Kahne Tames Early Hendrick Woes to Win Coca-Cola 600

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR's Memorial day Sunday counterpart to the Indianapolis 500, 43 Sprint Cup Series cars were readied for a race into the night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The longest race on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series calender, the Coca-Cola 600 started under the early evening sun with the #43 Ford of Aric Almirola leading the field to a green flag for 400 laps. In the Thursday qualifying, a strong effort by the Richard Petty Motorsports cars of Almirola and the #9 of Marcos Ambrose secured the front row positions at the 1.5-mile Charlotte track.

When green fell on the Coca-Cola 600, the Richard Petty Motorsport Ford Fusion stock cars would exchange the lead on three occasions in the first 6 laps. On lap 9, another member the Ford brigade would break Richard Petty Motorsports very early hold of the 400-lap event. The #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Greg Biffle pass on Ambrose amounted to what would be 204 laps leading the Coca-Cola 600. After another brief exchange of the first spot with Marcos Ambrose's #9 car, Biffle's #16 Ford would lead from lap 23 for 90 consecutive circuits around the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Greg Biffle's domination in the first quarter of the Coca-Cola 600 was aided by the lack of a yellow flag slowing the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. Completing 113 caution-free laps opening the race, debris on the racetrack finally slowed the stock cars. After not seeing a caution for the race's first 169.5 miles, lap 113 to lap 179 would see the yellow flag pop out for what was four of the five caution periods during the Coca-Cola 600 event. All but one of the yellow flags in the event were a result of debris (Travis Kvapil's #93 Toyota scraping with the turn 4 wall on lap 174 was the only exception).

Past the halfway point of the event, the race-contending #9 Ford of Marcos Ambrose was brought to the garage due to a damaged hub on his racing machine. Though the determined Richard Petty Motorsports team were able to return Ambrose to the racetrack after losing just 13 laps to the garage, the effort by the #9 car resulted in a 32nd place finish for the Tasmanian driver. A similar hub failure was also connected to a loss of laps for the #22 Penske Racing Dodge of AJ Allmendinger.

The season for Kasey Kahne started with 4 finishes of 29th or worse in the first 6 races. After a 38th place finish at the Martinsville race, Kahne and the #5 Hendrick Motorsport team turned their fortunes around by placing in the top-8 in each of the five NASCAR Sprint Cup races leading up to the Cola-Cola 600. Taking the lead of the 2012 Coca-Cola 600 for the first time on lap 220, Kahne's #5 Chevrolet blazed to the front of the field just as the lights brightened the Charlotte Motor Speedway. A race Kasey Kahne had won twice before, the pursuit of his first win with Hendrick Motorsports was coming fruition in the second-half of the Charlotte Motor Speedway event.

In the last 180 laps of the Coca-Cola 600, it was largely a battle between the #5 Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne and the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle. On lap 357, the race's final lead change resulted in Kahne out front of the NASCAR Sprint Cup event. Crossing the line with a 4.3 second advantage over second-place, the win for the #5 Chevrolet is the second win of the season for Hendrick Motorsports. For driver Kasey Kahne, he has now won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race driving for all four active manufacturers on the 2012 stock car tour.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Unseating Greg Biffle from the top-3 in the Coca-Cola 600, Denny Hamlin finished a strong second in the #11 Toyota and #18 car of Kyle Busch came across the line third for Joe Gibbs Racing. With Biffle finishing fourth, the Roush Fenway Racing driver holds onto the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead by 10 points over teammate Matt Kenseth. Brad Keselowski's #2 Dodge rounded out the top-5 in a race that was completed at a record average speed of 155.687 miles per hour.

Winning the last two races on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour, Hendrick Motorsports delivered a strong overall performance with all 4 cars in the top-11. Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 6th and Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolet finished 7th (only Gordon's 3rd top-10 result in a difficult 2012 season. While Johnson did not lead a lap during the 600-mile event, the #48 Hendrick Motorsports car was considered a contender for the throughout the course of the Charlotte Motor Speedway event based on the previous weekend's performance in the Sprint All-Star race. However, a late pit miscue by the #48 crew caused by a stuck fuel can resulted in a penalty that would prevent Johnson from climbing any higher than 11th place.

