After a top-10 qualifying effort and a solid start to the season, Emporia, KS, native Clint Bowyer had reason to hope he could get a much-sought after win at the Kansas Speedway. It will not happen today, as engine issues have stricken his No. 15 Toyota. Bowyer spun as he tried to bring the car to pit road, drawing the STP 400's first caution flag, and took the car behind the wall.
Bowyer watched the track's construction in 2001 as he was navigating from his home to compete in dirt track races near the facility and has made no secret of his desire to score a win there.
A.J. Allmendinger, meanwhile, who had dominated the race's early stages ran his Dodge out of fuel on the first run of the race and dropped from first to just inside the top-10. Martin Truex Jr., Bowyer's Michael Waltrip Racing teammate, assumed the race lead ahead Kevin Harivk, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin.