Mother's Day Racing in South Carolina: Darlington Raceway Race Review and Analysis


 

Mother’s Day in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway. William Byron took home the checkered flag collecting his seventh career win, along with marking his third victory of the 2023 season.  The 25-year old is the only driver with three wins on the season, as the nine drivers remain locked into the Nascar playoffs.

(Byron Riding the High Line)

Late in the race, the trending controversial topic of Ross Chastain struck again, as this time Kyle Larson was on the receiving end this weekend.  The two lined up side by side, after the choose rule.. with Chastain taking the bottom, aligning Larson up top. Entering the famed narrow Darlington Turn 1, Chastain squeezed Larson high, in a move to get even from a previous run-in, but instead costed both drivers a chance at a checkered flag. Rubbing Larson high off the corner created contact, as Chastain was hooked in the middle of the corner, ultimately handing Chastain a 29th place finish after 93 laps out front, and a 20th place finish for Larson, with 29 laps at the helm. 




Chastain and Larson have had numerous on-track issues in recent memory, keep an eye on the two heading down the line. 



The frequent overtime restart occurred, with Byron using the preferred outside lane to hustle around the 73-year old famed South Carolina track, passing Kevin Harvick, translating to a Hendrick Motorsports victory. 



Byron collects another trophy, as Harvick for Stewart-Haas Racing comes home 2nd. As the weekends progress, Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports continues to pick up the pace in 3rd, as RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski, finished 4th. Fifth was awarded to Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing, with the Wood Brothers Racing's Harrison Burton in a season-best finish, coming home 6th.  Seventh is credited to Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing, alongside Justin Haley in a season-best non-restrictor plate event finish in 8th.  Ryan Blaney of Team Penske crosses the line 9th, as RFK’s Chris Buescher rounds out the top-10, after starting 27th. 


(Byron in Victory Lane: Vol 3.)

Honorable mentions go out to Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports in 11th, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin slotting in 12th. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, of JTG Daugherty Racing, collects another top-15 in 13th, as Joe Gibbs’ Christopher Bell gains 14th. Ryan Preece of Stewart-Haas in is 15th, and rookie Ty Gibbs of the Gibbs organization took home 16th. 


Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon and Martin Truex Jr, of Joe Gibbs Racing are looking for bounce-back weekends, after finishing 34th, 35th, and 31st. All three were involved in on-track wrecks throughout this afternoon’s 293 laps.

This Darlington race weekend was a traditional look at premier racing, where nothing wild needs to unfold in order to have a good product.  After Kansas, many were floating off of the plethora of activities on and off the track in the Heartland, but this weekend, the chaos was there...but a clear notch down , which isn’t bad. Leaving Darlington until September, we have closed the ⅓ mark of the season, meaning FOX Sports only has four races left, before the transition to NBC. 



The Xfinity Series will have the weekend off, and return at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27th. 



The revival race weekend could be classified as an extension of the throwback festivities, headed to Nascar's backyard in North Carolina. For the first time since 1996, the famed, prestigious, and savvy North Wilkesboro Speedway makes its return from the Nascar track graveyard for a points-paying Craftsman Truck Series race, and Cup Series All-star weekend.  


Truck Series practice gets underway at 3:05pm ET, Friday afternoon, with qualifying at 10:30am ET, as the Tyson 250 starts at 1:30pm ET, Saturday on FS1.  With All-Star weekend, comes the second and final exhibition race for the Cup Series. Practice begins at 4:00pm ET, as all-star qualifying[pit crew challenge] for the locked in drivers starts at 5:45pm ET, Friday evening. Heat qualifying races kick off at 7:00pm ET Saturday night, as the All-Star Open to make the main event starts at 5:30pm ET on Sunday.  



Twenty two drivers are locked into the main event, three drivers will transfer from the All-Star Open via stage wins, and a fan vote. Cup champions, along with 2022, and ‘23 Cup winners are locked into the main event. The Open will be 100 laps, with the big stage at 200.


The primetime main event begins at 8:00pm ET Sunday.



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