2014 Coke Zero 400

The 2014 Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was scheduled to be held on July 5, 2014 but was pushed to July 6, 2014, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 112 laps, it was the 18th race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Aric Almirola was leading when the race was called for rain and scored his first career win and the No. 43's first win since the 1999 Goody's Body Pain 500. Brian Vickers was second, while Kurt Busch, Casey Mears, and top rookie Austin Dillon rounded out the top five. Behind Dillon, the top rookies of the race were Alex Bowman in 13th, and Michael Annett in 21st.

2014 Coke Zero 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 18 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date July 6, 2014 (2014-07-06)
Official name Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.02 km)
Distance 112 laps, 280 mi (450.62 km)
Scheduled Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Partly cloudy with temperatures up to 83 °F (28 °C); wind out of the south at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
Average speed 130.014 mph (209.237 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Front Row Motorsports
Time 45.153
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 36
Winner
No. 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TNT & MRN
Announcers Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach, Jr. and Kyle Petty (Television)
Joe Moore and Barney Hall (Booth)
Dave Moody (1 & 2), Mike Bagley (Backstretch) and Jeff Striegle (3 & 4) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 2.4/5
4.0 Million viewers[9]

Previous week's race

In what was an absolutely dominating performance from Team Penske, Brad Keselowski led 199 of the 267 laps to win the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. He described his car as "awesome" and that his crew did a "great job".[10]

Report

Background

Daytona International Speedway, where the race was held.

Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[11] The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[11] The backstretch, which has a length of 3,000 ft (910 m), has minimal banking that is used for drainage.[11] Jimmie Johnson was the defending race winner from the 2013 event.

Following the Daytona 500 in February, 2,400 ft (730 m) of additional SAFER barriers were added to the circuit, in order to improve safety. The additional barriers were added from the exit of turn four, through the tri-oval and to the entrance of turn one; this left only the super stretch outside walls with concrete barriers. "We're always looking at ways to enhance our safety and it is a priority for us," said Lenny Santiago, senior director of public relations for Daytona International Speedway. "Whenever we have an incident on track, we always take a look in consultation with NASCAR, the University of Nebraska and other experts that are a part of the Motorsports Technology Group and take their recommendations. In consultation with them, we made sure we added additional safer barriers to these areas."[12]

Prior to the start of the race, Barney Hall announced that this race would be his last in the booth for the Motor Racing Network. "The years have gone by so quick, it's just so hard to believe," Hall said with a smile during a break at Daytona International Speedway. "The voice of NASCAR is the voice of MRN and that's Barney Hall," said David Hyatt, president and executive producer of Motor Racing Network. "To have him still be a part of what we do in a way that highlights all the memories that he has, all the history he's brought to the sport, everything that he's done, not just for this MRN brand but for the NASCAR brand is an important part of this transition. MRN isn't MRN without Barney Hall."[13]

Entry list

The entry list for the Coke Zero 400 was released on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 11:40 a.m. Eastern time. Forty-four cars were entered for the race.

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
21Trevor Bayne (i)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota
24Jeff Gordon (PC6)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
29Joe NemechekRAB RacingToyota
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Terry Labonte (PC8)Go FAS RacingFord
33Bobby Labonte (PC7)Circle SportChevrolet
34David RaganFront 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
66Michael WaltripMichael 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

Two practice sessions were scheduled for the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona. The first practice session was delayed an hour by weather and shortened to 45 minutes. Jamie McMurray was the fastest with a lap time of 44.565 and a speed of 201.952 mph (325.010 km/h). The final practice session was cancelled due to weather.[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet44.565201.952
2 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet44.579201.889
3 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota44.590201.839
Official practice results

Qualifying

David Gilliland won the pole position, the first for Front Row Motorsports.

David Gilliland won the pole with a lap time of 45.531 and a speed of 199.322 mph (320.778 km/h) after only one round of knockout qualifying was completed due to weather. Gilliland stated that his pole position would be a "morale booster" for his Front Row Motorsports team.[15] Joe Nemechek was the one driver that failed to qualify.

