2023 Lightyear 400

The **2023 Lightyear 400** is the fourth race of the 2023 Piston Cup Season.

This racing day was a very emotional day for the world of racing, as it took place a day later after legendary racer and two-time Piston Cup champion Jack Ford's death.

During the second half of the race, RPM racer Barry DePedal was the dominant racer, even when a caution came out and the race went overtime, DePedal charged against Ryan Laney, Cruz Ramirez and William Byrev to get the win in memory of Jack Ford.

## Transcript

### Pre-Race ceremonies

Shannon: Today all the racing world is in mourning, they are in mourning for the loss of legendary racer Jack Ford, he was the first RPM racer, two-time Piston Cup champion, was one of the most dominant racers of the 40's and 50's, he was the inspiration for many racers, and even for legends such as Don Chapcar, who won two championships also for RPM during the 80's, who wants to give a few words to the public.

Don Chapcar: He was my inspiration to race for this team, he was my hero for more than 50 years, and his death was a true disgrace, my deepest condolences to the Ford family and the RPM team, for me he was the best racer to ever exists, no one, not even Dale Earnhardt or Strip Weathers will pair him.

Shannon: Thanks Don, definetly he's not the only one devastated for this big loss, Ford's legacy is going to live all over in the Piston Cup fans' hearts.

### Green Flag

Natalie: The green flag is on the air at the Motor Speedway of the South, Cruz Ramirez and Tim Treadless on the front row, just where they left it in the last race.

Dale Jr: Not for that much, it seems that Treadless is dropping, Ryan Laney is also coming, passes Treadless and H.J. Hollis for 2nd!!

Natalie: And if we look more in the back, you can see Barry DePedal who started 21st, but he was the 3rd fastest on practice, it seems that he is gaining some momentum coming to Lap 2, he's now in 18th

Dale Jr: If you look closer on the camera, you can see that DePedal is struggling a little bit with his emotions, but still making some passes, the speed from practice is definetly starting to show on the purple #64 this evening, he's currently on 17th.

### Respect for Ford

Natalie: We are on lap 64, all the track, pit crew, spotters and audience went on total silence to honor Jack Ford, simbolizing his iconic number 64 during his tenure on the early days of the Piston Cup.

*(All the track is on silence during the rest of the 64th lap)*

### Barry DePedal to the lead

Dale Jr: 180 laps are completed on the Lightyear 400, Ryan Laney is currently on the lead, along with Cruz Ramirez in 2nd trying to pass him and, WAIT, THERE'S BARRY DEPEDAL COMING TO THE LEAD, GOES THREE WIDE WITH LANEY AND RAMIREZ!!!

Natalie: And DePedal is now your new leader, let's hope that he can mantain the lead until the end, but seeing the speed he has showed all race long, he's a serious threat to win!

### Final Laps Caution

Natalie: We're getting into the closing laps of the race, just see this, Barry DePedal, who entered this race on mourning, has dominated the second half of this race, as we are getting close to the white flag, this could be an emo...

Dale Jr: WE GOT A SPIN, THE #123 OF JONAS CARVERS, ALMIROLLING AND RUSCH ALSO INVOLVED, HEAVY DAMAGE TO THEM, HENRY MILES AND CONRAD CAMBER BOTH GOT MINIMUM DAMAGE, BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE RACE, AS WE GO TO OVERTIME!!!

Natalie: The overtime laps will make this finish more interesting!

### Overtime finish

Natalie: Everyone has already pitted before the green flag waves for a last time, Barry DePedal still on the front row, Ryan Laney, one of the fastest cars from this race is at his side, the RPM team made a wild decision of taking 2 tires instead of 4 to stay up front!

Dale Jr: Other racers that took 2 tires are McPillar, Swervez, Storm and Byrev, while the rest took all 4 tires and full fuel tank!

Natalie: And here they come, green flag on the air!!

Dale Jr: BIG BLOCK FROM DEPEDAL TO BYRON, BUT LANEY IT'S COMING ON THE OUTSIDE, THE #12 IS ON THE LEAD!!

