The 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on September 12, 2015, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps on the three–quarter (1.2 km) short track, it was the 26th race of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Matt Kenseth won the race, his fourth of the season. Kyle Busch finished second. Joey Logano, Aric Almirola and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five.

Logano won the pole for the race and led 25 laps on his way to a third–place finish. Kenseth led a race high of 352 laps on his way to winning the race. The race had 13 lead changes among four different drivers, as well as six caution flag periods for 47 laps.

This was the 35th career victory for Matt Kenseth, fourth of the season, second at Richmond International Raceway and 10th at the track for Joe Gibbs Racing. With the win, Kenseth moved into a tie with Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson for the points lead after the Chase reset. Despite being the winning manufacturer, Toyota left Richmond trailing Chevrolet by 54–points in the manufacturer standings.

The Federated Auto Parts 400 was carried by NBC Sports on the cable/satellite NBCSN network for the American television audience. The radio broadcast for the race was carried by the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Report Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. Kevin Harvick entered Richmond with a 42–point lead over Joey Logano. Dale Earnhardt Jr. entered 93 back. Brad Keselowski entered 111 back. Jimmie Johnson entered 131 back.

Chase-clinching scenarios The following scenarios were in play for the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Regardless of who wins Jamie McMurray clinched by starting the race. Ryan Newman would clinch by finishing 31st or better, 32nd if he led at least one lap or 33rd if he led the most laps. Jeff Gordon would clinch by finishing 17th or better, 18th if he led at least one lap or 19th if he led the most laps. Paul Menard would clinch by finishing ninth or better, 10th if he led at least one lap or 11th if he led the most laps.

If there's a repeat winner Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon would clinch regardless of finish. Paul Menard would clinch if he finished 38th or better, 39th if he led at least one lap or 40th if he led the most laps. Clint Bowyer would clinch if he finished 28th or better, 29th if he led at least one lap or 30th if he led the most laps.

Must win to clinch a spot Greg Biffle, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, A. J. Allmendinger, Casey Mears, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart, David Ragan, Sam Hornish Jr., Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier had to win this race to clinch a spot in the Chase.

Entry list The entry list for the Federated Auto Parts 400 was released on Monday, September 7 at 1:05 p.m. Eastern time. Forty-five cars were entered for the race. All but Michael McDowell in the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Ford were entered for the previous week's race at Darlington. Josh Wise drove the No. 30 Chevrolet for The Motorsports Group. Jeffrey Earnhardt attempted to make his first Sprint Cup Series start in the No. 32 Go FAS Racing Ford. Brian Scott drove the No. 33 Hillman-Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet. Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski (PC3) Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick (PC1) Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 Alex Bowman Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 9 Sam Hornish Jr. Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 10 Danica Patrick Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Chevrolet 14 Tony Stewart (PC4) Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Matt Kenseth (PC6) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Jeb Burton (R) BK Racing Toyota 24 Jeff Gordon (PC7) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Toyota 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30 Josh Wise The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt (i) Go FAS Racing Ford 33 Brian Scott (i) Hillman-Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet 34 Brett Moffitt (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 35 Cole Whitt Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 40 Landon Cassill (i) Hillman-Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet 41 Kurt Busch (PC5) Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 46 Michael Annett HScott Motorsports Chevrolet 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Jimmie Johnson (PC2) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Justin Allgaier HScott Motorsports Chevrolet 55 David Ragan Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 62 Timmy Hill (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 83 Matt DiBenedetto (R) BK Racing Toyota 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 95 Michael McDowell Leavine Family Racing Ford 98 Reed Sorenson (i) Premium Motorsports FordOfficial entry list Key Meaning (R) Rookie (i) Ineligible for points (PC#) Past champions provisional

Practice First practice Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 21.508 and a speed of .

Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 21.508 125.535 2 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Chevrolet 21.529 125.412 3 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 21.590 125.058Official first practice results

Final practice Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 21.526 and a speed of .

Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 21.526 125.430 2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21.540 125.348 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.553 125.273Official final practice results

Qualifying

Joey Logano won the pole with a time of 21.349 and a speed of . "Just a great effort from this team," Logano said. "I can’t say enough of (crew chief) Todd Gordon and everyone with the Shell/Pennzoil team that gives me a these greats cars every week. It’d be great to end the regular season with the win here Saturday night and take that momentum into the Chase next week at Chicago." "We’re the best on stickers," Matt Kenseth said of his tires after qualifying second. "I just didn’t get the lap I wanted there at the end." "We weren’t that great in qualifying trim so I didn’t know what to expect, but obviously we have a good car and we made some good adjustments on that qualifying run," said David Ragan after qualifying fifth. "That’s a great qualifying spot and anytime you can start in the top-10 or top-five, that’s a great spot." "This is a tough place," Jeff Gordon said after qualifying 23rd for his 46th and final career start at Richmond. "But we're better than that. I hate it for our 3M Chevrolet team that we're going to be starting there, because I know we're better than that." "Just real slow and out of the track," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. after qualifying 29th. "I don't know, man, we've struggled all year in qualifying and it doesn't look like it's getting any better." Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of Dale Earnhardt, qualified 42nd for his first career Sprint Cup Series start. "It's exciting, it's what we've been trying to do ever since I started racing - it was to be here and now I am," Earnhardt told Motorsport.com.

Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 21.158 21.170 21.349 2 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20.883 21.141 21.368 3 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 21.084 21.366 21.369 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21.077 21.285 21.437 5 55 David Ragan Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 21.173 21.318 21.458 6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 21.098 21.293 21.463 7 19 Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21.193 21.339 21.474 8 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 21.061 21.340 21.516 9 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.056 21.264 21.530 10 14 Tony Stewart Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 21.196 21.361 21.552 11 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 21.198 21.343 21.560 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.186 21.284 21.570 13 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.053 21.372 — 14 10 Danica Patrick Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 21.084 21.376 — 15 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Chevrolet 21.184 21.395 — 16 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 21.224 21.406 — 17 33 Brian Scott (i) Hillman-Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet 21.229 21.424 — 18 51 Justin Allgaier HScott Motorsports Chevrolet 21.157 21.439 — 19 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 21.104 21.449 — 20 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.195 21.456 — 21 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 21.117 21.465 — 22 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.239 21.478 — 23 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.159 21.497 — 24 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 21.217 21.509 — 25 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21.243 — — 26 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 21.244 — — 27 46 Michael Annett HScott Motorsports Chevrolet 21.244 — — 28 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 21.250 — — 29 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.290 — — 30 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 21.296 — — 31 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 21.345 — — 32 9 Sam Hornish Jr. Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 21.381 — — 33 83 Matt DiBenedetto (R) BK Racing Toyota 21.381 — — 34 35 Cole Whitt Front Row Motorsports Ford 21.430 — — 35 40 Landon Cassill (i) Hillman-Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet 21.443 — — 36 7 Alex Bowman Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 21.445 — — 37 34 Brett Moffitt (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 21.503 — — 38 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 21.558 — — 39 95 Michael McDowell Leavine Family Racing Ford 21.619 — — 40 98 Reed Sorenson Premium Motorsports Ford 21.657 — — 41 23 Jeb Burton (R) BK Racing Toyota 21.757 — — 42 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt (i) Go FAS Racing Ford 21.767 — — 43 26 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Toyota 21.857 — —Failed to qualify 44 30 Josh Wise The Motorsports Group Chevrolet 21.489 — — 45 62 Timmy Hill (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 22.891 — —Official qualifying results

Race First half Start Under mostly cloudy evening Virginia skies, Joey Logano led the field to the green flag at 7:57 p.m. He shot ahead of Matt Kenseth to lead the first lap. By lap 14, Kenseth pulled to the rear of Logano and eventually passed him going into turn 1 to take the lead on lap 16. By lap 28, he caught up to the tail-end of the field and used lap traffic to increase his lead. The first caution of the race flew on lap 37 when Martin Truex Jr. slammed the wall in turn 1. To add insult to injury, he was tagged for speeding on pit road and was forced to restart from the tail-end of the field.

The race restarted on lap 47. After restarting in the outside lane, Logano led a lap before Kenseth retook the lead from him. After 30 laps, he pulled to a four-second lead over Brad Keselowski. Debris in turn 1 brought out the second caution on lap 97. Danica Patrick was tagged for speeding on pit road and Cole Whitt was tagged for an uncontrolled tire. Both were forced to restart the race from the rear.

Second quarter