TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Busch Scores Third Win of 2023; Dillon Calls for Suspension of Austin Cindric; Many Highlights from Sunday at Gateway
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, June 5th, 2023
Kyle Busch Manages Perfection on Late-Race Restarts, Scores Third Win of 2023 at WWT Raceway
For the third time this season, Kyle Busch has pulled his No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro into victory lane, this time scoring the victory in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Busch had to master a number of late-race restarts to defend against both Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, coming out of the second corner with the lead on each occasion, which allowed him to prevail in NASCAR Overtime.
Hamlin finished second, while Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex, Jr. each scored finishes inside the top-five.
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RACE RESULTS
DRIVER STANDINGS
OWNER STANDINGS
“He Better Be Suspended Next Week,” Austin Dillon Comments on ‘Intentional’ Late-Race Crash with Austin Cindric
Similar to the situation between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott in Monday’s Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR is once again being called upon to issue a one-race suspension, in response to a driver being intentionally wrecked on track.
This week, the whistleblower is Austin Dillon, who alleges that he was intentionally crashed by Austin Cindric in the late stages of Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Dillon, who was forced to prematurely exit Sunday’s event as a result of the incident, spoke to members of the media after leaving the infield care center, where he discussed his displeasure towards the Team Penske driver who shares his given name.
“I was intentionally wrecked by him,” Dillon said angrily after retiring from the race. “Hooked right, just like Chase, and Denny, and Bubba’s deal. He better be suspended next week.”Thanks for reading TC Daily Pit Stop! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
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Thomas Hatcher, No. 43 Front Tire Changer Injured on Pit Road
Thomas Hatcher, who served as the front tire changer on Erik Jones’ No. 43 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Chevrolet Camaro at WWT Raceway, was brought to a local hospital following an incident on pit road in Sunday’s event.
After Sunday’s event, Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43, recalled the incident, saying: “I think he was — they were all a little late coming around with [Austin Dillon] in front of us and we were coming in like normal. It’s hard for me, it all happens so quick, right? I can’t really put it all together. I have to see it and watch it back, but like I said, thinking about Hatcher and his family, and hope to talk to him soon.”
As of Monday at 10:00 AM ET, there have been no additional updates provided on Hatcher’s condition.
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Video: Noah Gragson Walks Away From MASSIVE Crash After Another Brake Rotor Explosion
Noah Gragson has had a difficult season in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023, a trend which continued on Monday with a major crash in the closing laps of the Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway.
Gragson, driving the No. 42 for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, blew a brake rotor heading into the first corner, sending his Chevrolet Camaro HARD into the outside wall, causing major damage.
The race would be red-flagged for substantial track cleanup.
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Video(s): Tyler Reddick Has Difficult Afternoon at Gateway
After making a stellar rebound to return to the top-10, Tyler Reddick’s afternoon ended early, as a result of an exploding brake rotor late in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at WWT Raceway.
The day started off difficult for the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD, after spinning on the second lap of the race, as a result of contact from Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. While the 23XI Racing driver was sent to the rear, he’d have to wait to make his climb, as a lightning strike impeded the race.
Then with less than 65 laps remaining in the event, a brake rotor exploded on Reddick’s entry, sending him directly into the outside wall - much like Carson Hocevar and Noah Gragson.
Reddick would finish the afternoon in 35th-place.
WATCH VIDEO - LAP 2 SPIN
WATCH VIDEO - LAP 176 CRASH
Video: Carson Hocevar’s Impressive Cup Debut Ends With Exploded Brake Rotor
Brake rotors were the hot-button topic of Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway, and unfortunately the first driver to fall victim, was one of the best stories of the afternoon, Carson Hocevar.
Hocevar, filling in for Corey LaJoie as he filled in for Chase Elliott, had driven the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro for Spire Motorsports up to 16th-place on pace alone, before the brake rotor exploded into turn one, sending the full-time Truck Series driver into the wall.
Unfortunately for the Portage, Michigan-native, he’d come home in 36th.
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Video: Michael McDowell Spins After Contact from Ross Chastain on Gateway Restart
All the work that Travis Peterson did, trying to gain track position for Michael McDowell after the race’s first stage on Sunday, didn’t end up paying off, after the Front Row Motorsports driver got turned on a restart to start the second stage.
McDowell, who had taken two tires to put himself into the top-five, was in the middle of a three-wide situation entering the first corner when Ross Chastain made contact, spinning the Fr8Auctions Ford Mustang around in turn one.
Luckily for the Cup Series veteran, he was able to continue in the race without any major damage to his car.
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