# 2016 Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200

The 2016 Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 was the fourth stock car race of the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 12th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 12, 2016, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would dominate the race to win his 79th career NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his third win of the season. To fill out the podium, Erik Jones and Daniel Suárez, both driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | OneMain Financial |
| 01 | Ryan Preece (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Ruud |
| 3 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats |
| 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 6 | Bubba Wallace | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Cheez-It |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brandt Professional Agriculture |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | ScubaLife |
| 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 13 | D. J. Kennington | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | Northern Provincial Pipelines |
| 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 15 | Ryan Ellis* | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | X-treme pH Sports Water |
| 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Lilly Diabetes |
| 18 | Kyle Busch (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | NOS Energy |
| 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Juniper Networks |
| 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Reser's Fine Foods |
| 21 | Spencer Gallagher (i) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Allegiant Air, Kingman Chevrolet |
| 22 | Brad Keselowski (i) | Team Penske | Ford | Discount Tire |
| 24 | T. J. Bell | JGL Racing | Toyota | JGL Racing Young Guns |
| 25 | Timmy Hill | Team Kapusta Racing | Chevrolet | Wrap Nation |
| 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | JGL Racing |
| 33 | Brandon Jones (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | E-Z-GO |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 40 | Josh Reaume | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | MBM Motorsports |
| 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | Katerra |
| 43 | Jeb Burton | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | J. Streicher |
| 44 | David Starr | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | Zachry |
| 48 | Brennan Poole (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | DC Solar |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | Jeremy Clements Racing |
| 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Donate Life Arizona |
| 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa |
| 70 | Derrike Cope | Derrike Cope Racing | Chevrolet | Ashurst American Honey, E-Hydrate |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | Mike Harmon Racing |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | X-treme pH Sports Water |
| 88 | Chase Elliott (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | TaxSlayer |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | Racing with Jesus |
| 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet | BuckedUp Apparel |
| 93 | Dylan Lupton | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | RSS Racing |
| 97 | Harrison Rhodes | Obaika Racing | Chevrolet | Vroom! Brands |
| 99 | Todd Peck | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | X-treme pH Sports Water |
| Official entry list |||||
*Driver changed to Todd Peck after Ellis wrecked in qualifying.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, March 11, at 9:30 AM MST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Erik Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 26.840 and an average speed of 134.128 miles per hour (215.858 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 26.840 | 134.128 |
| 2 | 3 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 26.881 | 133.924 |
| 3 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 26.988 | 133.393 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, March 11, at 1:00 PM MST. The session would last for one hour and 25 minutes. Erik Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 26.855 and an average speed of 134.053 miles per hour (215.737 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 26.855 | 134.053 |
| 2 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 26.888 | 133.889 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 27.096 | 132.861 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes known as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, March 11, at 3:30 PM MST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Ty Dillon of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.050 and an average speed of 133.087 miles per hour (214.183 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 3 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.050 | 133.087 |
| 2 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 27.111 | 132.787 |
| 3 | 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 27.125 | 132.719 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, March 12, at 9:45 AM MST. Since Phoenix International Raceway is under 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 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.
Erik Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole after advancing from both preliminary rounds and setting the fastest lap in Round 3, with a time of 26.318 and an average speed of 136.789 miles per hour (220.141 km/h).
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Josh Reaume and Todd Peck.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) | Time (R3) | Speed (R3) |
| 1 | 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 26.996 | 133.353 | 26.507 | 135.813 | 26.318 | 136.789 |
| 2 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 26.768 | 134.489 | 26.695 | 134.857 | 26.346 | 136.643 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 27.217 | 132.270 | 26.637 | 135.150 | 26.390 | 136.415 |
| 4 | 3 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.083 | 132.925 | 26.866 | 133.998 | 26.588 | 135.399 |
| 5 | 88 | Chase Elliott (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.022 | 133.225 | 26.876 | 133.949 | 26.622 | 135.227 |
| 6 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.318 | 131.781 | 26.838 | 134.138 | 26.631 | 135.181 |
| 7 | 22 | Brad Keselowski (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 27.043 | 133.121 | 26.819 | 134.233 | 26.637 | 135.150 |
| 8 | 33 | Brandon Jones (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.229 | 132.212 | 26.845 | 134.103 | 26.674 | 134.963 |
| 9 | 6 | Bubba Wallace | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 27.102 | 132.832 | 26.685 | 134.907 | 26.683 | 134.917 |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.056 | 133.057 | 26.820 | 134.228 | 26.714 | 134.761 |
| 11 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.209 | 132.309 | 26.943 | 133.615 | 26.797 | 134.343 |
| 12 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 27.239 | 132.163 | 26.938 | 133.640 | 26.850 | 134.078 |
| Eliminated in Round 2 |||||||||||
| 13 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 27.276 | 131.984 | 26.960 | 133.531 | - | - |
