Championship-Minded Edwards Wins Homestead Cup Pole

Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Autostock

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season started at Florida's Daytona International Speedway where a surprise winner Trevor Bayne took a Wood Brothers Ford to Daytona 500 victory circle. Returning to the state where the top stock car racing tour kicked off what was an overall unpredictable year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title will be won by the first driver other than Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson for the first time since 2005.

The winner of that 2005 Cup championship, Tony Stewart, readies for the 2011 series finale at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway just 3 points behind the Chase points leader. Indiana state's Stewart target for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford 400 is the #99 car driven by a Columbus, Missouri native. A driver equally as skilled inside the car as he is charismatic outside of a race vehicle, Carl Edwards used plain consistency in 9 of the 10 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup races to take the point lead going into the Ford 400 on Sunday. Despite not winning an event so far in this 2011 NASCAR Chase, Edwards and the #99 Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Fenway Racing are in position to gain owner Jack Roush his third Cup Series championship. 

With no track activity on Friday due to rain drenching the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval, practice and qualifying for the Ford 400 took place Saturday. Immediately, Carl Edwards and the #99 team rocketed to the top of the time sheets in the two practice sessions. Parlaying the speed in practice, Edward's #99 Ford took pole in qualifying Saturday afternoon lapping the 1.5-mile Florida oval in 30.775 seconds. Equating to a 175.467 mile per hour average speed, Carl Edwards commented following his pole run success content with the importance of Sunday's Ford 400 race. "It is great to be on the pole. It is just one lap and tomorrow we have 267 laps and we have some serious competition out there. We are just going to go put this Ford Fusion up there and get a good pit stall and race hard all day Sunday.” said Edwards ahead of the 400-mile event.

On a mission Sunday, Carl Edwards starts from the front row while Chase contender Tony Stewart will launch from a 15th position in the #14 Chevrolet. With the fight for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship the tightest during Ford Championship Weekend at the race track, Tony Stewart only needs to improve a few spots over Carl Edwards to steal his third driver's title. Historically at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Edwards and Stewart each hold a pair of victories in the 400-mile event.

Collecting a little over one-tenth of a second slower than Edwards to start on the front row of the Ford 400 is Martin Truex Jr in the #56 Toyota. Recent Pheonix race winner Kasey Kahne is positioned 3rd in what will by his final event in the #4 Toyota for Team Red Bull. Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski claims the 4th and 5th spots in qualifying for Penske Racing. Part of the 12 drivers eligible in the 2011 Chase, both Kurt Busch and Keselowski enter with opportunities to gain positions to finish out the season. Drivers rounding out the top-10 for the start of the Ford 400 are in order of Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

Fastest in the first practice, the Hendrick Motorsports-backed #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr will start 11th after qualifying for Sunday's race. In 11 race starts, Earnhardt Jr has yet to record a top-10 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway track in Sprint Cup Series competition. Other notable starters for the Ford 400 includes Regan Smith in 16th place driving the #78 Furniture Row car, the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch in 19th position, one-time 2011 Chase contender Kevin Harvick in 21st and 2003 Homestead-Miami race winner Bobby Labonte will start 35th. Also, Mark Martin will be racing his final race for Hendrick Motorsports in the #5 Chevy starting from the 25th position. Martin had announced weeks ago going to Michael Watrip Racing in 2012.

Concluding the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Ford 400 starts Sunday at 3pm Eastern time.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

Ford 400
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Starting Line-up

1. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
2. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
3. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
4. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
5. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
6. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
7. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
8. 16 Greg Biffle 3M/Novec Ford
9. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
10. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
11. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
12. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
13. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
14. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
15. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
16. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
17. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
18. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
19. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
20. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
21. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
22. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/ThnkATchr Today Chevrolet
23. 27 Paul Menard Duracell/Menards Chevrolet
24. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
25. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
26. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
27. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
28. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
29. 84 Cole Whitt Kangaroo Express Toyota
30. 55 J J Yeley Ingersoll Rand Ford
31. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
32. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
33. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
34. 35 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
35. 47 Bobby Labonte Reese Towpower Toyota
36. 30 David Stremme Inception Racing Chevrolet
37. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
38. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
39. 13 Casey Mears Hard Rock Vodka Toyota
40. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
41. 32 T J Bell GreenSmoke.com Ford
42. 36 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates Chevrolet
43. 71 Mike Bliss School Media Ford

Stewart Roping in Chase Leader Edwards with Texas Cup Win

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

With only 3 races to go in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the all-important Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup his come down to 4 main competitors. Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick have all made the most of the 10-race Chase system. Winning 4 of the 7 completed events combined, Tony Stewart has won 3 of those pivotal events. In fact, of the four Chase contenders, Stewart (a driver who made it into the 2011 Chase by a slim 28-point margin after Richmond) rides into Texas Motor Speedway with momentum of winning the last event at the short track of Martinsville Speedway. A fast tri-oval circuit, Texas Motor Speedway providing an important stage for the 8th of 10 races in the 2011 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.

 

From the green flag of the 500-mile event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing united in the AAA Texas 500 determined to optimize their prime qualifying performances to the advantage of their Chase contending drivers. Non-Chase driver Greg Biffle took the race's pole Friday and proceeded to lead the first 23 laps in the #16 Ford before turning over the top position to the Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth driving the #17 car. Kenseth was out in front of the AAA Texas 500 for 87 of the race's first 118 laps as an eaerly denominator. Though the #17 Ford Fusion remained steadily in the top-5 for almost all of the race's 334 laps, the early 1/3 segment of the event at Texas Motor Speedway was the only time he spent in the lead position. Matt Kenseth finished 4th in the final results of the event. Helping in efforts of preserving his Chase lead, Carl Edwards quickly registered a point for leading a lap in his #99 Ford for a total 14 rounds during the AAA Texas 500.

 

The initial one-third distance of the 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway went caution-free creating a deep quagmire for teams who did not immediately synchronized to a sufficient race pace. After 113 circuits around the 1.5-mile oval, a debris caution finally slowed giving some of the struggling cars a chance to regroup. A three-car team with a winning past at Texas Motor Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing were unable to place a single entrant in the top-20 up to his point. Much of the focus leading around the AAA Texas 500 was the Joe Gibbs Racing team's #18 Toyota begin driven by substitute driver Michael McDowell. Due to the conduct of regular driver Kyle Busch in Friday's Camping World Truck Series race at Texas, NASCAR were convinced to immediately park the then-7th place in points Busch for Nationwide and this Sprint Cup race. The absence of the team's frequent front runner would have certainly distracted the whole Joe Gibbs Racing organization which are placed a lap down when the yellow flag fell. Denny Hamlin recovered to the lead lap on this caution being rewarded the Free Pass around leader Carl Edwards. A tough day for the team founded by an NFL great coach, Joe Gibbs Racing's #20 Home Depot Toyota piloted by Joey Logano would retire after running 258 laps on the day with an engine failure. Michael McDowell (called on to replace Kyle Busch on Saturday) started near the rear of the field to finish 33rd place 3 laps down to the leader.

