2014 Ford EcoBoost 400

The 2014 Ford EcoBoost 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on November 16, 2014, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. Contested over 267 laps, it was the 36th and final race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, and the tenth and final race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. This race marked the final NASCAR broadcast for ESPN, ending an eight-year stint covering the sport;[12] as well as the final NASCAR broadcast for Allen Bestwick, who has covered the sport since 1986. Next season he will remain with ESPN and ABC calling IndyCar races.[13] Kevin Harvick held off Ryan Newman to score the victory and score his first ever championship. Chevrolet clinched its twelfth consecutive manufacturers championship. Newman was second while Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard, and Jamie McMurray rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Kyle Larson (13th), Justin Allgaier (15th), and Austin Dillon (25th).

2014 Ford EcoBoost 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 36 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date November 16, 2014 (2014-11-16)
Location Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Weather Sunny with a temperature of 81 °F (27 °C); wind out of the ESE at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
Average speed 122.280 mph (196.791 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 29.876
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 161
Winner
No. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN & MRN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree (Television)
Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle (Booth)
Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Mike Bagley (3 & 4) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 3.1/7 (Final)
2.9/6 (Overnight)
5.223 Million viewers[11]

Previous week's race

Kevin Harvick dominated the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 to score the victory.[14] "Wow. I guess that's what it feels like to hit a walkoff in extra innings. I mean this thing -- both races here -- has been bad to the bone," Harvick said after winning his fourth race at this 1-mile oval in the last five tries. Harvick would not have made the final four to race for the title without a win. I could tell that we were going to have to win because everybody was running in the front of the pack that we were racing against. I think this says a lot about our team. We had our backs against the wall. We're in victory lane and we get to go on."[15]

Report

Background

Homestead-Miami Speedway is a motor racing track located in Homestead, Florida. The track, which has several configurations, has promoted several series of racing, including NASCAR, the IRL IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and the Championship Cup Series. Since 2002, Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Ford Motor Company sponsors all three of the season-ending races; the races have the names Ford EcoBoost 400, Ford EcoBoost 300, and Ford EcoBoost 200, respectively, and the weekend is marketed as Ford Championship Weekend. The Nationwide Series (then known as the Busch Series) has held its season-ending races at Homestead since 1995.

This was the final NASCAR race for driver Marcos Ambrose, who will be returning to V8 Supercars in his native Australia next season.[16] It was also the final NASCAR race for crew chief Steve Letarte, who will be leaving Hendrick Motorsports, where he's worked at since he was 16, and moving to the broadcast booth for NBC Sports next season.[17] After four decades of being a crew chief and winning races in four decades, Jimmy Fennig retired from the sport after the checked flag flew.[18] “Racing is what makes him tick and the competition,’‘ Matt Kenseth said of Fennig. “It’s hard to argue that Jimmy isn’t one of the best crew chiefs in the garage. There’s not many people that have been in the sport as long as he has and remained relevant and competitive as long as he has. I’ll never forget when we won the Daytona 500 in 2012 and he was smiling and said, ‘The last time I was here was 25 years ago with Bobby Allison – that was the last time I won the Daytona 500.’ When you think about that and all the changes that this sport has had with technology and the cars and engineering and all that stuff compared to where we started, it really says something about somebody that’s still that competitive today.”[18] “Jimmy somehow finds more time in the day and finds a way to work harder than almost anybody I’ve ever met," Carl Edwards said. "He cares as much or more about winning than anyone I’ve ever been around, so to me Jimmy has been a huge positive influence on me and my driving and he’s a friend.’’[18]