| 14 | 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 27.207 | 132.319 | 26.983 | 133.417 | - | - |
| 15 | 43 | Jeb Burton | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 27.238 | 132.168 | 27.001 | 133.328 | - | - |
| 16 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.347 | 131.641 | 27.004 | 133.314 | - | - |
| 17 | 48 | Brennan Poole (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 27.313 | 131.805 | 27.030 | 133.185 | - | - |
| 18 | 21 | Spencer Gallagher (i) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 27.059 | 133.043 | 27.120 | 132.743 | - | - |
| 19 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.188 | 132.411 | 27.129 | 132.699 | - | - |
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 27.361 | 131.574 | 27.239 | 132.163 | - | - |
| 21 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 27.294 | 131.897 | 27.309 | 131.825 | - | - |
| 22 | 44 | David Starr | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 27.395 | 131.411 | 27.375 | 131.507 | - | - |
| 23 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 27.382 | 131.473 | 27.449 | 131.152 | - | - |
| 24 | 01 | Ryan Preece (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.180 | 132.450 | 27.526 | 130.785 | - | - |
| Eliminated in Round 1 |||||||||||
| 25 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 27.395 | 131.411 | - | - | - | - |
| 26 | 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | 27.440 | 131.195 | - | - | - | - |
| 27 | 24 | T. J. Bell | JGL Racing | Toyota | 27.462 | 131.090 | - | - | - | - |
| 28 | 93 | Dylan Lupton | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 27.489 | 130.961 | - | - | - | - |
| 29 | 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 27.496 | 130.928 | - | - | - | - |
| 30 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 27.637 | 130.260 | - | - | - | - |
| 31 | 25 | Timmy Hill | Team Kapusta Racing | Chevrolet | 27.648 | 130.208 | - | - | - | - |
| 32 | 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet | 27.701 | 129.959 | - | - | - | - |
| 33 | 13 | D. J. Kennington | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | 27.731 | 129.819 | - | - | - | - |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||||||
| 34 | 0 | Garrett Smithley (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.895 | 129.055 | - | - | - | - |
| 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | 27.977 | 128.677 | - | - | - | - |
| 36 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 28.071 | 128.246 | - | - | - | - |
| 37 | 70 | Derrike Cope | Derrike Cope Racing | Chevrolet | 28.104 | 128.096 | - | - | - | - |
| 38 | 97 | Harrison Rhodes | Obaika Racing | Chevrolet | 28.241 | 127.474 | - | - | - | - |
| 39 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 28.460 | 126.493 | - | - | - | - |
| 40 | 15 | Ryan Ellis | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | 40 | Josh Reaume | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 28.414 | 126.698 | - | - | - | - |
| 42 | 99 | Todd Peck | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | 28.426 | 126.645 | - | - | - | - |
| Official qualifying results |||||||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 175 | running | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 20 | Erik Jones (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 5 | running | 40 |
| 3 | 2 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 38 |
| 4 | 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 37 |
| 5 | 5 | 88 | Chase Elliott (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 11 | running | 36 |
| 7 | 6 | 2 | Austin Dillon (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 8 | 16 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 33 |
| 9 | 7 | 22 | Brad Keselowski (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 200 | 9 | running | 0 |
| 10 | 17 | 48 | Brennan Poole (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 31 |
| 11 | 8 | 33 | Brandon Jones (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 30 |
| 12 | 9 | 6 | Bubba Wallace | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 29 |
| 13 | 11 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 28 |
| 14 | 13 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 27 |
| 15 | 14 | 42 | Justin Marks | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 16 | 12 | 11 | Blake Koch | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 17 | 15 | 43 | Jeb Burton | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 18 | 26 | 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | JGL Racing | Toyota | 198 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 19 | 28 | 93 | Dylan Lupton | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 22 |
| 20 | 23 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 198 | 0 | running | 21 |
| 21 | 24 | 01 | Ryan Preece (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 20 |
| 22 | 22 | 44 | David Starr | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 197 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 23 | 18 | 21 | Spencer Gallagher (i) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 0 |
| 24 | 19 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 17 |
| 25 | 25 | 07 | Ray Black Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 16 |
| 26 | 27 | 24 | T. J. Bell | JGL Racing | Toyota | 196 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 27 | 21 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 28 | 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running | 13 |
| 29 | 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (R) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 12 |
| 30 | 38 | 97 | Harrison Rhodes | Obaika Racing | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 11 |
| 31 | 34 | 0 | Garrett Smithley (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 10 |
| 32 | 31 | 25 | Timmy Hill | Team Kapusta Racing | Chevrolet | 193 | 0 | running | 9 |
| 33 | 36 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 191 | 0 | running | 8 |
| 34 | 37 | 70 | Derrike Cope | Derrike Cope Racing | Chevrolet | 191 | 0 | running | 7 |
| 35 | 32 | 90 | Mario Gosselin | King Autosport | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | running | 6 |
| 36 | 33 | 13 | D. J. Kennington | MBM Motorsports | Dodge | 190 | 0 | running | 5 |
| 37 | 40 | 15 | Todd Peck | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 4 |
| 38 | 39 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 182 | 0 | running | 3 |
| 39 | 30 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 11 | 0 | overheating | 2 |
| 40 | 29 | 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 5 | 0 | vibration | 1 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||
| 41 | | 40 | Josh Reaume | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | | | | |
| 42 | | 99 | Todd Peck | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Ford | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Daniel Suárez | 144 |
| | 2 | Elliott Sadler | 136 (-8) |
| | 3 | Ty Dillon | 135 (–9) |
| | 4 | Justin Allgaier | 132 (–12) |
| | 5 | Brandon Jones | 129 (–15) |
| | 6 | Erik Jones | 126 (-18) |
| | 7 | Brendan Gaughan | 119 (-25) |
| | 8 | Ryan Reed | 106 (-38) |
| | 9 | Brennan Poole | 102 (-42) |
| | 10 | Bubba Wallace | 96 (-48) |
| | 11 | Jeb Burton | 96 (-48) |
| | 12 | Blake Koch | 93 (-51) |
| Official driver's standings ||||