2014 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen: Difference between revisions
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A. J. Allmendinger held off a hard charging Marcos Ambrose with two laps to go to score his first career Sprint Cup Series victory. “My gosh, I can’t believe we’ve won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race,” Allmendinger said. “With this whole 47 team, [team owners] Tad Geschickter, Jody Geschickter, Brad Daugherty, all the great sponsors we have, our first Cup victory together, my first victory…I love these guys. I just wanted it so bad for them and this team. They work so hard. I wasn’t gonna let Marcos take that from me.” “First of all, congratulations to AJ and the 47 team,” Ambrose said. “They deserved that win. I left nothing on the table. I tried to rattle his cage and couldn’t shake him. We raced fair and square to the end there. It was a tough couple laps but it was fair. We were both giving it to each other pretty hard. No harm, no foul. We just came up a little short.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2014/08/AJ-Allmendinger-Wins-at-Watkins-Glen.aspx|title=Allmendinger Breaks Through|last=Pistone|first=Pete|publisher=Motor Racing Network|date=August 10, 2014|website=MRN.com|accessdate=August 10, 2014}}</ref> |
A. J. Allmendinger held off a hard charging Marcos Ambrose with two laps to go to score his first career Sprint Cup Series victory. “My gosh, I can’t believe we’ve won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race,” Allmendinger said. “With this whole 47 team, [team owners] Tad Geschickter, Jody Geschickter, Brad Daugherty, all the great sponsors we have, our first Cup victory together, my first victory…I love these guys. I just wanted it so bad for them and this team. They work so hard. I wasn’t gonna let Marcos take that from me.” “First of all, congratulations to AJ and the 47 team,” Ambrose said. “They deserved that win. I left nothing on the table. I tried to rattle his cage and couldn’t shake him. We raced fair and square to the end there. It was a tough couple laps but it was fair. We were both giving it to each other pretty hard. No harm, no foul. We just came up a little short.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2014/08/AJ-Allmendinger-Wins-at-Watkins-Glen.aspx|title=Allmendinger Breaks Through|last=Pistone|first=Pete|publisher=Motor Racing Network|date=August 10, 2014|website=MRN.com|accessdate=August 10, 2014}}</ref> |
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====Post race==== |
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On Wednesday, August 13, [[Kevin Harvick]]'s team was penalized for a rules infraction due to the bean bag that forced Harvick to make an unscheduled stop on lap 4 to remove. The infraction is a P3 level penalty and is outlined in Section 12-4.3 of the 2014 rule book: |
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• A. Violation examples could include but are not limited to: |
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• 1(c): Unapproved added weight and/or weight affixed improperly (e.g. Unapproved added weight (size and material); unapproved added weight location, but not of a nature rising to a higher numbered penalty. |
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The infraction violates the following sections in the rule book: |
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• 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; |
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• 20-2.3: Added car weight |
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• A. Any weight added to the car must be bolted inside the body shell in an approved weight container and in a position acceptable to NASCAR officials |
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• Added weight must be in block form of not less than five pound blocks (no pellets) and painted white with the car number or team identification permanently legible on it. |
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As a results, crew chief [[Rodney Childers]] was fined $25,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2014/08/Childers-Fined-for-Rules-Infraction.aspx|title=Childers Fined for Rules Infraction|last=Long|first=Dustin|publisher=Motor Racing Network|date=August 13, 2014|website=MRN.com|accessdate=August 13, 2014}}</ref> |
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==Results== |
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===Qualifying=== |
===Qualifying=== |
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Revision as of 17:04, 13 August 2014
| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 22 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | |||
| File:Cheez-It 355 at The Glen logo 2013.jpg | |||
| Date | August 10, 2014 | ||
| Location | Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.454 mi (5.43 km) | ||
| Distance | 90 laps, 220.5 mi (354.9 km) | ||
| Weather | Sunny with a temperature of 79 °F (26 °C) and wind out of the NNE at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 90.123 mph (145.039 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 68.126 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | |
| Laps | 30 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ESPN | ||
| Announcers | Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree | ||
| Nielsen Ratings |
3.1/8 (4.939 Million)[9] | ||
The 2014 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on August 10, 2014, at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. Contested over 90 laps on the 2.45-mile (4.023 km) road course, it was the twenty-second race of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. A. J. Allmendinger won the race, his first career Sprint Cup victory, while Marcos Ambrose finished second and Kurt Busch finished third.
