2016 STP 500

File:Martinsville Speedway, September 2011 overview.JPG, the track where the race was held.]]

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At {{convert|0.526|mi|km}} in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

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The entry list for the STP 500 was released on Monday, March 28 at 1:50 p.m. Eastern time. Forty cars were entered for the race.

Brian Vickers was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 19.485 and a speed of {{Convert|97.182|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|title=Super sub Vickers sets the pace in Friday Cup practice|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/super-sub-vickers-sets-the-pace-in-friday-cup-practice-683605/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network, LLC.|access-date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 1, 2016}} Trevor Bayne went to his backup car after crashing his primary in the final 30 seconds of the session.{{cite web|last=White|first=Tucker|title=Brian Vickers fastest in first practice|url=http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=107842|website=SpeedwayMedia.com|publisher=USA Today Sports Digital Properties|access-date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 1, 2016}}

File:Joey logano (27543050221).jpg scored his third straight pole position at Martinsville.]]

Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 19.513 and a speed of {{Convert|97.043|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|last=Kurz|first=Hank|title=Logano wins third consecutive pole at Martinsville|url=http://racing.ap.org/node/291531|access-date=April 1, 2016|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402135627/http://racing.ap.org/node/291531|archive-date=April 2, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}} He joined Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip and Glen Wood as the only drivers to have earned three-consecutive poles at Martinsville.{{cite news|last=Hamlet|first=Harrison|title=Three on the trot: Logano on pole for third consecutive Sprint Cup race at Martinsville|url=http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/sports/three-on-the-trot-logano-on-pole-for-third-consecutive/article_e2e58870-f84f-11e5-bcde-1f5c6f19e85c.html|access-date=April 2, 2016|work=Martinsville Bulletin|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}} He said afterwards that it was "nice to be able to go up here and do what we know how to do - execute qualifying like we know how to at this racetrack. Ever since we unloaded this morning it was top of the board, it was a fast racecar. We knew that. We just had to keep our heads in the game and do what we know how to do."{{cite web|last=Mays|first=Robbie|title=Logano Wins Third Straight Martinsville Pole|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Joey-Logano-Wins-Third-Straight-Martinsville-Pole.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404194948/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Joey-Logano-Wins-Third-Straight-Martinsville-Pole.aspx|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} He also added that he was "excited, pumped up, jacked up to come to this racetrack and show what we’re made of."{{cite news|last=Gluck|first=Jeff|title=Joey Logano wins third straight pole at Martinsville|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2016/04/01/martinsville-stp-500-qualifying-joey-logano-wins-pole/82532168/|access-date=April 1, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}} After qualifying second, Kasey Kahne said that his performance felt "good. The car was really fast, this Great Clips Chevrolet. The guys did a nice job in practice and in qualifying. I just kept getting better with my laps…The car is fine. Just let me get my laps a little better. I feel good about it (the car). We had a top-10 here the last race, last year; with the backup car because I crashed it in qualifying and this car is better than our primary car was last time.”{{cite web|last=White|first=Tucker|title=Logano on the pole for Martinsville|url=http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=107876|website=SpeedwayMedia.com|publisher=USA Today Sports Digital Properties|access-date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 1, 2016}} He also added that Logano "barely got us. But it is definitely a good starting spot. That was one of my goals today was to help out on pit road. Pit road is huge here. We have the best pit crew for stops, than anyone, in my opinion. And if I can help them on pit road, myself, and get a better spot, I think all that will be beneficial on Sunday."{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Reid|title=Logano earns Coors Light Pole at Martinsville|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/4/1/coors-light-pole-qualifying-martinsville-sprint-cup-series.html|access-date=April 2, 2016|work=NASCAR Wire Service|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=April 1, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}} After qualifying third, Brian Vickers said he was "so close; the No. 22 was really strong. I thought we had it when he ran a 51 (19.51) I thought we could beat that. We made a small adjustment going into the last round and I don't know maybe that hurt us a little bit. It is so tight. We are fighting for hundredths of a second, thousandths of a second, but everybody on the No. 14 Chevrolet did a good job. I'm really proud of everyone. Mike (Bugarewicz, crew chief) gave me a great race car. Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevy, it's an honor to put the Arnie’s Army and Janssen Chevrolet in the top three.”{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Hunter|title=Joey Logano Wins Third Consecutive Pole At Martinsville Speedway|url=http://thefourthturn.com/2016/04/joey-logano-wins-third-consecutive-pole-at-martinsville-speedway/|website=thefourthturn.com|publisher=Fraction|access-date=April 2, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402040855/http://thefourthturn.com/2016/04/joey-logano-wins-third-consecutive-pole-at-martinsville-speedway/|archive-date=April 2, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Kasey Kahne was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 19.710 and a speed of {{Convert|96.073|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=Kasey Kahne tops Saturday morning Cup practice|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/kasey-kahne-tops-saturday-morning-cup-practice-683958/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network, LLC.|access-date=April 2, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 2, 2016}}

