Driver-by-driver news and notes from the AAA Texas 500
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Editor’s Note: Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers are in italics
1. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
The defending race-winner looked downright dominant in this race, leading 191 laps and holding off Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski late in the race. Johnson was the fastest on restarts (186.226 mph) in his special red paint scheme for Lowe’s. He may not be in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup anymore, but the win was special as it was the 70th of his Sprint Cup Series career. It was also the first time he had led triple-digit laps since his June win at Dover. After the win, Johnson told his team over the radio, "I’m proud of you guys…awesome job today." One of Johnson’s teammates was also thrilled he won: Jeff Gordon. As Gordon said over the radio after learning Johnson won, "Good, yeah, thank him for not letting those other (expletive) win." | See how he won | Get more in-car audio with RaceView
2. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
Harvick spent practically the entire race in the top-five, but led only two laps on the day. His 500th start came at a track where he’s never one, but Harvick gave it one heck of an effort. He simply didn’t have enough to get to Johnson on the second G-W-C attempt. He also played a part in the post-race melee, shoving Brad Keselowski and setting off a firestorm of post-race activity. The veteran driver said he told Keselowski that he needed to get in there and fight his own fight. Harvick himself is in for a heck of a fight heading to Phoenix, sitting in eighth place but just six points out of the final transfer spot to the Championship Round at Homestead. With three wins in the last four races at Phoenix, will the desert be good to Harvick one more time? | Hear what Harvick said after the race
3. Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford, Team Penske
Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe’s gamble to stay out during a Lap 253 caution paid off big-time. Keselowski took the lead and would stay there for 22 laps, running well in the clean air. His contact with Gordon on the first G-W-C attempt had Gordon fuming, but Keselowski said the rubbing was just part of hard racing. The melee that ensued on pit road afterward included Keselowski, Gordon and even Harvick. The 2012 champion heads to Phoenix on the outside looking in at advancing to the Championship Round. He was on the outside heading into Talladega, and that turned out fine for him. Will he be able to do it again? | See the post-race altercation
4. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
While his bid for a weekend sweep of the Texas tripleheader was denied, "Rowdy" rebounded nicely for a top-five result. On Lap 205, he lost a right rear tire with the carcass of the tire coming out on the track to bring out a caution. By Lap 260, he was in 26th place. But thanks to cautions and strategy, the team was able to improve its track position. Take away his 40th place finish at Talladega and Busch’s average finish in the Chase races would be 6.8.
5. Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
McMurray was among the drivers who finished strong, as he made up 14 spots (the second-most) in the final 34 laps for his top-five finish. Of the non-Chase drivers, McMurray has enjoyed several good races in the postseason, as this was his third top-five finish in the eight Chase races.
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Junior followed up his Martinsville win with a solid, workman-like effort. He led the way in quality passes with 64 and made up 11 spots in final 34 laps, according to loop data. Anything, however, would have been better than his spring race result, in which he exited after 12 laps due to a crash.
7. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
The end result of the AAA Texas 500 was Larson’s seventh top-10 finish in 10 races, leaving the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender with strong loop data numbers. He was tied for fourth in quality passes (52) and tied for sixth in green flag passes (91).
8. Kurt Busch, No. 41 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
In his first start with Tony Gibson atop the pit box, "The Outlaw" led 15 laps and looked to have a chance at the win late. With 13 cautions on the day, restarts were important and Busch had speed for them as he was the fourth-fastest car on restarts. It will be interesting to see what Gibson and Busch can do together in the final two races of 2014 as they prep for the 2015 season.
9. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
Edwards struggled most of the day to find speed and was two laps down multiple times during the race. So how did he finish in the top 10? Edwards was the best closer of the race. He gained 16 spots in the final 34 laps to put himself one point out of the final transfer spot to the Championship Round. | See the complete standings
10. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
A two-tire gamble on a pit stop from the Lap 224 caution backfired as Hamlin went from first to 13th in a matter of three laps. However, Hamlin stayed out of trouble, spent the least amount of time on pit road and scored a top-10 finish out of it. More importantly, he is tied for the points lead with Joey Logano as he looks to make it the Championship Round.
11. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
The driver that topped 200-mph in qualifying bounced around the field. He was up front early then in the middle of the pack and then found himself towards the front late, as he was in fourth place on Lap 320. "Smoke" was one of only three drivers that finished on the lead lap to make just nine pit stops, the fewest total among lead lap finishers in the race.
12. Joey Logano. No. 22 Ford, Team Penske
Logano spent much of the afternoon in the top 10 but had to overcome a lengthy pit stop of 26 seconds due to an issue with lugnuts. The extended pit stop pushed Logano back to 22nd place, and he later spun out, bringing out a caution on Lap 305. The Team Penske driver did rebound thanks to several more late cautions to find himself in good shape heading to Phoenix. Told by crew chief Todd Gordon he was the points leader, Logano answered, "can’t be by much." And he is right: he and Hamlin share the honors. | See the trouble Logano overcame
13. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
Biffle had a pretty ho-hum race at one of his better tracks. For the second straight week, he finished 13th. He spent just 41 laps in the top 15, but they came at the right time for his end result.
14. AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing
Allmendinger gained 10 spots in the final 34 laps of the race to be the sixth-best closer, according to loop data. The ‘Dinger also scored his fourth top-15 finish in his past five races. This one-car team is trying to finish 2014 on a strong note — and is succeeding.
15. Ryan Newman, No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Newman had the fourth-fastest car during green flag runs (179.114 mph) but he had a little scare in this race. A left rear tire rub forced him to pit during a caution on Lap 321. He restarted 21st but was able to get back into the top 15. The winless driver is 11 points ahead of Kenseth, the first Chase driver in a position to be eliminated from the Championship Round. | See the damage Newman had
16. Brian Vickers, No. 55 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
Vickers spent the fourth-most amount of time in the top 15 (330 laps) but finished one spot outside of that position. He finished fourth in the spring at Texas and improved to ninth place in the points standings. This finish left him in 22nd place in the standings.
17. Paul Menard, No. 27 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Menard was the second-fastest car in traffic, averaging 178.820 mph when another car was within one car length of his under green. The result was also Menard’s fourth straight top-20 finish at Texas.
18. Casey Mears, No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing
Mears’ finish was his second top-20 result in the past three races and a 10-spot improvement from the spring race. Mears’ pit crew was fast this time around, as he spent the eighth-fewest amount of time on pit road. | Get pit road times and more with RaceView
19. Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing
After two top-10 finishes at Dover and Kansas, Truex has averaged a finish of 24.5. The team has made strides in the latter stages of the season, but needs to finish strong to go into 2015 with some momentum.
20. Justin Allgaier, No. 51 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports
Allgaier, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate, compiled the third-most green flag passes (96), according to loop data. The finish was his third straight top-20 result, with his failure to make the Talladega race thrown in the middle of that.
21. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Dillon, also a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, spent nearly half of the race in the top 15 and compiled the most green flag passes in the race (100), according to loop data.
22. Michael Annett, No. 7 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate scored his second straight top-25 result. He even gained a spot in the Sprint Cup standings, moving up to 32nd.
23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
The second-year driver had the lowest finish out of the Roush team. He has five top-25 finishes in his last five starts, but more was expected from him at this point.
24. Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
Almirola came into this race with three top-15 finishes in his last four races at Texas. However, as has been the case since he was eliminated from the Chase, the team continued to struggle. In his past six races since a sixth-place result at Loudon, Almirola has an average finish of 27.5.
25. Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
The pole-sitter for this race had an eventful day — one that saw him lead 59 laps but also have his share of problems. Those included a pit road mishap when a lugnut fell off and was wedged in the hub, as well as damage on a Lap 309 incident that forced him to pit on a caution late. The waning laps of the race seemed to take a toll on Kenseth, who radioed in, "I can’t drive this car in traffic, I just can’t without crashing." The winless driver is now one point out of the final transfer spot for the Championship Round. | See what happened to him late | Get more in-car audio with RaceView
26. Cole Whitt, No. 26 Toyota, BK Racing
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate is quietly putting together a nice stretch to close out the season. The key to his performance this week? Spending the third-fewest amount of time on pit road for the race. | Get more pit road stats with RaceView
27. Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
As he closes out his full-time Sprint Cup career, Ambrose has had a string of finishes between 20th and 27th in eight of his past nine races. A late accident with Kasey Kahne on Lap 314 took a top-20 finish off the table, but the Tasmania native did finish on the lead lap.
