Background

The sixth running of the Quaker State 400 was held in Sparta, Kentucky at Kentucky Speedway on July 9, 2016. The track is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Kentucky Speedway, which has also hosted the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Indy Racing League, has a grandstand seating capacity of 107,000.

First practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.389 seconds and a speed of 183.742 mph (295.704 km/h).^[10]

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.621 seconds and a speed of 182.303 mph (293.388 km/h).^[11]

Qualifying results

• Note: Ryan Newman and Quin Houff had their times disallowed and started at the back due to failing inspection

Stage results

Stage One Laps: 80

Stage Two Laps: 80

Final stage results

Stage Three Laps: 107

Race statistics

• Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 7 for 35
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 2 hours, 51 minutes and 37 seconds
• Average speed: 141.07 miles per hour (227.03 km/h)

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 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

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the action from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Doug Turnbull called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the action from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Wendy Venturini, Steve Richards, and Brett McMillan called the duties on pit lane.