The NASCAR Cup Series caps off a doubleheader day of racing with some good old fashioned short track racing on a Saturday night with the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders.
Regular season champion Kyle Larson was set to start the race from the pole but pre-race inspection issues will send Larson to the rear of the field. Driver of the number 41 Stewart-Haas Racing car Cole Custer will also be starting the race from the back of the field after his car failed inspection multiple times.
With Larson’s car failing twice; resulting in a move to the rear of the field, Southern 500 winner Denny Hamlin will now bring the field down for the green flag start of the race with Martin Truex Jr alongside on the front row.
Having already race in the Xfinity Series earlier in the day, Justin Haley and JJ Yeley are doing the doubleheader and running the the race tonight.
The starting lineup for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders:
Kyle Larson – moved to the back of the field
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Joey Logano
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Blaney
Aric Almirola
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Alex Bowman
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Michael McDowell
Ross Chastain
Chris Buescher
Austin Dillon
Ryan Preece
Cole Custer – moved to the back of the field
Daniel Suarez
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Newman
Corey LaJoie
Chase Briscoe
Bubba Wallace
Matt DiBenedetto
Justin Haley
Anthony Alfredo
Erik Jones
BJ McLeod
Josh Bilicki
Joey Gase
Quin Houff
Garrett Smithley
JJ Yeley
Stages one lasts 80 laps, stage two is 155 laps, and stage three is 165 laps for a total of 400 laps around the ¾ mile track.
Fans at the track were given small flags which they were asked to wave as first responders took to the track for a lap. Crew member lined the pit wall holding large American flags and “Never Forget” flags. The crowd chanted USA as the vehicles made their way around the track.
NASCAR has called for a competition caution flag on lap 30.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of the race but it is Martin Truex Jr who jumps out in front for the lead.
NASCAR has black flagged Martin Truex Jr for jumping the start of the race. Truex will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Denny Hamlin is the new leader.
Lap five, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Kurt Busch in second; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Martin Truex Jr returns to the track in last place but is still on the lead lap.
Lap nine, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Kurt Busch; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Kyle Larson has moved up 10 spots since the race start after starting at the back of the field.
Lap 12, Denny Hamlin has increased his lead to nearly a second on Kurt Busch.
Only 12 laps into the race, the brake rotors are already glowing bright red.
Lap 15, Denny Hamlin has a one second lead on Kurt Busch; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 22, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a two second lead on Kurt Busch; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 25, leader Denny Hamlin has already encountered slower traffic; threr are 33 cars on the lead lap.
Kyle Larson is in the top 20 in 20th place.
Kevin Harvick has passed Brad Keselowski to take fifth.
Lap 29, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick.
Lap 31, NASCAR displays the yellow flag for the competition caution.
Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and service. Kurt Busch wins the race off of pit road. Four of Busch’s regular pit crew members are out due to Covid-19 contact and he has new crew members.
Kurt Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 37 but get a challenge from Denny Hamlin who retakes the lead.
The top five are Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick.
Kyle Busch had to restart the race from the back of the field after a penalty for equipment interference; a tire gets away from the crew and rolls into the next pit stall.
Joey Logano passes Kurt Busch for second for equipment interference. Bubba Wallace was caught speeding on pit road and will also have to restart from the back of the field.
Lap 40, Kurt Busch hits the wall after losing a tire. Bubba Wallace has the tire carcass stuck under his car. Busch hit the wall on the driver’s side; bringing out the caution flag. He is the first driver out of the race.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 48 with Joey Logano alongside. Denny Hamlin jumps out in front for the lead with Ryan Blaney in second.
The top five are Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Kevin Harvick. Kyle Larson is in 13th place.
Lap 54, Denny Hamlin has a near one second lead on Ryan Blaney; Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 57, Denny Hamlin has increased his lead to over a second on Ryan Blaney.
Lap 58, Kyle Larson enters the top 10.
Kurt Busch is out of the infield care center and is fine. He reports that something happened to the left rear tire.
Lap 67, Denny Hamlin has a lead of nearly two and a half seconds on Ryan Blaney; Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five with Kyle Larson in seventh place.
Lap 70, Joey Logano takes second and Chase Elliott takes third; putting Ryan Blaney in fourth place.
Lap 72, Kyle Larson passes Brad Keselowski for fifth place.
Six laps to go in stage one; Denny Hamlin has a three and a half second lead on Joey Logano; Chase elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Kyle Larson passes Ryan Blaney for fourth.
Chase Elliott battles with Joey Logano for second with four laps remaining in stage one.
Lap 78, Denny Hamlin continues to increase his lead and is now over four and a half seconds in front of Chase Elliott.
With a lead of nearly five seconds, Denny Hamlin wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kenny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Brad Keselowski
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Aric Almirola
The drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin edging out Chase Elliott to win the race off of pit road.