Next race for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour is the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on June 3rd. Matt Kenseth is the defending winner of the last Spring race at the Dover 1-mile track.



2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Coca-Cola 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race Results

1	5	Kasey Kahne	Quaker State Chevrolet
2	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground Toyota
3	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Red-White-Blue Toyota
4	16	Greg Biffle	Fastenal Ford
5	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge
6	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard-An American Salute Chevrolet
7	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
8	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
9	99	Carl Edwards	Fastenal Ford
10	17	Matt Kenseth	Fastenal Ford
11	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet
12	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
13	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota
14	39	Ryan Newman	US ARMY Chevrolet
15	27	Paul Menard	Menards/Serta Chevrolet
16	43	Aric Almirola	US Air Force Ford
17	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet
18	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King Real Fruit Smoothies Toyota
19	31	Jeff Burton	Wheaties Chevrolet
20	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
21	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
22	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
23	20	Joey Logano	Dollar General Toyota
24	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Ctr. Ford
25	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
26	38	David Gilliland	Mod Space Ford
27	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services Inc Chevrolet
28	47	Bobby Labonte	Kingsford Charcoal Toyota
29	93	Travis Kvapil	Dr. Pepper Toyota
30	10	Danica Patrick	GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
31	32	TJ Bell	Green Smoke Ford
32	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford
33	22	AJ Allmendinger	Shell Pennzoil Dodge
34	55	Mark Martin	Aaron's Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
35	34	David Ragan	Al's Liners/Scorpion Coatings Ford
36	98	Michael McDowell	Presbyterian Healthcare Ford
37	95	Scott Speed	Jordan Truck Sales Ford
38	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
39	33	Stephen Leicht	Little Joe's Autos/Precon Chevrolet
40	36	Dave Blaney	SealWrap Chevrolet
41	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy / SWM Toyota
42	74	Cole Whitt	Turn One Racing Chevrolet
43	26	Josh Wise	MDS Transport Ford

Dale Earnhardt Jr Dominates Sprint Showdown at Charlotte

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The annual NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star event at Charlotte Motor Speedway is an reward for the winning 2011 and 2012 race winners in the series (or recent All-Star race winners. With 20 drivers earning a place into the race, three additional competitors had a final opportunity to participant in the one-million dollar event All-Star. Ahead of the Sprint All-Star race, a 40-lap Sprint Showdown race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway gave the non-qualifying drivers a chance to make Saturday night's main event. For the first of two 20-lap segments, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car drivers were ready prepared to claim either the first or second place position in order to transfer to the All-Star group.

A race-making move was made even before the green flag of the event. Pole sitter AJ Allmendinger driving the #22 Pennzoil Dodge suffered a deflating tire during the pace laps. As the green flag was ready to start the Sprint Showdown, Allmendinger ducked down onto pit road for a replacement tire. This action promoted the #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr to the front-starting car on the inside row. Outside front row starter Martin Truex Jr in the #56 Toyota and Dale Earnhardt Jr immediately engaged in side-by-side combat in the first two laps of the event. Former teammates, the on-track fight between Earnhardt Jr and Truex Jr was fiercely fought until the #88 car gained an advantage through turn 3 on lap 2. The #88 Chevrolet sponsored by the Dale Jr Foundation, was put into a position that the Hendrick Motorsports driver would nor relinquish.

Into the second stage of the Sprint Showdown, the second place position in the race (the second and final transfer spot) was heavily battled. With all but 6 drivers pitting ahead of what was the final 20-lap run, the green flag for the second segment would become a matter where fresh tires favoured used tires. Taking the second place spot early in the second segment of the Sprint Showdown, Jamie McMurray soared around the #56 NAPA Toyota but was soon fighting off the charging of a resurgent AJ Allmendinger. In the second-last lap of the second segment, the Allmendinger's #22 Dodge completed a pass on McMurray's #1 Chevrolet. AJ Allmendinger received the final transfer spot into thet Sprint All-Star race with the second place finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr's first win in the Showdown event, he promotes the entire Hendrick Motorsports racing machines to the Sprint All-Star race. Earnhardt Jr won the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in his rookie year of 2000.



