2016 Toyota Owners 400

The 2016 Toyota Owners 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on April 24, 2016, at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps on the 0.75 mile (1.2 km) asphalt short track, it was the ninth race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Carl Edwards won the race, Kyle Busch finished second, and Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five. The race had 23 lead changes among different drivers and eight cautions over 29 laps.

2016 Toyota Owners 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 9 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date April 24, 2016 (2016-04-24)
Location Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.2 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (480 km)
Weather Clear blue skies with a temperature of 67 °F (19 °C); wind out of the north at 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Average speed 97.070 mph (156.219 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Stewart-Haas Racing
Time 20.919
Most laps led
Driver Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 154
Winner
No. 19 Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Nielsen Ratings 2.9/5 (Overnight)[10]
3.1/5 (Final)[11]
4.7 million viewers[11]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Mike Bagley (Backstretch)

Report

Background

Richmond International Raceway, the track where the race was held.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

The entry list for the Toyota Owners 400 was released on Monday, April 18 at 12:58 a.m. Eastern time. Forty-one cars are entered for the race.

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23David RaganBK RacingToyota
24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)Go FAS RacingFord
34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord
46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota
95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official entry list

First practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 20.919 and a speed of 129.069 mph (207.716 km/h).[12] The session was cut short by rain.[13]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet20.919129.069
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord20.980128.694
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.063128.187
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Kevin Harvick scored the pole position.

Kevin Harvick earned the pole for Sunday's race after rain washed out qualifying.[14] He said afterwards that his team "had decided to come into the weekend and approach qualifying a little bit different, with just the way the race tracks have been and the timing of the practices. We decided to go and take advantage of being the first car on the race track, which is usually a big advantage here when the track is green and doesn't have a lot of rubber on it. It worked out today, and Rodney and everybody had a good plan, and it's going to be interesting just for the fact that, the second and third times out, the times weren't near what the first time was because the tires fall off -- which is great."[15]

Joey Logano, who earned the second starting spot, said that he felt "like my team did a great job understanding the weather today before we hit the race track. We went out there and made our qualifying run off the truck and then focused in on race trim thinking that we weren’t going to qualifying anyway. The plan was executed perfectly besides second instead of first. Overall it is a good starting spot.”[16]

Starting lineup

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
4 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
5 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
6 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
7 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
8 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
9 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
10 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
11 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
12 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
13 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
14 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
15 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
16 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
17 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
18 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
19 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord
20 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord
21 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
22 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
23 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
24 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
25 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
26 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
27 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
28 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
29 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
30 23David RaganBK RacingToyota
31 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
32 95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
33 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
34 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
35 55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
36 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
37 93Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota
38 32Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)Go FAS RacingFord
39 15Clint Bowyer[N 1]HScott MotorsportsChevrolet
40 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
Did not qualify
41 98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official starting lineup

Final practice

Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.342 and a speed of 120.849 mph (194.488 km/h).[17]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.342120.849
2 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.384120.622
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota22.408120.493
Official final practice results

Race

Start

Carl Edwards won the race.

Under clear blue Virginia skies, Kevin Harvick led the field to the green flag at 1:16 p.m. After 15 laps, he pulled to seven-tenths of a second over Jimmie Johnson. By lap 20, however, Johnson reeled in Harvick and passed him on the outside going into turn 1 to take the lead on lap 21. After 10 laps, he pulled to a second and a quarter lead over Harvick. By lap 54, Carl Edwards pulled to within a quarter of a second of Johnson. After battling back and forth for nearly 10 laps, Edwards edged Johnson for the lead on lap 63. Johnson would pull back ahead to retake it the next lap. Edwards pulled ahead of Johnson the next lap to assume the lead. A number of teams began pitting on lap 85. Edwards pitted on lap 90 and handed the lead to Denny Hamlin. He pitted the next lap and handed the lead to Johnson. He pitted the next lap and handed the lead to Matt Kenseth. He pitted the next lap and the lead cycled back to Edwards.

Second quarter

After the first cycle of stops, Edwards led over Kyle Busch by two seconds. By lap 115, however, that lead had been cut by half a second. By lap 155. Busch pulled to within half a second of teammate Edwards. Debris on the backstretch brought out the first caution of the race on lap 157. Busch exited pit road with the race lead. Chris Buescher and Hamlin were tagged for an uncontrolled tire and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.

The race restarted on lap 165. Edwards spun the tires on the restart and Busch pulled away. Edwards, however, reeled him back in and took back the lead on lap 169. Debris on the backstretch brought out the second caution of the race on lap 195.

Halfway

The race restarted on lap 203. By lap 231, Harvick reeled in and passed Edwards for the lead. After 15 laps, he pulled away to a two and three-quarter second lead over Edwards. Debris in turn 2 brought out the third caution of the race on lap 251. It came from the shredded tire of the No. 23 car of David Ragan.

The race restarted on lap 258. The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 268 for a single-car incident in turn 2. After cutting down his left-rear, Tony Stewart suffered a blowout and slowed down on the track. Brad Keselowski opted not to pit and assumed the lead.

