2014 Subway Firecracker 250

The 2014 Subway Firecracker 250 was a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at on July 4, 2014 Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 16th of the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the 13th iteration of the event. It would also be the last Daytona race for the title sponsor Nationwide and the last Daytona race to be broadcast on ESPN. The pole was a surprise as rookie Dakoda Armstrong won the pole while Regan Smith led the most laps at 47 but it was Kasey Kahne who made a last lap pass to win the race and beat Smith by .020 seconds in a very close finish.[2]

2014 Subway Firecracker 250
Race details[1]
Map of Speedway
Map of Speedway
Date July 4, 2014 (2014-07-04)
Official name 2014 Subway Firecracker 250
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Tri-oval
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 103 laps, 257.5 mi (414.406 km)
Scheduled Distance 100 laps, 250 mi (400 km)
Weather Clear
Average speed 157.012 mph (252.686 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Petty Motorsports
Time 46.845
Most laps led
Driver Regan Smith JR Motorsports
Laps 47
Winner
No. 5 Kasey Kahne JR Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN2
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree

Background

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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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points
# Driver Team Make
01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet
2 Brian Scott Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
3 Ty Dillon (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Jeffrey Earnhardt JD Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Kasey Kahne (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Regan Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Blake Koch TriStar Motorsports Toyota
11 Elliott Sadler Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14 Eric McClure TriStar Motorsports Toyota
16 Ryan Reed (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17 Tanner Berryhill (R) Vision Racing Dodge
19 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Toyota
20 Bubba Wallace (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
22 Joey Logano (i) Team Penske Ford
23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet
25 John Wes Townley (i) Athenian Motorsports Toyota
28 J. J. Yeley JGL Racing Dodge
29 Scott Lagasse Jr. RAB Racing Toyota
31 Dylan Kwasniewski (R) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet
39 Ryan Sieg (R) RSS Racing Chevrolet
40 Josh Wise (i) The Motorsports Group Chevrolet
42 Kyle Larson (i) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet
43 Dakoda Armstrong (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
44 David Starr TriStar Motorsports Toyota
46 Matt DiBenedetto The Motorsports Group Chevrolet
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet
52 Joey Gase Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet
54 Kyle Busch (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
55 Ross Chastain (i) Viva Motorsports Chevrolet
60 Chris Buescher (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
62 Brendan Gaughan Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
70 Derrike Cope Derrike Cope Racing Chevrolet
74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Dodge
76 Tommy Joe Martins (R) Martins Motorsports Dodge
80 Johnny Sauter (i) Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota
84 Chad Boat (R) Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet
85 Bobby Gerhart Gerhart Racing Chevrolet
87 Carlos Contreras Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
91 Benny Gordon TriStar Motorsports Toyota
93 Mike Wallace JGL Racing Dodge
97 Joe Nemechek (i) NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
98 David Ragan (i) Biagi-DenBeste Racing Ford
99 James Buescher RAB Racing Toyota
Official Entry List

Qualifying

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A surprise won the pole for the race. Rookie Dakoda Armstrong won the pole with a time of 46.845 and a speed of 192.123 mph.[4]

