2011 AAA Texas 500

2011 AAA Texas 500
Race details[1]
Race 34 of 36 in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2011 AAA Texas 500 program cover
2011 AAA Texas 500 program cover
Date November 6, 2011 (2011-November-06)
Location Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (806.3 km)
Weather Sunny with a high around 71; wind out of the SE at 11 mph.
Average speed 152.705 miles per hour (245.755 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Roush Fenway Racing
Time 27.873
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 173
Winner
No. 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree
The layout of Texas Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The 2011 AAA Texas 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event held on November 6, 2011 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Contested over 334 laps, the event was the eighth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup during the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Tony Stewart led 173 of the 334 laps and won the race while Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne finished second and third respectively. The race featured five cautions and twenty-three lead changes, while Stewart's win was his fourth of the season and second in a row after winning the previous week's race as well. Before the race, Kyle Busch was suspended by NASCAR due to his actions in the 2011 WinStar World Casino 350K.[2] He was replaced by Michael McDowell.

The race was filmed for footage for the British motor show Top Gear, where presenter Richard Hammond was shown walking around the Texas Motor Speedway campgrounds, being the honorary pace car driver, and being a pit crew member for Mark Martin's team. Afterwards, Hammond would get a ride with Kyle Petty for the Petty Racing Experience.[3]

Entry list

#[4] Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine
1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops, Arctic Cat
2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota Red Bull
5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Carquest, GoDaddy.com
6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford UPS My Choice
7 Reed Sorenson Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge Speed Energy, MAPEI
9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford DeWalt
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx Office
13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota GEICO
14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Office Depot "We Do Printing.", Mobil 1
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford Scotch Blue Painter's Tape
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford Crown Royal
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota M&M's
20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota The Home Depot
21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge AAA
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger, AARP
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Quaker State, Menards
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Rheem
30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota Inception Motorsports
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
32 Mike Bliss FAS Lane Racing Ford Street King
33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cheerios, Hamburger Helper
34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford Front Row Motorsports
35 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Big Red
36 Geoff Bodine Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Luke & Associates
37 Mike Skinner Max Q Motorsports Ford Max Q Motorsports
38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford Long John Silver's
39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Quicken Loans, Carrier Classic
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Target
43 A.J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford "Immortals", Best Buy
46 Scott Speed Whitney Motorsports Ford Green Stuff Absorbent
47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota Wounded Warrior Project
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet MyLowe's
51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Security Benefit, Thank A Teacher Today
55 J.J. Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford Ingersoll Rand
56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota HP Racing
71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford TRG Motorsports
77 T.J. Bell TRG Motorsports Ford TRG Motorsports
77 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge Speed Energy
78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet Furniture Row, Denver Mattress
83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota Red Bull
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet AM FM Energy, Pellet & Wood Stoves
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet National Guard Trained by Tradition, AMP
95 David Starr Leavine Family Racing Ford AdvoCare
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford Aflac

Qualifying

Pos.[5] # Driver Make Team Time Avg. Speed (mph)
1 16 Greg Biffle Ford Roush Fenway Racing 27.873   193.736  
2 6 David Ragan Ford Roush Fenway Racing 27.874   193.729  
3 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing 27.884   193.659  
4 27 Paul Menard Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 27.916   193.437  
5 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 27.942   193.257  
6 00 David Reutimann Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 27.953   193.181  
7 99 Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway Racing 27.969   193.071  
8 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing 27.976   193.023  
9 4 Kasey Kahne Toyota Red Bull Racing Team 27.987   192.947  
10 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing 27.995   192.892  
11 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 27.998   192.871  
12 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Richard Petty Motorsports 28.006   192.816  
13 21 Trevor Bayne* Ford Wood Brothers Racing 28.039   192.589  
14 22 Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing 28.056   192.472  
15 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 28.072   192.362
16 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 28.106   192.130  
17 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 28.107   192.123  
18 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 28.107   192.123  
19 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 28.127   191.986  
20 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull Racing Team 28.137   191.918  
21 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 28.177   191.646  
22 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 28.188   191.571  
23 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 28.189   191.564  
24 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 28.210   191.421  
25 20 Joey Logano Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 28.228   191.299
26 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Richard Petty Motorsports 28.235   191.252  
27 55 J.J. Yeley* Ford Front Row Motorsports 28.262   191.069  
28 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 28.273   190.995  
29 51 Landon Cassill Chevrolet Phoenix Racing 28.326   190.638  
30 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 28.356   190.436  
31 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 28.363   190.389  
32 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota JTG Daugherty Racing 28.388   190.221  
33 13 Casey Mears Toyota Germain Racing 28.388   190.221  
34 34 David Gilliland Ford Front Row Motorsports 28.418   190.020  
35 66 Michael McDowell* Toyota HP Racing 28.460   189.740  
36 35 Dave Blaney* Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing 28.475   189.640  
37 32 Mike Bliss Ford FAS Lane Racing 28.586   188.904
38 37 Mike Skinner* Ford Max Q Motorsports 28.586   188.904
39 46 Scott Speed* Ford Whitney Motorsports 28.620   188.679  
40 87 Joe Nemechek* Toyota NEMCO Motorsports 28.632   188.600
41 38 Travis Kvapil** Ford Front Row Motorsports 28.711   188.081  
42 36 Geoffrey Bodine** Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing 29.646   182.149  
43 71 Andy Lally* Ford TRG Motorsports 28.643   188.528
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 30 David Stremme Chevrolet Inception Motorsports 28.669   188.357
45 95 David Starr Ford Leavine Family Racing 28.671   188.344
46 7 Reed Sorenson Dodge Robby Gordon Motorsports 28.849   187.182  
WD 77 T.J. Bell Ford TRG Motorsports 0.000 0.000
WD 77 Robby Gordon Dodge Robby Gordon Motorsports 0.000 0.000

*Qualified by time.