The race restarted on lap 275. After going back and forth for three laps, Kurt Busch passed Keselowski for the lead. Brother Kyle passed him for the lead on lap 287. Debris in turns 1 and 2 brought out the fifth caution of the race with 88 laps to go. Kurt Busch exited pit road with the race lead.

Fourth quarter

The race restarted with 82 laps to go. The sixth caution of the race flew one lap later for a single-car spin in turn 4. Exiting the turn, Ryan Newman suffered a left-rear tire blowout and spun out.

The race restarted with 75 laps to go and the seventh caution of the race flew just after the restart for a spin by Ryan Ellis after being turned by Landon Cassill.

The race restarted with 66 to go. The eighth caution of the race flew with 42 laps to go for a single-car spin in turn 4 involving Brian Scott. Kyle Busch exited pit road with the race lead.

The race restarted with 36 laps to go. Rounding turn 4, Edwards bumped Busch out of the lead and scored the victory.[18]

Driver comments

Edwards said in victory lane that Kyle Busch is "an amazing teammate and it’s like he got really slow there at the end. Something happened that last lap. It was like his rear tires went off or something. He went down into (turn) one and I dove it in and I got to him and I thought, ‘Man, I’ve got something.’ And he went to get down to the bottom and park it in three and four and I had already decided to go down there so I thought, ‘Man, I’m going to give him a little nudge,’ and we both have got wins and we’re racing for fun getting these trophies and just an awesome day.”[19]

“It's racing, I guess,” Busch said. “We had a really great car. We were fast - maybe not as good as Carl on the long run. The guys gave me everything we needed today. We lost it there on the second-to-last run, but we had a shot to win and that's all that matters."[20]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 419Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40045
2 918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40040
3 348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40039
4 85Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40037
5 14Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40037
6 511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40036
7 1320Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40035
8 222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord40033
9 2278Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota40032
10 741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40032
11 62Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord40031
12 2324Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40029
13 1688Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40028
14 1916Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord40027
15 1542Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet40026
16 271Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet40025
17 176Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord40024
18 1431Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40023
19 1814Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40022
20 113Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40021
21 2443Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord40020
22 2627Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40019
23 3023David RaganBK RacingToyota40018
24 2110Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet40017
25 1047A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet40016
26 1217Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord40015
27 2838Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord39914
28 2921Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord39913
29 2513Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet39912
30 3683Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota39911
31 3295Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet39910
32 347Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet3999
33 3915Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet3988
34 3334Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord3967
35 2044Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord3956
36 4046Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet3945
37 3793Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota3930
38 3832Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)Go FAS RacingFord3923
39 3130Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet3902
40 3555Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet3901
https://web.archive.org/web/20160508115121/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2016/pdfs/09rir2016racereport.pdf Official race results]

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 23 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 29
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 5 minutes and 26 seconds
  • Average speed: 97.07 miles per hour (156.22 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered their 16th race at the Richmond International Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Richmond winner Jeff Gordon and six-time Richmond winner Darrell Waltrip had the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.

Fox Television
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum

Radio

MRN will have the radio call for the race which will also be simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and six-time Richmond winner Rusty Wallace will call the race in the booth when the field is racing down the frontstretch. Mike Bagley will call the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field is racing down the backstretch. Kim Coon, Alex Hayden and Steve Post will work pit road for the radio side.

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Mike BagleyKim Coon
Alex Hayden
Steve Post

Standings after the race

Note

  1. Clint Bowyer started from the rear of the field for a transmission change.

References

  1. "2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  2. "Richmond International Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 18, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  5. "Starting Lineup". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  6. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 23, 2016. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. "Toyota Owners 400 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 24, 2016. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  8. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 24, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. "Manufacturers standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  10. Paulsen (April 25, 2016). "NASCAR on FOX Overnights Low Again, This Time at Richmond". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  11. Paulsen (April 29, 2016). "Richmond Continues Rough Stretch For NASCAR on FOX". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  12. Spencer, Lee (April 22, 2016). "Harvick tops Cup practice, Stewart completes first laps of 2016". Motorsport.com. Richmond, Virginia: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  13. White, Tucker (April 22, 2016). "Harvick fastest in first practice". SpeedwayMedia.com. USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  14. Kurz, Hank (April 22, 2016). "Harvick wins pole on rainy day at Richmond". Associated Press. Richmond, Virginia: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  15. Spencer, Reid (April 22, 2016). "Kevin Harvick on Richmond pole position after qualifying rained out". NASCAR.com. Richmond, Virginia: NASCAR Media Group, LLC. NASCAR Wire Service. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  16. Albert, Barry (April 22, 2016). "Qualifying cancelled; Harvick on the pole for Sunday's race at Richmond". SpeedwayMedia.com. Richmond, Virginia: USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  17. Utter, Jim (April 23, 2016). "Jimmie Johnson leads final Richmond practice". Motorsport.com. Richmond, Virginia: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  18. Kurz, Hank (April 24, 2016). "Edwards passes Kyle Busch on last lap to win at Richmond". Associated Press. Richmond, Virginia: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  19. Pistone, Pete (April 24, 2016). "Edwards Bumps to Richmond Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  20. James, Brant (April 24, 2016). "Kyle Busch on Carl Edwards pass: 'It's racing'". USA Today. Richmond, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
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