Natalie: DEPEDAL GETS ONCE AGAIN GETS THE LEAD, RAMIREZ ALSO IN THE MIX TO STEAL THIS ONE!!

Dale Jr: THIS IS GETTING SPICY BOYS!!

Natalie: WHITE FLAG, THE NEXT FLAG ENDS THE RACE!!!

Dale Jr: THREE WIDE FOR THE SECOND SPOT, DEPEDAL STILL LEADING!!

Natalie: LANEY IS ON FRESHER TIRES THAN THE REST OF THE FRONT PACK, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM ENOUGH TO CATCH BARRY DEPEDAL, WHO AFTER LEADING HALF OF THE RACE, IS YOUR WINNER AT THE MOTOR SPEEDWAY OF THE SOUTH!!

Dale Jr: THAT WAS A HELL OF AN RACE, THE #64 SHOWED DOMINANCE ALL RACE LONG, EMOCIONAL WIN FOR THE RPM TEAM!!

*(RPM Team Radio)*

Eddie Partdue (crew chief): HOLY CRAP BARRY, YOU GOT IT, YOU GOT IT MAN!!!!

Barry: YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH BOOOYYYYYSS!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOO!!

### Post Race

Shannon: Barry DePedal, dominant performance, but knowing the context of this day, does this victory hit different for you and your team?

Barry: Absolutely, this was dedicated to none other than Jack Ford, a legend, a hero for our beloved sport, heartbreaking to know that he is no longer with us, but this one is dedicated to the man himself, at one point I thought I lost this one out, but we stayed strong until the last lap and here we are with this special win, his legacy will be one to be remember forever!!

*(End of transcript)*

## Results

1. Barry DePedal - 403 laps - 43 points
2. Ryan Laney - 403 laps - 42 points
3. William Byrev - 403 laps - 41 points
4. Cruz Ramirez - 403 laps - 40 points
5. J.D. McPillar - 403 laps - 39 points
6. H.J. Hollis - 403 laps - 38 points
7. Daniel Swervez - 403 laps - 37 points
8. Jackson Storm - 403 laps - 36 points
9. Aaron Clocker - 403 laps - 35 points
10. Chase Racelott - 403 laps - 34 points
11. Tim Treadless - 403 laps - 33 points
12. Michael Rotor - 403 laps - 32 points
13. Nick Shift - 403 laps - 31 points
14. Bubba Wheelhouse - 403 laps - 30 points
15. Ed Truncan - 403 laps - 29 points
16. Paul Conrev - 403 laps - 28 points
17. Rowdy Revvin' Busch - 403 laps - 27 points
18. Flip Dover - 403 laps - 26 points
19. Dan Carcia - 403 laps - 25 points
20. Axel Wheeler - 403 laps - 24 points
21. Eric Jones - 403 laps - 23 points
22. GoGo Logano - 403 laps - 22 points
23. Harvey Rodcap - 403 laps - 21 points
24. Klint Shiftright Jr. - 403 laps - 20 points
25. Ruby Oaks Jr. - 402 laps - 19 points
26. Henry Miles - 402 laps - 18 points
27. J.P. Drive - 402 laps - 17 points
28. Ace Cohen - 402 laps - 16 points
29. Charles Axel Jr. - 402 laps - 15 points
30. Christopher Tirebraker - 401 laps - 14 points
31. Richie Gunzit - 401 laps - 13 points
32. Carstin Dillon - 401 laps - 12 points
33. Carl Engine - 401 laps - 11 points
34. Chris Roamin' - 400 laps - 10 points
35. Brian Omnis - 400 laps - 9 points
36. Rich Mixon - 400 laps - 8 points
37. Cam Spinner - 400 laps - 7 points
38. Sheldon Shifter - 399 laps - 6 points
39. Conrad Camber - 399 laps - 5 points
40. Jonas Carvers - 399 laps (crash) - 4 points
41. Aric Almirolling - 399 laps (crash) - 3 points
42. Will Rusch - 399 laps (crash) - 2 points
43. Andy Carly - 50 laps (motor failure) - 1 point