The 2015 Kroger 250 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Ridgeway, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 mile (0.847 km) permanent paper-clip shaped short track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 250 laps, but was increased to 258 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Joey Logano, driving for Brad Keselowski Racing, would hold off Matt Crafton on the final restart, and would earn his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Logano would also become the 26th driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's national series. Logano and Crafton would dominate the entire race, leading 150 and 100 laps, respectively.[1] To fill out the podium, Crafton, driving for ThorSport Racing, and Erik Jones, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 3 of 23 of the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series | |||
| Date | March 28, 2015 | ||
| Official name | 17th Annual Kroger 250 | ||
| Location | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.526 mi (0.847 km) | ||
| Distance | 258 laps, 135 mi (218 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 250 laps, 131 mi (211 km) | ||
| Average speed | 140.711 mph (226.452 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Brad Keselowski Racing | ||
| Time | 19.504 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Joey Logano | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| Laps | 150 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 29 | Joey Logano | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FS1 | ||
| Announcers | Adam Alexander, Phil Parsons, and Michael Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
Background
edit
Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing short track in Ridgeway, Virginia, just south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (847 m) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in stock car racing, being built in 1947 by partners H. Clay Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice, nearly a year before NASCAR was officially formed.[2] It is also the only race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only oval track on the NASCAR circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways and concrete to cover the turns.
Entry list
edit- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
editThe first and only practice session was held on Friday, March 27, at 3:00 PM EST, and would last for 2 hours and 30 minutes.[3] Cole Custer, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 19.711, and an average speed of 96.068 mph (154.606 km/h).[4] Three practice sessions were scheduled to take place, but due to constant rain showers, only one lengthy session was run.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.711 | 96.068 |
| 2 | 13 | Cameron Hayley (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 19.803 | 95.622 |
| 3 | 98 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 19.822 | 95.530 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was held on Saturday, March 28, at 11:15 AM EST.[3] The qualifying system used is a multi car, multi lap, three round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 25–32. Then, the fastest 24 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 13–24. Lastly, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the third round to determine positions 1–12.[5]
Joey Logano, driving for Brad Keselowski Racing, would win the pole after advancing from the preliminary rounds and setting the fastest time in Round 3, with a lap of 19.504, and an average speed of 97.088 mph (156.248 km/h).[6]
Wendell Chavous, Brandon Brown, Paige Decker, and Chuck Buchanan Jr. would fail to qualify.
Full qualifying results
edit| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) | Time (R3) | Speed (R3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Joey Logano (i) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 19.951 | 94.913 | 19.839 | 95.448 | 19.504 | 97.088 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.986 | 94.746 | 19.702 | 96.112 | 19.598 | 96.622 |
| 3 | 13 | Cameron Hayley (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 20.080 | 94.303 | 19.722 | 96.015 | 19.623 | 96.499 |
| 4 | 4 | Erik Jones (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 20.154 | 93.957 | 19.796 | 95.656 | 19.652 | 96.357 |
| 5 | 05 | John Wes Townley | Athenian Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.955 | 94.894 | 19.777 | 95.748 | 19.725 | 96.000 |
| 6 | 33 | Brandon Jones (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 20.046 | 94.463 | 19.862 | 95.338 | 19.737 | 95.942 |
| 7 | 19 | Tyler Reddick | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 19.969 | 94.827 | 19.830 | 95.492 | 19.755 | 95.854 |
| 8 | 92 | David Gilliland (i) | RBR Enterprises | Ford | 20.014 | 94.614 | 19.837 | 95.458 | 19.782 | 95.723 |
| 9 | 98 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 20.072 | 94.340 | 19.810 | 95.588 | 19.801 | 95.632 |
| 10 | 02 | Tyler Young | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.018 | 94.595 | 19.851 | 95.391 | 19.858 | 95.357 |
| 11 | 51 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 20.034 | 94.519 | 19.815 | 95.564 | 19.873 | 95.285 |
| 12 | 7 | Gray Gaulding | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 20.134 | 94.050 | 19.824 | 95.521 | 19.883 | 95.237 |
| Eliminated in Round 2 | ||||||||||
| 13 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 20.055 | 94.420 | 19.866 | 95.319 | – | – |
| 14 | 14 | Daniel Hemric (R) | NTS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.056 | 94.416 | 19.868 | 95.309 | – | – |
| 15 | 31 | James Buescher | NTS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.150 | 93.975 | 19.880 | 95.252 | – | – |
| 16 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | SWM-NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.980 | 94.775 | 19.892 | 95.194 | – | – |
| 17 | 17 | Timothy Peters | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 20.031 | 94.533 | 19.896 | 95.175 | – | – |
| 18 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 20.063 | 94.383 | 19.898 | 95.165 | – | – |
| 19 | 25 | Matt Tifft | Venturini Motorsports | Toyota | 20.018 | 94.595 | 19.921 | 95.055 | – | – |
| 20 | 15 | Mason Mingus | Billy Boat Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.148 | 93.985 | 19.932 | 95.003 | – | – |
| 21 | 54 | Justin Boston (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 20.131 | 94.064 | 19.949 | 94.922 | – | – |
