2023 Würth 400
# 2023 Würth 400

The 2023 Würth 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 1, 2023, at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Contested over 400 laps on the 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete speedway, it was the 11th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was postponed from Sunday, April 30 to Monday, May 1, due to rain. This is the first Dover race broadcast on Performance Racing Network on radio after Speedway Motorsports purchased the track before the 2022 season but still aired on rival International Speedway Corporation's Motor Racing Network.

## Report

### Background

Dover Motor Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that held at least one NASCAR race each year since 1969, including two per year from 1971 to 2020. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1 mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats. In 2022, Speedway Motorsports purchased the track.

**Entry list**

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

| No. | 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 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Brennan Poole (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 | Josh Berry (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | J. J. Yeley (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

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 22.690 seconds and a speed of 158.660 mph (255.339 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 22.690 | 158.660 |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.809 | 157.832 |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.815 | 157.791 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. Kyle Busch was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 3.500

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 18 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 21 | 51 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 22 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 48 | Josh Berry (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 25 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 27 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 29 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 31 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 33 | 42 | Noah Gragson (R) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 15 | Brennan Poole (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official qualifying results |||||

## Race

### Race results

**Stage results**

Stage One Laps: 120

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 130

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 150

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 17 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 49 |
| 2 | 14 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 51 |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 400 | 50 |
| 4 | 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 52 |
| 5 | 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 47 |
| 6 | 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 36 |
| 7 | 7 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 400 | 33 |
| 8 | 4 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 400 | 36 |
| 9 | 5 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 400 | 37 |
| 10 | 23 | 48 | Josh Berry (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 |
| 11 | 10 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 28 |
| 12 | 28 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 400 | 25 |
| 13 | 24 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 399 | 29 |
| 14 | 27 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 23 |
| 15 | 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 23 |
| 16 | 11 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 399 | 21 |
| 17 | 30 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 399 | 20 |
| 18 | 29 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 19 |
| 19 | 12 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 399 | 21 |
| 20 | 31 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 398 | 17 |
| 21 | 1 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 16 |
| 22 | 32 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 15 |
| 23 | 25 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 14 |
| 24 | 19 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 397 | 13 |
| 25 | 35 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 12 |
| 26 | 20 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 396 | 11 |
| 27 | 36 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 10 |
| 28 | 21 | 51 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 |
| 29 | 22 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 381 | 8 |
| 30 | 6 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 378 | 7 |
| 31 | 26 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 375 | 6 |
| 32 | 18 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 359 | 5 |
| 33 | 34 | 15 | Brennan Poole (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 79 | 0 |
| 34 | 33 | 42 | Noah Gragson (R) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 43 | 3 |
| 35 | 15 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 35 | 2 |
| 36 | 16 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 34 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 19 among 8 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 46 laps
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 47 seconds
* Average speed: 115.505 miles per hour (185.887 km/h)

## Media

### Television

Fox Sports covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion and two-time Dover winner Rusty Wallace called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1 :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer Color-commentator: Rusty Wallace | Jamie Little Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race and was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. This was the first Dover race covered by PRN as the radio rights was shifted from MRN Radio after the 2022 season. Doug Rice & Mark Garrow called the race from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Pat Patterson called the race from atop a scaffold when the field raced thru turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, and Wendy Venturini called the race for PRN from pit lane.

PRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Backstretch: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Ross Chastain | 370 |
| 1 | 2 | Christopher Bell | 367 (–3) |
| | 3 | Kevin Harvick | 332 (–38) |
| 3 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 330 (–40) |
| 3 | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 326 (–44) |
| | 6 | Tyler Reddick | 319 (–51) |
| 3 | 7 | Denny Hamlin | 317 (–53) |
| 3 | 8 | Kyle Busch | 306 (–64) |
| 3 | 9 | Brad Keselowski | 303 (–67) |
| 6 | 10 | Kyle Larson | 300 (–70) |
| 3 | 11 | William Byron | 297 (–73) |
| 4 | 12 | Chris Buescher | 277 (–93) |
| 2 | 13 | Joey Logano | 274 (–96) |
| 1 | 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 270 (–100) |
| 6 | 15 | Alex Bowman | 270 (–100) |
| 1 | 16 | Chase Briscoe | 250 (–120) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 417 |
| 2 | Toyota | 382 (–35) |
| 3 | Ford | 372 (–45) |
