# 2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225

The 2023 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 was the 19th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania at Pocono Raceway, a 2.0 miles (3.2 km) permanent triangular-shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 90 laps, but was extended to 92 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would have a wild battle with Josh Berry on the final lap, and held on to win the race after the final caution came out. This was Hill's sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his fourth of the season. Berry had dominated the entire race, leading a race-high 51 laps, until he hit the wall on the final lap, dropping him back to the 24th position. To fill out the podium, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, and Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Background

Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval speedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1970s. Nicknamed "The Tricky Triangle", the speedway has three distinct corners and is known for high speeds along its lengthy straightaways.
From 1982 to 2019, the circuit had two race weekends. In 2020, the circuit was reduced to one race meeting of two races. The first race was moved to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis starting in 2022.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Accelerate Pros Talent |
| 02 | Blaine Perkins (R) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | AUTOParkIt |
| 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Whelen |
| 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Ferris Commercial Mowers |
| 4 | Kyle Weatherman | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Graze Craze Charcuterie Boards |
| 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Members First Credit Union |
| 07 | Stefan Parsons | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Ollie's Bargain Outlet |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Reese's Ice Cream |
| 08 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | Refology |
| 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tire Pros Love the Drive |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pelonis, Menards |
| 10 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafHome Water Solutions |
| 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Accessories |
| 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Quick Tie Products |
| 17 | Chase Elliott (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | HendrickCars.com Archived 2021-08-04 at the Wayback Machine |
| 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | TMC Transportation |
| 19 | Connor Mosack (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Irwin Industrial Tools |
| 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Yahoo! |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Global Industrial |
| 24 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Lehigh Valley Phantoms |
| 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | AM Technical Solutions |
| 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Island Coastal Lager |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Puryear Tank Lines |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | US Hydrations, Sparkling Ice |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | FUNKAWAY |
| 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | Adkins Automotive |
| 38 | Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing | Ford | CoverSeal |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | CMR Construction & Roofing |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Rich Mar Florist |
| 44 | Sage Karam | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | CRC Brakleen |
| 45 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Erie Sports Center, ForeverLawn |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | Wings Etc. Grill & Pub |
| 53 | Patrick Emerling | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | Emerling-Gase Motorsports |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | Coble Commercial Properties |
| 74 | Dawson Cram | CHK Racing | Chevrolet | Troopers United Foundation |
| 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | BOTTICELLI |
| 91 | Chad Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | MAR-Delicious Watermelons |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Alloy Employer Services, Star Tron |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