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 43 Dakoda Armstrong (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 46.845 192.123
2 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 46.886 191.955
3 60 Chris Buescher (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 46.915 191.836
4 16 Ryan Reed (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 46.979 191.575
5 54 Kyle Busch (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 47.053 191.274
6 11 Elliott Sadler Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 47.079 191.168
7 9 Chase Elliott (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 47.103 191.071
8 7 Regan Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 47.115 191.022
9 20 Bubba Wallace (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 47.117 191.014
10 42 Kyle Larson (i) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 47.212 190.630
11 22 Joey Logano (i) Team Penske Ford 47.261 190.432
12 84 Chad Boat (R) Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet 47.369 189.998
13 5 Kasey Kahne (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 47.422 189.785
14 62 Brendan Gaughan Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 47.827 188.178
15 2 Brian Scott Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 47.831 188.162
16 3 Ty Dillon (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 47.834 188.151
17 93 Mike Wallace JGL Racing Dodge 48.146 186.931
18 99 James Buescher RAB Racing Toyota 48.165 186.858
19 28 J. J. Yeley JGL Racing Dodge 48.171 186.834
20 80 Johnny Sauter (i) Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota 48.193 186.749
21 39 Ryan Sieg (R)*** RSS Racing Chevrolet 48.203 186.710
22 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Dodge 48.219 186.648
23 70 Derrike Cope Derrike Cope Racing Chevrolet 48.342 186.174
24 17 Tanner Berryhill (R) Vision Racing Dodge 48.436 185.812
25 01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet 48.540 185.414
26 31 Dylan Kwasniewski (R) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 48.540 185.414
27 25 John Wes Townley (i) Athenian Motorsports Toyota 48.586 185.239
28 29 Scott Lagasse Jr.*** RAB Racing Toyota 48.605 185.166
29 19 Mike Bliss*** TriStar Motorsports Toyota 48.611 185.143
30 44 David Starr TriStar Motorsports Toyota 48.611 185.143
31 98 David Ragan (i) Biagi-DenBeste Racing Ford 48.615 185.128
32 14 Eric McClure*** TriStar Motorsports Toyota 48.626 185.086
33 55 Ross Chastain (i)*** Viva Motorsports Chevrolet 48.626 185.086
34 87 Carlos Contreras Rick Ware Racing Ford 48.874 184.147
35 40 Josh Wise (i) The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 48.914 183.996
36 51 Jeremy Clements* Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 49.110 183.262
37 23 Robert Richardson Jr.* *** R3 Motorsports Chevrolet 49.314 182.504
38 52 Joey Gase* *** Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 51.727 173.990
39 4 Jeffrey Earnhardt* JD Motorsports Chevrolet 52.434 171.644
40 97 Joe Nemechek (i)** *** NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 48.687 184.854
Failed to Qualify, withdrew, or driver changes
41 91 Benny Gordon TriStar Motorsports Toyota 48.623 185.098
42 10 Blake Koch TriStar Motorsports Toyota 48.631 185.067
43 76 Tommy Joe Martins (R) Martins Motorsports Dodge 49.009 183.640
44 46 Matt DiBenedetto The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 49.172 183.031
45 85 Bobby Gerhart Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 49.242 182.771
Official Starting Lineup

* – Qualified via owners points

** – Qualified via Past Champion

*** – Eric McClure, Mike Bliss, Robert Richardson Jr., Scott Lagasse Jr., Ryan Sieg, Joey Gase, Ross Chastain, and Joe Nemechek all had to start at the rear of the field. Bliss, Richardson Jr., Lagasse Jr., and Chastain had backup cars and McClure, Sieg, Gase, and Nemechek had unapproved adjustments.

Race

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Outside pole sitter Trevor Bayne took the lead from pole sitter Dakoda Armstrong and led the first lap. On lap 8, Elliott Sadler took the lead from Bayne as the Joe Gibbs cars in Sadler, Kyle Busch, and Bubba Wallace were running in first, second, and third. Green flag pitstops began on lap 36 and Dakoda Armstrong was the new leader as Sadler went to pit. Armstrong came to pit the next lap and gave the lead to Brendan Gaughan. Gaughan soon pitted on lap 40 and gave the lead to Brian Scott. After everything cycled through, Kyle Busch was the new race leader. On lap 47, Kyle Larson took the lead.

Final laps

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With 49 laps to go, Regan Smith took the lead. At the same time. The first caution flew for debris. Regan Smith won the race off of pit road to keep his lead. The race restarted with 43 laps to go. With 31 to go, Kyle Busch tried to take the lead and led that lap but could not pass Smith. Busch tried again multiple times with a push from Trevor Bayne but could not pass Smith and they fell back in the pack with 23 to go. Smith also had his teammate behind him in second in the young rookie sensation Chase Elliott and it looked like either Smith or Elliott might be able to win depending on the final laps. But with 8 laps to go, the second caution flew when Brendan Gaughan got turned out of turn 4 by Bubba Wallace and overcorrected up and collected rookie Dylan Kwasniewski giving Kwasniewski some damage. The race turned into a fuel strategy race as cars began saving fuel during the caution period. The race restarted with 3 laps to go. But on the restart, Chase Elliott's car ran out of gas as soon the green flag dropped which caused a stack up on the inside lane and a four car crash that brought out the third and final caution of the race involving Elliott Sadler and David Ragan spinning and giving Trevor Bayne and J. J. Yeley damage. The caution would set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart, Smith and Kyle Larson were side by side for the lead with Smith getting pushed by Joey Logano and Larson getting pushed by Ryan Reed. In turns 3 and four, the third car on the outside line in David Starr pushed up the race track and hit the wall in a very close call as it almost wrecked the field. No caution was thrown. Regan Smith led coming to the white flag. On the final lap, Smith got out in front of Larson with a push by Logano, Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Sieg. Down the backstretch, Logano peaked to the outside of Smith but Smith blocked Logano and Logano fell back giving Kahne a side by side battle for second with Larson. Coming out of turn 4, Smith got so far ahead it gave the pack a chance to catchup which they would. Larson peaked to the outside of Smith with Kahne right beside him but could not get up there. Kahne got a big run on the outside with a push from Ryan Sieg and Kahne would beat Smith by .020 seconds to take home his first and only win of the season. It would be the only lap Kahne would lead all race. This was the second time in a row Smith was involved in a drag race to the checkered flag at Daytona after Smith beat Brad Keselowski by .013 seconds in the previous Daytona race but this time Smith finished second. Ryan Sieg, Ryan Reed, and Kyle Larson rounded out the top 5 while Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Jeremy Clements, Trevor Bayne, and Mike Wallace rounded out the top 10. This would be Ryan Sieg and Ryan Reed's first career top 5 finish in their Nationwide Series careers as Sieg and Reed finished 3rd and 4th.[5]