2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Sprint Showdown
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race Results

1	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	DaleJrFndtn/NationalGuard/DietMtnDew Chev
2	22	AJ Allmendinger	Pennzoil Dodge
3	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops / Allstate Chevrolet
4	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
5	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
6	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota
7	43	Aric Almirola	Smithfield Ford
8	31	Jeff Burton	CAT / BB&T Chevrolet
9	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
10	93	Travis Kvapil	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
11	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
12	47	Bobby Labonte	Kingsford Toyota
13	26	Josh Wise	MDS Transport Ford
14	95	Scott Speed	Jordan's Truck Sales Ford
15	38	David Gilliland	SCORPION Window Film Ford
16	19	Mike Bliss	Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota
17	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
18	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
19	10	David Reutimann	Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
20	36	Tony Raines	Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
21	33	Stephen Leicht	LittleJoesAutos.com Chevrolet
22	49	JJ Yeley	JPO Absorbents / America Israel Racing Toyota

Race Weekend Weather Forecast: May 26th to May 29th, 2011

Photo Credit: Steve Shunck

Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Formula 1

Eastern time is in brackets ()

Thursday:

10 am (4 am)- Formula 1 Practice 1
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny but partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

2 pm (8 am)- Formula 1 Practice 2
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny but partly cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Friday:

No Formula 1 race activity



Saturday:

11 am (5 am)- Formula 1 Practice 3
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2 pm (8 pm)- Formula 1 Qualifying
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:

2 pm (8 am)-Formula 1 Race
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
IZOD INDYCAR Series/ Firestone Indy Lights Series

Thursday:

9:45 am Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Overcast with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

11 am Firestone Indy Lights Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

3 pm Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 80%



Friday:

11 am IZOD INDYCAR Series Carb Day Practice
Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clouds with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

12:30 pm Firestone Indy Lights Series Race- Freedom 100
Temperature: 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

1:30 pm IZOD INDYCAR Series
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Saturday:

No Track Activity


Sunday:
IZOD INDYCAR Series Race- Indianapolis 500
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with Clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series


Thursday:

2 pm NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

3:30 pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

5:10 pm NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 20%

7:10 pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with Chance of rain later in the night
Chance of Precipitation: 20%


Saturday:
10:10 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 10%
12:50 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain and thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 80%

2:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race- Top Gear 300
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun/clouds with chance of rain later in the afternoon
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:

6:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race- Coca-Cola 600
Temperature: 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clear skies with some clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Weather Underground

Charlotte Surprise: McMurray Motors Late to Win Bank of America 500



Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

One of the first major speedways to be lit artificially, the race under the stars had the beaming personalities of NASCAR running 500 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Marking the midway point of the 2010 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, the premier stock car series enters Charlotte, North Carolina to play a home game for many of the multi-million dollar teams. The Bank of America 500 at the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway presents a Saturday night racing backdrop for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

Sitting on pole for the first time since fall Texas Motor Speedway event in 2009, the Jeff Gordon #24 Dupont Chevrolet led the field to the start line. As Gordon preserved has lead for the initial green flag laps, caution flew shortly with only 3 laps being completed. Sailing through turn 3 and 4 high, the #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman experienced a loss of traction. Backing into the outer wall, considerable damage was done to the right rear bodywork of the Stewart/Haas Racing-owned #39 Chevy. Requiring an extended stay in the Charlotte garage, Newman would return to finish 36th through a long night.

With Ryan Newman's troubles, the Stewart/Haas Racing boss Tony Stewart's #14 car was also not immune to punishment during the Bank of America 500. In avoiding the Newman lap 3 incident, Stewart's Old Spice Chevy also sustained rear damage. As the race progressed, Tony Stewart encountered miscues entering his pit stall. When entering to attention of his pit crew on lap 26, Stewart needed to take evasive action to avoid contact with the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards which was exiting pit road. Overshooting his team's pit area, Tony Stewart was forced to wait until the coast was clear to reverse and enter his pit. With all the complications of the race, Stewart was left with only a 21st place finish to follow-up his win at California's Auto Club Speedway.

