The Cup Series closes out the triple header weekend with the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Thirty-eight teams brought cars to Texas for 40 starting spots.
The teams have been divided into two groups for two 25 minute practice sessions before making a qualifying run to set the lineup.
After running only three laps of practice, Austin Dillon has taken his car to the garage for an engine change. He will have to start the race from the back of the field after not making a qualifying run.
With less than four minutes of practice remaining, Bubba Wallace gets loose going into the corner and spins out, backing into the wall. He was in the toop five in lap times at the time of the crash. Bubba said that he had no warning of the crash. With crash damage to his car, he will not make a qualifying run and will start the race from the back of the field.
Mike Joy reports that in the Next Gen car, the Texas races have averaged 14 caution flags per race.
William Byron tops the leaderboard in single lap times with 28.52 seconds.
Kevin Harvick talks about Carson Hocevar’s celebration last week after the race in Talladega. Carson noted that when he was a kid, he got disappointed when drivers didn’t celebrate their wins and acknowledge the fans. He wanted to celebrate with the fans.
Birthday boy, Kyle Busch, has a total of 20 wins at Texas Motor Speedway across all three NASCAR racing series – four of them in the Cup Series.
A big piece of debris puts a short halt to group two practice – it was a big piece of Styrofoam from a sign.
Ryan Preece and Tyler Reddick are the only two drivers who have finished every race so far on the lead lap.
The caution flag comes out when Daniel Suarez is sitting on the apron in turn two with a flat tire. Race control has denied the crew bringing a tire out to change it; he is backing the car down the track to pit road. With the configuration of the underside of the car, towing the cars can destroy the diffuser under the car.
Seventh overall, Denny Hamlin topped the leaderboard in group two practice with a time of 28,76 seconds.
The first driver out on the track to make a qualifying run is Corey Heim who posted a time of 28.520 seconds around the 1.5 mile track.
With a time of 28.222 seconds, Carson Hocevar puts his number 77 car on the pole with teammate Daniel Suarez starting alongside on the front row. This is the fastest pole time so far this season.
Hocevar and Suarez are separated by just three thousandths of a second!
The starting lineup for the Wurth 400:
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Suarez
Chris Buescher
Denny Hamlin
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Busch
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Alex Bowman
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson
Connor Zilisch
Austin Cindric
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Corey Heim
Riley Herbst
Michael McDowell
Ryan Preece
Joey Logano
Erik Jones
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Josh Berry
Brad Keselowski
AJ Allmendinger
Cole Custer
Noah Gragson
Cody Ware
Shane van Gisbergen
Ryan Blaney
Todd Gilliland
John Hunter Nemechek
Zane Smith
Ty Dillon
Chad Finchum
Bubba Wallace
Austin Dillon
Stage one is 80 laps, stage two is 85 laps, and stage three is 102 laps for a total of 267 laps around the 1.5 mile track. The drivers can run 64 to 68 laps on a single load of fuel and will have to make at least one pit stop in every stage.
NBA Dallas Mavericks Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg is the honourary pace car driver for today’s race. During pace laps Denny Hamlin moved up and gave Flagg a bump.
Slayer Bass player Tom Araya gave a rousing command to start the engines that was sure to stir up the excitement for the start of the race.
After a crash in practice, Bubba Wallace is starting from the back of the field in a backup car and Austin Dillon will start at the back of the field after the crew made an engine change just two laps into practice.
Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Daniel Suarez alongside. Hocevar and Suarez go side by side with Hocevar getting out front for the lead as drivers get three wide and battle for position behind the leaders.
Lap three, the top five are Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch.
Temperatures are around 15 degrees warmer than it was during practice on Saturday.
Lap five, Carson Hocevar has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on teammate Daniel Suarez.
Lap nine, Austin Dillon has moved up just two spots since the start of the race; while Bubba Wallace has moved up five spots.
Lap 10, Carson Hocevar has a lead of nearly two seconds on Chase Briscoe; Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
Lap 13, Kyle Busch passes Daniel Suarez for fourth.
Carson Hocevar holds on to the lead by a second and a half on Chase Briscoe.
Lap 17, Carson Hocevar’s lead is down to under half a second with Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin in a battle for second; Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Lap 19, Denny Hamlin blows by Chase Briscoe for second.
Lap 20, Denny Hamlin passes Carson Hocevar for the lead.
Lap 21, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar, Chase Brisoce, Kyle Busch, and Chris Buescher.
Lap 22, Chase Briscoe passes Carson Hocevar for second.
Lap 25, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of a second and a half on Chase Briscoe; Carson Hocevar, Kyle Busch, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher battle for fifth.
Lap 29, leaders begin lapping slower cars with Chad Finchum going a lap down.
Lap 33, Chase Briscoe ha
S begun closing in on Denny Hamlin’s lead; which is now under a second and a half.
Christopher Bell is the first driver to come down pit road for their green flag pit stops.
Lap 36, Denny Hamlin comes down pit road for his stop; Carson Hocevar is the new leader.
