2014 Quaker State 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 17 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2014 Quaker State 400 program cover. "The Best Drivers Love It. Others Fear It."
The 2014 Quaker State 400 program cover. "The Best Drivers Love It. Others Fear It."
Date June 28, 2014 (2014-06-28)
Location Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Kentucky
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Weather Partly cloudy with a high temperature around 81 °F (27 °C); wind out of the ESE at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
Average speed 139.723 mph (224.862 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Team Penske
Time 28.603
Most laps led
Driver Brad Keselowski Team Penske
Laps 199
Winner
No. 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network TNT & PRN
Announcers Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty (Television)
Doug Rice and Mark Garrow (Booth)
Rob Albright (1 & 2) and Brad Gillie (3 & 4) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 2.3/5
3.6 Million viewers[10]

The 2014 Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on June 28, 2014, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval, it was the 17th race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Brad Keselowski led 199 laps during the race, to take his second win of the season. Kyle Busch finished second, while Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Austin Dillon (16th), Michael Annett (18th), and Justin Allgaier (24th).

Previous week's race

Carl Edwards held off a last lap charge from Jeff Gordon to win the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. "Real tough. That last lap was ugly. I grew up watching Jeff Gordon do well here so to have him in my mirror is special," Edwards said. "This team has been working very hard. The whole group has. It's very special to be a part of something like this."[11]

Report

Background

The race logo for the 2014 Quaker State 400.

Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned Kentucky Speedway until 2008. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 117,000. Construction of the speedway began in 1998 and was completed in mid-2000. The speedway has hosted the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and most recently, the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2011.

Entry list

The entry list for the Quaker State 400 was released on Monday, June 23, 2014, at 9:09 a.m. Eastern time. Only 42 cars entered the race, which made this the first Sprint Cup Series race without a full field of 43 drivers since the 2001 New Hampshire 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NASCAR's senior director of communications Kerry Tharp denied that there was any "magic" to a 43-car grid, and also noted how well the sport had been progressing with an improvement in competition. Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon backed up Tharp's words, with both drivers unconcerned about the lack of a full grid.[12] While the field expanded to 43 on June 27 after BK Racing entered Mike Bliss in the No. 93, J. J. Yeley and Xxxtreme Motorsport withdrew later in the day, citing "internal politics".[12]

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
33David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet
34David RaganFront 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 NemechekMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Mike BlissBK 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

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a lap time of 29.420 and a speed of 183.549 mph (295.393 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29.420183.549
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord29.647182.143
3 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota29.647182.143
Official first practice results

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a lap time of 29.492 and a speed of 183.101 mph (294.672 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord29.492183.101
2 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29.620182.309
3 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29.656182.088
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Brad Keselowski won the pole with a new track record lap time of 28.603 and a speed of 188.791 mph (303.830 km/h). Keselowski was surprised by the performance, having stated that he "thought we were all gonna be a lot slower", and that he would "want to go out there" and achieve the victory. Teammate Joey Logano joined Keselowski on the front row in a Team Penske lockout, in his 200th Cup start. Logano was disappointed to miss out on pole, bemoaning the new-for-2014 qualifying structure.[13]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord29.09228.79028.603
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord29.04928.78328.850
3 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.07728.96728.903
4 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29.24829.03028.974
5 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.32229.02829.016
6 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29.19128.95129.027
7 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.25629.03029.030
8 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29.09929.01429.039
9 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.26328.92229.040
10 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.07029.04829.063
11 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota29.35328.91829.124
12 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.30729.04829.174
13 14Tony Stewart[N 1]Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29.30629.055—
14 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29.22229.077—
15 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet29.20729.110—
16 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.29829.135—
17 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota29.26929.174—
18 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29.34529.181—
19 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet29.26729.227—
20 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.34829.274—
21 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord29.38129.299—
22 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord29.35129.300—
23 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord29.39129.331—
24 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord29.39429.486—
25 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.402——
26 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet29.440——
27 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord29.482——
28 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet29.538——
29 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.540——
30 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota29.544——
31 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet29.684——
32 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet29.758——
33 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota29.787——
34 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet29.802——
35 32Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord29.930——
36 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord30.050——
37 40Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet30.109——
38 33David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet30.223——
39 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota30.268——
40 66Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota30.326——
41 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord30.543——
42 93Mike BlissBK RacingToyota31.508——
Official qualifying results

Race

First half

Start

Brad Keselowski won the race from the pole position.

