Driving the #20 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, John Hunter Nemechek earned his third NASCAR Xfinity Series win in Sunday’s Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway.
Nemechek, who narrowly missed out on victory in the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona, led a career-high 49 laps at ACS. He emerged victorious in a hand-to-hand battle as he took the lead for the final time after a restart on lap 139 of 150 and held off Sam Mayer until he took the checkered flag.
The 25-year-old marked his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory after beating Mayer by 0.761 seconds in an action-packed race.
Speaking to the media after the race, John Hunter Nemechek praised his entire #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team, saying:
“Man, this whole team of 20 gave me a great race car. Just a big thank you to all the guys that work on this 20 team.”
He continued:
“I think a lot of guys were skeptical that (crew chief) Ben (Beshore) would come from the Cup Series, and having him in the box and being able to build the relationship that I have with him, it’s been amazing. I’ve worked with a lot of the guys on the team over the years, and the pit crew – they did it when he counted tonight.”
Meanwhile, Mayer scored the second P2 of his career. He was followed by Justin Allgaier in third, Chandler Smith in fourth and Josh Berry rounded out the top five.
Cole Custer, the event’s defending champion, may have the fastest car on Sunday night. He won the first two stages, but finished P27 after suffering a puncture and hitting a wall on lap 91.
Where did John Hunter Nemechek and other drivers end up in the second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Auto Club Speedway?
Here are the final results of the 2023 NASCAR Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway:
- John Hunter Nemecheck
- sam mayer
- Justin Allgaier
- chandler smith
- jose berry
- austin hill
- Riley Herbst
- austin dillon
- Brett Moffitt
- parker kligerman
- Joe Graf Jr.
- daniel hemric
- kaz graka
- ryan siege
- kyle siege
- joseph williams
- anthony alfredo
- jeremy clementes
- sammy smith
- parker retzlaff
- Raja Caruth
- jeb burton
- sheldon creed
- ross chastain
- Brennan Poole
- jeffrey earnhardt
- cole custer
- Alex Labbe
- joey gase
- Bayley Currey
- Blaine Perkins
- Timmy’s Hill
- brandon jones
- ryan ellis
- david star
- tyler reddick
- C.J. McLaughlin
- gray galvanized
The NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule will return next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 4.