The 2015 Kroger 250 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Ridgeway, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 mile (0.847 km) permanent paper-clip shaped short track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 250 laps, but was increased to 258 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Joey Logano, driving for Brad Keselowski Racing, would hold off Matt Crafton on the final restart, and would earn his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Logano would also become the 26th driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's national series. Logano and Crafton would dominate the entire race, leading 150 and 100 laps, respectively.[1] To fill out the podium, Crafton, driving for ThorSport Racing, and Erik Jones, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

2015 Kroger 250
Race details
Race 3 of 23 of the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Date March 28, 2015
Official name 17th Annual Kroger 250
Location Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 258 laps, 135 mi (218 km)
Scheduled Distance 250 laps, 131 mi (211 km)
Average speed 140.711 mph (226.452 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Brad Keselowski Racing
Time 19.504
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Brad Keselowski Racing
Laps 150
Winner
No. 29 Joey Logano Brad Keselowski Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Adam Alexander, Phil Parsons, and Michael Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN

Background

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The layout of Martinsville Speedway, the circuit where the race was held.

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing short track in Ridgeway, Virginia, just south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (847 m) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in stock car racing, being built in 1947 by partners H. Clay Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice, nearly a year before NASCAR was officially formed.[2] It is also the only race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only oval track on the NASCAR circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways and concrete to cover the turns.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Cole Custer JR Motorsports Chevrolet Haas Automation
1 Travis Kvapil MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet Bubba Burger, Kioti Tractors
02 Tyler Young Young's Motorsports Chevrolet Randco, Young's Building Systems
4 Erik Jones (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Toyota
05 John Wes Townley Athenian Motorsports Chevrolet Zaxby's
6 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet Norm Benning Racing
07 Ray Black Jr. (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet ScubaLife
7 Gray Gaulding Red Horse Racing Toyota Krispy Kreme
08 Korbin Forrister (R) BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Tilted Kilt
8 John Hunter Nemechek (R) SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet D. A. B. Constructors
10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Chevrolet Driven2Honor.org
11 Ben Kennedy Red Horse Racing Toyota Local Motors
13 Cameron Hayley (R) ThorSport Racing Toyota Cabinets by Hayley
14 Daniel Hemric (R) NTS Motorsports Chevrolet California Clean Power
15 Mason Mingus Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet Billy Boat Performance Exhaust
17 Timothy Peters Red Horse Racing Toyota Red Horse Racing
19 Tyler Reddick Brad Keselowski Racing Ford DrawTite
23 Spencer Gallagher (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet Allegiant Travel Company
25 Matt Tifft Venturini Motorsports Toyota Clinical RM, Honoring Ebola Fighters
29 Joey Logano (i) Brad Keselowski Racing Ford Cooper-Standard Automotive
31 James Buescher NTS Motorsports Chevrolet ERT Investments
33 Brandon Jones (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet Masterforce Tool Storage
35 Tommy Regan B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet Blue Diamond Almonds, American Tactical
50 Cody Ware MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet Burnie Grill
51 Daniel Suárez (i) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Arris
54 Justin Boston (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota ZLOOP
63 Jake Griffin MB Motorsports Chevrolet Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool
74 Paige Decker Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet Seubert Calf Ranches
75 Caleb Holman Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet Food Country USA, Morning Fresh Farms
86 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet Brandonbilt Foundations
87 Chuck Buchanan Jr. Charles Buchanan Racing Ford Spring Drug
88 Matt Crafton ThorSport Racing Toyota Hormel Pepperoni, Menards
92 David Gilliland (i) RBR Enterprises Ford Black's Tire Service, Goodyear
94 Wendell Chavous Premium Motorsports Chevrolet Testoril, The Glow Zone
98 Johnny Sauter ThorSport Racing Toyota Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff
99 Bryan Silas T3R2 Chevrolet Kapoya Premium Energy Drink
Official entry list

Practice

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The first and only practice session was held on Friday, March 27, at 3:00 PM EST, and would last for 2 hours and 30 minutes.[3] Cole Custer, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 19.711, and an average speed of 96.068 mph (154.606 km/h).[4] Three practice sessions were scheduled to take place, but due to constant rain showers, only one lengthy session was run.

