2013 NRA 500

2013 NRA 500
Race details[1][2][3]
Race 7 of 36 in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
NRA 500 logo.jpg
Date April 13, 2013 (2013-04-13)
Location Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km)
Weather Overcast with a temperature around 76 °F (24 °C); wind out of the E at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h).
Average speed 144.751 mph (232.954 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 27.509 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 171
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 3.8/7
(6.269 million viewers)

The 2013 NRA 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on April 13, 2013, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Contested over 334 laps on the 1.5–mile (2.4 km) quad-oval, it was the seventh race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship. Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, his second win of the 2013 season and first at Texas, while Martin Truex Jr. finished second. Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Joey Logano rounded out the top five.

By also winning the Friday night Nationwide Series race, Busch completed his second weekend sweep of 2013, having also accomplished this at Fontana. A Texas man committed suicide by pulling a gun on his head after an argument with another fan near an infield.

Report

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

Background

Texas Motor Speedway is a four-turn quad-oval track that is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long.[4] The track's turns are banked at twenty-four degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is five degrees. The back stretch, opposite of the front, also has a five degree banking.[4] The racetrack has a permanent capacity of 138,122 spectators, and an infield capacity of 53,000.[4] Greg Biffle is the defending race winner after winning the event in 2012.[5]

Before the race, Jimmie Johnson was leading the Drivers' Championship with 231 points, while Brad Keselowski stood in second with 225 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. followed in the third position, 17 points ahead of Kyle Busch and 20 ahead of Kasey Kahne in fourth and fifth. Biffle, with 199, was seven points ahead of Carl Edwards and 20 ahead of Clint Bowyer, as Paul Menard was seven points ahead of Matt Kenseth and twelve ahead of Joey Logano in tenth and eleventh. Jeff Gordon completed the first twelve positions with 164 points.[6]

Sponsorship controversy

The race's sponsorship by National Rifle Association (NRA) proved to be controversial prior to the race. Although race sponsorships are negotiated with the track owner, not NASCAR itself, the sanctioning organization has final approval and did not object to the sponsorship.[7][8][9][10] Both NASCAR's acceptance of this sponsorship, and its timing, has been controversial, and offensive to gun control activists.[11][12][13][14] Because of the sponsorship, Senator Chris Murphy asked Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corporation owns Fox Sports, which was scheduled to air the race, to not broadcast it.[15] Fox broadcast the race as scheduled, not least because failure to do so would have been a breach of the network's contract with NASCAR. However, Fox only used the official sponsored name once per hour (the minimum mandated by NASCAR) and otherwise referred to it generically (in this case as the "Texas 500"), the network's usual practice when a race's title sponsor does not buy ads during the race broadcast; the NRA reportedly did not seek to purchase any such ads.[7] Duck Commander replaced NRA as the sponsor for the following year's race, while NRA would return as a race sponsor in 2016 for the Bristol Night Race in August at Speedway's owned Bristol Motor Speedway.[16]

Practice and qualifying

Kyle Busch won the pole position with a time of 27.509 and won the race

Two practice sessions were held in preparation for the race; both on Friday, April 12, 2013. The first session and second session lasted for 90 minutes each.[17] During the first practice session, Martin Truex Jr., for the Michael Waltrip Racing team, was quickest ahead of Earnhardt Jr. in second and Johnson in third.[18] Jamie McMurray was scored fourth, and Kevin Harvick managed fifth.[18] Edwards, Jeff Burton, Kenseth, Biffle, and Casey Mears rounded out the top ten quickest drivers in the session.[18]

Marcos Ambrose was quickest in the second and final practice session, ahead of Kyle Busch in second, and Aric Almirola in third.[19] Kurt Busch was fourth quickest, and Truex Jr. took fifth.[19] Juan Pablo Montoya, Burton, Biffle, Paul Menard, and Keselowski followed in the top ten.[19]

During qualifying, forty-five cars were entered, meaning only two cars were not able to start because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[20] Kyle Busch clinched his second pole position of the season, with a record-setting time of 27.509 seconds.[21] After his qualifying run, Busch commented, "Not too shabby of a day. ... I feel like we have a good piece for the race. It felt that good. Sometimes you feel that good and it's not very fast."[3] He was joined on the front row of the grid by his brother, Kurt Busch.[21] Almirola qualified third, Ambrose took fourth, and Truex Jr. started fifth.[21] Earnhardt, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Edwards, and Montoya completed the first ten positions on the grid.[21] The two drivers who failed to qualify for the race were Scott Speed and Scott Riggs.[21]

Post-race penalties

Three teams were issued penalties after the race. The No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing car of Martin Truex Jr. was fined six driver points and Michael Waltrip was penalized six owner points for the front car height failing to meet NASCAR specifications. Crew chief Chad Johnston was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until June 5. MWR did not appeal the penalty. The No. 2 and No. 22 Penske Racing cars were considered more controversial. The teams were fined for unapproved suspension parts. Penske Racing appealed the decision, but the only reduction involved the suspension from seven races to three (two plus the Sprint All-Star Race).

The penalties for the No. 2 car:

  • Driver Brad Keselowski fined 25 driver points and team owner Roger Penske fined 25 owner points.
  • Crew Chief Paul Wolfe fined $100,000, suspended two points races and the Sprint All-Star Race, on probation until December 31
  • Car chief Jerry Kelly, team engineer Brian Wilson, and Penske Racing competition director Travis Geisler suspended three races and placed on probation until December 31.

