2016 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

2016 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 23 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date August 20, 2016 (2016-08-20)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
.533 mi (.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (429 km)
Average speed 77.968 mph (125.477 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 14.602
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 256
Winner
No. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
CNBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Mark Garrow and Wendy Venturini
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (Backstretch)

The 2016 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on August 20-21, 2016 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. 48 laps were completed during the evening of August 20 before the race was stopped due to rain and completed on August 21, 2016. Contested over 500 laps on the .533-mile (0.858 km) short track, it was the 23rd race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Kevin Harvick scored his third win of the season, The race had eight lead changes among different drivers and nine cautions for 106 laps, as well as 3 red flags for a total of 8 hours, 21 minutes and 4 seconds.

Report

Background

Bristol Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry list

The preliminary entry list for the race included 40 cars and was released on August 15, 2016 at 9:25 a.m. Eastern time.

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
32Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)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
55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 14.878 and a speed of 128.969 mph (207.555 km/h).[10]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.878128.969
2 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.915128.649
3 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet14.921128.597
Official first practice results

Final practice

Kyle Busch was fastest in the final practice session with a time of 14.796 and a speed of 129.684 mph (208.706 km/h).[11]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.796129.684
2 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota14.807129.587
3 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.830129.386
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying for the race

Carl Edwards scored the pole for the race with a time of 14.602 and a speed of 131.407 mph (211.479 km/h).[12] He stated afterwards that his chances of sweeping Bristol after sweeping both poles "is good. The car is very fast. Our team just responds to anything thrown at us. (Crew chief) Dave Rogers isn’t afraid to make changes. We will see if we can finish this deal tomorrow night and be talking about how we were able to do it in the race."[13]

Denny Hamlin, who qualified second and broke the previous track record – that he also held – with a time of 14.573 and a speed of 131.668 mph (211.899 km/h), said that he couldn't "believe we’ve qualified as good as we have this year and not gotten a pole. I think we did all we could. We just came up a tiny bit short."[14]

"Third is a pretty solid place to start," Kyle Busch said after qualifying third. "Our car handled well today. Of course the pole position would’ve been awesome, but we’ll take third and give it our best shot tomorrow night."[15]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.76914.77914.602
2 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.57314.70414.625
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.64714.80414.655
4 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord14.74614.77814.688
5 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14.74114.72614.690
6 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.89214.83714.777
7 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota14.85814.73214.812
8 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet14.92414.78614.819
9 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord14.83614.85614.836
10 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord14.73514.84214.855
11 88Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.86214.82314.870
12 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord14.82814.86714.956
13 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14.90214.872
14 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.83714.883
15 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14.92514.913
16 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.91514.918
17 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord14.90514.918
18 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota14.95514.932
19 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet14.754
20 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet14.843
21 13Casey MearsGermin RacingChevrolet14.943
22 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord14.894
23 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet14.863
24 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet14.943
25 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord14.958
26 95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet14.975
27 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet15.010
28 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet15.013
29 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet15.032
30 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord15.039
31 15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet15.109
32 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord15.110
33 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet15.162
34 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord15.163
35 98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet15.291
36 55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet15.306
37 23David RaganBK RacingToyota15.331
38 32Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)Go FAS RacingFord15.436
39 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet15.521
40 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet15.694
Official qualifying results

Race

First half

Denny Hamlin leads early in the race

The start of the race was delayed by rain and lightning in the vicinity of the speedway for nearly 30 minutes. The drivers were called to their cars at 8:40 p.m. and rolled off pit road around 8:57. Under night Tennessee skies, Carl Edwards led the field to the green flag at 9:03. Teammate Denny Hamlin got a much better start and led the first lap. Chase Elliott worked his way up to Hamlin and passed him for the lead on the ninth lap. Kyle Busch reeled him in to pass under him in turn 4 to take the lead on lap 23. The first caution of the race flew on lap 30 for rain. It picked up in intensity to the point that the race was red-flagged on lap 38. The red flag period lasted for one hour, 24 minutes and four seconds before engines were refired at 10:42 and the cars rolled back onto the track. After eight laps riding around, the rain returned with greater intensity and the race was red-flagged a second time at lap 48. Just past 11:00, the rest of the race was postponed to Sunday at 1:00 p.m.[16]

The drivers were called to their cars, the red flag was withdrawn and the race resumed under caution at 4:33 p.m. on Sunday, August 21. The race restarted on lap 58. Half the field was running the bottom line of the track while the other half was running the high line. The field largely rode around until the second caution of the race flew on lap 85. It was a planned competition caution. Brian Scott opted not to pit under the caution and assumed the lead. Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were both tagged for speeding on pit road and restarted the race from the tail end of the field.

