2014 Gobowling.com 400

The 2014 Gobowling.com 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on August 3, 2014, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Contested over 160 laps on the 2.5 miles (4.023 km) triangular superspeedway, it was the 21st race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

2014 Gobowling.com 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 21 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date August 3, 2014 (2014-08-03)
Location Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Mostly cloudy with chances of thunderstorms with temperatures up to 71 °F (22 °C); wind out of the southeast at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
Average speed 127.411 mph (205.048 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Chip Ganassi Racing
Time 49.063
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 63
Winner
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports
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), Mike Bagley (2) and Buddy Long (3) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 2.8/7 (Final)
2.6/7 (Overnight)
4.374 Million viewers[11]

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race, his third win of the season, completing the first season sweep of Pocono since 2006. Kevin Harvick finished second while Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, and Greg Biffle rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Kyle Larson (11th), Austin Dillon (15th), and Justin Allgaier (16th).

Previous week's race

The previous week at the Brickyard 400, Jeff Gordon took the lead on the final restart and took the checkered flag for the 90th time in his career, to guarantee a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano also clinched spots in the Chase.[12] Kasey Kahne fell to fifth on the restart, and ran out of fuel on the final lap, finishing sixth.[13] Gordon described his race win as "nothing better, especially in a big race, coming to Victory Lane with your family here", while he "was trying so hard with 10 to go not to focus on the crowd". Kahne reflected on his position at the final restart, stating that he should have picked the outside line, also stating "pretty much let Jeff control that restart. I took off and never spun a tire and the inside had been more grip throughout the race and I started on the inside and I thought it was a great decision. But I didn't spin a tire and Jeff drove right by me."[14]

Report

Background

Pocono Raceway, the race track where the race was held.

Pocono Raceway is a three-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[15] The track's turns are banked differently; the first is banked at 14°, the second turn at 8° and the final turn with 6°.[15] However, each of the three straightaways are banked at 2°.[16] The front stretch at Pocono Raceway is 3,740 feet long, the longest at the track.[16] The back stretch, is 3,055 feet long, while the short stretch, which connects turn two with turn three, is only 1,780 feet long.[16] The defending race winner from 2013 is Kasey Kahne.

Entry list

The entry list for the Gobowling.com 400 was released on Monday, July 28, 2014 at 9:28 a.m. Eastern time. Forty-three 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
33Alex KennedyHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Reed SorensonTommy 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
78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
87Timmy HillIdentity Ventures RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Johnny Sauter (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

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 49.902 and a speed of 180.353 mph (290.250 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.902180.353
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord49.957180.155
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50.058179.791
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Kyle Larson won the pole position, setting a new track record.

Rookie Kyle Larson won the pole, his first at Sprint Cup level, with a new track record lap time of 49.063 and a speed of 183.438 mph (295.215 km/h). Larson reflected on recent extensive running at the circuit, in testing and also racing in other events – ARCA and the Camping World Truck Series – since the previous Cup race in June, stating that "for whatever reason I feel like I've adapted pretty well to this track even though it's not a track where you maneuver around and can move from the bottom to the top". Joey Logano qualified alongside Larson on the front row, praising his performance and stating that he "liked tough race tracks and this is one of them". Logano had felt that Kurt Busch had been favorite for pole position, but also commented on Larson's performance, stating "Kyle definitely laid down a good one because I thought my lap was (darn) near perfect and then I got beat, so it's a little frustrating, but, overall, it's a good starting spot".[17]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49.66949.42949.063
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord49.50549.36449.071
3 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord49.69449.85149.261
4 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.53849.45949.272
5 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.69549.56849.285
6 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.63849.57149.426
7 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49.77449.54949.445
8 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49.89249.58049.446
9 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.75449.62949.521
10 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.72249.63549.547
11 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet50.12549.62549.558
12 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.58549.57149.647
13 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49.91549.680
14 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota49.92949.681
15 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota50.00549.765
16 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.75749.802
17 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.22449.861
18 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.00149.924
19 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet50.07049.963
20 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50.11250.004
21 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.10450.034
22 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet49.92150.164
23 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord50.22050.194
24 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet50.12350.260
25 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50.232
26 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord50.280
27 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50.303
28 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50.304
29 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.318
30 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord50.548
31 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet50.646
32 40Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet50.654
33 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota50.687
34 32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord50.733
35 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet50.746
36 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota50.991
37 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota51.012
38 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet51.017
39 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord51.109
40 37Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet51.487
41 66Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota52.239
42 33Alex KennedyHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet52.265
43 93Johnny SauterBK RacingToyota54.164
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 50.319 and a speed of 178.859 mph (287.846 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.319178.859
2 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.440178.430
3 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50.449178.398
Official second practice results

