XFINITY Series Daytona International Speedway

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Entry List

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300

Saturday, February 18th, 2023

Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

  • 30 Chevrolet
  • 9 Ford
  • 5 Toyota

  • Daytona International Speedway
  • Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300
  • Pole Winner: Austin Hill
  • Age: 28
  • Team : No. 21 - Bennett Transportation Chevrolet
  • Owner: Richard Childress
  • Crew Chief: Andy Street
  • Austin Hill won the Pole Award for the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 with a lap of 49.298 seconds, 182.563 mph.
  • This is his second pole in 49 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2023.
  • This is his first pole in four races at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Parker Kligerman (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2023 and his third in four races at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Cole Custer (third) posted his second top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first in one race this season.
  • Chandler Smith (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

  • Saturday, February 18th, 2023
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
Hill wins NASCAR Xfinity opener in overtime photo finish at Daytona

After Sam Mayer spun on the roof of his Chevrolet on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway, trailing a shower of sparks, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek sat in their cars and waited.

And after what must have seemed an eternity to the drivers, NASCAR reviewed video of the final lap of overtime and declared Hill the winner of his second straight season opener at the World Center of Racing in front of the largest crowd to witness an Xfinity Series race at Daytona since the $400-million renovation of the facility in 2016.

A consummate superspeedway racer, Hill led a race-high 38 laps in Saturday's Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300 and was narrowly ahead of surging John Hunter Nemechek when the sanctioning body called the caution for Mayer's spectacular accident on Lap 125-five circuits beyond the scheduled distance.

"As soon as the caution lights came on, I thought I had it, but it was so close," Hill said. "To get back-to-back here at Daytona, it's really special. That's three wins for me now, two in the Xfinity, one in the truck here. We came from the back two different times.

"I hope everyone enjoyed it. It was such a blast. I had so much fun. We won at Daytona! Let's go!"

Hill's first thought, however, was for Mayer. Contact between Hill's No. 21 Camaro and Mayer's No. 1 Chevrolet sent Mayer spinning and then flipping upside down until his car hit the infield grass and landed upright.

Mayer was treated and released from the infield care center.

"When I saw the 1 (Mayer) and the 7 (Allgaier) get together, I just went to go squeeze them, and the 1 came down, he started getting loose, and then you can't lift-it's last lap," Hill said. "I hope Sam is OK, man. That was a heck of a flip there."

Allgaier, who was credited with a third-place finish, had another close call in the race that has eluded him.

"I've been short my whole life, so I guess it's just fitting," quipped the 5-foot-6-inch driver. "But really proud of everybody at JR Motorsports. Our Chevy Camaros tonight were absolutely blazing fast.

"Obviously, I'm glad Sam is OK. He had a heck of a run there at the end."

Rookie Parker Retzlaff finished a career-best fourth, followed by Myatt Snider. Riley Herbst, Joe Graf Jr., Ryan Sieg, Cole Custer and Justin Haley completed the top 10.

Hill won the first stage, but only through Allgaier's benevolence. On the final lap of the stage, Hill steered down the track to block Allgaier's Chevrolet. Allgaier backed out of the throttle to give Hill room, as the rear bumper of Hill's Camaro slid uncomfortably close to the nose of Allgaier's car.

"If I don't lift, I wreck the whole field," Allgaier said on his radio. "It's stupid racing."

"Justin really cut me a break," Hill acknowledged. "I really appreciate that from him."

Allgaier must have gotten some karmic benefit from his magnanimity. When Parker Kligerman turned Sheldon Creed's Chevrolet while bump-drafting near the entrance to Turn 1 on Lap 40, Allgaier's Chevrolet spun sideways onto the apron behind the initial wreck.

After a tape job to the left rear of his car, Allgaier returned to the track, started at the rear of the field and quickly charged back into the lead on Lap 54. Allgaier went on to win the second stage, with Mayer close behind him.

"To go to the back and have that spin and just battle our way through, it's crazy how fast our car was tonight and how good we were in traffic," Allgaier said.

