2023 Buckle Up South Carolina 200
9th race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Motor car race
The 2023 Buckle Up South Carolina 200 was the 9th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series , and the eleventh Truck Series race at Darlington . The race was held on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Darlington, South Carolina at Darlington Raceway , a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped racetrack. The race was increased from 147 to 158 laps, due to several NASCAR overtime attempts. Christian Eckes , driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing , would capture the win after leading when the final caution came out on the last lap. This was Eckes' third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his second of the season. Eckes and pole-sitter Corey Heim had dominated the entire race, leading 82 and 66 laps, respectively.[ 1] To fill out the podium, Stewart Friesen , driving for Halmar Friesen Racing , and Tanner Gray , driving for Tricon Garage , would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Background
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina . It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver.
(i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, May 12, at 3:05 PM EST , and would last for 20 minutes.[ 12] Nick Sanchez , driving for Rev Racing , would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.301, and an average speed of 167.830 mph (270.096 km/h).[ 13]
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Saturday, May 12, at 3:35 PM EST .[ 12] Since Darlington Raceway is an intermediate racetrack , the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with only one round. In that round, whoever sets the fastest time will win the pole.[ 14] Corey Heim , driving for Tricon Garage , would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 29.263, and an average speed of 168.048 mph (270.447 km/h).[ 15]
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 45
Pos.
#
Driver
Team
Make
Pts
1
19
Christian Eckes
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Chevrolet
10
2
11
Corey Heim
Tricon Garage
Toyota
9
3
25
Matt DiBenedetto
Rackley WAR
Chevrolet
8
4
51
William Byron (i)
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Chevrolet
0
5
23
Grant Enfinger
GMS Racing
Chevrolet
6
6
42
Carson Hocevar
Niece Motorsports
Chevrolet
5
7
52
Stewart Friesen
Halmar Friesen Racing
Toyota
4
8
1
Bubba Wallace (i)
Tricon Garage
Toyota
0
9
2
Nick Sanchez (R)
Rev Racing
Chevrolet
2
10
4
Chase Purdy
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Chevrolet
1
Stage 2 Laps: 45
Pos.
#
Driver
Team
Make
Pts
1
51
William Byron (i)
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Chevrolet
0
2
11
Corey Heim
Tricon Garage
Toyota
9
3
19
Christian Eckes
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Chevrolet
8
4
42
Carson Hocevar
Niece Motorsports
Chevrolet
7
5
1
Bubba Wallace (i)
Tricon Garage
Toyota
0
6
35
Jake Garcia (R)
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Chevrolet
5
7
52
Stewart Friesen
Halmar Friesen Racing
Toyota
4
8
23
Grant Enfinger
GMS Racing
Chevrolet
3
9
56
Timmy Hill
Hill Motorsports
Toyota
2
10
17
Taylor Gray (R)
Tricon Garage
Toyota
1
Stage 3 Laps: 68
Fin[ 16]
St
#
Driver
Team
Make
Laps
Led
Status
Pts
1
4
19
Christian Eckes
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Chevrolet
158
82
Running
58
2
6
52
Stewart Friesen
Halmar Friesen Racing
Toyota
158
0
Running
43
3
11
15
Tanner Gray
Tricon Garage
Toyota
158
0
Running
34
4
8
51
William Byron (i)
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
7
Running
0
5
18
42
Carson Hocevar
Niece Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
44
6
13
24
Rajah Caruth (R)
GMS Racing
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
31
7
15
1
Bubba Wallace (i)
Tricon Garage
Toyota
158
0
Running
0
8
1
11
Corey Heim
Tricon Garage
Toyota
158
66
Running
47
9
25
5
Dean Thompson
Tricon Garage
Toyota
158
0
Running
28
10
24
20
Kaden Honeycutt
Young's Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
27
11
3
2
Nick Sanchez (R)
Rev Racing
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
28
12
19
88
Matt Crafton
ThorSport Racing
Ford
158
0
Running
25
13
16
41
Ross Chastain (i)
