2016 AAA Texas 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 34 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date November 6, 2016 (2016-11-06)
Location Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 293 laps, 439.5 mi (703.2 km)
Scheduled Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (801.6 km)
Average speed 134.541 miles per hour (216.523 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 28.081
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 178
Winner
No. 19 Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
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 (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

The 2016 AAA Texas 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on November 6, 2016, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Contested over 334 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) intermediate quad-oval, it was the 34th race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, eighth race of the Chase and second race of the Round of 8. This would also turn out to be Carl Edwards 28th and final career victory.

Report

Background

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

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedways, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

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
26Dylan Lupton (i)BK RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Joey Gase (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
55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsToyota
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Alex Bowman (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota
95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

First practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 27.455 and a speed of 196.685 mph (316.534 km/h).[11] Kyle Busch went to a backup car after hitting the wall exiting turn 4 on his first lap in practice.[12] He said afterwards that he "got into Turn 3 and the car felt good. It loaded really well, but we got back into the throttle and got to the bumps and it bottomed me out a little bit. It got me up the track. From there the whole car just kind of came off the track. I couldn't get it checked up or slowed down in time before it slapped the wall. Speeds are really high here at Texas and when you lose that grip, it happens in a hurry and it got away from me. I wish I would have taken it a little easier but I wasn't even trying that hard to be honest so it was a shock that it happened."[13]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet27.455196.685
2 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.512196.278
3 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.561195.929
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Austin Dillon scored the pole position.

Austin Dillon scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.081 and a speed of 192.301 mph (309.478 km/h).[14] He said afterwards that he couldn't "be happier for RCR and everybody back at the shop. A lot of hard work and effort goes on. We missed the Chase by just two feet. We want to prove that we can win a race by the end of this year. This is big for us. I thought I messed up the lap, truthfully. I got a lot of good speed off of (Turn) 2, but Turn 3 I turned in and missed my corner, but it worked out. Proud of these guys and everybody back home."[15]

Joey Logano, who qualified second, said he "didn’t think it would be anywhere close to the pole" after he "got done with that last run," and that he "didn’t have a very good run in (turn) 2 at all; I missed the bottom. And then realizing how close you were to the pole afterward is the most frustrating part of it, especially after last week.[16]

Kyle Busch's crew chief Adam Stevens, who took the No. 18 car to the garage for a water leak after advancing into the second round, said he thought the leak was "a byproduct of pounding the fence before we even completed a lap in practice. In our hurry to change the motor and all the drivetrain afterwards, apparently we didn't get the lower radiator hose completely clamped on the water neck out of the block and proceeded to dump all the water out of it on pit road after our first run. We’re going to start 24th and get after them from there.”[17]

After a crash during Saturday's Xfinity Series race, Matt DiBenedetto entered concussion protocol and was not cleared to run the Sprint Cup race. His substitute in the No. 83 was Jeffrey Earnhardt.

Chase Elliott experienced flu-like symptoms during the weekend. Justin Allgaier was named as his standby.

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet27.96027.97928.081
2 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord27.79727.98228.087
3 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet27.85527.82628.099
4 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord28.09528.23128.106
5 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet27.95228.23728.131
6 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.00728.02028.195
7 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota28.06228.20828.216
8 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord28.02728.20228.232
9 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.97727.84428.274
10 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet27.98128.17328.340
11 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.86328.09328.357
12 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota27.94128.16328.487
13 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet28.11828.238
14 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet28.05528.244
15 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet28.13828.265
16 88Alex Bowman (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.13228.288
17 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.95728.298
18 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.01228.335
19 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.07128.493
20 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord28.24328.542
21 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord28.12128.623
22 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet28.13428.742
23 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet28.090281.286
24 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.8270.000
25 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord28.251
26 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord28.308
27 15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet28.312
28 95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet28.343
29 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord28.372
30 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord28.374
31 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.389
32 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet28.435
33 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota28.436
34 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord28.561
35 93Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota28.648
36 23David RaganBK RacingToyota28.778
37 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet28.903
38 55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet29.316
39 32Joey Gase (i)Go FAS RacingFord29.660
40 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet29.877
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 28.645 and a speed of 188.515 mph (303.385 km/h).[18]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord28.645188.515
2 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet28.646188.508
3 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord28.747187.846
Official second practice results

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 28.319 and a speed of 190.685 mph (306.878 km/h).[19]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord28.319190.685
2 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota28.453189.787
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota28.458189.753
Official final practice results

Race

First half

Carl Edwards won the race.

