2011 GEICO 400

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2011 GEICO 400
Race details [1] [2] [3]
Race 27 of 36 in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2011 GEICO 400 logo.jpg
Date September 19, 2011 (2011-09-19)
Location Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Illinois
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 1.500 miles (2.414 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.5 km)
Weather Few rain showers with a high temperature around 74 °F (23 °C); wind out of the SSE at 10 mph (16 km/h).
Pole position
Driver Roush Fenway Racing
Time 29.469
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Laps 46
Winner
No. 14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree

The 2011 GEICO 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was scheduled to be held on September 18, 2011 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. However, because of wet track conditions, the race was postponed until September 19, 2011. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.500-mile (2.414 km) asphalt oval, it was the 27th race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the first race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which ends the season. Tony Stewart of Stewart Haas Racing won the race, while Kevin Harvick finished second, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. clinched third.

Contents

This was Stewart's first win in the 2011 season, and the 40th of his career. The result advanced Stewart to second in the Drivers' Championship, seven points behind Harvick and three ahead of Carl Edwards. Chevrolet maintained its lead in the Manufacturers' Championship, thirty points ahead of Ford and thirty-eight ahead of Toyota, with nine races remaining in the season. A total of 95,000 people attended the race, while 3.68 million watched it on television.

Report

Background

Chicagoland Speedway, the race track where the race was held. Chicagolandspeedway.jpg
Chicagoland Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

Chicagoland Speedway is one of ten intermediate to hold NASCAR races; the others are Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Homestead Miami Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Texas Motor Speedway. [4] The standard track at Chicagoland Speedway is a four-turn tri-oval track that is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. [5] The track's turns are each banked at 18 degrees and have a turn width of 55 feet. [5] The racetrack has a grandstand capacity of 75,000. [5]

Before the race, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick each led the Drivers' Championship with 2,012 points, with Jeff Gordon in third place with 2,009. Matt Kenseth had a total of 2,006 points, while Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, and Ryan Newman were tied for fifth place with 2,003 points. Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the first 12 positions with 2,000 points each. [6] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet was leading with 171 points, 27 points ahead of Ford. Toyota, with 139 points, was 21 points ahead of Dodge in the battle for third place. [7] David Reutimann was the race's defending champion. [8]

Practice and qualifying

Matt Kenseth won the pole position for the Roush Fenway Racing team Matt-kenseth-bristol-2009.jpg
Matt Kenseth won the pole position for the Roush Fenway Racing team

Two practice sessions were held in preparation for the race; both on Friday. The first session lasted 90 minutes long, while the second was 60 minutes long. [9] Reutimann was quickest with a time of 29.486 seconds in the first session, 28 milliseconds faster than Clint Bowyer. [10] Mark Martin was just off Bowyer's pace, followed by Kyle Busch, Trevor Bayne, and Newman. Some Chase for the Sprint Cup participants were not scored high in the first practice, such as Johnson and Hamlin, who were 36th and 40th in the session. [10]

In the second and final practice, Brian Vickers was quickest with a time of 29.304 seconds. Kasey Kahne followed in second, ahead of Kenseth and Paul Menard. Harvick was fifth quickest, with a time of 29.455 seconds. Gordon, Greg Biffle, Johnson, David Stremme, and Edwards rounded out the first ten positions. Kyle Busch, who was third in the first session, could only manage forty-fourth. [11]

Forty-seven cars were entered for qualifying, but only forty-three could race because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure. [12] Kenseth clinched his sixth pole position in the Sprint Cup Series, with a time of 29.469 seconds. [13] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Menard. [13] Kurt Busch qualified third, Newman took fourth, and Edwards started fifth. [13] Johnson, one of the drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, qualified twelfth, while Harvick was scored thirtieth. [13] The four drivers that failed to qualify for the race were Travis Kvapil, David Starr, Stephen Leicht and Mike Skinner (T. J. Bell was gonna enter the race but withdrew). [13]

Once qualifying concluded Kenseth said, "I think starting up front is nice, having a good pit stall. Hopefully, you can get a good start and get a bonus point for leading a lap and try to keep up with the track a little better. We've been qualifying a lot better, if you throw Richmond out, but we've been slipping a little at the end of the race. I'm really happy to be on the pole, but it's just a starting position, and we've got to work really hard on the race, keeping up with our adjustments and that type of thing." [3]

Race

The race, the twenty-seventh of the season, was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. EDT on September 18, but wet track conditions postponed the race to September 19, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. [14] The race was televised live in the United States on ESPN. [1] The first caution was the competition caution on lap 31. The next 2 cautions came out for debris on laps 72 and 146. The 4th caution came out on lap 165 when Jamie McMurray blew an engine. On lap 205, the 5th caution came out when J. J. Yeley crashed in turn 3. The final caution came out for debris on lap 214. Towards the end of the race, a majority of cars ran out of fuel. Tony Stewart was able to hold on for his first win of the season.