Lap 39, the top 10 drivers have yet to make their pit stops.
Lap 41, top six have yet to pit.
Lap 42, Carson Hocevar finally gives up the lead to make his green flag pit stop. Josh Berry is the new leader.
Three cars have yet to make their pit stops. Once pit stops cycle through, Chase Briscoe will take the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, and Chris Buescher will round out the top five.
Carskon Hocevar returns to the track in sixth place.
Lap 47, Christopher Bell takes the lead with Chase Brisoce in second; Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Chase Briscoe reports that he is “wrecking loose”. The wind has picked up around the track.
There are 32 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 56, Christopher Bell has a lead of nearly a second on Denny Hamlin who passed Chase Briscoe for second.
Daniel Suarez is reporting a vibration in his car.
Lap 60, after starting in 31st, Rayan Blaney has moved up to 13th.
Lap 62, Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on leader Christopher Bell to under half a second; Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
With 14 laps remaining in stage one, Denny Hamlin passes teammate Christopher Bell for the lead with a lot of slower traffic in front of them.
The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap 69 when Todd Gilliland takes a spin and Christopher Bell gets into the wall after contact from Gilliland. Bell has significant damage to the right side of his car. Bell is out of the race
Most of the field come down pit road for service with 10 laps remaining in stage one. Taking only two tires, Carson Hocevar wins the race off of pit road but five drivers stayed out on the track.
Once again, Ryan Blaney had trouble on pit road when his car kept stalling. The car was stuck in gear.
After staying out on the track, Erik Jones brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 74 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr alongside. Drivers are getting four wide in the field.
Erik Jones edges out for the lead with Carson Hocevar in second; Ricky Stenhouse Jr, AJ Allmendinger, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
Drivers are getting three wide.
Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch make contact but the track stays green.
Erik Jones wins stage one for his first ever stage win.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Erik Jones
Carson Hocevar
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Busch
AJ Allmendinger
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell has been checked and released from the infield care center. He called the crash a bummer; adding that he is grateful.
Several drivers come down pit road for service including the ones who stayed out on the track during the caution.
Carson Hocevar is the new leader and will bring the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Ty Gibbs alongside.
Kyle Larson reports a very tight condition in his car.
Lap 89, Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the inside lane. Drivers spread out two and three wide through the field.
Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs battle for the lead for a few laps before Hocevar takes the lead. Teammates Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs battle for second with Briscoe taking the spot.
William Byron spins out after getting loose to bring out the caution flag on lap 93.
The top five are Carson Hocevar, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Chase Ellliott, and Kyle Busch.
Drivers come down pit road for service with several cars making contact on pit road. Chase Elliott wins the race off of pit road after taking only two tires but not all of the drivers made a pit stop.
Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson made contact on pit road. Joey Logano and Cole Custer make contact and Denny Hamlin gets blocked in by Connor Zilisch who overshot his pit stall.
There is significant damage to Joey Logano’s car and is out of the race.
The most recent pit stop included drivers taking fuel only, two tires, and four tires.
After staying out on the track, Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 99 with Zane Smith alongside. Heim takes the lead.
Lap 100, the top five are Corey Heim, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Zane Smith, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Corey Heim set the fastest lap time of the race on lap 102.
The caution flag comes out on lap 104 when Ty Gibbs gets into the wall after some on track contact from Ryan Preece.
Out of the infield care center, Joey Logano said that he couldn’t stop fast enough.
Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag restart with Brad Keselowski alongside on lap 107. Heim takes the lead with Daniel Suarez passing Keselowski.
Lap 108, the top five are Corey Heim, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, and Zane Smith.
Denny Hamlin and Carson Hocevar nearly wreck and have to check up.
Lap 111, Corey Heim has a lead of a second and a half on Daniel Suarez; Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.
Larry McReynolds reports that Chase Elliott is using a lot more brake then the leaders.
Chase Elliott has passed Daniel Suarez for second.
Lap 115, leader Corey Heim has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds on Chase Elliott.
Lap 123, Corey Heim holds a two second lead on Chase Elliott; Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.
Chase Briscoe has slowed on the track and lost several spots on the track. He has some damage to his car. He reports a very loose condition in his car.
Some of the drivers running up front are questionable as to whether they can make it to the end of stage two on fuel.
Todd Gilliland is the only driver one lap down.
Lap 132, Chris Buescher and Denny Hamlin battle for fifth.
NASCAR has posted Todd Gilliland for not making minimum speed.
Lap 133, Corey Heim’s lead is down to less than a second and a half on Chase Elliott; Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Denny Hamlin roun out the top five.
With 25 laps remaining in stage two Corey Heim has a lead of two seconds but there is a question as to whether or not he can make it to the end of the stage on fuel.
The top five are Corey Heim, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamiln, and Chris Buescher.
With 16 laps remaining in stage two, leader Corey Heim has pulled out to a lead of over two and a half seconds on Chase Elliott; Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Lap 152, Corey Heim comes down pit road for fuel; Chase Elliott is the new leader.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s crew keeps telling the driver to save more fuel.
