2023 NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Seven Darlington

Cars in field: 36
Pole: Christopher ‘CBell’ Bell (20)
Outside pole: ‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11)
Stages: 115-115-137

Another day a sketchy NASCAR digital performance. Nothing since before the start of the race. We’re currently on lap 12 of 367. It seems since they’ve added all the extra images and other bandwidth-using crap, the lap by lap/timeline performance has been iffy. It finally began displaying on updates on lap 17 of 367.

The field is mostly single-file against the wall. Occasional one car will pass another.

Green flag pit stops are underway on lap 32 of 367.

Pass-thru penalty for speeding for Ricky ‘Wrecky Spinhouse/Stinkhouse’ Stenhouse Jr (47).

Green flag pit stops underway on lap 64 of 367.

Both MRN and NBCSports are repeatedly mentioning that this is the longest green flag run at Darlington in years. They are 7 laps away from the end of stage one on lap 115 of 167 and, so far, there hasn’t been a caution flag.

‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11) finishes the stage out front.

Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace (23) spun coming to the green and white checkered flag for the end of the stage after contact with Joey Logano (22) who was riding along the wall. It looked like the rear-end of the 23 just started coming around and Bubba tapped Logano trying to regain control.

NBCSports mentioned that is the longest green-flag run since 2013. For the section that used to feature the greats of NASCAR broadcasting we’re stuck with some of the worst – Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Engaging mute button.

Restarting on lap 121 of 367 with ‘Desperate’ and Tyler ‘TyRed’ Reddick (45) on the front row.

Green flag pit stops are underway on lap 152 of 367.

CBell (20) is pitting under green on lap 162 of 367.

MRN reports a bank of lights on the inside of the racetrack are not on making dark areas of the track in turns three and four.

NASCAR has thrown the caution on lap 180 of 367 for the darkness in turns three and four due to an issue with the lights. Jason Toy of MRN said he’s watched some of the cars have trouble getting onto pit road due to the darkness.

Red flag is out on lap 188 of 367.

MRN’s Jason Toy reports at 2025 eastern the lights have come back on.

2028 eastern The cars have fired their engines.

Caution on lap 218 of 367 for BJ McLeod (78) going up in smoke.

Caution on lap 224 of 367 for a crash involving Austin Cindric (2) and Ty Gibbs (54).

Restarting on lap 229 of 367. The stage will end on lap 230 of 367. ‘Desperate’ (11) and Kyle Larson (5) on the front row for the restart.

‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11) easily leads stage two.

Some pit, some stay out.

Restarting on lap 236 of 367 with Hamlin and Erik ‘EJ/DaBrat’ Jones (43) on the front row.

Basically no one can do much on the inside lane on the restart. EJ tried and finally tucked into the sixth position.

Green flag pit stops underway on lap 267 of 367.

Caution on lap 309 of 367 for a spin by Ryan Newman (51). Of course NBC was showing idiot video of a hood from a windshield, so we couldn’t see what was actually occurring on-track at the time.

Leader Kevin ‘KHarv/Happy’ Harvick (4) headed to pit road prior to the caution, but he may not have passed the commitment cone before the caution.

Michael McDowell (34) penalized for speeding and Harvick (4) penalized for pitting while the pits were closed. Both will have to start from the back of the field.

Restarting on lap 316 of 367 with Kyle Larson (5) and Chris Buescher (17) on the front row.

Caution on lap 317 of 367 for a crash involving Daniel Suarez (99), Harrison Burton (21), and Alex Bowman (48). Bowman was heavily blocking Suarez who was insisting on trying to get around him. Eventually Bomwan hit the outside wall and Suarez spun in front of the field and collected Harrison Burton ripping the radiator out of his car.

MRN reports Bowman (48) is now taking his car to the garage. Suarez (99) and Burton (21) were already in the garage area.

Restarting on lap 327 of 367 with Kyle Larson (5) and Chris Buescher (17) again on the front row followed by Tyler Reddick (45) and Brad ‘It’ Keselowski (6).

Caution on lap 329 of 367 for a spin by Todd Gilliland (38) with help from Kyle ‘KyBu’ Busch (8) and Austin Dillon (3) that collected Denny Hamlin (11), Michael McDowell (34), Christopher Bell (20). ‘KyBu’ got into the back of the 38 getting him loose in front of Dillon which led him to spin in front of the field collecting Hamlin who collected McDowell and ‘CBell’.

McDowell has taken his car to the garage area.

Restarting on lap 335 of 367 with Larson (5) and Buescher (17) on the from row again followed by TyRed (45).

Unfortunately we’re stuck with a windshield shot of Larson ahead in the distance for a very long – virtually interminable time. Terrible race coverage. I know the field is a bit strung out, but I’d rather see the cars circling endlessly than to watch the wall and the track surface and a car in the distance. That’s just unwatchable.

