2023 Ambetter Health 200
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 18 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | July 15, 2023 | ||
| Official name | 29th Annual Ambetter Health 200 | ||
| Location | New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.058 miles (1.703 km) | ||
| Distance | 206 laps, 218 mi (350 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 200 laps, 211 mi (340 km) | ||
| Average speed | 82.417 mph (132.637 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Kaulig Racing | ||
| Time | 30.159 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 137 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 20 | John Hunter Nemechek | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | USA | ||
| Announcers | Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | PRN | ||
The 2023 Ambetter Health 200 was the 18th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Loudon, New Hampshire at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a 1.058 miles (1.703 km) permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 200 laps, but was extended to 206 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would put on a dominating performance, leading a race-high 137 laps, and winning the race after leading when the caution came out on the final lap. This was Nemechek's sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his fourth of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Chandler Smith, driving for Kaulig Racing, and Austin Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Entry list
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire, which America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as the longest-running motorcycle race in North course, which includes much of the oval.
The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, July 14, at 5:05 PM EST, and would last for 20 minutes.[2] Sammy Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.834, and an average speed of 123.526 mph (198.796 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Sammy Smith (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.834 | 123.526 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 30.879 | 123.346 |
| 3 | 19 | Joe Graf Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.895 | 123.282 |
| Full practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, July 14, at 5:35 PM EST.[2] Since New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a mile oval, the qualifying system used is a single-car, one-lap system with only one round. In that round, whoever sets the fastest time will win the pole.[4] Chandler Smith, driving for Kaulig Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 30.159, and an average speed of 126.291 mph (203.246 km/h).[5]
