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2014 NASCAR RCA Cup Series (Johnsonverse)
Previous: 2013 Next: 2015
Champions | Seasons
Tony Stewart Final Cup Start

Tony Stewart, the 2014 champion.

The 2014 NASCAR RCA Cup Series was the 66th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 43rd modern-era Cup season. The season began at Sonoma Raceway, with the Toyota/Save Mart 350, followed by a two-week stop at Daytona International Speedway with the Busch Clash, Gatorade 125's, and the Daytona 500. The season ended with the Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway.

This season marked the first season of the Strictly Stock Car (SSC), which replaced the fourth-generation car used from 1990 to 2013, as well as the final season for Jeremy Mayfield.

Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing claimed the drivers' championship and owners' championship, while Chevrolet won the manufacturer's championship over Dodge; in a shocking upset, Ford only managed a single points win, while Toyota only won the Busch Clash, the first Gatorade 125, and several qualifying heats and B-Mains. Kyle Larson was named Rookie of the Year.

Teams, drivers, and manufacturers[]

Manufacturers[]

Company Marquee Model Status
General Motors Chevrolet Camaro Full factory support
Impala Full factory support
SS Full factory support
Ford Motor Company Ford Fusion Full factory support
Taurus Full factory support
Mustang Full factory support
Roush Mustang Full factory support
Shelby Mustang Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation Dodge Charger Full factory support
Challenger Full factory support
Avenger FINAL YEAR, full factory support
Dart Full factory support
Toyota Motor Corporation Toyota Camry Full factory support
Avalon Full factory support

Complete schedule[]

Manufacturer Team No. Race driver Crew chief Model Primary Sponsor
Chevrolet Earnhardt-Childress Racing * 01 Brad Keselowski 2014 Impala U.S. Army
3 Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) Wrangler
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard
38 Kelley Earnhardt Pennzoil
81 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops
Furniture Row Racing 78 Regan Smith Cole Pearn 2014 Impala Furniture Row
Germain Racing 30 Aric Almirola Bootie Barker 2014 Impala GEICO
Hendrick Motorsports 5 Kyle Larson (R) Alan Gustafson 2014 Camaro Farmers
24 Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte Axalta
25 Shane Hmiel Lowe's
52 Casey Atwood Chad Knaus M&M's
HScott Motorsports 51 Alex Bowman (R) Nick Harrison

Jimmy Elledge

2014 SS Marvel Comics
Stewart-Foyt Racing 4 Kevin Harvick 2014 Camaro Budweiser
10 Kyle Busch Tony Gibson Valvoline
14 Tony Stewart Greg Zipadelli Home Depot
Tommy Baldwin Racing 36 Landon Cassill Tommy Baldwin Jr. 2014 SS various
Dodge AK Racing 7 James Kulwicki 2014 Avenger Zerex by Valvoline
11 Jamie McMurray Microsoft
Andretti Autosport 27 Kurt Busch 2014 Challenger DHL
Bill Davis Racing 22 Renee Walters 2014 Charger Caterpillar
23 Scott Wimmer Google
Chip Ganassi Racing 1 Jimmie Johnson 2014 Challenger UAW-Delphi
41 Emily Senn Target
46 Bryan Clauson Tums
Elliott-Evernham Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne 2014 Dart Coors Light
13 Jerry Nadeau Nickelodeon
94 Casey Elliott Flonase
Moroso-Rudd Racing 82 Denzel Lane (R) 2014 Charger Mountain Dew
83 Michelle Basone Tide
84 Boston Reid RCA
Petty Enterprises 43 Adam Petty Mike Shiplett 2014 Challenger STP
44 Chad McCumbee Kevin Buskirk McDonald's
Team Penske 02 Joey Logano 2014 Challenger Verizon
2 James Buescher Miller Lite
Team SABCO 40 Jane Brewer 2014 Charger Kmart
42 Blaise Alexander Juicy Fruit
45 Alana Houston UPS
Ford Allison-Yates Racing 28 Jeremy Mayfield Jimmy Fennig 2014 Fusion Texaco/Havoline
88 Stephen Leicht Citi Financial
98 Ryan Newman AT&T
Brett Favre Racing 15 Parker Kligerman 2014 Taurus Nike/Sony
90 Katrina Goode FujiFilm
FAS Lane Racing 32 Jane Ritter Frank Stoddard 2013 Fusion Federated Auto Parts
Front Row Motorsports 34 David Ragan Jay Guy 2014 Mustang various
35 David Gilliland Love's Travel Stops
Roush Racing 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Drew Blickensderfer 2014 Roush Mustang Best Buy
16 Greg Biffle Donnie Wingo 3M
99 Carl Edwards Bob Osborne Office Depot
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Trevor Bayne Donnie Wingo 2014 Shelby Mustang Motorcraft
Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing * 18 Matt Kenseth Mike Ford 2014 Camry DeWalt Tools
19 Kelly Watson Circuit City
20 Denny Hamlin Steve Addington FedEx
80 Michael McDowell Darian Grubb Rheem
JTG Daugherty Racing 47 Marcos Ambrose Todd Berrier 2014 Avalon Kroger
Michael Waltrip Racing * 00 Brian Vickers Rodney Childers 2014 Camry Aaron's Dream Machine
17 Clint Bowyer NAPA Auto Parts
Swan Racing 37 Johanna Long Steve Lane 2014 Avalon Petco
Team Red Bull 85 Ryan Truex (R) Jimmy Elledge 2014 Avalon Red Bull
86 Cole Whitt (R) Ryan Pemberton Red Bull

