2023 Production Alliance Group 300
# 2023 Production Alliance Group 300

The 2023 Production Alliance Group 300 was the 2nd stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 24th iteration of the event. The race took place at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, a 2.0-mile (3.2 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, but due to constant rain showers, the race was postponed until Sunday, February 26, immediately following the Pala Casino 400 Cup Series race on the same day.

The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, dominated the final stages of the race, and earned his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, along with his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, and Justin Allgaier, also driving for JR Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

This was also the final Xfinity Series race to be held on the 2.0 mile version of Auto Club Speedway, as the track will be renovated into a 0.5 mile short track in 2023.

## Background

Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) is a two-mile (3.2 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. It is also used for open wheel racing events. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. The track is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and is the only track owned by ISC to have naming rights sold. The speedway is served by the nearby Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 freeways as well as a Metrolink station located behind the backstretch.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Production Alliance Group |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Accelerate Pros Talent |
| 02 | David Starr | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Our Motorsports |
| 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Whelen |
| 4 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | KSDT CPA |
| 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 07 | Blaine Perkins (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | AUTOParkIt.com |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | BRANDT |
| 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | North South Machinery, Panini Group |
| 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Patriot Lighting, Menards |
| 10 | Austin Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LA Golf |
| 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Poppy Bank |
| 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Quick Tie Productions |
| 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Pilot Flying J |
| 19 | Joe Graf Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | CoverSeal |
| 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Vons, Albertsons |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bennett Transportation |
| 24 | Tyler Reddick (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | GearWrench |
| 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | AM Technical Solutions |
| 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Fire Department Coffee |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Contractor Rewards, State Water Heaters |
| 28 | Alex Labbé | RSS Racing | Ford | G Coin, Larue |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | FUNKAWAY |
| 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Ford | OneLegacy, California Highway Patrol |
| 38 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | TopPools.com |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | CMR Construction & Roofing |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Costa Oil |
| 44 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Jesus Revolution |
| 45 | Rajah Caruth (i) | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Circle |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | PacWest, First Pacific Funding |
| 53 | C. J. McLaughlin | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | Sci Aps |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Ford | Klutch Vodka |
| 74 | Ryan Vargas | CHK Racing | Chevrolet | CHK Racing |
| 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Dude Wipes |
| 91 | Ross Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | JAG Metals |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Alloy Employer Services, Call 811 |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| 99 | Garrett Smithley | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | PCARx |
| Official entry list |||||

## Starting lineup

Practice and qualifying were scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 25, at 9:05 AM PST, and 9:35 AM PST, but were both cancelled due to constant rain showers. The starting lineup would be determined by a performance-based metric system. As a result, Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would earn the pole. Garrett Smithley and Ryan Vargas would fail to qualify.

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 19 | Joe Graf Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 10 | Austin Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 38 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford |
| 19 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 45 | Rajah Caruth (i) | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 02 | David Starr | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 24 | Tyler Reddick (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota |
| 25 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 44 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 53 | C. J. McLaughlin | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 28 | Alex Labbé | RSS Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota |
| 30 | 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 07 | Blaine Perkins (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||
| 34 | 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 4 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | 91 | Ross Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 39 | 99 | Garrett Smithley | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 74 | Ryan Vargas | CHK Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 35

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 10 | Austin Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 9 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 2 Laps: 35

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 10 | Austin Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 5 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 3 Laps: 80

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 | 49 | Running | 51 |
| 2 | 22 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 39 |
| 3 | 3 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 8 | Running | 39 |
| 4 | 5 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 1 | Running | 42 |
| 5 | 19 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 3 | Running | 32 |
| 6 | 1 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 4 | Running | 40 |
| 7 | 6 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 150 | 0 | Running | 38 |
| 8 | 15 | 10 | Austin Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 10 | Running | 0 |
| 9 | 25 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 150 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 10 | 23 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 34 |
| 11 | 14 | 19 | Joe Graf Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 | 0 | Running | 26 |
| 12 | 35 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 13 | 29 | 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 150 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 14 | 16 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 150 | 0 | Running | 23 |
| 15 | 18 | 38 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 150 | 0 | Running | 22 |
| 16 | 9 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 17 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 20 |
| 18 | 11 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 13 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 | 14 | Running | 26 |
| 20 | 4 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 17 |
| 21 | 20 | 45 | Rajah Caruth (i) | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 22 | 7 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 31 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 15 | Running | 22 |
| 24 | 38 | 91 | Ross Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 25 | 30 | 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 26 | 44 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 149 | 46 | Running | 30 |
| 28 | 28 | 28 | Alex Labbé | RSS Racing | Ford | 149 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 34 | 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Toyota | 149 | 0 | Running | 8 |
| 30 | 36 | 4 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | Running | 7 |
| 31 | 33 | 07 | Blaine Perkins (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | Running | 6 |
| 32 | 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Ford | 149 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 33 | 10 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 32 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | Running | 3 |
| 35 | 21 | 02 | David Starr | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | Running | 2 |
| 36 | 24 | 24 | Tyler Reddick (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 148 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 37 | 27 | 53 | C. J. McLaughlin | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 1 |
| 38 | 12 | 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | 26 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after theace

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Austin Hill | 98 |
| 1 | 2 | John Hunter Nemechek | 91 (-7) |
| 1 | 3 | Justin Allgaier | 91 (–7) |
| 1 | 4 | Chandler Smith | 76 (–22) |
| 1 | 5 | Riley Herbst | 73 (–25) |
| 4 | 6 | Cole Custer | 60 (–38) |
| 12 | 7 | Sam Mayer | 58 (–40) |
| 1 | 8 | Joe Graf Jr. | 56 (–42) |
| 8 | 9 | Josh Berry | 52 (–46) |
| 2 | 10 | Ryan Sieg | 52 (–46) |
| 11 | 11 | Parker Kligerman | 51 (–47) |
| 6 | 12 | Parker Retzlaff | 50 (–48) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