The start of the race was delayed for nearly six hours due to rain.[20] The aged surface compounded the drying time.[21] Austin Dillon led the field to the green flag at 7:56 p.m. under yellow flag conditions as the track surface was still not completely dry. The race went green at lap 7. Dillon was no match for Joey Logano who beat him on the restart to take the lead. The second caution of the race flew on lap 29. It was a scheduled competition caution.

The race restarted on lap 34. Green flag stops started on lap 73. Logano pitted from the lead on lap 76 and handed it to Dillon. He pitted the next lap and gave the lead to Denny Hamlin. He pitted the next lap and handed the lead to Kyle Busch who pitted the same lap on the next trip by, and the lead cycled back to Logano.

The third caution flew on lap 109 for Brian Scott spinning out in turn 4.

The race restarted on lap 116. Debris on the backstretch, a piece of hose, brought out the fourth caution on lap 117. The piece of debris punched a hole through the front bumper of Busch's car.[22]

The race restarted on lap 121. The fifth caution flew on lap 143 for Paul Menard spinning in turn 3. Adding to his drama, a tire appeared to "explode" in his stall when it was something related to the inner liner. “When a car spins it generally flat spots the tires, which is exactly what happened here,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of race tire sales. “It flat spotted both front (tires). The damage that was done to the left front as he drove around the race track looked like it partially unseated the inner liner. So it was actually the inner liner that let go on pit road. It wasn't the tire itself. The tire was already down.”[23]

Second half

The race restarted on lap 149. Green flag stops commenced on lap 188. Logano pitted on lap 189 and the lead cycled to Martin Truex Jr.

He and Edwards were fighting for the lead when both decided to pit on lap 224 and Chase Elliott took over the lead. He pitted the following lap and the lead cycled back to Truex.

The sixth caution flew with 80 laps to go for David Ragan turning Dillon in turn 3. Edwards exited pit road first.[24]

The race restarted with 74 to go. A three-car wreck on the frontstretch involving Dillon, Casey Mears and Scott brought out the seventh caution with 72 to go.[25] Dillon said afterwards that Harvick "sucked down on my door tighter than anybody had all night. He knew how tight he was at my door, that’s why I slid up in front of him. He didn’t check (up). He had the opportunity to. He didn’t like it that the silver spoon kid was outrunning him tonight, so we’ll be alright. We’ve got two weeks left. We just want to come out and win a race.”[26] Harvick said after the race that "there was no intent there. I like racing with Austin. I like everything that they do. There was no reason [to hit him]. I was running seventh [or] sixth. He slid up and got loose and I hit the back of him."[27]

The race restarted with 64 to go. Rain brought out the eighth caution with 45 to go. The race was red-flagged with 41 to go, declared official a few minutes later and Edwards was declared the winner.[28]

Post-race

Driver comments

Edwards said in victory lane that he "actually enjoyed [the race]. Obviously this is what we had to do. The guys got me off pit road first and that's what won it for me. We've got a shot at the championship at Homestead and that's all we wanted."[29]

Logano, who led a race high of 178 laps, said to come "that close to winning and [leading] the most laps, second stings. That's our goal every week, is to win. Anything short of that is a failure. I feel like we were so close to that today. But ultimately, we did gain some points. We're in right now. We were out going into this race. So, you know, we did the best we could as far as leading laps and getting that bonus point, or those two bonus points with the most laps led as well. But we didn't get the win part. That would have been nice."[30]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 919Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29344
2 222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord29341
3 1278Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota29339
4 1124Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29338
5 2418Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29337
6 34Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29335
7 720Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29334
8 315Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29333
9 1711Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota29333
10 1831Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29331
11 1948Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29330
12 821Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord29329
13 1688Alex Bowman (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2930
14 42Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord29327
15 542Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29326
16 2017Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord29325
17 1447A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet29324
18 2516Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord29223
19 151Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet29222
20 1041Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29221
21 3034Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord29220
22 2143Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord29219
23 2895Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet29118
24 2210Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet29117
25 2715Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet29116
26 327Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet29115
27 2944Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord29114
28 627Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29013
29 3438Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord29012
30 266Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord28911
31 2314Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet28810
32 3746Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet2879
33 3623David RaganBK RacingToyota2878
34 3383Jeffrey Earnhardt (R)BK RacingToyota2857
35 3855Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet2856
36 3932Joey Gase (i)Go FAS RacingFord2800
37 13Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2625
38 3593Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota2610
39 1313Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet2602
40 4030Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet2571
Official race results