Prior to the start of the race, there was a downpour that soaked the track. This prompted NASCAR to schedule a competition caution at lap 30. The race was scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time but started three minutes earlier with Brad Keselowski leading the field to the green flag. Jeff Gordon slipped on the start and fell to eighth. Just ahead of the scheduled competition caution, Denny Hamlin hit the wall in turn three after a tire blowout, and caused the first caution of the race. Hamlin described his impact as "definitely a lot easier than some of the hits I've taken in the past", but was uninjured in the incident.[14] Keselowski led the field to the green on the restart on lap 35, starting a lengthy green-flag run, before the race's second caution on lap 77, caused by Kyle Larson hitting the wall in turn 1. Joey Logano took the lead from teammate Keselowski during the cycle of pit stops.

Team Penske show

Logano led the field to the restart on lap 85, before Keselowski was able to retake the lead two laps later. Another lengthy green-flag run ensued, before debris forced the third caution of the race on lap 126. Prior to the caution, Matt Kenseth suffered a flat right-front tire, and had to pit from sixth position. Logano retook the lead during the pit cycle, while Jeff Gordon suffered a slow pit stop due to a malfunctioning air hose; he lost a total of 16 positions, dropping from 7th to 23rd. Logano and Keselowski swapped the lead positions once again, prior to the fourth caution, on lap 153, for a multi-car wreck on the backstretch involving Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray. Bowman locked up his brakes and tires, causing a large cloud of smoke that made it difficult for trailing cars to see what was in front of them. When the smoke cleared, Almirola swerved to his right to avoid Bowman, but in the process got into the left side of McMurray's car.[15]

Second half

Final laps

The race restarted on lap 161 with Logano leading the field, but Keselowski was back in front a couple of laps later, holding the lead until the fifth caution on lap 176, which was brought out by David Stremme, who spun in turn 4. Logano took the lead on the restart on lap 182, but Keselowski repeated his feat of passing Logano within the first few laps of the restart. Aric Almirola brought out the sixth caution on lap 214 when he hit the wall in turn 1. Kyle Busch took the lead during the cycle; he was the only driver other than the Penske drivers to lead laps during the event, leading 31. Keselowski took the lead from Busch with 20 laps to go and took the checkered flag for the second time in 2014. Keselowski described his car as "awesome" and praised his team for doing a great job".[16] Busch was pleased at his upturn in performance, stating that his car was "a lot better than we've been all year long", but that it had "got so loose there at the end". He was still able to finish in second place, just over a second behind Keselowski.[17]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord26748
2 1818Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26743
3 731Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26741
4 1420Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26740
5 2988Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26739
6 324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26738
7 54Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26737
8 205Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26736
9 222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord26736
10 2548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26734
11 1314Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26733
12 941Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26732
13 279Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord26731
14 2416Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord26730
15 1227Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26729
16 163Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet26728
17 2399Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord26727
18 327Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet26726
19 1978Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet26725
20 2613Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet26724
21 1010Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet26723
22 1547A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet26622
23 1115Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota26621
24 2851Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet26620
25 2117Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord26619
26 1755Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota26618
27 3136Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet26517
28 3026Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota26416
29 3498Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet26315
30 4138David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord26314
31 3634David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord26213
32 3740Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet2620
33 3983Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota26111
34 3532Travis KvapilGo FAS RacingFord25910
35 3833David StremmeCircle SportChevrolet2579
36 3323Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota2558
37 81Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet2507
38 4066Joe NemechekIdentity Ventures RacingToyota2390
39 2243Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord1755
40 642Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet754
41 4293Mike BlissBK RacingToyota300
42 411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota272

Race statistics

Lead changes Cautions Laps Red flags Time of race Average speed
12 6 34 0 2:51:59 139.723 miles per hour (224.862 km/h)

Media

Television

TNT Sports
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander
Color-commentator: Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Color commentator: Kyle Petty		Matt Yocum
Marty Snider
Chris Neville
Ralph Sheheen

Radio

PRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow		Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson		Brett McMillan
Steve Richards
Jim Noble
Wendy Venturini

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. ↑ Tony Stewart started last, after a transmission change.

References

  1. ↑ "2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  2. ↑ "Kentucky Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Quaker State 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Drivers Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 28, 2014. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ Paulsen (July 1, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: Season-Low 2.3 Rating For Kentucky Race". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ Pistone, Pete (June 22, 2014). "Edwards Sonoma Road Warrior". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Gluck, Jeff (June 27, 2014). "NASCAR Cup race won't have 43 cars at Kentucky Speedway". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wackerlin, Jeff (June 27, 2014). "Keselowski Fastest in Kentucky". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  14. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (June 28, 2014). "Denny Hamlin has foot 'stinger' after hard hit at Kentucky". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  15. ↑ Bonkowski, Jerry (June 28, 2014). "First big wreck at Kentucky involves Alex Bowman, Aric Almirola, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne". motorsports.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  16. ↑ Long, Dustin (June 28, 2014). "Keselowski Powers to Kentucky Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ Knight, Chris (June 28, 2014). "Keselowski conquers Kentucky again". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Wire Service. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
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