# 2017 Drive for the Cure 300

The 2017 Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina was the 29th stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the third and elimination race of the Round of 12, and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, October 7, 2017, in Concord, North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Alex Bowman, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would control the late stages of the race to win his first and to date, only career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and his only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Sam Hornish Jr. and Ryan Blaney, both driving for Team Penske, would finish second and third, respectively.
The eight drivers to advance to the Round of 8 were William Byron, Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler, Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer, Brennan Poole, Ryan Reed, and Matt Tifft.

## Background

The race was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina. The speedway complex includes a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) quad-oval track that was utilized for the race, as well as a dragstrip and a dirt track. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams based in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith serving as track president.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Iron Source, Meding's Seafood |
| 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | OneMain Financial |
| 01 | Harrison Rhodes | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Rheem |
| 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Advil Liqui-Gels |
| 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Flex Seal |
| 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Transportation Management Center |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Advance Auto Parts |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Collins Construction Roofing |
| 8 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Keen Parts |
| 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Liberty University |
| 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | PPG Paints |
| 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | MBM Motorsports |
| 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | Pray For Las Vegas |
| 15 | Reed Sorenson (i) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Lilly Diabetes |
| 18 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Juniper Networks, Converged Network Services Group |
| 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | MotoRad |
| 20 | Erik Jones (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Main St. Bistro |
| 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Anderson's Maple Syrup, Lowes Foods |
| 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | Discount Tire |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Allegiant Air |
| 24 | Corey LaJoie (i) | JGL Racing | Toyota | Youtheory |
| 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Keen Parts |
| 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | Night Owl Contractors |
| 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | Buddy Gregg RV & Motorhomes |
| 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | Vannoy Construction, Hendrick Cars |
| 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | DC Solar |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | RepairableVehicles.com, All South Electric |
| 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Agri Supply Company |
| 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, Las Vegas "#VegasStrong" |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | Veterans Motorsports Inc., End 22 |
| 78 | Angela Ruch | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Give A Child A Voice |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | Racing with Jesus, Visone RV |
| 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet | Bucked Up Apparel |
| 92 | Dexter Bean | King Autosport | Chevrolet | King Autosport |
| 93 | Gray Gaulding (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Moore Freight Service |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 6, at 3:00 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.721 and an average speed of 181.690 mph (292.402 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.721 | 181.690 |
| 2 | 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 29.889 | 180.668 |
| 3 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.892 | 180.650 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes known as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, October 6, at 6:00 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Sam Hornish Jr., driving for Team Penske, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.602 and an average speed of 182.420 mph (293.577 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 29.602 | 182.420 |
| 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 29.728 | 181.647 |
| 3 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.762 | 181.439 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 7. However, inclement weather would cancel the session. The starting lineup was determined by the current owner's points. As a result, Daniel Suárez, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole.

### Full starting lineup

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 18 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 20 | Erik Jones (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 4 | 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 24 | Corey LaJoie (i) | JGL Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota |
| 20 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 8 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 01 | Harrison Rhodes | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford |
| 32 | 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | 78 | Angela Ruch | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge |
| 37 | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Dodge |
| 38 | 93 | Gray Gaulding (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 15 | Reed Sorenson (i) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 41 | 92 | Dexter Bean | King Autosport | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 20 | Erik Jones (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 2 | 18 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 3 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 8 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 9 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 18 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 2 | 20 | Erik Jones (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 3 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 5 | 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 6 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
Stage 3 Laps: 110
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 4 | 42 | Alex Bowman (i) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 32 | running | 0 |
| 2 | 31 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Team Penske | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 44 |
| 3 | 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 200 | 38 | running | 0 |
| 4 | 12 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 5 | 9 | 48 | Brennan Poole | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 32 |
| 6 | 13 | 00 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 36 |
| 7 | 8 | 21 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 41 |
| 8 | 1 | 18 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 111 | running | 0 |
| 9 | 14 | 19 | Matt Tifft (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 18 |
| 10 | 7 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 29 |
| 11 | 16 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 12 | 11 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 13 | 22 | 33 | Brandon Jones | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 14 | 20 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 15 | 10 | 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 4 | running | 0 |
| 16 | 6 | 9 | William Byron (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 6 | running | 30 |
| 17 | 18 | 24 | Corey LaJoie (i) | JGL Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 18 | 21 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 19 | 19 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 18 |
| 20 | 23 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 17 |
| 21 | 25 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 16 |
| 22 | 30 | 01 | Harrison Rhodes | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 1 | running | 15 |
| 23 | 27 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 24 | 33 | 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 13 |
| 25 | 15 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 2 |
| 26 | 29 | 99 | David Starr | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 11 |
| 27 | 17 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 10 |
| 28 | 28 | 8 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 9 |
| 29 | 34 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 193 | 0 | running | 8 |
| 30 | 3 | 20 | Erik Jones (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 192 | 7 | running | 0 |
| 31 | 26 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | oil leak | 6 |
| 32 | 36 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 160 | 0 | suspension | 5 |
| 33 | 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 112 | 0 | overheating | 11 |
| 34 | 24 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 62 | 0 | crash | 3 |
| 35 | 37 | 13 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | 52 | 0 | steering | 2 |
| 36 | 35 | 78 | Angela Ruch | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 37 | 40 | 15 | Reed Sorenson (i) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15 | 0 | electrical | 0 |
| 38 | 39 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 13 | 0 | handling | 1 |
| 39 | 38 | 93 | Gray Gaulding (i) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 | 0 | electrical | 0 |
| 40 | 32 | 38 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 2 | 0 | steering | 1 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||
| 41 | | 92 | Dexter Bean | King Autosport | Chevrolet | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | William Byron | 3,026 |
| 1 | 2 | Justin Allgaier | 3,023 (-3) |
| | 3 | Elliott Sadler | 3,020 (–6) |
| 1 | 4 | Daniel Hemric | 3,009 (–17) |
| 1 | 5 | Cole Custer | 3,007 (–19) |
| | 6 | Brennan Poole | 3,006 (-20) |
| 1 | 7 | Ryan Reed | 3,005 (-21) |
| 1 | 8 | Matt Tifft | 3,004 (-22) |
| | 9 | Brendan Gaughan | 2,079 (-947) |
| | 10 | Blake Koch | 2,058 (-968) |
| | 11 | Michael Annett | 2,055 (-971) |
| | 12 | Jeremy Clements | 2,052 (-974) |
| Official driver's standings ||||