Daniel Suarez was charged with an equipment interference penalty.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 80 and gets out in front of Chase Elliott for the lead.
Lap 90, Denny Hamlin leads the race but is getting a challenge from Chase Elliott; Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 93, Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain battle for position and takes fifth place.
Chase Elliott gets around Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Lap 96, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ross Chastain round out the top five with 32 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 98, Brad Keselowski passes team mate Joey Logano for third.
Lap 100, Chase Elliott leads the race with Denny Hamin in second; Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 107, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin with Rodd Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano rounding out the top five.
Several of the drivers are reporting various handling issue with their cars.
Lap 116, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on Denny Hamlin; Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 121, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano battle for fifth.
Lap 123, Joey Logano holds off Kyle Busch and passes Brad Keselowski to take fourth.
Lap 124, Kyle Busch passes Brad Keselowski to take fifth.
Lap 131, Chase Elliott has a lead of four seconds on Ross Chastain as drivers begin making green flag pit stops.
Lapa 132, leader Chase Elliott makes his pit stop and gives the lead over the Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 134, Martin Truex Jr makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead overto Kyle Larson.
Lap 135, Kyle Larson makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Christopher Bell.
Michael McDowell was caught speeding and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Lap 137, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott battle for position with Hamlin passing Elliott.
Matt DiBenedetto is the leader.
After Matt DiBenedetto makes his green flag pit stop, Denny Hamlin is the new leader, over half a second ahead of Chase Elliott; Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
There are 21 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 143, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Ross Chastain is in third over four seconds back with Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five.
Lap 152, Denny Hamlin has led 100 laps so far and currently has a near half second lead on Chase Elliott; Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano round out the top five with 19 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 158, Ross Chastain is the only non playoff driver in the top 14 drivers.
Lap 159, Chase Elliott has caught up to leader Denny Hamlin and is on his bumper challenging for the lead.
Lap 162, half the field is at least one lap down.
In a three way battle, Chase Elliott takes the lead on lap 163 with Denny Hamlin in second; Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.
La 166, Chase Elliott has a near half second lead on Denny Hamlin with 17 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 174, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Kyle busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano round out the top five with 17 cars on the lead lap.
Kyle Larson passes Joey Logano for fifth.
Lap 178, Denny Hamlin has caught up to leader Chase Elliot and is challenging for the lead. Hamlin takes the lead from the outside lane on lap 179.
Lap 180, Martin Truex Jr is the first of the lead lap drivers to make his green flag pit stop.
Denny Hamlin makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Chase Elliott.
Chase elliott comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Kyle Larson.
On his pit stop, Chase Elliott thought that he had overshot his pit stop and started backing up. The jack was already under the car; causing some damage to the jack and the car.
Lap 186, Kyle Larson makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Christopher Bell.
Christopher Bell makes his pit stop and gives the lead back to Denny Hamlin. Chase Elliott is listed one lap down after his pit road issues.
Lap 190, Denny Hamlin has a two second lead on Kyle Busch; Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Ross Chastain round out the top five. Chase Elliott is just in front of the leader the last car on the lead lap in 15th place.
Lap 198, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over two seconds on Kyle Busch; Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
Lap 203, Denny Hamlin increases his lead over Kyle Busch to two land a half seconds. Chase Elliott is the last car on the lead lap in 15th.
Lap 211, Denny Hamlin is closing in on Chase Elliott. There is some damage to the left rear panel of Chase Elliott’s car after some contact on pit road.
Lap 214, Denny Hamlin has caught up to a group of slower traffic including Chase Elliott. Denny Hamlin gets in front of Chase Elliott to put him a lap down. There are now only 14 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 225, Denny Hamlin’s lead on Kyle Busch is down to a second and a half with Hamlin in heavy traffic; Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Denny Hamlin has put Austin Dillon a lap down; there are 13 cars on the lead lap.
Five laps remain in stage two, Denny Hamlin has a lead of just over a second on Kyle Busch with 12 cars on the lead lap.
Chase Elliott has put himself in the “lucky dog” spot with three laps remaining in stage two.
Fresh off of his win at Darlington, Denny Hamlin wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Christopher Bell
Ross Chastain
Aric Almirola
Alex Bowman
Kevin Harvick
Lap 239, drivers come down pit road for service. Kevin Harvick has an extended stop with some race damage.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 245 and gets out in front of Martin Truex Jr for the lead.
Lap 246, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Joey Logano.
Ross Chastain was caught speeding on pit road.
There are 14 drivers on the lead lap.
Bubba Wallace brings out the caution flag on lap 250 when he gets into the wall.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 255. For a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3-4, Hamlin leads the way followed by Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Busch. Joey Logano rounds out the top five.
