2023 Lightning McQueen 400

The 2023 Lightning McQueen 400 was the 18th race of the season and saw the most incredible ending of the season when Lightning McQueen used the outside wall going on two wheels and make his way to 7th, then drifted his way to 2nd and swooped pass Sky Lewis to take an unbelievable victory. Lightning McQueen took his 1st win since 2017 Florida 500 with Cruz Ramirez and was the 2nd Part Timer to win a race with 2nd Sky Lewis, 3rd Chase Racelott, 4th Kyle Carson and 5th Kyle Buschtire. This was a chaotic race since it was a raining heavily. We had 7 Cautions having 13 Cars DNF from the race including a red flag. 1st Caution happened on Lap 1 when Brad Carslowski collided with Eric Jones but luckily they both were able to continue. The 2nd caution happened on Lap 63 when Alex Bowman went into outside wall hard after contact with Flip Dover. Soon the 3rd Caution was out on Lap 133 when Cruz Ramirez, Connor Tormaski, David Sweet Jr, Tyler Reverick and Flip Dover collided as it started with Cruz Ramirez being spun by Flip Dover causing Tormaski to plow into Ramirez collecting Reverick and Sweet Jr. On Lap 200 Carstin Dillon who was leading crashed out slipping over the wet weather on the track bring out the 4th Caution. On Lap 255 5th Caution managed to bring out the Red Flag when Aaron Clocker and Richie Gunzit caused an almighty pileup as it started with Kyle Buschtire hitting Richie Gunzit to get pass into 3rd causing Richie Gunzit to spin and collect Aaron Clocker after spinning into him. This also involved Eric Jones and Henry Lugnuts. 6th Caution on Lap 315 happened after Jonas Carves was caught out by the rain skidding into the inside wall. 7th Caution happened on Lap 396 after Ace Cohen was taken out by M Fast Fong sending him to the outside wall causing a green white checkered to happen. When they hit the Green White Checkered Sky Lewis was leading heading to the final lap holding off Chase Racelott but out of nowhere Lightning McQueen was in 13th on Lap 399 and going into turn 1 he went on two wheels on the outside wall to get up 7th and drifted his way to 2nd on turn 3 and soon swooped his way to the lead doing a dummy on Sky Lewis to take the win.

## Transcript

### Start Lap 1 Caution

* Bob Cutlass: With Denny Carlin on pole we get ready to race at the Lightning McQueen 400! Green Flag goes in the air and away we go!
* Tony Gaswart: It's a chance for Tyler Reverick to get the lead he has already!
* Bob Cutlass: Spin behind them that's Aric Amirolling!
* Natalie Certain: TWO CARS ARE IN THE WALL THAT IS BRAD CARSLOWSKI AND ERIC JONES!
* Bob Cutlass: Already our 1st Caution is out.
* Tony Gaswart: Brad Carslowski and Eric Jones are reversing which means they will still continue racing.

### Lap 133 Crash

* Bob Cutlass: M Fast Fong leads with Sky Lewis doing brilliantly in 2nd.
* Tony Gaswart: ALEX BOWMAN IS IN THE WALL!
* Bob Cutlass: Flip Dover spun him off to the outside wall by hitting the rear of him.
* Natalie Certain: Bad Damage for the 88 has unfortunately ended his race as the Caution is out.

### Lap 200 The Big One

* Bob Cutlass: SPIN FOR JENSON BUTTON ALMOST HITS GOGO LOGANO!
* Natalie Certain: BEHIND THEM THERE'S A WRECK INVOLVING THE 2 CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS CRUZ RAMIREZ AND CONNOR TORMASKI!
* Bob Cutlass: THE BIG ONE STRIKES AT THE LIGHTNING MCQUEEN 400 AS CONNOR TORMASKI THE POINTS LEADER IS OUT!
* Tony Gaswart: This is absolutely terrible for them Championship as both Ramirez and Tormaski will lose the lead of the Championship.
* Bob Cutlass: What Drama we have here and here is the replay!
* (Replay)
* Bob Cutlass: Contact again it was Flip Dover who spun Cruz Ramirez who was in 7th then Tormaski whams into Ramirez, while we see Dover hitting the outside wall and hit by Tyler Reverick and look at the damage Flip Dover also David Sweet Jr smacks into Cruz Ramirez spinning into the outside wall!
* (Dinoco Team Radio)
* Cruz Ramirez: (Censored) COMPLETE (Censored) FLIP HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE TOO MUCH HE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR THIS!
* Smokey: THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE OF FLIP TO FO THAT 1ST ALEX AND NOW YOU!
* (Intersection Team Radio)
* Flip Dover's Crew Chief: Are you okay?
* Flip Dover: I'm okay guys that surely is gonna hurt my bodywork after that yikes!
* (Rusteze Team Radio)
* Connor Tormaski: I Had nowhere to go could not avoid it at all!

