Race details | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 33 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
Date | November 4, 2023 | ||
Official name | 25th Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race | ||
Location | Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona | ||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 1 mi (1.6 km) | ||
Distance | 202 laps, 202 mi (325 km) | ||
Scheduled Distance | 200 laps, 200 mi (320 km) | ||
Average speed | 90.527 mph (145.689 km/h) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
Time | 27.153 | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | |
Laps | 96 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | USA | ||
Announcers | Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. | ||
Radio in the United States | |||
Radio | MRN |
The 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race was the 33rd and final stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Championship 4 race, and the 25th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix Raceway, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 200 laps, but was increased to 202 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wild overtime restart, Cole Custer, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, took advantage of the lead, and held off the rest of the field to earn his 13th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his third of the season. Custer also dominated the race, winning the second stage and leading a race-high 96 laps.[1] To fill out the podium, Sheldon Creed, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
In addition to winning the race, Custer also claimed the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, finishing in two positions ahead of his closest competitor, Justin Allgaier. This was the first championship for Custer after previously finishing second in the standings from 2018 to 2019, and the first championship for Stewart–Haas Racing in the Xfinity Series.[2] Sam Mayer finished in fifth and ranked third in the championship. John Hunter Nemechek had dominated the early stages of the race, leading 66 laps and winning the first stage. He ultimately hit the wall on the final lap and finished 28th while running in the top five; he finished fourth in the championship.[3]