2017 Alabama 500

The 2017 Alabama 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 15, 2017, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66 mile (4.2 km) superspeedway, it was the 31st race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the fifth race of the Playoffs, and second race of the Round of 12. Brad Keselowski won the first stage and the race, while Ryan Newman finished second and Trevor Bayne finished third. Ryan Blaney won the second stage.

2017 Alabama 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 31 of 36 in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date October 15, 2017 (2017-10-15)
Location Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.64 km)
Average speed 131.677 miles per hour (211.914 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 50.256
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 59
Winner
No. 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2), Mike Bagley (Backstretch) and Dillon Welch (3 & 4)

Report

Background

Talladega Superspeedway, the track where the race was held.

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.

Entry list

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Justin Marks (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Ty Dillon (R)Germain RacingChevrolet
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Mark Thompson (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Daniel Suárez (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Joey Gase (i)BK RacingToyota
24Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord
33Jeffrey EarnhardtCircle Sport – The Motorsports GroupChevrolet
34Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
55D. J. KenningtonPremium MotorsportsToyota
72Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet
75Brendan Gaughan (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet
77Erik Jones (R)Furniture Row RacingToyota
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Gray Gaulding (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 48.398 seconds and a speed of 197.859 mph (318.423 km/h).[10] During practice, Jimmie Johnson spun in turn 4 after cutting down a left-rear tire from debris. [11]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord48.398197.859
2 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord48.411197.806
3 21Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord48.413197.798
Official first practice results

Final practice

Kasey Kahne was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 50.078 seconds and a speed of 191.222 mph (307.742 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.078191.222
2 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.118191.069
3 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord50.332190.257
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored the pole position.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 50.256 and a speed of 190.544 mph (306.651 km/h).[13]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.29950.256
2 24Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.35650.291
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50.35450.301
4 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord50.37650.329
5 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord50.44750.355
6 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50.41050.360
7 14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord50.46150.459
8 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.51450.460
9 21Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord50.48650.488
10 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord50.50150.491
11 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.57050.501
12 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50.62150.602
13 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingFord50.640
14 19Daniel Suárez (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota50.678
15 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.715
16 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.725
17 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50.725
18 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.746
19 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.757
20 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.767
21 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota50.788
22 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord50.828
23 77Erik Jones (R)Furniture Row RacingToyota50.863
24 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50.875
25 13Ty Dillon (R)Germain RacingChevrolet50.877
26 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50.932
27 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.957
28 37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50.966
29 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingChevrolet51.040
30 34Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord51.098
31 7Justin Marks (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet51.101
32 32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord51.168
33 38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord51.321
34 33Jeffrey EarnhardtCircle Sport – The Motorsports GroupChevrolet51.434
35 75Brendan Gaughan (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet51.652
36 15Mark Thompson (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet51.787
37 23Joey Gase (i)BK RacingToyota51.928
38 72Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet51.935
39 83Gray Gaulding (R)BK RacingToyota52.379
40 55D. J. KenningtonPremium MotorsportsToyota52.484
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the field to the green flag at 2:19 p.m., Joey Logano took the lead on lap 1 and led 19 laps, The first caution of the race flew on lap 27 for a multi-car wreck in the frontstretch, as several drivers tried to drop onto pit road for stops. Jamie McMurray, a playoff driver, was in the heart of the accident as he tried to pit from the track’s second lane. McMurray spun and sailed up the track, where he was hit hard by Jeffrey Earnhardt, Others involved in the wreck were Mark Thompson, Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher and Erik Jones. Busch, whose car received minor damage, blamed the crash on Jamie McMurray, who admitted he made a mistake.

The race restarted on lap 37 and it remained green for 15 laps, Paul Menard whacked the outside wall to bring out the day’s second caution on lap 52, starting a round of pit stops. During the stops, Earnhardt was penalized for speeding on pit road. Menard’s accident occurred near the end of the first stage.

The race restarted on lap 55, and Brad Keselowski finished first, followed by Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, The third caution of the race flew on lap 57 for conclusion of the first stage.

Stage 2

The race restarted on lap 62, Seven-time and reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson wound up in crowded traffic while trying to pit on lap 67. Johnson was bumped by Ty Dillon and that contact pushed Johnson into Danica Patrick. Johnson’s car received right rear fender damage.

Debris on the track brought out the fourth caution of the race on lap 82.

The race restarted on lap 88.

Ryan Blaney, racing to stay in the playoffs, edged Brad Keselowski to win the race’s second stage. Following were Clint Bowyer, Chase Elliott and Kurt Busch, The fifth caution of the race flew on lap 112 for conclusion of the second stage.

Final stage

Brad Keselowski won the race.

The race restarted on lap 116 and it remained green for 37 laps. The last 40 laps of the race were marred by a series of crashes that significantly thinned out the size of the field. On Lap 153, an apparent blown tire sent Trevor Bayne's car sliding into the outside wall near turn 3, producing the race’s sixth caution. Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped into Daniel Suárez in traffic near the accident, but neither car suffered major damage.