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Lap Time
1 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord45.153
2 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet45.176
3 40Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet45.182
4 33Bobby LabonteRichard Childress Racing-Circle SportChevrolet45.233
5 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet45.274
6 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota45.277
7 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet45.295
8 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord45.298
9 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet45.303
10 16Greg BiffleRoush-Fenway RacingFord45.323
11 99Carl EdwardsRoush-Fenway RacingFord45.333
12 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet45.346
13 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet45.347
14 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet45.369
15 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord45.401
16 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush-Fenway RacingFord45.402
17 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota45.428
18 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet45.431
19 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet45.439
20 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet45.441
21 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet45.442
22 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet45.445
23 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet45.447
24 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet45.451
25 21Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord45.456
26 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord45.489
27 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord45.496
28 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord45.514
29 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet45.518
30 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota45.601
31 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet45.622
32 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet45.635
33 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingFord45.650
34 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota45.691
35 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet45.757
36 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet45.764
37 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota45.902
38 32Terry LabonteGo FAS RacingFord45.923
39 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota45.925
40 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet45.971
41 66Michael WaltripIdentity Ventures RacingToyota46.066
42 83Ryan Truex (R)[N 1]BK RacingToyota46.588
43 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota46.636
Did not qualify
44 29Joe NemechekRAB RacingToyota45.974
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

The race was scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday evening, but the start was delayed by rain and finally pushed to the next day at 11:13 a.m.[16] The start was pushed a pace lap due to light sprinkles in turns one and two and then another lap. After a total of seven pace laps, David Gilliland finally led the field to the green at 11:21 a.m. Matt Kenseth took the lead from Gilliland on lap five, before the first caution of the race flew for rain on lap 6, which ultimately led to a 26-minute delay under red flag conditions.

The Big One

The race restarted on lap 13, before Tony Stewart took the lead on lap 17. A competition caution was planned upon the completion of lap 20, but the second caution of the race flew on lap 20 for a multi-car wreck in the tri-oval. A total of 16 cars were involved, including points leader Jeff Gordon, defending race winner Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the Daytona 500 winner. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – who was also involved in the incident – stated that he had been "heading straight...had it saved and had it straight again and got caught in the left rear."[17] Only Johnson and A. J. Allmendinger were eliminated from the race due to the pileup.

The race restarted on lap 29, before Reed Sorenson, Landon Cassill, David Gilliland and Jamie McMurray took turns at the head of the race, prior to the third caution of the race, on lap 41, due to debris in turn 1. The race restarted on lap 45 with McMurray leading the way. Greg Biffle took the lead on lap 52, while Kurt Busch took the lead on lap 60. Biffle retook the lead on lap 86, before the start of the pit cycle, coming under green flag conditions. Gordon took the lead before it cycled back to Kurt Busch on lap 89. Debris on the backstretch brought out the caution for the fourth time on lap 94.

Second half

Aric Almirola scored his first career win after rain shortened the race to 112 laps.

The Huge One

The race restarted on lap 98 and the fifth caution flew for another multi-car wreck on the back straightaway, in which Kyle Busch's car ended upside down. The red flag was displayed for the second time, as 26 cars were collected in the wreck. Gilliland described the incident as "all heck broke loose all at once", while Kyle Busch had driven through the grass before his car dug in and sent him back towards traffic; he described his roll as "real slow", After 4 minutes and 48 seconds, the red flag was lifted and the field continued under caution.[18]

Mother Nature finally wins

The race restarted on lap 105, and it remained green for 5 laps, The sixth caution of the race flew on lap 109 again for rain, and the cars were brought back down pit road as the race was red flagged for the third time. Eventually, NASCAR called the race and Almirola scored his first career win. Almirola's victory was the first for a car numbered 43, since John Andretti did so in the 1999 Goody's Body Pain 500 at Martinsville Speedway.[19] For the first time since the 2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, all top ten starting drivers failed to finish within the top ten positions.