Just nine laps remain in stage two; leader Chase Elliott is lapping slower traffic and there are now 27 cars on the lead lap.
The top five are Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez
Kyle Larson brings out the caution flag on lap 160 and gets into the wall. He told the crew that he “just lost it.”
After stopping for fuel, Corey Heim gets the “lucky dog”.
Nearly all of the lead lap cars come down pit road for fuel.
Chase Elliott wins the race off of pit road.
Staying out on the track, Brad Keselowski leads the race.
Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the shootout to end the stage with teammate Ryan Preece alongside. Keselowski gets out in front for the lead.
Chase Elliott comes up on the inside to take the lead.
Chase Ellliott wins stage two for his first stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chase Ellliott
Tyler Reddick
Brad Keselowski
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Preece
Daniel Suarez
Chris Buescher
Riley Herbst
Carson Hocevar
Alex Bowman
A few drivers come down pit road for service.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Tyler Reddick alongside on alp 173.
Reddick and Reddick battle for the lead with Elliott getting out in front.
The top five are Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Daneil Suarez, and Chris Buescher.
Kyle Busch reports that he can’t fire off.
After the crew stayed late in the garage working to get the backup car ready, Bubba Wallace bought his crew dinner.
Lap 182, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
In sixth place, Alex Bowman has reported an off and on vibration issue.
Just 80 laps remain in the race; Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Tyler Reddick; Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Lap 192, Tyler Reddick has closed the gap on leader Chase Elliot to under half a second; Denny Hamlin is nearly two seconds back in third place.
Cole Custer returns to the race 81 laps down.
Lap 196, Chase Elliott has pulled out to near one second lead on Tyler Reddick.
Alex Bowman and Daniel Suarez battle for fifth.
With 66 laps to go Chase Elliott leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap 207, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a near second and a half lead on Tyler Reddick.
Lap 208, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr are the first drivers to come down pit road for green flag pit stops.
Carson Hocevar and Kyle Busch battle for ninth.
Lap 212, green flag pit stops continue.
Ross Chastain was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Lap 216, leaders Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick come down pit road for service. Denny Hamlin is the new leader.
Lap 217, Denny Hamlin makes his pit stop. Riley Herbst is the new leader.
Lap 217, eight drivers have yet to make their pit stops.
Lap 219, the top five drivers – Carson Hocevar, Ryan Blaney, Corey Heim, Brad Keselowski, and Chase Briscoe – have yet to make their pit stops.
Lap 222, leader Carson Hocevar makes his pit stop. Ryan Blaney is the new leader.
Just 42 laps remain in the race; Ryan Blaney, Corey Heim, and Chase Briscoe have yet to make their pit stops.
Lap 227, Ryan Blaney makes his pit stop; Corey Heim is the leader.
Once Corey Heim and Chase Briscoe make their pit stops, the lead will cycle back to Chase Elliott.
Lap 236, Corey Heim holds on to the lead and is over a second in front of Chase Briscoe; Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 238, Corey Heim has just switched over to the reserve fuel.
Corey Heim makes his pit stop on lap 239.
Chase Elliott retakes the lead. Chase Briscoe is the only driver on the track yet to make a pit stop.
Lap 241, the top five are Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez.
Kyle Larson returns to the track 86 laps down.
Tyler Reddick is reporting some issues with his tires.
Lap 249, with a new crew chief, Rowdy Busch is in the top 10 in ninth.
Lap 250, Chase Elliott has a lead of over a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap 254, Chase Elliott’s lead is down to under a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Kyle Busch turned 41 on Saturday (May 2); Kevin Harvick says that makes him feel really old!
With just 12 laps remaining in the race, Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on Chase Elliott to under a second.
With just eleven laps to go, Corey Heim spins out and brings out the caution flag – the fourth single car spin in the race.
There are 20 cars on the lead lap.
Indecisive as to what to do, Denny Hamlin says that he has to be on the front row and may be staying out on the track.
A few drivers come down pit road for fresh tires; but the leaders stay out. Tyler Reddick is among the drivers to come down pit road after reporting a possible tire issue.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin alongside; there are just four laps remaining in the race. Drivers get three and four wide in a battle for position.
Chase Elliott holds on to the lead.
Chase Elliott takes the white flag. John Hunter Nemechek wrecks just as Elliott takes the white flag but get down to the apron and out of the way. The track stays green.
Time to ring the Sirreeeeen! Chase Elliott wins the race!
The unofficial results of the Wurth 400:
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin
Alex Bowman
Tyler Reddick
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Carson Hocevar
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney
Riley Herbst
Erik Jones
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Preece
Austin Cindric
Connor Zilisch
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kyle Busch
John Hunter Nemechek
Zane Smith
Chase Briscoe
Ty Dillon
AJ Allmendinger
Ross Chastain
Michael McDowell
Noah Gragson
Josh Berry
Cody Ware
Corey Heim
Todd Gilliland
Chas Finchum
Kyle Larson
Cole Custer
Ty Gibbs
Joey Logano
Christopher Bell