2021 O'Reilly Auto Parts 253

2021 O'Reilly Auto Parts 253
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 2 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Date February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21)
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
3.570 mi (5.745 km)
Distance 70 laps, 252.7 mi (406.7 km)
Average speed 84.452 miles per hour (135.912 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 45
Winner
No. 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
Nielsen Ratings 4.750 million[7]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers
  • Dave Moody (Infield Section: Turns 2–6)
  • Kurt Becker (Turns 7–10)
  • Dan Hubbard (Turns 11–14)

The 2021 O'Reilly Auto Parts 253[8] was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on February 21, 2021 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Added as a replacement for the cancelled Auto Club 400 because of California restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race was scheduled for 70 laps on the 3.61-mile (5.81 km) road course, it was the second race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was lengthened from the 2020 schedule, where it was run at 65 laps of the course for 235 miles. It was classified as a 400-kilometer (250 mi) race in 2021, similar to the Charlotte and Road America road course races.[9]

At 84.452 miles per hour (135.912 km/h), it was the slowest Daytona race in NASCAR Cup Series history, although it was run on the road course, Christopher Bell scored his inaugural Cup Series win.

Le Mans Chicane issues

[edit]

During the Busch Clash, which had been held on the road course as planned in order to allow the current (sixth-generation) NASCAR Cup car to be used before the seventh-generation Cup car would have been launched in 2021 before a delay was announced because of developmental delays, track visibility issues came after a safety car situation was called on Lap 9 of the first segment of 15 laps with excessive mud and dirt at the exit of the Le Mans Chicane (the bus stop on the backstretch). The mud and dirt led to Kevin Harvick spinning early in the race, visibility issues, and later in the race, leader Martin Truex Jr. caused a safety car by crashing at the exit after overdriving the chicane and losing traction from the mud that had accumulated during the race.[10]

A social media post by Denny Hamlin confirmed on February 16 that additional work was being done in the bus stop kerbing, with officials planning to add "sausage kerbing" (also known as "turtles") to the Le Mans Chicane as used in the chicane before pit entrance (a temporary chicane in the skid pad exiting Turn 4) to prevent drivers from short-cutting the chicane and throwing mud on the circuit.[11] The right rumble strip is 36 feet (11 m) long while the left is 30 feet (9.1 m) long.[12]

Entry list

[edit]
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford
96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list

Starting Lineup

[edit]

Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race.[4] This is the first of 28 scheduled one-day races using the competition-based formula from the 2020 season that began with last year's road course race based on owner point standings (35%) and from the previous round, the car's fastest lap (15%) and finishing position (driver's for 25% and owner's for 25%; 41st position is used in the average if the driver or owner did not participate in the previous race).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
3 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
7 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
10 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
11 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
12 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
14 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
15 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
16 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
17 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
18 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
21 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
22 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
23 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
24 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
25 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
26 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
27 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
28 78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford
29 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
30 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
31 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
32 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
33 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
34 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
35 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
36 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
37 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
38 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
39 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
40 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
Official starting lineup

Race

[edit]

The seventy lap race was won by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell in a Toyota. A safety car period was called for rain which bunched the pack up, but the leaders changed onto dry tires rather than rain tires. Another caution period was called because Tyler Reddick's car caught fire. Bell claimed the lead when he overtook Joey Logano on the penultimate lap.[13] It was Bell's first Cup Series victory.[14] It was the first time since the 1950 NASCAR Grand National Series that a year's opening brace of races had maiden winners. Bell's teammate Hamlin finished in third behind Logano. Polesitter Elliott led most of the race but span after a collision with Kurt Busch and came 21st.[15] Busch finished fourth ahead of Brad Keselowski. Both drivers gained positions by not making additional pit stops. Before this, Busch had fallen down the order after he span while leading, while Keselowski had also made mistakes.[13] Harvick followed Keselowski, while A. J. Allmendinger took Kaulig Racing's best Cup Series result in seventh.[15] Michael McDowell, who had won the 2021 Daytona 500 a week prior, recovered from a lap one puncture to finish eighth. Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch were both in the top five in the final twenty laps, but Larson spun into a tire barrier coming out of turn 7 and finished 30th, while Busch's team made a strategic error and was involved in a minor crash with Chris Buescher, finishing 35th.[13]