### Carstin Dillon Crashes from the lead

* Bob Cutlass: INTO THE WALL! THATS DILLON IT'S CARSTIN DILLON WHO WAS LEADING THE RACE! THE CAUTION IS OUT!
* Tony Gaswart: This now means Sky Lewis is leading the Lightning McQueen 400 what could be a historic 1st ever win!
* Bob Cutlass: This is Sky Lewis's 5th race of the season as the Caution is out!
* Natalie Certain: Huge blow for Carstin he was looking for his 5th Piston cup Career win since the Florida 500 back in 2018 is not gonna do it!
* Bob Cutlass: Absolute heartbreak for Dillon as the replay shows he slipped over the rain and in the outside wall he goes!
* (Sidewell Shine Team Radio)
* Carstin Ace Dillon's Crew Cheif: Watch out its wet its wet! We're out!
* Carstin Dillon: I'm so sorry guys! The rain has costed us the win.

### The 2nd Big One Red Flag

* Tony Gaswart: Lightning McQueen who is making an appearance at the Lightning McQueen 400 named after him.
* Bob Cutlass: He's having a good one the 45 year old came back to racing looking to get back to his winning ways again.
* Tony Gaswart: Currently the 5 time champion is running in 11th in the top 20!
* Bob Cutlass: BIG PROBLEM! WE GOT A PILEUP! AARON CLOCKER ON TOP OF RICHIE GUNZIT AS WE HAVE A CAR UPSIDE DOWN!
* Tony Gaswart: THAT'S ERIC JONES THE CAUTION IS OUT! LUGNUTS IS IN THEIR TOO!
* Natalie Certain: Actually the Red Flag is out!
* (Replay)
* Bob Cutlass: Well this race has gone crazy Kyle Buschtire sent Gunzit to a spin and Aaron Clocker tagged by the 33 of Bill Brady Jr!
* Tony Gaswart: Then at the back you see Eric Jones flipping and Henry Lugnuts sending himself in the inside wall!

### Restart

* Bob Cutlass: The Red Flag is done there gonna be back racing! Green Flag is in the air!

### Lap 315 Caution

* Bob Cutlass: Someone is off it's Jonas Carves!
* Natalie Certain that will bring out the 6th Caution of this race would you believe it! 12 Cars are out of this race the rainy weather has literally changed this race look at the order we have Sky Lewis leading with 2nd Chase Racelott, 3rd M Fast Fong and would you believe it Tom Don Jackson is in 4th.
* Bob Cutlass: What we are seeing in this race is carnage.

### 7th Caution of the race

* Bob Cutlass: ANOTHER CRASH HAS HAPPENED WHAT THE HELL IS GOING IN THIS RACE!
* Tony Gaswart: ACE COHEN IS NOW THE NEXT DRIVER WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS AS HE HAS GONE INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL BRINGING OUT THE 7TH CAUTION OF THIS RACE!
* Bob Cutlass: This now means we have a Green White Checkered!
* Tony Gaswart: This now means we will have an incredible ending to this race will this be Sky Lewis's maiden win?

### Lightning McQueen's unreal final lap win

* Bob Cutlass: Sky Lewis leads pack with 2 laps to go as the battle for the win is on! Wait until you see Kyle Buschtire go for 3rd on Kyle Carson he gets pass but Carson holds on!
* Tony Gaswart: While at the back Paul Conrev battling with GoGo Logano what an unreal race this is as they go through turn 4!
* Bob Cutlass: WHITE FLAG IN THE AIR SPONSORED BY HOSTILE TAKEOVER BANKS THIS IS THE CHANCE FOR LEWIS TO TAKE A MEMORABLE VICTORY!
* Natalie Certain: OH MY GOD ON THE OUTSIDE WALL! LIGHTNING MCQUEEN IS ON TWO WHEELS! HE'S INTO 7TH!
* Tony Gaswart: WHAT A MOVE FROM LIGHTNING MCQUEEN! WAIT A SEC NO WAY! HE'S GONE AND JUST DRIFTED UP TO 2ND GOING TO TURN 3!
* Bob Cutlass: MCQUEEN DOES THE DUMMY ON SKY LEWIS! HE TAKES THE LEAD OF THE LIGHTNING MCQUEEN 400 ON THE FINAL LAP AND HE WINS FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 2017 AT THE FLORIDA 500 WHEN HE WAS A BACKUP WITH CRUZ RAMIREZ!
* (Red Bull Team Radio)
* Sterling: MATE THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! YOU JUST WON THE LIGHTNING MCQUEEN 400 THAT IS NAMED AFTER YOU!
* Lightning McQueen: YEEEESSSSSS! KACHHHOOOOOOWWWWWW! I CAN'T BELIVE I JUST DID THAT! WHAT A DRIVE WHAT A PERFORMANCE THANK YOU GUYS!
* Sterling: THE 5 TIME CHAMP IS BACK BABY!
* Lightning McQueen: YEAH KA-CHOW!
* Maddy McGear: LIGHTNINNNGGGGG MCCCQQQUUUEEEENN!
* Bob Cutlass: My Lord this is one of the most insane ending's I've ever seen since the Florida 500 in 2017 and the 2005 Dinoco 400! HERE IS THE REPLAY TAKE A LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE WALL ON WHAT HE WENT AND DID! USING TWO WHEELS GETTING A MASSIVE BOOST AND DRIFTS HIS WAY TO 2ND AND DO A SWOOP ON THE INSIDE OF SKY LEWIS THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!
* (IRacing Team Radio)
* IRacing Crew Chief: One to Go One to Go! You’re covering off well!
* Sky Lewis: OH MY GOD! LIGHTNING MCQUEEN!
* IRacing Crew Chief: He's just sailed his way to the win 2nd place mate but holy lord!
* Sky Lewis: I know right! WHAT A GREAT RESULT FOR ME 1ST EVER PODIUM WHAT A RESULT! THANKS GUYS!