 

While the Roush Fenway Racing bunch arrived at Texas Motor Speedway with a very robust mile and a half program paying dividends in the Chase, the Martinsville Speedway winning #14 Chevrolet emerged against the Fords. Tony Stewart and crew chief Darian Grubb hit the set-up that would place the #14 car out front for much of the afternoon. Leading 173 laps total, Stewart began to cruise in or around the first place position.
Jimmie Johnson saw his hopes of an unprecedented 6th straight NASCAR Sprint Cup fizzle during the AAA Texas 500 finishing 14th in the event. Able to lead for lap 159 at Texas Motor Speedway through a pit stop cycle, Johnson spun his #48 Chevrolet in turn 4 bringing out a caution on lap 241. Without making contact with any walls, Jimmie Johnson's car slid into the frontstretch infield suffering minimal damage. While still in the championship hunt mathematically heading into the next race at Phoenix, the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy for the 2011 season is unlikely to be hoisted by Johnson's hands.

 

With a relatively low 5 cautions through the AAA Texas 500 race, the final caution at lap 271 to 274 gave a few teams a notion of stretching their ethanol-blended gasoline. Little to lose, Richard Childress Racing's #31 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton attempted steal the event with a late race fuel economy dash. Five laps short of the race's full distance, Burton's Chevy sputtered to a quiet crawl out of fuel relinquishing the lead to Tony Stewart. Sailing across the Texas Motor Speedway, Stewart scored his 4th win in the 10-race Chase for 2011.

 

Crossing the line a little over a second after Stewart, Carl Edwards continues to mount a strong defense as he attempts to reel in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Coming in 2nd place, Edwards still holds a 3-point advantage over the two-time NASCAR Cup series champion Tony Stewart.

 

Rounding out the top-5 for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway is Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle. Also closing out the event with strong runs is Jeff Gordon who climbed from 23rd to 6th, 7th place for Dale Earnhardt Jr and Marcos Ambrose who ran in the top-10 almost all day Sunday to finish 11th.

With two races remaining in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the tour will race at the newly-reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway.

 

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

AAA Texas 500
Texas Motor Speedway
Race Results

  

1. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
2. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
3. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
4. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
5. 16 Greg Biffle Scotch Blue Ford
6. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
7. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard by Tradition/AMP Chevrolet
8. 56 Martin Truex, Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
9. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
10. 43 AJ Allmendinger Immortals/Best Buy Ford
11. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
12. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
13. 29 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chevrolet
14. 48 Jimmie Johnson mylowes Chevrolet
15. 27 Paul Menard Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet
16. 39 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans/Carrier Classic Chevrolet
17. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
18. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
19. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
21. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
22. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
23. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
24. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
26. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
27. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
28. 47 Bobby Labonte Wounded Warrior Project Toyota
29. 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford
30. 22 Kurt Busch AAA Dodge
31. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
32. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
33. 18 Michael McDowell M&M's Toyota
34. 32 Mike Bliss Street King Ford
35. 35 Dave Blaney Big Red Chevrolet
36. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
37. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
38. 36 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevrolet
39. 46 Scott Speed Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
40. 66 Josh Wise HP Racing LLC Toyota
41. 37 Mike Skinner MaxQ Motorsports Ford
42. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
43. 55 JJ Yeley Ingersoll Rand Ford

 

 

Bowyer Breaks Pass Burton for Talladega Win

Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for NASCAR

Considered the most unpredictable race in the 10-race 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, the top NASCAR drivers take on the 2.66-mile, high-speed Talladega Superspeedway. This final restrictor plate event on the overall NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, the race is known to favour almost any driver and team in the right position at the end of the event. For the Good Sam Club 500 event, this benefit came to the Richard Childress Racing pair of Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. In a daring final lap move on the Talladega tri-oval section, Bowyer’s #33 Chevy broke the draft and performed a slingshot on his #31 car teammate Burton claiming the win by mere feet.

A race comprised of the interaction of the two-car tandem draft, this went contrary to the intent of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule makers plans for the event. Entering the Talladega Superspeedway race, NASCAR dictated a series of new rules created to combat the increasing level of two-car bump-drafting practice. Despite eliminating teams from using lubricants to grease the bumpers and changes made in the area of the radiator, the two-car tandem re-established itself through the race weekend. Back and better than ever, the two-car tandem dominated the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Photo Credit: Undefined by NASCAR

Going through the first 8 laps with 5 distant drivers leading the Good Sam Club 500, the #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Matt Kenseth made a profound impact early. On course to lead 21 laps through the day working with the #6 Ford teammate of David Ragan, Kenseth’s run at the Talladega Superspeedway is capitalizing on the Charlotte victory.

With Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth and the #99 car pilot Carl Edwards well in the title hunt for this season, rumours through the weekend at Talladega Superspeedway has indicated the blue oval organization of Ford teams were engaged in a political move on the race track. Reports have circulated that Ford drivers were discouraged to draft with vehicles belonging to any other auto manufacturers. As the race transpired, the multi-car team dynamic obscured any obvious presence of manufacturer orders as corporate teammates of all organizations were paired. There was one incident in the final run of the event involving the #21 Ford of Trevor Bayne and the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon. As Bayne started to draft with the Hendrick Motorsports car of Gordon, the #21 Wood Brothers Ford suddenly abandoned the Chevy driver in favour of a Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Without a drafting partner, Jeff Gordon plummeted in the final running order to 27th place.

In a race consisting of 72 lead changes (falling well short of the Talladega Superspeedway’s promotional stunt where a prize would be rewarded if 100 lead changes occurred), the #14 Chevrolet piloted by owner/driver Tony Stewart would lead most often with 30 laps on the day. Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth were the only other drivers to lead more than 20 laps during the 188-lap event.

Slowed nine times by caution, five of the yellow flags on the day fell in reaction to multiple-car accidents. The first major accident crucial to the 2011 NASCAR Chase standings on lap 105 collected the cars of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch among the 6 vehicles. A crash started when the Richard Petty Motorsports cars of AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose made contact, Allmendinger’s spinning #43 Ford tagged Kyle Busch’s #18 Toyota before collecting others. Both championship contenders required crew service in the Talladega Superspeedway garage area, Harvick finished the race in 32nd place while Kyle Busch was listed 13 laps down in the final results crossing the start/finish line in 33rd place.

