2015 Alert Today Florida 300

The 2015 Alert Today Florida 300 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on February 21, 2015, at Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the first of the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series. It was also the 34th iteration of the event. It also had a couple of firsts. It was the first ever race with the title sponsor Xfinity to sponsor the 2nd of the top 3 series of NASCAR with Xfinity replacing Nationwide. It was also the first race since 2006 that Fox would broadcast the lower series of NASCAR. Austin Dillon won the pole while Kyle Busch led the most laps but the race would feature a surprise winner as Ryan Reed won his first ever NASCAR Xfinity Series race of his career in his 40th Xfinity Series start.[2] But the race was most remembered for a crash that left Kyle Busch with a broken leg and foot.

2015 Alert Today Florida 300
Race details[1]
Map of Speedway
Map of Speedway
Date February 21, 2015 (2015-02-21)
Official name 2015 Alert Today Florida 300
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Tri-oval
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 120 laps, 300 mi (400 km)
Weather Cloudy/Sunny
Average speed 148.781 mph (239.440 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 47.306
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 27
Winner
No. 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox Sports 1
Announcers Adam Alexander, Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip.

Background

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races for ARCA, AMA Superbike, IMSA, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi (4.023 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi (5.729 km) sports car course, a 2.950 mi (4.748 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 ft (402.3 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (72.8 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (11.7 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is operated by NASCAR pursuant to a lease with the City of Daytona Beach on the property that runs until 2054.[3] Dale Earnhardt is Daytona International Speedway's all-time winningest driver, with a total of 34 career victories (12- Daytona 500 Qualifying Races) (7- NASCAR Xfinity Series Races) (6- Busch Clash Races) (6- IROC Races) (2- Pepsi 400 July Races) (1- The 1998 Daytona 500).

Entry List

  • (R) denotes rookie driver
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points
# Driver Team Make
0Harrison Rhodes (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet
01Landon CassillJD MotorsportsChevrolet
1Elliott SadlerRoush Fenway RacingFord
2Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
3Ty DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Ross Chastain (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet
6Bubba Wallace (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord
7Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet
8Blake KochTriStar MotorsportsToyota
9Chase ElliottJR MotorsportsChevrolet
10Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota
13Chris CockrumMBM MotorsportsChevrolet
14Cale Conley (R)TriStar MotorsportsToyota
15Carlos ContrerasRick Ware RacingChevrolet
16Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord
17Tanner BerryhillVision RacingToyota
18Daniel Suárez (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Scott Lagasse Jr.TriStar MotorsportsToyota
20Erik Jones (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
22Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord
24Eric McClureJGL RacingToyota
25John Wes Townley (i)Athenian MotorsportsChevrolet
26Mike Wallace (i)JGL RacingToyota
28J. J. YeleyJGL RacingToyota
29Justin MarksRAB RacingToyota
33Austin Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet
40Derek WhiteMBM MotorsportsDodge
42Kyle Larson (i)HScott Motorsports with Chip GanassiChevrolet
43Dakoda ArmstrongRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44David StarrTriStar MotorsportsToyota
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet
52Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet
54Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
55Jeffery EarnhardtViva MotorsportsChevrolet
60Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord
62Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
70Derrike CopeDerrike Cope RacingChevrolet
74Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge
84Chad Boat (i)Billy Boat MotorsportsChevrolet
85Bobby GerhartBobby Gerhart RacingChevrolet
87Joe Nemechek (i)NEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet
88Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet
89Morgan Shepherd*Shepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet
90Mario GosselinKing AutosportChevrolet
92Dexter BeanKing AutosportChevrolet
97Josh Reaume (R)Obaika RacingChevrolet
98Aric Almirola (i)Biagi-DenBeste RacingFord
Official Entry List

