# 2019 STP 500

The 2019 STP 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on March 24, 2019, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) paperclip-shaped short track, it was the sixth race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report
### Background

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

#### Entry list

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Landon Cassill | 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 | Cody Ware (R) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Jeb Burton (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 77 | D. J. Kennington (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice
### First practice

Clint Bowyer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 19.387 seconds and a speed of 97.674 mph (157.191 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.387 | 97.674 |
| 2 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.470 | 97.257 |
| 3 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.521 | 97.003 |
| Official first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

Chase Elliott was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 19.413 seconds and a speed of 97.543 mph (156.980 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.413 | 97.543 |
| 2 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.597 | 96.627 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.600 | 96.612 |
| Official final practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 19.356 and a speed of 97.830 mph (157.442 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 | R3 |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 19.476 | 19.462 | 19.356 |
| 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.453 | 19.429 | 19.393 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 19.430 | 19.474 | 19.430 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.462 | 19.423 | 19.445 |
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.355 | 19.385 | 19.449 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.530 | 19.551 | 19.481 |
| 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 19.462 | 19.445 | 19.502 |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.548 | 19.432 | 19.511 |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.587 | 19.529 | 19.518 |
| 10 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.505 | 19.497 | 19.556 |
| 11 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.580 | 19.560 | 19.581 |
| 12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.579 | 19.550 | 19.608 |
| 13 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 19.571 | 19.571 | — |
| 14 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.635 | 19.579 | — |
| 15 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.545 | 19.583 | — |
| 16 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 19.496 | 19.588 | — |
| 17 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.580 | 19.593 | — |
| 18 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 19.501 | 19.602 | — |
| 19 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.597 | 19.602 | — |
| 20 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 19.572 | 19.623 | — |
| 21 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 19.570 | 19.626 | — |
| 22 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 19.575 | 19.630 | — |
| 23 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 19.591 | 19.652 | — |
| 24 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 19.636 | 19.695 | — |
| 25 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 19.664 | — | — |
| 26 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 19.703 | — | — |
| 27 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.742 | — | — |
| 28 | 00 | Landon Cassill | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 19.785 | — | — |
| 29 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.807 | — | — |
| 30 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.814 | — | — |
| 31 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.846 | — | — |
| 32 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 19.846 | — | — |
| 33 | 52 | Jeb Burton (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 19.998 | — | — |
| 34 | 77 | D. J. Kennington (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.013 | — | — |
| 35 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 0.000 | — | — |
| 36 | 51 | Cody Ware (R) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 0.000 | — | — |
| Official qualifying results ||||||||
* William Byron, D. J. Kennington, and Jeb Burton all starting at the back due to failing inspection.

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 130
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 130
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 240
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 60 |
| 2 | 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 51 |
| 3 | 13 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 36 |
| 4 | 17 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 48 |
| 5 | 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 47 |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 35 |
| 7 | 10 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 38 |
| 8 | 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 38 |
| 9 | 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 41 |
| 10 | 9 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 29 |
| 11 | 29 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 27 |
| 12 | 19 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 25 |
| 13 | 22 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 24 |
| 14 | 16 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 23 |
| 15 | 14 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 22 |
| 16 | 15 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 21 |
| 17 | 26 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 20 |
| 18 | 6 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 19 |
| 19 | 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 23 |
| 20 | 21 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 500 | 17 |
| 21 | 12 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 16 |
| 22 | 34 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 15 |
| 23 | 20 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 499 | 14 |
| 24 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 13 |
| 25 | 24 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 498 | 12 |
| 26 | 25 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 496 | 11 |
| 27 | 28 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 10 |
| 28 | 27 | 00 | Landon Cassill | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 494 | 9 |
| 29 | 31 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 494 | 8 |
| 30 | 18 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 491 | 7 |
| 31 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 491 | 6 |
| 32 | 35 | 77 | D. J. Kennington (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 |
| 33 | 32 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 489 | 4 |
| 34 | 30 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 0 |
| 35 | 36 | 52 | Jeb Burton (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 0 |
| 36 | 33 | 51 | Cody Ware (R) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 55 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 4 among 3 different drivers (Laps Led: Keselowski (446), Elliott (49), Logano (5))
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 56
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 21 minutes and 54 seconds
* Average speed: 78.158 miles per hour (125.783 km/h)

## Media
### Television

Fox Sports covered their 19th race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy, nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon and 11-time Martinsville winner Darrell Waltrip called the race from the booth. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled pit road duties for the entire race.
FS1 :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip | Jamie Little Vince Welch Matt Yocum |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and seven-time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth as the cars raced down the frontstretch. Dave Moody called the race from atop the turn 3 stands as the field raced down the backstretch. Winston Kelley, Steve Post and Dillon Welch worked pit road for the radio side.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dave Moody | Winston Kelley Steve Post Dillon Welch |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kyle Busch | 273 |
| 2 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 252 (–21) |
| | 3 | Kevin Harvick | 248 (–25) |
| 2 | 4 | Joey Logano | 245 (–28) |
| | 5 | Brad Keselowski | 236 (–37) |
| | 6 | Aric Almirola | 215 (–58) |
| | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 207 (–66) |
| 2 | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 203 (–70) |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 186 (–87) |
| 1 | 10 | Kurt Busch | 185 (–88) |
| 3 | 11 | Kyle Larson | 182 (–91) |
| 1 | 12 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 158 (–115) |
| 2 | 13 | Clint Bowyer | 157 (–116) |
| 1 | 14 | Erik Jones | 140 (–133) |
| 1 | 15 | Jimmie Johnson | 134 (–139) |
| 2 | 16 | Daniel Suárez | 134 (–139) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Toyota | 223 |
| 2 | Ford | 222 (–1) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 194 (–29) |