Another crash that could have had dire consequences for the Chase standing in the Good Sam Club 500 transpired on lap 164. Set off when the #32 Ford driven by Terry Labonte made incidental contact with the #71 Ford of Andy Lally sending him sideways. Right behind the sliding #71 car was the #48 Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson who just barely missed collection. Though contact between the #71 and #48 occurred, the damage was not serious enough to require immediate attention. Penske Racing’s Chase contender Kurt Busch would not be so lucky when he collided with a spinning car of Bobby Labonte 11 laps later. Losing oil pressure, Busch’s #22 Dodge also lost considerable ground for securing a chance at the 2011 title.

The final multi-car crash in the Good Sam Club 500 involved five cars out of turn two. Receiving the most serious hit head-on with the Talladega wall was the #78 Chevrolet of Regan Smith. Though sustaining severe front-end damage, Smith climbed out of the car uninjured.

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

One positive development of the two-tandem appears to be reducing the traditional multi-car “Big Wreck” crashes consisting of double-digit involvement. However, three of the caution during the Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Sprint Cup race was attributed to mistakes during the two-car bump-drafting exercises. On lap 81, it was the Stewart/Haas Racing #14 and #39 stock cars spinning on the frontstretch. Also happening on the frontstretch was a tangling between the Red Bull Toyotas on lap 130. Both pairs recovered to continue running with the Red Bull cars even breaking into the top-10 in the race’s final results.

With the race ending with a dramatic last-lap battle between Bowyer and Burton, the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway delivered some definite surprises. When stock cars crossed the checkered flag on lap 188, nine of the top ten finishing race cars started from deep in the field. With Clint Bowyer the only drive to qualify within the top-12, Jeff Burton surged from 27th to a runner-up spot to almost win the Talladega event. Finishing third for the Tommy Baldwin Racing team, Dave Blaney brought the #36 Chevy from 41st to finish 3rd ahead of 2009 spring Talladega race winner Brad Keselowski. In 5th and 6th place, the Team Red Bull pair recovered from the mid-race trials. Brian Vickers led Kasey Kahne across the line in Toyotas.

One note was the ineffectiveness of the Hendrick Motorsports team in the race’s final run. After Jimmie Johnson won the spring race at Talladega, tandem pairing of Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr seemed as if it could be a strong combination. Leading only three laps combined through the Good Sam Club 500, their strategy of waiting in the back of the field for a late race charge backfired. While Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet escaped danger through the Andy Lally lap 164 crash, the caution periods in the final laps left too little time for the Hendrick Motorsport pairing to make an impact for even a top-10 finish.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase standings see the Roush Fenway Racing group gain commandingly after issues brought complications to other contenders. Carl Edwards (who finished in a safe 11th place at Talladega) now holds a 14-point lead over teammate Matt Kenseth. Brad Keselowski is only 4 points behind Kenseth in third place and is a single point ahead of Tony Stewart. Kevin Harvick is now 26 points away from Carl Edwards with only four races remaining in the 2011 season.

Heading to the Martinsville Speedway short track, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leaves the fastest track in the season for the slowest.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

Good Sam Club 500
Talladega Superspeedway
Race Results

1. 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 100 Years Chevrolet
2. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
3. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
4. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
5. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
6. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
7. 14 Tony Stewart El Monterey/Office Depot Chevrolet
8. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
9. 15 Michael Waltrip Aaron's/DarrellWaltripNASCARHallofFame Toyota
10. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
11. 99 Carl Edwards Subway Ford
12. 27 Paul Menard Serta/Menards Chevrolet
13. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
14. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
15. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
16. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
17. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
18. 17 Matt Kenseth Jeremiah Weed Ford
19. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
20. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
21. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
22. 34 David Gilliland World Hunger Relief/www.fromhungertohope.com Ford
23. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Energizer Chevrolet
24. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
25. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. DietMountainDewPaintthe88/NationalGuard Chevrolet
26. 48 Jimmie Johnson mylowes Chevrolet
27. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
28. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
29. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
30. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
31. 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
32. 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John's Chevrolet
33. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Halloween Toyota
34. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
35. 47 Bobby Labonte Scott Products Toyota
36. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
37. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy/MAPEI Dodge
38. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
39. 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford
40. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing, LLC Toyota
41. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
42. 55 JJ Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford
43. 97 Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota

Martin Captures Talladega Sprint Cup Race Pole

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

A wide-open 2011 NASCAR Chase and a track known for unpredictable auto action, the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams revisit the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. While qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Good Sam Club 500 is not an incredibly important ingredient to victory at the restrictor plate race track, a top starting spot improves the options early for drivers and teams.

Drawing 42nd of the 47 cars qualifying, Mark Martin's and #5 GoDaddy.com Chevy swept past his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for the top spot. Lapping the 2.66-mile superspeedway oval at 181.367 miles per hour, this pole at Talladega becomes Martin's 50th in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career and first since the 2010 Daytona 500. A track Martin himself called "The Lottery", the Talladega Superspeedway race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule his entire Hendrick Motorsports team is starting where the team left off following the spring event. With Martin and the #48 Chevy of Johnson on the front row, the remaining two cars of Hendrick Motorsports rests in the third row. Jeff Gordon starting 5th and Dale Earnhardt Jr in the field 6th, the four-car Chevrolet team is certified to be a race contender this fall event.

In the second row between Hendrick Motorsports cars, the #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer along with the 2011 Daytona 500 winning combination of Trevor Bayne and the #21 Wood Brothers Ford collected mounted successful qualifying attempts for top starting positions. In 7th through 10th place starting the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will be Paul Menard, David Ragan, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.

As the halfway point for the 2011 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, Carl Edwards leads by 5 points over Kevin Harvick and 7 points ahead of Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth. While Edwards starts in the top-10 in his #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, his teammate Matt Kenseth's #17 car rolls off 11th while the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick starts 13th at Talladega. Fourth in points, Kyle Busch starts well in the back of the 43-car field for what was a lackluster qualifying for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team. While Denny Hamlin will lead the Toyota squad from 31st place in the Good Sam Club 500, Kyle Busch starts 34th just ahead of Joey Logano. Expect these cars to work together on their way to the front at Talladega Superspeedway

Weeks before Talladega, NASCAR announced a series of rule changes designed to lessen the use of the "two-car tandem" where a pair of vehicles are engaged in aggressive drafting. A new restrictor plate increasing power by up to an estimated 10 horsepower, NASCAR also prevented teams from using anti-friction lubricants on the race car's bumper. Some teams, namely the Richard Childress Racing organization, concocted alternative methods of 'greasing' the bumpers by using slippery tape and adhesives.