Previous week's race
Despite having Kevin Harvick filling his rearview mirror, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was able to maintain the lead to complete the first Pocono sweep since Denny Hamlin did it in 2006. “We definitely went home from the last race and made our car better,” Earnhardt Jr. said “That's what I'm proud of this team for. It takes a really, really smart guy to understand what to do to take those gambles. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don't." "This hasn’t been one of my better race tracks and the cars have been fast both races here," Harvick said after finishing runner-up. "Today we were able to capitalize on it and get a good finish.” We had a fast car all day. Steve's strategy was perfect at the end. I don't know if anyone knew what was going on there, but it was pretty awesome."[10]
Report
Background
The course, Watkins Glen International, is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Sonoma Raceway.[11] The standard short road course at Watkins Glen International is a 7-turn course that is 2.45 miles (3.94 km) long;[12] the track was modified in 1992, adding the Inner Loop, which lengthened the long course to 3.4 miles (5.5 km) and the short course to the current length of 2.45 miles (3.94 km).
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner from the 2013 race.
Practice and qualifying
Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 68.652 and a speed of 128.474 mph (206.759 km/h). A number of drivers spun out during the first session. Danica Patrick changed engines during the session and was forced to start from the rear of the field.[13] A. J. Allmendinger was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 68.538 and a speed of 128.688 mph (207.103 km/h). Danica Patrick crashed her car in turn 5 and was forced to go to a backup car.[14] NASCAR began cracking down on drivers for blend line violations during the practice sessions. Aric Almirola, Michael Annett, Clint Bowyer, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman were issued penalties for blend line violations. “For years we have not had that,’’ Jeff Gordon said. “This year we have it because of the new qualifying procedure. Sometimes you just forget, but to me it’s about going along with those procedures during practice and your spotter reminding you when you go out and practice; where those blend lines are and what the procedure is and just getting into a rhythm of it. It’s taken a little while to get used to it this year. Other than that I haven’t had any issues.’’[15] Jeff Gordon won his 75th career pole with a new track record time of 68.126 and a speed of 129.466 mph (208.355 km/h). It was the 22nd consecutive year Gordon has won a pole in the Sprint Cup Series (a NASCAR record). “Watkins Glen has kind of been a target on our radar because we’ve run so poorly here recently,’’ Gordon said after his 75th career NASCAR Sprint Cup pole. “You start to lose confidence in what you’re doing. Your team loses confidence in their car and you get off track and lost a little bit. That’s the way it’s been for us the last few times we’ve been here, the last several times. With the type of racecars we’ve been bringing to the track this year, we had hoped with all the effort we’ve put into it that it would pay off for us.’’ “I wish Jeff was a little kinder to me to let me get the pole,’’ Marcos Ambrose said. “I thought we had it at the end but it wasn’t enough. It was a pretty good lap though and I will take it. You have to be happy with front row starts.’’[16]
Race
The night before the race, Tony Stewart was involved in an incident that killed Kevin Ward, Jr. at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.[17] Prior to the start of the race, Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition for Stewart-Haas Racing, announced that Tony Stewart would not be racing and Regan Smith will drive in his place.[18] “(Stewart) feels strongly this is the right thing to do,’’ said Zipadelli three hours before the race. “We at SHR support him and agree with it. It’s a difficult time for both parties. There’s not a lot you can do. The only thing you can do is do what we feel is right, and this is what we feel is right.’’[19] As a result of the driver change, Regan Smith started from the rear of the field.
The race was scheduled to start at 1:19 p.m. Eastern time, but the race started five minutes late at 1:23 p.m. with Jeff Gordon leading the way.
