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By Matt Marr Christopher Bell started from the pole to start the first round of the playoffs. Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin started alongside him on the front row. On lap 34, Bell had a very slow pit stop under green and lost the lead. JGR had swapped the pit crews of Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell for the playoffs, so unfamiliarity may have played a role. Stage 1 ran caution-free, with Denny Hamlin taking the stage win just as Bubba Wallace spun off of turn four. After pit stops, Hamlin and Tyler Reddick led the field to start the second stage. The caution came out at lap 180 for a lack of visibility due to the inside track lights being turned off in turns three and four. The red flag was eventually thrown until they could get the lights turned on. Hamlin stayed up front to win Stage 2. Hamlin and Erik Jones brought the field to the green to start the final stage of the Southern 500. It was proving to be a dominant performance for the 11 team, but Hamlin had to pit with what he felt was a loose wheel, ending his chances of winning. Over the radio, Hamlin’s team noted that they couldn’t find evidence of anything loose, but the damage was done. With 37 laps remaining, several playoff contenders including Michael McDowell, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin got involved in a pile-up, bringing out the eighth caution of the night. With a hard-charging Tyler Reddick behind him, Kyle Larson managed to lead the final 30 laps to win the Cook Out Southern 500 - his first career win at Darlington. Cook Out Southern 500 top 5: 1. Kyle Larson 2. Tyler Reddick 3. Chris Buescher 4. William Byron 5. Ross Chastain Notables: 7. Bubba Wallace 10. Erik Jones 13. AJ Allmendinger 17. Carson Hocevar

By the Racing Refresh Staff This weekend, the 2023 playoffs kick off at Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500. If you missed this week's Racing Refresh Happy Hour - our weekly show which streams live on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, you missed our staff playoff predictions. Each member of our team filled out a bracket, as well as the StatChat Playoff Forecast Simulator Machine Extraordinaire (patent pending). Follow along with us in each round to see how we did! Administrator/Editor-in-Chief, Adam Carabine Head Columnist, Logan "Loganity" Morris Social Media Manager & Show Producer, Peyton Lohr Senior Open Wheel Writer, Collin Best Chief Motorsports Correspondent, Crystal Clay The Playoff Forecast Machine Tune into the race this weekend to see who will be the first to lock themselves into the Round of 12! And tune into our weekly show, Racing Refresh Happy Hour. It airs Wednesday evenings at 8:30pm ET.

Press Release | RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING WELCOME, N.C. (August 23, 2023) – Morgan & Morgan, America’s largest injury law firm, has signed a multi-year, multi-race agreement with Richard Childress Racing as part of an innovative partnership with both Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch. The agreement marks the first race team trial injury law firm partnership within the NASCAR Cup Series. “We’re thrilled to partner with Richard Childress Racing and support Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon in the coming years,” said Dan Morgan, managing partner of Morgan & Morgan. “Morgan & Morgan is dedicated to fighting and winning for the people, not the powerful, and RCR’s shared interests in giving back to the community and cause marketing further solidified this partnership. We can’t wait to see Kyle and Austin represent Morgan & Morgan on the track.” Morgan & Morgan will make their NASCAR Cup Series debut with 2018 Daytona 500 Champion Austin Dillon at the Cookout Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 3, 2023. The race will air live on USA beginning at 6 p.m. EST. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch is scheduled to race the No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 15, 2023. Morgan & Morgan will sponsor both drivers for more races to come in 2024. “Morgan & Morgan’s family focus, investment in technology, innovative approach to business and trustworthiness aligns well with Richard Childress Racing and the way we operate our race team,” said Richard Childress, chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “This is a first-of-its-kind partnership within the NASCAR Cup Series and we’re proud to be trailblazers in the personal injury law firm sponsorship category.” For more information and all that is going on at RCR, visit rcrracing.com.