The fifth race remaining in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is set to start Sunday at 2 PM Eastern time. Weather forecasts call for a warm and partly sunny day.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Good Sam Club 500
Talladega Superspeedway
Starting Line-up

1. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
2. 48 Jimmie Johnson mylowes Chevrolet
3. 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 100 Years Chevrolet
4. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
5. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
6. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew Paint the 88/National Guard Chevrolet
7. 27 Paul Menard Serta/Menards Chevrolet
8. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
9. 99 Carl Edwards Subway Ford
10. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
11. 17 Matt Kenseth Jeremiah Weed Ford
12. 14 Tony Stewart El Monterey/Office Depot Chevrolet
13. 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John's Chevrolet
14. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
15. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Energizer Chevrolet
16. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
17. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
18. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
19. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
20. 97 Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota
21. 47 Bobby Labonte Scott Products Toyota
22. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
23. 15 Michael Waltrip Aaron's/Darrell Waltrip NASCAR Hall of Fame Toyota
24. 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
25. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
26. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
27. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
28. 55 JJ Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford
29. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing, LLC Toyota
30. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
31. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
32. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
33. 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford
34. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Halloween Toyota
35. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
36. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
37. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
38. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Today Chevrolet
39. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy/MAPEI Dodge
40. 35 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates Inc. Chevrolet
41. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
42. 34 David Gilliland World Hunger Relief/www.fromhungertohope.com Ford
43. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
44. 46 Scott Speed Red Line Ford
45. 77 TJ Bell TRG Motorsports Ford
46. 37 Josh Wise Bradley University Ford
47. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota

Biffle to Lead Cup Field to Kansas Green Flag

 Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

The headlining event for a full Kansas Speedway race weekend that includes ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide Series races, the NASCAR Sprint Cup entered Friday qualifying in preparation for a 400 miles of racing Sunday.

 

The fourth race in the 2011 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, Kansas Speedway becomes a potential epicenter for shaping what is an incredibly tight championship battle. After the past Dover race, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards share the top position in the Chase standings with the top-8 driver residing in a 15-point interval.

 

With a pole position being a good launching pad for the Chase contenders for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, the efforts of the total 12 drivers were foiled by a driver and team outside of the 2011 competition within the NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. A two-time career winner of events held at Kansas Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle steered to his second pole of 2011. Clocking a 30.877 second lap time, Biffle outran teammate Carl Edwards by just 3/10ths of a mile per hour average in the qualifying lap. Missing the 2011 Chase, Greg Biffle is still searching for his first win in the season with his #16 Ford team.

 

As Carl Edwards #99 car starts alongside his teammate on the first row thanks to the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying results, a third Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion ended the session in fourth place. The Joe Gibbs Racing #18 Toyota Kyle Busch has been sandwiched by Roush Fenway Racing drivers. Kasey Kahne registers a 5th fastest time in qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 with Paul Menard becoming the top Chevrolet runner placed in 6th for the race's start

 

In regards to the 2011 Chase championship fight in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Carl Edwards 2nd fastest time grants him an immediate advantage over Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. The #29 Chevrolet of Harvick starts 12 place behind the #99 Ford in 14th starting spot. Kurt Busch will launch in 17th position while the #14 Chevy piloted by driver/owner Tony Stewart will roll off 23rd.

 

The Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway will mark the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start for current Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon. Son of past NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Mike Dillon and grandson of powerful race team owner Richard Childress, Austin Dillon will drive a #98 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at the 1.5-mile oval event. Starting his first Sprint Cup event in 26th place position, its amusing to note this is the exact same spot grandfather Richard Childress' 1969 debuted as a driver in NASCAR premier series.

 

Kansas Speedway will come alive for the Hollywood Casino 400 at 1PM local time (2PM Eastern time).

 

 

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Hollywood Casino 400
Kansas Speedway
Starting Line-up

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor | Car Make 

1. 16 Greg Biffle Sherwin-Williams Ford
2. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
3. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
4. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
5. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
6. 27 Paul Menard Schrock / Menards Chevrolet
7. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
8. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
9. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
10. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
11. 39 Ryan Newman HAAS Automation Chevrolet
12. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
13. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
14. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
15. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
16. 78 Regan Smith FurnitureRowRacing/FarmAmerican Chev
17. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
18. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
19. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
20. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
21. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
22. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
23. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
24. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
25. 46 Scott Speed ordergreenstuff.com Ford
26. 98 Austin Dillon PresidentRonaldReaganCentennial Chev
27. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
28. 55 J J Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford
29. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Arctic Cat Chevrolet
30. 34 David Gilliland A&W All American Food Ford
31. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
32. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet
33. 47 Bobby Labonte Bush's Beans / Kingsford Toyota
34. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
35. 71 Andy Lally Interstate Moving Services Ford
36. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
37. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
38. 36 Dave Blaney Big Red Chevrolet
39. 7 Reed Sorenson SPEED Energy / MAPEI / Menards Dodge
40. 66 Michael McDowell Victory Junction Toyota
41. 51 Landon Cassill SecurityBenefits/ThankATeacherToday Chev
42. 32 Mike Bliss Street King Ford
43. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Toyota

Truex Jr Tuned for Dover Cup Pole

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Taking on the Monster Mile, NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teams are set to compete on one of only two all-concrete track surfaces in the stock car racing tour. The third race in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, focus on the top-12 drivers has dominated the past two NASCAR events aided by the wins of Tony Stewart. However, with 43 cars in a Sprint Cup Series race, Dover International Speedway was one of the final 8 races to obtain glory for any driver.

In NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying for the AAA 400, the #56 NAPA Toyota driven by Martin Truex Jr emerged as pole sitter on Saturday. Cutting a lap around the 1-mile track in 22.641 seconds, the Michael Waltrip Racing-owned stock car averaged 159.004 miles per hour. Stepping over Kurt Busch's #22 Dodge for the premium front row position, Truex Jr was a mere 0.003 seconds faster around the Dover oval. In 2009, Martin Truex Jr claimed his first and only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway's spring event with #1 Chevrolet fielded by Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

Assembling the top-5 behind Martin Truex Jr and Kurt Busch for Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover is Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. With only 4 Chase contending drivers in the top-10 after qualifying (Jimmie Johnson in 6th joins the before-mentioned Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch), many of the championship fighters for the 2011 Sprint Cup will start deep in the field. Most notably in 28th place is current Chase championship points leader Tony Stewart. His immediate rivals were not entirely able to capitalize on Stewart's stumble in qualifying. Brad Keselowski starts 15th while Kevin Harvick (who trails the #14 car driver/owner by 7 points after 2 races) will launch 22nd tomorrow.

Starting at 2 PM eastern time, the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway is committed to run Sunday. Chance of showers is predicted for the event but is rated around a 30-40 percent probability.   