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 00 Cole Custer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 19.711 96.068
2 13 Cameron Hayley (R) ThorSport Racing Toyota 19.803 95.622
3 98 Johnny Sauter ThorSport Racing Toyota 19.822 95.530
Full first practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Saturday, March 28, at 11:15 AM EST.[3] The qualifying system used is a multi car, multi lap, three round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 25–32. Then, the fastest 24 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 13–24. Lastly, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the third round to determine positions 1–12.[5]

Joey Logano, driving for Brad Keselowski Racing, would win the pole after advancing from the preliminary rounds and setting the fastest time in Round 3, with a lap of 19.504, and an average speed of 97.088 mph (156.248 km/h).[6]

Wendell Chavous, Brandon Brown, Paige Decker, and Chuck Buchanan Jr. would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time (R1) Speed (R1) Time (R2) Speed (R2) Time (R3) Speed (R3)
1 29 Joey Logano (i) Brad Keselowski Racing Ford 19.951 94.913 19.839 95.448 19.504 97.088
2 00 Cole Custer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 19.986 94.746 19.702 96.112 19.598 96.622
3 13 Cameron Hayley (R) ThorSport Racing Toyota 20.080 94.303 19.722 96.015 19.623 96.499
4 4 Erik Jones (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 20.154 93.957 19.796 95.656 19.652 96.357
5 05 John Wes Townley Athenian Motorsports Chevrolet 19.955 94.894 19.777 95.748 19.725 96.000
6 33 Brandon Jones (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 20.046 94.463 19.862 95.338 19.737 95.942
7 19 Tyler Reddick Brad Keselowski Racing Ford 19.969 94.827 19.830 95.492 19.755 95.854
8 92 David Gilliland (i) RBR Enterprises Ford 20.014 94.614 19.837 95.458 19.782 95.723
9 98 Johnny Sauter ThorSport Racing Toyota 20.072 94.340 19.810 95.588 19.801 95.632
10 02 Tyler Young Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 20.018 94.595 19.851 95.391 19.858 95.357
11 51 Daniel Suárez (i) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 20.034 94.519 19.815 95.564 19.873 95.285
12 7 Gray Gaulding Red Horse Racing Toyota 20.134 94.050 19.824 95.521 19.883 95.237
Eliminated in Round 2
13 88 Matt Crafton ThorSport Racing Toyota 20.055 94.420 19.866 95.319
14 14 Daniel Hemric (R) NTS Motorsports Chevrolet 20.056 94.416 19.868 95.309
15 31 James Buescher NTS Motorsports Chevrolet 20.150 93.975 19.880 95.252
16 8 John Hunter Nemechek (R) SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 19.980 94.775 19.892 95.194
17 17 Timothy Peters Red Horse Racing Toyota 20.031 94.533 19.896 95.175
18 23 Spencer Gallagher (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 20.063 94.383 19.898 95.165
19 25 Matt Tifft Venturini Motorsports Toyota 20.018 94.595 19.921 95.055
20 15 Mason Mingus Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet 20.148 93.985 19.932 95.003
21 54 Justin Boston (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 20.131 94.064 19.949 94.922
22 11 Ben Kennedy Red Horse Racing Toyota 20.163 93.915 20.091 94.251
23 75 Caleb Holman Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet 20.069 94.354 20.159 93.933
24 63 Jake Griffin MB Motorsports Chevrolet 20.213 93.682 20.160 93.929
Eliminated in Round 1
25 99 Bryan Silas T3R2 Chevrolet 20.265 93.442
26 07 Ray Black Jr. (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 20.265 93.442
27 08 Korbin Forrister (R) BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 20.289 93.331
Qualified by owner's points
28 50 Cody Ware MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet 20.510 92.326
29 6 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet 20.565 92.079
30 35 Tommy Regan B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 20.676 91.584
31 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Chevrolet 20.843 90.851
Past champion provisional
32 1 Travis Kvapil MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet 20.719 91.394
Failed to qualify