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 50.407 and a speed of 178.547 mph (287.344 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50.407178.547
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.410178.536
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.492178.246
Official final practice results

Race

Start

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race.

The race was originally scheduled to start at 1:18 P.M. EDT, but with the threat of thunderstorms in the forecast, NASCAR moved the start of the race up by around 10 minutes, with rookie Kyle Larson leading the field. At the second turn of the first lap, Brad Keselowski made contact with Kurt Busch and almost spun out, but saved his car and dropped back to 12th, while Joey Logano took the lead from Larson. Jimmie Johnson's car suffered a cut tire and made contact with the wall on the front stretch on lap eight, bringing out a debris caution a lap later. Logano led the field to the restart on lap 13. On lap 15, Danica Patrick brushed the wall on the exit of turn 2, and after a tire blowout, she hit the same wall the following lap, to bring out the second caution. As the first driver who was a lap down in the field, Johnson was the recipient of the free pass, allowing him to return to the lead lap.

Logano continued to lead as the race resumed on lap 20. On lap 23, Kyle Busch's day ended early with a blown engine; he described the problem as "something between the frame rails doesn't seem to operate correctly right now" to reporters after he had exited the car. He also expressed his disappointment about having to exit the race so early: "It's unfortunate, I thought we had a good car today. Our car has been good this weekend in practices and stuff like that. Obviously you hope for better days, and this M&M's Camry team deserves better days but this ain't one of them".[18] The third caution flag came out on lap 29 when Landon Cassill hit the wall in the same position as Patrick had done so, previously; Patrick profited from the free pass at the caution. Brian Vickers won the race off pit road but Kurt Busch, and eight other cars, stayed out when the leaders came in to pit and assumed the lead for the restart, on lap 34.

Busch's different pit cycle saw him onto pit road ten laps later, at which point Jeff Gordon took the lead. On lap 51, the fourth caution flag came out when Joe Nemechek got turned loose by Kasey Kahne and hit the wall in turn 3. The race restarted on lap 56, with Gordon holding the lead until his next pit stop, on lap 65, returning the lead to Busch. Busch pitted on lap 75, giving the lead to A. J. Allmendinger. Allmendinger made his stop on lap 77, at which point Aric Almirola and David Gilliland each led a lap before making green flag pit stops, while Gordon reclaimed the lead. On lap 84, Gordon officially became the first driver in track history to lead over 1,000 laps. He led until his next green flag pit stop on lap 95 and gave the lead to Kevin Harvick. Harvick made his stop on lap 96 and gave the lead back to Busch. Harvick dropped to the tail end of the field as he was caught speeding on pit road. Busch hit pit road on lap 103 and handed the lead to Matt Kenseth. Kenseth led for three laps before returning the lead back to Gordon.

Second half

The fifth caution came out on lap 112, when Johnson – after going a lap down early in the race and getting up as high as fifth – hit the wall in turn 2. He described his incidents as "I got tight off Turn 1 off the fence" for his first scrape with the wall, and later deemed himself "clueless" at the second hit, stating that "It didn't act like a tire went down. It just went straight. Hopefully we can get a reason why".[19]

The Big One

The race restarted on lap 117, but before the end of the first complete lap after the restart, the sixth caution flag came out for a large crash involving 13 cars on the Long Pond Straightaway. It started when Denny Hamlin got sucked around by air off of Clint Bowyer's car in an outside line of cars and started to spin out. Hamlin saved his car, but Brian Vickers collided with Matt Kenseth while checking up to avoid Hamlin, and collected Aric Almirola, Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard, Tony Stewart, Justin Allgaier, Harvick, Michael Annett, Martin Truex, Jr. and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.. While Harvick, Allgaier, and a couple of others continued, many of the cars involved were knocked out of the race; Harvick would later manage to pick his way through to a second-place finish. There were only 15 cars on the lead lap before the restart. Hamlin referred to his part in the incident as being "stuck three-wide" and that he was "sucked around" when Bowyer was passing him. Kenseth expressed his frustration at being involved in the crash, stating that his car had "been in all the big wrecks this year", and that "it seems like you're always in the wrong place at the wrong time".[20]

