2023 NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Three Michigan Day One

Cars in field: 37
Pole: Christopher ‘CBell’ Bell (20)
Outside pole: Ross ‘WatermelonBoy’ Chastain (1)
Stages: 45-75-80
Competition caution: 20
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 72 degrees, 85% humidity, feels like 75, thunderstorms are predicted in an hour.

I tuned in late – following the conclusion of the IndyCar race. Apparently the race start was delayed due to rain.

MRN’s Mike Bagley reports “the sun is shining” and “it’s the most sunshine we’ve had all day”.

Green flag waves 1613 eastern time.

Chastain (1) takes the early lead.

Caution on lap 14 of 200 for a spin into the outside wall by Kyle ‘KyBu’ Busch (8). He stops on pit road, then heads to the garage.

This caution serves as the scheduled Competition Caution.

Some pit, some stay out.

Restarting on lap 19 of 200 with Martin ‘MTJ’ Truex Jr (19) and Ty ‘LittleJoe’ Gibbs (54) on the front row. Chris Buescher (17), Ty Gibbs (54), Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace (23), Chase Elliott (9) and Ryan Blaney (12) among a group of eleven stayed out.

MTJ gets the early lead.

Caution on lap 34 of 200 for Chase Elliott (9) spinning and crashing into the outside wall. Chase lost the right rear tire sending the back end around and him into the wall. Chase drove it straight to the garage.

On lap 36 of 200 Michael McDowell (34) is on pit road with the hood up. The team closes the hood and is putting Bondo on the splitter. McDowell said he hit something on the track.

Restarting on lap 39 of 200 with MTJ (19) out front. He stayed out along with Bubba Wallace (23) who is starting alongside.

MTJ gets the early lead.

Martin Truex Jr (19) wins stage one 1.145 seconds ahead of second position. William ‘WilliB’ Byron (24) hit the outside wall in turn four causing the caution flag to also come out after the green and white checkered flag was waving.

MRN’s Steve Post says WilliB said the car just got really tight all of a sudden and shot up the track.

Chase Elliott said the tire didn’t give any warning, just failed.

The jack dropped the 19 car resulting in a long pit stop.

Restarting on lap 50 of 200 with Alex Bowman (48) leading the field to the green flag with Erik Jones (43) also on the front row.

Josh Berry (42) brings out the caution in turn four on lap 50 of 200 as he spins out and into the outside wall.

On lap 54 of 200 the 24 team pushes the car backward down pit road.

Restarting on lap 55 of 200 with Alex Bowman and Erik Jones up front.

Bowman gets the early lead.

WilliB (24) says he just made a mistake, “Can’t have that”. He said he “just got loose trying to get stage points there. Just trying too hard”.

On lap 64 of 200 CBell (20) takes the lead from Alex Bowman (48) then spins into the outside wall bringing out the caution.

Bowman and Truex leave pit road first.

Restarting on lap 69 of 200 with Bowman and Tyler ‘TyRed’ Reddick (45) on the front row. MRN reports heavy clouds are rolling in.

Reddick gets the early lead.

Caution on lap 72 of 200 for rain.

NASCAR is bringing the cars down pit road on lap 74 of 200.

Red flag.

The drivers are out of their cars.

Corey LaJoie (7) and Ryan Blaney (12) take the opportunity to discuss a bit of on-track contact that occurred recently. The conversation was almost over between Corey and Ryan, they were walking away, then Ryan turned back and the conversation continues. Blaney has his hands folder across his chest and LaJoie seems to be explaining a lot. Blaney is shaking his head and his body language says he doesn’t agree with what LaJoie is saying and they continue to discuss things. LaJoie seemed to be getting a bit heated before Blaney walked away.

AJ Allmendinger (16) was doing an interview talking about his very pregnant wife Tara who is due sometime this week. TV continued to show the conversation between Blaney and LaJoie for the entirety of his interview.

MRN’s Steve ‘Postie/Postman’ Post says it was calm and it looks like they agreed to disagree. He says Blaney declined to comment on the discussion when he put the microphone in front of him.

Corey LaJoie says, “Blaney is mad”, after initially joking they were talking about kickball. LaJoie says he was asking him what should he have done in that situation, because he respects Blaney too much to do a tight slide job on him. Corey says, Blaney “brought up a moment in Fontana when” LaJoie “didn’t cover a lane”. LaJoie says he’s learning. NBC’s Kim Coon reports Blaney also refused the tv interview and was still ‘fired up’.

At 1815 MRN reports NASCAR has postponed the race until noon tomorrow.

Motorsport News:

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Three Michigan Day One

Next Race: Indianapolis Road Course

GO 48 & 9!!!!