Nine drivers in Sunday’s race either raced for the last time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or for the last time in their current rides.
Ken Schrader, who recently announced his retirement from NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, ran 34th. Mark Martin, in his last race as a substitute for injured Tony Stewart, came home 19th.
Kevin Harvick, in his last race for Richard Childress Racing before moving to Stewart-Haas Racing next year, finished 10th and held third place in the final series standings. Ryan Newman, moving from Stewart-Haas to RCR in 2014, ran 17th.
Juan Pablo Montoya finished 18th in his swan song for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Montoya will drive for Penske Racing in the IndyCar Series next year. Kurt Busch came home 21st in his final race for Furniture Row Racing; Busch, like Harvick, is bound for Stewart-Haas next year.
Jeff Burton rolled home 23rd in his last race for RCR. Dave Blaney was 38th in his final event for Tommy Baldwin Racing.
And Martin Truex Jr. finished his career at Michael Waltrip Racing in style, with a fourth-place result. He’ll move on to Furniture Row next year.
“I wish we could have got it figured out a little bit earlier,” said Truex, who was strongest at the end of the race. “I just can’t thank all these guys enough — Michael (Waltrip, team owner) and Rob (Kauffman, team owner) and NAPA and Toyota and everybody that has made it possible the last four years to have such a good time, make the Chase and the win at Sonoma this year.
“All the things we did together were special, and (I’m) going to miss these guys and hopefully see them around a lot next year.”
