2014 STP 500

The 2014 STP 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on March 30, 2014, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the 0.526 miles (0.847 km) oval, it was the sixth race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kurt Busch won the race, his first win with Stewart-Haas Racing, breaking an 83-race winless streak. Jimmie Johnson finished second, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Joey Logano, and Marcos Ambrose rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Austin Dillon (15th), Justin Allgaier (23rd), and Kyle Larson (27th).

2014 STP 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 6 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date March 30, 2014 (2014-03-30)
Location Martinsville Speedway
Ridgeway, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Weather Mostly cloudy with a temperature around 48 °F (9 °C); wind out of the NNW at 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)
Average speed 72.176 mph (116.156 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 18.998
Most laps led
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 296
Winner
No. 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox & MRN
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds (Television)
Joe Moore and Barney Hall (Booth)
Dave Moody (Backstretch) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 4.2/10 (Final)
3.8/9 (Overnight)
6.7 Million viewers[9]

Previous week's race

On the final lap of the Auto Club 400, Kyle Busch passed his brother Kurt Busch and held off a hard charging rookie Kyle Larson to win the race.[10] "Holy cow, what do you expect when you have a green-white-checkered finish and everyone comes down pit road to put on four tires," Busch said. "That's a Days of Thunder thing right there. What do you mean, there's two laps to go, everybody is to pit, Cole. I came off the fourth turn in disbelief that we won this thing, because we were mediocre all day. It was really weird for us, not a race that we're typically used to. But now there's a load off your shoulders that you can go out the rest of the season and race the way you want to."[10] After winning his first Nationwide Series race the previous day, Larson stated that it had "been a really good weekend" and that he had been battling "probably a 12th place car for most of the day".[10]

Report

Background

Martinsville Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

The track, Martinsville Speedway, is a four-turn short track that is 0.526 miles (0.847 km) long.[11] The track's turns are banked at eleven degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, has a zero degree banking.[11] Like the front stretch, the backstraightaway also doesn't have a banked surface.[11] The race consisted of 500 laps, equivalent to a race distance of 263 miles (423 km).[11] The defending race winner was Jimmie Johnson.

Entry list

The entry list for the STP 500 was released on Monday, March 24 at 9:03 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)Swan RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord
33David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
35David ReutimannFront 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
66Joe Nemechek (i)Michael Waltrip RacingToyota
78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord
98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet
99Carl EdwardsRoush-Fenway RacingFord
Official entry list
Key Meaning
(R) Rookie
(i) Ineligible for points
(PC#) Past champions provisional

Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the first and ultimately, only practice session of the weekend with a time of 18.932 and a speed of 100.021 mph (160.968 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota18.932100.021
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord19.06799.313
3 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19.09499.173
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Kyle Busch scored the pole position.

Kyle Busch won the pole with a time of 18.998 and a speed of 99.674 mph (160.410 km/h).[12] Busch felt that his car seemed "to be working well right now, whatever is working" but felt that he had "to be a little bit faster. There's still some speed to be gained and some consistency throughout races as well keeping speed throughout a run. There's room for improvement still".[12] David Reutimann failed to qualify for the race.[12] Rain washed out the two other practice sessions that were due to be held the day before the race.

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19.00818.988
2 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota18.96019.022
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord18.89819.045
4 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.05319.093
5 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.04819.118
6 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19.03719.118
7 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet19.13319.150
8 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord19.05719.157
9 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet19.01819.200
10 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet19.09619.290
11 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord19.08919.369
12 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota19.07419.445
13 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota19.134
14 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord19.141
15 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet19.149
16 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19.151
17 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord19.183
18 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet19.184
19 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota19.193
20 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord19.200
21 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19.203
22 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet19.203
23 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet19.205
24 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord19.205
25 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet19.238
26 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.248
27 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.252
28 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet19.257
29 32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord19.274
30 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord19.282
31 78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet19.283
32 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingToyota19.322
33 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet19.331
34 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet19.345
35 26Cole Whitt (R)Swan RacingToyota19.358
36 40Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet19.370[N 1]
37 33David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet19.385
38 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota19.402
39 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord19.430
40 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet19.478
41 30Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota19.506
42 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet19.511
43 66Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota19.657
Did not qualify
44 35David ReutimannFront Row MotorsportsFord19.370
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

