The 2019 Ford EcoBoost 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on November 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) oval, it was the 36th and final race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Report
Background
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a motor racing track located in Homestead, Florida. The track, which has several configurations, has promoted several series of racing, including NASCAR, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the Championship Cup Series.
Since 2002, Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Ford Motor Company sponsors all three of the season-ending races; the races have the names Ford EcoBoost 400, Ford EcoBoost 300 and Ford EcoBoost 200, respectively, and the weekend is marketed as Ford Championship Weekend. The Xfinity Series (then known as the Busch Series) has held its season-ending races at Homestead since 1995.
Championship drivers
Martin Truex Jr. was the first of the four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.
Kevin Harvick clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the second race of the Round of 8 at Texas.
Denny Hamlin clinched the third spot after winning the final race of the Round of 8 at Phoenix.
Kyle Busch clinched the last spot in the Championship 4 based on points.
Entry list
(i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points. (R) denotes rookie driver. (CC) denotes championship contender
Practice
First practice
First practice session scheduled for Friday was cancelled due to rain. Final practice session was postponed to Saturday in place of qualifying also due to rain.
Final practice
Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 31.959 seconds and a speed of .
Qualifying
Qualifying for Saturday was cancelled due to rain on Friday and Denny Hamlin, the point leader, was awarded the pole as a result.
Starting Lineup
Race
Note: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. are not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Stage results
Stage One
Laps: 80
Stage Two
Laps: 80
Final stage results
Stage Three
Laps: 107
NOTE: On November 27, 2019, NASCAR revised the official race results and penalised four teams—15, 27, 52, and 77—with 50 point penalties for teams. As all but one of the drivers was ineligible for points, NASCAR assessed the 50 point penalties for teams (as listed), and no drivers were penalised. The four teams were charged with race manipulation. According to NASCAR officials, the match fixing was deliberately aimed to allow the Premium Motorsports No. 27 team to claim the most owner points of all teams not holding a charter, surpassing the Gaunt Brothers Racing No. 96 team in points, which is worth $175,000 more to the team in question. In the scheme, the 15, 77, and 52 teams all pulled their cars off the track early so the 27 can pass the 96 team in points.
Race statistics
Lead changes: 14 among 5 different drivers
Cautions/Laps: 3 for 15
Red flags: 0
Time of race: 2 hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds
Average speed:
Race manipulation
A race manipulation scheme late in the race was uncovered by NASCAR officials involving four teams (three chartered, one open) with end-of-season points and financial bonus payments. This was announced on November 27, 2019, by NASCAR's Scott Miller, who explained after reviewing data during the race, including radio communications among drivers and teams, including interviewing various competitors, that they had uncovered a deliberate race manipulation scheme to help teams with financial bonuses.