The 2015 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on June 7, 2015, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Contested over 160 laps on the 2.5 mile (4 km) triangular superspeedway, it was the 14th race of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
Kevin Harvick entered Pocono with a 44-point lead over Martin Truex Jr. following a runner-up finish at Dover.
Beginning this weekend, all pit crew members were required to wear specially made gloves, head socks and underwear that are certified by the SFI Foundation.
The entry list for the Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 was released on Monday, June 1 at 4:45 p.m. Eastern time.
[14] Eighty-five minutes into the session, Tony Stewart got loose exiting turn 2, slid down and crashed into the tire barrier on the inside wall.
[14] Stewart told Fox Sports 1, “I was already past the bump (from the tunnel turn), got loose on the exit of it and I couldn’t catch it.
[14] Because this change took place prior to qualifying, he won't be required to start the race from the rear of the field.
We’ve had some dialogue with some of the industry and we’ll make a decision here shortly.’’ Kurt Busch won the pole with a time of 50.676 and a speed of 177.599 mph (285.818 km/h).
(Danica Patrick’s crew chief) Daniel Knost, his set-up, is what we reverted to from last year when we qualified outside pole.
So, that’s what it’s all about, team communication and working hard together as a group.”[16] “Yeah, I was just disappointed that we didn’t have great speed,” Brad Keselowski said after qualifying seventh.
“I’m not really sure why, but that’s just part of it.”[16] Only seven drivers posted a time in the final round after Denny Hamlin spun out in turn 1.
"[16] Questions were raised over Denny Hamlin getting placed ahead of the other four drivers that didn't post a time in the third round since his spin caused the session to end prematurely.
[15] In his weekly appearance on the Sirius XM NASCAR Radio program The Morning Drive the Tuesday after the race, NASCAR Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Steve O'Donnell discussed with Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone about changing that particular policy.
Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Paul Menard were tagged for speeding on pit road.
The second caution flew on lap 69 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr., going into the tunnel turn, dove into the corner to try passing Casey Mears, got loose, overcorrected, and slammed the wall.
The third caution of the race flew on lap 88 when Jimmie Johnson cut down his left-front tire in turn 2.
The sixth caution of the race flew with 32 laps to go for a single car wreck in turn 1.
As Moffitt was riding the high line in 1, Brad Keselowski hit him in the left rear corner and sent the No.
Tony Stewart was tagged for an uncontrolled tire and was forced to restart the race from the rear of the field.
I think when you look at the just like today, we were literally coming to pit road when the caution flag flew and never really made up those ten spots that we lost, and struggled on the restarts to get going.
I think as you look at the situations, I think second is better than tenth.”[26] Jimmie Johnson rallied from a cut tire and brushing the wall to finish third.
“With the damaged car we ran third, missing half the splitter and the right side knocked in, some hard racing on one of those restarts off Turn 3.
To get a good result, we overcame a lot today, having to deal with a flat tire, the damage to the car, and then I got to third.
Scrappy day for us, but not the end of the world, either.”[28] Jimmie Johnson had some words of congrats for the race winner.
"For him to still walk in the garage every week with a smile on his face, climb in the car, be the great guy he is, I think speak volumes.
Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and four-time Pocono winner Darrell Waltrip had the call in the booth for the race.
Jamie Little, Chris Neville and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.
Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post worked pit road for MRN.