Most drivers dream of the opportunity to post a win at their hometown track and last weekend, Ryan Truex was able to make that dream a reality. It wasn’t just an ordinary win for the Mayetta, N.J. native – it was his first-ever in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Truex came into the race strong, finding his way to the front on Lap 34. He swept both stages and ultimately led a career-high 124 of the 200 laps.
The part-time driver of the No. 19 Toyota, Truex, has made five starts this season thus far with Joe Gibbs Racing, posting one win (Dover) three top fives and three top 10s. His next race with the team will be in two weeks at Darlington Raceway.
Truex has made three starts at the 1.366-mile Darlington track (2011, 2018, 2022). He posted a best finish of 15th in 2018.
NEXT RACE: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Shriners Children’s 200
The Place: Darlington Raceway
The Date: Saturday, May 13
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,399,187
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200.8 miles (147 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 147)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Standings Update: Darlington up next
The NASCAR Xfinity Series wrapped up its 10th race of the season at Dover Motor Speedway last weekend where Ryan Truex found his way to Victory Lane. Because he is a part-time driver in the series, there are still only five drivers who have clinched their spot in the Playoffs with their respective wins – Austin Hill (Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta), John Hunter Nemechek (Auto Club, Martinsville), Sammy Smith (Phoenix), Chandler Smith (Richmond) and Jeb Burton (Talladega).
With a top-five finish at Dover, Hill was able to hang on to his lead in the standings, sitting with 377 points, but Nemechek is still right on his heels, just four points behind with 373.
Chandler Smith clings to his third-place spot with 309 points while teammates Josh Berry (334) and Justin Allgaier (328) have moved up to the fourth and fifth place spots, respectively. Allgaier could very well clinch his spot next weekend at Darlington, as he has two wins under his belt (2021, 2022) at the 1.366-mile track.
Cole Custer, who won the last segment of Dash 4 Cash last weekend, now sits in sixth with 318 points with Sheldon Creed right behind him with 314.
Riley Herbst (-65) and Sammy Smith (-81) assume the next two slots in the standings and Daniel Hemric takes up the 10th spot with 284 points.
JRM teammates Sam Mayer (-110) and Brandon Jones (-119) come in next in the Playoff hunt.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle: Chandler Smith in the lead
The 2023 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders have 10 races under their belts as they take the weekend off before coming back to the action at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 13.
Currently leading the pack is the Chandler Smith. The Kaulig Racing driver has secured his spot in the Playoffs with his one win (Richmond), four top fives and five top 10s. He sits in third in the overall standings with 339 points.
Sliding in next is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sammy Smith, who also secured his spot in the Playoffs with his first Xfinity Series career win at Phoenix Raceway earlier this season. He has racked up 296 points with his one win, three top fives and four top 10s.
Jordan Anderson Racing’s Parker Retzlaff is third in the rookie class with 199 points. He has posted one top five and two top 10s in his 10 starts this season.
Closing out the competition is Blaine Perkins with 64 points.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Brennan Poole to run at Kansas Speedway – Although the NASCAR Xfinity Series will not be running at Kansas Speedway this weekend, Brennan Poole won’t be taking a break.
The 32-year-old driver will be getting behind the wheel of the No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
This will be Poole’s second Cup Series start of the season and his third start at Kansas Speedway in the series.
Kyle Larson to join Kaulig Racing at Darlington – The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will be pulling double duty at Darlington Raceway next weekend. He will be getting behind the wheel of the No. 10 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing.
This will be Larson’s first Xfinity Series start of the 2023 season.
“I’m looking forward to competing in the Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway in a few weeks with Kaulig Racing and HendrickCars.com,” said Larson. “Darlington is a challenging track and definitely one on the top of my list that I’m eager to get a win at. The Kaulig Xfinity cars have been really fast this year too so I’m thankful for the opportunity to run double-duty and hopefully we’ll have a good shot at a win.”