Limited schedule[]

Manufacturer Team No. Race driver Crew chief Model
Chevrolet Beard Motorsports 75 Clay Rogers Darren Shaw 2013 SS
Team XTREME Racing 144 J.J. Yeley Walter Giles

Joe Lax

Steve Lane

2014 Impala
Timmy Hill Peter Sospenzo
Tommy Baldwin Racing 37 Bobby Labonte Tommy Baldwin Jr. 2014 SS
Dave Blaney Zach McGowan
Mike Bliss
Dodge HScott Motorsports 52 Bobby Labonte Jimmy Elledge 2014 Dart
Leavine Family Racing 95 Michael McDowell Wally Rogers 2014 Challenger
RAB Racing 29 Joe Nemechek Chris Rice

Matt Lucas

2013 Avenger
Matt Crafton
Randy Humphrey Racing 77 Dave Blaney Peter Sospenzo 2013 Dart
Nelson Piquet Jr. Steve Lane
Joe Nemechek
Corey LaJoie
Team Penske 12 Ryan Blaney Jeremy Bullins 2014 Charger
Juan Pablo Montoya Greg Erwin
Ford Front Row Motorsports 135 Eric McClure Todd Anderson

Derrick Finley

2014 Mustang
Blake Koch
David Reutimann
Roush Racing 6 Ryan Reed Bob Osborne 2014 Roush Mustang
Toyota BK Racing 93 Morgan Shepherd Rick Ren 2014 Avalon
Mike Bliss Doug Richert
Johnny Sauter
J.J. Yeley
Clay Rogers
Identity Ventures Racing 49 Mike Wallace Scott Eggleston 2014 Camry
87 Joe Nemechek
Morgan Shepherd
Timmy Hill

Lend-Lease entries[]

Manufacturer Team No. Race Driver Model Rounds

Schedule[]

The final calendar was released on October 15, 2013, comprising 43 races, as well as two exhibition races. The schedule also includes two Gatorade 125's, which are the qualifying races for the Daytona 500. The main change was the removal of Kentucky Speedway, long considered the worst track on the circuit, in favor of Walt Disney World Speedway, a fifth restrictor-plate track on the schedule that had already been a staple on the USAC schedule. Also, the first race at Denver International Speedway was replaced with an event at Road America, marking the first Cup Series event at the track since 1956.

