# 2023 Quaker State 400

The 2023 Quaker State 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 9, 2023, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Originally scheduled for 260 laps on the 1.54-mile-long (2.48 km) asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway (with superspeedway rules), the race was shortened to 185 laps due to rain. It was the 19th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report
### Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Noah Gragson (R) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 62 | Austin Hill (i) | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Aric Almirola scored the pole for the race with a time 31.261 of and a speed of 177.346 mph (285.411 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 31.387 | 31.261 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 31.293 | 31.275 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 31.295 | 31.296 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 31.323 | 31.344 |
| 5 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.341 | 31.357 |
| 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 31.425 | 31.373 |
| 7 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 31.369 | 31.375 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.464 | 31.388 |
| 9 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 31.457 | 31.404 |
| 10 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 31.465 | 31.482 |
| 11 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 31.477 | — |
| 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 31.494 | — |
| 13 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 31.506 | — |
| 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 31.511 | — |
| 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 31.527 | — |
| 16 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 31.574 | — |
| 17 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 31.574 | — |
| 18 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.579 | — |
| 19 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 31.598 | — |
| 20 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 31.611 | — |
| 21 | 51 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 31.650 | — |
| 22 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.731 | — |
| 23 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.751 | — |
| 24 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 31.770 | — |
| 25 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 31.773 | — |
| 26 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 31.834 | — |
| 27 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.877 | — |
| 28 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.880 | — |
| 29 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 31.924 | — |
| 30 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 32.278 | — |
| 31 | 42 | Noah Gragson (R) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 32.346 | — |
| 32 | 62 | Austin Hill (i) | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.501 | — |
| 33 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.525 | — |
| 34 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 32.754 | — |
| 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.990 | — |
| 36 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.539 | — |
| 37 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 0.000 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 100
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 25 (shortened by rain)
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 18 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 46 |
| 2 | 26 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 35 |
| 3 | 19 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 40 |
| 4 | 20 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 185 | 39 |
| 5 | 22 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 32 |
| 6 | 11 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 185 | 41 |
| 7 | 24 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 185 | 0 |
| 8 | 17 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 33 |
| 9 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 185 | 47 |
| 10 | 29 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 27 |
| 11 | 25 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 185 | 26 |
| 12 | 10 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 185 | 36 |
| 13 | 23 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 24 |
| 14 | 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 185 | 23 |
| 15 | 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 185 | 30 |
| 16 | 9 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 185 | 21 |
| 17 | 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 185 | 27 |
| 18 | 1 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 185 | 20 |
| 19 | 27 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 18 |
| 20 | 33 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 17 |
| 21 | 35 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 16 |
| 22 | 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 185 | 15 |
| 23 | 34 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 185 | 21 |
| 24 | 13 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 185 | 14 |
| 25 | 37 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 185 | 17 |
| 26 | 36 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 11 |
| 27 | 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 185 | 12 |
| 28 | 5 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 184 | 9 |
| 29 | 16 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 184 | 16 |
| 30 | 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 181 | 7 |
| 31 | 28 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 179 | 6 |
| 32 | 21 | 51 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 178 | 0 |
| 33 | 31 | 42 | Noah Gragson (R) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 174 | 4 |
| 34 | 7 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 150 | 3 |
| 35 | 30 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 124 | 2 |
| 36 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 111 | 10 |
| 37 | 32 | 62 | Austin Hill (i) | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 18 among 12 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 43
* Red flags: 1 for weather
* Time of race: 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 17 seconds
* Average speed: 118.475 miles per hour (190.667 km/h)

## Media
### Television

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and 2004 Atlanta winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
USA :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Kim Coon Marty Snider |

### Radio

The race was broadcast on radio by the Performance Racing Network and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front stretch. Rob Albright called the race from atop a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. On pit road, PRN was manned by Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Doug Turnbull and Wendy Venturini.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Doug Turnbull Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | William Byron | 628 |
| 1 | 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 607 (–21) |
| 2 | 3 | Kyle Busch | 592 (–36) |
| | 4 | Christopher Bell | 591 (–37) |
| 2 | 5 | Ross Chastain | 575 (–53) |
| | 6 | Denny Hamlin | 561 (–67) |
| 2 | 7 | Ryan Blaney | 553 (–75) |
| | 8 | Kyle Larson | 531 (–97) |
| 2 | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 530 (–98) |
| | 10 | Joey Logano | 518 (–110) |
| | 11 | Chris Buescher | 506 (–122) |
| 1 | 12 | Brad Keselowski | 504 (–124) |
| 1 | 13 | Tyler Reddick | 475 (–153) |
| | 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 445 (–183) |
| 2 | 15 | Daniel Suárez | 407 (–221) |
| 2 | 16 | Michael McDowell | 407 (–221) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 722 |
| 2 | Toyota | 649 (–73) |
| 3 | Ford | 636 (–86) |