Niece Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
0
14
2
23
Grant Enfinger
GMS Racing
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
32
15
17
16
Tyler Ankrum
Hattori Racing Enterprises
Toyota
158
0
Running
22
16
29
7
Corey LaJoie (i)
Spire Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
0
17
36
9
Colby Howard
CR7 Motorsports
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
20
18
14
99
Ben Rhodes
ThorSport Racing
Ford
158
0
Running
19
19
20
43
Daniel Dye (R)
GMS Racing
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
18
20
26
13
Hailie Deegan
ThorSport Racing
Ford
158
2
Running
17
21
12
17
Taylor Gray (R)
Tricon Garage
Toyota
158
1
Running
17
22
22
38
Zane Smith
Front Row Motorsports
Ford
158
0
Running
15
23
34
32
Bret Holmes (R)
Bret Holmes Racing
Chevrolet
158
0
Running
14
24
23
56
Timmy Hill
Hill Motorsports
Toyota
157
0
Running
15
25
7
25
Matt DiBenedetto
Rackley WAR
Chevrolet
157
0
Running
20
26
5
35
Jake Garcia (R)
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Chevrolet
157
0
Running
16
27
32
30
Ryan Vargas
On Point Motorsports
Toyota
156
0
Running
10
28
27
04
Johnny Sauter
Roper Racing
Ford
156
0
Running
9
29
35
02
Kris Wright
Young's Motorsports
Chevrolet
155
0
Running
8
30
30
45
Lawless Alan
Niece Motorsports
Chevrolet
126
0
Accident
7
31
9
98
Ty Majeski
ThorSport Racing
Ford
123
0
Running
6
32
10
4
Chase Purdy
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Chevrolet
100
0
Accident
6
33
33
12
Spencer Boyd
Young's Motorsports
Chevrolet
78
0
Fuel Pump
4
34
21
75
Parker Kligerman (i)
Henderson Motorsports
Chevrolet
48
0
Oil Leak
0
35
31
47
Dawson Cram (i)
G2G Racing
Toyota
36
0
Mechanical
0
36
28
46
Brennan Poole (i)
G2G Racing
Toyota
20
0
Engine
0
Official race results
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings
Note : Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.
References
^ Watson, Wyatt (May 12, 2023). "Christian Eckes Survives Late-Race Overtime Chaos at Darlington" . Frontstretch . Retrieved May 12, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Darlington Throwback Schemes: 2023 Edition" . NASCAR . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "2023 Throwback Paint Schemes: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Edition" . Darlington Raceway . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ "Sanchez To Honor Mario Andretti With Throwback Paint Scheme" . Speed Sport . April 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "2023 NASCAR Darlington Throwback Schemes" . TobyChristie.com . Retrieved May 12, 2023 .
^ a b "McAnally-Hilgemann Racing to honor Hershel McGriff and Buckshot Jones with Darlington throwback schemes" . Jayski's Silly Season Site . May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ "Rajah Caruth running special 1973 Wendell Scott scheme at Darlington" . Jayski's Silly Season Site . May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ Christie, Toby (May 5, 2023). "Ryan Vargas Honoring Sean Woodside With Darlington Throwback Scheme" . TobyChristie.com . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ Hammack, Leon (May 3, 2023). "Hocevar Throws Back To Dale Jarrett" . Working On My Redneck . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ "Daniel Dye gives a nod to "The King" with Richard Petty throwback paint scheme for Darlington Raceway" . Jayski's Silly Season Site . May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ "Timmy Hill running Ted Musgrave paint scheme at Darlington Raceway" . Jayski's Silly Season Site . April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ a b "2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Darlington Race Page" . Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ "Practice Results: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington" . TobyChristie.com . May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023 .
^ "2023 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures" . Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^ Watson, Wyatt (May 12, 2023). "Corey Heim Wins the Pole in Truck Qualifying at Darlington" . Frontstretch . Retrieved May 12, 2023 .
^ "2023 Buckle Up South Carolina 200 - Racing Reference" . Racing-Reference.info . Retrieved May 12, 2023 .
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