Kurt Busch's troubles were the reason for the second caution at lap 25. The winner of the Sprint All-Star and the Coca-Cola 600 races during late May, Busch and his #2 Dodge spun sideways through turn 4. Fighting a loose race car early left Busch and his Penske Racing team struggling in 30th place.

While one Busch brother faced a difficult Saturday night at Charlotte, the younger brother and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch provided a lingering presence at the front of the field throughout the Bank of America 500. Leading 109 of the race's first 127 laps, Busch's #18 Toyota shot to a multiple car-length interval on almost every restart.

In the only multi-car incident of the Bank of America 500, the #9 Ford of Kasey Kahne unsuccessfully fought a loose exit off turn 4 creating a lap 125 caution. Making contact with the #77 Dodge of Sam Hornish Jr, both cars sustained damage to render them out of competition. While the Richard Petty Motorsports crew was able to repair the #9 Budweiser Ford in order to complete more laps, the car by J.J. Yelley instead of Kasey Kahne. While Kahne explained that he was feeling to ill to continue driving for the night, there has been some rumours that Kahne simply left the #9 Ford team after the crash at Charlotte. Going to Red Bull Racing for 2011 with a Hendrick Motorsports ride waiting for him in 2012, some questions Kasey Kahne's dedication to his current race team. It was reported that Kasey Kahne, having left the race track with illness a matter of 8-10 hours prior, ran a 5k charity marathon Sunday morning.    

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images

Kurt Busch was not the only driver left struggling within the Chase following a difficult result. Having led the first 7 laps of the Charlotte night race, pole sitter Jeff Gordon would be robbed from contention of the Bank of America 500. An electrical fault within the #24 Dupont Chevrolet presented itself dramatically during the race when the Hendrick Motorsports car of Gordon appeared to have lost power momentarily on the race track while running as a front runner. Losing positions initially with the brief engine power failure, Gordon's #24 car would continue to the distance but will finish one lap down in 23rd place.


For a race that contained 27 lead changes amongst 19 leaders, the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was decided on a lap 313 restart following the race's final caution for debris. Gaining ground from a brilliant pit stop from the Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing crew, 27th place starting #1 Chevrolet piloted by Jamie McMurray surged forward all night to an inside front row start on the final journey to green with Kyle Busch on the outside. Showing superiority all race long during restarts, this particular coming to green saw the #1 Chevrolet of McMurray shoot to command the top position. As the final 31 laps ticked away, Jamie McMurray took the checkered flag more than 1.8 seconds ahead of 2nd place Busch.


Recovering with a front-running performance and finish at Charlotte following the past two races being marred with disappointing results, Kyle Busch plays to win and left the race car largely unsatisfied by missing victory lane. Charlotte Motor Speedway continues to be a track the younger Busch brother had never reigned supreme after a NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

Jimmie Johnson recovered from a lap 35 spin on the backstretch to finish 3rd in a repeat of his result at Auto Club Speedway last race. Running in the lower 20s after his #48 Chevrolet looped around uninjured, Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports regained their track position by staying out during a caution where leaders pitted. Continuing to show the right stuff for a run at a 5th straight Sprint Cup title, Jimmie Johnson was able to squeak out an additional 5 points over Denny Hamlin. Now 41 points behind after the Bank of America 500, Hamlin's 4th place finish affirms that the #11 Toyota is still in prime pouncing position as the series enters wild card races through the 2nd half of the Chase.

The top-10 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway night race allowed the squads of Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush-Fenway Racing an moment of atonement after misfortunes at California. With Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin scoring top-5 finishes, sophomore driver of the team's #20 Toyota posted a 7th place result for a collectively encouraging night for the Toyota's lead NASCAR Sprint Cup team. Roush-Fenway Racing was led by a 5th place-finishing Greg Biffle as all four of their team's cars finished inside the top-12 which included David Ragan in 10th. 

NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teams will next plan for running Martinsville Speedway (2010 Sprint Cup season's last race on track smaller than one-mile). Jimmie Johnson has won 5 of the past 11 races held on the 0.526 mile short oval but Denny Hamlin has won the past two Sprint Cup events at Martinsville.