Bell said he was "not overly shocked",[16] but felt that "to win the first road course of the year is quite surprising".[16] He also said that he "certainly knew we would be in contention or at least competitive today."[16] He expressed the view that road racing "showcases talent".[16]

The caution flag flown for rain during the last stage of the race was criticized as an "entertainment" caution, due to the surface being not being considered too wet to continue racing, as well as also altering the finish of the race preventing Elliott (who, alongside Kyle Busch, questioned the caution over the radio on NASCAR Race Hub's Radioactive segment, the show's team radio chatter highlights) from walking away easily with a win.[17] The race had been declared a dry race at the start. Had the start been declared a wet race (teams must start on rain tires), NASCAR would not call a safety car situation if it dries, and rains again. NASCAR changed rules in 2022 where, if a race was declared a dry race to start, a safety car is no longer automatically implemented when rain becomes an issue to prevent this situation.

Stage Results

[edit]

Stage One Laps: 16

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 9
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 7
5 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 6
6 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
9 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2
10 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 18

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 9
3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 8
4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 0
10 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

[edit]

Stage Three Laps: 36

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 12 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 70 47
2 11 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 70 52
3 4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 70 52
4 17 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 70 48
5 15 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 70 39
6 5 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 70 33
7 34 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 70 0
8 2 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 70 29
9 6 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 70 28
10 36 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 70 27
11 30 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 70 27
12 19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 70 35
13 13 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 70 27
14 37 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 70 23
15 27 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 70 22
16 35 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 70 21
17 26 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 70 20
18 16 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 70 19
19 38 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 70 0
20 33 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 70 17
21 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 70 31
22 31 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 70 15
23 39 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 70 14
24 20 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 70 0
25 21 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 70 0
26 10 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 70 11
27 25 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 70 0
28 28 78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford 70 9
29 40 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 70 0
30 8 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 70 12
31 7 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 70 6
32 18 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 70 5
33 22 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 69 8
34 3 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 69 6
35 14 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 69 3
36 23 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 68 1
37 32 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 65 1
38 24 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 58 1
39 9 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 26 1
40 29 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 3 1
Official race results

Race statistics

[edit]
  • Lead changes: 12 among 7 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 12
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 59 minutes and 32 seconds
  • Average speed: 84.452 miles per hour (135.912 km/h)

Media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Fox Sports televised the race in the United States on Fox. Mike Joy, six-time Daytona winner Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds

Radio

[edit]

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN Radio
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Mike Bagley
Driver Expert: Rusty Wallace
Turns 2–6 (Infield section): Dave Moody
Turns 7–10: Kurt Becker
Turns 11–14: Dan Hubbard
Steve Post
Jason Toy

Standings after the race

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Daytona International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  8. ^ "DAYTONA Road Course Weekend". Daytona International Speedway. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "Stage lengths for 2021 NASCAR season". Official Site of Nascar. NASCAR. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  10. ^ Bardley, Charles. "Truex: Daytona needs to "figure out" keeping chicane mud off track". Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com Network. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  11. ^ Hamlin, Denny. "Denny Hamlin on Twitter". Twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  12. ^ Utter, Jim (18 February 2021). "Daytona chicane undergoes changes after driver criticism". Autosport. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Nichol, Jake (22 February 2021). "Nascar Daytona road course: Bell passes Logano for first Cup win". Autosport. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Christopher Bell wins O'Reilly on Daytona infield road course". Reuters. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b Fryer, Jenna (22 February 2021). "Bell snags first Cup victory in another surprise Gibbs win". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d Nichol, Jake (22 February 2021). "Bell not "overly shocked" to claim first NASCAR Cup win". Autosport. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Does NASCAR have an entertainment caution problem?". 23 February 2021.


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