It's Friday Night fever at Charlotte Motor Speedway! Ryan Heuser enters the 500-mile event 45 points out, starting 23 positions ahead of points leader Ken Pettit. Both drivers have enjoyed success at this facility in the past, hoping to re-capture former glory at one of Extravaganza's oldest Superspeedways.

Race Results

Points Standings

Race Recap

Just six laps in, points leader Ken Pettit is involved in an accident on the backstretch. He and Michael Henson tangle, sending the Black + Decker Chevrolet 180+ miles-per-hour head-on into the retaining wall, in shades of Rod Weston last season. Henson would be taken out on a stretcher, but ultimately okay and ready to race again. Pettit suffered moderate front-end damage but continued on.

Pole-sitter Johnny Reed Foley led the first six green flag laps, handing the spot to Zach Michael after staying out. He was the only driver to do so, remaining on top through lap 18 before dropping to the back. Ryan Heuser earned his five bonus points early, leading through lap 27 while Pettit rode defiantly in the 44th position.

Quick-Silver Motorsports managed to lead every circuit from lap 19 to lap 73. Craig Lee and Dave Miller dominated the majority of the run, with Miller re-taking the spot on lap 78 after the respite of green flag stops. He would lap cars through 30th position, including the #8 Bob Marley machine by the lap 100 mark.

Dave Miller's car built an enormously tight condition throughout the run, getting re-passed by the cars he previously lapped. Off of turn-2, he let off to prevent hitting the outside wall and got clipped by the Aaron Cummings Toyota. Both cars flew into the inside backstretch wall and back onto the racing groove in front of the rest of the leaders. Second place Craig Lee slammed head-first into the #90, with Bink Lucas, Dalton Lucas, Dan Johnston, John Tharp, Bill Werkheiser and Adam Crapser all pile-driving into the roadblock ahead. Fifth-place Ryan Heuser hit the #51, sliding into the path of Kevin Corbat who flipped the #138 three times before coming to a stop. Points leader Ken Pettit drove by the accident on the outside in an ultimate "Lap of The Gods" miracle, earning his lap back in the process. David Butterworth, Ben Geer and Matt Raboin were also involved in the accident. Thirteen cars would fail to continue. Rick Jackson would inherit the lead, only to blow up heading to the restart.

Only 29 cars remained as the field took the green with exactly 200 laps remaining. John Battista looked to capitalize on the misfortune of the top-2 in points, leading the field to the green and leading the first two laps in search of his 8th victory of the season. Miracle-man William Perry took over from there, leading the next three  in only his third race led of the 2023.

Zakk Miller took the top-spot on lap 141, pulling ahead in a four-car breakaway with Perry, Jimmie Stevens and Johnny Reed Foley. The #3 AC-Delco Chevrolet took his first lead of the race since starting on the pole on lap 173. This would be his best chance to date to earn his first victory of the season.

While he and Miller swapped the top-spot multiple times late in the run, the #2 Ampio Mustang found his way to second-place before a debris caution with 149 laps to go. His pit crew would inherit him the top-spot, tugging the conga-line through lap 216 before a Zach Michael pass gave the #20 his second lead of the event. He and Tony Pizzaro would exchange the top-spot for the remainder of the green flag run.

A short-pit strategy by Randy Dobbins hoped to hand him the last victory of his remarkable career. He would lead 12 laps before Johnny Reed Foley flew past him with the fresher tires, with Michael and Pizzaro pitting later than both but not gaining ground. Pizzaro wound up tangling with John Tharp entering turn-3 to bring out the final caution flag.

A 23-lap dash for the victory saw Johnny Reed Foley up front as the green flag waved. He would hold off John Battista, Scott Jackson and Zach Michael, but an unbelievable charge from Alan Nesfeder brought him front 10th to second position with only 10 laps remaining. It was no use. The best set of tires the #78 crew received were at the perfect time, storming by racecar after racecar without a remnant of difficulty. He would pass Foley and pull away from the field for his first win since Pocono of last year.

It's been a fantastic season for Alan. 11th in points with 12 top-10 finishes and 356 laps led, currently leading the independent's in the 2023 points standings. A victory today puts him on the column to make the All-Star race once more, handing the Extravaganza Series their 14th different winner this year. Congrats to Alan, crew chief Barney Griswald and the entire Nesfeder Racing organization for an excellent victory!

2023 Bank of America 500 Video