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup

Bank of America 500

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Race Results

Top-10:

1. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
2. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
3. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
4. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
5. 16 Greg Biffle Scotch Blue Ford 
6. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford 
7. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
8. 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
9. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
10. 6 David Ragan UPS-United Way Ford

Other Notables:

11.  42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
12.  99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
13.  78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
17.  33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
20.  31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
21.  14 Tony Stewart Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
22.  10 Bobby Labonte Gander Mountain Outdoors Chevrolet
23.  24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
29.  88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy / National Guard Chevrolet
30.  2 Kurt Busch Operation Home Front / Miller Lite Dodge
35.  21 Bill Elliott JDRF / Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford
36.  39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
37.  26 Patrick Carpentier Air Guard Ford
38.  9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford

Right Place at the Right Time: Keselowski takes Dodge to Charlotte Victory

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(October 15, 2010)

CONCORD, N.C.—New rubber. Old rubber. It didn’t matter to Brad Keselowski, who ran the final 56 laps of Friday night’s Dollar General 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on his last set of tires.

Track position, however, proved far more important at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Keselowski picked up his first NASCAR Nationwide Series win at the 1.5-mile track, his fifth victory of the season and the 11th of his career.

Martin Truex Jr. ran second, followed by Justin Allgaier, Joey Logano and polesitter Clint Bowyer, whose winning chances disappeared with a pit-road speeding penalty on his last stop. Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick completed the top 10.

Keselowski widened his lead in the NASCAR Nationwide standings to 450 points over 13th-place finisher Carl Edwards.

“I might be biased, but I thought that was the best race I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Keselowski, who has won two of the four races in the new NASCAR Nationwide car this year. “And I was driving the car, so I can imagine what the fans saw—that was awesome.

“The decision to stay out … we had pitted just five laps before the yellow came out (on Lap 154) and felt really good about it. I knew that Paul (Wolfe), my crew chief, had made an adjustment right there at the end, on the last stop, and my car was just flying.

“We quite honestly weren’t very good on test day (Wednesday) and wasn’t very good the first half of the race, and I’ve got to give credit to Paul. That guy’s amazing. He gave me the car I needed to win with at the end. This Challenger flew.”

Keselowski’s ploy to stay out on old tires after the caution on Lap 154 paid immediate dividends. The driver of the No. 22 Dodge opened a lead of almost a second over Truex before Brian Scott’s spin through the frontstretch grass caused the seventh caution of the race on Lap 182.

On Lap 183, Harvick and Edwards pitted for fresh tires—from fifth and sixth, respectively—and restarted 11th and 12th on Lap 187, but the new tires failed to provide the desired advantage. The green-flag run was short-lived, however, as Steve Wallace turned across the nose of Trevor Bayne’s No. 17 Ford on Lap 188 and slammed into the backstretch wall.

Keselowski led the field to a restart with eight laps remaining and pulled away to beat Truex to the finish line by 1.137 seconds.

Notes: Danica Patrick posted a career-best 21st-place finish in her ninth NASCAR Nationwide start. … The Charlotte race was the fourth and final event with the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car this year, before it’s phased in full time in 2011.

Weekend Racing Weather Forecast: Oct 15th to 17th, 2010

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/ NASCAR Nationwide Series

Friday: Overall, the forecast calls for a precipitation-free weekend for the NASCAR tour in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Always regarded as an weather sensitive track, Charlotte Motor Speedway's various Friday activities are going to keep drivers and crew members busy chasing variances between temperatures and daylight. With NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying wrapped up, two afternoon practice sessions remain for the 43 cars running Saturday night's Back of America 500 on the 1.5 mile speedway. Temperatures between 67-73 degrees Fahrenheit (19-22 degrees Celsius) is expected as the Cup cars dial in their race cars. Lots of sun is slated to beam on the 1.5 mile track.

The major competition on track Friday will be the NASCAR Nationwide Series. With the series' qualifying for their Dollar General 300 race will run after 3 P.M. Eastern time when ambient temperatures will be a daily high of 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius).  A strong West-South West wind is predicted to reach up to 16 miles per hour during the daily time.

At night, the NASCAR Nationwide Series' Dollar General 300 starts past 7:30 P.M. starts on a clear autumn night with a still comfortable temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius). Through the event, expect temps to fall by 10 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale.   

