2014 Irwin Tools Night Race

The 2014 Irwin Tools Night Race was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on August 23, 2014, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 500 laps, it was the 24th race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Joey Logano of Team Penske took his third win of the season. Logano's teammate Brad Keselowski finished second while Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, and Kurt Busch completed the top five placings. The top rookies of the race were Kyle Larson (12th), Justin Allgaier (19th), and Austin Dillon (28th). This would also be the final race for veteran NASCAR driver, Jeff Burton.

2014 Irwin Tools Night Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 24 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date August 23, 2014 (2014-August-23)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Weather Partly cloudy with a temperature of 82 °F (28 °C); wind out of the NNW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
Average speed 92.965 mph (149.613 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Stewart-Haas Racing
Time 14.607
Most laps led
Driver Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing
Laps 148
Winner
No. 22 Joey Logano Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network ABC & PRN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree (Television)
Doug Rice and Mark Garrow (Booth)
Rob Albright (Backstretch) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 3.2/7 (Final)
3.0/7 (Overnight)
5.1 Million viewers[9]

Previous week's race

Jeff Gordon took the lead from Joey Logano at the final restart and went on to win for the 91st time in his career, in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Gordon stated that he had "got a really good restart, and I got to his quarter panel in Turn 1 and I was able to drag him back and it allowed me to get the momentum and get by him". Logano felt he had Gordon cleared and lamented that he "should have pulled down in front of him".[10]

Report

Background

Turns 1 & 2 on Raceday at Bristol.

Bristol Motor Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.533 miles (0.858 km) long.[11] The track's turns are banked from twenty-four to thirty degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked from six to ten degrees. The back stretch also has banking from six to ten degrees.[11] The track has a seating capacity of 160,000 people.[11] The race consisted of 500 laps; equivalent to a race distance of 266.5 miles (428.9 km).[11] The defending race winner was Matt Kenseth.

Tony Stewart was on the entry list for the weekend's race, but following the events that took place at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, it was unknown if he'd be in the car.[12] On Wednesday, August 20, Stewart-Haas Racing released a statement that Stewart would sit out again and Jeff Burton would drive in his place.[13] The team would continue to evaluate the drive on a week-by-week basis.[14]

Ryan Truex was cleared to race at Bristol after missing the previous week's race at Michigan. He suffered a concussion in a single car crash during the second practice session and J. J. Yeley drove in his place. Truex stated that he was "happy to be back to it this weekend" on Twitter.[15]

Entry list

The entry list for the Irwin Tools Night Race was released on Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:05 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
14Jeff Burton[N 1]Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
16Greg BiffleRoush-Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush-Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt Kenseth (PC4)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota
24Jeff Gordon (PC5)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32J. J. Yeley (i)Go FAS RacingFord
33David StremmeHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
37Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
40Landon Cassill (i)Hillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet
41Kurt Busch (PC3)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
66Brett MoffittIdentity Ventures 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

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 14.638 and a speed of 131.083 mph (210.958 km/h). David Gilliland hit the wall as a result of a stuck throttle; he was forced to switch to a backup car as a result.

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet14.638131.083
2 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.697130.557
3 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.703130.504
Official first practice results

Final practice

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 14.642 and a speed of 131.048 mph (210.901 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord14.642131.048
2 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.646131.012
3 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.662130.869
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Kevin Harvick won the pole with a new track record time of 14.607 and a speed of 131.362 mph (211.407 km/h). Harvick saw his qualifying position as an advantage, as he deemed that "track position is definitely as important as it is anywhere here with the current groove and where you are running" and also "felt good about our car during practice and just have to stay in there all night and do the best we can". Jeff Gordon joined Harvick on the front row, and stated that he "thought our car was a little bit better in race trim than it was in qualifying trim when we swapped over", and also stated that the conditions of the track were very tricky. Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson and Cole Whitt hit the wall during qualifying, with Almirola lamenting the fact and stating he had "probably the best race car I've ever had at Bristol and I screwed up and hit the fence".[16]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.71914.607
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.68814.615
3 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord14.72214.624
4 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.73214.641
5 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord14.75214.644
6 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.74714.644
7 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.74314.654
8 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord14.75214.662
9 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord14.73714.703
10 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord14.73014.708
11 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14.73414.741
12 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.75414.759
13 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.762
14 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota14.772
15 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota14.774
16 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.796
17 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14.796
18 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet14.800
19 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet14.810
20 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.848
21 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord14.855
22 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet14.856
23 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet14.892
24 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.903
25 14Jeff BurtonStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.935
26 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet14.960
27 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota14.992
28 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord14.994
29 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord15.004
30 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet15.048
31 66Brett MoffittIdentity Ventures RacingToyota15.053
32 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord15.055
33 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota15.057
34 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota15.066
35 37Dave BlaneyRandy Humphrey RacingFord15.099
36 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15.102
37 32J. J. YeleyGo FAS RacingFord15.184
38 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15.200
39 40Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet15.301
40 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet15.356
41 33David StremmeHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet15.506
42 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord0.000
43 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet0.000
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

The start of the race.