No. Race title Track Date TV
1 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma January 26 WBC
Busch Clash Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach February 7 WBC
Gatorade 125's February 13 WBC
2 Daytona 500 February 16 WBC
3 Subway Fresh Fit 400 Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham February 23 WBC
4 San Jose 500 San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy March 2 WBC
5 Kobalt 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas March 9 ESPN
6 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol March 16 TNN
7 TranSouth Financial 400 Darlington Raceway, Darlington March 23 ESPN
8 STP 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway March 30 TNN
9 Texas 400 Texas World Speedway, College Station April 6 WBC
10 Auto Club 400 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana April 13 WBC
11 Harley-Davidson 250 Road America, Lake Elkhart April 20 WBC
12 Toyota Owners 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond April 26 TNN
13 Aaron's 499 Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln May 4 WBC
14 Wells Fargo 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro May 11 ESPN
RCA Open Five Flags Speedway, Pensacola May 15 TNN
RCA All-Star Challenge XXX May 17 WBC
15 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord May 25 WBC
16 FedEx 400 Dover International Speedway, Dover June 1 TNN
17 Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis June 8 ESPN
18 Motorcraft 400 Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth June 15 WBC
19 Budweiser 400 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside June 22 WBC
20 Big Hero 6 500 Walt Disney World Speedway, Lake Buena Vista June 28 ESPN
21 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach July 5 WBC
22 Camping World RV Sales 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon July 13 WBC
23 Music City USA 420 Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville July 20 TNN
24 Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway July 27 WBC
25 Gobowling.com 400 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond August 3 ESPN
26 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 10 ESPN
27 Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn August 17 TNN
28 Irwin Tools Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol August 23 TNN
29 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington August 31 WBC
30 Federated Auto Parts 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 6 TNN
31 MyAFibsStory.com 400 Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero September 14 ESPN
32 Tyson Holly Farms 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro September 21 WBC
33 AAA 400 Dover International Speedway, Dover September 28 TNN
34 Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City October 5 TNN
35 Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord October 11 WBC
36 GEICO 500 Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln October 19 WBC
37 Iowa Corn 400 Iowa Speedway, Newton October 26 TNN
38 Oral-B USA 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton November 2 ESPN
39 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale November 9 TNN
40 Ford EcoBoost 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead November 16 WBC
41 Google Cardboard 500 San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy November 23 WBC
42 Sprite 500 Denver International Speedway, Denver November 30 WBC
43 Los Angeles Times 500 Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario December 7 WBC

Changes[]

New Car[]

For more, see Strictly Stock Car (Johnsonverse).

A new car, known officially as the Strictly Stock Car (SSC), was introduced in 2014. Visually, the car is the same as the fourth-generation car used from 1990 to 2013, as car rules had been tightened in 1990 to ensure the cars look like their street-faring counterparts. The changes are mainly internal, with such as crash-absorbing foam in the driver's-side door, moving the driver's seat slightly towards the center, and a larger fuel tank to cut down on fuel mileage races.

Rules changes[]

Beginning this year, NASCAR eliminated traditional single car qualifying in its top 3 series for all races except the Daytona 500 and non-points events. Qualifying will now be done with heat races. Qualifying will consist of all entered cars in 4 heat races. The first and third races determine the inside row, while the second and fourth races determine the outside row. Starting positions in heat races are based on practice times. On the day before the race, a B-main race is held, with the top three finishers moving on to the main race. A system involving groups of cars being released at five-second intervals was used at Sonoma Raceway, Riverside International Raceway, and Watkins Glen International in 2013.

In addition, results would once again list the model year of the cars.

NASCAR introduced the Lend-Lease Program (not to be confused with a World War II-era program of the same name), allowing one-off and local entries into races. These homegrown entries often use cars straight from the showroom, as well as older car models, since there are no rules mandating that Lend-Lease teams use the SSC; the rules forbid the use of hatchbacks, vans, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks, convertibles, cars with a rotary engine, hybrids, electrics, open-wheeled cars like Indy cars or Formula 1 cars, Daytona or Le Mans Prototypes, Whelen Modified cars, dirt stocks, super stocks, mini stocks, supercars, exotics, really old cars (the rulebook specifically calls out the Ford Model T and any AMC cars except AMC Javelins that had run in NASCAR in the 1970s), steam-powered cars, horse-drawn chariots (a rule added after an amusing incident at the 2015 Southern 500 where a driver attempted to enter a replica Roman chariot drawn by a horse, which was rejected on animal welfare grounds; the incident quickly became an internet meme, with many fans jokingly calling for a "NASCAR Chariot Series", a chariot was added in Ultimate NASCAR as a joke in 2016), race horses in general, anything remotely resembling a go-kart (several ignorant drivers tried entering go-karts with nitrous bottles attached so they could remain competitive; all were rejected on safety grounds), drag racers (again, ignorant drivers have tried entering ex-NHRA and NASCAR Powerade Drag Series cars, all of which were rejected for having absolutely no handling to speak of at speed, and having an unfair aerodynamic advantage), and anything remotely resembling a potential lemon. For example, at the Daytona 500, one entry was a 1990 Ford Thunderbird driven by Bill Elliott, who managed to take the car (still wearing its original colors, which caused some confusion since this meant there were two cars numbered 9 in the race; the WBC broadcast cleared the confusion by using the old Melling Racing number font for Elliott, while Kasey Kahne used the modern Evernham font) to a 6th-place finish. In another example, a two-car team using Plymouth Superbirds (one of them having been driven by Richard Petty) entered the Aaron's 499; one car driven by Kyle Petty was involved in the "big one", while the other, driven by owner Cale Yarborough, cruised to a 4th-place finish; Yarborough felt he could have won the race had he replaced the engine, as it was still the same Plymouth engine built in 1970. Despite criticisms regarding the use of first-generation Aero Warriors, NASCAR has done nothing, with Tim Johnson saying he loves the variety of cars.