Lap 259, team mates Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell make contact but the track stays green.
Joey Logano and Kyle Larson battle for fifth iwht Larson getting the spot.
Lap 263, Denny Hamlin has just a tenth of a second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 268, Martin Truex Jr remains on Denny Hamlin’s bumper in a challenge for the lead. Truex takes the lead.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
Lap 271, Kyle Busch passes Christopher Bell for third.
Lap 277, Martin Truex Jr has pulled out to al lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 283, Brad Keselowski is the last car on the lead lap in 14th.
Lap 284, Martin Truex Jr has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
Lap 290, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of over a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap 294, drivers, begin making green flag pot stops.
Leader Martin Truex Jr makes his pot stop on lap 298 and gives the lead over to Christopher Bell.
Michael McDowell was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Leader Christopher Bell is the only driver who needs to make a pit stop; he makes his stop on lap 301. Ross Chastain is the new leader.
Lap 303, Ross Chastain has a lead of over half a second on Kyle busch; Martin Truex Jr, Deny Hamlin, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
When Michael McDowell came down pit road to serve his pass through penalty, he was again caught speeding and will have to serve another pass through penalty.
Lap 305, Kyle Busch passes Ross Chastain for the lead.
Lap 308, Kyle Busch has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Ross Chastain; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, nad Joey Logano round out the top five.
Aric Almirola had to make two trips down pit road during pit stops after he had a loose tire.
Lap 311, Kyle Busch as increased his lead to two and a half seconds on Martin Truex Jr; Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 319, Kyle Busch has a lead of two and a half second on Martin Truex Jr with Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Chase Elliott rounding out the top five.
With 76 laps remaining in the race, there are 13 cars on the lead lap with Kyle Busch leading the race.
Lap 326, after being a lap down, Chase Elliott is back on the lead lap and in the top five in fourth place.
Lap 330, Kyle Busch has a lead of over two seconds on Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Larson has earned enough points to secure himself a spot in the next round of the playoffs. After the race in Bristol next week the four drivers with the fewest points will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Lap 334, Kyle Busch passes lex Bowman to put Bowman a lap down. There are only 12 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 340, leader Kyle Busch passes William Byronto put him another lap down and is on Brad Keselowski’s bumper.
There are 58 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Busch passes Brad Keselowski to put him a lap down. There are now only eleven cars on the lead lap.
Drivers are beginning to make final green flap pit stops.
Lap 346, Kyle Busch makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin.
Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Kyle Larson is the leader.
Lap 348, Kyle Larson makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 350, Kyle Busch serves his penalty and returns to the track the last car on the lead laps in 10th place.
Lap 353, the top five re Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain.
With 46 laps remaining in the race, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of over seven seconds.
Lap 358, Denny Hamlin is slowly closing the gap on leader Martin Truex Jr; Hamlin is now less than seven seconds back.
With 38 laps to go, leader Martin Truex Jr has encountered heavy traffic. Denny Hamlin is now six seconds back of the leader.
Lap 365, Martin Truex Jr’s lead is now down to five and a half seconds on Denny Hamlin; Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Only 29 laps to go, Martin Truex Jr holds on to his five and a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Twenty five to go, Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on leader Martin Truex Jr to five seconds.
Lap 378, Kyle Busch is now the last car on the lead lap in ninth place.
Lap 282, Martin Truex Jr’s lead is down to under five seconds on Denny Hamlin.
With 16 laps to go, Denny Hamin is four and a half seconds behind leader Martin Truex Jr.
Just 13 laps remain in the race; Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Ten to go, Denny Hamlin is just over three and a half seconds behind Martin Truex Jr.
Nine to go, Ross Chastain makes contact with Kyle Larson before passing for sixth. Kyle Larson retakes the spot.
Seven to go, the gap between leader Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin is under three seconds.
Four to go, Martin Truex Jr has a two second lead on Denny Hamlin.
Martin Truex Jr takes the white flag.
After having to go to the back of the field after jumping the race start, Martin Truex Jr wins the race at Richmond. He has secured himself a spot in the next round of the playoffs.
This is Martin Truex Jr’s fourth race win of the season.
Despite having worn out tires, Truex does a burnout lap in celebration.
The unofficial results of the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders:
Martin Truex Jr
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Ross Chastain
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Austin Dillon
Alex Bowman
Brad Keselowski
Aric Almirola
Tyler Reddick
Chase Briscoe
Daniel Suarez
Matt DiBenedetto
William Byron
Ryan Newman
Erik Jones
Cole Custer
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chris Buescher
Ryan Preece
Anthony Alfredo
Justin Haley
Michael McDowell
Corey LaJoie
BJ McLeod
Garrett Smithley
Bubba Wallace
Joey Gase
JJ Yeley
Quin Houff
Josh Bilicki
Kurt Busch