2023 RAPTOR King of Tough 250
# 2023 RAPTOR King of Tough 250

The 2023 RAPTOR King of Tough was the 5th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 163 laps to complete. In a chaotic finish, Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would hold off the field on the final restart, and earn his fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his third of the season. Hill dominated the race as well, leading 103 laps. To fill out the podium, Daniel Hemric, driving for Kaulig Racing, and Ryan Truex, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021. The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.

### Entry list

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

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Accelerate Pros Talent |
| 02 | Kyle Weatherman | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | The Original Larry's Hard Lemonade |
| 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Whelen |
| 4 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Trophy Tractor |
| 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Walton Press |
| 07 | Blaine Perkins (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | To the Point NC |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | RaptorTough.com |
| 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | FollowMe Global Business Solutions |
| 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tire Pros Love The Drive |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Jeld-Wen, Menards |
| 10 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Accessories |
| 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Quick Tie Productions |
| 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Pilot Flying J |
| 19 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Toyota Genuine Parts |
| 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Mobil 1 |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bennett Transportation |
| 24 | Connor Mosack (R) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Toyota Racing Development |
| 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | AM Technical Solutions |
| 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | CRUSH Lime Margarita |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Rocky Boots |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | Cedar Ridge Landscaping |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | FUNKAWAY |
| 35 | Patrick Emerling | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Ford | Sci Aps |
| 38 | Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing | Ford | Jacob Companies |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | CMR Construction & Roofing |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Pella Windows & Doors |
| 44 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Advanced Material Handling |
| 45 | Sage Karam | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Til Valhalla Project |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | One Stop, All South Electric |
| 53 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | Donate Life Georgia |
| 66 | Caesar Bacarella | MBM Motorsports | Chevrolet | Prime Bites Protein Brownies |
| 74 | Dawson Cram | CHK Racing | Chevrolet | ServiceMaster Restore |
| 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | JAG Metals |
| 91 | Chad Chastain | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Protect Your Melon |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Coolray, Alloy Employer Services |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| Official entry list |||||

## Starting lineup

Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 17, at 4:30 PM EST, but was cancelled due to constant rain showers. The starting lineup would be determined by a performance-based metric system. As a result, Sammy Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would earn the pole. Dawson Cram would fail to qualify.

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

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 40

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 2 Laps: 40

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clememts Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

Stage 3 Laps: 83

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 103 | Running | 53 |
| 2 | 11 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 39 |
| 3 | 4 | 19 | Ryan Truex | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 163 | 0 | Running | 34 |
| 4 | 13 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 5 | Running | 43 |
| 5 | 5 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 163 | 11 | Running | 47 |
| 6 | 12 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 36 |
| 7 | 9 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 34 |
| 8 | 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 163 | 10 | Running | 37 |
| 9 | 10 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 28 |
| 10 | 18 | 10 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 5 | Running | 0 |
| 11 | 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 34 |
| 12 | 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 13 | 29 | 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 14 | 15 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 18 | Running | 29 |
| 15 | 23 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 23 |
| 16 | 16 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 1 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 163 | 0 | Running | 20 |
| 18 | 32 | 35 | Patrick Emerling | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 21 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 163 | 10 | Running | 26 |
| 20 | 35 | 08 | Gray Gaulding | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 1 | Running | 17 |
| 21 | 7 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 22 | 36 | 07 | Blaine Perkins (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 24 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 24 | 37 | 91 | Chad Chastain | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 25 | 27 | 38 | Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing | Ford | 163 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 26 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 161 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 17 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 154 | 0 | Accident | 10 |
| 28 | 6 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 127 | 0 | Rear Gear | 16 |
| 29 | 19 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77 | 0 | Accident | 8 |
| 30 | 25 | 24 | Connor Mosack (R) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 69 | 0 | Accident | 7 |
| 31 | 30 | 45 | Sage Karam | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 43 | 0 | Radiator | 6 |
| 32 | 22 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 33 | 0 | Accident | 5 |
| 33 | 20 | 02 | Kyle Weatherman | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | Accident | 4 |
| 34 | 31 | 44 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 11 | 0 | Accident | 3 |
| 35 | 28 | 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 11 | 0 | Accident | 2 |
| 36 | 34 | 4 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 11 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| 37 | 35 | 53 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| 38 | 38 | 66 | Caesar Bacarella | MBM Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

### Penalties

During the first stage, Josh Williams sustained heavy damage on lap 27. When debris from his repaired car caused another caution, NASCAR parked him under the Damaged Vehicle Policy. In response, Williams stopped his car on the start/finish line and walked back to pit road with the car behind. As a result, NASCAR handed Williams a one-race suspension for the next race.

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Austin Hill | 248 |
| | 2 | John Hunter Nemechek | 202 (-46) |
| 2 | 3 | Riley Herbst | 202 (–46) |
| | 4 | Chandler Smith | 171 (–77) |
| 2 | 5 | Justin Allgaier | 164 (–84) |
| 1 | 6 | Sam Mayer | 156 (–92) |
| 1 | 7 | Sammy Smith | 148 (–100) |
| 1 | 8 | Josh Berry | 148 (–100) |
| 1 | 9 | Cole Custer | 147 (–101) |
| | 10 | Daniel Hemric | 145 (–103) |
| 1 | 11 | Parker Kligerman | 142 (–106) |
| 1 | 12 | Sheldon Creed | 137 (–111) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