The race restarted on lap 91. Ryan Newman edged out Scott at the line to take the lead on lap 92. Busch drove around Newman on the high line to retake the lead on lap 102. The third caution of the race flew on lap 158 for a single-car wreck in turn 2 involving Regan Smith. Edwards exited pit road with the race lead.

The race restarted on lap 165. Edwards sat in command of the race for 27 laps before Busch took back the lead on lap 193. Debris in turn 3 brought the fourth caution of the race on lap 254.

Second half

The race restarted on lap 262. Kevin Harvick took the lead for the first time on lap 288. The fifth caution of the race flew on lap 308 for a single-car spin by Kyle Larson in turn 4. Hamlin was tagged for speeding and restarted the race from the tail end of the field.

The race restarted on lap 316. Busch controlled the race for the next 32 laps before losing the lead to Harvick on lap 348. Busch radioed to his team that a part on his car had failed. His car got loose going into turn 1, slid down the track, turned back up the track and came to a stop backwards.[17] Justin Allgaier, driving in place of Michael Annett, clipped the left-front of Busch's car.[18] He went up the track and collected Larson and Martin Truex Jr., which brought out the sixth caution. Busch said afterwards that the part failure was "a shame. The last few times we’ve been here, we’ve had really fast M&M’s Toyota Camrys and we haven’t been able to finish. We’ve been having parts failures here, so something we’ve got to address and fix. I’m really tired of losing races here with parts falling apart, so they’ll hear about it on Tuesday."[19] He also said that the "biggest moron out there is the spotter of the 46 and the driver of the 46 (Justin Allgaier). I’ve been wrecking for half a lap and they just come on through and clean us out. That’s stupid, so I don’t know – frustrating day. Let’s go home."[20] Allgaier went on to finish 40th.[21] Kurt Busch assumed the race lead.

The race restarted with 129 laps to go and a multi-car wreck brought out the seventh caution of the race. It started when Busch spun out and collected Brad Keselowski.[22] Matt Kenseth, Paul Menard, Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson and Elliott all suffered damage in the wreck. Busch said afterwards that he thought he "just missed the bottom groove by a few inches, got loose and the wreck was on. The way that our car was restarting it felt comfortable, it felt good. That inside with the rosin and the VHT, if you don’t hit it exactly right you lose a lot of time. I tried to make up for it and got loose. I feel really bad for the Monster Energy guys. We had a win in our sights and I just drove the car at 101 percent instead of that 99 that I probably needed to be at."[23] Joey Logano assumed the race lead.

The race restarted with 111 laps to go. Harvick took the lead back from Logano with 95 laps to go. The eighth caution of the race flew when Clint Bowyer got into the wall. Hamlin exited pit road with the race lead.

The race restarted with 77 laps to go. The ninth caution of the race flew with 55 laps to go for rain. The cars were brought back down pit road as the race was red-flagged for a third time. After six minutes and 54 seconds, the race resumed under caution.

The race restarted with 51 laps. Harvick drove on to score the victory.[24]

Post-race

Driver comments

Harvick said afterwards that he thought his team had "a good plan. I think we have great cars, and we've made a lot of adjustments. ... Hopefully this win and everything getting ready to start with the Chase is going to put all the pieces together, and I think everybody has been working hard to do that."[25] In regards to the double burnout he did with Tony Stewart following the race, he said he "wanted him to go on a victory lap with so he could say goodbye to all the fans here at Bristol but that was pretty cool doing some burnouts with him."[26]

Stenhouse, who tied a career-best Sprint Cup Series finish with a runner-up finish in a special paint scheme dedicated to the late Bryan Clauson, said afterwards that he "knew we were going to have to get everything perfect, and it took me a minute to get the top going. I wanted to give up when we were two [laps] down, but I remembered we had Bryan Clauson’s tribute car here, and his favorite helmet, and I dug deep and the guys dug deep and made a lost of changes that made our Fastenal Ford a lot better. We really wanted to park it in Victory Lane for his whole family and all of his friends and fans for Tim, Di, Taylor and Lauren his fiancée… Just a little bit short."[27]

