2013 Kentucky 300
# 2013 Kentucky 300

The 2013 Kentucky 300 was the 27th stock car race of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 21, 2013, in Sparta, Kentucky, at Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5-mile (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Ryan Blaney, driving for Penske Racing, would be able to hold off the field on the final restart to win his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series win and his only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Austin Dillon and Matt Crafton, both driving for Richard Childress Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned Kentucky Speedway until 2008. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 117,000. Construction of the speedway began in 1998 and was completed in mid-2000. The speedway has hosted the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Xfinity Series, IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and most recently, the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Blake Koch | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | SupportMilitary.org, Kappa Sigma |
| 01 | Mike Wallace | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Disaster Services of Environmental Specialists |
| 2 | Brian Scott | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Shore Lodge |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | AdvoCare |
| 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 5 | Brad Sweet | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Great Clips |
| 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Ford EcoBoost |
| 7 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | TaxSlayer |
| 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 11 | Elliott Sadler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Sport Clips Haircuts |
| 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Penske Racing | Ford | Alliance Truck Parts |
| 14 | Eric McClure | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | Hefty Ultimate with Arm & Hammer |
| 18 | Joey Coulter (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Freightliner |
| 19 | Mike Bliss | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 20 | Brian Vickers | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Dollar General |
| 21 | Dakoda Armstrong (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | WinField United |
| 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Penske Racing | Ford | Discount Tire |
| 23 | Harrison Rhodes | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | Precision Fabrication, Craven Sign Service |
| 24 | Ryan Ellis | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | SR² Motorsports |
| 30 | Nelson Piquet Jr. (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | Worx Yard Tools |
| 31 | Justin Allgaier | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brandt Professional Agriculture |
| 32 | Kyle Larson (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | Clear Men Scalp Therapy |
| 33 | Matt Crafton (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Menards, Rheem |
| 34 | Jeb Burton (i) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | Arrowhead Brass |
| 40 | Reed Sorenson | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | The Motorsports Group |
| 42 | T. J. Bell | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | The Motorsports Group |
| 43 | Michael Annett | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | Pilot Flying J |
| 44 | Cole Whitt | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | TriStar Motorsports |
| 46 | Matt DiBenedetto | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | The Motorsports Group |
| 50 | Danny Efland | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Defiant Whiskey |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | Value Lighting, All South Electric |
| 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Toyota | Donate Life |
| 54 | Drew Herring | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Monster Energy |
| 55 | Jamie Dick | Viva Motorsports | Chevrolet | Viva Motorsports |
| 60 | Travis Pastrana | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 70 | Johanna Long | ML Motorsports | Chevrolet | ForeTravel Motorcoach |
| 74 | Carl Long | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | Mike Harmon Racing |
| 77 | Parker Kligerman | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Toyota, Camp Horsin' Around |
| 79 | Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) | Go Green Racing | Ford | Keen Parts |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota | Lester Buildings |
| 99 | Alex Bowman (R) | RAB Racing | Toyota | ToyotaCare |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

Originally, two practice sessions were scheduled to be held on Friday, September 20, but the final session would get canceled due to rain.

The only one-hour and 30-minute practice session was held on Friday, September 20, at 3:30 PM EST. Matt Crafton of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.081 and an average speed of 173.740 miles per hour (279.607 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 33 | Matt Crafton (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.081 | 173.740 |
| 2 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.140 | 173.410 |
| 3 | 2 | Brian Scott | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.200 | 173.077 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, September 21, at 4:35 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.

Sam Hornish Jr. of Penske Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 30.128 and an average speed of 179.235 miles per hour (288.451 km/h).

