Roulette Recap follows a randomly selected driver throughout a race and recaps their efforts. The driver could face calamity on lap one or start from the rear and win the race – there is no telling ahead of time. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship
Parker Retzlaff entered the NASCAR Xfinity Series finale following a big week. First, he clocked a top-10 finish at a chaotic Martinsville Speedway, then he announced he would be returning to Jordan Anderson Racing in 2024.
This all followed a stand-out season for the 20-year-old driver in his first full time NXS season. Retzlaff headed into Phoenix Raceway having scored seven top-10 finishes, which began with a top five at Daytona International Speedway. Additionally, he completed 95.8% of laps in the 2023 season.
In the Friday practice session, Retzlaff was feeling pretty good about his No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro and sat P11. He solidified that feeling with a P14 qualifying effort for the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
Once strapped in and ready to battle one last time, Retzlaff said, “It’s the final one. Thank you guys for everything.”
Crew chief Josh Graham replied, “You’ve learned a lot. Let’s put it all together.”
Team owner Jordan Anderson jumped on the radio to thank the No. 31 team for all their hard work throughout the season noting, “It’s been a pleasure!”
Stage 1
When the green flag waved, drivers immediately took to every inch of real estate. Retzlaff moved to P11 and was sitting three-wide.
However, before he could settle in, Lap 3 saw the first caution. Championship contenders John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Allgaier got into each other. Retzlaff made slight contact with a neighboring car but did not feel like anything was amiss.
For the Lap 8 restart, Retzlaff would lineup P12 on the outside line. Before anything could happen, the caution waved again. This time, for the No. 38 of Kyle Sieg as he wrecked on the restart.
After restarting P12 on Lap 13, Daniel Hemric and Kaz Grala got into each other right next to Retzlaff. Fortunately, other than tire smoke from the No. 10, all was good. And as Hemric took to pit road under green, Retzlaff ran P11.
Lap 18 saw the JAR driver hit the top 10 and spotter Chris Osborne said, “Nice job. Don’t overdrive it.” Two laps later, The No. 9 of Brandon Jones took over P10.
Graham noted, “Carrying too much entry speed.” Osborne relayed the messaged and encouraged Retzlaff to learn from Jones, as the No. 9 was the fastest car on track at the time.
On Lap 26, ahead of any pit stops, Retzlaff noted he was free in the corners. A lap later, he lost P11 to the No. 7 of Justin Allgaier who was on fresher tires after the early spin and a pit stop.
With 14 to go in the opening stage, he sat P13, just hanging on until he could pit. He radioed in with his displeasure regarding his car. Osborne worked to encourage and calm his driver, stating, “They’ll work on it in about 11 laps.”
After a crazy start to the stage, it ended calmly with Retzlaff in P14.
When asked for an update, Retzlaff noted, “I’m just free through the entire corner. It’s a complete 180 from yesterday.”
Stage 2
Graham brought Retzlaff to pit road for adjustments, fuel, and fresh tires. He apologized for the “crappy” car and Retzlaff said, “I ain’t worried. It’s still early.” Following the adjustments, Retzlaff returned to the track to start the second stage in P17 on Lap 53.
After fanning out, Retzlaff got stuck in the middle of three cars, but it was cleared out by the next lap. After drivers settled in, he was sitting P19. Then, it was all eyes forward as he worked to determine the handling of his car after the much-needed adjustments. He gained two spots by Lap 57.
When Retzlaff took Lap 65, it seemed his car had finally found what it needed. He took P17 from Grala and Graham noted he was “two-tenths quicker” than his previous laps. However, just as fast as he took P17, he lost it.
As he fell to P19, it appeared his car had not found what it needed.
With five to go, the No. 11 of Derek Kraus hit the fence in Turn 2, bringing out the caution. This incident would ultimately end the stage.
Sitting P20, Retzlaff said, “I’m giving it everything I have. Once I’m off the brake, it’s just sideways.”
Stage 3
Following a lengthy stop with massive adjustments, Retzlaff returned to the track in P26 for the start of Stage 3 (Lap 96). For kicks, the No. 31 team opted to try the bottom lane for the first time in this race.
After battling a three-wide situation, Retzlaff had neither lost nor gained any spots. The field stretched out within two laps and he set to work with his game plan in hand.
Unfortunately, as soon as he gained three spots, the caution waved as the No. 08 of JJ Yeley was spun out.
The team agreed the car was looking better and Retzlaff stated he wanted to stay on track. Graham said, “Okay then. We’ll restart P23. Our race starts right now and we’re going forward.”
After a lengthy caution, the restart came on Lap 110 and Osborne noted, “You’ve got your hot rod back. Let’s make some forward progress.”
Retzlaff initially lost a spot, but with 89 to go, he worked his way to P22. He jumped ahead of the No. 78 of Anthony Alfredo and claimed P21. Hemric came barreling through with fresher tires, and Retzlaff fell to P22. However, Osborne encouraged his young driver, “You’re driving away from the 78. You’re doing a good job. Stay after it.”
Soon after, a very frustrated Retzlaff radioed from P23 in to update on the handling of his machine. With 72 to go, Osborne tried to encourage him, saying, “We’ll work on it soon.”
A much-needed caution came with 64 to go as Myatt Snider wheel hopped and slammed the wall in Turn 4. This allowed Retzlaff to gain one spot before hitting pit road.
With 58 to go, Retzlaff lined up P23. On a very chaotic restart, he gained two spots and and set sail. Five laps later, Retzlaff broke out of the top 20 and was encouraged by his crew chief, “That last lap was really good.”
Within another lap, he had gained another spot. He worked his way to P17 until 47 laps remained when Moffitt got around him. Osborne said, “Get back in your rhythm and follow that 25 up through there.”
He settled in at P18 and worked on learning in the final 30 laps.
With 18 to go, a caution came as Connor Mosack slammed the wall. Retzlaff informed his team he was still “snapping loose” and that he had “tried everything” inside the cockpit to help. Graham asked if anything had helped. Retzlaff said, “That was the best run all day.”
However, the No. 31 team remained baffled at how differently the car ran from the day before.
Retzlaff came to pit road from P18 for his final pit stop of the season. He returned to the track in P19 with 12 to go.
Graham said, “Alright, buddy. Last restart of the year. Give it everything you got. It’s all forward.”
Retzlaff accepted the challenge, “I got you.”
Despite sparks flying throughout the field, drivers made it through the restart cleanly and Retzlaff gained a spot.
With five to go, Alfredo spun out. Retzlaff gained a spot and immediately yelled, “I’m SO tight! I’m giving you everything I got.”
Graham could not believe his ears and asked for confirmation that the car was indeed tight and not loose as Retzlaff had been saying all race. After weighing his options, Graham kept his driver on track and said, “Just keep fighting for me.”
Facing NASCAR Overtime, Retzlaff lined up P17. Amazingly, it only took one overtime attempt to see the checkered flag and Retzlaff brought his No. 31 FunkAway Chevy Camaro home P13.
One last round of thank yous were exchanged over the radio and the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season came to a close.
Sponsor Shoutout
As NASCAR fans know, sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to FunkAway, Ponsse, and FVP who were each a huge part of the weekend, and season, for Parker and the No. 31 JAR team.
Be sure to give Parker Retzlaff (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Jordan Anderson Racing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