Results

Qualifying

GridNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTime (s)Speed
117 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 29.469183.243 mph (294.901 km/h)
227 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.488183.125 mph (294.711 km/h)
322 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 29.503183.032 mph (294.561 km/h)
439 Ryan Newman Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet29.507183.007 mph (294.521 km/h)
599 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway RacingFord29.522182.914 mph (294.372 km/h)
62 Brad Keselowski Penske RacingDodge29.531182.859 mph (294.283 km/h)
716 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway RacingFord29.565182.648 mph (293.943 km/h)
883 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Toyota 29.575182.587 mph (293.845 km/h)
918 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota29.615182.309 mph (293.398 km/h)
1020 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs RacingToyota29.620182.309 mph (293.398 km/h)
1147 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty RacingToyota29.634182.223 mph (293.259 km/h)
1248 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet29.667182.020 mph (292.933 km/h)
1378 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet29.690181.879 mph (292.706 km/h)
141 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet29.696181.843 mph (292.648 km/h)
156 David Ragan Roush Fenway RacingFord29.729181.641 mph (292.323 km/h)
1642 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet29.752181.500 mph (292.096 km/h)
179 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford29.752181.500 mph (292.096 km/h)
1843 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty MotorsportsFord29.767181.409 mph (291.949 km/h)
1988 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.784181.305 mph (291.782 km/h)
2056 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota29.787181.287 mph (291.753 km/h)
2133 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.790181.269 mph (291.724 km/h)
2231 Jeff Burton Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.790181.269 mph (291.724 km/h)
2324 Jeff Gordon Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.807181.165 mph (291.557 km/h)
244 Kasey Kahne Red Bull RacingToyota29.812181.135 mph (291.509 km/h)
255 Mark Martin Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.822181.074 mph (291.410 km/h)
2614 Tony Stewart Stewart–Haas RacingChevrolet29.828181.038 mph (291.352 km/h)
2711 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs RacingToyota29.879180.729 mph (290.855 km/h)
2821 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford29.894180.638 mph (290.709 km/h)
2900 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip RacingToyota29.900180.602 mph (290.651 km/h)
3029 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.913180.524 mph (290.525 km/h)
3151 Landon Cassill Phoenix Racing Chevrolet29.973180.162 mph (289.943 km/h)
3238 J. J. Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford29.980180.120 mph (289.875 km/h)
3366 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota29.990180.060 mph (289.778 km/h)
3430 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet29.991180.054 mph (289.769 km/h)
3546 Scott Speed Whitney Motorsports Ford30.000180.000 mph (289.682 km/h)
3687 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota30.016179.904 mph (289.527 km/h)
377 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge30.039179.766 mph (289.305 km/h)
3834 David Gilliland Front Row MotorsportsFord30.196178.832 mph (287.802 km/h)
3936 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet30.228178.642 mph (287.496 km/h)
4071 Andy Lally (R) TRG Motorsports Ford30.238178.583 mph (287.401 km/h)
4113 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota30.262178.442 mph (287.175 km/h)
4232 Mike Bliss FAS Lane Racing Ford30.313178.141 mph (286.690 km/h)
4337 Josh Wise Max Q Motorsports Ford30.136179.188 mph (288.375 km/h)
Failed to Qualify
55 Travis Kvapil Front Row MotorsportsFord
95 David Starr Leavine Family Racing Ford
35 Stephen Leicht Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
60 Mike Skinner Germain RacingChevrolet
Source:

Race results

PosCarDriverTeamManufacturerLaps RunPoints
114Tony StewartStewart–Haas RacingChevrolet26747
229Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26742
388Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26741
499Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord26741
52Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingDodge26740
622Kurt BuschPenske RacingDodge26740
733Clint BowyerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26737
839Ryan NewmanStewart–Haas RacingChevrolet26737
95Mark MartinHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26735
1048Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26735
116David RaganRoush Fenway RacingFord26733
124Kasey KahneRed Bull RacingToyota26732
1383Brian VickersRed Bull RacingToyota26731
1442Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet26730
1531Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26729
1620Joey LoganoJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26728
1778Regan SmithFurniture Row RacingChevrolet26727
1856Martin Truex Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota26727
199Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord26725
2027Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26724
2117Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord26624
2218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26623
2321Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord2660
2424Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26520
2532Mike BlissFAS Lane RacingFord2650
2616Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord26518
2743A. J. AllmendingerRichard Petty MotorsportsFord26517
2871Andy Lally (R)TRG MotorsportsFord26516
2913Casey MearsGermain RacingToyota26515
3051Landon CassillPhoenix RacingChevrolet2640
3111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26413
3200David ReutimannMichael Waltrip RacingToyota26312
3336Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet26311
3438J. J. YeleyFront Row MotorsportsFord26311
3546Scott SpeedWhitney MotorsportsFord2600
3634David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord2598
3747Bobby LabonteJTG Daughtery RacingToyota2367
381Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet1636
397Robby GordonRobby Gordon MotorsportsDodge775
4087Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsToyota450
4130David StremmeInception MotorsportsChevrolet443
4237Josh WiseMax Q MotorsportsFord410
4366Michael McDowellHP RacingToyota251
Source:

Standings after the race

References

  1. 1 2 "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  2. Brown, Brian. "The Geico 400". September 13, 2011. RotoWorld.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Sporting News Wire Service (September 17, 2011). "Kenseth kicks Chase off with Chicagoland pole — Sep 17, 2011 - NASCAR.COM". NASCAR. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  4. "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "NASCAR Tracks—The Chicagoland Speedway". Chicagoland Speedway. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  6. "Driver's Championship Classification". NASCAR. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Manufacturers' Championship Classification". Jayski.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  8. "2010 LifeLock.com 400". racing-reference.com. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  9. "Jayski'sŽ NASCAR Silly Season Site – Sprint Cup Race Info / Rundown Page". Jayski.com. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Practice One Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  11. "Practice Two Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  12. "Qualifying Order". NASCAR. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Race Lineup: Chicagoland". NASCAR. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  14. Hembree, Mike (September 18, 2011). "NASCAR — CUP: Weather Postpones Chase Opener To Monday". Speedtv.com. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
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