### Racers react

* Cruz Ramirez: HE DID IT AGAIN! HE'S DONE HIS OLD TRICKS WHEN HE USED RACE WITH DOC!
* Smokey: The old man has still got it!
* Mater: YYYEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW! DadGum what a legend!
* Daniel Swevez: That is a perfect way to make a return as a part timer! What an achievement that is by doing one of his famous tactics turn right to go left!
* Cal Weathers: Good lord of Mercy he's come back to the Piston Cup this Season and just won as a Part Timer in Red Bull two!

### Post Race Interview

* Shannon Spokes: Lightning McQueen what you did on the final lap was incredible!
* Lightning McQueen: It sure was incredible I'm always remembering the techniques when I raced for Rusteze.
* Shannon Spokes: This reminds me of the 2005 Los Angeles 500 in the 3 way tie when you did a backwards overtake on Chick Hicks and did the most insane save ever.
* Lightning McQueen: Exactly I'm like Doc Hudson in the Piston Cup. I wanna thank Red Bull for signing me back in the Piston Cup and Sterling who became my crew chief!
* Shannon Spokes: They sure are happy enjoy the win you got in the end!
* Lightning McQueen: Thanks Shannon!

## Results

1. Lightning McQueen - 400 laps - 43 Points
2. Sky Lewis - 400 laps - 42 Points
3. Chase Racelott - 400 laps - 41 Points
4. Kyle Carson - 400 laps - 40 Points
5. Kyle Buschtire - 400 laps - 39 Points
6. M Fast Fong - 400 laps - 38 Points
7. Tim Treadless - 400 laps - 37 Points
8. GoGo Logano - 400 laps - 36 Points
9. Paul Conrev - 400 laps - 35 Points
10. Chris Bueshcar - 400 laps - 34 Points
11. Denny Carlin - 400 laps - 33 Points
12. Aric Amirolling - 400 laps - 32 Points
13. William Byrev - 400 laps - 31 Points
14. Corey CarJoie - 400 laps - 30 Points
15. Paul Conrev - 400 laps - 29 Points
16. Michael Alexander Latifi - 400 laps - 28 Points
17. Tom Don Jackson - 400 laps - 27 Points
18. Fox Roofflap - 400 laps - 26 Points
19. Sheldon Shifter - 400 laps - 25 Points
20. Brad Carslowski - 400 laps - 24 Points
21. Jenson Button - 400 laps - 23 Points
22. Cam Spinner - 400 laps - 22 Points
23. Klint Shiftright Jr - 400 laps - 21 Points
24. Kevin Carvick - 400 laps - 20 Points
25. Ryan Laney - 400 laps - 19 Points
26. Jim Reverick - 400 laps - 18 Points
27. Daniel Swevez - 400 laps - 17 Points
28. Bubba Wheelhouse - 400 laps - 16 Points
29. Martin Carex Jr - 400 laps - 15 Points
30. Bill Brady Jr - 400 laps - 14 Points
31. Ace Cohen - 396 laps (Accident) - 13 Points
32. Jonas Carves - 315 laps (Accident) - 12 Points
33. Aaron Clocker - 255 laps (Accident) - 11 Points
34. Eric Jones - 255 laps (Accident) - 10 Points
35. Richie Gunzit - 255 laps (Accident) - 9 Points
36. Henry Lugnuts - 255 laps (Accident) - 8 Points
37. Carstin Dillon - 200 laps (Accident) - 7 Points
38. Flip Dover - Lap 133 (Accident) - 6 Points
39. Connor Tormaski - Lap 133 (Accident) - 5 Points
40. David Sweet Jr - Lap 133 (Accident) - 4 Points
41. Cruz Ramirez - Lap 133 (Accident) - 3 Points
42. Tyler Reverick - Lap 133 (Accident) - 2 Points
43. Alex Bowman - Lap 63 (Accident) - 1 Points