Press Release | GMS RACING STATESVILLE, NC (August 23rd, 2023) – This morning, GMS Racing officials announced it will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2023 race season. GMS Fabrication, a separate entity which has operated alongside the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race team, will also close its doors following the championship race at Phoenix Raceway. "During the past nine years, GMS Racing has become one of the top teams in the Truck and ARCA Series garage. The people that made this happen have been the hard-working men and women at GMS Racing and GMS Fabrication. Every employee, new and old at GMS has always strived to be the very best,” said Maury Gallagher. “Without their effort and dedication, we would have never been able to win two Truck championships, three ARCA championships and 68 wins. Leadership is always critical in any success story. Since 2015, Mike Beam has been the catalyst of this race team’s success. Chevrolet and GM has also been critical to our success. With the combination of Chevrolet plus Mike at the helm, we became the team I always dreamed of owning. I can't thank Mike enough for all his leadership and hard work. We are looking to finish out this year on a high note and close our legacy in this era with another Truck Series championship." GMS Racing, or as it was formerly known as Gallagher Motorsports, was founded by entrepreneur and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, Maury Gallagher, in 2012. Initially competing in the ARCA Menards Series with Gallagher’s son, Spencer Gallagher, as the team’s primary driver, the team fielded the No. 23 as a tribute to Spencer Clark, a young driver from Las Vegas who tragically passed away at the beginning of his career in 2006. In 2013, the team grew to include part-time operations of a NCTS race team, in which Gallagher would compete in three races. In 2014, the then-renamed GMS Racing began full-time in the Truck Series, partnering with Joey Coulter. The team also expanded its ARCA program, fielding two cars for Spencer and Grant Enfinger. Enfinger won the first race at Berlin Raceway for Gallagher as Team Owner. Spencer finished the year by winning the season finale at Kansas Speedway. Enfinger would finish runner up in the points in his first full-time season competing in ARCA. 2015 would be a banner year for the race team, as Gallagher joined forces with one of the most respected names in motorsports, Mike Beam. Mike joined as Team President, a position he still holds today. He oversaw the race team and GMS Fabrication’s efforts. The year started off with a bang, as Ty Dillon won the team’s first pole award in the Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The team’s first truck win was soon in hand as Austin Dillion won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, solidifying their spot as a race-winning organization on a national level. Enfinger was on a tear in the ARCA Menards Series, winning a total of three poles and a division-high six races en route to winning the series championship, a remarkable feat for Beam and the crew members associated with GMS. Coming off the ARCA Menards Series championship, GMS Racing wanted more. In addition to the ARCA Series, GMS upped its game in its Truck efforts in 2016, fielding two full-time entries for Gallagher and Johnny Sauter, along with two part-time trucks split between several drivers. Race wins were plentiful that year, as Kyle Larson, Ben Kennedy, and Grant Enfinger would each score Truck Series victories. Sauter won three races of his own and captured the series championship, checking off a monumental accomplishment for the still relatively new race team. This would make it two championship seasons in a row for Beam and Gallagher, further emphasizing that this team was on the pathway to building a legacy. The 2017 season saw the team go full-time Xfinity Series racing with Spencer, in addition to a part-time second car. The Truck Series operations expanded yet again, this time making it three full-time entries with Sauter, Kaz Grala, and Justin Haley, along with a fourth truck that ran three times. Six wins would be earned by the team; one each by Grala and Chase Elliott, and four by Sauter, who fell one spot short of defending his title, finishing second overall. In 2018, Spencer Gallagher would earn both his and GMS Racing’s first Xfinity Series win at Talladega Superspeedway. Later that year he announced he was stepping away from driving to take on a managerial role within the team. It would be one of the organization’s most formidable years in the Truck Series, fielding four full-time trucks that combined to win 10 races. Six of those races were won by Sauter, three by Haley, and one by Timothy Peters. Sauter advanced to the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, ultimately finishing fourth in points. The following season in 2019 saw John Hunter Nemechek take over the reins of the GMS Xfinity Series car, finishing seventh in the points standings. The Truck Series operations would shrink to two full-time trucks driven by Sheldon Creed and Brett Moffitt, who won four races, along with an additional part-time truck. GMS started an ARCA East entry driven by Sam Mayer, who won four races on his way to the series championship in his rookie season. At the conclusion of 2019, the decision was made to exit the Xfinity Series and focus more on driver development in Trucks and ARCA. Arguably the most successful season throughout the team’s history was 2020. Its drivers combined to win 19 races across three series. The Truck Series fielded five full-time teams with drivers Creed, Moffitt, Zane Smith, and Tyler Ankrum competing for the championship, and a rotation of drivers in the fifth truck. This combination racked up 10 wins, five by Creed, two by Smith, one each by Moffitt, Chase Elliott and Sam Mayer. Heading into the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, GMS qualified for three of the four championship contenders places and finished the year with a remarkable 1-2-3 finish, led by Creed, who won the organization’s second Truck Series championship. Mayer continued to dominate the ARCA Menards Series East, boasting an unheard-of 80% win ratio with five wins in six races, cruising to the championship. He also won one time in ARCA West, driving a special paint scheme that honored the late Spencer Clark in front of Clark’s hometown Las Vegas. GMS Racing once again fielded five full-time trucks in 2021 for Creed, Smith, Ankrum, and Chase Purdy. The fifth was split by multiple drivers, coupled along with a part-time ARCA entry. The Truck team won a total of four races - Creed won three races while Smith brought home one checkered flag. Smith advanced to the final round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, finishing second in points. Daniel Dye won his first, and the team’s final ARCA win at Berlin Raceway, fittingly book-ending the team’s series wins at the same racetrack. Gallagher announced in late 2021 that he would field a NASCAR Cup Series in 2022, purchasing controlling interest in Richard Petty Motorsports. The new team, Petty GMS, began competing in 2022 in tandem with the Truck Series teams. Last year saw the team transition to two full-time trucks driven by Grant Enfinger and Jack Wood along with a full-time ARCA entry for Dye. Enfinger would win once that season, and Dye finished runner up in the ARCA championship and was named ARCA’s Rookie of the Year. He would later make the jump up to the Truck Series heading this season. 2022 was the finale for GMS Racing’s ARCA team. This season, GMS welcomed rookie drivers Dye and Rajah Caruth to its Truck Series roster in addition to Enfinger, returning to form and contending for wins throughout the year. Wins at Kansas Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway solidified Enfinger as one of the threats poised to win the 2023 Truck Series championship. The latest victory, win number 44 in the Truck Series, positioned the team as the overall winningest Chevrolet organization within the series. With six races remaining in the year, all three drivers will look to add fuel to the legacy of one of the most successful organizations in NCTS history. "I just want to start off by saying how grateful I am for Maury (Gallagher) and these incredible nine years at GMS Racing. A lot of people, including myself, have poured their hearts and souls into this organization to make it where it's at today. Our success wouldn't have been possible without the talented drivers, crew members, fabricators and administrators that have walked through our doors over the years,” responded Mike Beam. “I also want to thank Chevrolet. Chevrolet has been such a key partner of ours over our entire existence. They have been along for every success GMS has obtained and we couldn't have done it without their support. As for the rest of this year, we will continue business as usual and chase after a Championship in our final season." While the ending of an era with the closing of the race team is undeniably a difficult circumstance, bright futures lie ahead. Heading into 2024, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ Co-Owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson look to strengthen the team on all fronts with their NASCAR Cup Series efforts to become a force to be reckoned with for years to come. #WeAreGMS