The race began at 1:13 p.m. Eastern time with Kyle Busch leading the field to the green flag from the outside line on the initial start. With the tight confines of Martinsville, it did not take long for the first caution of the race to wave. It flew on lap 2 after Parker Kligerman hit the back of Martin Truex, Jr. and spun out in turn 3. A number of cars towards the back were on pit road for damage sustained in a classic Martinsville accordion effect. The race restarted on lap 11, before Matt Kenseth took the lead on lap 17. Jimmie Johnson took the lead on lap 21 and held the lead to the competition caution on lap 41 due to overnight rain. Travis Kvapil stayed out to lead a lap before giving the lead back to Johnson. Brad Keselowski was exiting pit road when he collided with Kasey Kahne who was entering. The bulk of the damage came when Kurt Busch clipped the right side of Keselowski's car. He was forced to take his car to the garage.[13] Keselowski felt that Busch "just accelerated and drove through us, absolutely drove through us" and that he was "tired of his recklessness".[13]

Tempers flaring

The race restarted on lap 48, with Kenseth retaking the lead on lap 56. Kyle Busch took back the lead on lap 59, before the lead cycled to Joey Logano on lap 65, and back to Johnson on lap 82. Keselowski returned to the track for a payback move at Kurt Busch; he gave out the middle finger until Kurt Busch bumped him out of the way. Keselowski's car ultimately left a tire mark on the left side of Kurt Busch's car.[13] After the race, Kurt Busch stated that he had "steered right to go around Brad and he clobbers our left-side door" and later described Keselowski's move as "punk-ass" and that he "will get what he gets back when I decide to give it back".[13] The two drivers battled for 17 laps in total. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. wheel-hopped the curb in turn 1 trying to avoid ramming Kurt Busch and scraped the wall, which brought out the third caution of the race on lap 103. Matt Kenseth beat Jimmie Johnson off pit road to take the lead for the restart, on lap 110.

Cautions breed cautions

Logano took back the lead on lap 111, before the fourth caution of the race flew on lap 114 after Kvapil clipped Michael Annett going into turn 3, with the incident also involving David Gilliland. From the restart at lap 120, Logano maintained the lead until lap 133, when Johnson returned to the head of the race. Greg Biffle became the race's next leader on lap 155, and held the lead until the fifth caution of the race flew on lap 170 after Casey Mears got tapped by Gilliland in turn 1 and sent him spinning. Marcos Ambrose beat Biffle off pit road to take the lead for the restart on lap 179. Ambrose led until on lap 195 when Kenseth passed him. The sixth caution of the race flew on lap 200 after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. tapped Jamie McMurray in turn 2 and sent his car into the wall. Kenseth led the field to the restart on lap 208, before Johnson returned to the lead on lap 213.

Halfway

Kurt Busch won the race.

The seventh caution of the race flew on lap 219 after Alex Bowman got hit in the rear by Gilliland and rear-ended the wall in turn 4. Earnhardt, Jr. stayed out on track while others pitted for tires, and thus took the lead for the restart, on lap 226. A short green-flag run followed before debris in turn 1 brought out the eighth caution of the race on lap 231. Kevin Harvick's run of mechanical mishaps continued when he was forced to pit because of a broken rear-end chain. Earnhardt, Jr. still led the field for the restart on lap 238, before Kurt Busch took the lead on lap 243. Johnson returned to the front on lap 245, before the ninth caution of the race flew at the halfway mark, after Ryan Truex was sent spinning into the turn 4 wall. Harvick stayed out to lead a lap before pitting and the lead cycled back to Kenseth for the restart, on lap 258.

