Cole Custer claimed his first win of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season on Saturday winning the Pacific Office Automation 147.
The Xfinity Series went to Portland International Raceway for a stand alone event. Sheldon Creed would begin the race on the pole. Sammy Smith would have shifter issues early while Chandler Smith would miss the chicane and have to get a pass though penalty. Brennan Poole would be the first car to go behind the wall. Near the end of the stage Stefan Parsons would stop on the track to bring out a caution. During the caution the car of Daniel Hemric would catch on fire extending the yellow. The race would resume with two laps to go in the first stage. Creed get around Nemechek in the final corner to claim the first stage.
Teammates get together in the final stage! pic.twitter.com/j2NIA8y3kV
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 3, 2023
Cars all came down pit road for non competitive pit stops giving teams three minutes to make chances without losing positions. During the break Brad Perez would take over for Landon Honeyman who was ill. On the restart Josh Berry would go around falling to the back of the field. On the final lap of stage 2 Nemechek spun Creed as Cole Custer rallied back for the stage win.
Contact!
A spin!
The drag race to the line!
This Stage 2 finish has it all! #POA147 pic.twitter.com/MDTFczFLvR
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 3, 2023
Custer would miss the chicane on the restart ceding the lead to Justin Allgaier and falling back to ninth. On lap 56 Creed paid Nemechek back dumping him in turn 2 during a battle for second. With all the chaos behind him, Allgaier would grow his lead to three seconds.
It happened. pic.twitter.com/ZQJbyJ0uj3
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 3, 2023
Nemechek’s frustration would only grow when teammate Sammy Smith got into him in turn 1. He would retaliate by dooring Smith in turn4 sending both cars to the pits.
Parker Kligerman would get around Creed for second as Allgaier continued to creep away. Riley Herbst would pull off the track smoking on lap 67 bringing out the caution again.
A debris caution would set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart Kligerman would jump to the inside of Allgaier and Creed and all three cars would lock up allowing Custer to go around.
Drama in Turn 1!!! @ColeCuster to the lead in NASCAR Overtime! pic.twitter.com/GjSaMtXbB2
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 3, 2023
Allgaier would attempt to catch back up to Custer getting to his bumper but not around.
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE COLE CUSTER ON HIS NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WIN AT PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY. pic.twitter.com/FnNw9UNBjN
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 3, 2023
Portland International Raceway Xfinity Series Results
- Cole Custer
- Justin Allgaier
- Sam Mayer
- Josh Berry
- Austin Hill
- Myatt Snider
- Sheldon Creed
- Connor Mosack
- Chandler Smith
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Alex Labbe
- Brett Moffitt
- Brandon Jones
- Parker Kligerman
- Blaine Perkins
- Josh Williams
- Parker Retzlaff
- Ryan Sieg
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Patrick Emerling
- Anthony Alfredo
- Jeremy Clements
- Joe Graf Jr.
- Garrett Smithely
- Jeb Burton
- Kaz Grala
- Jordan Taylor
- Leland Honeyman
- Dylan Lupton
- Sammy SMithj
- Preston Pardus
- Riley Herbst
- Daniel Hemric
- Kyle Sieg
- Parker Chase
- Mason Maggio
- Stefan Parsons
- Brennan Poole
