinger’s victory. Just as Elliott, the race leader, was approaching pit road to “short” the stage, BJ McLeod’s spin in Turn 4 caused the second of seven cautions and forced NASCAR to close pit road.
Elliott steered back to the racing surface and won the stage but lost critical track position after pitting during the stage break and never regained it. He finished ninth behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman.
Ty Gibbs came home fourth, followed by Joey Logano.
After a strong run from start to finish, Busch was philosophical about his exit from the Playoffs.
“The guys gave me a great piece today,” he said. “The Lenovo Camaro was pretty fast, just lacked a little bit on the long run, just didn’t quite have the feel of the tire that I was really looking for to be able to turn into the corners and to be able to drive out of the corners and keep pace with the front two there at the end.
“But overall, this ride is on me anyways. The first two weeks of this round were obviously not very good, and we didn’t score any points. That’s where it’s at. That’s where it lies. Texas, Talladega, just not being able to execute and do a good job when points were on the line.”
Summary of each driver's pit stop during the race. Detailed Report is below the Summary Report.
DRIVER | ST | FIN | STATUS | # STOPS | AVG DRV TIME | DRV RNK | AVG CREW TIME | CREW RANK | AVG TOT TIME | TOT RNK | FASTEST STOP | SLOWEST STOP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Elliott | 8 | 9 | Running | 4 | 26.558 | 11 | 10.085 | 2 | 36.643 | 1 | 36.329 | 37.072 |
Ty Gibbs | 10 | 4 | Running | 2 | 26.829 | 21 | 10.127 | 3 | 36.956 | 2 | 36.616 | 37.296 |
Christopher Bell | 2 | 15 | Running | 3 | 26.446 | 7 | 10.577 | 7 | 37.024 | 3 | 36.674 | 37.326 |
Chris Buescher | 20 | 7 | Running | 3 | 26.569 | 12 | 10.534 | 6 | 37.103 | 4 | 36.376 | 37.870 |
Brad Keselowski | 19 | 18 | Running | 5 | 27.300 | 31 | 9.856 | 1 | 37.156 | 5 | 36.483 | 38.086 |
Alex Bowman | 16 | 8 | Running | 3 | 26.710 | 17 | 10.466 | 5 | 37.176 | 6 | 36.926 | 37.322 |
Kyle Busch | 5 | 3 | Running | 3 | 26.098 | 1 | 11.145 | 14 | 37.243 | 7 | 36.204 | 38.700 |
William Byron | 14 | 2 | Running | 3 | 26.847 | 22 | 10.455 | 4 | 37.302 | 8 | 36.799 | 37.883 |
Tyler Reddick | 1 | 6 | Running | 3 | 26.398 | 5 | 10.977 | 11 | 37.375 | 9 | 37.327 | 37.449 |
Ryan Blaney | 17 | 12 | Running | 3 | 26.683 | 14 | 10.743 | 9 | 37.425 | 10 | 36.383 | 38.706 |
Aric Almirola | 21 | 21 | Running | 3 | 26.395 | 4 | 11.089 | 12 | 37.484 | 11 | 37.081 | 37.695 |
Bubba Wallace | 4 | 16 | Running | 4 | 26.556 | 10 | 10.961 | 10 | 37.517 | 12 | 36.533 | 38.844 |
Chase Briscoe | 30 | 28 | Running | 3 | 26.262 | 3 | 11.300 | 16 | 37.562 | 13 | 36.266 | 38.262 |
Harrison Burton | 31 | 24 | Running | 4 | 26.690 | 15 | 11.136 | 13 | 37.826 | 14 | 37.546 | 38.168 |
Joey Logano | 7 | 5 | Running | 3 | 26.575 | 13 | 11.500 | 19 | 38.075 | 15 | 37.899 | 38.349 |
Kyle Larson | 36 | 13 | Running | 2 | 27.539 | 33 | 10.660 | 8 | 38.199 | 16 | 37.420 | 38.977 |
Kevin Harvick | 22 | 19 | Running | 3 | 26.427 | 6 | 11.989 | 23 | 38.416 | 17 | 37.132 | 39.866 |
Corey Lajoie | 24 | 17 | Running | 5 | 27.256 | 30 | 11.171 | 15 | 38.427 | 18 | 36.419 | 40.194 |
Zane Smith | 34 | 30 | Running | 4 | 27.188 | 27 | 11.386 | 18 | 38.574 | 19 | 37.831 | 39.610 |
Denny Hamlin | 9 | 37 | DVP | 2 | 26.495 | 8 | 12.178 | 26 | 38.673 | 20 | 36.136 | 41.210 |
Martin Truex Jr | 11 | 20 | Running | 4 | 26.253 | 2 | 12.496 | 27 | 38.748 | 21 | 37.251 | 40.832 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 27 | 34 | Electrical | 3 | 26.976 | 23 | 12.023 | 24 | 38.999 | 22 | 38.370 | 40.133 |
Ty Dillon | 37 | 31 | Running | 3 | 27.704 | 35 | 11.311 | 17 | 39.015 | 23 | 37.414 | 41.352 |
Ross Chastain | 12 | 10 | Running | 4 | 27.054 | 24 | 11.979 | 22 | 39.033 | 24 | 36.783 | 44.086 |
AJ Allmendinger | 6 | 1 | Running | 3 | 27.120 | 26 | 12.156 | 25 | 39.277 | 25 | 38.477 | 39.737 |
