2011 Jeff Byrd 500

The 2011 Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on March 20, 2011 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 500 laps, it was the fourth race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The race was won by Kyle Busch, for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Carl Edwards finished second, and Jimmie Johnson clinched third.

2011 Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City
Race details[1][2][3]
Race 4 of 36 in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date March 20, 2011 (2011-03-20)
Official name The Jeff Byrd 400
Location Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Weather A few showers with a high around 68; wind out of the ESE at 6 mph.[4]
Pole position
Driver Roush Fenway Racing
Time 14.989
Most laps led
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 164
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

There were ten cautions and 17 lead changes among eight different drivers throughout the course of the race. It was Busch's first win of the 2011 season, and the 20th of his career.

Report

Background

Bristol Motor Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

As a tribute to the late president of the Speedway who died in 2010, longtime race title sponsor K-VA-T Food City, which celebrated the 20th year of race sponsorship in 2011 (as of 2013, the longest continuous sponsorship deal in NASCAR for a race), named the race in his memory, henceforth the Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City.[5]

The track, Bristol Motor Speedway, is one of five short tracks to hold NASCAR races, the others being Richmond International Raceway, Dover International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway.[6] The standard track at Bristol Motor Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.533 miles (0.858 km) long.[7] The track's turns are banked from twenty-four to thirty degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked from six to ten degrees. The back stretch also has banking from six to ten degrees.[7]

Carl Edwards scored the pole position.

Before the race, Tony Stewart was leading the Drivers' Championship with 113 points, tied with Kyle Busch in second. Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya followed in third and fourth with 106 points, three ahead of Ryan Newman and ten ahead of Paul Menard in fifth and sixth. Martin Truex, Jr. in seventh had 95, the same number of points as Denny Hamlin in eighth. They were one point ahead of A. J. Allmendinger in ninth, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was tenth with 91.[8] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Ford was leading with 21 points, three ahead of Toyota in second. Chevrolet was placed in third with 16 points, while Dodge followed with 11.[9] Jimmie Johnson was the race's defending winner from 2010.[10]

Practice and qualifying

Three practice sessions were held before the race; the first on Friday, which lasted 90 minutes. The second and third were both on Saturday afternoon, and lasted 45 minutes each.[11] Edwards was quickest with a time of 14.912 seconds in the first session, 0.076 seconds faster than Johnson.[12] Greg Biffle was just off Johnson's pace, followed by Kasey Kahne, Menard, and David Ragan. Kyle Busch was seventh, still within a second of Edwards' time.[12]

Forty-four cars were entered for qualifying,[13] but only forty-three could qualify for the race because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure. Edwards clinched the 9th pole position of his career, with a time of 14.989 seconds.[14] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Biffle.[14] Regan Smith qualified third, Menard took fourth, and Ragan started fifth.[14] Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Truex, Mark Martin and Kahne rounded out the top ten.[14] The driver that failed to qualify for the race was Ken Schrader.[14] Once the qualifying session concluded, Edwards stated, "I'm enjoying this. I'm having fun. I'm hoping it lasts, and I'm going to keep driving the way I'm driving until we win a championship, or this car won't go as fast."[15]

In the second practice session, Stewart was fastest with a time of 15.364 seconds, more than six hundredths of a second quicker than second-placed Reutimann. Martin took third place, ahead of Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton.[16] In the third and final practice, Martin was quickest with a time of 15.472 seconds. Brian Vickers followed in second, ahead of Hamlin and Joey Logano. Stewart, who was first in the second practice, was fifth quickest, with a time of 15.570 seconds. Montoya, Gordon, Truex, Menard, and Kurt Busch rounded out the first ten positions.[17]

Race

Kyle Busch won the race.

The race, the fourth of the season, began at 1:00 p.m. EDT and was televised live in the United States on Fox.[1] The conditions on the grid were dry before the race, the air temperature at 60 °F (16 °C); mostly cloudy skies were expected.[18] Mike Rife, reverend of the Vansant Church of Christ, began pre-race ceremonies with the invocation. Actor and country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus performed the national anthem, while Claudia Byrd, Christian Byrd and Belton Caldwell gave the command for drivers to start their engines.[18]

