The final race of the 2015 NASCAR regular season was held at Richmond Saturday night (9/12) and Matt Kenseth dominated the Federated Auto Parts 400 winning the race to set the 2015 NASCAR Chase Grid.
Matt Kenseth started the race on the outside of the front row next to pole winner Joey Logano. Joey was able to get out front and lead the first 14 laps of the race. However, Matt took the lead from Joey on lap 15 to begin his domination of the event.
Matt would get his #20 Toyota out front to lead the race six different times. That may not sound like a lot. However, if you add the fact that in those six times at the front of the field Matt remained there for a race high 352 laps of the 400 lap race, domination might just be an understatement.
Matt built such a comfortable lead that when the race’s sixth and final caution flag waived Matt was able to get in and out of the pits without even a threat of losing the lead as he remained the leader for the final 103 laps of the race to capture his fourth win of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Kyle Busch grabbed the runner-up finish with Joey Logano taking third place. Aric Almirola managed to score a fourth place finish and Dale Earnhardt Jr. crossed the finish line in fifth place. See the complete race results for the Federated Auto Parts 400 here.
The Richmond race was the last chance for a driver not on the Chase Grid to win and get in NASCAR’s playoffs. Since there was a repeat winner that did not happen. The winless drivers on the Chase Grid did what they needed to do in order to stay on the grid. Matt’s victory gained him the bonus points to start the Chase in a three-way tie at the top of the grid with Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. You can see the 2015 NASCAR Chase Grid for the start of the Challenger Round at the bottom of the page.
The 16 Chase drivers have three races to either win a race and automatically advance to the next round or gain enough points to stay out of the bottom four on the Chase Grid. After three races, the bottom four in points on the grid will be eliminated from championship contention.
The first race in The Chase will again be held at Chicagoland Speedway when the MyAFibRisk.com 400 takes place Sunday, September 20th.
By: Buck Stevens
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads the field through the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads the field through the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads the field past the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 3M Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 HendrickRideAlong.com Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Crispy/American Heritage Chocolate Toyota, lead a pack of cars into turn one during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Cars pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Jeb Burton, driver of the #23 Estes Toyota, races behind a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: A detailed view of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Banner during the Post Race Party after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers take a selfie with Miss Sprint Cup Juliana White after making the Chase for the Sprint Cup during the Post Race Party after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
-
- RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 12: (Back row L-R) Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, Paul Menard, driver of the #27 Libman/Menards Chevrolet, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 3M Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, (front row L-R) Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Crispy/American Heritage Chocolate Toyota, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, pose for a photo after making the Chase for the Sprint Cup after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/NASCAR via Getty Images)
(Click Chase Grid to enlarge)
