2014 Federated Auto Parts 400

The 2014 Federated Auto Parts 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on September 6, 2014, at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps, it was the 26th race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the final race prior to the Chase for the Sprint Cup, to decide the series champion. Brad Keselowski finished first after he dominated the race, leading 383 of the race's 400 laps. Jeff Gordon finished second while Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Kyle Larson (11th), Austin Dillon (20th), and Justin Allgaier (28th).

2014 Federated Auto Parts 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 26 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date September 6, 2014 (2014-09-06)
Location Richmond International Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.2 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Weather Partly cloudy with a temperature of 88 °F (31 °C); wind out of the WSW at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
Average speed 104.702 mph (168.502 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Time 21.324
Most laps led
Driver Brad Keselowski Team Penske
Laps 383
Winner
No. 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network ABC & MRN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree (Television)
Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle (Booth)
Dave Moody (Backstretch) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 3.0/5 (Final)
2.8/5 (Overnight)
4.92 Million viewers[10]

Previous week's race

Kasey Kahne took the lead on the second green-white-checker attempt and held off Matt Kenseth to score his first win of the season, at the Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kahne felt that his car was "all over the place during the race but the guys stayed with me and worked hard", but felt proud that they had sealed his place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kenseth described the last two laps as "really intense", but also felt that "things are looking up" for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. His team mate Denny Hamlin finished third, but felt he "couldn't capitalize, couldn't get the restarts and couldn't accelerate", while third was the best he could have imagined for the race.[11]

Report

Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 0.75 miles (1.21 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, and formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, a Verizon IndyCar Series race, and two United States Auto Club sprint car races.

With the race weekend being the final event before the Chase for the Sprint Cup commenced, there were numerous scenarios in play in order for the remaining places to the 16-driver Chase to be sealed. Numerous drivers inside the top 30 in points had the opportunity to seal a spot in the Chase with a victory in Richmond, while Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Larson. With them being inside the top 30 in points, Paul Menard, Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers, Marcos Ambrose, Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Danica Patrick, Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, David Gilliland, David Ragan and Cole Whitt could only qualify for the Chase with a win.[12]

Instead of using the normal 33, Circle Sport Racing team owner Joe Falk ran the number 90 to honor former team owner and Richmond native Junie Donlavey.

Entry list

The entry list for the Federated Auto Parts 400 was released on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 8:32 a.m. Eastern time. Forty-four drivers 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
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota
24Jeff Gordon (PC6)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
37Mike Bliss (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
40Landon Cassill (i)Hillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet
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)Identity Ventures RacingToyota
75Clay Rogers (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93J. J. Yeley (i)BK RacingToyota
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

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 20.912 and a speed of 129.112 mph (207.786 km/h).[13] The session was three hours in length – unusual for NASCAR – because Goodyear brought an entirely new tire compound and NASCAR wanted the teams to have as much time as possible to test the new tires.[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet20.912129.112
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord20.962128.805
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord20.977128.712
Official first practice results

Final practice

Carl Edwards was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.156 and a speed of 121.863 mph (196.119 km/h).[15] Brian Vickers switched to a backup car after blowing the left-rear tire of his car, which resulted in hitting the wall in turn two. Upon exiting his car, Vickers stated that he had "lost the left rear going down the front stretch" and that he "did the best I could to keep it off the wall".[16]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord22.156121.863
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord22.160121.841
3 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota22.179121.737
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Brad Keselowski won the pole with a time of 21.324 and a speed of 126.618 mph (203.772 km/h); it was the seventh pole of his Sprint Cup career. Keselowski expressed that it was "a great start to the wekeend but still got a long ways to go" but also stated that he was "excited and I feel like we have a shot to win". Jeff Gordon joined Keselowski on the front row, praising his rival's lap time; he was almost a tenth of a second clear at the end of qualifying. Gordon praised his own team's ethic as well, stating "to be up here on the front row, that's certainly a great effort".[17] Clay Rogers, who was attempting to make his first start, was the only driver that failed to qualify.

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord21.57421.324
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.44121.422
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.48121.446
4 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet21.51621.453
5 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord21.48221.486
6 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota21.54821.491
7 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord21.53421.518
8 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet21.59021.586
9 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet21.56621.615
10 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord21.60421.658
11 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota21.53521.676
12 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.58321.693
13 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet21.629
14 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.653
15 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet21.653
16 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota21.666
17 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord21.674
18 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota21.688
19 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet21.700
20 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota21.706
21 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.713
22 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet21.720
23 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet21.726
24 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.727
25 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota21.730
26 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord21.735
27 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet21.737
28 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet21.773
29 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet21.794
30 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord21.812
31 90David StremmeHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet21.824
32 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet21.830
33 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord21.873
34 40Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet21.882
35 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota21.889
36 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet21.903
37 32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord21.911
38 93J. J. YeleyBK RacingToyota21.922
39 37Mike BlissTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet22.064
40 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet22.085
41 66Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota22.174
42 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord0.000
43 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota0.000
Did Not Qualify
44 75Clay RogersBeard MotorsportsChevrolet21.993
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

Brad Keselowski won the race from the pole position.