Press Release | DARLINGTON RACEWAY DARLINGTON, S.C. (Aug. 22, 2023) – Darlington Raceway announced today that newly-elected NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Donnie Allison will be the Grand Marshal for the annual NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade as part of the Crown Royal presents Darlington Labor Day Race Weekend. “Donnie Allison is a legend in our sport, and we’re honored to have him be a part of this great tradition,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “His toughness and tenacity define the Too Tough to Tame spirit that embodies this race track and those who dare to challenge it each year.” A member of NASCAR’s famed “Alabama Gang” and an ambassador for the sport for more than 50 years, Allison never planned to be a race car driver. But when Donnie’s older brother, Bobby, made the claim that Donnie could never be a driver, well, Donnie set out to prove him – and anyone else – wrong. Like Bobby, Donnie got his start racing modifieds and worked his way to the top level of stock car racing. After winning the 1967 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Allison partnered with famed mechanic Banjo Matthews where he experienced his most success. In 1970, Allison won three races for Matthews, including the Coca-Cola 600. The following weekend he finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500, setting a record for best-combined finish in the two-race crossover that still stands today. But Allison might be best-known for his role in NASCAR’s most famous moment – his 1979 Daytona 500 fight with Cale Yarborough. An intense battle for the win ended with both drivers wrecked, scuffling in the infield. It all happened on the first nationally televised NASCAR race and made headlines across America. The publicity was instrumental to the growth of NASCAR and remains one of the defining moments in the sport’s history. “The fans have been so supportive through the years, and I can’t wait to see them all along the parade route,” said Allison. “Darlington Raceway holds a special place in my heart and the history of our sport. I’m proud to be associated with it.” The parade is Friday, Sept. 1, with the route beginning at Florence-Darlington Technical College and ending at the Track Too Tough to Tame. Beginning at 4 p.m., fans are invited to the Florence-Darlington Technical College staging area, where they can take photos with their favorite haulers while enjoying live music and food from local vendors. Allison will participate in a fan Q&A at 5 p.m., followed by an autograph session from 5:15-5:45 p.m. The haulers will depart Florence-Darlington Technical College at 6:00 p.m. and make their way to historic Darlington Raceway where they will load into the Cale Yarborough NASCAR Cup Series Garage. Racing action begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200. Then at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin in style with the Cook Out Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events. NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com .