Danny Efland would be the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Penske Racing | Ford | 30.128 | 179.235 |
| 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Penske Racing | Ford | 30.310 | 178.159 |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.330 | 178.042 |
| 4 | 2 | Brian Scott | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.388 | 177.702 |
| 5 | 33 | Matt Crafton (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.447 | 177.357 |
| 6 | 18 | Joey Coulter (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.595 | 176.499 |
| 7 | 54 | Drew Herring | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.598 | 176.482 |
| 8 | 60 | Travis Pastrana | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 30.612 | 176.401 |
| 9 | 31 | Justin Allgaier | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.616 | 176.378 |
| 10 | 20 | Brian Vickers | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.623 | 176.338 |
| 11 | 77 | Parker Kligerman | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 30.637 | 176.257 |
| 12 | 11 | Elliott Sadler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.677 | 176.028 |
| 13 | 34 | Jeb Burton (i) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.718 | 175.793 |
| 14 | 7 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.741 | 175.661 |
| 15 | 43 | Michael Annett | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 30.762 | 175.541 |
| 16 | 30 | Nelson Piquet Jr. (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.765 | 175.524 |
| 17 | 5 | Brad Sweet | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.791 | 175.376 |
| 18 | 44 | Cole Whitt | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 30.805 | 175.296 |
| 19 | 32 | Kyle Larson (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.814 | 175.245 |
| 20 | 99 | Alex Bowman (R) | RAB Racing | Toyota | 30.850 | 175.041 |
| 21 | 21 | Dakoda Armstrong (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.915 | 174.672 |
| 22 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 31.014 | 174.115 |
| 23 | 19 | Mike Bliss | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 31.142 | 173.399 |
| 24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 31.278 | 172.645 |
| 25 | 14 | Eric McClure | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 31.326 | 172.381 |
| 26 | 79 | Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) | Go Green Racing | Ford | 31.504 | 171.407 |
| 27 | 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 31.519 | 171.325 |
| 28 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.599 | 170.891 |
| 29 | 40 | Reed Sorenson | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 31.611 | 170.827 |
| 30 | 74 | Carl Long | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 31.717 | 170.256 |
| 31 | 01 | Mike Wallace | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.765 | 169.998 |
| 32 | 55 | Jamie Dick | Viva Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.835 | 169.625 |
| 33 | 00 | Blake Koch | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | 31.845 | 169.571 |
| 34 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota | 31.887 | 169.348 |
| 35 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 31.909 | 169.231 |
| 36 | 70 | Johanna Long | ML Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.925 | 169.146 |
| 37 | 42 | T. J. Bell | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 32.085 | 168.303 |
| 38 | 24 | Ryan Ellis | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | 32.637 | 165.456 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 39 | 23 | Harrison Rhodes | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 32.927 | 163.999 |
| Last car to qualify on time |||||||
| 40 | 46 | Matt DiBenedetto | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 32.139 | 168.020 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 50 | Danny Efland | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.738 | 164.946 |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney (i) | Penske Racing | Ford | 200 | 96 | running | 0 | $80,800 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 32 | running | 43 | $57,475 |
| 3 | 5 | 33 | Matt Crafton (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 | $38,995 |
| 4 | 1 | 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Penske Racing | Ford | 200 | 65 | running | 41 | $31,290 |
| 5 | 20 | 99 | Alex Bowman (R) | RAB Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 39 | $27,590 |
| 6 | 7 | 54 | Drew Herring | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 38 | $24,915 |
| 7 | 10 | 20 | Brian Vickers | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 37 | $23,265 |
| 8 | 13 | 34 | Jeb Burton (i) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 | $15,265 |
| 9 | 18 | 44 | Cole Whitt | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 35 | $21,040 |
| 10 | 15 | 43 | Michael Annett | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 34 | $21,790 |
| 11 | 4 | 2 | Brian Scott | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 34 | $22,170 |
| 12 | 14 | 7 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 32 | $19,745 |
| 13 | 21 | 21 | Dakoda Armstrong (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 0 | $13,295 |
| 14 | 12 | 11 | Elliott Sadler | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 4 | running | 31 | $19,840 |
| 15 | 22 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 29 | $19,830 |
| 16 | 36 | 70 | Johanna Long | ML Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 28 | $18,520 |
| 17 | 9 | 31 | Justin Allgaier | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 27 | $18,415 |
| 18 | 6 | 18 | Joey Coulter (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | running | 0 | $18,285 |
| 19 | 28 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 25 | $18,172 |
| 20 | 24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 2 | running | 25 | $18,725 |
| 21 | 29 | 40 | Reed Sorenson | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 23 | $17,945 |
| 22 | 31 | 01 | Mike Wallace | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 22 | $17,840 |
| 23 | 34 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota | 197 | 0 | running | 21 | $17,715 |
| 24 | 25 | 14 | Eric McClure | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 197 | 0 | running | 20 | $17,585 |
| 25 | 26 | 79 | Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) | Go Green Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 19 | $17,955 |
| 26 | 23 | 19 | Mike Bliss | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 196 | 0 | running | 18 | $17,375 |
| 27 | 16 | 30 | Nelson Piquet Jr. (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 17 | $17,270 |
| 28 | 32 | 55 | Jamie Dick | Viva Motorsports | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 16 | $11,165 |
| 29 | 11 | 77 | Parker Kligerman | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 187 | 0 | crash | 15 | $17,040 |
| 30 | 17 | 5 | Brad Sweet | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | crash | 14 | $17,235 |
| 31 | 35 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 0 | suspension | 13 | $10,830 |
| 32 | 39 | 23 | Harrison Rhodes | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 100 | 0 | engine | 12 | $16,725 |
| 33 | 19 | 32 | Kyle Larson (R) | Turner Scott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 98 | 0 | brakes | 11 | $10,635 |
| 34 | 8 | 60 | Travis Pastrana | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 59 | 0 | crash | 10 | $16,545 |
| 35 | 38 | 24 | Ryan Ellis | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | 31 | 0 | vibration | 9 | $16,450 |
| 36 | 40 | 46 | Matt DiBenedetto | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 8 | 0 | overheating | 8 | $9,895 |
| 37 | 30 | 74 | Carl Long | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 8 | 0 | suspension | 7 | $9,865 |
| 38 | 37 | 42 | T. J. Bell | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 6 | 0 | transmission | 6 | $9,836 |
| 39 | 33 | 00 | Blake Koch | SR² Motorsports | Toyota | 4 | 0 | rear gear | 5 | $9,705 |
| 40 | 27 | 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | Toyota | 3 | 0 | vibration | 4 | $9,610 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 50 | Danny Efland | MAKE Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Sam Hornish Jr. | 962 |
| | 2 | Austin Dillon | 947 (-15) |
| | 3 | Regan Smith | 917 (-45) |
| | 4 | Elliott Sadler | 908 (–54) |
| | 5 | Brian Vickers | 902 (–60) |
| | 6 | Justin Allgaier | 887 (–75) |
| | 7 | Brian Scott | 883 (–79) |
| | 8 | Trevor Bayne | 868 (–94) |
| | 9 | Kyle Larson | 822 (–140) |
| | 10 | Parker Kligerman | 783 (–179) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
