2019 STP 500

{{Short description|Sixth race of the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = NASME

| Description =

| Race Name = STP 500

| Details ref = {{cite web|title=2019 schedule|url=https://www.nascar.com/monster-energy-nascar-cup-series/2019/schedule/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=March 2, 2019|date=May 5, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Martinsville Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=March 2, 2019|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205616/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/03/18/2019-stp-500-entry-list-martinsville/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 18, 2019|date=March 18, 2019}}{{cite web|title=First Practice Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/03/23/2019-stp-500-first-practice-speeds/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 23, 2019|date=March 23, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Final Practice Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/03/23/stp-500-final-practice-speeds-2019/

|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 23, 2019|date=March 23, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/03/23/stp-500-starting-lineup-2019/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 23, 2019|date=March 23, 2019}}{{cite web|title=STP 500 Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/03/24/2019-stp-500-results-martinsville-speedway/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=March 24, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-points.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=March 24, 2019}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2019|03|24}}

| Year = 2019

| Race_No = 6

| Season_No = 36

| Image = Martinsville Speedway track map.png

| Caption = Martinsville Speedway

| Location = Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia

| Course_mi = 0.526

| Course_km = 0.847

| Distance_laps = 500

| Distance_mi = 263

| Distance_km = 423.5

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|78.158|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Joey Logano

| Pole_Team = Team Penske

| Pole_Time = 19.356

| Most_Driver = Brad Keselowski

| Most_Team = Team Penske

| Most_laps = 446

| Car = 2

| First_Driver = Brad Keselowski

| First_Team = Team Penske

| Network = FS1

| Announcers = Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip

| Ratings = 2.455 million{{cite web|title=STP 500 ratings|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-3-18-3-24-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326142148/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-3-18-3-24-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 March 2019|website=ShowBuzzDaily|publisher=Mitch Metcalf|access-date=26 March 2019}}

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Rusty Wallace

| Turn_Ann = Dave Moody (Backstretch)

}}

The 2019 STP 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on March 24, 2019, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) paperclip-shaped short track, it was the sixth race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

=Background=

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 Monster Energy NASCAR 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.

{{Clear}}

==Entry list==

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

00Landon CassillStarCom RacingChevrolet
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord
8Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
32Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Matt Tifft (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Daniel SuárezStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
47Ryan Preece (R)JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody Ware (R)Petty Ware RacingChevrolet
52Jeb Burton (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet
77D. J. Kennington (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Matt DiBenedettoLeavine Family RacingToyota
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-entry.pdf Official entry list]

Practice

=First practice=

File:2019 STP 500 first practice from frontstretch.jpeg

Clint Bowyer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 19.387 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|97.674|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Stewart-Haas Racing's Fords lead Saturday's first Cup practice|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/stewart-haas-racing-martinsville-practice/4357546/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 23, 2019|location=Ridgeway, Virginia|date=March 23, 2019}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 14 || Clint Bowyer || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.387 || 97.674

2

| 41 || Daniel Suárez || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.470 || 97.257

3

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.521 || 97.003

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-practice1.pdf Official first practice results]

=Final practice=

File:Chase elliott (47481956741).jpg

Chase Elliott was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 19.413 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|97.543|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports top final Cup practice|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/chase-elliott-final-martinsville-practice/4357598/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 23, 2019|location=Ridgeway, Virginia|date=March 23, 2019}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.413 || 97.543

2

| 88 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.597 || 96.627

3

| 48 || Jimmie Johnson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.600 || 96.612

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-practice2.pdf Official final practice results]

Qualifying

File:2019 STP 500 qualifying from frontstretch.jpeg

File:Joey logano (33605310238).jpg

Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 19.356 and a speed of {{Convert|97.830|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|title=Logano leads pack of Fords to front at Martinsville Speedway|url=https://racing.ap.org/article/logano-leads-pack-fords-front-martinsville-speedway|access-date=March 23, 2019|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=March 23, 2019|location=Ridgeway, Virginia}}

=Qualifying results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}}

! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}}

! {{Tooltip|R3|Best time in Round 3}}

1

|22 ||Joey Logano ||Team Penske ||Ford ||19.476 ||19.462 ||19.356

2

|10 ||Aric Almirola ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||19.453 ||19.429 ||19.393

3

|2 ||Brad Keselowski ||Team Penske ||Ford ||19.430 ||19.474 ||19.430

4

|4 ||Kevin Harvick ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||19.462 ||19.423 ||19.445

5

|11 ||Denny Hamlin ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||19.355 ||19.385 ||19.449

6

|24 ||William Byron ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.530 ||19.551 ||19.481

7

|42 ||Kyle Larson ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.462 ||19.445 ||19.502

8

|9 ||Chase Elliott ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.548 ||19.432 ||19.511

9

|19 ||Martin Truex Jr. ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||19.587 ||19.529 ||19.518

10

|41 ||Daniel Suárez ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||19.505 ||19.497 ||19.556

11

|14 ||Clint Bowyer ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||19.580 ||19.560 ||19.581