Closing stages

Earnhardt, Jr. took back the lead on lap 260, before Johnson (lap 265) and Clint Bowyer (lap 284) both went to the head of the race. Johnson retook the lead on lap 288, and held the top spot until the next caution, the 10th, flew on lap 315 after Joe Nemechek hit the wall in turn 4. The race restarted on lap 323, and Johnson stayed out front until the 11th caution of the race flew on lap 340 after Kyle Larson got loose and spun out exiting turn 2. The race restarted on lap 347, with Bowyer and Johnson swapping the lead before a piece of debris brought out the 12th caution of the race on lap 349. Johnson maintained the lead from the restart on lap 358 to the 13th caution of the race, which flew with 90 laps to go after Martin Truex, Jr. got turned by Keselowski in turn 2.

Finish

The race restarted with 83 laps to go, with Johnson leading until 51 laps to go, when Bowyer assumed the lead. The 14th caution of the race flew with 42 laps to go after Carl Edwards got loose and spun out in turn 2. Bowyer and Johnson swapped the lead on pit road, as Johnson won the race off to take the lead. The race restarted with 35 laps to go, and was passed by Kurt Busch 7 laps later. Johnson had another spell out front with 18 laps to go, but Kurt Busch took the lead back with 11 laps to go and held off Johnson to end his 83-race winless streak, and achieved his 25th career victory.[14] Busch stated that he "didn't know if we'd be able to do it, you know? The 48 car is king here, him or the 24", and that he had "been on this journey for a while and every time you come to Martinsville, you just kind of draw a line through it like there's no way I'll be able to challenge those Hendrick guys or be up in the top 10. This Stewart-Haas team gave me a car to do it."[14] Johnson, who led 296 laps, stated that his car was "so on edge slipping and sliding" and that a "lack of security in our own car kept us from feeling more racy and putting a bumper to someone or really getting inside someone aggressively".[14]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 2241Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50047
2 548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50044
3 2688Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50042
4 322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50041
5 179Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50040
6 620Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50039
7 184Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50038
8 2043Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50036
9 1215Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota50036
10 2127Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50034
11 1547A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50034
12 524Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50032
13 899Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord50031
14 118Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50031
15 343Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet50029
16 1355Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota50028
17 714Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50027
18 1116Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50027
19 211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50025
20 1631Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50024
21 3178Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet50023
22 275Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50022
23 2551Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet50021
24 2313Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet50020
25 3640Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet5000
26 3938David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord49918
27 2842Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49817
28 2434David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord49716
29 3526Cole Whitt (R)Swan RacingToyota49715
30 3883Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota49614
31 407Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet49513
32 1010Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49412
33 2932Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord49312
34 4236Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet49210
35 3398Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet4929
36 1923Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota4888
37 3295Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingToyota4747
38 142Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord4696
39 3733David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet4405
40 3017Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord4094
41 4130Parker Kligerman (R)Swan RacingToyota4083
42 91Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet3962
43 4366Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota3100

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 33 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 14 for 92
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 38 minutes, and 38 seconds
  • Average speed: 72.176 miles per hour (116.156 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Larry McReynolds
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
Krista Voda
Jeff Hammond

Radio

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Barney Hall
Backstretch: Dave MoodyWinston Kelly
Steve Post
Alex Hayden
Woody Cain

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. Landon Cassill and David Reutimann both set a lap time of 19.370 in Round 1 for 36th position, the final guaranteed starting spot. As Cassill's team was higher in owner's points, Cassill qualified for the race at the expense of Reutimann, since his team was lowest in owner's points of those whose times were outside the top 36.

References

  1. "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  2. "Martinsville Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  3. "Entry List". jayski.com. NASCAR Public Relations Statistics. March 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 28, 2014. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 28, 2014. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  6. "STP 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 30, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  7. "Points Standings" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Statistics. March 30, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  8. "Manufacturer Standings" (PDF). jayski.com. NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications. March 30, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  9. Paulsen (April 4, 2014). "Nielsen Ratings". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  10. Pistone, Pete (March 23, 2014). "Kyle Busch Charges to the Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  11. "About the Track". Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  12. Long, Dustin (March 28, 2014). "Kyle Busch Wins Martinsville Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  13. Long, Dustin (March 30, 2014). "Emotions High for Ex-Teammates". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  14. Pistone, Pete (March 30, 2014). "Kurt Busch Back in Victory Lane". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Auto Club 400
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2014 Duck Commander 500
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