{"id":43073,"date":"2023-09-09T18:30:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T23:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=43073"},"modified":"2023-09-10T14:05:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T19:05:53","slug":"nemechek-dominates-kansas-kligerman-clinches-final-nascar-xfinity-playoff-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/09\/nemechek-dominates-kansas-kligerman-clinches-final-nascar-xfinity-playoff-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Nemechek dominates Kansas; Kligerman clinches final NASCAR Xfinity Playoff spot"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2013 There were no mixed feelings on Parker Kligerman\u2019s part\u2014he was ecstatic that John Hunter Nemechek asserted absolute domination over the rest of the field in Saturday\u2019s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Nemechek\u2019s sixth victory of the season assured Kligerman, who finished a strong fourth, of a berth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, which open next Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

Kligerman outlasted Riley Herbst, who entered the race with a one-point advantage for the final Playoff spot but ran afoul of the left rear of Kligerman\u2019s car after a restart in Stage 2.<\/p>\n

Nemechek did all he could to overtake Austin Hill for the Regular Season Championship. He won the first and second stages and beat runner-up Brandon Jones to the finish line by a whopping 7.521 seconds. Hill ran fifth to secure the regular-season title by five points after leading by 23 entering the race.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After Herbst had trouble, the only circumstance that could have kept Kligerman out of the Playoffs was a victory by Jones. Nemechek would have none of that.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Crew chief) Ben (Beshore) and all the guys made the right adjustments all day,\u201d said Nemechek, who won for the second time at Kansas and the eighth time in his career. \u201cThey brought a really fast hot rod\u2026 Overall, just super pumped, super ecstatic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started next week at Bristol. We came in here trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that\u2019s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, let\u2019s go to the Playoffs\u2014I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Josh Berry, driver of the #8 Bass Pro Shops\/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, driver of the #98 Monster Energy Ford, and Rajah Caruth, driver of the #45 Circle Pay Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Sheldon Creed finished third, 11.881 seconds behind Nemechek, followed by Kligerman and Hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was definitely the biggest John Hunter fan on the last run there,\u201d quipped Kligerman, who finished 25 points ahead of Herbst for the final Playoff spot in a battle that featured substantial swings throughout the season. \u201cI\u2019m really proud of this whole Big Machine Racing team\u2026 We executed at a high level.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith what I\u2019ve seen do for the last 12 weeks, I felt like, if we could just get in the Playoffs, and we bring this going forward, we\u2019re going to race for a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, and Sammy Smith, driver of the #18 TMC Toyota, raceduring the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Just short of midway through Stage 2, much of the suspense disappeared from the race for the final Playoff spot. On a restart on Lap 65, Kligerman had difficulty getting his No. 48 Chevrolet into gear. Creed, immediately behind Kligerman, ran into the back of the 48 and moved to the right.<\/p>\n

Herbst, who started two cars behind his rival for the final berth, clipped the left rear of Kligerman\u2019s car with the right front of the No. 98 Ford, cutting his right front tire and damaging the quarter panel.<\/p>\n

Herbst lost two laps on pit road changing tires, but he regained both circuits in short order, taking a wave-around at the end of Stage 2 and as the beneficiary during the eighth caution for a dramatic Lap  97 wreck at the front of the field involving Creed, Sammy Smith, pole winner Justin Allgaier and Jones.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, and Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, lead the field to an early restart during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Back on the lead lap, Herbst charged through the field and reached the ninth position, but another flat right front tire forced him to pit road on Lap 127 and ended his chances to secure a Playoff berth.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, Daniel Hemric clinched the 11th of 12 Playoff spots by starting the race, leaving Kligerman and Herbst to battle for the last one. They join Nemechek, Hill, Allgaier, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, Creed, Josh Berry, Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton, all of whom had qualified for the Playoffs before Saturday\u2019s race.<\/p>\n

Though Hill secured the regular-season title, he feels his Richard Childress Racing team has work to do to match Nemechek\u2019s pace in the upcoming seven Playoff races.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A general view of racing during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 09, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust happy that we were able to bring home the Regular Season Championship, get the extra 15 bonus points–which is huge,\u201d Hill said. \u201cBut we\u2019ve got to go to work. We\u2019ve got to be better. The 20 (Nemechek) was the class of the field all day. <\/p>\n

\u201cReally kind of stunk up the show there, so we\u2019ve got to go back to the drawing board, figure out what we\u2019ve got to do better for next time.\u201d <\/p>\n

Berry, Brett Moffitt, Derek Kraus, Joe Graf Jr. and Kaz Grala finished sixth through 10th, respectively.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner – John Hunter Nemechek (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/KS2NXSJohnHunterNemechek090923.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Kansas Lottery 300<\/b><\/p>\n

Kansas Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Kansas City, Kansas<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 9, 2023<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (7)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                2. (4)  Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                3. (16)  Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                4. (15)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                5. (9)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                6. (6)  Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                7. (10)  Brett Moffitt, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                8. (18)  Derek Kraus, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                9. (11)  Joe Graf Jr., Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                10. (31)  Kaz Grala, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                11. (26)  Parker Retzlaff #, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

               12. (17)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                13. (24)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                14. (20)  Connor Mosack, Toyota, 199.<\/p>\n

                15. (21)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                16. (37)  Mason Massey, Ford, 199.<\/p>\n

                17. (23)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                18. (1)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                19. (27)  Matt Mills(i), Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                20. (29)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 198.<\/p>\n

                21. (25)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                22. (38)  CJ McLaughlin, Ford, 198.<\/p>\n

                23. (8)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 198.<\/p>\n

                24. (36)  Joey Gase, Toyota, 198.<\/p>\n

                25. (34)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                26. (28)  Leland Honeyman, Ford, 197.<\/p>\n

                27. (32)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                28. (33)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                29. (22)  Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

                30. (14)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 196.<\/p>\n

                31. (30)  Nick Leitz(i), Ford, 194.<\/p>\n

                32. (12)  Chandler Smith #, Chevrolet, 186.<\/p>\n

                33. (35)  Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, Brakes, 140.<\/p>\n

                34. (5)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 120.<\/p>\n

                35. (2)  Sammy Smith #, Toyota, Accident, 97.<\/p>\n

                36. (3)  Cole Custer, Ford, Accident, 60.<\/p>\n

                37. (13)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, Accident, 20.<\/p>\n

                38. (19)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, Accident, 19.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  109.256 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 44 Mins, 45 Secs. Margin of Victory:  7.521 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  10 for 49 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  7 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Allgaier 1-40;J. Nemechek 41-48;C. Custer 49-51;J. Nemechek 52-78;S. Smith # 79;J. Nemechek 80-93;B. Jones 94-95;J. Nemechek 96-200.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  John Hunter Nemechek 4 times for 154 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 40 laps; Cole Custer 1 time for 3 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 2 laps; Sammy Smith # 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 20,00,7,9,18,48,21,2,98,11<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,18,7,8,21,2,48,11,31,25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2013 There were no mixed feelings on Parker Kligerman\u2019s part\u2014he was ecstatic that John Hunter Nemechek asserted absolute domination over the rest of the field in Saturday\u2019s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Nemechek\u2019s sixth victory of the season assured Kligerman, who finished a strong […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":43088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[447,213,16,181],"class_list":["post-43073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-john-hunter-nemechek","tag-kansas-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1670585171.jpg?fit=2463%2C1641","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bcJ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43073"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43098,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43073\/revisions\/43098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}