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 19.835 and a speed of {{Convert|95.468|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=White|first=Tucker|title=Kyle Larson fastest in final Sprint Cup practice|url=http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=107931|website=SpeedwayMedia.com|publisher=USA Today Sports Digital Properties|access-date=April 2, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 2, 2016}}

Under clear blue Virginia skies, Joey Logano led the field to the green flag at 1:19 p.m. The first caution of the race flew on the fifth lap for a single-car spin in turn 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. bounced off the side of David Ragan's car and spun out.{{cite news|last=Gluck|first=Jeff|title=Dale Earnhardt Jr. can't overcome early spin, outside lane|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2016/04/03/dale-earnhardt-jr-stp-500-martinsville-speedway/82591940/|access-date=April 4, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=April 3, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}}

The race restarted on lap 10. Going into turn 3, Paul Menard dove under Logano to take the lead on lap 22. Kyle Busch dove under Menard going into turn 3 to take the lead on lap 33. The second caution of the race flew on lap 91 for a single-car spin in turn 2. Menard got into the left-rear corner of Brian Scott, sent him into Michael Annett and sent him spinning. Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski were tagged for speeding on pit road and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.{{cite web|last=Mays|first=Robbie|title=Hamlin Embarrassed After Wheel Hop|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Denny-Hamlin-Embarrassed-After-Martinsville-Wheel-Hop.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406022900/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Denny-Hamlin-Embarrassed-After-Martinsville-Wheel-Hop.aspx|archive-date=April 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The race restarted on lap 98. Kevin Harvick drove under Busch to take the lead on lap 101. He retook the lead on lap 107. Matt Kenseth drove by his teammate exiting turn 2 to take the lead on lap 133. The third caution of the race flew on lap 136 for a single-car wreck in turn 2. Regan Smith sent Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spinning into the wall.

The race restarted on lap 145. Busch drove by the outside of Kenseth going into turn 3 to retake the lead on lap 147. Harvick drove by Busch going into turn 1 to take the lead on lap 156. Aric Almirola retired from the race on lap 208 due to engine issues and would go on to finish last.{{cite web|last=Beard|first=Brock|title=CUP: Engine sours on Aric Almirola’s throwback ride|url=http://brock.lastcar.info/2016/04/cup-engine-sours-on-aric-almirolas.html|website=brock.lastcar.info|publisher=LASTCAR.info|access-date=April 4, 2016|date=April 3, 2016}} The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 222 for a single-car wreck in turn 1. Hamlin's wheel hopped going into the turn and slammed the wall.{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=Hamlin crashes, apologizes for "embarrassing" mistake|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/hamlin-crashes-apologizes-for-embarrassing-mistake-684540/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network, LLC.|access-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 3, 2016}} He said afterwards that it was the "first time ever doing it here, so it’s a little embarrassing, but I mean we were the fastest car those last 30 laps and we got back to the top-five and I was making up a lot of my speed on entry. As the tires wear, the rears get hotter, less grip, you can’t brake at the same amount – it was really out of the blue. I didn’t ever have a hint of it up until that moment, so a bit of a rookie move on my part. Been around here too much to do something like that, but learning for the fall and I’m really encouraged about how good our car came up through the pack and I really thought we had a car that could win.”{{cite web|last=Crandall|first=Kelly|title=Hamlin Embarrassed by Martinsville Miscues|url=http://www.popularspeed.com/hamlin-embarrassed-by-martinsville-miscues/|website=PopularSpeed.com|publisher=POPULAR SPEED|access-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 3, 2016}} Harvick and Kenseth swapped the lead on pit road and the latter exited with the lead.

The race restarted on lap 228. Busch retook the lead on lap 230. The fifth caution of the race flew on lap 312 for a single-car wreck in turn 2. Josh Wise suffered a tire blowout and slammed the wall. Reed Sorenson was tagged for having too many crew members over the wall and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.

File:Kyle Busch Martinsville Win 2016.jpg won the race.]]