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
AAA 400
Dover International Speedway
Starting Line-up

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor | Car Make

1. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
2. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
3. 27 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints / Menards Chevrolet
4. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
5. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
6. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
7. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
8. 47 Bobby Labonte grilling.com / Kingsford Toyota
9. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
10. 16 Greg Biffle 3M / Cubitron Ford
11. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
12. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
13. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
14. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
15. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
16. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
17. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
18. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
19. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
20. 39 Ryan Newman US Army ROTC Chevrolet
21. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
22. 29 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chasing the Cure Chevrolet
23. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
24. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
25. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction / Thank A Teacher
26. 37 Josh Wise MaxQ Motorsports Ford
27. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
28. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
29. 46 Scott Speed Red Line Oil / International Ford
30. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
31. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet
32. 55 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford
33. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
34. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
35. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota
36. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
37. 71 Andy Lally Interstate Moving Services Ford
38. 7 Reed Sorenson SPEED Energy / MAPEI / Menards Dodge
39. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
40. 32 Mike Bliss Street King Ford
41. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
42. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Toyota
43. 38 J J Yeley Drive Sober. Arrive Alive Ford

Fuel Again Plays into Tony Stewart's Favour for New Hampshire Win

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

 

After kicking off the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup with a bizarre fuel economy run at Chicagoland Speedway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was accounted on as a chance to solidify the contenders for the stock car racing championship. A 1.058-mile true oval, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway surface was indeed a different style track. With a race distance a little less than a 100 miles shorter than the Chicagoland event, it would seem unlikely NASCAR Sprint Cup racing fans would see a similar conclusion. Though the Sylvania 300 overall was its own, distinct race, some themes would repeat for the race that started with 43 cars on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Taking pole, Ryan Newman took dominion of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway early by leading the first 62 laps. With a lack of yellow flags through the early 1/3 distance of the race, Newman's #39 Chevrolet led heading into a green flag pit stop cycle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field. By the conclusion of pit stops, the #4 Red Bull Toyota of Kasey Kahne assumed the lead on lap 67.

 

Slowing the pace of the Sprint Cup stock cars for the first time, debris on the race track drew a yellow flag on lap 88. The first of only three race cautions, there were few opportunities to drastically improve a mishandling race car. Two Chase contending drivers were met with the most difficulty in the fast pace event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Attempting to claim a much better finish than the 31st place he and the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing team collected at Chicagoland, driver Denny Hamlin would not find the 300-lap race as a turning point for their championship hopes. Struggling through the afternoon, Hamlin's best effort with the #11 Toyota team was a 29th place result.

 

Another Chase favourite started practically started the race one step behind after his #22 Penske Racing Dodge barely made it to the starting line-up after passing NASCAR inspection.

 

Electing for two tires instead of four,  the #5 Hendrick Motorsports car piloted by Mark Martin was catapulted to the lead. A potentially risky move to gain track position, Martin took full advantage of the front row launch on the race's restart. Leading through the 1/3 mark of the Sylvania 300, Martin conceded the top position back to the #4 car of Kahne. As the race progressed, Jeff Gordon would emerge supreme at lap 163 taking the lead from Kasey Kahne on the restart following a caution period that involved the #51 Chevrolet of Landon Cassill. Leading for 78 laps total for the day, Gordon was the second of three Hendrick Motorsports cars to take a NASCAR Sprint Cup bonus point for pacing the field.

Photo Credit: Hendrick Motorsports

  

The third and final caution period for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway resulted with a tangle between Roush-Fenway Racing teammates. The #17 car of Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards' #99 Ford made contact in turn two drawing the yellow flag on lap 174. Despite the run-in, both drivers quickly recovered to top-10 finishes in the race. Edwards and Kenseth met quickly after the event confirming no ill-will for the accidental altercation on track.

 

With 123 laps remaining as the green flag was once more displayed on track, some teams pressed forward to complete the event on a very tight fuel strategy. One of those cars was the #33 Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer who eventually progressed to the lead after the #4 car of Kasey Kahne pitted. After missing the Chase for 2011, Bowyer was looking forward to gathering a consulation prize with the first win of the season with the #33 Richard Childress Racing team. However, with two laps remaining, Bowyer's Chevrolet slowed when the V-8 engine was finally starved of fuel. Running in second, Tony Stewart was in the right place at the right time to inherit the lead. Leading only the last 2 laps during the Sylvania 300, Tony Stewart celebrated his second win of the 2011 season. With two victories coming in consecutive races, Stewart launches to a considerable advantage in the Chase. After barely cracking the top-10 at Richmond, the #14 car driver is now propelled into the lead in the 2011 points after New Hampshire.

 

In the finishing order of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Tony Stewart was followed by top-5 results by Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers. With the #83 Toyota of Vickers posting the best finish by a non-Chase contender, other drivers outside of the top-12 in NASCAR Sprint Cup points enjoying good runs on the 1.058-mile oval includes David Ragan in 7th, Juan Pablo Montoya in 9th and Regan Smith finishing 10th with the #78 Furniture Row Chevy.

 

With Tony Stewart leading the standings by 7 points over Kevin Harvick, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Dover International Speedway for the third event in the Chase for the Cup on October 2nd.

  

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Sylvania 300
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race Results

Pos #| Car# | Driver  | Sponsor | Car Make

 

1. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
2. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
3. 16 Greg Biffle Ford40MPG.com Ford
4. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
5. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
6. 17 Matt Kenseth Affliction Clothing Ford
7. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
8. 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Winterguard Ford
9. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Degree Men Chevrolet
10. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
11. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
12. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
13. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
14. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
15. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
16. 56 Martin Truex, Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
17. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
18. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
19. 47 Bobby Labonte Bush's Baked Beans Toyota
20. 27 Paul Menard Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet
21. 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
22. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
23. 1 Jamie McMurray AXE Cool Metal Chevrolet
24. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
25. 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
26. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
27. 38 JJ Yeley Long John Silver's Ford
28. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
29. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
30. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
31. 32 Mike Bliss Street King Ford
32. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
33. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Today Chev
34. 71 Andy Lally # Interstate Moving Services Ford
35. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral/HOF Richie Evans Chevrolet
36. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Toyota
37. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota
38. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet
39. 37 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford
40. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Dodge
41. 46 Scott Speed Red Line Oil Ford
42. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
43. 55 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford

Ryan Newman Commands Concrete of Bristol for Cup Pole

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Known for its highly banked turns and concrete surface, Bristol Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Saturday. With the Chase for the Sprint Cup fast approaching, the Saturday night race at Bristol Motor Speedway's tight short track becomes a serious test for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers needing a strong points showing. 

Besides the potential Chase contenders, all 43 Sprint Cup drivers and team qualifying into the IRWIN Tool Night Race will prepare for 500 laps around a race track that tests physical as well as mental states. The 0.533-mile short-track supplies an exciting combination of speeds and tight quarters which has allowed the Bristol Motor Speedway to become a top attraction on the NASCAR circuit.

In qualifying for the 250-lap IRWIN Tools Night Race on Saturday night, the #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman scored the top spot ahead of the Roush-Fenway Racing Ford Fusions. Newman's 48th career pole in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, the Stewart/Haas Racing driver starts from the pole position for a 2nd time in 2011. Fortunately for Ryan Newman, his last pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway concluded with victory. Ryan Newman heads into the Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race with the motivation of a victory gained in a Whelen modified race on the Bristol Motor Speedway track Wednesday.