Justin Haley | 25 | 22 | Running | 4 | 26.750 | 19 | 12.579 | 28 | 39.329 | 26 | 37.384 | 43.147 |
Mike Rockenfeller | 26 | 29 | Running | 4 | 27.663 | 34 | 11.904 | 21 | 39.567 | 27 | 39.056 | 40.227 |
Ryan Preece | 18 | 11 | Running | 4 | 27.243 | 29 | 12.721 | 29 | 39.964 | 28 | 37.631 | 42.031 |
Austin Cindric | 29 | 25 | Running | 4 | 27.103 | 25 | 13.005 | 30 | 40.107 | 29 | 37.953 | 42.797 |
Austin Hill | 33 | 27 | Running | 3 | 27.231 | 28 | 13.513 | 31 | 40.745 | 30 | 39.447 | 41.663 |
Austin Dillon | 15 | 14 | Running | 4 | 26.691 | 16 | 14.206 | 34 | 40.897 | 31 | 37.205 | 46.784 |
Michael McDowell | 13 | 32 | Running | 3 | 26.824 | 20 | 14.181 | 33 | 41.004 | 32 | 36.867 | 47.048 |
Andy Lally | 35 | 35 | Accident | 3 | 27.425 | 32 | 13.591 | 32 | 41.016 | 33 | 38.637 | 44.355 |
Todd Gilliland | 32 | 23 | Running | 3 | 26.730 | 18 | 14.625 | 35 | 41.356 | 34 | 40.173 | 42.097 |
Daniel Suarez | 3 | 33 | Running | 3 | 26.532 | 9 | 14.826 | 36 | 41.358 | 35 | 36.547 | 43.841 |
Josh Bilicki | 28 | 26 | Running | 4 | 30.184 | 36 | 15.098 | 37 | 45.282 | 36 | 40.280 | 52.357 |
Erik Jones | 23 | 36 | Accident | 3 | 98.965 | 37 | 11.756 | 20 | 110.721 | 37 | 36.737 | 258.009 |
Each 2- and 4-wheel pit stop during the race.
DRIVER | LDR LAP | DRV LAP | DRV TIME | CREW TIME | TOT TIME | TYPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AJ Allmendinger | 43 | 43 | 27.166 | 11.311 | 38.477 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 70 | 70 | 26.937 | 12.679 | 39.616 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 21 | 20 | 27.258 | 12.479 | 39.737 | 4-wheel change |
Andy Lally | 71 | 70 | 26.792 | 11.845 | 38.637 | 4-wheel change |
Andy Lally | 47 | 46 | 26.710 | 13.346 | 40.056 | 4-wheel change |
Andy Lally | 26 | 26 | 28.773 | 15.582 | 44.355 | 4-wheel change |
Aric Almirola | 86 | 85 | 26.037 | 11.044 | 37.081 | 4-wheel change |
Aric Almirola | 22 | 21 | 26.531 | 11.144 | 37.675 | 4-wheel change |
Aric Almirola | 71 | 70 | 26.617 | 11.078 | 37.695 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 67 | 66 | 26.673 | 9.810 | 36.483 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 26 | 26 | 26.658 | 9.876 | 36.534 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 43 | 42 | 27.079 | 9.576 | 36.655 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 85 | 85 | 27.812 | 10.210 | 38.022 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 95 | 94 | 28.276 | 9.810 | 38.086 | 4-wheel change |
Denny Hamlin | 22 | 21 | 26.260 | 9.876 | 36.136 | 4-wheel change |
Denny Hamlin | 50 | 50 | 26.730 | 14.480 | 41.210 | 4-wheel change |
Joey Logano | 21 | 20 | 26.554 | 11.345 | 37.899 | 4-wheel change |
Joey Logano | 43 | 42 | 26.700 | 11.278 | 37.978 | 4-wheel change |
Joey Logano | 70 | 70 | 26.471 | 11.878 | 38.349 | 4-wheel change |
Kevin Harvick | 35 | 34 | 26.422 | 10.710 | 37.132 | 4-wheel change |
Kevin Harvick | 21 | 20 | 26.472 | 11.778 | 38.250 | 4-wheel change |
Kevin Harvick | 71 | 70 | 26.386 | 13.480 | 39.866 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 21 | 20 | 26.060 | 10.144 | 36.204 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 43 | 42 | 26.114 | 10.711 | 36.825 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 69 | 69 | 26.121 | 12.579 | 38.700 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 71 | 70 | 26.274 | 10.977 | 37.251 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 50 | 50 | 26.346 | 11.945 | 38.291 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 76 | 76 | 26.239 | 12.379 | 38.618 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 26 | 26 | 26.151 | 14.681 | 40.832 | 4-wheel change |
Michael McDowell | 21 | 20 | 26.190 | 10.677 | 36.867 | 4-wheel change |
Michael McDowell | 77 | 76 | 27.486 | 11.612 | 39.098 | 4-wheel change |
