News
NO. 3 DEX IMAGING DALLARA/CHEVROLET
START – 1ST
FINISH – 2ND
POINTS – 5TH (-142)
RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet team ran a strong race in Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix for the second-consecutive year. As in 2022, he would bring home a second-place finish on a hot, humid Nashville afternoon. In what was nearly a carbon-copy of last year’s event for McLaughlin, the New Zealander won the NTT P1 Award with relative ease on Saturday afternoon and led the first 24 laps of the 80-lap event. An early caution flag on Lap 13 gave other competitors a chance to hit pit road and change their strategy, including the eventual race winner Kyle Kirkwood. This would ultimately be point in the race that would keep McLaughlin from winning his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of the year. Despite running some of the fastest laps of the entire race, McLaughlin could not overcome the track position gained by pitting and then running a long, green-flag stint by the No. 27 of Kirkwood. A late-race caution brought out the red flag to set up a three-lap dash to the finish, giving McLaughlin one more opportunity for victory but he was unable to make the final pass.
MCLAUGHLIN’S THOUGHTS: “I gave it my all. I tried my hardest for this team. Days like today I probably should’ve worn my cool suit, but I eat too many pies so it’s a bit heavy for me. The DEX Imaging Chevy was great and really proud of everyone. Another top-three and good for points. Bummed we didn’t get the win, but we ran best of the day, car-wise. I feel like this race is mine at some point. Hopefully next year we run for the Championship, and we win, and we win the Championship as well. There will be a huge part on Broadway. But anyways, I felt really good, and I’m very proud of everyone. Thankful for all the support of the Thirsty 3s. The pit stops were unreal and just really proud of the effort.”