The first and only practice session was held on Friday, July 21, at 3:35 PM EST, and would last for 20 minutes. Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.721, and an average speed of 164.471 mph (264.690 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.721 | 164.471 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 54.743 | 164.405 |
| 3 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.816 | 164.186 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, July 21, at 4:05 PM EST. Since Pocono Raceway is a superspeedway, the qualifying system used is a single-car, one-lap system with only one round. In that round, whoever sets the fastest time will win the pole. Josh Berry, driving for JR Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 53.587, and an average speed of 167.951 mph (270.291 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.587 | 167.951 |
| 2 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 53.851 | 167.128 |
| 3 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.891 | 167.004 |
| 4 | 19 | Connor Mosack (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.898 | 166.982 |
| 5 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.946 | 166.834 |
| 6 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.973 | 166.750 |
| 7 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.046 | 166.525 |
| 8 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.049 | 166.516 |
| 9 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.134 | 166.254 |
| 10 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 54.136 | 166.248 |
| 11 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.235 | 165.945 |
| 12 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 54.241 | 165.926 |
| 13 | 17 | Chase Elliott (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.286 | 165.789 |
| 14 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 54.321 | 165.682 |
| 15 | 24 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 54.394 | 165.459 |
| 16 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 54.440 | 165.320 |
| 17 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 54.444 | 165.307 |
| 18 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 54.445 | 165.304 |
| 19 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 54.448 | 165.295 |
| 20 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 54.504 | 165.125 |
| 21 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 54.575 | 164.911 |
| 22 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 54.579 | 164.899 |
| 23 | 10 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 54.601 | 164.832 |
| 24 | 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 54.742 | 164.408 |
| 25 | 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.825 | 164.159 |
| 26 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.912 | 163.899 |
| 27 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 55.233 | 162.946 |
| 28 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 55.334 | 162.649 |
| 29 | 44 | Sage Karam | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 55.349 | 162.605 |
| 30 | 38 | Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing | Ford | 55.503 | 162.153 |
| 31 | 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55.749 | 161.438 |
| 32 | 08 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | 55.805 | 161.276 |
| 33 | 91 | Chad Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 55.872 | 161.082 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 34 | 4 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55.875 | 161.074 |
| 35 | 45 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 55.975 | 160.786 |
| 36 | 53 | Patrick Emerling | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.125 | 160.356 |
| 37 | 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.274 | 159.932 |
| 38 | 02 | Blaine Perkins (R) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.278 | 159.920 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 39 | 74 | Dawson Cram | CHK Racing | Chevrolet | 56.018 | 160.663 |
| 40 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 56.318 | 159.807 |
| 41 | 07 | Stefan Parsons | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 56.424 | 159.507 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 19 | Connor Mosack (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 52
| Pos. | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 11 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 2 | Running | 41 |
| 2 | 8 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 43 |
| 3 | 13 | 17 | Chase Elliott (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 9 | Running | 0 |
| 4 | 21 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 92 | 3 | Running | 36 |
| 5 | 2 | 11 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 43 |
| 6 | 6 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 92 | 0 | Running | 43 |
| 7 | 7 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 12 | Running | 42 |
| 8 | 18 | 25 | Brett Moffitt | AM Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 9 | 22 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 28 |
| 10 | 23 | 10 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 5 | Running | 0 |
| 11 | 3 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 12 | 12 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 13 | 26 | 78 | Anthony Alfredo | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 14 | 25 | 3 | Ty Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 15 | 14 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 22 |
| 16 | 20 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 30 | 38 | Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 | Running | 20 |
| 18 | 27 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 35 | 45 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 20 | 16 | 16 | Chandler Smith (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 21 | 34 | 4 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Running | 16 |
| 22 | 17 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 9 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 8 | Running | 26 |
| 24 | 1 | 8 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 91 | 51 | Running | 33 |
| 25 | 24 | 26 | Kaz Grala | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 91 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 36 | 53 | Patrick Emerling | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 38 | 02 | Blaine Perkins (R) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | Running | 10 |
| 28 | 32 | 08 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Ford | 91 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 31 | 6 | Brennan Poole | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | Running | 8 |
| 30 | 33 | 91 | Chad Chastain (i) | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 31 | 37 | 35 | Joey Gase | Emerling-Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | Running | 6 |
| 32 | 5 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 89 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 33 | 10 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 87 | 2 | Running | 10 |
| 34 | 4 | 19 | Connor Mosack (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 85 | 0 | Accident | 5 |
| 35 | 19 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff (R) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 84 | 0 | Running | 2 |
| 36 | 28 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 82 | 0 | Running | 1 |
| 37 | 15 | 24 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 81 | 0 | Suspension | 0 |
| 38 | 29 | 44 | Sage Karam | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | Transmission | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | John Hunter Nemechek | 751 |
| | 2 | Austin Hill | 738 (-13) |
| | 3 | Justin Allgaier | 696 (–55) |
| | 4 | Cole Custer | 666 (–85) |
| | 5 | Chandler Smith | 587 (–164) |
| | 6 | Josh Berry | 577 (–174) |
| | 7 | Daniel Hemric | 553 (–198) |
| | 8 | Sammy Smith | 548 (–203) |
| | 9 | Sam Mayer | 545 (–206) |
| | 10 | Sheldon Creed | 516 (–235) |
| | 11 | Riley Herbst | 493 (–258) |
| | 12 | Parker Kligerman | 467 (–284) |
| Official driver's standings ||||