Quaker State 400 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Quaker State 400

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Kentucky Speedway
Location	Sparta, Kentucky, United States
Corporate sponsor	Quaker State
First race	2011
Distance	400.5 miles (644.542 km)
Laps	267 (Stage 1: 80 Stage 2: 80 Stage 3: 107)
Most wins (driver)	Brad Keselowski (3)
Most wins (team)	Joe Gibbs Racing Team Penske (3)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Toyota (5)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Turns	4

The Quaker State 400 was an exciting annual NASCAR race. It took place at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. This race was part of the top-level NASCAR Cup Series.

The Quaker State 400 was usually the 19th race of the NASCAR season. It was held alongside races for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. The very first Quaker State 400 happened on July 9, 2011. The winner of that first race was Kyle Busch.

Race History

The idea for a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway started a long time ago. In 2005, the speedway even had a disagreement with NASCAR about getting a race. Later, in 2008, a new owner, Bruton Smith, bought the track. He hoped to bring a Cup Series race there by 2011.

Finally, in August 2010, NASCAR announced that Kentucky Speedway would host a Cup Series event in 2011. A few months later, Quaker State became the main sponsor for the race. The first race was 267 laps long and took place on July 9, 2011. Kyle Busch was the first winner.

However, the first race had a big problem. Many fans got stuck in traffic and couldn't get into the speedway. After this, Kentucky Speedway bought more land for parking. They also worked with the state government to improve the roads around the track. This helped make things better for the 2012 race.

New Car Rules for 2015

On June 16, 2015, NASCAR announced some new rules for the cars. These rules were used for the 2015 Quaker State 400 race. The changes were made to make the racing more exciting.

The main changes included a smaller rear spoiler on the cars. This made the cars have less "downforce." Downforce helps cars stick to the track. With less downforce, cars could slide more, making it harder for drivers. The tires also gave drivers more grip. NASCAR wanted to see more action and changes in who was leading during the race.

The Trophy

Since 2015, the winner of the Quaker State 400 received a very cool trophy. It was shaped like a classic Crosley jukebox!

Past Winners

Here are the winners of the Quaker State 400:

Race Highlights

Here are some memorable moments from the Quaker State 400 races:

• 2011: This was the very first Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Kyle Busch won for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. The race started at 7:30 p.m. EDT and was shown live on TNT. The weather was dry and warm. Before the race, there were opening ceremonies with an invocation, the National Anthem, and the command to start engines. However, a huge traffic jam meant about 20,000 fans couldn't get into the track.

• 2012: The race started at 7:48 p.m. EDT and was also shown on TNT. Jimmie Johnson started in the pole position (first place). The opening ceremonies included the Kentucky Army National Guard and the Boone County Sheriff's office presenting the flag.

• 2013: This race was supposed to start on Saturday evening. But rain pushed it back to Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. EDT. NASCAR had to call for a "competition caution" on lap 30. This means all cars slow down and can pit. The race also had a big crash on lap 48 involving many cars. The race was stopped for over 18 minutes while the track was cleared.

• 2014: This was the last Quaker State 400 race shown on TNT. Before the race, heavy rain soaked the track. This led to another competition caution on lap 30. The lead changed 12 times among 13 different drivers. Brad Keselowski won his second race at Kentucky.

• 2015: NASCAR on NBC took over showing the race, which aired live on NBCSN. This race had a new record for caution periods, with eleven cautions for 49 laps. Kyle Busch won the race after a lot of exciting back-and-forth action and a tire problem for another driver.

• 2016: This was the second year the race was on NBCSN. A big multi-car crash happened on lap 94. Many cars were involved in the pile-up. In the final laps, drivers had to manage their fuel carefully. Brad Keselowski won the race by blocking Carl Edwards on the last lap to save enough fuel.

• 2017: Martin Truex Jr. was amazing in this race, leading for 152 laps! He won the first two "stages" of the race. NASCAR had a new format this year with three stages (80 laps, 80 laps, and 107 laps). Truex Jr. had a huge lead near the end. But a late caution flag meant an "overtime" finish. Truex Jr. stayed out on the track while others pitted. He took the lead on the restart and won the race under caution after a crash on the frontstretch. This was his third win of the season.