2017 Tales of the Turtles 400

The 2017 Tales of the Turtles 400, was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 17, 2017 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mi intermediate speedway, was the 27th race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, first race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.

Background
Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 mi tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

First practice
Kyle Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.325 seconds and a speed of 184.143 mph.

Qualifying
Kyle Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.729 and a speed of 187.963 mph.

Second practice
Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 29.892 seconds and a speed of 180.650 mph.

Final practice
Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.958 seconds and a speed of 180.252 mph.

Start
Kyle Busch won the pole for Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. He won it in dominating fashion at 187.963 mph. Almost 2 miles per hour faster than Denny Hamlin at 186.168 mph. Busch also dominated Stage One of the race, leading 78 of the 80 laps and lapping 2/3rds of the field. But then, the pressure of the playoffs became apparent on the pitstop during the stage ending caution period.

In the week leading up to the first race of the playoffs, Joe Gibbs Racing made a competitive decision. JGR replaced Kyle Busch’s pit crew with the crew from Daniel Suarez’s(19) car. Suarez’s pit crew outperformed Busch’s crew during the regular season. So the move was designed to make the 18 car more competitive during the final 10 races that make up the playoff season.

Stage 2
Playoff contenders Ryan Blaney, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all finished Stage One a lap down. With his pit troubles, Kyle Busch did not dominate Stage Two. However, Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott shared the lead and kept most of the field at least 1 lap down. Chase Elliott won the stage with just 13 cars finishing lap 160 on the lead lap.

With his pit troubles, Kyle Busch did not dominate Stage Two. However, Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott shared the lead and kept most of the field at least 1 lap down. Chase Elliott won the stage with just 13 cars finishing lap 160 on the lead lap.

Through the first two stages, playoff contenders Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Blaney, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, and Dillon failed to earn a stage point. Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott both earned the most, 18 points. Emphasizing the importance of stage racing points in the playoffs.

Final stage
Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott raced to the lead at the beginning of the final stage. However, Martin Truex Jr., the Playoff Points leader tracked the pair down and took the lead from Kevin Harvick on Lap 190. Over the next 20 laps, Martin Truex Jr. built a three-second lead on Elliott who passed Harvick for second place. On lap 210 of 267, Truex’s teammate and Byron, Michigan native, Erik Jones spun in turn 4 bringing out the caution flag. Truex, Harvick, and Elliott were the first three cars off pit road during yellow flag pit stops.

On the restart, Martin Truex Jr. jumped to the lead and never looked back. He consistently built his advantage over Chase Elliott. Finishing over seven seconds ahead of the 24 car. Harvick’s Ford Fusion placed third, Hamlin took fourth, and Kyle Larson finished fifth. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano finished sixth and seventh. Logano, the only non-playoff driver to make the top 10. Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson finished eighth, Matt Kenseth ninth, and Jamie McMurray 10th.

Playoff Standings
Martin Truex Jr. punches his ticket into the next round of the playoffs with his win. Austin Dillon and Kurt Busch are on the advancement bubble tied for 12th. Currently in elimination position are Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (4 points back), Kasey Kahne (5 points back), and Ryan Newman who sits 7 points behind the cut line. Jamie McMurray (5 points ahead), Ryan Blaney (8 points ahead), and Matt Kenseth, who is 13 points ahead of the cut line, are currently set to advance. But, not safe by any means.

Stage results
Stage 1 Laps: 80

Stage 2 Laps: 80

Final stage results
Stage 3 Laps: 107

Race statistics

 * Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
 * Cautions/Laps: 4 for 21
 * Red flags: 0
 * Time of race: 2 hours, 45 minutes and 16 seconds
 * Average speed: 145.401 mph

Television
NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

Radio
The Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Manufacturers' Championship standings
 * Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.