2023 The Loop 121
The 2023 The Loop 121 was the 16th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was scheduled to be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, but after 25 laps, the race was postponed until Sunday, July 2, due to inclement weather. The race was held in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Street Course, a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) street course. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 55 laps, but was decreased to 25 laps (2 laps short of the typical point where the race could be called official) due to downpouring rain and standing water. Cole Custer, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, would lead all 25 laps of the race after starting from the pole, and earned his 12th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Justin Allgaier, driving for JR Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively. This was the first street race to be contested in the series.
Race details | |||
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Race 16 of 33 of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
Date | July 1–2, 2023 | ||
Official name | Inaugural The Loop 121 | ||
Location | Chicago Street Course in Chicago, Illinois | ||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | ||
Distance | 25 laps, 55 mi (88 km) | ||
Scheduled Distance | 55 laps, 121 mi (194 km) | ||
Average speed | 52.660 mph (84.748 km/h) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Stewart-Haas Racing | ||
Time | 1:30.421 | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | |
Laps | 25 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | USA | ||
Announcers | Rick Allen, Steve Letarte (booth), Mike Bagley (Turns 1 and 6), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Turn 4), and Jeff Burton (Turn 11) | ||
Radio in the United States | |||
Radio | MRN |