Known as the track too tough to tame and the Lady in Black, Darlington Speedway is one of the oldest paved tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Built in 1950, there have thousands of drivers who have battled to tame The Lady.
A very abrasive track, Darlington is tough on tires and will have the drivers screaming for fresh tires every time the yellow caution flag flies.
A throwback weekend, the drivers are all sporting paint schemes from drivers of the past. And not to be outdone, FOX has invited three Hall of Fame racing legends to join them in the broadcast booth for the race. During stage one The King himself Richard Petty will join Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer. In stage two Bobby Labonte comes to the broadcast booth and Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, Bill Elliott takes over for stage three.
During practice before qualifying, Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott both suffered damage to their cars after a flat tire.
Currently on baby watch, Trevor Bayne has been called in to drive in case Samantha and Kyle Busch’s new baby arrives.
While rain washed out some of the on track events at Darlington on Friday, NASCAR opened the garage for the inspection process. Four teams failed inspection twice – the Stewart-Haas number four car driven by Kevin Harvick, the Front Row Motorsports number 34 car driven by Michael McDowell, and the Hendrick Motorsports number five car driven by Kyle Larson and the number 48 driven by Alex Bowman. As a result, the teams will each lose a crew member and their pit selection choice; however, they will be allowed to start the race in the position in which they qualified.
As a result of his crash from a flat tire, Chase Elliott’s team has to move to a backup car – the only backup car HMS has brought to the track.
Landon Cassill is the first driver on the track to begin qualifying and clocks a time of 30.367 seconds around the mile and a third track.
With a time of 28,80 seconds, Joey Logano puts his number 22 Team Penske car on the pole. Kyle Larson will start alongside on the front row after posting a time of 28,88 seconds.
The starting lineup for the Goodyear 400:
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
William Byron
Tyler Reddick
Erik Jones
Aric Almirola
Chase Briscoe
Austin Dillon
Alex Bowman
Michael McDowell
Bubba Wallace
Chris Buescher
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez
Ty Dillon
Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski
Daniel Hemric
Harrison Burton
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Todd Gilliland
Cole Custer
Justin Haley
Corey LaJoie
Cody Ware
JJ Yeley
Landon Cassill
Chase Elliott
Kevin Harvick
BJ McLeod
Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott gave the command to start the engines.
Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, and BJ McLeod start the race from the back of the field after not making a qualifying run. Denny Hamlin will also have to start the race from the back of the field after his crew made unapproved adjustments to the car.
Stages one of the race is 90 laps, stage two is 95 laps, and stage three is 108 laps for a total of 293 laps around the mile and third track.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag start of the race which was waved by Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty. Logano and Kyle Larson go side by side before Kyle Larson gets out in front for the lead.
Kyle Larson leads lap one.
Brad Keselowski brings out the first caution flag of the race on lap four after spinning out on the track from some on track contact.
The teams were given 10 sets of tires for today’s race.
Lap five, Kyle Larson leads the race with Joey Logano in second; Martin Treux Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap eight. This time it was Joey Logano on the inside lane and that edges out in front before Kyle Larson takes the lead.
Lap nine, Kyle Larson leads the race with Joey Logano in second; Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
Brad Keselowski is one lap down. Kevin Harvick has moved up three spots since race start.
Lap 14, Kyle Larson has a second and half lead on Joey Logano; Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kurt Busch round out the top five. Larson reports that he is bottoming out in turn two. Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott have advanced five spots.
Darlington Speedway has an egg shape to it because when it was built, they had to comply with some property limits.
Lap 25, Kyle Larson has pulled out toa a lead of over three seconds on Joey Logano; Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
Lap 28, Kyle Larson continues to expand his lead and is now three and a half seconds out in front of Joey Logano.
Kyle Busch in seventh place reports that he is “super tight”; adding that it was a 10 out of 10 and he has no front tires.
