2014 Auto Club 400

The 2014 Auto Club 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on March 23, 2014, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Contested over 206 laps on the 2 miles (3.2 km) asphalt D-shaped oval – extended from 200 laps due to a green–white–checker finish – it was the fifth race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kyle Busch won the race, his first win of the season, while Kyle Larson finished as the highest rookie in second, while Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. Behind Larson, the top rookies in the race were Austin Dillon in 11th, and Cole Whitt in 18th.

2014 Auto Club 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 5 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date March 23, 2014 (2014-03-23)
Location Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California
Course Permanent racing facility
2.000 mi (3.219 km)
Distance 206 laps, 412 mi (663.050 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.738 km)
Weather Clear with a temperature around 73 °F (23 °C); wind out of the SW at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h).
Average speed 132.987 mph (214.022 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 38.438 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 104
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox & MRN
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds (Television)
Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle (Booth)
Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Dan Hubbard (3 & 4) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 4.4/10 (Final)
4.2/9 (Overnight)
7.1 Million viewers[11]

Previous week's race

Just as the field was being lined up to restart the Food City 500, rain started to fall once again. After 503 laps, a two-hour delay to start the race, a three-hour delay at the quarter mark and multiple rain showers, NASCAR called the end of the race and Carl Edwards took the victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.[12] Edwards described his race as "awesome", after troubles on the previous day, stating that his car was "terrible on Saturday, so I'm just glad we turned it around".[12] Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. scored his best career finish with a runner up spot,[12] stating that he had "a lot of fun" and that his team was "just slowly working and getting better and better", as he continued to improve results in his first full season in the Sprint Cup.[12] Aric Almirola also scored his best career finish, at the time of the race, in third place.[12]

Report

Background

Auto Club Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

The track, Auto Club Speedway, is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[13] The track's turns are banked from fourteen degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at eleven degrees. Unlike the front stretch, the backstraightaway is banked at three degrees.[13] The track has a seating capacity of 92,100 people.[13] The race consisted of 200 laps, equivalent to a race distance of 400 miles (640 km).[13] The defending race winner was Kyle Busch.

Entry list

The entry list for the Auto Club 400 was released on Tuesday, March 18 at 1:49 p.m. Eastern time. Forty-three cars were entered for the race which meant no one would fail to qualify.

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad Keselowski (PC2)Team PenskeFord
3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony Stewart (PC3)Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
16Greg BiffleRoush-Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush-Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt Kenseth (PC5)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota
24Jeff Gordon (PC6)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
26Cole Whitt (R)Swan RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord
33Brian Scott (i)Circle SportChevrolet
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
35David ReutimannFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
40Landon Cassill (i)Circle SportChevrolet
41Kurt Busch (PC4)Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie Johnson (PC1)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet
55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
66Joe Nemechek (i)Michael Waltrip RacingToyota
78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet
99Carl EdwardsRoush-Fenway RacingFord
Official entry list
Key Meaning
(R) Rookie
(i) Ineligible for points
(PC#) Past champions provisional

Practice

First practice

Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 38.163 and a speed of 188.664 mph (303.625 km/h). Landon Cassill wrecked his primary car during the session and was forced to roll out the backup car. Because this change took place prior to qualifying, he did not have to start from the rear of the field.

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.163188.664
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.194188.511
3 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota38.344187.774
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Matt Kenseth scored the pole position.

