Battle of the teammates as Carl Edwards bumps Kyle Busch to get the win at Richmond International Raceway

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 XFINITY Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

Starting from 4th place Car 19 Carl Edwards XFINITY Toyota won the 62nd Annual Toyota Owners 400, his 27th win in 418 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is Carl Edwards 2nd win & 8th Top 10 finish in 2016. This is his 2nd win & 12th Top 10 finish in 24 races at Richmond International Raceway. 2nd Place Car 18 Kyle Busch Banfield Toyota, started from 9th place posted his 16th Top 10 finish in
22 races at Richmond International Raceway. It is Busch’s 7th Top 10 finish in 2016. 3rd Place Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet, started from 3rd place posted his 12th Top 10 finish in 29 races at Richmond International Raceway.

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 XFINITY Toyota, celebrates with a backflip after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

4th Place Car 5 Kasey Kahne Mountain Dew Chevrolet, started from 8th place followed by 5th place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Chevrolet, started from pole. 6th Place Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota, started from 5th place followed by 7th place Car 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota, started from 13th place. 8th Place Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford, started from 2nd place followed by 9th place Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Toyota, started from 22nd place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, in 10th place, started from 7th place. Chase Elliott (12th place) was the highest finishing rookie.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

The race had 8 Cautions for 49 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 158 for Debris on the backstretch. 2nd Caution on lap 196 for Debris on the backstretch. 3rd Caution on lap 252 for Debris in Turn 2. 4th Caution on lap 269 for Car 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Chevrolet and Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford crash in Turn 2 5th Caution on lap 314 for Debris in Turn 2. 6th Caution on lap 321 for Car 31 Ryan Newman Grainger Chevrolet and Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet crash in Turn 4. 7th Caution on lap 327 for Car 38 Landon Cassill The Pete Store Ford and Car 93 Ryan Ellis Science Logic Toyota crash on the frontstretch. 8th Caution on lap 360 for Car 44 Brian Scott Albertsons Co./Shore Lodge Ford Spin in Turn 4.

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 XFINITY Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

The race had 23 Lead Changes among 8 drivers: Lap Leaders: K. Harvick 1-21; J. Johnson 22-63; C. Edwards 64; J. Johnson 65; C. Edwards 66-89; D. Hamlin 90; J. Johnson 91; M. Kenseth 92-93; C. Edwards 94-157; Kyle Busch 158-168; C. Edwards 169-196; Kyle Busch 197; C. Edwards 198-229; K. Harvick 230-270; B. Keselowski 271-273; K. Harvick 274; B. Keselowski 275-277; Kurt Busch 278-286; Kyle Busch 287-314; Kurt Busch 315-360; Kyle Busch 361-363; C. Edwards 364; Kyle Busch 365-399; C. Edwards 400;. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): C. Edwards 7 times for 151 laps; Kyle Busch 5 times for 78 laps; K. Harvick 3 times for 63 laps; Kurt Busch 2 times for 55 laps; J. Johnson 3 times for 44 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 6 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 2 laps; D. Hamlin 1 time for 1 lap. Top 16 in Points: C. Edwards – 331; K. Harvick – 324; J. Johnson – 310; Kyle Busch – 302; J. Logano – 299; Kurt Busch – 279; D. Earnhardt Jr. – 278; D. Hamlin – 258; B. Keselowski – 255; M. Truex Jr. – 246; C. Elliott # – 234; A. Dillon – 234; J. Mcmurray – 224; K. Kahne – 222; M. Kenseth – 212; R. Newman – 205.

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Banfield Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

Chase Grid Outlook: 1.C. Edwards 331 (2 wins);2.J. Johnson 310 (2);3.Kyle Busch 302 (2);4.K. Harvick 324 (1);5.D. Hamlin 258 (1);6.B. Keselowski 255 (1);7.J. Logano 299 (0);8.Kurt Busch 279 (0);9.D. Earnhardt Jr. 278 (0);10.M. Truex Jr. 246 (0);11.C. Elliott # 234 (0);12.A. Dillon 234 (0);13.J. Mcmurray 224 (0);14.K. Kahne 222 (0);15.M. Kenseth 212 (0);16.R. Newman 205 (0).

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 XFINITY Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia.

Exciting finish as Joe Gibbs Racing team-mates Kyle Busch & Carl Edwards took the white flag with Busch in the lead. Edwards was gaining as Busch protecting the lead until the last corner when they both went low & Edwards bumped Busch off line. Edwards beat Busch to the checkered flag with a Margin of Victory of 0.675 Seconds.