Qualifying

Austin Dillon won the pole for the race.[4]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
133Austin Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet48.35848.04847.306
229Justin MarksRAB RacingToyota47.84347.66347.329
384Chad Boat (i)Billy Boat MotorsportsChevrolet48.29148.04147.332
462Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet47.99348.03247.510
598Aric Almirola (i)Biagi-DenBeste RacingFord48.28848.03347.531
620Erik Jones (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota47.55347.65947.534
743Dakoda ArmstrongRichard Petty MotorsportsFord48.27548.00947.562
816Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord47.95647.96747.572
928J. J. YeleyJGL RacingToyota47.59947.64047.577
1060Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord48.12747.90847.589
111Elliott SadlerRoush Fenway RacingFord47.66447.97949.277
127Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet47.56847.99049.306
1355Jeffery EarnhardtViva MotorsportsChevrolet48.33348.119
1422Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord48.27748.237
152Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48.29948.391
1639Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet48.35348.433
1714Cale Conley (R)TriStar MotorsportsToyota48.29048.607
1844David Starr***TriStar MotorsportsToyota48.23948.907
1974Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge48.38850.125
2013Chris CockrumMBM MotorsportsChevrolet48.40451.629
214Ross Chastain (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet48.156
2210Scott Lagasse Jr.*** ****TriStar MotorsportsToyota48.248
2351Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet48.272
2497Josh Reaume (R)Obaika RacingChevrolet48.361
2524Eric McClureJGL RacingToyota48.423
2652Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet48.438
2742Kyle Larson (i)HScott Motorsports with Chip GanassiChevrolet48.487
286Bubba Wallace (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord48.571
2925John Wes Townley (i)Athenian MotorsportsChevrolet48.599
3092Dexter BeanKing AutosportChevrolet48.634
3126Mike Wallace (i)JGL RacingToyota48.652
3254Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota48.653
3340Derek WhiteMBM MotorsportsDodge48.674
343Ty Dillon*Richard Childress RacingChevrolet48.755
359Chase Elliott*JR MotorsportsChevrolet48.838
3618Daniel Suárez (R)* ***Joe Gibbs RacingToyota48.841
3790Mario Gosselin*King AutosportChevrolet49.053
388Blake Koch* ***TriStar MotorsportsToyota51.093
3901Landon Cassill* ***JD MotorsportsChevrolet54.757
4088Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)**JR MotorsportsChevrolet50.130
Failed to Qualify, withdrew, or driver changes
4187Joe Nemechek (i)NEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet48.796
4219Scott Lagasse Jr.TriStar MotorsportsToyota48.833
4385Bobby GerhartBobby Gerhart RacingChevrolet48.884
4417Tanner BerryhillVision RacingToyota50.944
450Harrison Rhodes (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet50.954
4670Derrike CopeDerrike Cope RacingChevrolet52.422
4715Carlos ContrerasRick Ware RacingChevrolet54.532
DC10Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota
WD89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet
Official Starting Lineup

* – Made the field via owners points

** – Made the field via past champion.

*** – Landon Cassill, Blake Koch, Scott Lagasse Jr., Daniel Suárez, and David Starr had to start at the rear of the field. Cassill, Koch, and Suárez had back up cars, Lagasse Jr. had a drivers change, and Starr had unapproved adjustments.

**** – Jeff Green qualified to car before they switched to Scott Lagasse Jr. for the race.

Race

Pole sitter Austin Dillon led the first lap of the race. On lap 2, Ryan Reed attempted to pass Dillon for the lead but Chris Buescher made a three wide pass for the lead and took the lead. On lap 8, Ty Dillon race side by side for the lead with Buescher and led lap 8 and 9 before he got in front of Buescher. On lap 13, Bubba Wallace took the lead. Ty took it back on the next lap. Wallace led lap 15 as he and Dillon raced side by side for the lead. Wallace led lap 15 and 16 before Ty took it back on lap 17. Wallace took it back on lap 19. Ty took it back on lap 22. Wallace would lead on lap 24. But Ty would take it back on lap 27. Wallace led lap 28 before Ty took back full advantage on lap 29. Wallace led lap 30 and 31 before Ty took it back on lap 32. On lap 35, Bubba Wallace took the lead. Soon, green flag pitstops began. Ty Dillon took the lead from Bubba Wallace on lap 41 after they both made their pitstops. On lap 42, Kyle Busch stormed his way from 5th to the lead.

