The 2023 Würth 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 1, 2023, at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Contested over 400 laps on the 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete speedway, it was the 11th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was postponed from Sunday, April 30 to Monday, May 1, due to rain. This is the first Dover race broadcast on Performance Racing Network on radio after Speedway Motorsports purchased the track before the 2022 season but still aired on rival International Speedway Corporation's Motor Racing Network.

2023 Würth 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 11 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Date May 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)
Location Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 400 laps, 400 mi (640 km)
Average speed 115.505 miles per hour (185.887 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 3.500 (Pandemic Formula)
Most laps led
Driver William Byron Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 193
Winner
No. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Rusty Wallace
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Pat Patterson (Backstretch)

Report

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Background

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Dover Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Dover Motor Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that held at least one NASCAR race each year since 1969, including two per year from 1971 to 2020. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1 mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats. In 2022, Speedway Motorsports purchased the track.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Brennan Poole (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Josh Berry (i) [a] Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

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Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 22.690 seconds and a speed of 158.660 mph (255.339 km/h).[10]

Practice results

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 22.690 158.660
2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.809 157.832
3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.815 157.791
Official practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. Kyle Busch was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 3.500[11]

Starting lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
4 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
5 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
6 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
7 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
13 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
15 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
16 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
18 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
20 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
21 51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
22 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
23 48 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
24 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
26 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
27 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
28 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
30 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
31 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford
32 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
33 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
34 15 Brennan Poole (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
35 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
36 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Official qualifying results

Race

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Pole-sitter Kyle Busch leads the field following a restart

Race results

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Stage results

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Stage One Laps: 120

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8
4 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7
5 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 6
6 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 5
7 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 130

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 10
2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8
4 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 4
8 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 3
9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage results

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Stage Three Laps: 150

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 49
2 14 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 400 51
3 3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 400 50
4 8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 52
5 13 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 47
6 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 36
7 7 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 400 33
8 4 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 400 36
9 5 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 400 37
10 23 48 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0
11 10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 28
12 28 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 400 25
13 24 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 399 29
14 27 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 399 23
15 9 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 399 23
16 11 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 399 21
17 30 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 399 20
18 29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 399 19
19 12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 399 21
20 31 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 398 17
21 1 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 397 16
22 32 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 397 15
23 25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 397 14
24 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 397 13
25 35 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 396 12
26 20 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 396 11
27 36 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 395 10
28 21 51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 393 0
29 22 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 381 8
30 6 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 378 7
31 26 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 375 6
32 18 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 359 5
33 34 15 Brennan Poole (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 79 0
34 33 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 43 3
35 15 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 35 2
36 16 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 34 1
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 19 among 8 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 7 for 46 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 47 seconds
  • Average speed: 115.505 miles per hour (185.887 km/h)

Media

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Television

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Fox Sports covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion and two-time Dover winner Rusty Wallace called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Rusty Wallace
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds

Radio

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PRN had the radio call for the race and was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. This was the first Dover race covered by PRN as the radio rights was shifted from MRN Radio after the 2022 season. Doug Rice & Mark Garrow called the race from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Pat Patterson called the race from atop a scaffold when the field raced thru turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, and Wendy Venturini called the race for PRN from pit lane.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Backstretch: Pat Patterson Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Wendy Venturini

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ Josh Berry replaced Alex Bowman after Bowman sustained a back injury in a sprint car accident.

References

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  1. ^ "2023 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Dover International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Taranto, Steven (September 14, 2022). "NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops". CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series". National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. September 14, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "Würth 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Utter, Jim (April 29, 2023). "Brad Keselowski leads eventful Dover Cup practice". Motorsport.com. Dover, Delaware: Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Utter, Jim (April 29, 2023). "Rain cancels Dover Cup qualifying, Busch on pole". Motorsport.com. Dover, Delaware: Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 29, 2023.


Previous race:
2023 GEICO 500
NASCAR Cup Series
2023 season
Next race:
2023 AdventHealth 400