12

|48 ||Jimmie Johnson ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.579 ||19.550 ||19.608

13

|37 ||Chris Buescher ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.571 ||19.571 || —

14

|18 ||Kyle Busch ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||19.635 ||19.579 || —

15

|21 ||Paul Menard ||Wood Brothers Racing ||Ford ||19.545 ||19.583 || —

16

|47 ||Ryan Preece (R) ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.496 ||19.588 || —

17

|88 ||Alex Bowman ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.580 ||19.593 || —

18

|12 ||Ryan Blaney ||Team Penske ||Ford ||19.501 ||19.602 || —

19

|20 ||Erik Jones ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||19.597 ||19.602 || —

20

|1 ||Kurt Busch ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.572 ||19.623 || —

21

|6 ||Ryan Newman ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||19.570 ||19.626 || —

22

|95 ||Matt DiBenedetto ||Leavine Family Racing ||Toyota ||19.575 ||19.630 || —

23

|13 ||Ty Dillon ||Germain Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.591 ||19.652 || —

24

|34 ||Michael McDowell ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||19.636 ||19.695 || —

25

|17 ||Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||19.664 || — || —

26

|38 ||David Ragan ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||19.703 || — || —

27

|43 ||Bubba Wallace ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.742 || — || —

28

|00 ||Landon Cassill ||StarCom Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.785 || — || —

29

|8 ||Daniel Hemric (R) ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.807 || — || —

30

|3 ||Austin Dillon ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.814 || — || —

31

|15 ||Ross Chastain (i) ||Premium Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||19.846 || — || —

32

|36 ||Matt Tifft (R) ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||19.846 || — || —

33

|52 ||Jeb Burton (i) ||Rick Ware Racing ||Chevrolet ||19.998 || — || —

34

|77 ||D. J. Kennington (i) ||Spire Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||20.013 || — || —

35

|32 ||Corey LaJoie ||Go Fas Racing ||Ford ||0.000 || — || —

36

|51 ||Cody Ware (R) ||Petty Ware Racing ||Chevrolet ||0.000 || — || —

colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-qualresults.pdf Official qualifying results]

  • William Byron, D. J. Kennington, and Jeb Burton all starting at the back due to failing inspection.

Race

=Stage Results=

File:Brad keselowski (47429082822).jpg

Stage One

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord10
29Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
310Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord8
411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord6
614Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord5
722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord4
819Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota3
918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2
103Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-results.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

12Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord10
212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord9
311Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota8
49Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
519Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6
610Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord5
74Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord4
814Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord3
941Daniel SuárezStewart-Haas RacingFord2
1022Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-results.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

File:2019 STP 500 from frontstretch.jpeg

Stage Three

Laps: 240

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

132Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50060
279Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50051
31318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50036
41712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord50048
5511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50047
644Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord50035
71014Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord50038
8819Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota50038
9210Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord50041
10941Daniel SuárezStewart-Haas RacingFord50029
11293Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50027
12191Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50025
132213Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet50024
141688Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50023
151421Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord50022
161547Ryan Preece (R)JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50021
172643Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet50020
18642Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50019
19122Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50023
202195Matt DiBenedettoLeavine Family RacingToyota50017
211237Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet49916
223424William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49915
23206Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord49914
241148Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49813
252417Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord49812
262538David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord49611
27288Daniel Hemric (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet49610
282700Landon CassillStarCom RacingChevrolet4949
293136Matt Tifft (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord4948
301820Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4917
312334Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord4916
323577D. J. Kennington (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet4890
333232Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord4894
343015Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet3650
353652Jeb Burton (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet1630
363351Cody Ware (R)Petty Ware RacingChevrolet551
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-results.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 4 among 3 different drivers (Laps Led: Keselowski (446), Elliott (49), Logano (5))
  • Cautions/Laps: 7 for 56
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 21 minutes and 54 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|78.158|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

Fox Sports covered their 19th race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy, nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon and 11-time Martinsville winner Darrell Waltrip called the race from the booth. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled pit road duties for the entire race.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="2"|FS1
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum

=Radio=

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

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Dave MoodyWinston Kelley
Steve Post
Dillon Welch

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 273

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 252 (–21)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 248 (–25)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 245 (–28)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 236 (–37)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 215 (–58)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 207 (–66)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 203 (–70)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 186 (–87)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| Kurt Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 185 (–88)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 182 (–91)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 158 (–115)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| Clint Bowyer

| style="text-align:center;"| 157 (–116)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| Erik Jones

| style="text-align:center;"| 140 (–133)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Jimmie Johnson

| style="text-align:center;"| 134 (–139)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Daniel Suárez

| style="text-align:center;"| 134 (–139)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2019/05/2019-06cup-points.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 223

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 222 (–1)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 194 (–29)

class="sortbottom"

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

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2019

| Previous_race = 2019 Auto Club 400

| Next_race = 2019 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

}}

{{NASCAR on Fox}}

{{2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup}}

STP 500

STP 500

STP 500

Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway