The 2022 Ag-Pro 300 was the ninth stock car race of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the 31st iteration of the event, and the third race of the Dash 4 Cash. The race was held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 mile (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The Dash 4 Cash in this race is consisted of Brandon Jones, Landon Cassill, A. J. Allmendinger, and Austin Hill, since they were the highest finishing Xfinity regulars after Martinsville Speedway. The race was extended from 113 laps to 124 laps, due to three NASCAR overtime attempts. At race's end, Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports would grab the win, after being able to take the lead on the final restart.[1] This was Gragson's seventh career Xfinity Series win, and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Jeffrey Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing and A. J. Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Allmendinger would win the Dash 4 Cash, after finishing ahead of Cassill, Jones, and Hill.[1]

2022 Ag-Pro 300
Race details
Race 9 of 33 in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date April 23, 2022
Official name 31st Annual Ag-Pro 300
Location Lincoln, Alabama, Talladega Superspeedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 124 laps, 329.84 mi (530.82 km)
Scheduled Distance 113 laps, 300.58 mi (483.74 km)
Average speed 123.024 mph (197.988 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 52.454
Most laps led
Driver Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing
Laps 67
Winner
No. 9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Adam Alexander, Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

This was the debut race for Chandler Smith.[2]

Background

edit

Talladega Superspeedway, nicknamed “Dega”, and formerly named Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family. As of 2021, the track hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, with a length of 2.66 miles (4.281 km), compared to the Daytona International Speedway, which is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The total peak capacity of Talladega is around 175,000 spectators,[3][4][5] with the main grandstand capacity being about 80,000.[6]

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet AcceleratePros.com
02 Brett Moffitt Our Motorsports Chevrolet Hometown Lenders
2 Sheldon Creed (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Whelen
3 Jeffrey Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet ForeverLawn
4 Bayley Currey JD Motorsports Chevrolet Habana Brisa
5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet J. F. Electric
6 Ryan Vargas JD Motorsports Chevrolet Hempvana
07 Joe Graf Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Ford Bucked Up Energy
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Fight Hunger Spark Change
08 David Starr SS-Green Light Racing Ford TicketSmarter, Special Report with Bret Baier
8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet PUBG Mobile
9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops, Black Rifle Coffee Company
10 Landon Cassill Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Voyager Crypto Debit Card
11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Cirkul - Water Your Way
13 Natalie Decker MBM Motorsports Ford Nerd Focus
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Nutrien Ag Solutions
18 Drew Dollar Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Lynx Capital
19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Atlas, Menards
21 Austin Hill (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Bennett Transportation & Logistics
23 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet Dude Wipes
26 Chandler Smith (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota ChargeMe, VITAL
27 Jeb Burton Our Motorsports Chevrolet Rocky Boots
28 C. J. McLaughlin RSS Racing Ford Sci Aps
31 Myatt Snider Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet TaxSlayer
34 Jesse Iwuji (R) Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Chevrolet Sele Foundation
35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford Kitty Kat Coin
36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet Larue Snowblowers
38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford A-Game
39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford TA Services, C2 Freight Resources
44 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Heartbeat Hot Sauce
45 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Lilly Finance
47 Gray Gaulding Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet SafeHedge
48 Kaz Grala (i) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet One Stop, ASE
53 Shane Lee Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford Kitty Kat Coin
54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Monster Energy
66 J. J. Yeley MBM Motorsports Chevrolet RHS USA, Coble Enterprises
68 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet Trade the Chain
78 Josh Williams B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet Alloy Employment Services
91 Mason Massey DGM Racing Chevrolet Anderson Power Services
98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Monster Energy
Official entry list

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 22, at 4:30 PM CST.[7] Since Talladega Superspeedway is a superspeedway, the qualifying system used is a single-car, one-lap system with two rounds. In the first round, drivers have one lap to set a time. The fastest ten drivers from the first round move on to the second round. Whoever sets the fastest time in Round 2 wins the pole.[8]

Jeffrey Earnhardt, driving the iconic No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing, scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.454 seconds and a speed of 182.560 mph (293.802 km/h). It was Earnhardt's first career pole in NASCAR, along with his first at Talladega. It was also the first pole for Larry McReynolds as a crew chief since 2000.[9]

