Entry List

The official 2023 Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 NASCAR XFINITY Series entry list features top NASCAR drivers set to compete at Pocono Raceway, highlighting the full lineup of race participants and teams.

Explore The Pocono Mountains 225

Saturday, July 22nd, 2023

Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA

  • 8 Ford
  • 28 Chevrolet
  • 5 Toyota

  • Pocono Raceway
  • Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
  • Pole Winner: Josh Berry
  • Age: 32
  • Team : No. 8 - Tire Pros Love the Drive Chevrolet
  • Owner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr
  • Crew Chief: Taylor Moyer
  • Josh Berry won the Pole Award for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 with a lap of 53.587 seconds, 167.951 mph.
  • This is his second pole in 81 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2023.
  • This is his first pole in three races at Pocono Raceway.
  • Daniel Hemric (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2023 and his fourth in six races at Pocono Raceway.
  • Sheldon Creed (third) posted his second top-10 start at Pocono Raceway. It is his 15th in 19 races this season.
  • Sammy Smith (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

  • Saturday, July 22nd, 2023
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Holly Cain
Austin Hill Wins Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway

Austin Hill survived an early race pit road speeding penalty, gambled on fuel strategy and prevailed in an incredible wheel-to-wheel run to the checkered flag in overtime to claim his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Saturday.

As important as the victory for the 29-year old Georgia-native his good day combined with an uncharacteristic disappointing day for his closest rivals in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings gave him a huge boost in the points with only seven races remaining to set the 12-driver field. He trailed championship leader John Hunter Nemechek by 33 points before the green flag and took the checkered flag now only 13 behind.

On a dramatic – at times chaotic – overtime re-start, Hill had to get around the day's most dominant driver, JR Motorsports' Josh Berry. His No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was behind Berry on the restart and gave him a big push at the green flag, but Berry got loose and Hill got around him to lead his first lap on the afternoon.

Both Berry and his JRM teammate Justin Allgaier hit the wall in separate accidents on the final lap bringing out the yellow flag and the race ultimately ended under caution with Hill out front.

“We didn't have the best car all day.," Hill said. “Andy [Petree] and all the guys back at RCR engines worked really hard. We got the car better. I thought we were maybe a top-five or top-seven car. I didn't think we had anything for the leader today.

“On that restart he drove into one and got really loose into the entry.. … we drag raced down the backstretch and once I cleared him [Berry] I knew I just had to hit my marks.

“Such a special win," he added. “Obviously with fuel saving, we didn't know if we were going to make it and it was on my mind going into the Tunnel Turn (Turn 2) that I had to get back to the start-finish line. I had enough fuel to do a burnout so we saved enough."

It was especially heartbreaking for Berry, who dominated all the race's major statistics. For the first time in his career he swept both Stage wins. And he started from pole position for the first time this year, leading a race high 51 of the 92 laps. He finished 24thafter his No. 8 JRM Chevrolet trailed up track and into the wall racing Hill – bringing out the final caution that ended the race.

“Just a wild restart there," said Berry, who will take over for retiring NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford next year.

“The 21 [Hill] was behind me and gave me a really good push but pushed me a little longer and harder than I wanted into Turn 1 and got me into the marbles .. I was able to battle back and race with him. Tried to time the run, but got there a little quicker.

“Just a racing deal.," he added. “Hate we didn't get the finish we deserved today. ..Just really proud of the car we brought today and I know if we continue to have that kind of speed we'll win plenty of races. Just a tough way to end but still a lot of positives from the day."

His JR Motorsports teammate Sammy Smith finished second to Hill, followed by former NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, who was competing in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race in two years – driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in a paint scheme honoring his team owner Rick Hendrick's late son, Ricky Hendrick – a popular NASCAR competitor.

Stewart-Haas Racing's Riley Herbst finished fourth, also coming out on the right side of fuel-save gamble. Kaulig Racing's Daniel Hemric was fifth.

“We finished fourth and that's what we needed at a track I don't particular love," Herbst said “Lucky to get out of here with a Top-5."

The effort was good enough to keep Herbst in the points picture for the championship. He is ranked 12th– the final Playoff transfer position – 26 points ahead of Parker Kligerman, who finished ninth Saturday.

Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, Brett Moffitt, Kligerman and another NASCAR Cup Series regular, Daniel Suarez, who drove for Kaulig Racing rounded out the Top-10.

A mid-race incident with two of the three championship leaders – Nemechek and third place Cole Custer – changed the complexion on the regular season title chase. On a restart just over halfway through the race – with both Nemechek and Custer running inside the Top-10 – Nemechek hit the wall and washed back across the track, his Toyota hitting Cole Custer's Ford. Custer was third in the championship entering the race.

Both teams made quick repairs to the cars, but they were non-competitive for the remainder of the race. Nemechek finished 32ndand Custer, 33rd.