Unfortunately for the veteran driver, speed, maneuverability and good karma could carry him only so far.

  • Drivers Entered: 44 (6 drivers will not make the race)
  • Laps Scheduled: 120
  • Laps Actual: 125 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 21 Minutes 30 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 132.509
  • Cautions: 8 for 32 laps
  • Lead Changes: 25
  • Green Flag Passes: 5,000 (53.8 passes per green flag lap)

  • Daytona International Speedway
  • Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300
  • Race Winner: Austin Hill
  • Age: 28
  • Team : No. 21 - Bennett Transportation Chevrolet
  • Owner: Richard Childress Racing
  • Crew Chief: Andy Street
  • Austin Hill won the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300, his third victory in 49 Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2023.
  • This is his second victory and second top-10 finish in four races at Daytona International Speedway.
  • John Hunter Nemechek (second) posted his second top-10 finish in four races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2023.
  • Justin Allgaier (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 25 races at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Parker Retzlaff (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Myatt Snider walks the grid during qualifying
Daytona Beach, Florida - February 18, 2023 : Myatt Snider, driver of the #19 Tree Top Toyota, walks the grid during qualifying for the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
James GilbertGetty Images
Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway Entry List
ENTRY # DRIVER HOMETOWN DOB AGE MAKE SPONSOR TEAM CREW CHIEF
1 02 David Starr Houston, TX Nov 11, 1967 56 Chevrolet Specia Report with Bret Baier Our Motorsports Teddy Brown
2 13 Timmy Hill Port Tobacco, MD Feb 25, 1993 31 Ford Klutch Vodka Motorsports Business Management Tony Liberati
3 7 Justin Allgaier Riverton, IL Jun 6, 1986 38 Chevrolet BRANDT JR Motorsports Jim Pohlman
4 48 Parker Kligerman Westport, CT Aug 8, 1990 34 Chevrolet Big Machine Racing Spiked Big Machine Racing Patrick Donahue
5 25 Brett Moffitt Grimes, IA Aug 7, 1992 32 Ford AM Technical Solutions AM Racing Joe Williams
6 53 Joey Gase Cedar Rapids, IA Feb 8, 1993 31 Ford National Crime Prevention Emerling Gase Motorsports Rick Bourgeois
7 27 Jeb Burton Halifax, VA Aug 6, 1992 32 Chevrolet State Water Heaters Jordan Anderson Racing Shane Whitbeck
8 44 Jeffrey Earnhardt Mooresville, NC Jun 22, 1989 35 Chevrolet ForeverLawn Alpha Prime Racing Michael Groves
9 43 Ryan Ellis Torrence, CA Nov 29, 1989 34 Chevrolet Heartbeat Hot Sauce Alpha Prime Racing Michael Brandt
10 08 Gray Gaulding Colonial Heights, VA Feb 10, 1998 26 Chevrolet Panini SS-Green Light Racing Jason Miller
11 38 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA Jun 20, 1987 37 Ford CMRoofing.com RSS Racing Mike Scearce
12 11 Daniel Hemric Kannapolis, NC Jan 27, 1991 33 Chevrolet Cirkul Kaulig Racing Jason Trinchere
13 6 Brennan Poole Sacramento, CA Apr 11, 1991 33 Chevrolet Macc Door Systems JD Motorsports Kase Kallenbach
14 00 Cole Custer Ladera Ranch, CA Jan 23, 1998 26 Ford Haas Automation Stewart-Haas Racing Jonathan Toney
15 99 Garrett Smithley Ligonier, PA Apr 27, 1992 32 Chevrolet TROPHY TRACTOR BJ McLeod Motorsports Lee Leslie
16 91 Josh Bilicki Menomonee Falls, WI Jun 3, 1995 29 Chevrolet Zeigler / Insurance King DGM Racing Mario Gosselin
17 4 Bayley Currey Driftwood, TX Oct 29, 1996 27 Chevrolet Mikes Weather Page / Firman JD Motorsports Wayne G Carroll
18 1 Justin Haley Winamac, IN Apr 28, 1999 25 Chevrolet DaaBin Store Kaulig Racing Alex Yontz
19 2 John Hunter Nemechek Mooresville, NC Jun 11, 1997 27 Toyota Mobil 1 Joe Gibbs Racing Ben Beshore
20 26 Kaz Grala Boston, MA Dec 29, 1998 25 Toyota Island Coastal Lager Sam Hunt Racing Allen Hart
21 36 Alex Labbe Saint-Albert, Canada Apr 29, 1993 31 Chevrolet Larue / DuroKing DGM Racing Nathan Kennedy
22 21 Austin Hill Winston, GA Apr 21, 1994 30 Chevrolet Bennett Transportation Richard Childress Racing Andy Street
23 9 Brandon Jones Atlanta, GA Feb 18, 1997 27 Chevrolet Menards/Swiffer JR Motorsports Jason Burdett
24 35 CJ McLaughlin Framingham, MA Jul 1, 1992 32 Chevrolet Sci-Aps Emerling Gase Motorsports Paul Clapprood
25 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Jan 16, 1985 39 Chevrolet One Stop / All South Electric Jeremy Clements Racing Mark Setzer
26 39 Joe Graf Jr Mahwah, NJ Jul 12, 1998 26 Ford Getcoverseal.com RSS Racing Steve Addington
27 92 Josh Williams Port Charlotte, FL Aug 3, 1993 31 Chevrolet Alloy Employer / Call 811 DGM Racing Bryan Berry
28 19 Myatt Snider Charlotte, NC Dec 30, 1994 29 Toyota Tree Top Joe Gibbs Racing Jason Ratcliff
29 98 Riley Herbst Las Vegas, NV Feb 24, 1999 25 Ford Monster Energy Stewart-Haas Racing Richard Boswell
30 78 Anthony Alfredo Ridgefield, CT Mar 1, 1999 25 Chevrolet Ticket Smarter BJ McLeod Motorsports Pat Tryson
31 5 Jade Buford Brentwood, TN Feb 15, 1988 36 Chevrolet Double Spiked Coolers Big Machine Racing Chris Carrier
32 34 Jesse Iwuji Carrollton, TX Aug 12, 1987 37 Chevrolet Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Dan Stillman
33 74 Ryan Vargas La Miranda, CA Sep 23, 2000 24 Chevrolet Leargas Security CHK Racing TBA
34 45 Stefan Parsons Cornelius, NC Jun 15, 1998 26 Chevrolet Clear Cryptos Alpha Prime Racing Frank Kerr
35 2 Sheldon Creed Alpine, CA Sep 30, 1997 27 Chevrolet Whelen Richard Childress Racing Jeff Stankiewicz
36 8 Josh Berry Hendersonville, TN Oct 22, 1990 33 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats JR Motorsports Taylor Moyer
37 07 Blaine Perkins Bakersfield, CA Feb 28, 2000 24 Chevrolet AUTOPARKit.com SS-Green Light Racing Mark Hillman
38 28 Kyle Sieg Tucker, GA Apr 16, 2001 23 Ford Night Owl RSS Racing TBA
39 1 Sam Mayer Franklin, WI Jun 26, 2003 21 Chevrolet Accelerate Pros Talent JR Motorsports Mardy Lindley
40 66 Dexter Stacey Kahnawake, Canada Nov 9, 1992 31 Ford ReCap Recovery Drink Motorsports Business Management Jason Houghtaling
41 16 Chandler Smith Talking Rock, GA Jun 26, 2002 22 Chevrolet Quick Tie Inc. Kaulig Racing Bruce Schlicker
42 24 Parker Chase New Braunfels, TX Feb 22, 2001 23 Toyota Ontivity Sam Hunt Racing Kris Bowen
43 31 Parker Retzlaff Rhinelander, WI May 21, 2003 21 Chevrolet FUNKAWAY Jordan Anderson Racing Joshua Graham
44 18 Sammy Smith Johnston, IA Jun 4, 2004 20 Toyota TMC Joe Gibbs Racing Jeff Meendering