Second fastest in qualifying was the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards followed by Roush-Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth. Contending for the top spot entering the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Edwards enters Bristol after a costly 36th place finish following the past Michigan event. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin (two Hendrick Motorsports vehicles) have qualified 4th and 5th for the Saturday night event.

While Ryan Newman took Stewart/Haas Racing to the highest of highs in the Friday time trial, the driver/owner behind the wheel of the #14 Chevy ended up far away from the pole-winning #39 race car. Tony Stewart will start 42nd after an off-pace qualifying effort. Winning once on the Bristol Motor Speedway in 2001, Stewart's last two Cup efforts on the 0.533 short track resulted in 19th and 27th place finishes.


The IRWIN Tools Night Race will start 7:30 PM Saturday for 500 laps around the Bristol Motor Speedway. Weather forecast indicate conditions should be hot but dry. 

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
IRWIN Tools Night Race
Bristol Motor Speedway
Starting Lineup

1. 39 Ryan Newman Bass Pro Shops/Realtree Chevrolet
2. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Dental Ford
3. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
4. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
5. 5 Mark Martin Farmers Insurance/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
6. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Realtree Chevrolet
7. 27 Paul Menard Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet
8. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
9. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
10. 22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
11. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
12. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
13. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet
14. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
15. 29 Kevin Harvick Realtree/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet
16. 33 Clint Bowyer Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
17. 34 David Gilliland Thanks Bristol Fans Ford
18. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
19. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
21. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
22. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMPEnergy/Bristol50thAnny/NtnlGrd Chev
23. 18 Kyle Busch Doublemint Toyota
24. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
25. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
26. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
27. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
28. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet Wood Stoves Toyota
29. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
30. 47 Bobby Labonte Bush's Baked Beans Toyota
31. 30 David Stremme Echostar Technologies Chevrolet
32. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota
33. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
34. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Freedom Ride Dream Machine Toyota
35. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
36. 46 Scott Speed Green Stuff Ford
37. 95 David Starr Advocare Ford
38. 71 Andy Lally Interstate Moving Services Ford
39. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Dodge
40. 51 Mike Bliss PhoenixCnstrctn/ThnkATchrToday Chev
41. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
42. 14 Tony Stewart Bass Pro Shops/Office Depot Chevrolet
43. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota

Ryan Newman Starts on Pole for New Hampshire Cup Race

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

A reintroduction to flat, short track racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is set to compete on the smallest track since Dover in May. The 1.058-mile oval of New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts its first of two races in 2011 for North America's premier stock car racing organization.

In qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Newman piloted the #39 Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet to his 5th pole at the race track. Team owner Tony Stewart will start alongside Newman in the #14 Chevy. The NASCAR Sprint Cup race team is still seeking their first win for the 2011 season. In the second row, David Reutimann's #00 Toyota and the #22 Dodge of Kurt Busch line up for Sunday's race in Loudon.

2010 winners at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway start reasonably down on the grid for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 race. Recording the 12th fastest time in qualifying Friday the #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Clint Bowyer is still hunting his first win of the 2011 season. Past winner of the early summer event Jimmie Johnston is starting well down in 28th spot.

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway was the scene of Ryan Newman's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in 2002. That year driving for Penske Racing through his first season, Newman's momentum from the New Hampshire race win allowed the Indiana native to beat Jimmie Johnson for Rookie of the Year.

While qualifying position is important at New Hampshire, 8 of the 32 previous NASCAR Sprint Cup races held at the oval were won by a driver who started outside of the top-20. Closing from the deepest position of 38th place to win in July of 1999 was Jeff Burton.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 race is scheduled for 1 pm eastern time on Sunday.


2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Starting Line-up

1. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Chevrolet
2. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
3. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
4. 22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
5. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
6. 31 Jeff Burton Catepillar Chevrolet
7. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
8. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9. 27 Paul Menard Richmond/Menards Chevrolet Chevrolet
10. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
11. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
12. 33 Clint Bowyer Good Sam/Cheerios Chevrolet
13. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
14. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
15. 99 Carl Edwards Ortho Home Defense Ford
16. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
17. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
18. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
19. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
20. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
21. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
22. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWALT Ford
23. 47 Bobby Labonte Capital Window/CapWinFund.com Toyota
24. 5 Mark Martin Godaddy.com Chevrolet 
25. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
26. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
27. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
28. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
29. 30 David Stremme Inception Racing Chevrolet
30. 17 Matt Kenseth Affliction Clothing Ford
31. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
32. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Today Chev
33. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
34. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
35. 87 Joe Nemechek AMFMEnergy.com Toyota
36. 55 Jeff Green Front Row Motorsports Ford
37. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
38. 38 J J Yeley Long John Silver's Ford
39. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
40. 46 Erik Darnell Red Line Chevrolet
41. 32 Mike Bliss Starrett Ford
42. 7 Scott Wimmer SPEED Energy Dodge
43. 71 Andy Lally Interstate Moving Services Ford

Kyle Busch Wins Inaugural Cup Race At Kentucky

 Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer


Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 9, 2011)

SPARTA, Ky. — What was Kyle Busch’s dominant impression of his victory in the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway?

It wasn’t that he’ll be written into the record book as the first Cup winner at the 1.5-mile track, the first speedway introduced into the series in 10 years.

No, Busch will remember Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky as the last thing he won on the way to his next race—in this case Sunday’s marquee Super Late Model event at Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin.

That’s the way Busch thinks—win and move on.

In holding off fast-closing David Reutimann and Jimmie Johnson in a two-lap stretch run, Busch won for the third time this season, the 22nd time in his Cup career and the 99th time across NASCAR’s top three national series, third most all-time.

Even though he won two of the three events at Kentucky Speedway over the weekend—he won the Camping World Truck Series race Thursday—Busch wasn’t thinking about the numbers, not even that he had leap-frogged past Kevin Harvick (16th Saturday) and Carl Edwards (fifth) into the top spot in the series standings.

Asked what the most impressive part of the Kentucky win was to him, Busch replied, “That I won on the way to Slinger. I’ve got to go to Slinger (Sunday). I’m going to stay here tonight, chill out and get a good night’s sleep, get out of here in the morning and head up there and, hopefully, win a Late Model race.”

Saturday’s race wasn’t settled until Busch kept Johnson at bay on the last restart, clearing Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet off Turn 2. Reutimann restated in the fourth spot but charged forward, passing Johnson just short of the finish line on the final lap. Reutimann finished .179 seconds behind Busch.

Johnson said his inability to stay beside Busch on the next-to-last lap cost him a chance to win the race.

