Monday, March 13, 2023

NASCAR Plus ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

#NASCAR Plus ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

Winners: William Byron (Cup); Sammy Smith (Xfinity); Tyler Reif (ARCA West)

 

NASCAR Cup

William Byron Makes it Two in a Row

 

After a two-tire call under the fourth caution flag in Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway, William Byron surged past Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in overtime to win his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race.

 

Byron can thank Ford drivers Aric Almirola and Harrison Burton, who on successive weekends spun with a handful of laps left – at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix, respectively – and gave Byron a chance to capitalize on the opportunity.

 

As a result, Byron scored his second victory of the season and a guaranteed ticket into the Cup Series Playoffs. The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet won for the first time at Phoenix and for the sixth time in his career.

 

Byron credited crew chief Rudy Fugle with the two-tire call that got him out front with a chance to win.

 

“Owe the last couple weeks to him,” said Byron, who also won at Las Vegas on two fresh tires. “He’s done a really good job strategy-wise, and execution-wise we’ve done a good job to put ourselves in those positions on the front row with a shot at the end.

 

“Thanks to everybody back at Hendrick Motorsports, putting together great cars, doing a great job. This is a big credit to them, engine shop, (team owner, Rick) Hendrick, everybody.”

 





Pole: Kyle Larson

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on March 19th for the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Sammy Smith becomes Youngest Xfinity Winner

 

Sammy Smith won the Xfinity Series  race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, the first victory for the 18-year-old high school student who is taking classes online so he can be a full-time driver.

 

Making his 13th start in the past two years for Joe Gibbs Racing, Smith led the final 52 laps and held off Cup Series star Kyle Busch on two restarts to take the checkered flag for the first time in a NASCAR national series event.

 

"It's amazing. It's a dream come true," Smith said. "It's awesome."

 





Pole: Cole Custer

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on March 18 for the RAPTOR 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

 

ARCA

Tyler Reif Rises to the Occasion, Earns First ARCA Menards Series Victory

 

Tyler Reif was fast in practice Friday at Phoenix Raceway, and when it counted most, he was fast during the General Tire 150.

 

Reif, making just his third start on the ARCA platform for Lowden-Jackson Motorsports, emerged as the winner of the annual ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West combination race after a pair of green-white-checkered restarts.

 

The race wasn’t without setbacks for Reif, who was involved in a crash on Lap 11 that damaged the rear of his car. Quick work by the Lowden-Jackson Motorsports crew kept him in the race, work that would pay dividends later with a trip to Victory Lane.

 

“Got in a racing incident, got turned, no big deal,” said Reif, who is racing full-time in both the ARCA Menards Series West and ARCA Menards Series East this year. “Kept our heads straight and fought back to the lead.

 

“This team is so good to get this car hooked up. I’m happy. There are just no words to describe this.”

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on March 25th for the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway .

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