28. Clint Bowyer, No. 15 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
Bowyer’s run of two straight top-10 finishes came to a close with his Texas result. His accident on Lap 331 set up the first attempt at a G-W-C finish. And during the middle of the race, Bowyer seemed to have an issue with contact from Jamie McMurray, though nothing happened between those two after that.
29. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Don’t be fooled by his finishing position — Gordon had one of the best cars all day. He led 49 laps and would have won the race if not for a caution on Lap 332. Shortly after the Lap 335 restart, Keselowski made contact with Gordon resulting in a flat left rear tire and a spin for the four-time champion as Gordon yelled into the radio, "The (expletive) 2 car ran into us, that’s what happened." After the race, Gordon added, "I’m going to beat the (expletive) out of the 2." Tensions boiled over post-race as Gordon confronted Keselowski and a scuffle ensued. Gordon is still on the right side of the Chase bubble, but only by one point. | See the on-track contact | See the scuffle | Hear their reactions
30. Michael McDowell, No. 95 Ford, Leavine Family Racing
McDowell matched his spring result at Texas in close to every regard. In both races, he qualified 28th, finished 30th and got 14 points for his result. He also had some troubles on pit road in this race, getting hit with three pit road penalties.
31. JJ Yeley, No. 83 Toyota, BK Racing
For the fourth time in five races, Yeley improved his finish from his starting position. During the race though, the Arizona native was interested in how the Cardinals were faring against the Cowboys. When told Arizona beat Dallas 28-17, he radioed in to his crew chief, "Can you go down to the 38 box and get my 20 bucks?" | For more in-car audio, get RaceView today
32. David Ragan, No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
After his first top-10 of the season last weekend at Martinsville, Ragan was hoping to build on that run. Unfortunately for him and the No. 34 team, that didn’t happen at Texas.
33. Reed Sorenson, No. 36 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
Sorenson matched his spring race performance and, for that matter, average finish of 32.5 in 13 starts at the 1.5-mile track.
34. David Gilliland, No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
In the spring, Gilliland finished 22nd, but that would not be the case in this race. The veteran driver finished six laps off the pace.
35. Timmy Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet. Circle Sport Racing
For the third time in four weeks, Hill’s finishing position was better than where he started. His 35th-place result matched his second-best result this season.
36. Danica Patrick, No. 10 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
In her first start with interim crew chief Daniel Knost, things did not go well for Patrick. First, she had to start at the rear of the field for a transmission change. Then, she had an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 37 after losing the handle in Turn 2. And then on Lap 250, she hit the wall as a tire went down. Not the start this pairing was hoping for.
37. Joey Gase, No. 32 Ford, Go FAS Racing
In his first two Sprint Cup starts, Gase finished in 37th place. Where did he finish at Texas? 37th place. He is nothing if not consistent.
38. Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
It was a tale of two races for Kahne. He ran well early, peaking with a second-place position on Lap 80. He was later involved in two accidents less than eight laps apart, however.
39. Trevor Bayne, No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
Bayne’s involvement in a Lap 320 accident with Kahne ended his day. As he gets set to move into a full-time Cup ride with Roush Fenway Racing, Bayne’s past five finishes with Wood Brothers have been 32nd or worse.
40. Brett Moffitt, No. 66 Toyota, Jay Robinson Racing
For the third time in his six Sprint Cup Series starts, Moffitt finished 40th or worse. He hit the wall on Lap 296 and finished 58 laps back.
41. Josh Wise, No. 98 Chevrolet, Phil Parsons Racing
For the second time in four weeks, Wise finished 41st. He hit the wall on Lap 42 and finished 85 laps back.
42. Alex Bowman, No. 23 Toyota, BK Racing
Engine issues led to Bowman’s sixth DNF of the season. The Arizona native will hope for a better run at his home track next weekend.
43. Landon Cassill, No. 40 Chevrolet, Hillman Racing
A blown engine derailed Cassill’s day after just 134 laps and snapped a run of four straight top-25 finishes. The finish was the worst of the season for Cassill.
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