Explore the Pocono Mountains 225: JRM squabble allows Hill’s fourth win of the year

After a last lap fight with JRM’s Josh Berry and Sam Mayer, Austin Hill leaves Pocono Raceway with his fourth win of the 2023 campaign. 

Josh Berry sat on the pole for this race and appeared to be a dominant force in the early chapters of the race, leading all the laps and scoring the first stage win with a comfortable gap over Daniel Hemric in the #11. 

Stage One Results:

1. #8
2. #11
3. #20
4. #18
5. #2
6. #9
7. #1
8. #7
9. #19
10.  #21

Berry lined up next to Custer on the front row for the restart, with Berry reclaiming the top spot by the end of lap 26, closely pursued by teammate Justin Allgaier.

In the closing laps of the stage, many drivers pitted in an attempt to cycle to the front of the field by the start of the first stage. 

Justin Allgaier would try his hardest on the last lap to claim the lead from his teammate but to no avail, and Berry held to win the second stage.

Stage Two Results:

1. #8
2. #7
3. #20
4. #9
5. #00
6. #18
7. #1
8. #98
9. #11
10.  #16

Under the caution, the #8 came down pit road while the #7 stayed out, passing the lead of the race over to Allgaier for the first time in the race. 

The field lined up for green on lap 46 with Allgaier and Suarez in the #10 side by side, but the race would be thrust back under caution immediately for a wreck on the frontstretch. A stack up caused by the leaders older tires lead to the #20 of Nemechek and the #00 of Custer finding the wall. Both drivers were able to continue with the damage on their race cars.

The race resumed on lap  51 and the #7 took the lead from Suarez in turn 2, before losing it himself a few laps later to a hard charging Josh Berry on newer tires. 

Allgaier would pit on lap 57, with Berry following on lap 61, handing the lead over to Chase Elliott in the #17. Elliott would stay out for as long as possible before blinking and pitting for fuel, passing the lead over to Jones in the #9.

The caution would be thrown with 11 to go, as the #7 ran up on the slower #35 in turn 2, sending him spinning into the wall off of turn 2. 

Sam Mayer and Riley Herbst would both line up on the front row for the restart, but Berry was able to carve his way through the chaos and take the lead in turn 2, before another caution was thrown for Connor Mosack in the wall in the tunnel turn. 

The field lined up for overtime with the JRM duo of Berry and Mayer on the front row. Berry would drift up in turn 1, allowing Austin Hill in the #21 to get the lead. Berry would be fighting to reclaim the lead but on final lap contact with Mayer sent Berry into the wall in turn 2 with a flat tire. At the same time, Sieg spun, causing the race to end under caution. Hill would claim his second win of the year.

Sam Mayer would finish second, still trying to claim that first win in the Xfinity series. Chase Elliott would finish 3rd, Riley Herbst in 4th and Daniel Hemric took 5th place. 

Josh Berry’s 24th place finish would mean he became the second driver this weekend to sweep the stages at Pocono and not win, after Zane Smith did the same earlier that day. 

Featured Image Credits: RCRacing on Twitter