“I was able to hang with the 18 (Busch) inside of Turns 1 and 2, and he just cleared me going down the back,” Johnson said. “The outside lane had a little bit more momentum coming off of (Turn) 2 down the back. If I could have stayed inside of him, it would have been one heck of a finish at the end.

“But it didn’t happen that way, and then he cleared me and went on, and then I had my hands full with the 00 (Reutimann). David was probably the best car at the end, and if he had cleared me sooner, I think he would have been up there with the 18 racing for the win.”

Ryan Newman played pit strategy perfectly and came home fourth, followed by Edwards. Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon completed the top 10.

Busch had regained the lead during a cycle of green-flag stops late in the race, but a caution for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s blown left front tire slowed the race for the fifth time and set up a restart on Lap 260 of 267.

Busch pulled away, with Johnson chasing, but Clint Bowyer’s wreck in Turn 2 bought out the sixth caution on Lap 262 to bunch the field for a restart with two laps left.

During a 105-lap green-flag run that began on Lap 36 after a competition caution and included two rounds of pit stops, Busch opened a lead of more than eight seconds, but his advantage disappeared when NASCAR called a caution on Lap 140 for debris on the backstretch.

Keselowski and Tony Stewart opted not to pit under the caution and restarted on the front row on Lap 147. Earnhardt, who had fallen off the lead lap during the long green-flag run, got his lap back on a wave-around, and a quick caution on Lap 151 gave him a chance to pit for fuel and tires.

Keselowski and Stewart ran 1-2 after a restart on Lap 158, but both drivers had to pit for fuel early in the next cycle, and Busch reclaimed the top spot when Keselowski brought the No. 2 Dodge to pit road on Lap 186.

When Jamie McMurray’s engine erupted like Vesuvius on Lap 200, bringing out the fourth caution of the race, the lead-lap cars were back on similar pit cycles.

Busch, who led a race-high 125 laps, opened a four-point margin in the series standings over second-place Edwards and a 10-point cushion over third-place Harvick.

Note: When the green flag waved to start the race, cars carrying fans to the track were backed up on I-71, trying to get to the parking lots. Midway through the event, Kentucky Speedway G.M. Mark Simendinger issued the following statement: “We’ve had an overwhelming response to our inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400. We know we had challenges related to traffic. We’re already planning improvements and looking forward to a much better situation for next year’s event.”

Kyle Busch's Practice Speed Wins Pole at Kentucky

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

A predictable outcome for Friday's NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Kentucky Speedway resulted in the #18 M&M Toyota of Kyle Busch starting on the pole for the inaugural race on the 1.5 mile speedway. However, the predictability was not because the Joe Gibbs Racing driver (who came from back in the field to win Thursday's Camping World Truck Series race) fast outings on track throughout the weekend. Rather, the forecast fall of rain showers washed out the qualifying session for Saturday night's Quaker State 400. Under NASCAR's new-for-2011 using practice times instead of car owner points as the primary way to set race fields, Kyle Busch's 182.803 mile per hour time in the final practice session clinched the top spot when rain washed out the Kentucky Speedway. By virtue of their fast practice times, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson fills out the top-5 starting positions for the first Kentucky Speedway event with NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

As 48 cars would have vyed for the 43 starting spots through the time trial session, some cars were favoured entry into the Quaker State 400 as a result of qualifying attempts made by a car throughout the 2011 season. Solidifying Joe Nemechek's #87 Toyota, the #60 Toyota driven by Mike Skinner and Travis Kvapil's #38 Ford in the race field at Kentucky Speedway, the rain robbed an opportunity for other drivers. The most significant driver missing out on the Quaker State 400 is Michael Waltrip. The home state for theWaltrip brothers Michael as well as his three-time Cup champion driver Darrell, the first Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup event will not have the famous racing family represented in the 43-car field.

NASCAR Sprint Cup regular Robby Gordon has also missed the chance to compete with his #77 car at the Quaker State 400 due to the wet track. Though Robby Gordon did not make it into the race, the #7 Dodge owned by the driver will start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Kentucky event in the hands of Scott Wimmer. TJ Bell, David Stremme and David Starr have into been forced to call their weekend's short without attempting a qualifying run.  



2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Quaker State 400
Sparta, Kentucky

1. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
2. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
3. 22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
4. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
5. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
6. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
7. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
8. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
9. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
10. 27 Paul Menard Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet
11. 9 Marcos Ambrose Porter-Cable Ford
12. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
13. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
14. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
15. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
16. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Good To Go Toyota
17. 0 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
18. 39 Ryan Newman Tornados Chevrolet
19. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
20. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
21. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
22. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
23. 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford
24. 47 Bobby Labonte Cottonelle Clean Care Toyota
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
26. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
27. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
28. 5 Mark Martin Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
29. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
30. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefits/Thank A Teacher Today
31. 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
32. 36 Dave Blaney Big Red Chevrolet
33. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
34. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
35. 34 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
36. 46  J J Yeley Red Line Chevrolet
37. 38  Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
38. 66 Michael McDowell Standard Publishing/Relentless Hope Toyota
39. 71 Andy Lally # Cool Works Cup Ford
40. 81 Scott Riggs Whitney'sCollision.com Chevrolet
41. 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
42. 32 Mike Bliss Big Red Ford
43. 7 Scott Wimmer SPEED Energy Dodge

 

NASCAR Schedule & Weather Forecast: July 6th to 9th 2011

Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Image

Sparta, Kentucky
Kentucky Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/ Nationwide Series/ Camping World Truck Series

Wednesday:

4:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

6:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Thursday:

10:00 am- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

11:05 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Testing
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

3:05 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Qualifying
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Testing
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

6:10 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

8:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race (UNOH 225)
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Friday:

9:00 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

11:30 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

1:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

3:35 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clouds with chance of thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 60%

5:10 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

7:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race (Feed the Children 300)
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 40%


Saturday:

7:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race (Quaker State 400)
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Toronto, Ontario
Streets of Toronto
NASCAR Canadian Tires Series

Friday:

12:30 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



4:10 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Qualifying
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 30%


Saturday:

2:30 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race (Streets of Toronto 100)
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

Ragan Rolls to First Cup Win at Daytona

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Little less than halfway through the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, drivers and teams return to where this unpredictable year started. The Saturday night running of the Coke Zero 400 comes in a race schedule stretch that has run on a 2-mile oval and a 1.98-mile road course. the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway sends the Sprint Cup teams back into the perils of restrictor plate racing. Drawing the 40 spot of 45 cars making a qualifying run, Mark Martin and his #5 Carquest/Godaddy.com Chevrolet overcame 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne to take pole. The Chevrolet Impala lapped the speedway with a speed of 182.065 miles per hour. Guaranteed to be a aggressive show, the 43-car field for the 400-mile, 160-lap Coke Zero 400 was sent underway with the likelihood of expecting the unexpected.