**Qualified by being Top 35 in Owner's Points.

Race recap

Pre-race

For pre-race ceremonies, Dr. Roger Marsh from Texas Alliance Raceway Ministries gave the invocation. Showdog Recording artist Trace Adkins would sing the national anthem, with a singular B-52 Bomber from the Barksdale Air Force Base performing the flyover. The president of Texas' AAA branch at the time, Bob Bouttier, gave the command to start engines.

Honorary pace car driver, former Top Gear host and now host of The Grand Tour, Richard Hammond would lead the field to green.[3]

Race results

Fin[6][7] St # Driver Make Team Sponsor Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing Office Depot "We Do Printing.", Mobil 1 334 173 running 48 $484,783
2 7 99 Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway Racing Aflac 334 14 running 43 $361,566
3 9 4 Kasey Kahne Toyota Red Bull Racing Team Red Bull 334 5 running 42 $231,883
4 3 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing Crown Royal 334 87 running 41 $227,461
5 1 16 Greg Biffle Ford Roush Fenway Racing Scotch Blue Painter's Tape 334 23 running 40 $196,125
6 23 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports Drive to End Hunger, AARP 334 0 running 38 $190,661
7 16 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports National Guard Trained by Tradition, AMP 334 0 running 37 $144,475
8 19 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing NAPA Auto Parts 334 0 running 36 $134,325
9 18 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Cheerios, Hamburger Helper 334 0 running 35 $164,433
10 26 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Richard Petty Motorsports "Immortals", Best Buy 334 0 running 34 $157,736
11 12 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Richard Petty Motorsports DeWalt 334 0 running 33 $140,366
12 2 6 David Ragan Ford Roush Fenway Racing UPS My Choice 334 0 running 32 $116,625
13 21 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Rheem 334 0 running 31 $150,511
14 11 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports MyLowe's 334 1 running 31 $151,011
15 4 27 Paul Menard Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Quaker State, Menards 334 1 running 30 $108,200
16 24 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing Quicken Loans, Carrier Classic 334 4 running 29 $140,100
17 13 21 Trevor Bayne Ford Wood Brothers Racing Motorcraft, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center 334 0 running 0 $98,550
18 15 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Target 334 0 running 26 $135,533
19 30 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports Carquest, GoDaddy.com 334 0 running 25 $105,725
20 28 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Office 333 0 running 24 $143,075
21 20 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull Racing Team Red Bull 333 0 running 23 $124,364
22 6 00 David Reutimann Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing Aaron's Dream Machine 333 0 running 22 $124,683
23 10 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing Furniture Row, Denver Mattress 333 0 running 21 $122,820
24 8 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing Miller Lite 333 2 running 21 $121,633
25 33 13 Casey Mears Toyota Germain Racing GEICO 333 0 running 19 $96,400
26 29 51 Landon Cassill Chevrolet Phoenix Racing Security Benefit, Thank A Teacher Today 332 0 running 0 $110,083
27 31 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Caterpillar 332 24 running 18 $104,375
28 32 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota JTG Daugherty Racing Wounded Warrior Project 332 0 running 16 $121,020
29 43 71 Andy Lally Ford TRG Motorsports TRG Motorsports 332 0 running 15 $101,475
30 14 22 Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing AAA 331 0 running 14 $137,340
31 41 38 Travis Kvapil Ford Front Row Motorsports Long John Silver's 331 0 running 0 $103,708
32 34 34 David Gilliland Ford Front Row Motorsports Front Row Motorsports 331 0 running 12 $100,872
33 17 18 Michael McDowell Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing M&M's 331 0 running 11 $139,916
34 37 32 Mike Bliss Ford FAS Lane Racing Street King 329 0 running 0 $90,925
35 36 35 Dave Blaney Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing Big Red 316 0 running 9 $90,725
36 22 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Bass Pro Shops, Arctic Cat 295 0 running 8 $129,114
37 25 20 Joey Logano Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing The Home Depot 258 0 engine 7 $93.800
38 42 36 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing Luke & Associates 215 0 vibration 6 $90,100
39 39 46 Scott Speed Ford Whitney Motorsports Green Stuff Absorbent 30 0 rear-gear 0 $89,900
40 35 66 Josh Wise Toyota HP Racing HP Racing 23 0 rear-gear 0 $89,700
41 38 37 Mike Skinner Ford Max Q Motorsports Max Q Motorsports 19 0 brakes 0 $89,475
42 40 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports AM FM Energy, Pellet & Wood Stoves 14 0 clutch 0 $89,275
43 27 55 J.J. Yeley Ford Front Row Motorsports Ingersoll Rand 10 0 fuel-pressure 1 $89,561
Failed to qualify, driver change, or withdrew
44 30 David Stremme Chevrolet Inception Motorsports Inception Motorsports
45 95 David Starr Ford Leavine Family Racing AdvoCare
46 7 Reed Sorenson Dodge Robby Gordon Motorsports Speed Energy, MAPEI
DC 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing M&M's
DC 66 Michael McDowell Toyota HP Racing HP Racing
WD 77 T.J. Bell Ford TRG Motorsports TRG Motorsports
WD 77 Robby Gordon Dodge Robby Gordon Motorsports Speed Energy

References

  1. ^ "2011 AAA Texas 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "Kyle Busch parked for weekend". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. November 6, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Hammond Survives NASCAR w/Kyle Petty | Top Gear, retrieved 2021-07-01
  4. ^ "2011 Nascar Cup Series 7th Annual AAA Texas 500 | Motorsport Stats". results.motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  5. ^ "2011 AAA Texas 500 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
  6. ^ "2011 AAA Texas 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  7. ^ "2011 AAA Texas 500 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
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