The 2013 Kobalt Tools 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on March 10, 2013, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) asphalt tri-oval, it was the third race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship. Matt Kenseth of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, his first of the season. Kasey Kahne finished second while Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.

2013 Kobalt Tools 400
Race details[1]
Race 3 of 36 in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date March 10, 2013 (2013-03-10)
Location Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 68 °F (20 °C); wind speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)[2]
Average speed 146.287 mph (235.426 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing
Time 2012 Owner's Points
Most laps led
Driver Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 114
Winner
No. 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, and Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 4.4/10[3]

The win was Kenseth's first win driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He also became the third driver to win a Sprint Cup race on his birthday.

Report

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Background

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Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the race track where the race was held

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a four-turn, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) D-shaped oval track that has sanctioned NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events since 1996.[4] After being reconfigured in 2007, the track has a 20° banking in each of the turns, while the rounded front stretch and the back straightaway has a 9° banking.[4] The front stretch, the location of the finish line, is 2,275 feet (693 m) long, 703 feet (214 m) longer than the back straightaway.[4] Las Vegas Motor Speedway also has a grandstand seating capacity of 138,000 people.[4] The defending winner of the 267 lap, 400.5 mile (644.5 km) race was Tony Stewart, who won the race in 2012.[5]

Before the race, Jimmie Johnson was leading the Drivers' Championship with 90 points, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski stood in second and third with 82 points each. Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer followed in fourth and fifth with 72 points each, and was six ahead of Greg Biffle in sixth. Mark Martin with 65 was five points ahead of Jeff Gordon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Aric Almirola, as Carl Edwards with 59 points was seven ahead of Marcos Ambrose.[6] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet and Ford were leading with fourteen points, four points ahead of their rival Toyota.[citation needed]

Entry list

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(R) - Denotes rookie driver

(i) - Denotes driver who is ineligible for series points

No. Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor
1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet McDonalds
2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Farmer Insurance
7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet SANY
9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Stanley Tools / DeWalt
10 Danica Patrick (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx Office
13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford GEICO
14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Mobil 1 / Bass Pro Shops
15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 5-hour Energy
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford American Red Cross / 3M
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford Zest
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota M&M's
19 Mike Bliss (i) Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota Stratosphere Hotel Casino & Tower
20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Dollar General
21 Trevor Bayne (i) Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford Shell / Pennzoil
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger / AARP
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Menards / Schrock
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Rheem
30 David Stremme Swan Racing Toyota MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
32 Ken Schrader FAS Lane Racing Ford Caterpillar
33 Landon Cassill (i) Circle Sport Chevrolet Moon Shine Attitude Attire
34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford Riviera Hotel & Casino
35 Josh Wise (i) Front Row Motorsports Ford MDS Transport
36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Accell Construction
38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford Long John Silver's
39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Quicken Loans
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Quicken Loans
43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Farmland
47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota Kingsford / Bush's / Scott's
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's / Kobalt Tools
51 Austin Dillon (i) Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Tag Heuer Avant Garde
55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine
56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet Furniture Row / Serta
83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota Burger King / Dr. Pepper
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota Maddie's Place
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet AMP Energy Orange
93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota Burger King / Dr. Pepper
95 Scott Speed Leavine Family Racing Ford Surrender the Sponsor
98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford Ambient Edge HVAC
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford Aflac

Practice and qualifying

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As a result of Friday afternoon rain, qualifying was canceled for the first time in track history. With the field being set by the previous year's points standings, Brad Keselowski was awarded the pole position. Mike Bliss was the only driver not to qualify.[7]

Race

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The Race was held on March 10, 2013.

Results

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Qualifying

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Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford
2 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
4 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
7 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. # Roush Fenway Racing Ford
8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
12 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
15 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
16 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
18 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
20 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
21 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford
22 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
23 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
24 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
25 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
26 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota
27 51 Austin Dillon Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
28 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota
29 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
30 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford
31 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
32 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota
33 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
34 32 Ken Schrader FAS Lane Racing Ford
35 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
36 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford
37 10 Danica Patrick # Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
38 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Company Toyota
39 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford
40 95 Scott Speed Leavine Family Racing Ford
41 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet
42 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota
43 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford
Failed to Qualify
44 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota

Race results

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Matt Kenseth won the race, his first with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 18 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 47
2 4 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 43
3 1 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford 267 42
4 13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 41
5 16 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 267 39
6 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 39
7 12 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 37
8 11 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 267 36
9 8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 35
10 17 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 34
11 9 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 267 33
12 21 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford 267 32
13 23 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 267 32
14 15 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 267 30
15 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 30
16 22 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 267 28
17 5 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 267 27
18 7 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 267 27
19 25 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 267 25
20 24 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 266 24
21 27 51 Austin Dillon Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 266
22 19 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 266 22
23 36 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 266
24 33 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 266 20
25 10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 19
26 20 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 18
27 2 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 265 17
28 31 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 265 16
29 30 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 265 15
30 26 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 263 14
31 29 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 263 13
32 38 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Toyota 261 12
33 37 10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 261 11
34 32 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 261 10
35 43 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford 260
36 35 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 259 8
37 34 32 Ken Schrader FAS Lane Racing Ford 258 7
38 14 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 234 6
39 28 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota 217 5
40 42 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota 216
41 40 95 Scott Speed Leavine Family Racing Ford 143 3
42 41 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet 66 2
43 39 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 21 1
Source:[9]

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  2. ^ "2013 Las Vegas weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  3. ^ "2013 NASCAR Television Ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d "Las Vegas Motor Speedway". CBS Sports. CBS Broadcasting Inc. March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  5. ^ "2012 Kobalt Tools 400". Racing-reference.info. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  6. ^ "Pre-race Drivers' Championship Standings". SPEED. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  7. ^ "Las Vegas qualifying rained out, Keselowski on pole". The Miami Herald. Miami, FL. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  8. ^ "Starting Line Up by Row – Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 16th Annual Kobalt Tools 400" (PDF). NASCAR via Jayski.com. ESPN. March 8, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  9. ^ "2013 Kobalt Tools 400 – Results". USA Today. March 10, 2013. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.


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