Starting 3rd in the Coke Zero 400, Trevor Bayne’s fairy tale win in the Daytona 500 was not going to be repeated in this 400-mile July event. On lap 5, the #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Brad Keselowski had bump drafted the #21 Motorcraft Ford through turn 1. Sending the #21 of Bayne sideways, the Ford would pound the outer wall destroying the stock car’s front end. Slowing down for the accident, the #11 Toyota was into by the #1 of McMurray. Bayne and the Wood Brothers team were rendered too damaged to continue the Coke Zero 400 after running only 12.5 miles.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

As soon as the green flag started the Coke Zero 400, drivers reformed into the two-car tandem drafts with prearranged partners. For Hendrick Motorsports, the #48 of Jimmie Johnson and the #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr began working together while Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevy partnered with the pole sitter Mark Martin. Other teams including Richard Childress Racing and Red Bull Racing quickly adapted this trend within major organizations.

Supported by a push from Jeff Gordon, the pole-starting vehicle of Mark Martin stayed up front through the first 16 laps of the event but only eventually overhauled for the leading position for one of race leaders in the Coke Zero 400. From lap 16 to lap 150, the front spot was so heavily contended that no driver was able to lead more than 8 laps for a single period. Carl Edwards was among the early leaders of the event at Daytona International Speedway. Leading for lap 19, fortunes shifted quickly for Edwards and the #99 Ford just 5 laps later. Impacted by teammate Greg Biffle driving the #16 Ford, Edwards was sent sideways in turn 4. Almost missing the inside wall, the #99 Ford did make contact with rear and side damaging the stock car’s crush panels. The Roush Fenway Racing team was able to repair the #99 car, but were only able to muster a 37th place result at the end of the event.

At the Coke Zero 400’s halfway point, the Red Bull Racing team showed wings at Daytona in the top two spots. Kasey Kahne led with Brian Vickers’ #83 Toyota tucked behind the #4 teammate. Joe Nemechek, Travis Kvapil and Casey Mears rounded out the top-5 at lap 80. By lap 99, every car had attended pit road under green with Clint Bowyer assuming the lead. Martin Truex Jr in the #56 NAPA Toyota swept to the lead on lap 100 with Kyle Busch’s #18 car taking the top spot a lap later. With pit stops performed under green, the field continued caution-free for 106 laps.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

With three laps remaining as drivers and engines were running hot, a pack of 14-cars was beginning to size up their competition for what could be a run to the checker flag. However, as the Sprint Cup vehicles charged into turn 4, the #4 Toyota slid up the race track after receiving a misplaced bump from the #83 of Brian Vickers. Kahne kept control of his Red Bull Toyota but the chain reaction caused squeezed the #18 of Kyle Busch into the minor contact with the Daytona outer wall. Most dramatically in the melee, the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon was sent sideways but was able to avert any serious damage.

On the first restart, Joey Logano attempted to make a move on the inside of Martin but found his passing lane was narrowed as the #20 Toyota approached the #83 car running the lower lane. With no room for three-wide racing, Logano ended up clipping the #5 Chevy causing the Coke Zero 400’s big wreck. The #5, #13 #22, #38, #56 and #78 were all among cars collected as cars crashed out of turn two.

Lining up for a second run to the checker flag, David Ragan and Ryan Newman took formation for the restart. Newman was quickly sorted out of the front as Ragan’s teammate in the draft Matt Kenseth pushed the Ford Fusions by the Chevrolet. Down the backstretch for the final lap, David Ragan and Joey Logano were being propelled by respective pushers to the Coke Zero 400 start/finish Line. However, as those drivers competed for victory, 5th place and back came a perfect storm for a contact-filled last few corners. In turn 3, the #51 of Landon Cassil and the #9 Ford of Marcus Ambrose made contact.

Diving the big wreck on the green-white-checker restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr would be unable to escape chaos on the second run to the start/finish line. Running in the lower groove of the pack, the #1 Chevrolet of Jamie McMurray came down on the right front quarter panel of the #88 National Guard Chevy forcing Earnhardt Jr onto the apron. Incapable of preserving the 190 mile per hour speed on the dirty part of the race track, the #88 car careened back into the pack wrecking cars that included #1 Chevy, the #31 Chevrolet of Jeff Burton as well as the #83 Toyota of Brian Vickers. Earnhardt Jr ended the race in 17th place for the Hendrick Motorsports team. The #88 Chevrolet’s result was actually an improvement over poorer finishes at the last two Sprint Cup series events at Michigan and Infineon Raceway.




Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images



Racing to the finish, David Ragan crossed the line first in the #6 UPS Ford for the driver’s 1st ever Sprint Cup victory. Enduring 163 races, this Daytona victory will undoubtedly defend the 25 year-old’s presence in the top stock car racing series. Ragan’s previous career-best at Daytona International Speedway was 5th scored on two occasions.

Pushing his teammate Ragan, Matt Kenseth in the #17 Ford finished 2nd in at Daytona continuing a 7-race streak of finishes 14th or better. With Ford Fusions taking the top-2 spots in the Coke Zero 400, Toyota drivers Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch obtained the 3rd through 5th place positions. Making a hard charge in the late stage of the race, Jeff Gordon finished 6th ahead of Richard Childress Racing cars Kevin Harvick and Paul Menard.

Due to Carl Edwards’ trouble-filled Daytona event, Kevin Harvick has assumed the top spot in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points after 17 races. Five points ahead of Edwards, there is an additional five-point gap to the third place driver Kyle Busch.



2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Coke Zero 400
Daytona International Speedway
Pos #  | Car #/ Driver/ Sponsor/ Ford

1. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
2. 17 Matt Kenseth Affliction Clothing Ford
3. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
4. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
5. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
6. 24 Jeff Gordon PepsiMAX Chevrolet
7. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
8. 27 Paul Menard Quaker State / Menards Chevrolet
9. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
10. 43 A J Allmendinger U.S. Air Force Ford
11. 14 Tony Stewart Burger King Chevrolet
12. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
13. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
14. 22 Kurt Busch Shell / Pennzoil Dodge
15. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
16. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
17. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
18. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
19. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard Heritage / AMP Energy Chevrolet
20. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Summer Salute Chevrolet
21. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
22. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
23. 39 Ryan Newman NRA / Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
24. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
25. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
26. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Today Chevrolet
27. 71 Andy Lally # Interstate Moving Services Ford
28. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
29. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
30. 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
31. 47 Bobby Labonte Kingsford Toyota
32. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
33. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
34. 7 Robby Gordon Speed Energy Dodge
35. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
36. 33 Clint Bowyer Wheaties FUEL Chevrolet
37. 99 Carl Edwards SUBWAY Ford
38. 35 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates Chevrolet
39. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
40. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
41. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
42. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
43. 97 Kevin Conway ExtenZe Toyota