# 2019 Quaker State 400

The 2019 Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 13, 2019 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. Contested over 269 laps—extended from 267 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) speedway, it was the 19th race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The race saw an amazing finish between brothers Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch as Kurt would hold off his younger brother to win the race.

## Report
### Background

The sixth running of the Quaker State 400 was held in Sparta, Kentucky at Kentucky Speedway on July 9, 2016. The track is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Kentucky Speedway, which has also hosted the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Indy Racing League, has a grandstand seating capacity of 107,000.

#### Entry list

* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Bayley Currey (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 52 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Quin Houff | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice
### First practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.389 seconds and a speed of 183.742 mph (295.704 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 29.389 | 183.742 |
| 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.421 | 183.542 |
| 3 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.492 | 183.101 |
| Official first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.621 seconds and a speed of 182.303 mph (293.388 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 29.621 | 182.303 |
| 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.704 | 181.794 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.709 | 181.763 |
| Official final practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Daniel Suárez scored the pole for the race with a time of 29.254 and a speed of 184.590 mph (297.069 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.254 |
| 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.380 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 29.437 |
| 4 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 29.451 |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.458 |
| 6 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.526 |
| 7 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.535 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.575 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.580 |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.601 |
| 11 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 29.620 |
| 12 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.625 |
| 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.646 |
| 14 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.667 |
| 15 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 29.671 |
| 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.686 |
| 17 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.752 |
| 18 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.763 |
| 19 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 29.776 |
| 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.779 |
| 21 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.821 |
| 22 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.874 |
| 23 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 29.887 |
| 24 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 29.914 |
| 25 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.948 |
| 26 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 29.954 |
| 27 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 29.985 |
| 28 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.008 |
| 29 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 30.014 |
| 30 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 30.023 |
| 31 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 30.172 |
| 32 | 51 | Bayley Currey (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 30.387 |
| 33 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.421 |
| 34 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 30.533 |
| 35 | 52 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 30.964 |
| 36 | 77 | Quin Houff | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.031 |
| Official qualifying results ||||||
* Note: Ryan Newman and Quin Houff had their times disallowed and started at the back due to failing inspection

## Race
### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 80
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 80
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final stage results

Stage Three Laps: 107
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 4 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 269 | 54 |
| 2 | 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 269 | 53 |
| 3 | 21 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 269 | 43 |
| 4 | 19 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 269 | 38 |
| 5 | 18 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 269 | 39 |
| 6 | 7 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 269 | 37 |
| 7 | 11 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 269 | 46 |
| 8 | 1 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 269 | 29 |
| 9 | 35 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 269 | 28 |
| 10 | 25 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 269 | 27 |
| 11 | 14 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 269 | 29 |
| 12 | 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 269 | 29 |
| 13 | 15 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 269 | 27 |
| 14 | 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 269 | 30 |
| 15 | 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 269 | 22 |
| 16 | 23 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 269 | 21 |
| 17 | 22 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 268 | 20 |
| 18 | 12 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 268 | 19 |
| 19 | 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 268 | 21 |
| 20 | 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 268 | 17 |
| 21 | 29 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 268 | 16 |
| 22 | 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 268 | 20 |
| 23 | 27 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 14 |
| 24 | 6 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 15 |
| 25 | 17 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 12 |
| 26 | 26 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 11 |
| 27 | 30 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 10 |
| 28 | 28 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 266 | 9 |
| 29 | 24 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 266 | 8 |
| 30 | 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 266 | 7 |
| 31 | 32 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 264 | 0 |
| 32 | 33 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 0 |
| 33 | 31 | 51 | Bayley Currey (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 262 | 0 |
| 34 | 36 | 77 | Quin Houff | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 3 |
| 35 | 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 238 | 10 |
| 36 | 34 | 52 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 35
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 51 minutes and 37 seconds
* Average speed: 141.07 miles per hour (227.03 km/h)

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.
NBCSN :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the action from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Doug Turnbull called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the action from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Wendy Venturini, Steve Richards, and Brett McMillan called the duties on pit lane.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Doug Turnbull Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini Steve Richards |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Joey Logano | 746 |
| | 2 | Kyle Busch | 735 (–11) |
| | 3 | Kevin Harvick | 645 (–101) |
| | 4 | Brad Keselowski | 630 (–116) |
| 1 | 5 | Denny Hamlin | 627 (–119) |
| 1 | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 618 (–128) |
| 1 | 7 | Kurt Busch | 618 (–128) |
| 1 | 8 | Chase Elliott | 607 (–139) |
| | 9 | Alex Bowman | 554 (–192) |
| | 10 | Aric Almirola | 542 (–204) |
| | 11 | Ryan Blaney | 535 (–211) |
| | 12 | William Byron | 517 (–229) |
| 1 | 13 | Kyle Larson | 511 (–235) |
| 1 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | 481 (–265) |
| 2 | 15 | Jimmie Johnson | 481 (–265) |
| 2 | 16 | Erik Jones | 473 (–273) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Toyota | 692 |
| 2 | Ford | 673 (–19) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 650 (–42) |