Press Release | NASCAR, NETFLIX · Netflix is gearing up for a new sports documentary series that tracks the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and championship race this fall. · Filming has begun as drivers fight to secure their spot in the NASCAR Playoffs, which begins Sept. 3 at Darlington Raceway. The series will feature exclusive access to drivers and teams, bringing fans behind the scenes at and away from the track while exploring the physical and mental challenges of competing for a championship at the world’s highest level of stock car racing. · The Netflix sports series is set to premiere early 2024. · Format: 5x45 minute episodes · Production Company: Words + Pictures (Super League: The War for Football, and Countdown: Inspiration 4 Mission to Space) and NASCAR Studios · Executive Producers: Connor Schell and Libby Geist (both behind The Last Dance 30 for 30, OJ: Made in America) and Aaron Cohen of Words + Pictures; Ben Kennedy, Tim Clark, Matt Summers, Tally Hair of NASCAR Studios; Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NASCAR Hall of Famer) · Showrunners: Jackie Decker and Tim Mullen · This series joins Netflix's lineup of sports programming, including recent releases like Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Full Swing, Break Point, Untold, Quarterback and upcoming series following athletes in track and field, U.S. women’s soccer and rugby.

Press Release | RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING WELCOME, NC (August 17, 2023) – Richard Childress Racing announced today that Austin Hill has signed a multi-year extension to race for the organization’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program in the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The announcement was made during Thursday’s NASCAR Race Hub show on FOX Sports 1 alongside RCR vice president of competition Andy Petree. Hill, who is currently leading the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season championship point standings, has locked himself into the NASCAR Playoffs on the strength of four wins. “I’ve found a home at Richard Childress Racing and it’s an honor to be able to continue my career racing for one of the most successful organizations in the garage,” said Hill. “In looking at the next step of my career, I was presented with several opportunities, but it all came down to being surrounded by racers who want to win, believe in me, and will do their best to give me every opportunity to be successful. I want to thank Richard Childress and everyone at RCR and ECR Engines. I’m excited to race for wins and championships within the NASCAR Xfinity Series for years to come.” The Winston, Georgia, native first joined RCR in 2022 and has found success with the 54-year-old race team. Each of Hill’s six NASCAR Xfinity Series race wins have come under the RCR banner. He has earned a total of 24 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes over the past two seasons with crew chief Andy Street and the No. 21 team. “Austin Hill has set a benchmark for competitiveness within the garage and has proven to be a talented racer who wants to win,” said Richard Childress, chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re pleased that Austin has found success at RCR and are looking forward to competing for a championship in 2023, 2024, and beyond.” For more information, please visit rcrracing.com.

Press Release | DARLINGTON RACEWAY DARLINGTON, S.C. (Aug. 24, 2023) – As if the professionals of today weren’t exciting enough to watch, the NASCAR Youth Series presented by Cook Out will showcase the sport’s stars of tomorrow August 31st through September 3rd at Darlington Raceway. Drivers ages 5-16 will race in the Manheim parking lot outside of Turns 1 & 2 providing fans with even more action leading up to the 74th running of the Cook Out Southern 500. “We’re honored to welcome the NASCAR Youth Series to be a part of this historic weekend,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “At such an early age, with that amount of talent, these young racers are on their way to showing what it takes to compete at the Track Too Tough to Tame.” The NASCAR Youth Series presented by Cook Out is the sanctioning body for the quarter-midget racing division of the United States Auto Club (USAC). It is a family-oriented motorsport that involves children ages 5-16 racing in specially prepared cars. The cars, rules and safety procedures are designed specifically for kids. Quarter-midget racing is divided into 15 classes/divisions. Kids typically race on oval dirt, concrete or asphalt tracks approximately 1/20th of a mile long. A quarter-midget car is a scaled down version of an actual midget racer. The cars are built around a tubular frame and are fully suspended with springs or torsion bars and shocks. The bodies are fiberglass. The engines are single cylinder and are manufactured by Honda and Briggs & Stratton. With almost 60 NASCAR Youth Series-sanctioned clubs located all across the country, thousands of kids ages five and up, along with their families, participate in quarter-midget racing. Some notable NASCAR graduates of quarter midget racing include Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Justin Allgaier, Harrison Burton, Justin Haley, Daniel Dye and Todd Gilliland. For more information, visit www.nascaryouth.com. Racing on Darlington Raceway’s historic oval begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200. Then at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin in style with the Cook Out Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events. NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com.