Kevin Harvick made an unscheduled stop on lap 4 to remove a bean bag from the car. Paul Menard also made an unscheduled stop for a fluid leak and took the car to the garage.
Cole Whitt brought out the first caution of the race on lap 10 after his brakes locked up and he collided head on into the tire barrier in turn 1. The race restarted on lap 14, with Gordon still leading. The next lap, Brad Keselowski made contact with Matt Kenseth in turn 1 and the grill of his car caved in. No caution was waved. Kyle Larson was running 23rd on lap 18 when he missed the turn into the inner loop, was forced to come to a complete stop and fell back to 38th. Two laps later, David Ragan and Boris Said blew the entrance to the inner loop and fell back in the running order. Alex Bowman spun in turn 6 and got back going again without bringing out the caution. Kyle Busch made his first stop on lap 24 and left his pit box with the fuel can stuck on the car. As a result, he had to make a stop-and-go penalty for removing equipment from the pit box.
Joey Logano served a pass-through penalty for his crew going over the wall too soon on lap 28.
Kyle Busch made his third stop in four laps for a flat tire on lap 29. Marcos Ambrose gave up second place to make his first stop of the race that same lap. Gordon made his first stop on lap 30. Teammate Kasey Kahne assumed the lead on lap 31. Kahne gave up the lead on lap 34 to pit and gave the lead to Marcos Ambrose.
Gordon began losing power going down the back stretch and brought out the second caution of the race on lap 51. Ambrose came in to pit during the caution and Jimmie Johnson took the lead.
The race restarted on lap 55. Two laps later, the race was red-flagged for a huge crash on the short stretch after the carousel. Greg Biffle drifted off into the runoff area on the exit of turn 5 and came across the front of Ryan Newman. Newman got turned and hit the ARMCO barrier on the short stretch and as Newman's car came across the track, it t-boned Michael McDowell. McDowell's rear wheel housing broke off and destroyed the ARMCO barrier on the left side of the track on the exit from the boot used on the IndyCar circuit. The red flag was lifted temporarily to bring the field down the front stretch.[20] Alex Bowman also took damage in the wreck.[21]
Newman was highly critical of the safety of the ARMCO barriers afterwards, saying to ESPN, "Biffle jumped up on the curb and got up and across the grass. I probably could have given him a little more room but I tried to time it so I could shoot past him and he slowed down when he got back onto the racetrack." He had some words of criticism for the "antiquated" safety features. "It's disappointing. We lost (safety expert) John Melvin a couple of weeks ago and he did a lot of innovations for this sport, and it's really sad that they haven't adapted any of them here at this racetrack," Newman said. "The barriers, the SAFER barrier doesn't exist here. There are no concrete walls. It's a very antiquated racetrack and it isn't up to NASCAR standards at all. It's a shame that we have to have an accident like that to prove it. Hopefully something will change the next time we come back." "I'm good. I thank the good Lord because that was a bad wreck," McDowell said. "It seems like when I do it they are usually fairly big. I'm not real sure what happened. I saw the 16 get a little wide and then the 31 come back across the track. I didn't really have time to adjust or move, I just tried not to hit Ryan in the door there. I was along for the ride. I'm glad I to walk away from it. I feel thankful and very blessed."[22]
The race was red flagged for 81 minutes while the ARMCO barriers were repaired. The cars got back underway at 4:12 p.m.[23] Carl Edwards stayed out when the leaders came in to pit and assumed the lead.
The race restarted with 31 laps to go.
A. J. Allmendinger took the lead from Edwards with 29 laps to go. Casey Mears got turned in the inner loop with 18 laps to go.
The caution flew for the fourth time with 13 laps to go after Josh Wise stalled in the inner loop.
Allmendinger led the way on the restart with nine laps to go, but the caution came out very quickly when Jimmie Johnson got turned in turn 1 and made contact with Regan Smith, subbing for Stewart. Justin Allgaier was also collected.