Hamlin, who recovered from a speeding penalty and loose wheel to finish third, said he "had a great car. We definitely got it a lot better there at the end and proud that we’re able to come back from two laps down and get a good finish out of it, but still a good overall day for our FedEx Express Camry. Just came up a little short."[28]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 244Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50044
2 2517Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord50039
3 211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50039
4 133Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50037
5 1234Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord50036
6 119Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50036
7 1648Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50034
8 281Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50033
9 847A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50032
10 1022Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50032
11 1188Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50030
12 226Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord50029
13 195Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50028
14 1743Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord50027
15 624Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50027
16 3416Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord50025
17 1883Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota50024
18 3044Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord49924
19 2695Michael McDowellCircle Sport-Leavine Family RacingChevrolet49922
20 3238Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord49721
21 3723David RaganBK RacingToyota49720
22 2910Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49619
23 778Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota49618
24 2342Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49517
25 2113Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet49516
26 337Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet49115
27 3655Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet48914
28 1531Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48714
29 3832Jeffery Earnhardt (R)Go FAS RacingFord47912
30 2714Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet47111
31 3115Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet47010
32 2027Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4589
33 92Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord4588
34 3598Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet4427
35 421Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord4376
36 4030Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet4165
37 520Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3734
38 1441Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet3723
39 318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3574
40 3946Justin Allgaier (i)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet3540
Official race results

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 8 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 9 for 106
  • Red flags: 3 for 18 hours, 21 minutes and 4 seconds
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 25 minutes and 5 seconds
  • Average speed: 77.968 miles per hour (125.477 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Mike Massaro and Marty Snider reported from pit lane during the race.

NBCSN
CNBC
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Mike Massaro
Marty Snider

Radio

The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

PRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Announcer: Wendy Venturini
Backstretch: Rob AlbrightBrad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Jim Noble
Steve Richards

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 26, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  2. "Bristol Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  6. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  7. "Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  8. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  9. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  10. Spencer, Lee (August 19, 2016). "Kyle Busch leads first Bristol practice". Motorsport.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  11. White, Tucker (August 19, 2016). "Kyle Busch fastest at Bristol in final Sprint Cup practice". SpeedwayMedia.com. Bristol, Tennessee: USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  12. Iacobelli, Pete (August 19, 2016). "Carl Edwards leads JGR's 1-2-3 qualifying sweep at Bristol". Associated Press. Bristol, Tennessee: AP Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  13. Birchfield, Jeff (August 19, 2016). "Edwards captures pole for Night Race". Johnson City Press. Bristol, Tennessee: Sandusky Newspapers Inc. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  14. Hembree, Mike (August 19, 2016). "Carl Edwards wins pole at Bristol". USA Today. Bristol, Tennessee: Gannett Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  15. Gregory, Allen (August 19, 2016). "Edwards captures Night Race pole". Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol, Tennessee: Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  16. Bonnell, Rick (August 20, 2016). "Rain forces NASCAR race at Bristol to be postponed". The Charlotte Observer. Bristol, Tennessee: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  17. Bonnell, Rick (August 21, 2016). "NASCAR: Kevin Harvick wins rain-delayed Bristol race". The Charlotte Observer. Bristol, Tennessee: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  18. Gregory, Allen (August 21, 2016). "Harvick wins Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race". Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol, Tennessee: Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  19. White, Tucker (August 21, 2016). "Part failure and wreck ruins Kyle Busch's day". SpeedwayMedia.com. Bristol, Tennessee: USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  20. Ongie, Dave (August 21, 2016). "Harvick captures Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race". Johnson City Press. Bristol, Tennessee: Sandusky Newspapers, Inc. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  21. Beard, Brock (August 21, 2016). "CUP: Relief driver Justin Allgaier puts #46 last in second-straight Bristol night race". brock.lastcar.info. LASTCAR.info. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  22. Owens, Jeff (August 21, 2016). "Kevin Harvick wins long, wacky race at Bristol". SportingNews.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Sporting News. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  23. Espinoza, Christian (August 21, 2016). "Kevin Harvick conquers The Last Great Coliseum". Niner Times. Bristol, Tennessee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  24. Iacobelli, Pete (August 21, 2016). "Kevin Harvick wins rain-delayed NASCAR race at Bristol". Associated Press. Bristol, Tennessee: AP Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  25. Pockrass, Bob (August 21, 2016). "Kevin Harvick's win in unusual Bristol race feels just as good". ESPN.com. Bristol, Tennessee: ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  26. Gluck, Jeff (August 21, 2016). "Kevin Harvick wins rain-delayed Sprint Cup race at Bristol". USA Today. Bristol, Tennessee: Gannett Company. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  27. Bearden, Aaron (August 21, 2016). "Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Ends Emotional Tribute to Bryan Clauson with Second-Place Run". Frontstretch.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Frontstretch. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  28. White, Tucker (August 21, 2016). "Harvick wins the 24 hours of Thunder Valley". SpeedwayMedia.com. Bristol, Tennessee: USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
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