KC Masterpiece 400

KC Masterpiece 400

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Kansas Speedway
Location	Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Corporate sponsor	KC Masterpiece[1]
First race	2011
Distance	400.5 miles (644.542 km)
Laps	267 (Stage 1: 80 Stage 2: 80 Stage 3: 107)
Previous names	STP 400 (2011–2013) 5-Hour Energy 400 (2014) SpongeBob SquarePants 400 (2015) Go Bowling 400 (2016–2017)
Most wins (team)	Joe Gibbs Racing (3)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Toyota (4)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Turns	4

The KC Masterpiece 400 is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Kansas received a second date beginning in 2011 as part of NASCAR's latest round of schedule realignment; with the other one being the Hollywood Casino 400, the thirty-second race of the season.

History

The inaugural STP 400 was held on June 5, 2011. Like the fall race at Kansas, the distance of the race was 400.5 miles (644.542 km).^[2] Brad Keselowski won the inaugural running of the race ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. after saving fuel.^[3] Unlike 2011, the 2012 race was moved to April 22, 2012 to allow more time for the Kansas Speedway to complete the track's reconfiguration.^[4] During the 2012 STP 400, A. J. Allmendinger won the pole position with a time of 30.683 seconds,^[5] but Denny Hamlin won the race after passing Martin Truex Jr..^[6] For 2013, the race remained as the eighth race of the season in April, and was held on April 21, 2013.

In 2014, the race swapped dates with the Bojangles' Southern 500, and was held in May under the lights for the first time.^[7]

Past winners

Television broadcasters

• 2015 and 2016: Due to the lengthy Major League Baseball games on Fox Sports 1, pre-race coverage was televised on alternative Fox networks at 7 pm Eastern Daylight Time, then switched to FS1 for race coverage after pre-race ceremonies.

References