2019 Drydene 400
# 2019 Drydene 400

The 2019 Drydene 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on October 6, 2019 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Contested over 400 laps on the one-mile (1.6 km) concrete speedway, it was the 30th race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the fourth race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 12.

The race was Larson's first win of the season.

## Report

### Background

Dover International Speedway (formerly Dover Downs International Speedway) is a race track in Dover, Delaware, United States. Since opening in 1969, it has held at least two NASCAR races. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the Verizon IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1 mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway was owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

**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 |
| 27 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Premium 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 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

### First practice

Joey Logano was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 22.056 seconds and a speed of 163.221 mph (262.679 km/h).

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 22.056 | 163.221 |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.204 | 162.133 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.245 | 161.834 |
| Official first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.126 seconds and a speed of 162.705 mph (261.848 km/h).

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 22.126 | 162.705 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.308 | 161.377 |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.436 | 160.456 |
| Official final practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 21.559 and a speed of 166.984 mph (268.735 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 21.559 |
| 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 21.562 |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 21.660 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.687 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.695 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.721 |
| 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.730 |
| 8 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 21.737 |
| 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 21.767 |
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 21.781 |
| 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.782 |
| 12 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.838 |
| 13 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.858 |
| 14 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 21.859 |
| 15 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.866 |
| 16 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 21.897 |
| 17 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.901 |
| 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 21.932 |
| 19 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 21.975 |
| 20 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 21.977 |
| 21 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 22.031 |
| 22 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 22.088 |
| 23 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 22.113 |
| 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 22.127 |
| 25 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 22.132 |
| 26 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.137 |
| 27 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.171 |
| 28 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 22.228 |
| 29 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 22.320 |
| 30 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 22.325 |
| 31 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.363 |
| 32 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 22.401 |
| 33 | 51 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 22.721 |
| 34 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.874 |
| 35 | 52 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 23.023 |
| 36 | 27 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.061 |
| 37 | 54 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 23.333 |
| 38 | 77 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.359 |
| Official qualifying results ||||||

## Race

### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 120

| 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 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 120

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final stage results

Stage Three Laps: 160

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 57 |
| 2 | 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 54 |
| 3 | 12 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 44 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 46 |
| 5 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 50 |
| 6 | 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 34 |
| 7 | 20 | 95 | Matt DiBenedetto | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 400 | 30 |
| 8 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 39 |
| 9 | 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 28 |
| 10 | 17 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 399 | 28 |
| 11 | 16 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 399 | 28 |
| 12 | 13 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 398 | 25 |
| 13 | 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 31 |
| 14 | 15 | 41 | Daniel Suárez | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 23 |
| 15 | 8 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 398 | 28 |
| 16 | 19 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 398 | 21 |
| 17 | 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 20 |
| 18 | 27 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 19 |
| 19 | 32 | 47 | Ryan Preece (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 396 | 18 |
| 20 | 26 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 17 |
| 21 | 31 | 8 | Daniel Hemric (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 16 |
| 22 | 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 393 | 15 |
| 23 | 25 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 14 |
| 24 | 28 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 13 |
| 25 | 23 | 36 | Matt Tifft (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 390 | 12 |
| 26 | 30 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 |
| 27 | 21 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 388 | 10 |
| 28 | 29 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 385 | 9 |
| 29 | 33 | 51 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 382 | 0 |
| 30 | 36 | 27 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 381 | 0 |
| 31 | 34 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 380 | 0 |
| 32 | 35 | 52 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 380 | 0 |
| 33 | 37 | 54 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 377 | 0 |
| 34 | 14 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 375 | 3 |
| 35 | 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 297 | 6 |
| 36 | 22 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 232 | 1 |
| 37 | 38 | 77 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 180 | 1 |
| 38 | 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 14 among 9 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 3 for 17
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 56 minutes and 49 seconds
* Average speed: 135.734 miles per hour (218.443 km/h)

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2006 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2001 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, 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 Marty Snider Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 3 time Dover winner Rusty Wallace had the call for MRN when the field raced down the front straightaway. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform outside turn 3 when the field raced down the back straightaway. Winston Kelley, Steve Post, and Kim Coon called the race for MRN from pit lane.

MRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Mike Bagley | Winston Kelley Steve Post Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,095 |
| 1 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 3,080 (–15) |
| 2 | 3 | Kyle Busch | 3,080 (–15) |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | 3,074 (–21) |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 3,063 (–32) |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 3,052 (–43) |
| 2 | 7 | Alex Bowman | 3,049 (–46) |
| 3 | 8 | William Byron | 3,032 (–63) |
| 5 | 9 | Joey Logano | 3,032 (–63) |
| 2 | 10 | Clint Bowyer | 3,028 (–67) |
| 5 | 11 | Chase Elliott | 3,025 (–70) |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 3,010 (–85) |
| | 13 | Aric Almirola | 2,101 (–994) |
| | 14 | Ryan Newman | 2,085 (–1,010) |
| | 15 | Kurt Busch | 2,084 (–1,011) |
| | 16 | Erik Jones | 2,037 (–1,058) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Toyota | 1,093 |
| 2 | Ford | 1,058 (–35) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 1,027 (–66) |