The race was scheduled to start at 7:43 p.m. Eastern time, but started five minutes later with Brad Keselowski leading the field to the green. Keselowski held the race lead for the majority of the first stint, before he was passed by Kevin Harvick, on lap 43. The caution flag flew for the first time, for a scheduled competition caution on lap 51, due to rain showers earlier in the day; Keselowski retook the lead on pit road, and held the lead for the restart, on lap 58. Again, Keselowski led for a large portion of the race, before Harvick retook the lead on lap 120. Further down the order, Matt Kenseth made light contact with the wall in turn 1, but the caution flag was not brought out until lap 124. However, this was for an unrelated incident, as debris on the backstretch brought out the second caution of the race. Keselowski returned to the lead after his pit crew bettered Harvick's crew for their respective service; it was a lead he would not relinquish for the rest of the night.

Drunk fan on the fence

The race restarted on lap 132, and Keselowski continued to maintain order at the head of the order, and in the process, led his 1-thousandth lap of the season on lap 158. Debris brought out the third caution of the race on lap 262, with the restart on lap 271. One further caution occurred later in the race, when a fan ascended the catch fencing at turn 4, on lap 330.[18][19] The fan was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and being drunk in public. The race restarted with 64 laps to go, and Keselowski held the front until the end – having led 383 of the race's 400 laps – to take his fourth win of the season and the top seeding for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Post-race

Keselowski stated in his post-race interview that he had "pinched myself once to make sure I wasn't dreaming. These are nights you don't forget as a driver and you live for", while stating that his car was "just flying" and that he "couldn't ask for a better way to enter the Chase than to win and take the first seed". Clint Bowyer finished third, and failed to overturn the points disadvantage he had, to make the Chase. Bowyer expressed disappointedly that it was "definitely frustrating not making that Chase, but like I said, when you do make the Chase, you want it to be for a championship, not just ride around in it".[20] After his eighth-place finish, Jimmie Johnson was taken to the infield care center due to dehydration. Hendrick Motorsports team mate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – who was 12th in the finishing order – put the cause down to the ambient conditions, while also stating that he "thought I might have some trouble with it because I had a sinus cold all week" and that he "must have something going on — something that didn't agree with him today that he ate or drank". Another Hendrick driver, Jeff Gordon, also felt the conditions in his car, stating that he knew "there were a couple times when I felt like I was cramping a little bit as well".[21]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord40048
2 224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40042
3 615Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota40041
4 151Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet40040
5 44Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40040
6 522Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord40038
7 941Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40037
8 348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40036
9 1231Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40035
10 2643Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord40034
11 842Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet40033
12 2488Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40032
13 1855Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota40031
14 2018Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40030
15 1914Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40029
16 1310Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40028
17 215Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet39927
18 1427Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet39926
19 1716Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord39825
20 283Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet39824
21 1111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota39823
22 1099Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord39622
23 2347A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet39621
24 3236Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet39620
25 2978Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet39619
26 717Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord39618
27 339Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord39517
28 2751Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet39516
29 3038David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord39515
30 3526Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota39414
31 2213Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet39413
32 3698Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet39412
33 4234David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord39411
34 3440Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet3940
35 3937Mike BlissTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet3940
36 3190David StremmeHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet3928
37 407Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet3927
38 2523Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota3916
39 3732Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord3915
40 4166Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota3880
41 1620Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3303
42 4383Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota3132
43 3893J. J. YeleyBK RacingToyota310

Race statistics

  • 4 lead changes among different drivers
  • 4 cautions for 27 laps
  • Time of race: 2:51:55
  • Brad Keselowski won his fourth race in 2014

Media

Television

ABC
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Allen Bestwick
Color-commentator: Dale Jarrett
Color commentator: Andy Petree
Jerry Punch
Dave Burns
Vince Welch
Jamie Little

Radio

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Backstretch: Dave MoodyWinston Kelly
Steve Post
Dustin Long
Woody Cain

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2014 Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. "Richmond International Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  3. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  6. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  7. "Federated Auto Parts 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  9. "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  10. Paulsen (September 9, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: ABC's Richmond Race Hits Multi-Year Low". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  11. Pistone, Pete (September 1, 2014). "Kahne Clinches with Atlanta Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  12. "Chase-clinching scenarios for Richmond". NASCAR.com. Official NASCAR Release. September 1, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  13. Report, Staff (September 5, 2014). "Harvick tops practice at Richmond". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  14. Pockrass, Bob (September 5, 2014). "Kevin Harvick fast again, leads first Cup practice at Richmond". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  15. Report, Staff (September 5, 2014). "Edwards, Harvick top Sprint Cup practices". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  16. Estrada, Chris (September 5, 2014). "NASCAR: Carl Edwards tops final practice; Brian Vickers to backup after early crash". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  17. Long, Dustin (September 5, 2014). "Keselowski Wins Richmond Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  18. Busbee, Jay (September 6, 2014). "Insane fan climbs to top of catch fence during NASCAR race". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  19. Owens, Jeff (September 6, 2014). "Richmond race halted by fan climbing fence". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  20. Pistone, Pete (September 6, 2014). "Keselowski Grabs No. 1 Seed". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  21. Ryan, Nate; Gluck, Jeff (September 6, 2014). "Jimmie Johnson treated for dehydration after Richmond race". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
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Sprint Cup Series
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