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 8 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 37
  • Red flags: 1
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 16 minutes and 0 seconds
  • Average speed: 134.541 miles per hour (216.523 km/h)

Media

Television

NBCSN will cover the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Texas winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will have the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handle pit road on the television side.

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

Radio

PRN will have the radio call for the race, which will simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

PRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Announcer: Wendy Venturini
Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Jim Noble
Steve Richards

Standings after the race

References

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  2. "Texas Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 5, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 5, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  8. "AAA Texas 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  9. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  10. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  11. Utter, Jim (November 4, 2016). "Harvick quickest in opening Cup practice, Kyle Busch wrecks". Motorsport.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  12. Scott, David (November 4, 2016). "Kyle Busch finds trouble in pursuit of another NASCAR title". The Charlotte Observer. Fort Worth, Texas: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  13. Weaver, Matt (November 4, 2016). "Kyle Busch slams the wall in opening NASCAR Sprint Cup practice at Texas". Autoweek. Fort Worth, Texas: Crain Communications. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  14. Hawkins, Stephen (November 4, 2016). "Out of Chase, Dillon on pole for Sprint Cup race in Texas". Associated Press. Fort Worth, Texas: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  15. Spencer, Reid (November 4, 2016). "Dillon wins pole at Texas, Logano lines up second". NASCAR.com. Fort Worth, Texas: NASCAR Wire Service. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  16. Lunkenheimer, Beth (November 4, 2016). "Austin Dillon Edges Joey Logano for AAA Texas 500 Pole". Frontstretch.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Frontstretch. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  17. Bedgood, Summer (November 4, 2016). "Austin Dillon Earns Pole Position at Texas Motor Speedway". KickinTheTires.net. Fort Worth, Texas: Kickin' The Tires. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  18. Utter, Jim (November 5, 2016). "Ryan Blaney fastest in Saturday morning Cup practice". Motorsport.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  19. Spencer, Lee (November 5, 2016). "Keselowski tops final practice at Texas". Motorsport.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  20. Fraley, Gerry (November 7, 2016). "How Carl Edwards earned a spot in the championship round of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway". The Dallas Morning News. Fort Worth, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  21. Scott, David (November 7, 2016). "NASCAR: Carl Edwards wins rain-shortened Texas race, advances to Chase finals". The Charlotte Observer. Fort Worth, Texas: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  22. Christie, Toby (November 7, 2016). "Kyle Busch Salvages Top-Five Finish After Rough Week at Texas". MotorsportsTribune.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Tribute Racing. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  23. McFadin, Daniel (November 6, 2016). "Paul Menard crew member unharmed after 'fluke' tire incident in pits". NASCARTalk.com. Fort Worth, Texas: NBC Sports. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  24. Davison, Drew (November 6, 2016). "Texas win has Carl Edwards dancing in the rain". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  25. Shelton, Joseph (November 7, 2016). "Strong run cut short for pole winner Dillon". SpeedwayMedia.com. Fort Worth, Texas: USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  26. Utter, Jim (November 7, 2016). "Dillon: Harvick didn't like "the 'silver spoon' kid outrunning him tonight"". Motorsport.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  27. Pockrass, Bob (November 7, 2016). "Austin Dillon: Kevin Harvick didn't like 'the silver spoon kid outrunning him'". ESPN.com. Fort Worth, Texas: ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  28. Hawkins, Stephen (November 6, 2016). "Edwards wins rain-shortened Texas race for Chase finale spot". Associated Press. Fort Worth, Texas: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  29. James, Brant (November 6, 2016). "Carl Edwards beats the rain at Texas, clinches spot in Chase final". USA Today. Fort Worth, Texas: Gannett Company. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  30. Cain, Holly (November 7, 2016). "Logano on runner-up: 'Anything short of (a win) is a failure'". NASCAR.com. Fort Worth, Texas: NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
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