2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400

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2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400

The 2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on June 6, 2016 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The race, postponed a day because of persistent rain, was contested over 160 laps on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) triangular racecourse, and was the fourteenth race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

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An advertisement for the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400, encouraging fans to buy tickets for the race.

Quick Facts Date, Location ...
2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 14 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
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The 2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 program cover, featuring Martin Truex Jr.
Date June 6, 2016 (2016-06-06) (postponed from June 5, 2016 (2016-06-05))
Location Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4 km (2.5 miles)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (640 km)
Average speed 125.49 mph (201.96 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Time 49.525 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 51
Winner
No. 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn announcers Dave Moody (1), Mike Bagley (2) and Kyle Rickey (3)
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Kurt Busch scored his first and only victory of the 2016 season, his third career victory at Pocono and first win at the track since 2007. the race had 14 lead changes among different drivers and ten cautions for 40 laps.

Background

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Layout of Pocono Raceway, the track where the race was held.

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races: the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 and the Pennsylvania 400, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Since 2013, the track is also host to a Verizon IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack ā€“ North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together ā€“ such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

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The preliminary entry list for the race included forty cars and was released on May 30, 2016 at 12:48 pm ET.

More information No., Driver ...
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23David RaganBK RacingToyota
24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Jeb Burton (i)Go FAS RacingFord
34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord
46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
55Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Ty Dillon (i)Circle Sport ā€“ Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
98Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official entry list
Key Meaning
(R) Running for Rookie of the Year
(i) Not eligible for Sprint Cup Series points
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First practice

Carl Edwards was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 50.055 and a speed of 179.802 mph (289.363 km/h).[10]

More information Pos, No. ...
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.055179.802
2 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.328178.827
3 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.378178.649
First practice results
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Qualifying

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Brad Keselowski won the pole position with a time of 49.525 seconds.

Brad Keselowski scored the pole for the race with a time of 49.525 and a speed of 181.726 mph (292.460 km/h).[11] He said after qualifying that his car was "really fast. My teammate Joey Logano, heā€™s really fast. Heā€™s probably not really happy I won the pole, but it goes the other way sometimes where he gets it.ā€[12] He also added that he "felt really good when we ran the first round and I was third and knew I had a little more speed left. We ran the second round and I didnā€™t feel I had anything left and was still third. I got down into turn one on my last run there and it kind of bottomed out and shot up the hill a little and I wasnā€™t very confident at all. I have learned over time that these things have a way of working themselves out when they are meant to be and I guess today was meant to be.ā€[13]

Joey Logano, who qualified second, said his qualifying performance was "similar to last week when I won the first two rounds and came in second in the last one. It stings a little bit because I really wanted to get a pole. We're mad about second and it's a good thing when you're mad about second because it means your organization and your team is where it needs to be mad."[14] He also added that he's "excited about the race Sunday" and that Pocono "has been a good race track for us in the past.ā€[15]

Qualifying results

More information Pos, No. ...
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50.07349.77649.525
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord49.92249.70249.614
3 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.61349.91449.637
4 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.08049.86449.671
5 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.02849.95749.790
6 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.70849.87549.844
7 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.22849.85149.987
8 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.11650.04250.110
9 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.31749.76850.147
10 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.47950.10250.153
11 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.07950.13250.296
12 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.38049.82950.328
13 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.73050.155
14 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord50.17350.173
15 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50.19650.237
16 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50.73150.285
17 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota50.19850.346
18 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord50.74150.451
19 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.76850.457
20 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.58450.459
21 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50.68250.495
22 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.56150.522
23 15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet50.70650.527
24 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord50.45350.531
25 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord50.771
26 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50.788
27 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota50.789
28 95Ty Dillon (i)Circle Sport ā€“ Leavine Family RacingChevrolet50.855
29 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet50.868
30 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord50.951
31 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord51.006
32 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet51.050
33 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet51.221
34 23David RaganBK RacingToyota51.292
35 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet51.529
36 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet51.976
37 55Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet51.988
38 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet53.205
39 32Jeb Burton (i)Go FAS RacingFord54.001
40 98Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet54.849
Official qualifying results
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Final practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 50.876 and a speed of 176.901 mph (284.695 km/h).[16]

More information Pos, No. ...
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50.876176.901
2 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.905176.800
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.931176.710
Final practice results
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Race

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The race was scheduled to run on Sunday, June 5 at 1:00 p.m., but rain forced the race to be postponed to Monday.[17]

First half

Start

Under mostly sunny Pennsylvania skies, Brad Keselowski led the field to the green flag at 12:13 p.m. Teammate Joey Logano passed him exiting turn 1 to take the lead. The first caution of the race flew on lap 4 for a single-car spin in turn 3. Riding the high line, Matt DiBenedetto got loose and spun out.[18] He managed to save it without touching the wall.

The race restarted on lap 7. The second caution of the race flew on lap 16. It was a scheduled competition caution for overnight rain. Kyle Larson opted not to pit and assumed the lead. Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne were tagged for speeding on pit road and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.[19]

The race restarted on lap 20. The third caution of the race flew on lap 22 for a single-car spin in turn 1. Rounding the turn, Brian Scott got loose, made contact with the wall and spun out. Keselowski was called to pit road for unapproved body modifications.[20] More specifically, one of his crew members dented in a side panel that could give the car an aerodynamic advantage.[21]

The race restarted on lap 27. Larson pitted from the lead the same lap and handed the lead to Matt Kenseth. A number of cars began pitting on lap 52. Kenseth made his stop on lap 54 and handed the lead to Harvick. The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 60 for a single-car wreck in turn 1 involving DiBenedetto. He would go on to finish 40th.[22] Harvick pitted under the caution and handed the lead back to Kenseth. Aric Almirola was tagged for his crew being over the wall too soon and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.