The race restarted on lap 321. Busch worked past Kenseth to retake the lead on lap 325. The sixth caution of the race flew with 117 laps to go for a single-car wreck in turn 2. Exiting the turn, Michael Annett got loose and spun out. Logano was tagged for an uncontrolled tire and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.{{cite web|last=White|first=Tucker|title=Rowdy takes a bow in Martinsville|url=http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=107979|website=SpeedwayMedia.com|publisher=USA Today Sports Digital Properties|access-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 3, 2016}}

The race restarted with 110 laps to go. The seventh caution of the race flew with 45 laps to go for a single-car wreck in turn 2. Regan Smith suffered a right-front tire blowout and slammed the wall. Chase Elliott was tagged for speeding on pit road and restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.{{cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Matthew|title=Hendrick suffers a rare tough day|url=http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/sports/hendrick-suffers-a-rare-tough-day/article_8de95c3e-fa0c-11e5-97d0-df3bf050d46f.html|access-date=April 4, 2016|work=Martinsville Bulletin|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|date=April 3, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}}

The race restarted with 34 laps to go. The eighth caution of the race flew with 17 laps to go for a single-car spin on the backstretch. Jamie McMurray suffered a left-front tire blowout, got hit in the rear and turned.

The race restarted with 14 laps and went green for the rest of the race. Busch drove on to score the checkered flag.{{cite news|last=Kurz|first=Hank|title=Kyle Busch wins again for weekend sweep at Martinsville|url=http://racing.ap.org/node/291957|access-date=April 3, 2016|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404163808/http://racing.ap.org/node/291957|archive-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}}

Busch said after the race that he "had a really good car through practice and Adam (Stevens, crew chief) made some really good adjustments overnight to keep us where we need to be in order to run up front all day, led a lot of laps, probably led the most laps there and to win here in Martinsville is pretty cool – finally get to take a clock home."{{cite news|last=Scott|first=David|title=Kyle Busch wins first NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsracin/article69745522.html|access-date=April 4, 2016|work=The Charlotte Observer|publisher=The McClatchy Company|date=April 3, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}} He also added that he "can't say enough about this whole JGR team. The M&M's Camry was awesome in practice. We had a really good car through practice, and Adam made some really good adjustments overnight to keep us where we needed to be, running up front all day."{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Reid|title=Busch sweeps weekend, dominates in Martinsville Cup race|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/4/3/martinsville-stp-500-sprint-cup-series-winner-race-results-speeds.html|access-date=April 4, 2016|work=NASCAR Wire Service|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=April 3, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}}

A. J. Allmendinger said of his second–place finish and his strong runs of late that they're "something that really started on the West Coast swing and coming through here, I feel like we've been at our best at the end of these races. We've maximized. That's the biggest thing we always say — if we can just maximize our finishes, whether they're top-fives or you're running 20th and you can get 18th an out of it, that's what we want to do.”{{cite news|last=Weaver|first=Matt|title=AJ Allmendinger finding speed, consistency with new crew chief|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2016/04/03/aj-allmendinger-jtg-daugherty-racing-martinsville-stp-500/82590266/|access-date=April 4, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=April 3, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia}}

“It was a solid weekend for myself. I was able to do double-duty this week and I think that helped me get my rhythm early in the weekend,” Larson said. “It bettered myself each time I was on the track. Normally a truck does not drive anything like a Cup car. This is the only race track probably where it does. Getting more laps on this racetrack is the most important part for myself."{{cite web|last=Mayes|first=Robbie|title=Larson Gaining Ground at Martinsville|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Kyle-Larson-Gaining-Ground-at-Martinsville.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=April 4, 2016|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406205556/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2016/04/Kyle-Larson-Gaining-Ground-at-Martinsville.aspx|archive-date=April 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}

• Lead changes: 11
• Cautions: 8 for 51
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 3 hours, 17 minutes, and 2 seconds
• Average speed: {{convert|80.088|mph|km/h}}

Fox Sports was covering their 16th race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy, nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon and 11-time Martinsville winner Darrell Waltrip called in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled pit road duties for the entire race.

MRN had the radio call for the race which would also be simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and seven-time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth as the cars were on the frontstretch. Dave Moody called the race from atop the turn 3 stands as the field is racing down the backstretch. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post worked pit road for the radio side.

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;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Manufacturers' Championship standings

• Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

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{{NASCAR next race

| Series = Sprint Cup Series

| Season = 2016

| Previous_race = 2016 Auto Club 400

| Next_race = 2016 Duck Commander 500

}}

{{2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup}}

STP 500

STP 500

Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway

STP 500