Michael McDowell | 71 | 70 | 26.795 | 20.253 | 47.048 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 81 | 80 | 26.461 | 10.744 | 37.205 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 43 | 42 | 26.388 | 13.180 | 39.568 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 72 | 71 | 27.351 | 12.678 | 40.029 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 17 | 16 | 26.564 | 20.220 | 46.784 | 4-wheel change |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 27 | 25 | 27.026 | 11.344 | 38.370 | 4-wheel change |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 86 | 84 | 26.949 | 11.545 | 38.494 | 4-wheel change |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 76 | 76 | 26.954 | 13.179 | 40.133 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Larson | 71 | 70 | 26.977 | 10.443 | 37.420 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Larson | 50 | 50 | 28.101 | 10.876 | 38.977 | 4-wheel change |
Alex Bowman | 22 | 21 | 26.783 | 10.143 | 36.926 | 4-wheel change |
Alex Bowman | 44 | 43 | 26.670 | 10.610 | 37.280 | 4-wheel change |
Alex Bowman | 70 | 70 | 26.678 | 10.644 | 37.322 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Blaney | 41 | 40 | 26.377 | 10.006 | 36.383 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Blaney | 16 | 15 | 26.242 | 10.945 | 37.187 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Blaney | 76 | 76 | 27.429 | 11.277 | 38.706 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 81 | 80 | 26.743 | 9.676 | 36.419 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 94 | 94 | 26.882 | 9.810 | 36.692 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 47 | 46 | 26.682 | 12.145 | 38.827 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 71 | 70 | 29.293 | 10.710 | 40.003 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 26 | 26 | 26.681 | 13.513 | 40.194 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Dillon | 86 | 85 | 26.670 | 10.744 | 37.414 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Dillon | 17 | 16 | 27.901 | 10.377 | 38.278 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Dillon | 76 | 76 | 28.540 | 12.812 | 41.352 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 76 | 76 | 26.553 | 9.776 | 36.329 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 21 | 20 | 26.640 | 9.810 | 36.450 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 50 | 50 | 26.644 | 10.077 | 36.721 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 66 | 65 | 26.395 | 10.677 | 37.072 | 4-wheel change |
Chris Buescher | 47 | 46 | 26.266 | 10.110 | 36.376 | 4-wheel change |
Chris Buescher | 70 | 70 | 26.719 | 10.343 | 37.062 | 4-wheel change |
Chris Buescher | 21 | 20 | 26.722 | 11.148 | 37.870 | 4-wheel change |
Erik Jones | 46 | 45 | 26.460 | 10.277 | 36.737 | 4-wheel change |
Erik Jones | 70 | 69 | 26.507 | 10.911 | 37.418 | 4-wheel change |
Erik Jones | 80 | 79 | 243.928 | 14.081 | 258.009 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 47 | 46 | 26.687 | 10.944 | 37.631 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 71 | 70 | 27.865 | 12.145 | 40.010 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 20 | 19 | 27.036 | 13.146 | 40.182 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 26 | 26 | 27.383 | 14.648 | 42.031 | 4-wheel change |
Daniel Suarez | 21 | 20 | 26.537 | 10.010 | 36.547 | 4-wheel change |
Daniel Suarez | 70 | 70 | 26.502 | 17.183 | 43.685 | 4-wheel change |