The race was scheduled to start at 7:46 p.m. Eastern time but started three minutes late when Kevin Harvick led the field to the green. Harvick led the race until lap 38 when Jeff Gordon took the lead. He led until lap 55 when Kyle Busch assumed the lead of the race, and held it to the first caution of the race; at lap 61, there was a competition caution that had been scheduled due to overnight rain showers around the vicinity of the circuit. Harvick retook the lead during the caution period; Kyle Busch came off pit road as the leader, but he was sent to the rear of the field for speeding in the pits and Matt Kenseth assumed the lead for the restart on lap 68.

Calamity

The caution came out a lap later for a multi-car crash in turn 2, before the race restarted on lap 77. Kenseth maintained the lead of the race, for a good portion of the race; he was not headed until Joey Logano took the lead on lap 104. The caution flew for the third time on lap 125 for a multi-car wreck on the backstretch that began when Brian Vickers got into Kyle Larson, and then spun into Aric Almirola. Clint Bowyer then ran into Kyle Busch, sending Busch spinning into the inside wall.[17] Denny Hamlin took the lead during the caution period, and held the lead as the race restarted on lap 137.

Tempers flare

"He thinks he knows everything. I wish I had some kind of car left to show him the favor back. We're not even halfway. It's just a misjudgment. He's a good driver. He knows better. He made a mistake. I thought for sure after the first couple of runs we were going to win the race. We were really fast. These are the racetracks we have to capitalize on. With what we've got, these are the tracks we can get wins and get the momentum going for the Chase. This is still not going to stop our momentum because we ran strong."

Denny Hamlin, referring to Kevin Harvick after their collision while racing for the lead.

While racing for the lead, Harvick tapped Hamlin, which sent him spinning into the inside wall on the front stretch. Hamlin's car bounced off the wall, and back up towards the track where it hit the left-hand side of the car of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., ripping all the protection foam out of it. This brought out the fourth caution of the race on lap 161; Hamlin subsequently threw his HANS device at Harvick's car. This was the second straight year that the two drivers had a post-crash altercation during the summer Bristol race. Post-race, Harvick described the incident as "I just lost the front end, honestly", apportioning blame on himself. Hamlin was angered at the way his race ended, which left him with a 40th-place finish. Earnhardt, Jr. tried to avoid a collision with Hamlin's car, but as he described it, "there was a lot of smoke so I couldn't really judge the speed of his car to know whether I needed to be going up there and go around him on the top". The damage to his car – the lower control arm was torn off his left-front tire – left him with a 39th-place finish.[18]

Racing at Thunder Valley.

The race restarted on lap 173 with Harvick leading the way. Harvick held the lead until the fifth caution of the race, which flew on lap 195, after Michael Annett hit the wall in turn 4. Kasey Kahne took the lead after staying out when the leaders pitted, and led the field to the restart on lap 201. Kahne led the next portion of the race, before Jamie McMurray took over at the front on lap 238. McMurray led until the caution flew for the sixth time on lap 264, after Danica Patrick got spun out by Alex Bowman in turn 2. Bowman referred to the incident as looking "like somebody slid up a couple of cars in front of her and they all checked up", and added that he spoke to Patrick post-race about the incident – this occurred after Patrick ran up on Bowman to show her displeasure, after the incident. Patrick stated that her and Bowman had made up but stated that if the two came into contact on the track again, "worse things will happen".[19] Brad Keselowski took the lead during the pit cycle, and held the race lead for the restart on lap 270. Keselowski maintained the race beyond the 300-lap mark, and until lap 312, when McMurray assumed the lead once again. McMurray held the lead for almost 50 laps before the caution flag flew for the seventh time during the race; this was caused by debris on the track. McMurray won the race off pit road, despite Logano momentarily taking the lead through the pit process.

