2021 Toyota Owners 400
# 2021 Toyota Owners 400

The 2021 Toyota Owners 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 18, 2021, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps on the 0.75 mile (1.2 km) asphalt short track, it was the ninth race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Richmond Raceway is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

**Entry list**

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

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | 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 |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | 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 |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | Austin Cindric (i) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Martin Truex Jr. was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 21 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 22 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 30 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 33 | Austin Cindric (i) | Team Penske | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

Martin Truex Jr. was awarded the pole. Truex, along with Denny Hamlin dominated, but Hamlin won both stages and led the most laps. Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick both spun into the wall after having flat tires. Hamlin continued his domination, but would be passed for the lead by Alex Bowman, who recovered from an uncontrolled tire penalty, with ten laps to go and Bowman pulled away for his third career Cup Series victory and taking the 48 to victory lane for the first time since Jimmie Johnson at Dover in 2017.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 80

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 155

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 165

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 51 |
| 2 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 55 |
| 3 | 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 400 | 50 |
| 4 | 8 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 40 |
| 5 | 1 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 50 |
| 6 | 22 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 32 |
| 7 | 4 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 40 |
| 8 | 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 33 |
| 9 | 16 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 33 |
| 10 | 11 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 30 |
| 11 | 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 400 | 32 |
| 12 | 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 25 |
| 13 | 17 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 24 |
| 14 | 20 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 400 | 25 |
| 15 | 18 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 22 |
| 16 | 27 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 399 | 21 |
| 17 | 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 20 |
| 18 | 6 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 19 |
| 19 | 30 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 18 |
| 20 | 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 17 |
| 21 | 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 16 |
| 22 | 26 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 15 |
| 23 | 21 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 14 |
| 24 | 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 397 | 20 |
| 25 | 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 397 | 12 |
| 26 | 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 397 | 11 |
| 27 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 10 |
| 28 | 38 | 33 | Austin Cindric (i) | Team Penske | Ford | 396 | 0 |
| 29 | 25 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 396 | 8 |
| 30 | 19 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 395 | 7 |
| 31 | 29 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 6 |
| 32 | 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 0 |
| 33 | 28 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 390 | 4 |
| 34 | 32 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 390 | 3 |
| 35 | 37 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 |
| 36 | 33 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 385 | 0 |
| 37 | 31 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 384 | 1 |
| 38 | 34 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 20 among 7 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 5 for 39
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 6 minutes and 57 seconds
* Average speed: 96.282 miles per hour (154.951 km/h)

## Media

### Television

Fox Sports covered their 20th race at the Richmond Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Richmond winners Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer | Jamie Little Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth when the field raced down the frontstretch. Dave Moody called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field races down the backstretch. Steve Post and Jason Toy 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 | Steve Post Jason Toy |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 434 |
| | 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 353 (–81) |
| | 3 | Joey Logano | 352 (–82) |
| 2 | 4 | William Byron | 310 (–124) |
| | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 304 (–130) |
| 2 | 6 | Kyle Larson | 299 (–135) |
| | 7 | Chase Elliott | 285 (–149) |
| | 8 | Kevin Harvick | 273 (–161) |
| | 9 | Brad Keselowski | 269 (–165) |
| | 10 | Christopher Bell | 257 (–177) |
| | 11 | Kyle Busch | 245 (–189) |
| | 12 | Austin Dillon | 239 (–195) |
| 4 | 13 | Alex Bowman | 236 (–198) |
| 1 | 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 222 (–212) |
| | 15 | Kurt Busch | 214 (–220) |
| 2 | 16 | Chris Buescher | 204 (–230) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 2 | 1 | Chevrolet | 325 |
| 1 | 2 | Ford | 322 (–3) |
| 1 | 3 | Toyota | 322 (–3) |