Daniel Suarez | 44 | 43 | 26.557 | 17.284 | 43.841 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 50 | 50 | 26.172 | 10.611 | 36.783 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 26 | 26 | 26.549 | 10.344 | 36.893 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 93 | 92 | 26.824 | 11.545 | 38.369 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 72 | 71 | 28.671 | 15.415 | 44.086 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 50 | 50 | 26.123 | 10.410 | 36.533 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 89 | 88 | 26.435 | 10.577 | 37.012 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 26 | 26 | 26.766 | 10.911 | 37.677 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 71 | 70 | 26.899 | 11.945 | 38.844 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 43 | 42 | 26.522 | 10.277 | 36.799 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 21 | 20 | 27.047 | 10.177 | 37.224 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 70 | 70 | 26.972 | 10.911 | 37.883 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 47 | 46 | 27.267 | 13.013 | 40.280 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 94 | 94 | 28.081 | 13.380 | 41.461 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 22 | 21 | 28.044 | 18.985 | 47.029 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 77 | 75 | 37.342 | 15.015 | 52.357 | 4-wheel change |
Tyler Reddick | 26 | 26 | 26.150 | 11.177 | 37.327 | 4-wheel change |
Tyler Reddick | 50 | 50 | 26.305 | 11.043 | 37.348 | 4-wheel change |
Tyler Reddick | 71 | 70 | 26.739 | 10.710 | 37.449 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 20 | 19 | 26.740 | 10.644 | 37.384 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 73 | 72 | 26.648 | 11.411 | 38.059 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 85 | 85 | 26.749 | 11.978 | 38.727 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 46 | 45 | 26.864 | 16.283 | 43.147 | 4-wheel change |
Christopher Bell | 72 | 71 | 26.497 | 10.177 | 36.674 | 4-wheel change |
Christopher Bell | 22 | 22 | 26.594 | 10.477 | 37.071 | 4-wheel change |
Christopher Bell | 50 | 50 | 26.248 | 11.078 | 37.326 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 70 | 70 | 27.109 | 10.844 | 37.953 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 44 | 43 | 27.290 | 10.844 | 38.134 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 16 | 15 | 26.864 | 14.681 | 41.545 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 89 | 88 | 27.148 | 15.649 | 42.797 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Hill | 86 | 85 | 27.001 | 12.446 | 39.447 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Hill | 18 | 17 | 27.277 | 13.847 | 41.124 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Hill | 47 | 46 | 27.416 | 14.247 | 41.663 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Briscoe | 46 | 45 | 26.456 | 9.810 | 36.266 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Briscoe | 18 | 17 | 26.246 | 11.912 | 38.158 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Briscoe | 70 | 69 | 26.083 | 12.179 | 38.262 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 19 | 18 | 26.702 | 10.844 | 37.546 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 94 | 94 | 26.399 | 11.244 | 37.643 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 42 | 41 | 26.836 | 11.111 | 37.947 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 66 | 65 | 26.824 | 11.344 | 38.168 | 4-wheel change |
Zane Smith | 71 | 70 | 26.720 | 11.111 | 37.831 | 4-wheel change |
Zane Smith | 44 | 43 | 27.297 | 11.077 | 38.374 | 4-wheel change |
Zane Smith | 77 | 76 | 27.335 | 11.144 | 38.479 | 4-wheel change |
Zane Smith | 21 | 20 | 27.398 | 12.212 | 39.610 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Gibbs | 70 | 70 | 26.439 | 10.177 | 36.616 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Gibbs | 21 | 20 | 27.219 | 10.077 | 37.296 | 4-wheel change |
Todd Gilliland | 71 | 70 | 26.627 | 13.546 | 40.173 | 4-wheel change |
Todd Gilliland | 45 | 44 | 26.515 | 15.282 | 41.797 | 4-wheel change |
Todd Gilliland | 26 | 26 | 27.049 | 15.048 | 42.097 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 45 | 44 | 27.811 | 11.245 | 39.056 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 86 | 85 | 27.642 | 11.745 | 39.387 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 95 | 94 | 27.352 | 12.245 | 39.597 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 26 | 26 | 27.848 | 12.379 | 40.227 | 4-wheel change |