Kentucky Speedway is the newest racetrack to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Only four drivers have won at the bluegrass for the premier series, but a fifth driver looked to add their name to that list in the Quaker State 400 on Saturday night.
Qualifying was rained out on Friday, and the field was set by practice speeds, putting Kyle Larson (#42 Target Chevy) on pole. An experienced hand at Kentucky in Brad Keselowski (#2 Miller Lite Ford) would start alongside.
As the race got underway, it felt like second verse, same as the first at the front of the field. The same two drivers who have had so much success at Kentucky, and who were in control for much of last night’s Xfinity Series race, would trade the lead back and forth for the first 100 laps. Those drivers – Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch (#18 M and Ms Toyota).
One of the big story-lines heading into the race weekend was the new aerodynamic package in use by Sprint Cup teams. The package would prove to be challenging even to the elite drivers, seen as Kurt Busch (#41 Haas Automation Chevy) lost control of his car off of turn 4 before Lap 100. Many other drivers continued to struggle with handling throughout the night, even six-time champion Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowe’s Chevy).
The other headline coming into the weekend was the last ride for Jeff Gordon (#24 AARP Chevy) at Kentucky Speedway. The track was the only track that Gordon had not won at on the Sprint Cup schedule. Gordon would contend early for the lead, but if he wanted to continue to do so, he would have to do battle with Busch and Keselowski.
Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon’s teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Nationwide Chevy) struggled with the new aero package, even after coming off a restrictor plate win earlier in the week at Daytona. Dale Jr. would bring out the caution near halfway after slapping the wall and reporting not having any brakes. Later, Dale would tangle with Danica Patrick (#10 GoDaddy Chevy), a collision that Patrick felt was done with malicious intent. Danica did not comment on the incident post race, but was clearly upset by the matter.
After halfway, the pack began to get real racy. Drivers started going three and four wide on restarts, eventually leading to the first multi-car crash on Lap 143, as Tony Stewart (#14 Rush Truck Stops Chevy), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#17 Fifth Third Bank Ford), and two of the BK Racing cars tangled in Turn 1. All cars were able to drive away from the incident.
The front of the field did not change much throughout the race at Kentucky. Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the race, with at many times those two teams making up most of the top ten inside the final 100 laps. As Kyle Busch faded in the closing laps, his teammates Denny Hamlin (#11 FedEx Toyota) and Carl Edwards (#19 Minions Toyota) would close in for the lead, at one point going three-wide for the lead with their teammate Busch. However, it would be Team Penske and Joey Logano (#22 Shell Pennzoil Ford) leading late in the going, using four tires he received on a pit stop to his advantage.
As the race ran to its thrilling conclusion, it would be a battle between Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing, and Joey Logano of Team Penske. In the end, it would be the man who dominated all night taking the victory. Kyle Busch wins the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky.
Joe Gibbs Racing would dominate the top five of the Saturday night special. Joey Logano hung on for second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, and Matt Kenseth (#20 Dollar General Toyota). All four Joe Gibbs Toyotas finished in the top five for the first time in team history.
However, Kyle Busch is still not in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He needs more points to finish in the Top 30 in points. Kyle will continue his chase for points at New Hampshire next weekend in the New Hampshire 301, which can be seen next Sunday on NBCSN.
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