Busch was told on his radio: “We did everything right be smart”

Carl Edwards said “Kyle’s an amazing teammate, and it’s like he got really slow there at the end, something happened that last lap. It was like his rear tires went off or something. He went down into (Turn) 1 and I dove it in and I got to him and I thought, ‘Man, I’ve got something.’ “And he went to get down to the bottom and park it in (Turns) 3 and 4, and I had already decided to go down there, so I thought, ‘Man, I’m going to give him a little nudge.’ And we both have got wins, and we’re racing for fun getting these trophies and (it was) just an awesome day.” Busch said “Our Banfield Camry was real awesome today, we had a great race car. My guys made some awesome adjustments to it. It was really good for us to have an opportunity to run and race for the win like that.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Number 9
Unofficial Race Results for the 62Nd Annual Toyota Owners 400 – Sunday, April 24, 2016
Richmond International Raceway – Richmond, VA – .75 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 400 Laps – 300 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 4. Car 19 Carl Edwards XFINITY Toyota 400 Running
2. 9. Car 18 Kyle Busch Banfield Toyota 400 Running
3. 3. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet 400 Running
4. 8. Car 5 Kasey Kahne Mountain Dew Chevrolet 400 Running
5. 1. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Chevrolet 400 Running
6. 5. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 400 Running
7. 13. Car 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota 400 Running
8. 2. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 400 Running
9. 22. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Toyota 400 Running
10. 7. Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet 400 Running
11. 6. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Thomas Built Buses Ford 400 Running
12. 23. Car 24 Chase Elliott # Mountain Dew Chevrolet 400 Running
13. 16. Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mountain Dew Chevrolet 400 Running
14. 19. Car 16 Greg Biffle Cheez-It Ford 400 Running
15. 15. Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 400 Running
16. 27. Car 1 Jamie McMurray Credit One Bank Chevrolet 400 Running
17. 17. Car 6 Trevor Bayne AdvoCare Ford 400 Running
18. 14. Car 31 Ryan Newman Grainger Chevrolet 400 Running
19. 18. Car 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Chevrolet 400 Running
20. 11. Car 3 Austin Dillon AAA Chevrolet 400 Running
21. 24. Car 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 400 Running
22. 26. Car 27 Paul Menard Duracell/Menards Chevrolet 400 Running
23. 30. Car 23 David Ragan sweetFrog Toyota 400 Running
24. 21. Car 10 Danica Patrick Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet 400 Running
25. 10. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger/Bush’s Beans Chevrolet 400 Running
26. 12. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fifth Third Bank Ford 400 Running
27. 28. Car 38 Landon Cassill The Pete Store Ford 399 Running
28. 29. Car 21 * Ryan Blaney # Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 399 Running
29. 25. Car 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet 399 Running
30. 36. Car 83 Matt DiBenedetto E.J. Wade Construction Toyota 399 Running
31. 32. Car 95 Michael McDowell WRL General Contractors Chevrolet 399 Running
32. 34. Car 7 Regan Smith APC Chevrolet 399 Running
33. 39. Car 15 Clint Bowyer 5-Hour Energy Chevrolet 398 Running
34. 33. Car 34 Chris Buescher # A&W All American Food Ford 396 Running
35. 20. Car 44 Brian Scott # Albertsons Co./Shore Lodge Ford 395 Running
36. 40. Car 46 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet 394 Running
37. 37. Car 93 * Ryan Ellis(i) Science Logic Toyota 393 Running
38. 38. Car 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt # corvetteparts.net Ford 392 Running
39. 31. Car 30 * Josh Wise Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet 390 Running
40. 35. Car 55 * Reed Sorenson ChampionMachinery.com Chevrolet 390 Running

Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, the following car dropped to the rear of the field: No. 15 (transmission change). Failed to Qualify: (1) 98. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 05 Mins, 26 Secs. Average Speed: 97.070 MPH. Margin of Victory: 0.675 Seconds. Caution Flags: 8 for 49 laps. Lead Changes: 23 among 8 drivers.
American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Kyle Busch, #18. Ingersoll Rand Power Move: Carl Edwards, #19 15 positions. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Toyota Racing Development (TRD), #19. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Carl Edwards, #19 Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race: Kurt Busch, #41 crew chief Tony Gibson, 0.196 seconds. Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap: Denny Hamlin, #11. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Chase Elliott, #24.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: May. 1, 2016 – Talladega Superspeedway

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