Practice and qualifying

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 30.167 and a speed of 179.004 mph (288.079 km/h).[19] Jeff Gordon won the pole with a new track record time of 29.876 and a speed of 180.747 mph (290.884 km/h).[20] “I'm really excited about the pole. I don't know that I've ever been on the pole here and to get the 200th for Hendrick is cool," said Gordon. I think the way we are looking at this weekend is we want to close out the season the absolute best we can. It has been a tremendous season. The No. 24 team has been incredible this year. We are disappointed that we aren't in this thing for the championship, but that's not going to stop us from trying to go out to win the pole and win the race."[20] “This is going to be a race that you are going to go through some changing conditions,” said Kevin Harvick of the 400 miles that wait on Sunday. “Today was really about trying to get a solid starting spot. And we were able to do that with my Budweiser team. Just really proud of my guys. We had a really good day today. Just got to keep doing what we have to do and see where it all falls on Sunday."[20] “A buddy of mine once said it isn't where you start, it is where you stop. We have got half of them beat to start, we'll keep digging with the Caterpillar Chevrolet. We just struggled there a little bit." Ryan Newman said of his qualifying effort.[20] Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 30.845 and a speed of 175.069 mph (281.746 km/h).[21] Brian Scott blew his engine early in the session and started from the rear since this change took place post-qualifying.[21] Ryan Newman had to replace the front splitter after hitting a piece of debris.[21] Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 30.822 and a speed of 175.200 mph (281.957 km/h).[22]

Race

Kevin Harvick won the race and his first Cup Series championship title.

The race was scheduled to begin at 3:17 p.m. Eastern time, but the cars didn't begin rolling off pit road until 3:19 p.m. The race started eight minutes late at 3:25 p.m. with Jeff Gordon leading the field to the green. With 22 entries in the field, Chevrolet clinched their 38th manufacturers championship and twelfth consecutive.[23] "Winning the Manufacturers' championship is one of the goals we set at the beginning of every season," Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, said. "This championship is the result of great teamwork by the owners, drivers, crew chiefs, crews and technical partners. Special thanks to the Chevrolet powertrain team, along with the engine shops at Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt-Childress Racing for delivering the right combination of power, fuel economy, and reliability throughout the entire season. Congratulations to everyone who has made this special achievement possible for Chevrolet."[23] The first caution of the race flew on lap eleven for a cable coming off the catch fence near the start/finish line.[24] Blake Koch stayed out to lead a lap before pitting. Kurt Busch beat Gordon off pit road to assume the lead. The race restarted on lap 15. Kevin Harvick pushed Gordon to the lead and then slingshotted around him to take the lead himself.[24] Jeff Gordon took the lead back on lap 26.[24] The second caution of the race flew on lap 58 after Brett Moffitt had smoke billowing from his car.[24] The race restarted on lap 64 and Denny Hamlin shot to the lead.[24] Gordon took the lead back from Hamlin on lap 66.[24] The third caution of the race flew on lap 86 after Brett Moffitt slammed the wall in turn 2.[24] The race restarted on lap 91. The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 116 after Alex Bowman scraped the wall in turn 2.[24] Kyle Busch was running fifth when he broke the rear-end axle when his car was dropped off the jack.[25] The race restarted on lap 121. Gordon and Harvick swapped the lead back and forth the next three laps until Kevin muscled his way to the lead on lap 124.[24] The fifth caution of the race flew on lap 155 after A. J. Allmendinger slapped the wall in turn 3.[24] Jeff Gordon retook the lead after beating off Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick off pit road. The race restarted on lap 161. The sixth caution of the race flew on lap 162 after Greg Biffle slammed the wall in turn 3.[24] The race restarted on lap 166 and Denny Hamlin retook the lead.[24] Tony Stewart, who was running 28th a lap down, took his car to the garage with 82 laps to go. This ended his streak of 15 consecutive seasons of winning at least one race.[26] The seventh caution of the race flew with 74 laps to go when Marcos Ambrose, making his final NASCAR start, slammed the wall in turn 3.[24] The race restarted with 69 laps to go. The eighth caution of the race flew with 61 laps to go after Trevor Bayne, in his final race with the Wood Brothers, blew a tire on the backstretch.[24] The race restarted with 55 laps to go and Denny Hamlin took back the lead.[24] Debris on the backstretch brought out the ninth caution of the race with 47 laps to go. Jeff Gordon beat Hamlin off pit road to retake the lead.[24] The race restarted with 42 laps to go. The tenth caution of the race flew with 32 laps to go after A. J. Allmendinger slammed the wall rear first in turn 1.[24] The race restarted with 25 laps to go. Debris in turn 2 brought out the eleventh caution with 20 laps to go.[24] The race restarted with 15 laps to go and Denny Hamlin took back the lead.[24] With 13 laps to go, J. J. Yeley and Blake Koch wrecked hard in turn 3.[24] That brought out the twelfth caution. The race restarted with nine laps to go.[24] Kevin Harvick took the lead with eight laps to go.[24] Debris in turn 1 brought out the 13th caution of the race with six laps to go.[24] The race restarted with three laps to go and Kevin Harvick took both the victory and the championship.[27] “I was just holding the pedal down and hoping for the best,’’ Harvick said. "This new format has been so stressful. I’m going to go sleep for a week."[28]’ “We didn't have quite enough,” Newman said. “That's disappointing, but like I said, it was an awesome team effort, and I think, again, this is a great racetrack to have a race like this, and I thought there was some amazing passing, and we don't get that at every racetrack.”[28] Jeff Gordon's tenth-place finish moved him past Mark Martin for the second-most top ten finishes in NASCAR history.[29]

