2011 Goody's Fast Relief 500

2011 Goody's Fast Relief 500
Race details[1][2]
Race 6 of 36 in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date April 3, 2011 (2011-04-03)
Location Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
.526 mi (.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423 km)
Weather Partly cloudy with a high around 63; wind out of the SW at 7 mph.
Average speed 74.195 mph (119.405 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Time 19.621
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 151
Winner
No. 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox Broadcasting Company
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 4.4/10
3.9/9 (overnight)
7.229 million viewers[3]

The 2011 Goody's Fast Relief 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on April 3, 2011 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps, it was the sixth race of the 2011 season. Kevin Harvick from the Richard Childress Racing team won the race, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in the second position ahead of Kyle Busch. Scenes from this particular race are shown in The Simpsons episode "Steal This Episode".

Report

Background

Martinsville Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

Martinsville Speedway is one of five short tracks to hold NASCAR races.[4] The standard track at Martinsville Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.526 miles (0.847 km) long.[5] The track's turns are banked at eleven degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at zero degrees. The back stretch also has a zero degree banking.[5] The racetrack had seats for 63,000 spectators.[5]

Before the race, Carl Edwards led the Drivers' Championship with 187 points, and Ryan Newman stood in second with 178. Kurt Busch followed in third with 177 points, one ahead of Kyle Busch and four ahead of Jimmie Johnson in fourth and fifth. Tony Stewart with 170 was six points ahead of Paul Menard, as Juan Pablo Montoya with 161 points, was four ahead of Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth in ninth and tenth.[6] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford were in the first three positions with 31 points, 14 ahead of Dodge in fourth.[7] Denny Hamlin was the race's defending champion after winning it in 2010.[8]

Practice and qualifying

Two practice sessions were held in preparation for the race; both on Friday. The first session lasted 80 minutes long, while the second was 90 minutes long.[9] Kyle Busch was quickest with a time of 19.804 seconds in the first session, 0.001 seconds faster than Joey Logano.[10] Harvick was just off Logano's pace, followed by Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, and Jeff Burton. Menard was seventh, still within a second of Busch's time.[10] Also in the first practice session, Johnson spun sideways after the second turn.[11]

In the second and final practice, David Ragan was quickest with a time of 19.670 seconds. Jeff Gordon followed in second, ahead of Keselowski and David Reutimann. Kasey Kahne was fifth quickest, with a time of 19.764 seconds. Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte, Marcos Ambrose, Brian Vickers, and A. J. Allmendinger rounded out the first ten positions. Kyle Busch, who was first in the first session, could only manage 23rd.[12] The second session also had cautions because of spins. The drivers involved were Logano and Dennis Setzer.[11]

Forty-four cars are entered for qualifying, but only forty-three could qualify for the race because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[13] McMurray clinched his first pole position of the season, with a time of 19.621 seconds.[14] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Newman.[14] Kasey Kahne qualified third, Logano took fourth, and Hamlin started fifth.[14] Allmendinger, Labonte, Reutimann, Harvick and Regan Smith rounded out the top ten.[14] However, in the qualifying session, only 43 cars attempted to qualify (Setzer and Derrike Cope withdrew). Following the session, McMurray commented, "We've had really good cars. It just seems like we've had really bad luck, so I'm hoping. ... I've always been a little superstitious of green, and I showed up, and I saw my car, and I was like, 'Wow, that's not really what I was expecting to see.' But I hope this turns it around for us."[15]

Results

Qualifying

Jamie McMurray scored the pole position.
Qualifying results
Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 19.621 96.509
2 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 19.655 96.342
3 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 19.665 96.293
4 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19.680 96.220
5 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19.726 95.995
6 43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 19.735 95.951
7 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 19.745 95.951
8 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 19.755 95.854
9 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19.761 95.825
10 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 19.768 95.791
11 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19.769 95.786
12 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.784 95.714
13 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 19.788 95.694
14 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 19.792 95.675
15 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19.797 95.651
16 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19.817 95.554
17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.820 95.540
18 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 19.833 95.477
19 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 19.835 95.468
20 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 19.836 95.463
21 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.843 95.429
22 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 19.852 95.386
23 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 19.875 95.275
24 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 19.879 95.256
25 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 19.879 95.256
26 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.894 95.184
27 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 19.908 95.118
28 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 19.914 95.089
29 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 19.916 95.079
30 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 19.932 19.932
31 38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford 19.942 94.955
32 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.002 94.671
33 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 20.004 94.661
34 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 20.028 94.548
35 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota 20.044 94.472
36 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 20.066 94.369
37 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 20.100 94.209
38 09 Landon Cassill Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 20.135 94.045
39 60 Mike Skinner Germain Racing Toyota 20.171 93.877
40 32 Ken Schrader FAS Lane Racing Ford 20.228 93.613
41 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 20.306 93.253
42 46 J. J. Yeley Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 20.306 93.253
43 71 Hermie Sadler TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 20.640 91.744
Failed to qualify
WD 92 Dennis Setzer Dodge
Source:[16]

Race

Kevin Harvick won the race, his second of the season.
Race results
Pos Start Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Points
1 9 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 51
2 26 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 44
3 11 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 45
4 27 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 500 40
5 21 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 41
6 24 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 500 38
7 1 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 500 39
8 14 6 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 500 36
9 15 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 37
10 12 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 34
11 17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 35
12 5 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 34
13 4 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 499 31
14 6 43 A.J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 499 32
15 8 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 499 29
16 20 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 499 28
17 18 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 499 27
18 23 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 499 27
19 22 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 498 25
20 2 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 498 25
21 33 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 498 23
22 39 32 Ken Schrader FAS Lane Racing Ford 497 22
23 34 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 497 21
24 32 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 495 20
25 40 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 493 19
26 37 09 Landon Cassill Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 493 0
27 7 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 489 17
28 42 71 Hermie Sadler TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 488 0
29 19 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 487 15
30 29 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 486 14
31 10 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 476 13
32 35 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota 470 12
33 36 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 468 11
34 28 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 462 10
35 25 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 460 0
36 30 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 457 8
37 31 38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford 443 0
38 16 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 261 6
39 3 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 219 6
40 18 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 219 4
41 41 46 J.J. Yeley Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 33 3
42 38 60 Mike Skinner Germain Racing Toyota 31 0
43 43 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 25 0
Source:[17]

Standings after the race

References

  1. ^ "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  2. ^ Brown, Brian (March 30, 2011). "The Goody's Fast Relief 500". Rotoworld.com. NBC Sports Digital. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup TV Ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  4. ^ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "About the Track — Martinsville Speedway". martinsvillespeedway.com. Martinsville Speedway. Archived from the original on October 7, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  6. ^ "Driver's Championship Classification". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "2011 Manufactures' Championship". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  8. ^ "2010 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500". Racing-reference. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  9. ^ "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site – Sprint Cup Race Info / Rundown Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Practice Speeds: Goody's Fast Relief 500 (Practice 1)". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Spinning out in Martinsville – April 01, 2011 – NASCAR.COM Video". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  12. ^ "Practice Speeds: Goody's Fast Relief 500 (Practice 2)". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  13. ^ "Qualifying Order: Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d "Race Lineup: Goody's Fast Relief 500". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  15. ^ Sporting News Wire Service (April 2, 2011). "McMurray earns his first pole of '11 at Martinsville". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  16. ^ "Qualifying/Grid page for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "2011 Official Race Results : Goody's Fast Relief 50". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  18. ^ "2011 Official Driver Standings: Goody's Fast Relief 500". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2015.


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