Results

Qualifying

No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed Grid
99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord14.989128.0141
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord15.035127.6222
78Regan SmithFurniture Row RacingChevrolet15.040127.5803
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.045127.5374
6David RaganRoush Fenway RacingFord15.055127.4535
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.059127.4196
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.076127.2757
56Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota15.104127.0398
5Mark MartinHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.108127.0069
4Kasey KahneRed Bull Racing TeamToyota15.115126.94710
17Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord15.121126.89611
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota15.123126.88012
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet15.129126.82913
9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord15.131126.81214
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.150126.65415
47Bobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingToyota15.152126.63716
31Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.171126.47817
20Joey LoganoJoe Gibbs RacingToyota15.171126.47818
21Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord15.174126.45319
22Kurt BuschPenske RacingDodge15.181126.39520
39Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet15.181126.39521
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.191126.31222
2Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingDodge15.215126.11223
1Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet15.216126.10424
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota15.219126.07925
00David ReutimannMichael Waltrip RacingToyota15.228126.00526
33Clint BowyerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.233125.96327
43A. J. AllmendingerRichard Petty MotorsportsFord15.257125.76528
34David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord15.258125.75729
83Brian VickersRed Bull Racing TeamToyota15.276125.60930
09Bill ElliottPhoenix RacingChevrolet15.325125.20731
60Landon CassillGermain RacingToyota15.336125.11732
7Robby GordonRobby Gordon MotorsportsToyota15.371124.83233
87Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsToyota15.414124.48434
38Travis KvapilFront Row MotorsportsFord15.436124.30735
42Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet15.437124.29936
36Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15.462124.09837
46J. J. YeleyWhitney MotorsportsChevrolet15.473124.01038
66Michael McDowellHP RacingToyota15.475123.99339
92Dennis SetzerK-Automotive MotorsportsDodge15.565123.27740
37Tony RainesFront Row MotorsportsFord15.61615.61641
71Andy LallyTRG MotorsportsChevrolet15.869120.91542
13Casey MearsGermain RacingToyota15.610122.92143
Failed to Qualify
32Ken SchraderFAS Lane RacingFord15.660122.529

Race results

Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Points
11218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50047
2199Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord50043
3648Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50043
41117Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord50040
5427Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50040
61529Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50039
72022Kurt BuschPenske RacingDodge50037
8216Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50036
9104Kasey KahneRed Bull Racing TeamToyota50035
102139Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50035
112288Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50033
1295Mark MartinHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50032
131647Bobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingToyota50031
14724Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50030
15149Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50029
1656David RaganRoush Fenway RacingFord50028
17856Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota50028
18232Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingDodge50026
191314Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50025
201731Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49824
21241Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet49823
22378Regan SmithFurniture Row RacingChevrolet49822
231820Joey LoganoJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49721
243642Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet49720
253736Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet49719
263538Travis KvapilFront Row MotorsportsFord4960
272934David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord49518
284137Tony RainesFront Row MotorsportsFord49416
293109Bill ElliottPhoenix RacingChevrolet49315
302600David ReutimannMichael Waltrip RacingToyota49314
312843A. J. AllmendingerRichard Petty MotorsportsFord49313
324271Andy LallyTRG MotorsportsFord49112
332511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48811
341921Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord4820
352733Clint BowyerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4569
363083Brian VickersRed Bull Racing TeamToyota4418
374313Casey MearsGermain RacingToyota4277
384092Dennis SetzerK-Automotive MotorsportsChevrolet3360
39337Robby GordonRobby Gordon MotorsportsDodge1275
403846J. J. YeleyWhitney MotorsportsFord974
413487Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsToyota720
423260Landon CassillGermain RacingToyota360
433966Michael McDowellHP RacingToyota351
Source:[3][21]

Standings after the race

Kurt Busch led the point standings after the race with a total of 150 (pictured in 2015).
Drivers' Championship standings[22]
Pos Driver Points
1 Kurt Busch 150
2 Carl Edwards 149
3 Tony Stewart 138
4 Ryan Newman 138
5 Paul Menard 136
Manufacturers' Championship standings[23]
Pos Manufacturer Points
1 Ford 27
2 Toyota 25
3 Chevrolet 22
4 Dodge 14
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for the driver standings.

References

  1. "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  2. "Edwards claims Bristol Cup pole". inRacing. March 18, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
  3. "2011 Official Race Results: Jeff Byrd 500". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011.
  4. "The Jeff Byrd 500". Rotoworld. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  5. Hinton, Ed (March 19, 2011). "Jeff Byrd 500 a fitting tribute to the man". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  6. "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  7. "NASCAR Tracks—The Bristol Motor Speedway". Bristol Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  8. "2011 Official Drivers' Standings: Kobalt Tools 400". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  9. "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site – 2011 Manufacturers Championship Standings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  10. "2010 Food City 500". Racing-reference. Yardbarker. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  11. "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site – Sprint Cup Race Info / Rundown Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  12. "Practice One Speeds". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  13. "Qualifying Entry List". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  14. "Race Lineup: Jeff Byrd 500". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  15. "Edwards lights up Bristol with sub-15-second pole". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
  16. "Practice Two Speeds". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  17. "Practice Three Speeds". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  18. "Lap-by-Lap: Bristol". NASCAR. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  19. "Lineup Statistics". Motor Racing Network. International Speedway Corporation. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  20. "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site — Bristol Sprint Cup Qualifying Order/Results, Lineup". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  21. "Jeff Byrd 500 Race Results". Motor Racing Network. International Speedway Corporation. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  22. "2011 Official Driver Standings: Jeff Byrd 500". NASCAR. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
  23. "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site – 2011 Manufacturers Championship Standings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
Previous race:
2011 Kobalt Tools 400
Sprint Cup Series
2011 season
Next race:
2011 Auto Club 400
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