There are 34 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 31, after the rains on Saturday night NASCAR has called for a competition caution.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Joey Logano winning the race off of pit road. Kurt Busch’s crew is having issues on pit road. The rear tire fell off but the crew caught the car before it left pit road and saved a major penalty.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 36 from the outside lane. This time around, Joey Logano gets out in front for the lead. Drivers are spread out three wide across the track.
Lap 37, Joey Logano leads the race with Key Larson in second; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 49, Joey Logano has a narrow lead on Kyle Larson with Kyle Busch in third; Martin Truex Jr, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five. The top three drivers are separated by less than one second.
Lap 45, Ross Chastain passes Ryan Blaney for fifth place.
Lap 46, Kyle Busch passes Kyle Larson for second.
Lap 48, Joey Logano has a lead of just under half a second on Kyle Busch; Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
JJ Yeley gets into the wall but the track stays green. Yeley makes it top it road.
Lap 50, Austin Dillon makes an unscheduled trip down pit road.
Lap 51, Joey Logano leads the race with Kyle Busch in second; Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.
Kyle Larson brings out the caution flag on lap 54 after battling with Kyle Busch for position and spins out.
Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires with Joey Logano inning the race off of pit road.
Brad Keselowski is the “lucky dog”.
Kyle Larson will restart the race in 34th place.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 60 from the outside lane with Kyle Busch on the inside. After going side by side in a battle for the lead for two laps, Kyle Busch finally takes the lead.
Lap 63, the top five are Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney. Denny Hamlin enters the top 10. Kevin Harvick is in 16th and Chase Elliott is in 17th.
Lap 66, Kyle Busch has a lead of over half a second on Joey Logano.
Lap 67, Kyle Larson have moved up to 24th after restarting the race in 34th place.
There are 35 cars on the lead lap; only JJ Yeley is one lap down.
Lap 75, Joey Logano is closing the gap on leader Kyle Busch; he is now less than half a second back.
Lap 79, Kyle Busch has just a quarter of a second lead on Joey Logano with Ross Chastain in third half a second back; Christopher Bell and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 80, Joey Logano passes Kyle Busch for the lead.
Ross Chastain passes Kyle Busch for second and is on Joey Logano’s bumper.
Lap 82, Kyle Larson has entered the top 20.
Chris Buescher “kisses” the wall but the track stays green.
Four laps remain in stage one, Ross Chastain is on leader Joey Logano’s bumper and challenging for the lead.
Christopher Bell passes Kyle Busch for third.
Lap 88, Kyle Larson is in the top 15.
Joey Logano wins stage one by just two tenths of a second for his first stage win of the season and his first stage win at Darlington.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Joey Logano
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex Jr
William Byron
Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
The field comes down pit road for fresh tires and service with Joey Logano winning the race off of pit road with Kyle Busch right behind him. After a very tight condition, Kyle Busch’s car was very loose when he came into pit road.
With the start of stage two, it is a changing of the racing legend with Bobby Labonte taking over the Richard Petty.
Austin Dillon was caught speeding on pit road.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 97 with Kyle Busch alongside. Logano jumps out in front for the lead with Ross Chastain jumping up to second; nearly spinning out Kyle Busch.
Lap 98, the top five are Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Erik Jones.
Lap 100, Kyle Larson is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.
Lap 103, Joey Logano has a lead of over half a second on Ross Chastain; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Lap 109, Kyle Larson is not back in the top 10.
Joey Logano has led 57 laps so far.
Lap 111, Kyle Larson makes an unscheduled trip down pit road. The crew has the hood up on the car and he cannot get it started once again. Larson reported that he thought he was blowing up. He becomes the first car out of the race.
Lap 117, Joey Logano continues to lead the race with Ross Chastain in second; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Lap 120, Ryan Blaney is reporting a vibration. Earlier Martin Truex Jr had reported a vibration that was a brake issue.
