2014 VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 explained

Type:CUST
Announcers:Allen Bestwick, Rusty Wallace, Andy Petree
Date:April 11
Avg:113.751mph
Pole Driver:Kyle Busch
Most Driver:Kyle Busch
First Driver:Chase Elliott
Most Laps:84
Pole Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
Most Team:Joe Gibbs Racing
First Team:JR Motorsports
Car:9
Network:ESPN2
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Location:Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Description:Race 7 of 33 of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Course Km:2.198
Course Mi:1.366
Scheduled Laps:147
Distance Laps:147
Scheduled Km:323.159
Distance Km:323.159
Scheduled Mi:200.802
Race Name:VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200
Year:2014
Pole Time:28.314
Distance Mi:200.802
Official Name:32nd Annual VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200

The 2014 VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 was the seventh stock car race of the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, April 11, 2014, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366miles permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 147 laps to complete. On the final restart with two to go, Chase Elliott, rookie for JR Motorsports, would manage to charge from sixth to first, passing for the lead on the final turn to win his second career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory and his second win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler and Matt Kenseth, both driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The race was held at Darlington Raceway, which is a race track built for NASCAR racing located in Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that will be effective at both ends.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
01Landon CassillJD MotorsportsChevroletSEM Products
2Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevroletShore Lodge
3Ty Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletYuengling Light Lager
4Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
5Kevin Harvick (i)JR MotorsportsChevroletArmour Vienna Sausage
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFordAdvoCare
7Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevroletTaxSlayer
9Chase Elliott (R)JR MotorsportsChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
10Blake KochTriStar MotorsportsToyotaSupportMilitary.org
11Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaSport Clips Haircuts
13Matt CarterMBM MotorsportsToyotaHeadrush
14Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyotaHefty Ultimate
16Ryan Reed (R)Roush Fenway RacingFordLilly Diabetes
17Tanner Berryhill (R)Vision RacingDodgeBWP Bats
19Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTriStar Motorsports
20Matt Kenseth (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaGameStop,
22Joey Logano (i)Team PenskeFordSnap-on
23Carlos ContrerasRick Ware RacingChevroletVoli Vodka
28J. J. YeleyJGL RacingDodgeJGL Racing
31Dylan Kwasniewski (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevroletAccuDoc Solutions, Rockstar
33Cale Conley (i)Richard Childress RacingChevroletOkuma
39Ryan Sieg (R)RSS RacingChevroletRSS Racing
40Josh Wise (i)The Motorsports GroupChevroletThe Motorsports Group
42Kyle Larson (i)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevroletCartwheel by Target
43Dakoda Armstrong (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFordWinField United
44David StarrTriStar MotorsportsToyotaStriping Technologies
46Matt DiBenedettoThe Motorsports GroupChevroletThe Motorsports Group
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevroletRepairableVehicles.com
52Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevroletJimmy Means Racing
54Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaMonster Energy
55Todd Bodine (i)Viva MotorsportsChevroletViva Motorsports
60Chris Buescher (R)Roush Fenway RacingFordMustang 50 Years
62Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevroletSouth Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
70Derrike CopeDerrike Cope RacingChevroletYoutheory
74Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodgeMike Harmon Racing
76Tommy Joe Martins (R)Martins MotorsportsDodgeMartins Motorsports
87Kevin LepageJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports
91Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTriStar Motorsports
93Mike WallaceJGL RacingDodgeUnker's, Put On The Brakes
99James BuescherRAB RacingToyotaRuud
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, April 10, at 1:00 PM EST. The session lasted for one hour.[2] Joey Logano, driving for Team Penske, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.033 and an average speed of 169.38mph.[3]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
122Joey Logano (i)Team PenskeFord29.033169.380
254Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota29.150168.700
342Kyle Larson (i)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet29.165168.613
Full first practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, April 10, at 2:30 PM EST. The session lasted for one hour and 30 minutes. Chris Buescher, driving for Roush Fenway Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.865 and an average speed of 170.365mph.[4]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
160Chris Buescher (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord28.865170.365
254Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota29.140168.758
33Ty Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.190168.469
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 11, at 4:10 PM EST. Since Darlington Raceway is at least 1.25miles in length, the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 25 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 25 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.[5]

Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole after setting a time of 28.314 and an average speed of 173.681mph in the third round.[6]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTime (R1)Speed (R1)Time (R2)Speed (R2)Time (R3)Speed (R3)
154Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*-*-*28.314173.681
29Chase Elliott (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*28.352173.448
320Matt Kenseth (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*-*-*28.408173.106
45Kevin Harvick (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*28.647171.662
53Ty Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*28.716171.249
660Chris Buescher (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord-*-*-*-*28.771170.922
72Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*28.782170.857
87Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*28.830170.572
911Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyota-*-*-*-*28.879170.283
106Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord-*-*-*-*28.990169.631
1133Cale Conley (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*-*-*29.113168.914
1242Kyle Larson (i)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*-*-*37.223132.112
Eliminated in Round 2
1362Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*28.955169.836--
1439Ryan Sieg (R)RSS RacingChevrolet-*-*28.963169.789--
1522Joey Logano (i)Team PenskeFord-*-*29.005169.543--
1601Landon CassillJD MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*29.131168.810--
1731Dylan Kwasniewski (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*29.167168.602--
1816Ryan Reed (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord-*-*29.178168.538--
1940Josh Wise (i)The Motorsports GroupChevrolet-*-*29.180168.526--
2019Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyota-*-*29.203168.394--
2151Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet-*-*29.297167.853--
2299James BuescherRAB RacingToyota-*-*29.363167.476--
2328J. J. YeleyJGL RacingDodge-*-*29.370167.436--
2444David StarrTriStar MotorsportsToyota-*-*29.578166.259--
Eliminated in Round 1
2543Dakoda Armstrong (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord29.512166.631----
264Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet29.532166.518----
2793Mike WallaceJGL RacingDodge29.562166.349----
2817Tanner Berryhill (R)Vision RacingDodge29.582166.236----
2955Todd Bodine (i)Viva MotorsportsChevrolet29.589166.197----
3014Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyota29.679165.693----
3187Kevin LepageJD MotorsportsChevrolet29.802165.009----
3252Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet29.896164.490----
3346Matt DiBenedettoThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet30.041163.696----
3476Tommy Joe Martins (R)Martins MotorsportsDodge30.084163.462----
3570Derrike CopeDerrike Cope RacingChevrolet30.395161.790----
3623Carlos ContrerasRick Ware RacingChevrolet30.579160.816----
3713Matt CarterMBM MotorsportsToyota30.638160.507----
3891Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota30.659160.397----
3974Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge31.162157.808----
4010Blake KochTriStar MotorsportsToyota31.520156.015----
Official starting lineup
*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[7] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
129Chase Elliott (R)JR MotorsportsChevrolet14752running47$44,575
2911Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1473running43$33,350
3320Matt Kenseth (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1470running0$19,700
4154Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota14784running0$25,325
51522Joey Logano (i)Team PenskeFord1470running0$15,775
61242Kyle Larson (i)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet1472running0$17,825
745Kevin Harvick (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1475running0$13,510
887Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet1470running36$20,370
9106Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord1470running35$19,075
1053Ty Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1470running34$20,100
1172Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1470running33$18,625
121601Landon CassillJD MotorsportsChevrolet1470running32$18,550
131816Ryan Reed (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord1470running31$18,500
142328J. J. YeleyJGL RacingDodge1470running30$18,450
151940Josh Wise (i)The Motorsports GroupChevrolet1470running0$18,800
162019Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyota1470running28$18,525
172793Mike WallaceJGL RacingDodge1471running28$18,425
182543Dakoda Armstrong (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord1470running26$18,175
193187Kevin LepageJD MotorsportsChevrolet1470running25$18,125
20264Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet1470running24$18,750
213014Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyota1470running23$18,000
221362Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1460crash22$17,945
231731Dylan Kwasniewski (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet1460running21$17,895
243623Carlos ContrerasRick Ware RacingChevrolet1450running20$17,820
252299James BuescherRAB RacingToyota1440running19$18,250
263252Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet1440running18$17,695
272817Tanner Berryhill (R)Vision RacingDodge1440running17$17,645
282955Todd Bodine (i)Viva MotorsportsChevrolet1430running0$17,570
293570Derrike CopeDerrike Cope RacingChevrolet1410running15$17,535
303476Tommy Joe Martins (R)Martins MotorsportsDodge1410running14$11,795
312151Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet1370running13$17,440
321133Cale Conley (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1360running0$17,395
333974Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge1360running11$17,370
34660Chris Buescher (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord1190running10$17,350
352444David StarrTriStar MotorsportsToyota670crash9$17,299
363713Matt CarterMBM MotorsportsToyota300rear gear8$10,520
371439Ryan Sieg (R)RSS RacingChevrolet160crash7$16,500
383346Matt DiBenedettoThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet70overheating6$10,426
393891Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota60brakes5$10,315
404010Blake KochTriStar MotorsportsToyota20vibration4$10,290
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Chase Elliott271
2Regan Smith258 (-13)
13Elliott Sadler251 (-20)
14Ty Dillon248 (–23)
5Trevor Bayne241 (–30)
16Brian Scott225 (–46)
17Brendan Gaughan215 (–56)
8Dylan Kwasniewski200 (–71)
9James Buescher195 (–76)
10Ryan Reed172 (–99)
Official driver's standings

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hinton . Ed . April 12, 2014 . Chase Elliott appears to be special . August 11, 2022 . ESPN.
  2. Web site: Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2014 Nationwide Darlington Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140508021835/https://www.jayski.com/news/nationwide/2014/story/_/page/2014nns-07darlington . May 8, 2014 . August 11, 2022 . Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site.
  3. Web site: Bonkowski . Jerry . April 10, 2014 . Joey Logano fastest in Thursday's first of two Nationwide Series practices at Darlington . August 11, 2022 . MotorSportsTalk NBC Sports . en-US.
  4. Web site: Bonkowski . Jerry . April 10, 2022 . Chris Buescher only driver to eclipse 170 mph in Thursday's second Nationwide Series practice at Darlington . August 11, 2022 . MotorSportsTalk NBC Sports . en-US.
  5. Web site: NASCAR Qualifying Rules . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201103850/http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Series-Qualifying-Rules . February 1, 2014 . May 26, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site . en.
  6. Web site: Bonkowski . Jerry . April 11, 2014 . Kyle Busch holds off Chase Elliott to earn pole for Friday night's Nationwide Series race at Darlington . August 11, 2022 . MotorSportsTalk NBC Sports . en-US.
  7. Web site: 2014 VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 - The Third Turn . August 10, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.