Matt Kenseth won the pole with a time of 38.438 and a speed of 187.315 mph (301.454 km/h).[14] Kenseth praised the performance of his Joe Gibbs Racing team and their qualifying setup, stating that "they gave me the car and really all I did was not mess it up".[14] Joining Kenseth on the front row was Brad Keselowski, who noted a change in tire performance compared to qualifying sessions earlier in the season. He stated that Auto Club Speedway was "probably the first qualifying effort where the cars have gone slower in the last round with the tire fall off playing a factor in that. So, each week is different as far as what it is going to take to make it through all three rounds. I think that is part of the interest and the challenge for us as teams and drivers". He also noted a potential for unpredictability, stating that there was an "infinite amount of variables and teams that can dial that in the best are the ones that will be up front. So far we have been able to do that which I think is a strong statement for our team".[14] Jeff Gordon, who qualified sixth, stated that the tires were unpredictable, adding that "you're having to keep the same set of tires on the car and guess which direction it is going to go".[14]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota38.41838.42338.438
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord38.91338.72538.481
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.30638.61838.516
4 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet38.30338.70138.523
5 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota38.56838.62538.614
6 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.42638.39738.630
7 22Joey Logano[A 1]Team PenskeFord38.91338.72538.681
8 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord38.82438.76838.707
9 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord38.77338.64338.735
10 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet38.73938.72338.753
11 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet38.83938.55938.757
12 78Martin Truex, Jr.[A 1]Furniture Row RacingChevrolet38.60238.80838.767
13 11Denny Hamlin[A 2]Joe Gibbs RacingToyota38.82538.851
14 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota39.01238.853
15 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.94338.858
16 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet38.86838.875
17 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet38.68538.884
18 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingToyota38.86238.979
19 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota38.73939.020
20 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet39.00139.139
21 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord38.99239.140
22 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord38.97839.160
23 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet38.94439.239
24 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord38.8990.000[A 3]
25 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet39.019
26 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet39.062
27 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet39.067
28 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet39.134
29 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord39.147
30 27Matt Crafton[A 4]Richard Childress RacingChevrolet39.207
31 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet39.220
32 30Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota39.362
33 35David ReutimannFront Row MotorsportsToyota39.513
34 26Cole Whitt (R)Swan RacingToyota39.664
35 32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord39.668
36 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet39.699
37 33Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet39.725
38 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet39.766
39 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota39.854
40 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota39.854
41 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord39.937
42 66Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota39.998
43 40Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet0.000[A 5]
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 38.706 and a speed of 186.018 mph (299.367 km/h). Martin Truex, Jr. hit the wall in turn 1 after his car cut down the left-rear tire, and this necessitated the rolling out of his backup car. Because this was a post-qualifying change, he was forced to start from the rear.[15]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet38.706186.018
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.777185.677
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord38.789185.620
Official second practice results

Final practice

Brian Vickers was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 38.725 and a speed of 185.926 mph (299.219 km/h). Joey Logano hit the wall in turn 2 after cutting down the left-rear tire. Like Truex, he was forced to start at the rear.[15] Logano put the issue down to a combination of air pressure and car setup.[15]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota38.725185.926
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.743185.840
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet38.965184.781
Official final practice results

Race

Driver change

The night before the race, Denny Hamlin went to the infield care center at Auto Club Speedway due to an irritation in his eye. The irritation continued overnight, and it was reported at the time that he had a sinus infection. After being referred to a local hospital, the cause of the irritation was discovered to be a small piece of metal in his eye.[16] J. D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Hamlin would not start the race less than an hour before the start.[17] Sam Hornish, Jr., who was on standby for Matt Kenseth in the previous day's Nationwide Series race, drove the No. 11 car in his place.[17]

Start

The race started at 3:16 p.m. Eastern time with Kenseth leading the field to the green flag. He was passed by Brad Keselowski on the first lap. The first caution of the race flew on lap 19 after Kevin Harvick cut down his right-rear tire on the front stretch. Jeff Gordon exited pit road third, but was caught speeding and had to restart from the rear. David Ragan stayed out when Keselowski pitted to lead a lap before pitting. The race restarted on lap 24 with Keselowski leading the way, but Kyle Busch soon passed him for the lead. Keselowski retook the lead on lap 27, and held the lead until the second caution of the race flew on lap 43 after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. cut down the left-front tire and scraped the wall in Turn 1. Jimmie Johnson exited pit road first and assumed the lead for the restart on lap 48.

The third caution of the race flew on lap 57 after Tony Stewart spun out exiting turn 2. Clint Bowyer stayed out when Johnson pitted, believing that the light at the entrance to pit road to be red. Gordon and Keselowski did likewise, but Bowyer and Gordon pitted the following lap. The race restarted on lap 61 and Johnson had no trouble passing Keselowski for the lead with four new tires. The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 70 after Brian Scott got into Aric Almirola and sent them both spinning into the infield grass just past the entrance of pit road. Almirola had to back off the throttle when his forward progress was interrupted by Hornish. Scott was moving to the top of the race track and was caught by surprise. Upon being released from the infield care center, Almirola frankly stated that Scott was "out there having fun because his daddy gets to pay for it". Ryan Newman stayed out and took the lead.

Halfway

Kyle Busch won the race.

The race restarted on lap 75 and just like the previous restart, Kenseth had no trouble passing Newman with four new tires. Johnson retook the lead on lap 84, just before the fifth caution of the race flew on lap 86 after Parker Kligerman got loose and backed into the Turn 3 wall. Johnson and Kenseth swapped the lead on pit road, and Kenseth exited the leader. The race restarted on lap 91 and Johnson did not take long to pass Kenseth for the lead. Gordon took the race lead for the first time on lap 106, holding the lead to the sixth caution of the race, which flew on lap 118 after Carl Edwards cut down his left-rear tire and spun out in turn 2. Kenseth won the race off pit road and assumed the lead for the restart on lap 123. Johnson took back the lead on lap 127. Harvick was running third when he had another cut tire, this time the left-rear, with 63 laps to go.

Tire blowouts

Debris in turn 3 brought out the seventh caution of the race with 60 laps to go; Johnson and Gordon swapped the lead on pit road, but Johnson exited first, and the led the field to the restart, with 52 laps to go. The eighth caution of the race flew with 34 laps to go after David Gilliland rear-ended the wall in turn 4. Just like the previous pit cycle, Johnson and Gordon swapped the lead on pit road, and Johnson once again led off pit road, for the restart with 27 laps to go. With seven laps to go, Johnson cut down his left-front tire and Gordon took the lead. A number of cars started cutting down their tires including points leader Keselowski (right-rear), Marcos Ambrose (left-rear) and Bowyer who cut down his right-front tire; Bowyer spun out and brought out the ninth caution of the race with three laps to go, to cause a green–white–checker finish. Landon Cassill stayed out when Gordon pitted to assume the lead.

Finish

The race required only one attempt for the green–white–checker finish. Cassill did not put up a fight and Kurt Busch moved to the front. On the final lap, Kyle Busch passed his brother and held off a hard charging Kyle Larson to win the race.[18] Upon exiting his car, Kyle Busch stated that the finish was exciting, and that "what do you expect when you have a green-white-checkered finish and everyone comes down pit road to put on four tires", believing the finish to be like something out of the movie Days of Thunder.[18] After winning his first Nationwide Series race the previous day, Larson stated that it had "been a really good weekend" and that he had been battling "probably a 12th place car for most of the day".[18]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1418Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20647
2 1142Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet20642
3 1741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet20642
4 120Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20641
5 1014Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet20639
6 251Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet20638
7 1955Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota20638
8 1847A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet20636
9 3027Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20635
10 999Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord20634
11 203Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet20633
12 1588Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20632
13 624Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20632
14 2710Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet20630
15 3113Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet20629
16 515Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota20629
17 1311Sam Hornish, Jr.[A 2]Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2060
18 3426Cole Whitt (R)Swan RacingToyota20626
19 237Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet20625
20 1631Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20625
21 3636Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet20624
22 4023Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota20622
23 1278Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet20621
24 348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20622
25 4340Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet2050
26 22Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord20519
27 4134David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord20518
28 2851Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet20516
29 3335David ReutimannFront Row MotorsportsFord20516
30 89Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord20514
31 3983Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota20513
32 4266Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota2050
33 3532Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord20511
34 2217Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord20410
35 3733Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2040
36 44Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet2048
37 3898Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet2047
38 2938David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord2027
39 722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord1955
40 2416Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord1934
41 265Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1803
42 3230Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota852
43 2143Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord681

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 35 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 38
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 5 minutes and 53 seconds
  • Average speed: 132.937 miles per hour (213.941 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Larry McReynolds
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
Krista Voda
Jeff Hammond

Radio

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Dan Hubbard
Winston Kelly
Steve Post
Alex Hayden
Woody Cain

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. Joey Logano and Martin Truex, Jr. started from the rear after both drivers switched to a backup car post-qualifying.
  2. Denny Hamlin had qualified the car and was scheduled to compete as such. However, before the race, Hamlin was not medically cleared to drive due to a sinus infection. Sam Hornish, Jr. drove in his place, and started from the rear of the field.
  3. Greg Biffle did not complete a lap in round 2 so he started 24th.
  4. Matt Crafton qualified for Paul Menard, who was on paternity leave. Menard returned for the race on the Sunday, and started from the rear of the field.
  5. Landon Cassill did not complete a lap in round 1 so he started 43rd.

References

  1. "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. "Auto Club Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  3. "Entry List" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 21, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Statistics. March 21, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 22, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 22, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  8. "Auto Club 400 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 23, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  9. "Points Standings" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Statistics. March 23, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  10. "Manufacturer Standings" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications. March 23, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  11. "Nielsen Ratings". Jayski.com. Jayski LLC. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  12. Pistone, Pete (March 16, 2014). "Edwards Prevails in Bristol". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  13. "Auto Club Speedway Track Facts". Auto Club Speedway. Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  14. Long, Dustin (March 21, 2014). "Kenseth Captures Auto Club Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  15. Long, Dustin (March 22, 2014). "Some Teams Have Tire Issues". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  16. Long, Dustin (March 26, 2014). "Hamlin Cleared to Race". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  17. Long, Dustin (March 23, 2014). "Hamlin to Miss Auto Club 400". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  18. Pistone, Pete (March 23, 2014). "Kyle Busch Charges to the Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Food City 500
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2014 STP 500
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.