The penalties for the No. 22 car:

  • Driver Joey Logano fined 25 driver points and team owner Walt Czarnecki fined 25 owner points.
  • Crew Chief Todd Gordon fined $100,000, suspended two points races and the Sprint All-Star Race, on probation until December 31
  • Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley suspended three races and placed on probation until December 31.


Results

Qualifying

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 27.509 196.299
2 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 27.595 195.688
3 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 27.691 195.009
4 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 27.700 194.946
5 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 27.725 194.770
6 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.759 194.532
7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.763 194.503
8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.811 194.168
9 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 27.814 194.147
10 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 27.834 194.007
11 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 27.861 193.819
12 51 Austin Dillon Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 27.869 193.764
13 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 27.888 193.632
14 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.914 193.451
15 11 Brian Vickers Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 27.915 193.444
16 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford 27.917 193.431
17 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 27.951 193.195
18 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford 27.996 192.885
19 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.011 192.781
20 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.014 192.761
21 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.014 192.761
22 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.015 192.754
23 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 28.031 192.644
24 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 28.038 192.596
25 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 28.044 192.555
26 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 28.086 192.267
27 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 28.110 192.102
28 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 28.141 191.891
29 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.164 191.734
30 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 28.188 191.571
31 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 28.190 191.557
32 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota 28.231 191.279
33 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Toyota 28.251 191.144
34 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Motorsports Toyota 28.283 190.927
35 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 28.284 190.921
36 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 28.316 190.705
37 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 28.317 190.698
38 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 28.418 190.020
39 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet 28.517 189.361
40 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford 28.552 189.129
41 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota 28.699 188.160
42 10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 28.709 188.094
43 32 Timmy Hill FAS Lane Racing Ford 28.987 186.290
Failed to Qualify
95 Scott Speed Leavine Family Racing Ford 28.782 187.617
44 Scott Riggs Xxxtreme Motorsports Ford 29.009 186.149
Source:[21]

Race results

Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334 48
2 5 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 334 43
3 9 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 334 41
4 35 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 334 40
5 18 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford 334 40
6 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 38
7 3 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 334 37
8 15 11 Brian Vickers Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334
9 16 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford 334 35
10 31 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 334 35
11 14 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 33
12 20 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334 32
13 29 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 334 31
14 23 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 334 30
15 26 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 334 29
16 11 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 334 28
17 19 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 334 27
18 22 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 334
19 4 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 333 25
20 10 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 333 24
21 13 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 333 23
22 32 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota 332 22
23 21 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 332 21
24 38 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 332 20
25 26 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 332 19
26 25 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 331 19
27 33 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Toyota 331 17
28 42 10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 331 16
29 6 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 330 15
30 40 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford 330
31 24 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 330 13
32 27 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 329 13
33 12 51 Austin Dillon Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 326
34 39 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet 326 10
35 41 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota 324
36 43 32 Timmy Hill FAS Lane Racing Ford 322
37 2 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 316 7
38 8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 306 7
39 36 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 293 5
40 17 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 290 4
41 34 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Motorsports Toyota 140
42 30 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 138 2
43 37 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 44 1
Source:[22]

Standings after the race

References

  1. ^ "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ^ Brian Brown (April 10, 2013). "The NRA 500". Rotoworld.com. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Busch brothers will start 1-2". ESPN. April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Track Facts". Texas Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  5. ^ "2012 Samsung Mobile 500". Racing-Reference.info. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "Pre-race Drivers' Championship Standings" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Ryan, Nate (2013-03-04). "National Rifle Association sponsors NASCAR Sprint Cup race". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  8. ^ Short Bus (2013-03-08). "NASCAR NRA 500". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  9. ^ ASSOCIATED PRESS (2013-03-05). "NRA Nascar sponsorship: Texas race will be known as NRA 500 - Associated Press". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  10. ^ "NRA to be title sponsor for NASCAR Cup race in Texas". Fox News. March 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  11. ^ Zach Bowman RSS feed Google+. "Conn. Senator Murphy urges NASCAR to reconsider NRA race sponsorship [w/poll]". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  12. ^ "New MURPHY URGES NASCAR TO REVERSE DECISION TO NAME NEW RACE NRA 500". Politicalnews.me. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  13. ^ Populi, Vox. "Vox Populi: 'Now that the NRA is sponsoring a NASCAR race, I'm glad I stopped following NASCAR years ago.'". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  14. ^ Terkel, Amanda (April 8, 2013). "NRA 500 NASCAR Race Will Be Free From Gun Group Propaganda, Says Organizer". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  15. ^ Gendreau, LeAnne; Schulz, Sam (2013-04-11). "Conn. Senator to Rupert Murdoch: Don't Air NRA-500 Race". KNTV. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  16. ^ Pockrass, Bob (2015-11-06). "NRA will sponsor NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway". ESPN. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  17. ^ "2013 NRA 500 Race Information". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c "NRA 500 1st Practice Speeds". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  19. ^ a b c "NRA 500 Final Practice Speeds". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "2013 NRA 500 Entry List". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "NRA 500 Starting Grid". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  22. ^ "Sprint Cup Series Results: NRA 500". NASCAR. April 14, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.


Previous race:
2013 STP Gas Booster 500
Sprint Cup Series
2013 season
Next race:
2013 STP 400

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