Final laps

On lap 69, Regan Smith took the lead. Soon green flag pitstops started up again. With 42 to go, Regan Smith pitted giving Kyle Larson the lead. With 41 to go, the first caution flew after a tire got away from Chris Cockrum's pit stall and sat in the infield grass near the racetrack. Regan Smith got his lead back and led the field to the restart with 35 laps to go. With 33 laps to go, Ryan Reed got side by side with Smith for the lead and led the laps before he got in front with 30 to go. With 28 laps to go, the second caution flew for the first big one out of turn 4 that collected 12 cars. It started when the lapped car of rookie Daniel Suárez was getting pushed by Kyle Larson when Larson got Suárez loose and Suárez spun down and clipped Regan Smith sending Smith into a roll before Smith landed on all fours while other cars crashed with them. The cars involved were Ryan Sieg, Justin Marks, Brendan Gaughan, Daniel Suárez, Regan Smith, Chad Boat, John Wes Townley, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Scott Lagasse Jr., and David Starr. A red flag occurred for the incident. But while the cars were coming to a stop, Mike Wallace wasn't paying attention and ran into the rear of Austin Dillon which lifted Dillon's rear wheels off the ground and gave both cars damage. The red flag was soon lifted and the cars got back going again under caution. Ryan Reed led the field to the restart with 21 laps to go. With 20 to go, Chris Buescher took the lead from his teammate. With 18 to go, the third caution flew for debris that came off of Chase Elliott's car. The race restarted with 14 to go. On the restart, Brad Keselowski took the lead from Chris Buescher. Ty Dillon attempted to take the lead but failed to do so. With 9 laps to go, the fourth and final caution flew for the second and final big one of the race that collected 10 cars and involved a scary crash. Coming out of the tri-oval, Erik Jones got turned by Kyle Busch. Jones overcorrected his car back across the field taking out more cars. Busch went high to avoid Jones but lost control of his car and Busch spun down the racetrack. His car slid across the infield grass before it pounded the inside concrete wall head on at about 90 mph. Busch climbed out of his car but immeadietly laid down in the infield grass and appeared to be hurt. He was carried on a stretcher and was taken to Halifax Medical Center for further evaluation. Busch had a massive compound fracture in the lower right leg, a small fracture in the left foot, and a sprained left finger. Busch would end up missing the first 11 races of the Sprint Cup Series season due to his injury. The cars involved were Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, J. J. Yeley, Brendan Gaughan, Erik Jones, Brian Scott, Elliott Sadler, Bubba Wallace, Jeffery Earnhardt, and Cale Conley.[5] The race was once again red flagged for the accident. The red flag lifted and the race restarted with 5 laps to go. Keselowski held onto his lead. Kyle Larson took the lead on the restart but was immeadeatly split in between Keselowski and Chris Buescher and Keselowski got the lead back and was racing with Buescher. Larson eventually got side by side with Keselowski again but could not make the pass. On the last lap out of the tri-oval, Larson got loose after contact with Aric Almirola and Larson spun down and collected Ross Chastain. No caution was thrown. In turn 3, Ryan Reed slingshotted Keselowski and Reed took the lead with his teammate Chris Buescher behind him. Reed held off the pack in the last two turns and Reed took home his first career Xfinity Series win in his 40th start with his teammate Buescher finishing 2nd giving owner Jack Roush a one-two finish. Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon, and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top 5 while David Starr, Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10.[6]

Race results

Pos Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Laps Led Status Points
116Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord12014running47
260Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord12012running43
33Ty DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet12016running42
433Austin Dillon (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1201running0
522Brad Keselowski (i)Team PenskeFord12013running0
644David StarrTriStar MotorsportsToyota1200running38
798Aric Almirola (i)Biagi-DenBeste RacingFord1200running0
842Kyle Larson (i)HScott Motorsports with Chip GanassiChevrolet1204running0
94Ross Chastain (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1200running35
1088Dale Earnhardt Jr. (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1190running0
1143Dakoda ArmstrongRichard Petty MotorsportsFord1190running33
126Bubba Wallace (R)Roush Fenway RacingFord11918running33
1326Mike Wallace (i)JGL RacingToyota1190running0
1451Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet1180running30
1590Mario GosselinKing AutosportChevrolet1180running29
1655Jeffery EarnhardtViva MotorsportsChevrolet1180running28
1724Eric McClureJGL RacingToyota1160running27
1820Erik Jones (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1160running0
191Elliott SadlerRoush Fenway RacingFord1160running25
208Blake KochTriStar MotorsportsToyota1150running24
2113Chris CockrumMBM MotorsportsChevrolet1150running23
2240Derek WhiteMBM MotorsportsDodge1150running22
2397Josh Reaume (R)Obaika RacingChevrolet1150running21
2474Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingDodge1140running20
252Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1120crash19
2654Kyle Busch (i)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota11127crash0
2728J. J. YeleyJGL RacingToyota1110crash17
289Chase ElliottJR MotorsportsChevrolet1110crash16
2962Brendan GaughanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1100crash15
3014Cale Conley (R)TriStar MotorsportsToyota1100crash14
3101Landon CassillJD MotorsportsChevrolet1080running13
3252Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet1070running12
3325John Wes Townley (i)Athenian MotorsportsChevrolet1060running0
3429Justin MarksRAB RacingToyota930crash10
357Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet9315crash10
3684Chad Boat (i)Billy Boat MotorsportsChevrolet920crash0
3710Scott Lagasse Jr.TriStar MotorsportsToyota920crash7
3839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet920crash6
3918Daniel Suárez (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota910crash5
4092Dexter BeanKing AutosportChevrolet50fuel pump4
Official Race results

References

  1. "2015 Alert Today Florida 300". Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  2. "CP MOTORSPORTS - REED WINS ALERT TODAY FLORIDA 300". Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  3. Lane, Mark (5 August 2018). "Little-known special district leases land under the Daytona International Speedway". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. "Austin Dillon wins pole for today's Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona". Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. "Kyle Busch breaks a right leg, left foot, out indefinitely". USA Today. McLean, VA. February 22, 2015. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  6. "Ryan Reed won the exciting NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
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