2023 Pacific Office Automation 147

2023 Pacific Office Automation 147

Race details
Race 13 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date	June 3, 2023
Official name	2nd Annual Pacific Office Automation 147
Location	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	1.967 miles (3.166 km)
Distance	77 laps, 151 mi (243 km)
Scheduled distance	75 laps, 147 mi (237 km)
Average speed	65.126 mph (104.810 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Sheldon Creed	Richard Childress Racing
Time	1:14.111
Most laps led
Driver	Sheldon Creed	Richard Childress Racing
Laps	47
Winner
No. 00	Cole Custer	Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network	FS1
Announcers	Adam Alexander, Trevor Bayne, and Jamie McMurray
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN

The 2023 Pacific Office Automation 147 was the 13th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 2nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Portland, Oregon at Portland International Raceway, a 1.967 miles (3.166 km) permanent road course. The race was increased from 75 to 77 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wild finish, Cole Custer, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, would take advantage of the lead with two laps to go, after the 3rd-place driver of Parker Kligerman locked his brakes coming into turn one, ultimately forcing Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed to miss the chicane. Custer eventually held off Allgaier in a last lap dash to earn his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. Creed, who started on the pole, would dominate the race in general, leading a race-high 47 laps.^[1] To fill out the podium, Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, and Sam Mayer, also driving for JR Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Background

Portland International Raceway (PIR) is a motorsport facility in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is part of the Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It lies west of the Delta Park/Vanport light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5.

The track hosts the IndyCar Series, ICSCC and SCCA and OMRRA road racing, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, and SCCA autocross events. Additionally, the PIR grounds are host to OBRA (Oregon Bicycle Racing Association) bicycling races on the track and the surrounding grounds. The facility includes a dragstrip and a motocross track.

Practice

For practice, drivers were split into two groups, Group A and B. Both sessions were 15 minutes long, and was held on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 AM PST.^[2] Parker Kligerman, driving for Big Machine Racing, would set the fastest time between both groups, with a lap of 1:15.123, and a speed of 94.405 mph (151.930 km/h).^[3]

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, June 3, at 9:00 AM PST.^[2] Since Portland International Raceway is a road course, the qualifying system is a two group system, with two rounds. Drivers will be separated into two groups, Group A and Group B. Each driver will have multiple laps to set a time. The fastest 5 drivers from each group will advance to the final round. The fastest driver to set a time in that round will win the pole.^[4] Sheldon Creed, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 1:14.111, and an average speed of 95.694 mph (154.005 km/h).^[5]

Post-race conflict

After the race, a heated discussion took place between Jordan Anderson Racing driver Jeb Burton and Kaulig Racing driver Chandler Smith. With under ten laps to go, Smith bumped into the back of Burton coming into turn four, causing him to spin through the grass. After the race, Burton attempted to confront Smith on pit road. After throwing a few shots, Burton was cut off by Smith's pit crew members. In the end, one of the crew members put Burton in a headlock. After the scuffle, Burton went into a heated argument with Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice.^[6]

Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 25

Stage 2 Laps: 25

Stage 3 Laps: 27

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 John Hunter Nemechek 522 2 Austin Hill 508 (-14) 3 Justin Allgaier 478 (–44) 4 Cole Custer 457 (–65) 5 Josh Berry 431 (–91) 6 Chandler Smith 402 (–120) 7 Sheldon Creed 396 (–126) 8 Sammy Smith 357 (–165) 2 9 Sam Mayer 353 (–169) 1 10 Riley Herbst 346 (–176) 1 11 Daniel Hemric 333 (–189) 1 12 Brandon Jones 319 (–203) Official driver's standings Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.

References