Post-race

During the race, NASCAR ordered Chad Knaus and members of Hendrick Motorsports to report to the NASCAR hauler after the race.[30] Knaus will not face any penalties for putting in a wheel spacer.[30] “It’s really not a big deal,’’ Robin Pemberton said. “We were trying to clarify what went on. I’m not going to get into the weeds on (the rule), but sometimes if you thought you had an issue with a wheel stud or something mechanical like that, you may need to put a spacer on to get some clean threads for the lug nuts. I have no idea (why they wanted it on), that’s not our question. It really is such a minute deal. It’s fine. Everything is good.’’[30]

Results

Qualifying

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.89430.10029.876
2 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.88129.80229.895
3 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30.04330.09829.951
4 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord29.79530.01330.001
5 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.83230.01330.009
6 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota30.09630.11030.068
7 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30.02030.10530.087
8 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29.98930.09830.109
9 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord29.83630.13630.124
10 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet29.96430.06830.156
11 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.20430.10030.280
12 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.14030.00630.563
13 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota30.29530.167
14 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet30.16830.178
15 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord30.22730.201
16 27Paul Menard[A 1]Richard Childress RacingChevrolet30.25730.202
17 9Marcos Ambrose[A 2]Richard Petty MotorsportsFord30.26030.205
18 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord30.24130.235
19 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet30.14430.235
20 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord30.16330.256
21 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30.05730.296
22 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord30.16230.344
23 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.25230.375
24 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet30.08530.392
25 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet30.298
26 21Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord30.314
27 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet30.315
28 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet30.333
29 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet30.390
30 33Brian Scott[A 3]Richard Childress RacingChevrolet30.476
31 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord30.489
32 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet30.496
33 40Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet30.622
34 83J. J. YeleyBK RacingToyota30.629
35 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord30.672
36 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet30.745
37 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet30.760
38 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord30.773
39 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet30.877
40 32Blake KochGo FAS RacingFord30.882
41 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota30.934
42 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota31.009
43 66Brett MoffittIdentity Ventures RacingToyota31.069

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 54Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26743 nb
2 2131Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26742 nb
3 42Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord26741
4 1627Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26740
5 191Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26739
6 320Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26738
7 811Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26737 nb
8 615Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota26736
9 1248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26735
10 124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26736
11 241Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26734
12 235Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26732
13 2742Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26731
14 1188Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26730
15 1451Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet26729
16 922Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord26728 nb
17 1078Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet26727
18 3210Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26726
19 1843Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord26725
20 2913Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet26724
21 3895Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord26723
22 2217Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord26722
23 1355Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota26721
24 3636Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet26720
25 243Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet26719
26 4226Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota26718
27 179Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord26717
28 3033Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26716 op
29 3340Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet26715 op
30 3134David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord26714
31 3538David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord26713
32 3798Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet26712
33 4123Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota26411
34 1599Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord26310
35 397Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet2639
36 4366Brett MoffittIdentity Ventures RacingToyota2628
37 3483J. J. YeleyBK RacingToyota2547 op
38 4032Blake KochGo FAS RacingFord2546 op
39 718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2465
40 2547A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet2354
41 2016Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord2203
42 2621Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord2042 op
43 2814Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet1821