Lap 124, Joey Logano has a half second lead on Ross Chastain; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Lap 125, Austin Cindric comes down pit road.
Lap 129, Joey Logano continues to lead the race but has pulled out to a lead over a second on Ross Chastain; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 133, Tyler Reddick comes down pit road for fresh tires. Ryan Blaney was also on pit road.
Lap 134, Martin Truex Jr passes Ross Chastain for second with Kyle Busch in fourth.
More drivers come down pit road for green flag pit stops as tires wear out.
With Darlington only a mile and a third, drivers are losing a lap making their green flag pit stops.
Lap 137, Joey Logano makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over the Kyle Busch.
Lap 138, Kyle Busch comes down pit road and gives the lead over the Erik Jones.
Lap 139, Erik Jones comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Kevin Harvick.
Kevin Harvick makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Cole Custer.
Cole Custer makes his pit stop and give the lead over to Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 140, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin.
Lap 142, Ross Chastain passes Joey Logano for third.
Lap 144, Martin Truex Jr has a half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Kyle Busch is in sixth place.
Lap 148, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of over half a second on Tyler Reddick.
Lap 154, Corey LaJoie hits the wall and makes an unscheduled trip down pit road; the track stays green.
Lap 158, Martin Truex Jr has a three quarters of a second lead on Tyler Reddick; Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick reports a vibration in his car. He makes an unscheduled trip down pit road.
Ross Chastain is now in second place.
Lap 162, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of less than half a second on Ross Chastain; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five.
With 20 laps remaining in stage two, Ross Chastain passes Martin Truex Jr for the lead..
Brad Keselowski brings out the fifth caution flag of the race on lap 168 when he gets into the wall and then hits the number 18 of Kyle Busch. Kyle Busch’s car has stopped on pit road at the entrance to the garage and is out of the race.
There are only 15 laps remaining in stage two, but the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires. Ross Chastain wins the race off of pit road.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 175 from the outside lane with Martin Truex Jr on the inside. Chastain edges out in front for the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second.
Lap 176, Ross Chastain leads the race with Martin Truex Jr in second; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 179, Ross Chastain has a lead of nearly half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron round out the top five.
There are 26 cars on the lead lap.
With a lead of nearly one second, Ross Chastain wins stage two for his second stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ross Chastain
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
DennyHamlin
William Byron
Erik Jones
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Aric Almirola
Daniel Suarez
BJ McLeod brings a flaming car down pit road. Pit road remains closed while officials clean up pit road after the fire is doused.
At the end of stage two, Bobby Labonte hands over the guest spot in the broadcast booth to Hall of Famer Bill Elliott.
Lap 191, pit road is finally open and the drivers come down for service. Denny Hamlin wins the race off of pit road with Ross Chastain in second.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with 99 laps remaining in the race.
Ross Chastain gets loose in a battle for the lead with Denny Hamlin and hits the wall hard head on and brings out the caution flag.
With 28 cars on the lead lap, Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with 94 laps to go. Joey Logano gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 200, Joey Logano leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
Daniel Suarez passes Aric Almirola for fifth.
Austin Dillon brushes the wall.
With 88 laps to go, Joey Logano has the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Crew chief Larry McReynolds speculates that the teams have three sets of tires remaining in the pits.
With 84 laps to go, Denny Hamlin passes Joey Logano for the lead; William Byron is on Logano’s bumper.
With 77 laps remaining in the race, Denny Hamlin has a third of a second lead on Joey Logano; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Christopher Bell finally gets around Daniel Suarez for fifth; Chase Elliott comes up from seventh to take fifith.
When the race started, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Kevin Harvick all started the race from the back of the field; they are all now in the top 10 with Denny Hamlin leading the race.
Lap 233, Denny Hamlin has a narrow lead on Joey Logano; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
A few drivers have come down pit road for a scheduled pit stop after dividing the stage into thirds.
With 56 laps to go more drivers come down pit road for scheduled pit stops.