Saturday: No weather activities prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup event is likely to provide a lower than accustomed to track surface temperature. Replicating Friday skies, Saturday's consistent sun will work some magic in building heat into the asphalt. With temperatures starting at the lows of Friday's final practice (62 degrees Fahrenheit or 17 degrees Celsius), the NASCAR Sprint Cup's Bank of America 500 will lead teams into less known territory as race conditions dip below the mid-50s.

Ryan Newman Soars to Coca-Cola 600 Pole at Charlotte

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

The site of Ryan Newman's first ever pole, the Indiana native again proved to have the magic touch during the NASCAR Sprint Cup's month of May festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Taking his #39 US Army Chevrolet to his 6th pole for the Coca-Cola 600, Newman's top spot in qualifying will allow him to start his 9th NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte. However, despite mastering qualifying around the 1.5 mile oval, Ryan Newman has yet to win a points-paying Sprint Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

While auto racing mogul Roger Penske will be able to relish the start of the 2010 Indy 500 with his team's driver Helio Castroneves starting from pole, Penske missed out on a sweep for poles in the two major Memorial Day weekend racing events. The Miller Lite #2 Dodge of Kurt Busch hunted past Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman thanks to a late qualifying draw. Carried on the momentum of last Saturday's Sprint All-Star race victory, Kurt Busch fast time was just 4/100ths of a second slower than his former teammate.

Like Kurt Busch, All-Star Showdown winner Martin Truex Jr set himself on a noble quest after a second pole following his fast time at Dover in the last NASCAR Sprint Cup points race. Performing well season-long in his first year with the #56 NAPA Toyota of Michael Waltrip Racing, Truex Jr and the team are finally getting sizable recognition for their 2010 efforts.

Rounding out the top-five in Coca-Cola 600 qualifying is the #9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne followed by his future teammate Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson in the the #48 Lowes Chevy sporting special Memorial Day weekend colours. With Martin Truex Jr mustering the best time from a Toyota Camry stock car with 3rd fastest speed, 6th through 9th place shows that Toyota is sporting a strong hand. Leading this group was winner of last year's rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 David Reutimann for Michael Waltrip Racing followed by the all three Joe Gibbs Racing cars. The #11 FedEx Toyota of Denny Hamlin led Joey Logano and Kyle Busch.

Anticipation for NASCAR's longest scheduled race will be accompanied with busy preparation for the #12 Penske Racing team. Brad Keselowski is being sent to a backup car after his primary Dodge race car made significant contact with the turn 4 wall of Charlotte.

The race commemorating the 50th year of the 600 mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup is scheduled for a 5:45 P.M. start time on Sunday
.

Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Charlotte Motor Speedway

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

1) 39 Ryan Newman      U.S Army Chevrolet
2) 2 Kurt Busch       Miller Lite / Vortex Dodge
3) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Batteries Toyota 
4) 9 Kasey Kahne      Budweiser / Armed Forces Tribute Ford 
5) 48 Jimmie Johnson   Lowe's Memorial Day Tribute Chevrolet
6) 00 David Reutimann   Aaron's / Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
7) 11 Denny Hamlin     FedEx Office Toyota
8) 20 Joey Logano      Home Depot Toyota
9) 18 Kyle Busch       M&M's Pretzel Toyota 
10) 33 Clint Bowyer     Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet 
11) 5 Mark Martin      CARQUEST Auto Parts / GoDaddy.com
12) 31 Jeff Burton      Caterpillar Chevrolet 
13) 83 Casey Mears      Red Bull Toyota
14) 77 Sam Hornish Jr.   Mobil 1 Dodge 
15) 24 Jeff Gordon      DuPont Stars & Stripes Chevrolet 
16) 17 Matt Kenseth     Jeremiah Weed Ford
17) 66 Dave Blaney      PRISM Motorsports Toyota
18) 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Credit Card Ford 
19) 87 Joe Nemechek     NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 
20) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
21) 82 Scott Speed      Red Bull Toyota 
22) 36 Johnny Sauter    Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 
23) 29 Kevin Harvick    Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
24) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ntnl Guard Honoring Our Soldiers Chevrolet
25) 21 Bill Elliott     Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Ford
26) 14 Tony Stewart            Office Depot / Old Spice Chevrolet
27) 1 Jamie McMurray   Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet 
28) 37 David Gilliland  Taco Bell Ford 
29) 64 Todd Bodine      Little Joe's Auto Sales Toyota 
30) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
31) 99 Carl Edwards     Scotts GrubEx Ford 
32) 78 Regan Smith      Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
33) 98 Paul Menard      Serta / Menards Ford
34) 47 Marcos Ambrose   Kingsford / Bush's Beans Toyota 
35) 6 David Ragan      UPS Ford
36) 7 Robby Gordon     Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota
37) 12 Brad Keselowski  Penske Dodge
38) 71 Bobby Labonte    TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 
39) 19 Elliott Sadler   Air Force Ford
40) 16 Greg Biffle      3M Nexcare Products Ford 
41) 38 Travis Kvapil    Long John Silver's / Baja Fish Taco Ford
42) 34 Kevin Conway     Extenze Ford
43) 46 J J Yeley        Jake Owen Raborn Foundation Dodge