It’s ludicrous that I have to imagine the race action based on the call by MRN, because the television broadcast is spending most of the time showing windshield-hood shots and multiple split-screens too small to identify what’s going on.

I hoped on lap 362 of 367 they might stop showing the dumb camera shots and it switched to one of the windshield shots within a few seconds. Back to ‘watching’ the radio broadcast.

Larson (5) takes the white flag holding off Chris Buescher (17).

Kyle Larson (5) wins.

Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief, is a bit emotional in the post-race interview. He says it means a lot to him and that they circled this race at the start of the year as one they wanted to win.

Overall it was a pretty boring event. Like the Xfinity series event yesterday, the first two stages were not worth watching and it seemed the majority of the field logged laps for the majority of the first 327 laps. There was a little bit of racing on the restarts – generally for about two turns, sometimes three, then the field would string out single-file in the outside lane with occasional passes. The television broadcast was unwatchable overall. The incidents were all shown in replay since the cameras were never in the correct position to catch the action as it occurred. It often feels like watching highlights on youtube provide as much actual racing action as the viewer sees watching the live event since they spend so much time with camera shots that don’t show the race and provide horrid television. The race was not exciting. It was not competitive until the end.

Motorsport News:

1. 1. 1. Ryan Preece transported to hospital after late Daytona accident UPDATES released; cleared to race.
      2. Carson Hocevar driving the No. 42 for Legacy Motor Club at Darlington UPDATE.
      3. Xfinity Series pre-race inspection report at Darlington.
      4. Could Ty Dillon or Daniel Hemric replace A.J. Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing? UPDATE.
      5. Josh Harris named Darlington Raceway President.
      6. Ryan Preece discusses Daytona accident.
      7. Denny Hamlin wins sixth Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway.
      8. Darlington Raceway sold out for the 74th Cook Out Southern 500.
      9. Living, And Racing, Outside NASCAR’s Playoff Bubble.
      10. Despite Frightening Crash, Ryan Preece Feels Fine And Ready To Race.
      11. Wolff: F1 must avoid WWE-style rule changes.
      12. Ferrari allowed drivers to fight to thank Monza fans.
      13. Verstappen wins prompt new Red Bull trophy cabinet.
      14. Wolff: Verstappen record irrelevant, only for Wikipedia.
      15. Verstappen claims record 10th straight F1 win in Italy.
      16. Wolves will not race in Premiership in 2024.
      17. Bagnaia avoids fractures in horror MotoGP crash.
      18. Final Rounds of 2023 World RX Championship Confirmed.
      19. Graham Rahal Takes 2nd Pole of 2023 in Portland.
      20. Daniel Ricciardo injury: Christian Horner updates on potential F1 return.
      21. ‘Inside, I’m Livid’ – Smiling Parker Kligerman Upset with Sam Mayer.
      22. Harrison Burton Noncommittal About Wood Brothers Return Despite 2024 Crew Chief Swap.
      23. Alex Palou Wins in Portland, Secures 2nd IndyCar Title.
      24. Ryan Ellis Appreciative of NMPA Pocono Spirit Award Nomination.
      25. Rahal: Vips “paid a huge price” for mistake that cost F1 shot.
      26. Malukas stands firm over McLaughlin IndyCar podium hostility.
      27. Ilott “not bothered” by “stupid” Grosjean clash in IndyCar Portland practice.
      28. IndyCar Portland: Graham Rahal takes pole, Newgarden crashes.
      29. Rahal warns IndyCar rivals “our race car is better than our qualifying car”.
      30. Preece on Daytona wreck: “My vision is perfect” despite bruises.
      31. Ryan Preece cleared to race at Darlington.
      32. ‘It will be in great hands.’ Mississippi native named president at Darlington Raceway.
      33. Ryan Preece on return after crash: ‘We’re supposed to be tough’.
      34. Why drivers are rooting for Kevin Harvick, the agitator-turned-voice of NASCAR generation.
      35. Stenhouse ‘mentally prepared’ for playoff return after years away.
      36. Verstappen ‘very proud’ after waiting for Sainz mistake for new wins record.
      37. Foster steers clear of chaos, grabs second Indy NXT win at Portland.
      38. Hamilton: My teammates all stronger than Verstappen’s.
      39. Bubba Wallace Returns Fire at Kyle Petty After Being Called Mentally Fragile.
      40. Ganassi confirms two-time champ Palou will “be in our car” in 2024.
      41. O’Ward fumes over lapped cars costing him IndyCar podium shot.
      42. Palou clinches IndyCar title with 5th win of season.
      43. William Sawalich Wins Pole for ARCA at DuQuoin.
      44. Jesse Love Wins at DuQuoin For 9th ARCA Win in 2023.
      45. Johnson dominates USF Pro 2000 finale.
      46. Hight wins Funny Car Callout and qualifies No. 1 at NHRA US Nationals.

Next Race: Kansas

GO 48 & 9!!!!