The race restarted with five laps to go. Ambrose took the lead with four laps to go after a side-by-side battle with Allmendinger. One lap later, the sixth caution and second red flag came out when Denny Hamlin spun and crashed into the gravel-filled barrels at the entrance to pit road. Alex Kennedy also destroyed his car in turn 1. This resulted in a 20 minute red flag.
A. J. Allmendinger held off a hard charging Marcos Ambrose with two laps to go to score his first career Sprint Cup Series victory. “My gosh, I can’t believe we’ve won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race,” Allmendinger said. “With this whole 47 team, [team owners] Tad Geschickter, Jody Geschickter, Brad Daugherty, all the great sponsors we have, our first Cup victory together, my first victory…I love these guys. I just wanted it so bad for them and this team. They work so hard. I wasn’t gonna let Marcos take that from me.” “First of all, congratulations to AJ and the 47 team,” Ambrose said. “They deserved that win. I left nothing on the table. I tried to rattle his cage and couldn’t shake him. We raced fair and square to the end there. It was a tough couple laps but it was fair. We were both giving it to each other pretty hard. No harm, no foul. We just came up a little short.”[24]
Post race
On Wednesday, August 13, Kevin Harvick's team was penalized for a rules infraction due to the bean bag that forced Harvick to make an unscheduled stop on lap 4 to remove. The infraction is a P3 level penalty and is outlined in Section 12-4.3 of the 2014 rule book:
• A. Violation examples could include but are not limited to:
• 1(c): Unapproved added weight and/or weight affixed improperly (e.g. Unapproved added weight (size and material); unapproved added weight location, but not of a nature rising to a higher numbered penalty.
The infraction violates the following sections in the rule book:
• 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; • 20-2.3: Added car weight
• A. Any weight added to the car must be bolted inside the body shell in an approved weight container and in a position acceptable to NASCAR officials
• Added weight must be in block form of not less than five pound blocks (no pellets) and painted white with the car number or team identification permanently legible on it.
As a results, crew chief Rodney Childers was fined $25,000.[25]
Results
Qualifying
*Tony Stewart had qualified the car and was scheduled to compete as such. After an incident the night before at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, Stewart decided to not race out of respect to the driver who died the night before. Regan Smith will drive in his place. Also, as a result of the last minute driver change, Smith will start from the rear of the field.
Race results
Standings after the race
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References
- ^ "Watkins Glen International". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. NASCAR Statistics. August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ "Cheez-It 355 at The Glen Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "Poitns Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Paulsen (August 12, 2014). "Sprint Cup TV Ratings: NASCAR Gets Rare Increase Under Ugly Circumstances". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Pistone, Pete (August 3, 2014). "Earnhardt Jr. Sweeps Pocono". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- ^ White, Rea (5 August 2010). "Road course races challenge the specialsts". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ "Watkins Glen". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ Report, Staff (August 8, 2014). "Trouble for Danica at Watkins Glen". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Pockrass, Bob (August 8, 2014). "Danica Patrick crashes at end of Watkins Glen final practice". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Long, Dustin (August 8, 2014). "NASCAR Issues More Penalties During Practice". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Long, Dustin (August 9, 2014). "Gordon Wins Watkins Glen Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Gluck, Jeff (August 10, 2014). "Tony Stewart hits, kills driver in sprint car race". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Kekis, John (August 10, 2014). "Team: Stewart won't race Sunday after fatal crash". bigstory.ap.org. The Associated Press. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Long, Dustin (August 10, 2014). "Stewart Will Not Drive Today". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Report, Staff (August 10, 2014). "Newman, McDowell involved in big wreck at the Glen". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "Newman and McDowell crash hard at The Glen". m.apnews.org. The Associated Press. August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Owens, Jeff; Pockrass, Bob (August 10, 2014). "Ryan Newman, Michael McDowell involved in frightening crash at Watkins Glen". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Long, Dustin (August 10, 2014). "Drivers Walk Away From Big Crash". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Pistone, Pete (August 10, 2014). "Allmendinger Breaks Through". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Long, Dustin (August 13, 2014). "Childers Fined for Rules Infraction". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved August 13, 2014.