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time (R1) Speed (R1) Time (R2) Speed (R2)
1 3 Jeffrey Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.604 182.039 52.454 182.560
2 21 Austin Hill (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.591 182.084 52.514 182.351
3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.567 182.168 52.551 182.223
4 2 Sheldon Creed (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.684 181.763 52.589 182.091
5 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 52.754 181.522 52.699 181.711
6 10 Landon Cassill Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 52.797 181.374 52.709 181.677
7 6 Ryan Vargas JD Motorsports Chevrolet 52.737 181.580 52.713 181.663
8 48 Kaz Grala (i) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 52.799 181.367 52.798 181.371
9 18 Drew Dollar Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.810 181.329 52.807 181.340
10 38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 52.777 181.443 52.993 180.703
Eliminated in Round 1
11 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 52.912 180.980
12 23 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 52.912 180.980
13 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 52.957 180.826
14 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 52.979 180.751
15 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.988 180.720
16 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 52.994 180.700
17 68 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 53.001 180.676
18 02 Brett Moffitt Our Motorsports Chevrolet 53.003 180.669
19 9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports Chevrolet 53.087 180.383
20 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.125 180.254
21 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 53.137 180.213
22 27 Jeb Burton Our Motorsports Chevrolet 53.193 180.024
23 45 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 53.212 179.959
24 07 Joe Graf Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Ford 53.242 179.858
25 91 Mason Massey DGM Racing Chevrolet 53.258 179.804
26 78 Josh Williams B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 53.301 179.659
27 5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 53.364 179.447
28 66 J. J. Yeley MBM Motorsports Chevrolet 53.483 179.048
29 4 Bayley Currey JD Motorsports Chevrolet 53.496 179.004
30 26 Chandler Smith (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 53.527 178.900
31 31 Myatt Snider Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 53.628 178.563
32 53 Shane Lee Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford 53.630 178.557
33 47 Gray Gaulding Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 53.641 178.520
Qualified by owner's points
34 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 53.691 178.354
35 08 David Starr SS-Green Light Racing Ford 53.727 178.234
36 35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford 52.727 178.234
37 39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 53.749 178.161
38 44 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 53.765 178.108
Failed to qualify
39 13 Natalie Decker MBM Motorsports Ford 53.695 178.341
40 34 Jesse Iwuji (R) Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Chevrolet 53.701 178.321
41 28 C. J. McLaughlin RSS Racing Ford 61.818 154.906
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit

Stage 1 Laps: 25

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 8
4 10 Landon Cassill Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 7
5 21 Austin Hill (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6
6 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 23 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 02 Brett Moffitt Our Motorsports Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 25

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 21 Austin Hill (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
4 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 18 Drew Dollar Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 68 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 3 Jeffrey Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
9 31 Myatt Snider Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 2
10 27 Jeb Burton Our Motorsports Chevrolet 1

Stage 3 Laps: 74

Fin. St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Points
1 19 9 Noah Gragson JR Motorsports Chevrolet 124 7 Running 44
2 1 3 Jeffrey Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 124 10 Running 38
3 13 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 124 6 Running 42
4 10 38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Ford 124 0 Running 33
5 6 10 Landon Cassill Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 124 0 Running 39
6 12 23 Anthony Alfredo Our Motorsports Chevrolet 124 3 Running 34
7 20 98 Riley Herbst Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 124 0 Running 30
8 24 07 Joe Graf Jr. SS-Green Light Racing Ford 124 0 Running 29
9 31 31 Myatt Snider Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 124 0 Running 30
10 18 02 Brett Moffitt Our Motorsports Chevrolet 124 0 Running 28
11 16 8 Josh Berry JR Motorsports Chevrolet 124 5 Running 36
12 21 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 124 0 Running 25
13 9 18 Drew Dollar Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 124 1 Running 29
14 32 53 Shane Lee Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford 124 0 Running 23
15 22 27 Jeb Burton Our Motorsports Chevrolet 124 0 Running 23
16 36 35 Joey Gase Emerling-Gase Motorsports Ford 124 0 Running 21
17 29 4 Bayley Currey JD Motorsports Chevrolet 124 0 Running 20
18 37 39 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Ford 124 0 Running 19
19 26 78 Josh Williams B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 124 0 Running 18
20 7 6 Ryan Vargas JD Motorsports Chevrolet 124 0 Running 17
21 33 47 Gray Gaulding Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 123 0 Running 16
22 11 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 122 13 Fuel Pressure 30
23 34 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 122 0 Running 14
24 4 2 Sheldon Creed (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 113 1 Accident 13
25 23 45 Caesar Bacarella Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 113 0 Accident 12
26 15 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 110 0 DVP 18
27 2 21 Austin Hill (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 67 Accident 24
28 14 1 Sam Mayer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 109 2 Accident 20
29 8 48 Kaz Grala (i) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 103 0 Accident 0
30 17 68 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 103 1 Accident 11
31 27 5 Matt Mills B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 96 0 Accident 6
32 38 44 Ryan Ellis Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 84 0 DVP 5
33 35 08 David Starr SS-Green Light Racing Ford 83 1 DVP 4
34 5 11 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 79 0 DVP 3
35 3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 76 5 Accident 17
36 28 66 J. J. Yeley MBM Motorsports Chevrolet 51 2 DVP 1
37 25 91 Mason Massey DGM Racing Chevrolet 47 0 Accident 1
38 30 26 Chandler Smith (i) Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 47 0 Accident 0
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Spencer, Reid (April 23, 2022). "Noah Gragson holds off Earnhardt, wins in Talladega overtime; Dash 4 Cash to Allmendinger". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  2. ^ Srigley, Joseph (April 23, 2022). "Chandler Smith Joins Sam Hunt Racing for Three Races, Xfinity Debut Set for Talladega". TobyChristie.com.
  3. ^ "Talladega is known for speed, but slow down and take in what the Alabama city offers". April 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Talladega Superspeedway". December 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "Track Facts". Talladega Superspeedway. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  6. ^ Utter, Jim (November 27, 2013). "Talladega Superspeedway to reduce seating to 80,000". The Charlotte Observer. The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  7. ^ "2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Talladega Spring Race Page". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  8. ^ "NASCAR announces practice, qualifying return in 2022". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  9. ^ Srigley, Joseph (April 22, 2022). "Jeffrey Earnhardt, Larry McReynolds Put Richard Childress Racing No. 3 on Pole at Talladega". TobyChristie.com.
Previous race:
2022 Call 811 Before You Dig 250
NASCAR Xfinity Series
2022 season
Next race:
2022 A-GAME 200