Post-race infractions

On the Tuesday following the race, Kurt Busch was penalized 10 points for a technical infraction following post-race inspection.[20] The infraction was a P2 level penalty and a violation of section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20–12 (l) (for events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, at all times, the Delta (or difference) of the Z-height measurement between the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt located at the left truck trailing arm and the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt, located at the right rear sub-frame mounting bracket, must not exceed three inches) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book.[21]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1543Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord11247
2 3055Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota11242
3 4041Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11233[N 2]
4 2213Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet11241
5 233Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet11239
6 3711Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11238
7 2795Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord11237
8 2910Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11236
9 3415Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota11236
10 189Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord11234
11 3832Terry LabonteGo FAS RacingFord11233
12 924Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11233
13 4323Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota11231
14 788Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11230
15 1978Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet11229
16 2127Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11228
17 2822Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord11227
18 262Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord11126
19 4166Michael WaltripIdentity Ventures RacingToyota11125
20 620Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11125
21 327Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet10424
22 834David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord10223
23 3398Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingFord10121
24 2031Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet10020
25 3151Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet9819
26 433Bobby LabonteRichard Childress Racing-Circle SportChevrolet9818
27 145Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9717
28 3918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9716
29 1016Greg BiffleRoush-Fenway RacingFord9716
30 361Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet9715
31 340Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet970
32 4283Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota9712
33 236Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet9712
34 1726Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota9710
35 138David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord9710
36 3542Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet698
37 1199Carl EdwardsRoush-Fenway RacingFord667
38 2521Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord460
39 134Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet465
40 1214Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet455
41 1617Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush-Fenway RacingFord373
42 548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet202
43 2447A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet191

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 21 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 29
  • Red flags: 3 for 1 hour, 30 minutes and 31 seconds
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 9 minutes and 13 seconds
  • Average speed: 130.014 miles per hour (209.237 km/h)

Media

Television

TNT Sports
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander
Color-commentator: Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
Color commentator: Kyle Petty
Matt Yocum
Marty Snider
Chris Neville
Ralph Sheheen

Radio

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Barney Hall

Announcer: Jeff Striegle

Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Backstretch: Mike Bagley
Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker
Winston Kelly
Steve Post
Alex Hayden
Woody Cain

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. Ryan Truex started last for unapproved changes post-qualifying.
  2. Kurt Busch was penalized 10 points for a technical infraction following post-race inspection.[20]

References

  1. "2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  2. "Daytona International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  3. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 4, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  6. "Coke Zero 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  7. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  8. "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. Paulsen (July 10, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: Postponed Daytona Race Low, But Not That Bad". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  10. Knight, Chris (June 28, 2014). "Keselowski conquers Kentucky again". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Wire Service. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  11. "Daytona International Speedway Track Facts". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  12. Long, Dustin (July 2, 2014). "Daytona Adds More SAFER Barriers". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  13. Long, Dustin (July 5, 2014). "Hall's Role Changing at MRN". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  14. Report, Staff (July 3, 2014). "Recapping Thursday's practices at Daytona". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  15. Long, Dustin (July 4, 2014). "Gilliland Grabs Daytona Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  16. Long, Dustin (July 5, 2014). "Daytona Race Postponed". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. Long, Dustin (July 6, 2014). "Early Crash Collects Contenders". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  18. Long, Dustin (July 6, 2014). "Busch Goes on 'Slow Carnival Ride'". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  19. Long, Dustin (July 6, 2014). "Almirola Scores First Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  20. "No. 41 team penalized for Daytona infraction". NASCAR.com. Official NASCAR release. July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  21. Long, Dustin (July 8, 2014). "NASCAR Penalizes Kurt Busch And Team". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Quaker State 400
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
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2014 Camping World RV Sales 301
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