Former Extravaganza Series Champions Tim McDonnell and Rick Jackson come into Talladega with a top-3 starting spot, hoping to turn their uninspiring 2023 seasons around. Both are just inside the top-20 in the standings, with hard luck and a slight lack of speed the culprit for their moderate starts. With the plate on, these veterans are among the favorites to win their first race of 2023.

Race Results

Points Standings

Race Recap

John Battista leads the field to the green, looking to seize his first speedway victory of the season. A caravan led by Johnny Reed Foley and Matthew Dominique made their way to the front on lap 7, with Rick Jackson taking the lead on lap 10. 45 cars remained in the lead draft during the initial stages, with rookie Joe Polson the only driver to fall.

For three laps, the #44 and #138 battled two-abreast for the top-spot before draft help from Tim McDonnell gave Ryan Heuser the lead. He would remain there through lap 23, with John Battista and CFM teammates Johnny Reed Foley taking turns ahead of the three-wide action behind. In the back, Tony Long and Mark Heron would lose sight of the main pack.

The lap-50 mark ensured that drivers could make the finish on only three stops, going back to the 22-gallon fuel tank for the second straight season. Rick Jackson, Ryan Heuser, Michael Henson and Tim McDonnell came out of the pits in a four-car secession several seconds ahead of the field. Jackson and Heuser were able to pull away all by themselves, dominating the second green flag run in a four-second breakaway.

Logan Sheets helped lead the second pack to the leaders by lap 100. They were still in a 29-car mob as we headed for the second round of stops, still without a single caution flag. Connor Germain became the first casualty of the race with an engine explosion just before the halfway mark.

Michael Henson came out of the pits in the lead with former Shake N' Bake Racing teammate Johnny Reed Foley in tow. Henson has had a fantastic run over the last three races, finishing 14th or better during the short track stretch, jumping from 35th to 24th in the standings. Alex Crapser, Jimmie Stevens, Alan Nesfeder, Matthew Dominique, Adam Crapser, Zach Michael and  Ryan Heuser all took their turns up at the front, with no car able to remain there and help spread out the pack.

A miraculous three-wide move by rookie Chauncey Redmond Jr. put him atop the heap for the first time on lap 134. He would remain there for four laps before Nesfeder, Henson and points leader Tony Pizzaro took the lead with a convoy slipstream from Zach Michael on the inside. Michael and Pizzaro remained alongside for six laps before the final green flag stop.

A terrifying crash off of turn 4 sent Donald Stewart head-first into the outside wall in a devastating impact. Smoke protruded between the #55 and the wall, as Chauncey Redmond, Alex Crapser, Alan Nesfeder, William Perry and Rob Scarberry all skidded across the racetrack in severe dismay. The caution many drivers wanted finally flew out. Scarberry, Redmond and Stewart would tow to the garage.

Tony Pizzaro led the field to the green flag in a 38-lap dash to the finish. He and teammate Ken Pettit battled Dan Johnston and Michael Henson for the top-spot before a lapped traffic interlude put the #8 up front. Ken Pettit is looking for his first victory in over four years, showing up at the right time with an immaculate battle with Markell Murphy. Ironically, Murphy is attempting to continue a victory streak, winning exactly one race during the three seasons Pettit hasn't.

Markell Murphy and Adam Crapser were 1-2 with 10 laps remaining, with Crapser looking for his first career victory in over four full seasons. 2023 dominator John Battista flew by him just one lap later, with he and Murphy side-by-side for the top-spot. Battista would win that fight, with Murphy and the Race-2-Win teammates hard in battle for the second place spot.

Nobody could decide who wanted the runner-up position, keeping the battle alive while Battista powered ahead in dignified glory. John Battista would seemingly fly away from the other three and take the checkered flag, capturing his second career victory at Talladega and his third win the the last four races. He is easily in 2021 form, on pace for a double-digit victory season and up to third in the points standings. Congrats to John, crew chief Lew Money and the entire Lucas Racing organization for an excellent victory!

2023 DieHard 500 Video