| 22 | 11 | Ben Kennedy | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 20.163 | 93.915 | 20.091 | 94.251 | – | – |
| 23 | 75 | Caleb Holman | Henderson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.069 | 94.354 | 20.159 | 93.933 | – | – |
| 24 | 63 | Jake Griffin | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.213 | 93.682 | 20.160 | 93.929 | – | – |
| Eliminated in Round 1 | ||||||||||
| 25 | 99 | Bryan Silas | T3R2 | Chevrolet | 20.265 | 93.442 | – | – | – | – |
| 26 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 20.265 | 93.442 | – | – | – | – |
| 27 | 08 | Korbin Forrister (R) | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 20.289 | 93.331 | – | – | – | – |
| Qualified by owner's points | ||||||||||
| 28 | 50 | Cody Ware | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.510 | 92.326 | – | – | – | – |
| 29 | 6 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 20.565 | 92.079 | – | – | – | – |
| 30 | 35 | Tommy Regan | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.676 | 91.584 | – | – | – | – |
| 31 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 20.843 | 90.851 | – | – | – | – |
| Past champion provisional | ||||||||||
| 32 | 1 | Travis Kvapil | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.719 | 91.394 | – | – | – | – |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 33 | 94 | Wendell Chavous | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.560 | 92.101 | – | – | – | – |
| 34 | 86 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.901 | 90.599 | – | – | – | – |
| 35 | 74 | Paige Decker | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 21.009 | 90.133 | – | – | – | – |
| 36 | 87 | Chuck Buchanan Jr. | Charles Buchanan Racing | Ford | 22.385 | 84.592 | – | – | – | – |
| Official qualifying results | ||||||||||
| Official starting lineup | ||||||||||
Race results
edit| Fin[7] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 29 | Joey Logano (i) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 258 | 150 | Running | 0 | $51,336 |
| 2 | 13 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 258 | 100 | Running | 43 | $31,542 |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | Erik Jones (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 258 | 2 | Running | 42 | $25,488 |
| 4 | 9 | 98 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 258 | 0 | Running | 40 | $19,518 |
| 5 | 7 | 19 | Tyler Reddick | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 258 | 0 | Running | 39 | $18,458 |
| 6 | 11 | 51 | Daniel Suárez (i) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 258 | 0 | Running | 0 | $16,574 |
| 7 | 15 | 31 | James Buescher | NTS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 37 | $14,158 |
| 8 | 5 | 05 | John Wes Townley | Athenian Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 36 | $16,352 |
| 9 | 19 | 25 | Matt Tifft | Venturini Motorsports | Toyota | 258 | 0 | Running | 35 | $16,297 |
| 10 | 21 | 54 | Justin Boston (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 258 | 0 | Running | 34 | $17,191 |
| 11 | 3 | 13 | Cameron Hayley (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 258 | 0 | Running | 33 | $16,186 |
| 12 | 14 | 14 | Daniel Hemric (R) | NTS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 32 | $16,046 |
| 13 | 26 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 31 | $15,990 |
| 14 | 18 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 30 | $15,935 |
| 15 | 6 | 33 | Brandon Jones (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | Running | 29 | $16,252 |
| 16 | 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 2 | Running | 29 | $15,769 |
| 17 | 12 | 7 | Gray Gaulding | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 257 | 0 | Running | 27 | $13,663 |
| 18 | 17 | 17 | Timothy Peters | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 257 | 0 | Running | 26 | $15,658 |
| 19 | 22 | 11 | Ben Kennedy | Red Horse Racing | Toyota | 257 | 0 | Running | 25 | $15,602 |
| 20 | 10 | 02 | Tyler Young | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 257 | 0 | Running | 24 | $16,019 |
| 21 | 23 | 75 | Caleb Holman | Henderson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 257 | 0 | Running | 23 | $13,241 |
| 22 | 20 | 15 | Mason Mingus | Billy Boat Motorsports | Chevrolet | 256 | 4 | Running | 23 | $13,213 |
| 23 | 27 | 08 | Korbin Forrister (R) | BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 255 | 0 | Running | 21 | $15,436 |
| 24 | 31 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | Running | 20 | $14,130 |
| 25 | 30 | 35 | Tommy Regan | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 248 | 0 | Running | 19 | $14,197 |
| 26 | 24 | 63 | Jake Griffin | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 218 | 0 | Handling | 18 | $12,992 |
| 27 | 28 | 50 | Cody Ware | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 216 | 0 | Vibration | 17 | $12,964 |
| 28 | 29 | 6 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 174 | 0 | Rear Gear | 16 | $12,716 |
| 29 | 16 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | SWM-NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 173 | 0 | Transmission | 15 | $12,660 |
| 30 | 8 | 92 | David Gilliland (i) | RBR Enterprises | Ford | 132 | 0 | Brakes | 0 | $12,160 |
| 31 | 25 | 99 | Bryan Silas | T3R2 | Chevrolet | 120 | 0 | Overheating | 13 | $10,660 |
| 32 | 32 | 1 | Travis Kvapil | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 83 | 0 | Rear Gear | 12 | $9,660 |
| Official race results | ||||||||||
Standings after the race
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References
edit- ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (March 28, 2015). "Perfect restart leads Joey Logano to first career Truck win". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ "HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 76".
- ^ a b "2015 Truck Series Martinsville Spring Race Info". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Bearden, Aaron (March 27, 2015). "Cole Custer Paces 2015 Kroger 250 Practice at Martinsville". Frontstretch. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ "NASCAR Qualifying Rules". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2015-03-03. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Ifeguni, David (March 28, 2015). "Spin & Win: Joey Logano Wins 2015 Kroger 250 Pole at Martinsville". Frontstretch. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ "2015 Kroger 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved November 28, 2023.