Chase Briscoe slaps the wall but gets going again and the track stays green.
William Byron and Chase Elliott are reporting shakes in their cars.
With 51 laps to go, Matin Truex Jr passes Denny Hamlin for the lead; Christopher Bell takes second. Denny Hamlin brings his car down pit road for service.
Christopher Bell takes the lead when Martin Truex Jr comes down pit road for service.
Christopher Bell comes down pit road for service and gives the lead over to Austin Cindric.
Daniel Suarez has a slow stop when the crew has trouble with a tire.
Austin Cindric comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Tyler Reddick…who made an early pit stop.
With 45 laps to go, Tyler Reddick leads the race with Joey Logano in second; William Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Forty to go, Tyler Reddick leads the rac with Joey Logano in second; William Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out with 39 laps remaining in the race when Alex Bowman gets into the wall.
Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires. Joey Logano barely edges out Tyler Reddick in the race off of pit road.
Alex Bowman’s car is smoking. He brings the car down pit road with flames coming out from under the car.
Denny Hamlin had issues with his pit stop and comes out in 18th place.
Austin Dillon was caught speeding on pit road.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 33 laps remaining in the race. There are 25 cars on the lead lap. Joey Logano and William Byron go side by side with drivers getting three wide across the track.
The caution flag comes out for a big wreck when Martin Truex Jr gets loose and collects a bunch of drivers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Martin Truex Jr, Bubba Wallace, Cole Custer, Erik Jones, and Kurt Busch were all involved. Kurt Busch hit the wall head on and Bubba Wallace came to rest with the driver’s side against the wall.
Harrison Burton is shown as the lead of the race.
Even though they were just on pit road, some drivers make another trip down pit road with many of the drivers on the “crash clock”.
Noting it was another disappointing result, Bubba Wallace wants to know what he did to “piss off” the racing gods.
Joey Logano is the leader and brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with just 26 laps to go. He battle with William Byron for the lead.
William Byron gets out in front for the lead with Joey Logano in second and Tyler Reddick in third; Justin Haley and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Martin Truex takes his car to the garage and is out of the race.
Twenty to go, William Byron has a half second lead on Joey Logano; Tyler Reddick Justin Haley, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
William Byron raced on a short track in Nashville on Saturday night…and won.
Kurt Busch reports that he is fine but his feet feel numb.
Fifteen to go, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on Joey Logano; Tyler Reddick, Justin Haley, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five. Chase Elliott is in sixth place.
Lap 280, William Byron has increased his lead to a second on Joey Logano.
There are 13 cars already in the garage earning a DNF for today’s race.
Ten to go! William Byron has a lead of over a second on Joey Logano with Tyler Reddick right behind; Justin Haley and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Five to go, William Byron’s lead is down to just over half a second on Joey Logano; Tyler Reddick, Justin Haley, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Four to go and Joey Logano is just four lengths behind leader William Byron.
Two to go, Joey Logano has caught up to leader William Byron.
Joey Logano hits William Byron from behind and sends him against the wall as the white flag comes out.
Joey Logano takes the checkered flag to win the race after winning the pole. Logano wins his first race of the season to become the tenth different winner this season.
The unofficial results of the Goodyear 400:
Joey Logano
Tyler Reddick
Justin Haley
Kevin Harvick
Chase Elliott
Christopher Bell
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Austin Dillon
Daniel Suarez
Aric Almirola
Ty Dillon
William Byron
Harrison Burton
Todd Gilliland
Chris Buescher
Ryan Blaney
Austin Cindric
Cody Ware
Chase Briscoe
Denny Hamlin
Landon Cassill
JJ Yeley
Martin Truex Jr
Erik Jones
Cole Custer
Bubba Wallace
Kurt Busch
Alex Bowman
Ross Chastain
Daniel Hemric
BJ McLeod
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Corey LaJoie
Kyle Larson