Second half

Caution on the racetrack

The race restarted on lap 367, with McMurray in the lead. It was a short-lived restart, as the caution came out for the eighth time on lap 375 after Marcos Ambrose crashed on the front stretch. McMurray again led to the restart, on lap 382. A 50-lap green-flag period followed, before the ninth and final caution of the race – on lap 431 – for debris. Logano and Matt Kenseth both led a lap during the caution period, before the restart on lap 438. Kyle Busch had been complaining late in the race about his car; he stated over his car's radio that "I need a whole new right front suspension, a whole new right front suspension". In light of his driver's complaints, crew chief Dave Rogers had no sympathy for him: "Park it behind the truck and take your whiny little ass to the bus". Busch recorded a 36th-place finish, after leading eight laps earlier in the race. Rogers deemed the race as "frustrating", and also stated that he and Busch spoke after the race following the communications over the radio, and "had a great talk". Team owner Joe Gibbs said Busch and Rogers cleared the air before they left the track, after "a frustrating night", but Gibbs was "kind of used to it".[20] Logano took the lead with 45 laps to go and had to hold off a late race charge by Penske teammate Keselowski to score his third win of the 2014 season. Logano described the result as "awesome", and also reflected on his personal best 2014 campaign. Keselowski praised Logano's performance, stating that "he ran a great race" while his car "was just about equal to Joey's but he just had better track position than on us".[21]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 522Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50047
2 92Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50043
3 1620Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50042
4 648Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50040
5 741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50039
6 2117Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord50038
7 399Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord50037
8 181Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50038
9 1727Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50035
10 816Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50034
11 14Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50034
12 4042Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50032
13 1131Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50031
14 2247A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50030
15 2514Jeff BurtonStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49929
16 224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49929
17 1415Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota49827
18 2895Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord49826
19 1951Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet49725
20 2378Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet49724
21 1555Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota49723
22 3940Landon CassillHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet4970
23 2934David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord49621
24 3636Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet49620
25 3238David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord49519
26 4313Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet49518
27 2410Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49317
28 263Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet49316
29 3098Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet49215
30 3426Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota49214
31 4133David StremmeHillman-Circle Sport LLCChevrolet49113
32 2723Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota48912
33 3732J. J. YeleyGo FAS RacingFord4890
34 109Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord48010
35 125Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet47710
36 418Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4429
37 3383Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota3387
38 387Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet2436
39 2088Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1765
40 1311Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1605
41 4243Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord1233
42 3166Brett MoffittIdentity Ventures RacingToyota782
43 3537Dave BlaneyRandy Humphrey RacingFord371

Race statistics

  • 16 lead changes among different drivers
  • 9 cautions for 64 laps
  • Time of race: 2:52:00
  • Joey Logano won his first race at Bristol

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

PRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Backstretch: Rob AlbrightBrett McMillan
Steve Richards
Jim Noble
Wendy Venturini

Standings after the race

Note

  1. Tony Stewart was on the entry list for the race, but sat out following the events in upstate New York. Jeff Burton drove in his place.

References

  1. "Bristol Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  2. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  3. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  4. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  6. "Irwin Tools Night Race Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 23, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  7. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 23, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  8. "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 23, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  9. Paulsen (August 26, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: Hurt By NFL Preemptions, Bristol Hits 3-Year Low". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  10. Long, Dustin (August 17, 2014). "Gordon Triumphs At Michigan". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. "Bristol Motor Speedway Track Facts". BristolMotorSpeedway.com. Bristol Motor Speedway. 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  12. Gluck, Jeff (August 19, 2014). "Joe Gibbs says Stewart has strength, courage to return". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  13. Pockrass, Bob (August 20, 2014). "Tony Stewart to miss third straight race after accident". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  14. Gluck, Jeff (August 20, 2014). "Tony Stewart will not race at Bristol Motor Speedway". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  15. Staff, MRN (August 21, 2014). "Ryan Truex Cleared to Return". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  16. Long, Dustin (August 22, 2014). "Harvick Bristol Pole Winner". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  17. Owens, Jeff (August 23, 2014). "Big crash at Bristol claims Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and others". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  18. Long, Dustin (August 23, 2014). "Hamlin Not Happy With Harvick". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  19. Long, Dustin (August 23, 2014). "Bowman Apologizes To Patrick". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  20. Hembree, Mike (August 23, 2014). "Kyle Busch, crew chief trades barbs at Bristol". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  21. Pistone, Pete (August 23, 2014). "Logano Wins Bristol Battle". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Pure Michigan 400
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2014 Oral-B USA 500
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