The 2023 Food City Dirt Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 9, 2023, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 250 laps on the short track, it was the eighth race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
This was the final Cup Series race at the Bristol dirt track, as the race returned to concrete in 2024.
Report
Background Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking combined with short length, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating.
In 2021, the race shifted to a dirt surface version of the track and was renamed the Food City Dirt Race.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
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 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 J. J. Yeley (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 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Matt Crafton (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 Due to inclement weather, both practice sessions scheduled for Friday were canceled.
Qualifying heat races Qualifying race procedure similar to that used by the Chili Bowl qualifying nights and Bryan Clauson Classic. Starting order for heat races based on random draw. Grid determined by a combination of passing points and finishing points. Ties broken by owner points.
Race 1 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 152 6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 153 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 154 2 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 155 1 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 156 4 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 157 10 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 158 7 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 159 9 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 1510 3 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 15Official race one results
Race 2 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 152 2 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 153 5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 154 4 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 155 6 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 156 9 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 157 3 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 158 8 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 159 7 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 15Official race two results
Race 3 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 6 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 152 5 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 153 9 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 154 1 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 155 8 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 156 4 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 157 7 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 158 3 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 159 2 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 15Official race three results
Race 4 Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps1 1 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 152 6 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 153 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 154 2 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 155 8 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 156 4 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 157 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 158 9 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 159 3 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 15Official race four results
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 8 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 11 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 12 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 13 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 14 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 16 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 17 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 18 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 20 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 23 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 24 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 26 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 27 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 33 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 35 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 36 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 37 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 75
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 93 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 84 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 75 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 66 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 48 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 39 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 210 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 75
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 102 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 93 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 57 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 39 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 210 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 100
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 522 6 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 250 483 2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 250 524 22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 250 335 14 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 416 25 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 250 357 27 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 348 15 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 250 299 26 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 2810 23 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 2711 13 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 250 2612 11 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 250 2513 10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 250 2514 18 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 250 2315 20 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 250 2216 29 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 250 2117 33 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 250 2018 28 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 250 1919 7 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 250 1820 3 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 250 021 32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 250 1622 30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 250 1523 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 250 2324 8 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 250 2025 34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 250 1226 37 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 250 1127 31 9 Josh Berry (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 250 028 16 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 249 929 17 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 248 830 35 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 247 731 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 240 732 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 236 1933 36 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 205 434 24 51 Matt Crafton (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 185 035 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 177 2036 21 13 Jonathan Davenport Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 176 137 12 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 96 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 4 among 4 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 14 for 71 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 2 hours, 40 minutes and 40 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The Food City Dirt Race was carried by Fox in the United States. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
FoxBooth announcersPit reportersIn-race analystLap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Tony Stewart Jamie LittleRegan SmithJosh Sims Larry McReynolds
Radio PRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race in the booth when the field raced down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from atop the turn 3 suites when the field raced down the backstretch. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Matt Prieur, Lenny Batycki and Heather Debeaux covered the action on pit lane for PRN.
PRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Mark Garrow Backstretch: Rob Albright Brad GillieBrett McMillanMatt PrieurLenny BatyckiHeather Debeaux
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 1 Christopher Bell 281 1 2 Ross Chastain 268 (–13) 3 Kevin Harvick 255 (–26) 4 Kyle Larson 242 (–39) 7 5 Tyler Reddick 235 (–46) 6 Kyle Busch 234 (–47) 1 7 Martin Truex Jr. 232 (–49) 3 8 Joey Logano 223 (–58) 9 Brad Keselowski 216 (–65) 10 Ryan Blaney 211 (–70) 4 11 Alex Bowman 211 (–70) 1 12 Denny Hamlin 203 (–78) 3 13 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 194 (–87) 14 William Byron 193 (–88) 2 15 Austin Cindric 193 (–88) 1 16 Chris Buescher 183 (–98)Official driver's standings