While under caution – on lap 119 – Gordon achieved his 24,000th career lap led,[21] and led the field to the restart on lap 127. Gordon made his final stop and handed the lead to Harvick on lap 132, before Greg Biffle took the lead four laps later. On lap 139, the seventh caution came out when Allmendinger, laps down with damage from the lap 117 crash, hit the wall in turn 1. The race restarted with 17 laps to go.

Final laps

On lap 147, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. passed Biffle for the lead, and had managed to build up a 3.5 second lead on Harvick by lap 153, when it was erased after the eighth caution of the race came out, after Busch hit the wall exiting turn 2. The final restart came with three laps remaining, with Earnhardt, Jr. restarting on the prevailing outside lane. He assumed the lead, with Harvick running about a car length behind and Logano just behind them. Earnhardt held off the chasers for the last three laps to win the race, completing the first Pocono sweep since Hamlin in 2006. Earnhardt, Jr. reflected on the sweep, stating that his team "definitely went home from the last race and made our car better" and that's what I'm proud of this team for". He also praised the strategy of his crew chief, Steve Letarte. Harvick was impressed with his car's speed in both Pocono races, and that his team "were able to capitalize on it and get a good finish".[22]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 988Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16047
2 64Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16043
3 222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord16042
4 1415Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota16040
5 2516Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord16040
6 524Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16040
7 81Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet16037
8 2131Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet16036
9 1311Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16035
10 125Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16034
11 142Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet16033
12 2413Casey MearsGermain RacingFord16032
13 441Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16032
14 279Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord16030
15 113Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet16029
16 2251Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet16028
17 3038David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord16028
18 2317Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord15926
19 3934David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord15925
20 3783Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota15924
21 3326Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota15923
22 387Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingFord15922
23 32Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord15921
24 3198Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet15920
25 3432Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord15819
26 4037Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15818
27 3536Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15817
28 4233Alex KennedyHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet15816
29 2699Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord15715
30 1010Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet15614
31 3623Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota15413
32 1978Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet14412
33 2927Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14311
34 2047A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet13711
35 2843Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord12510
36 1614Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet1248
37 1555Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota1167
38 1820Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1167
39 1748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1115
40 4166Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota880
41 3240Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet280
42 718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota232
43 4393Johnny SauterBK RacingToyota110

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 15
  • Cautions: 8 for 35 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 8 minutes and 22 seconds
  • Average speed: 127.411 miles per hour (205.048 km/h)

Media

Television

ESPN
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
Turn 1: Dave Moody
Turn 2: Mike Bagley
Turn 3: Buddy Long
Winston Kelly
Steve Post
Alex Hayden
Woody Cain

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  3. "Pocono Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 2, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 2, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  8. "Gobowling.com 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  9. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  10. "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  11. Paulsen (August 5, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: Pocono Rating Lowest Since At Least '98". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  12. Report, Staff (July 27, 2014). "Record win at Indy helps Gordon clinch Chase spot". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  13. "Jeff Gordon wins Brickyard 400". ESPN.com. The Associated Press. July 28, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  14. Pistone, Pete (July 27, 2014). "Indy High Five for Gordon". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  15. "NASCAR TRACK: POCONO RACEWAY". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  16. "Pocono Raceway". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  17. Long, Dustin (August 1, 2014). "First Career Pole for Larson". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  18. "Car troubles send Kyle Busch to garage early". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  19. Report, Staff (August 3, 2014). "Second blown tire crushes Johnson's car, day". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  20. Long, Dustin (August 3, 2014). "Talladega-Like Crash Strikes At Pocono". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  21. "Multiple cars pile up after restart". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  22. Pistone, Pete (August 3, 2014). "Earnhardt Jr. Sweeps Pocono". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Brickyard 400
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2014 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen
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