  • Drivers Entered: 41 (3 drivers will not make the race)
  • Laps Scheduled: 90
  • Laps Actual: 92 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: 1 Hours 52 Minutes 16 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 122.922
  • Cautions: 6 for 21 laps
  • Lead Changes: 11
  • Green Flag Passes: 1,901 (26.8 passes per green flag lap)

  • Pocono Raceway
  • Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
  • Race Winner: Austin Hill
  • Age: 29
  • Team : No. 21 - Global Industrial Chevrolet
  • Owner: Richard Childress
  • Crew Chief: Andy Street
  • Austin Hill won the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225, his sixth victory in 67 Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his fourth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2023.
  • This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Pocono Raceway.
  • Sam Mayer (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2023.
  • Chase Elliott (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway.
  • Sammy Smith (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
  • John Hunter Nemechek leads the point standings by 13 points over Austin Hill.
Noah Gragson celebrates with champagne in victory lane
Long Pond, Pennsylvania - July 23, 2022 : Noah Gragson, driver of the #9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/BRCC Chevrolet, celebrates with champagne in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway.
Logan RielyGetty Images
ENTRY
#
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
DOB
AGE
MAKE
SPONSOR
TEAM
CREW CHIEF

1
66
Port Tobacco, MD
Feb 25, 1993
30
Ford
TBA
2
7
Riverton, IL
Jun 6, 1986
37
Chevrolet
Reese's Ice Cream
3
48
Westport, CT
Aug 8, 1990
32
Chevrolet
Spiked Light Coolers
4
25
Grimes, IA
Aug 7, 1992
30
Ford
AM Technical Solutions
5
35
Cedar Rapids, IA
Feb 8, 1993
30
Chevrolet
TBA
6
3
Lewisville, NC
Feb 27, 1992
31
Chevrolet
Ferris Commercial Mowers
7
17
Dawsonville, GA
Nov 28, 1995
27
Chevrolet
HendrickCars.com
8
27
Halifax, VA
Aug 6, 1992
30
Chevrolet
Puryear Tank Lines
9
45
Mooresville, NC
Jun 22, 1989
34
Chevrolet
Erie Sports Center/ForeverLawn
10
43
Torrence, CA
Nov 29, 1989
33
Chevrolet
Rich Mar/Laughlin Family Fnd.
11
10
Monterrey, Mexico
Jan 7, 1992
31
Chevrolet
LeafHome Water
12
39
Tucker, GA
Jun 20, 1987
36
Ford
CMRroofing.com
13
4
Wentzville, MO
Aug 28, 1997
25
Chevrolet
TBA
14
11
Kannapolis, NC
Jan 27, 1991
32
Chevrolet
TBA
15
6
Sacramento, CA
Apr 11, 1991
32
Chevrolet
TBA
16
00
Ladera Ranch, CA
Jan 23, 1998
25
Ford
HAAS Automation
17
20
Mooresville, NC
Jun 11, 1997
26
Toyota
TBA
18
26
Boston, MA
Dec 29, 1998
24
Toyota
Island Coastal Lager
19
08
Saint-Albert, Canada
Apr 29, 1993
30
Ford
TBA
20
21
Winston, GA
Apr 21, 1994
29
Chevrolet
Global Industrial
21
9
Atlanta, GA
Feb 18, 1997
26
Chevrolet
Menards / Pelonis
22
51
Spartanburg, SC
Jan 16, 1985
38
Chevrolet
Wings Etc Grill & Pub
23
38
Mahwah, NJ
Jul 12, 1998
25
Ford
TBA
24
92
Port Charlotte, FL
Aug 3, 1993
29
Chevrolet
Alloy Employer / StarTron
25
98
Las Vegas, NV
Feb 24, 1999
24
Ford
Monster Energy
26
78
Ridgefield, CT
Mar 1, 1999
24
Chevrolet
BOTTICELLI
27
53
Orchard Park, NY
Sep 19, 1992
30
Chevrolet
TBA
28
07
Cornelius, NC
Jun 15, 1998
25
Chevrolet
OLLIES / Rich Mar Florist
29
2
Alpine, CA
Sep 30, 1997
25
Chevrolet
Whelen
30
8
Hendersonville, TN
Oct 22, 1990
32
Chevrolet
Tire Pros Love The Drive
31
02
Bakersfield, CA
Feb 28, 2000
23
Chevrolet
AutoParkit.com
32
28
Tucker, GA
Apr 16, 2001
22
Ford
US Hydrations/Sparkling ice
33
1
Franklin, WI
Jun 26, 2003
20
Chevrolet
Accelerate Pros Talent
34
74
San Diego, CA
Sep 12, 2001
21
Chevrolet
TBA
35
44
Nazareth, PA
Mar 5, 1995
28
Chevrolet
CRC Brakleen
36
16
Talking Rock, GA
Jun 26, 2002
21
Chevrolet
TBA
37
24
Marietta, GA
Jul 5, 2002
21
Toyota
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
38
91
Alva, FL
Oct 31, 1998
24
Chevrolet
MAR-DELicious Watermelons
39
31
Rhinelander, WI
May 21, 2003
20
Chevrolet
FUNKAWAY
40
19
Charlotte, NC
Jan 20, 1999
24
Toyota
IRWIN TRADE STRONG
41
18
Johnston, IA
Jun 4, 2004
19
Toyota
TMC