Press Release | ROLEX 24 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 22, 2023) – Tickets are officially on-sale for the 2024 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the start of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Fans can kick off their new year and watch the twice-around-the-clock marathon as four different classes of sports cars battle it out around the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway. “Starting off our year with one of the biggest sports car events in motorsports is always such a pleasure for all of us at The World Center of Racing,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “As we near the final part of our racing season here at Daytona and look ahead towards 2024, we’re eager to have our loyal race fans join us for our first event of the new year with the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA.” This year’s Rolex 24 saw the debut of the WeatherTech Championship’s newest class, the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), with Meyer Shank Racing showcasing an action-packed performance for the GTP, driving their No. 60 Acura ARX-06 to victory over the rest of the field. The GTP class will return to in 2024 alongside the LMP2, GTD and GTD PRO classes, with another capacity grid expected at The World Center of Racing. Rolex 24 At DAYTONA race weekend begins on Thursday, Jan. 25 and continues throughout the weekend, with the highly anticipated 24-hour race running from Saturday, Jan. 27 to Sunday, Jan. 28. Fans can also catch the very first glimpse of the WeatherTech Championship on Jan. 19 – 21 in the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 and see drivers and their cutting-edge machines test their skills around the track as they prepare for the big race. Fans can purchase their tickets to the 2024 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Purchase of tickets to the Rolex 24 also includes admission to the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 as well.

Press Release | THE MILWAUKEE MILE WEST ALLIS, Wis. (Aug. 22, 2023) - Pure speed and skill contributed to Olympic hero Bonnie Blair’s amazing successes representing the United States in speed skating. This Sunday, Aug. 27, the four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Wisconsin resident will serve as the Grand Marshal and give the command to start the engines, akin to firing the starter’s pistol in speed skating, to begin the Clean Harbors 175 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at The Milwaukee Mile. “I’m thrilled and honored to participate in the excitement of having NASCAR back here in Milwaukee for Wisconsin NASCAR fans,” said Blair. “When things go fast on an oval and turn left here at State Fair Park, it seems fitting for me to be involved!” Blair, a member of the Wisconsin Hall of Fame and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, is the most decorated female U.S. Winter Olympian of all-time. She is married to four-time Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank and lives in the Milwaukee area. Between her philanthropic activities and motivational speaking engagements, you’ll often see Bonnie and Dave training athletes inside the Pettit National Ice Center adjacent to the Milwaukee Mile and the Wisconsin State Fair Park. “The Pettit National Ice Center is still a big part of my life. My husband and I are working on increasing the number of athletes in our sport with our “DASH” 5013c program that involves young kids all the way up to Olympic hopefuls,” the four-time Olympian said. Blair sped around the 400-meter oval inside the Pettit, still an official Olympic training facility, in preparation for her final Olympics in 1994, where she skated to Gold in both the 500 meter and 1,000-meter events. Now, sports fans can join her this Sunday to enjoy the pure speed of NASCAR racing on the historic one-mile oval next door. “Bonnie Blair is iconic,” said Loan Mansy, Clean Harbors’ president of environmental sales and service. “We wanted an iconic sports figure to kick off this iconic race. Bonnie’s been making America proud and representing the best of the Midwest for decades. With our local Milwaukee ties and Safety-Kleen’s long history in the region, including being founded in the city, there are some obvious parallels that made Bonnie the ideal choice as grand marshal to our race.” Clean Harbors is a top 20 private transportation fleet in the United States. Mansy, who was named a 2023 “Top Woman to Watch” by the Women In Trucking Association’s “Redefining the Road” magazine, will wave the green flag at the start of the race. In her amazing career, Blair earned gold medals in three straight Olympics, and a total of five gold medals and one bronze medal in 500-meter and 1,000-meter competition in the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. She’s also the 1986 short track skating world champion. “Bonnie Blair is a true sports hero,” said Mansy. This Sunday’s Clean Harbors 175 will be a test of pure speed and skill for the drivers racing in the NASCAR Playoffs, led by the leading NASCAR Playoffs driver from Seymour, Wis., Ty Majeski. Tickets and event information can be found by visiting www.MilwaukeeMileRacing.com. The Clean Harbors 175 from the Milwaukee Mile will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, August 27 beginning at 4 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.