33 94 Wendell Chavous Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 20.560 92.101
34 86 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 20.901 90.599
35 74 Paige Decker Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 21.009 90.133
36 87 Chuck Buchanan Jr. Charles Buchanan Racing Ford 22.385 84.592
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin[7] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 29 Joey Logano (i) Brad Keselowski Racing Ford 258 150 Running 0 $51,336
2 13 88 Matt Crafton ThorSport Racing Toyota 258 100 Running 43 $31,542
3 4 4 Erik Jones (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 258 2 Running 42 $25,488
4 9 98 Johnny Sauter ThorSport Racing Toyota 258 0 Running 40 $19,518
5 7 19 Tyler Reddick Brad Keselowski Racing Ford 258 0 Running 39 $18,458
6 11 51 Daniel Suárez (i) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 258 0 Running 0 $16,574
7 15 31 James Buescher NTS Motorsports Chevrolet 258 0 Running 37 $14,158
8 5 05 John Wes Townley Athenian Motorsports Chevrolet 258 0 Running 36 $16,352
9 19 25 Matt Tifft Venturini Motorsports Toyota 258 0 Running 35 $16,297
10 21 54 Justin Boston (R) Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota 258 0 Running 34 $17,191
11 3 13 Cameron Hayley (R) ThorSport Racing Toyota 258 0 Running 33 $16,186
12 14 14 Daniel Hemric (R) NTS Motorsports Chevrolet 258 0 Running 32 $16,046
13 26 07 Ray Black Jr. (R) SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 258 0 Running 31 $15,990
14 18 23 Spencer Gallagher (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 258 0 Running 30 $15,935
15 6 33 Brandon Jones (R) GMS Racing Chevrolet 258 0 Running 29 $16,252
16 2 00 Cole Custer JR Motorsports Chevrolet 258 2 Running 29 $15,769
17 12 7 Gray Gaulding Red Horse Racing Toyota 257 0 Running 27 $13,663
18 17 17 Timothy Peters Red Horse Racing Toyota 257 0 Running 26 $15,658
19 22 11 Ben Kennedy Red Horse Racing Toyota 257 0 Running 25 $15,602
20 10 02 Tyler Young Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 257 0 Running 24 $16,019
21 23 75 Caleb Holman Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet 257 0 Running 23 $13,241
22 20 15 Mason Mingus Billy Boat Motorsports Chevrolet 256 4 Running 23 $13,213
23 27 08 Korbin Forrister (R) BJMM with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 255 0 Running 21 $15,436
24 31 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Chevrolet 250 0 Running 20 $14,130
25 30 35 Tommy Regan B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 248 0 Running 19 $14,197
26 24 63 Jake Griffin MB Motorsports Chevrolet 218 0 Handling 18 $12,992
27 28 50 Cody Ware MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet 216 0 Vibration 17 $12,964
28 29 6 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet 174 0 Rear Gear 16 $12,716
29 16 8 John Hunter Nemechek (R) SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 173 0 Transmission 15 $12,660
30 8 92 David Gilliland (i) RBR Enterprises Ford 132 0 Brakes 0 $12,160
31 25 99 Bryan Silas T3R2 Chevrolet 120 0 Overheating 13 $10,660
32 32 1 Travis Kvapil MAKE Motorsports Chevrolet 83 0 Rear Gear 12 $9,660
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (March 28, 2015). "Perfect restart leads Joey Logano to first career Truck win". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 76".
  3. ^ a b "2015 Truck Series Martinsville Spring Race Info". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Bearden, Aaron (March 27, 2015). "Cole Custer Paces 2015 Kroger 250 Practice at Martinsville". Frontstretch. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "NASCAR Qualifying Rules". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2015-03-03. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Ifeguni, David (March 28, 2015). "Spin & Win: Joey Logano Wins 2015 Kroger 250 Pole at Martinsville". Frontstretch. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "2015 Kroger 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
Previous race:
2015 Hyundai Construction Equipment 200
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
2015 season
Next race:
2015 Toyota Tundra 250
  NODES
Note 4