Race results

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Pos Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Laps Led Status Points
1 5 Kasey Kahne (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 103 1 running 0
2 7 Regan Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 103 47 running 44
3 39 Ryan Sieg (R) RSS Racing Chevrolet 103 0 running 41
4 16 Ryan Reed (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 103 0 running 40
5 42 Kyle Larson (i) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 103 5 running 0
6 22 Joey Logano (i) Team Penske Ford 103 0 running 0
7 20 Bubba Wallace (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 103 0 running 0
8 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 103 0 running 36
9 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 103 7 running 36
10 93 Mike Wallace JGL Racing Dodge 103 0 running 34
11 3 Ty Dillon (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 103 0 running 33
12 60 Chris Buescher (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 103 0 running 32
13 70 Derrike Cope Derrike Cope Racing Chevrolet 103 0 running 31
14 99 James Buescher RAB Racing Toyota 103 0 running 30
15 80 Johnny Sauter (i) Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota 103 0 running 0
16 2 Brian Scott Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 103 1 running 29
17 54 Kyle Busch (i) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 103 7 running 0
18 25 John Wes Townley (i) Athenian Motorsports Toyota 103 0 running 0
19 43 Dakoda Armstrong (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 103 1 running 26
20 9 Chase Elliott (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 103 1 running 25
21 11 Elliott Sadler Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 103 28 running 24
22 14 Eric McClure TriStar Motorsports Toyota 103 0 running 22
23 98 David Ragan (i) Biagi-DenBeste Racing Ford 103 0 running 0
24 31 Dylan Kwasniewski (R) Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 103 0 running 20
25 44 David Starr TriStar Motorsports Toyota 103 0 running 19
26 84 Chad Boat (R) Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet 103 2 running 19
27 97 Joe Nemechek (i) NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 102 0 running 0
28 62 Brendan Gaughan Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 102 3 running 17
29 55 Ross Chastain (i) Viva Motorsprots Chevrolet 101 0 running 0
30 01 Landon Cassill JD Motorsports Chevrolet 101 0 running 14
31 29 Scott Lagasse Jr. RAB Racing Toyota 101 0 running 13
32 40 Josh Wise (i) The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 100 0 running 0
33 4 Jeffrey Earnhardt JD Motorsports Chevrolet 100 0 running 11
34 87 Carlos Contreras Rick Ware Racing Ford 99 0 running 10
35 28 J. J. Yeley JGL Racing Dodge 98 0 crash 9
36 17 Tanner Berryhill (R) Vision Racing Dodge 97 0 running 8
37 52 Joey Gase Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 92 0 running 7
38 19 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Toyota 62 0 rear end 6
39 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Dodge 58 0 overheating 5
40 23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet 13 0 rear end 4
Official Race results

References

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  1. ^ "2014 Subway Firecracker 250". Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Kasey Kahne rallies late to win Nationwide race at Daytona". Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  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. ^ "Dakoda Armstrong wins Nationwide Series pole at Daytona, qualifying results for Firecraker 250". Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  5. ^ "Kahne edges Smith in photo finish at Subway Firecracker 250". Retrieved July 5, 2014.
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