Second quarter

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Chase Elliott was the leader of the race for 51 laps.

The race restarted on lap 66. Chase Elliott drove under Kenseth and Kyle Busch to take the lead on lap 67. A number of cars began pitting on lap 86. Elliott hit pit road on lap 87 and handed the lead to Busch. Debris in turn 2 brought out the fifth caution of the race on lap 88. Busch pitted under the caution and the lead cycled back to Elliott.

Second half

Halfway

The race restarted on lap 93 and a multi-car wreck on the Long Pond Straightaway brought out the sixth caution of the race. Exiting turn 1, Tony Stewart got loose, got into teammate Danica Patrick, hit the wall, came down the track, clipped Landon Cassill and sent him into the wall.[23]

The race restarted with 62 laps to go. The seventh caution of the race flew with 58 laps to go for a single-car wreck in turn 1. Going into the turn, Michael Annett suffered a left-front tire blowout and slammed the wall.

The race restarted with 52 laps to go. The eighth caution of the race flew with 51 laps to go for a single-car wreck on the Long Pond straightaway. Exiting turn 1, Ryan Newman made contact with Busch and sent him into the wall. Chris Buescher also spun out trying to avoid the wreck.

The race restarted with 47 laps to go. The ninth caution of the race flew with 43 laps to go for a single-car wreck in turn 1. Going into the turn, Austin Dillon suffered a right-front brake rotor failure and slammed the wall. A. J. Allmendinger opted not to pit under the caution and assumed the lead. He pitted the next lap, however, and handed the lead to Ty Dillon.

Fourth quarter

The race restarted with 38 laps to go and a single-car wreck in turn 1 brought out the 10th caution of the race. Rounding the turn, Jimmie Johnson got loose, saved the car but slammed the inside wall.[24] Dillon pitted under the caution and handed the lead to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The race restarted with 33 laps to go. After a drag race to the line, Kurt Busch took the lead from Earnhardt with 32 laps to go.[25] With his remaining fuel load in question, he saved enough to score the victory.[26]

Post-race

Driver comments

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Kurt Busch won the race despite having an interim crew chief.

"It's tough to balance everything," Busch said in victory lane. "We had a fast car and an interim crew chief. And we didn't know if we had enough fuel to make it. ... This was a wonderful win for us. We've been so close all year. It's just so much fun to drive and be up front."[27]

Earnhardt said afterwards that the race "was a good run for us. The car wasnā€™t all we hoped it would be, but it was good." However, he felt he "should have been able to hold that 41 off on that final restart. Me and the 24 was racing pretty hard and it gave the 41 the opportunity to get a run on us,ā€ Earnhardt said. ā€œIf I could have got in front of him I donā€™t think he would have got by us."[28]

After finishing third, Keselowski took issue with comments made by Fox Sports color commentator Jeff Gordon saying Fox "need[s] to get some people that aren't inbred to the sport and own teams and have internal knowledge, because that is pretty crappy. It is what it is."[29]

Elliott, who finished fourth after leading a race-high of 51 laps, said he "made a big mistake there behind [Earnhardt] in the tunnel [Turn 2]. I wish I had been a little more patient and given ourselves a better chance, but you live and you learn."[30]

Race results

More information Pos, Grid ...
Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Pts.
1 941Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16044
2 888Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16040
3 12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord16038
4 1324Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16039
5 222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord16037
6 115Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16035
7 320Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16035
8 519Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16033
9 44Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16033
10 1421Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord16031
11 2142Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet16031
12 2231Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet16029
13 246Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord16028
14 1011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16027
15 2517Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord16026
16 3247A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet16026
17 261Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet16024
18 2315Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet16023
19 1778Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota16022
20 1643Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord16021
21 2895Ty Dillon (i)Circle Sport ā€“ Leavine Family RacingChevrolet1600
22 357Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet16019
23 3423David RaganBK RacingToyota16018
24 2913Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet16017
25 1834Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord15916
26 1516Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord15915
27 3830Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet15914
28 4098Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet15913
29 3932Jeb Burton (i)Go FAS RacingFord1580
30 3755Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet15511
31 1218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota15011
32 3310Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet1459
33 2027Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1358
34 614Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet1317
35 748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1256
36 3138Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord1215
37 193Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1174
38 3646Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet1023
39 3044Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord812
40 2783Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota571
Official race results
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Race summary

  • Lead changes: 14 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 10 for 40
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 15 seconds
  • Average speed: 125.49 miles per hour (201.96 km/h)

Media

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Television

Fox NASCAR televised the race in the United States on FS1 for the second consecutive year. Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap announcer, while six-time Pocono winner, Jeff Gordon and four-time winner Darrell Waltrip were the color commentators. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum reported from pit lane during the race.

More information FS1 Television, Booth announcers ...
FS1 Television
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum
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Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and four-time Pocono winner Rusty Wallace announced the race in the booth while the field was racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from atop a billboard outside of turn 1 when the field was racing through turn 1 while Mike Bagley called the race from a billboard outside turn 2 when the field was racing through turn 2. Kyle Rickey reported the race from a billboard outside turn 3 when the field was racing through turn 3. Alex Hayden, Glenn Jarrett and Steve Post reported from pit lane during the race.

More information MRN, Booth announcers ...
MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turn 1: Dave Moody
Turn 2: Mike Bagley
Turn 3: Kyle Rickey
Alex Hayden
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Post
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Standings after the race

More information Pos, Manufacturer ...
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References

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