The race restarted on lap 156 and the seventh caution of the race flew two laps later for a multi-car wreck at the back of the field in turn 1. A. J. Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Cole Whitt were involved. Bowyer, angry at his team because of a slow pit stop that dropped him deep into the field, where he was swept into the accident, got out of his car on pit road and climbed on his pit wagon to complain to the team.

The race restarted on lap 160 and the eighth caution flew six laps later for a three-car wreck in the backstretch involving D. J. Kennington and Joey Gase.

The race restarted on lap 171 and the ninth caution flew two laps later as a twenty car crash ensued in turn 3. It started when Martin Truex Jr. tried to go four wide and clipped David Ragan, causing Ragan to spin into Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson and collect an additional 16 cars including Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Austin Dillon, Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, Danica Patrick, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brendan Gaughan, and Michael McDowell. A lengthy red flag was brought out to allow for cleanup.

The race restarted on lap 176. The tenth caution of the race flew on lap 177 for a smaller Big One in turn 3, as Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney started a multi-car crash that also collected Brendan Gaughan, Kevin Harvick and Trevor Bayne. Earnhardt and Brad Keselowski barely avoided the crash, which resulted in a second red flag for cleanup.

The race restarted on lap 181 and with only a handful of drivers left in the final laps to decide the race winner, more were eliminated with six laps to go when Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez crashed while racing for the lead. Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson also were collected, which produced the eleventh caution of the race, and a third red flag.

The race restarted on a three lap shootout. Keselowski passed Ryan Newman on the last lap in turn 3 to win the race, with Newman finishing second, Trevor Bayne finishing third, and Logano finishing fourth. Aric Almirola crashed after finishing fifth. Denny Hamlin, Earnhardt, Kasey Kahne, Gray Gaulding and David Ragan rounded out the top ten.[14] Thanks to all of the crashes in the last 40 laps, only 14 cars were running at the finish (with all but Kenseth running on the lead lap), the lowest number of cars to finish at Talladega since 1986, and the most number of cautions at 11 since the spring 2004 race.

Post race

"The right front was an inch and a half low, and I couldn't really push anybody or get some runs going, and nobody wanted to push me 'cause they could see I was struggling a little bit," Earnhardt said. "But we got lucky and missed a lot of wrecks there. It's real hard to get up there and keep that track position. These plate races get harder and harder to win, and congratulations to Brad."

Stage results

Stage 1 Laps: 55

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord10
222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord9
321Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord8
417Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord7
514Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord6
648Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
795Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingChevrolet4
841Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord3
96Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord2
105Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage one results

Stage 2 Laps: 55

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
121Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord10
22Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord9
314Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord8
424Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
541Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord6
63Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet5
748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4
84Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord3
918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2
1011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Official stage two results

Final stage results

Stage 3 Laps: 78

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
132Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord18859
22731Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet18835
3106Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord18836
4322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord18842
52643Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord18832
61511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota18832
7188Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18830
8115Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18830
93983Gray Gaulding (R)BK RacingToyota18828
103338David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord18827
112513Ty Dillon (R)Germain RacingChevrolet18826
122027Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet18825
131242Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet18824
141920Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota18723
151419Daniel Suárez (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota18422
16224Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18228
172837Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet18220
18921Ryan BlaneyWood Brothers RacingFord17737
193575Brendan Gaughan (i)Beard MotorsportsChevrolet1770
20224Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord17620
211310Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingFord17516
222447A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet17215
232178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota17114
24848Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet17123
25441Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord17121
26517Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord17118
271618Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota17112
283034Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord1719
29183Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet17113
302995Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingChevrolet17111
313232Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord1716
323723Joey Gase (i)BK RacingToyota1640
334055D. J. KenningtonPremium MotorsportsToyota1644
343872Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet1553
35714Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord15515
362377Erik Jones (R)Furniture Row RacingToyota261
37171Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet251
383433Jeffrey EarnhardtCircle Sport – The Motorsports GroupChevrolet251
393615Mark Thompson (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet250
40317Justin Marks (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet170
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 16 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 11 for 47
  • Red flags: 3 for 35 minutes and 30 seconds
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 47 minutes, 52 seconds
  • Average speed: 131.677 miles per hour (211.914 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

NBC
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Dave Burns
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio

MRN will cover the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Backstretch: Mike Bagley
Turns 3 & 4: Dan Hubbard
Alex Hayden
Dillon Welch
Kim Coon
Steve Post

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2017 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  2. "Talladega Superspeedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 9, 2017. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 13, 2017. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 13, 2017. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  6. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 14, 2017. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  7. "Alabama 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 15, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  8. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 16, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  9. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 16, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  10. Spencer, Lee (October 13, 2017). "Keselowski leads opening Cup practice at Talladega". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  11. "Johnson cuts tire, spins before making practice lap". Official Cite Of NASCAR. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  12. Spencer, Lee (October 13, 2017). "Kahne and Earnhardt lead final practice at Talladega". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  13. Fryer, Jenna (October 14, 2017). "Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes pole for final Talladega race". Associated Press. Lincoln, Alabama: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  14. Hembree, Mike (October 15, 2017). "Brad Keselowski wins wreck-fest at Talladega to advance in playoffs". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
Previous race:
2017 Bank of America 500
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
2017 season
Next race:
2017 Hollywood Casino 400
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