The stars in each of NASCAR's top three series gave a great showing of true racing this past weekend. All three national series held a race, two races at Gateway, one all the way out in Portland Oregon.
Grant Enfinger started off the weekend by winning the Toyota 200 at WWT Raceway. Enfinger captured his second win of 2023 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Ty Majeski was the pole sitter for the Toyota 200. Throughout the race, Majeski was the truck to beat. Majeski found himself racing for the lead, eventually spinning out in Stage 3. He collected Zane Smith with him as well.
Shortly after the Truck race, we went out west to watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series put on a show at the tricky road course. This race turned out to be a drama filled event, leaving many upset afterwards.
John Hunter Nemechek and Sheldon Creed were not friends throughout Saturday's NXS race. Nemechek appeared to run up the track, spinning out Sheldon Creed for the lead right at the end of Stage 2.
Nemechek successfully spun him out, but it did not matter as Cole Custer just beat him to the line to win the Stage.
Cole Custer was able to get back to John Hunter Nemechek, and spin Nemechek out the way in retaliation from being spun out earlier.
The drama was not yet over for Nemechek. In Stage 3, he found himself angry at his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Sammy Smith.
Sammy Smith wrecked the No. 20 of John Hunter Nemechek with 14 laps to go in the race. Nemechek shortly after appeared to try to get back at Smith, but unsuccessfully did so.
Both Joe Gibbs Racing drivers brought their Toyota's down pit road for repairs.
Cole Custer found himself winning another NASCAR Xfinity Series event. This is Custer's first win in the 2023 season and also Stewart-Haas Racing's first win of the 2023 season.
The most anticipated race of the weekend was the NASCAR Cup Series at WWT Raceway. After an exciting finish in 2022, fans were eager to see the stars of the sport duel it out again.
One major story of the day was Corey Lajoie and Carson Hocevar. Lajoie was filling in for suspended Chase Elliott, and Hocevar for Lajoie's ride.
Corey Lajoie struggled throughout the race in the No. 9 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet. Lajoie ran 20-30th most of the race, ending up finishing 21st.
Carson Hocevar ran a solid race in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet before a brake rotor failed, ending his day. Hocevar ran mid-pack, making his was up around 15th before the rotor failed.
Kyle Busch was the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Gateway. Busch has put together a very strong season, capturing his third win.
Busch has already tied the amount of races he won in his last two years at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023. Busch is a championship contender this year.