Notes regarding points (See Championship Points for explanation):
nb - Driver and owner are not eligible for any of the three NASCAR bonus points (three for winning, one for leading a lap, one for leading the most laps) as they are a Championship Four driver and team.
op - Driver did not declare for Sprint Cup Series driver points. Points listed are owner points only, used by NASCAR for bonus money programs and provisional starting positions.

Race statistics

  • 18 lead changes among different drivers
  • 13 cautions for 52 laps
  • Time of race: 3:16:31
  • Kevin Harvick won his fifth race in 2014

Final season standings

Note

  1. Paul Menard started from the rear for unapproved adjustments.
  2. Marcos Ambrose started from the rear for unapproved adjustments.
  3. Brian Scott started from the rear for changing engines post-qualifying.

References

  1. "2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  2. "Homestead-Miami Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 14, 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 14, 2014. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. "Ford EcoBoost 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  10. "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. Paulsen (November 18, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: Chase Finale Up Slightly to Three-Year High". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  12. Lepore, Steve (July 23, 2013). "NBC wins rights to second half of NASCAR Sprint Cup season; pushes out ESPN, Turner". sbnation.com. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  13. Utter, Jim (January 2, 2014). "NASCAR broadcaster Allen Bestwick to move to IndyCar Series broadcasts". ThatsRacin.com. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  14. Fryer, Jenna (November 9, 2014). "Newman's late pass dooms Gordon at Phoenix". racing.ap.org. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  15. Ryan, Nate (November 9, 2014). "Harvick, Logano, Newman, Hamlin advance to race for NASCAR title". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  16. Lomas, Gordon (October 25, 2014). "Ambrose to make early V8 return at Sydney 500". SpeedCafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  17. Fryer, Jenna (January 9, 2014). "Steve Letarte to join NBC Sports in 2015". sports.yahoo.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  18. Long, Dustin (November 11, 2014). "Notebook: One Last Time for Fennig". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  19. Estrada, Chris (November 14, 2014). "Brad Keselowski fastest, title contender Kevin Harvick 2nd in opening Cup practice at Homestead". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  20. Pistone, Pete (November 14, 2014). "Gordon Gives Hendrick Motorsports its 200th Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  21. Estrada, Chris (November 15, 2014). "Kevin Harvick fastest in 2nd Sprint Cup practice at Homestead". motorsportstalks.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  22. Estrada, Chris (November 15, 2014). "Joey Logano leads Champ. 4 in Sprint Cup final practice; Johnson fastest overall". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  23. Report, Staff (November 16, 2014). "Chevrolet wins Sprint Cup manufacturers' title". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  24. Utter, Jim (November 16, 2014). "NASCAR: Kevin Harvick wins Chase finale, title". ThatsRacin.com. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  25. Bronkowski, Jerry (November 16, 2014). "Harvick in command just past halfway in championship-deciding Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  26. Ryan, Nate (November 16, 2014). "Tony Stewart's streak of winning seasons ends". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  27. Fryer, Jenna (November 16, 2014). "Harvick wins Homestead to claim 1st championship". racing.ap.org. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  28. Pistone, Pete (November 16, 2014). "Harvick Winner and Champion". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  29. Olson, Jeff (November 16, 2014). "Final pit stop costs Jeff Gordon a shot at victory". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  30. Long, Dustin (November 16, 2014). "NASCAR Meets with Knaus after Race". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2015 Daytona 500
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