Broadcasting[]

Starting this season, Dale Jarrett succeeded the retiring Benny Parsons as a color commentator in WBC's booth A.

Other changes[]

NASCAR restructured the penalties and appeals system allowing penalties to be more consistent. The appeals process also makes NASCAR's basis for issuing the penalty public at the first appeal instead of the last. After a six-hour delay at Chicagoland, NASCAR will now make the Air Titan available at all RCA Cup Series races and accompanying races at no extra charge. The Air Titan has also been improved to Air Titan 2.0 shortening track drying time even further.

Season summary[]

Results[]

No. Race title Pole Position Most laps led Winner Make/Model
1 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Kyle Busch Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Roush Mustang
Busch Clash Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin Toyota Camry
Gatorade 125's Austin Dillon Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Toyota Camry
Martin Truex Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. James Kulwicki Dodge Avenger
2 Daytona 500 Austin Dillon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
3 Subway Fresh Fit 400 Brad Keselowski Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camaro
4 San Jose 500 James Kulwicki Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
5 Kobalt 400 Joey Logano Brad Keselowski Danica Patrick Chevrolet Camaro
6 Food City 500 Denny Hamlin Matt Kenseth Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
7 TranSouth Financial 400 Matt Kenseth Jimmie Johnson Kyle Larson Dodge Challenger
8 STP 500 Kyle Busch Jimmie Johnson Kurt Busch Chevrolet Camaro
9 Texas 400 Jeff Gordon Danica Patrick Danica Patrick Chevrolet Camaro
10 Auto Club 400 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camaro
11 Harley-Davidson 250 Tony Stewart Danica Patrick James Kulwicki Dodge Avenger
12 Toyota Owners 400 Kyle Larson Jeff Gordon Joey Logano Dodge Charger
13 Aaron's 499 Brian Scott Greg Biffle Austin Dillon Chevrolet Camaro
14 Wells Fargo 400 Kyle Busch Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
RCA All-Star Challenge XXX Carl Edwards Jamie McMurray Adam Petty Dodge Challenger
15 Coca-Cola 600 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Camaro
16 FedEx 400 Brad Keselowski Adam Petty Austin Dillon Chevrolet Camaro
17 Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 Denny Hamlin Brad Keselowski Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Camaro
18 Motorcraft 400 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick James Kulwicki Dodge Avenger
19 Budweiser 400 Jamie McMurray A.J. Allmendinger Danica Patrick Chevrolet Camaro
20 Big Hero 6 500 Danica Patrick Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
21 Coke Zero 400 David Gilliland Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
22 Camping World RV Sales 301 Kyle Busch Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski Dodge Charger
23 Music City USA 420 Kyle Busch Adam Petty Blaise Alexander Dodge Charger
24 Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 Kevin Harvick Kasey Kahne Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Camaro
25 Gobowling.com 400 Kyle Larson Jeff Gordon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Camaro
26 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen Jeff Gordon A.J. Allmendinger

Jeff Gordon

A.J. Allmendinger Chevrolet SS
27 Pure Michigan 400 Jeff Gordon Joey Logano Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Camaro
28 Irwin Tools Night Race Kevin Harvick Jamie McMurray Joey Logano Dodge Charger
29 Southern 500 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
30 Federated Auto Parts 400 Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski Dodge Charger
31 MyAFibsStory.com 400 Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Kyle Larson Dodge Challenger
32 Tyson Holly Farms 400 Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
33 AAA 400 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Camaro
34 Hollywood Casino 400 Kevin Harvick Joey Logano Tony Stewart Chevrolet Camaro
35 Bank of America 500 Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camaro
36 GEICO 500 Brian Vickers Adam Petty Josh Wise Dodge Charger
37 Iowa Corn 400 Jamie McMurray Austin Dillon Austin Dillon Chevrolet Camaro
38 Oral-B USA 500 Matt Kenseth Jimmie Johnson Adam Petty Dodge Challenger
39 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 Denny Hamlin Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camaro
40 Ford EcoBoost 400 Jeff Gordon Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Camaro
41 Google Cardboard 500 Casey Elliott James Kulwicki Casey Elliott Dodge Charger
42 Sprite 500 Tony Stewart Kyle Larson Blaise Alexander Dodge Charger
43 Los Angeles Times 500 Danica Patrick Danica Patrick Danica Patrick Chevrolet Camaro

Cars Used in 2014 (incomplete)[]

Event Logos[]

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