The Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway was a thrilling race that featured numerous strategic decisions, exciting moments, and a memorable finish. The race’s pivotal moment came when Tyler Reddick spun and brought out the caution flag with just 29 laps remaining, interrupting a battle for the lead between William Byron and Martin Truex Jr. The caution put Truex’s chances of winning at risk, as he had already used up his fresh sets of tires and had little chance of competing on used tires. Consequently, Truex fell out of the top 10 and finished in 11th place.
However, the caution brought Josh Berry, who had opted for an alternate tire strategy to gain track position, into contention for the win. Kyle Larson, who had been waiting for a chance to take the lead, seized the opportunity by capitalizing on a quick pit stop that allowed him to take the lead from Byron and Truex Jr. With those two out of the picture, Larson drove away from Berry over the final laps to win the race, his first win of the 2023 season and the 20th win of his Cup career.
Larson’s win was also notable for being the first Cup win for interim crew chief Kevin Meendering, who was filling in for Cliff Daniels, who was serving a four-race suspension for illegally modified hood louvers found in each Hendrick car at Phoenix. Despite the absence of Daniels, Larson’s pit crew executed flawlessly, which played a critical role in securing Larson’s victory.
Larson’s triumph was especially sweet, given that he had come close to winning in two previous races this season but had fallen short. Larson’s determination and skill were on full display as he overcame mid-race contact with Daniel Suarez’s car on pit road, which had altered the handling of Larson’s car for the worse. However, Larson persevered, and his pit crew helped him regain his focus, allowing him to execute his race plan to perfection and claim the checkered flag.
The Toyota Owners 400 was also a race that showcased the talents of substitute driver Josh Berry and interim crew chief Tom Gray, who were filling in for Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson, respectively. Both Elliott and Gustafson were indisposed, with Elliott nursing a leg injury and Gustafson serving a suspension. Despite the unusual circumstances, Berry and Gray rose to the occasion, running alternate strategies on long green flag runs throughout the day and electing to have Berry stay out for as long as he could on the last long run of the day in an effort to try and gain track position. The strategy paid off, as Berry was able to lead 10 laps and finish in second place, his best Cup finish to date.
Berry’s performance was a testament to his skill as a driver and his perseverance in pursuing his dreams of racing at the highest level. Just three years ago, Berry had been a driver who was enormously successful in late model short track racing but lacked the opportunity to showcase his talent against NASCAR’s best. However, after winning the 2020 NASCAR Weekly Series championship, longtime advocate and car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave Berry the chance to run a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2021, and he has since blossomed into a winning driver and championship contender at that level.
All in all, the Toyota Owners 400 was a race that will be remembered for its thrilling moments, strategic decisions, and memorable finish. The race showcased the talents of some of the best drivers and crews in the sport and proved that anything can happen in NASCAR, especially when circumstances align in a driver’s favor.
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NASCAR, Racing, Hendrick Motosports, Sport, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Richmond Raceway, Nascar Cup Series