Kurt Busch's Dodge Dodges Race Incidents to Win Sprint All-Star Event

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR


For the only time within the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the points standings will be left unaffected by the results of this race. The 2010 Sprint All-Star race enjoyed its 26th running on the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Starting off the evening, the Sprint Showdown placed a field of non-qualified drivers for the main event. Martin Truex Jr in the #56 NAPA Toyota win the Sprint Showdown passing Greg Biffle's #16 Ford through the latter laps of the 50-lap competition. While both 1st and 2nd place cars received transfers spots into the All-Star race, Truex Jr obviously wanted at least one win for the night.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup driver introductions saw 21 drivers taking the stage (18 qualified All-Star drivers, 2 Showdown transfer drivers and one fan vote driver). Announced using a texting platform, Carl Edwards was declared the the fan choice as him and his #99 Roush-Fenway Racing team took to the stage before the drivers entered their race machines.

Through the early race running, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch led the show. Kurt Busch was a fixture at the front early in the 20-lap third segment but suffered up to two brushes with the outside wall leading some to discount the #2 Dodge. However, the #2 Penske Racing pit crew utilized the 10 minute prior to the final 10 lap segment to undo the battle damage relating to mechanical issues.

Following the 10-minute layover, teams returned to pit road to take tires (NASCAR came up with a clever idea to forbid tire changes under the break so pit stops will still become a crucial factor to the final laps). Benefiting from the psyched-up #11 FedEx team which had earlier in the week won the Pit Crew Competition, Denny Hamlin emerged the leader for the race restart with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch starting alongside. As typical to All-Star events at Charlotte, drivers appeared to address the first three segments conservatively awaiting the final segment. Once the flag dropped for the fourth and final segment, the rather tame field lit up with aggression immediately after the green flag flew. Fifth place car on the restart the #20 Toyota of Joey Logano lept to the inside of Jimmie Johnson's Chevrolet. Johnson's horsepower countered Logano's run causing the #20 to rejoin his place behind the #48 Chevrolet. However, as Logano regained his position, he tapped an already out of shape Mark Martin. Martin #5 Chevrolet was involved with 3 incidents of contact seconds after the restart and lost control down the front stretch rolling into the first corner. Triggering a multi-car accident involving Jeff Gordon, David Reutimann, Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards ending the hopes of their Sprint All-Star win. Dale Earnhardt Jr #88 Chevrolet and Tony Stewart #14 Burger King Chevrolet were also part of the wreck but continued with only minor damage.



Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

With laps not counting, the field essentially reset the 10-lap shoot-out with #11 of Hamlin leading the #18 of Busch. As the race ensues, Kyle Busch sought an opening on a wide FedEx race machine making itself wide to head off any charge. Through turn 1 with 7 laps to go, Kyle Busch saw an opening which he could place the #18 Toyota outside of his teammate not knowing that the teammate relationship was not the priority of Denny Hamlin. Moving up the track running out of the turn 2 section, Busch remained eying the shrinking hole only to impact the wall. While no contact was made between the Toyota Camrys, the incident would garner some bad feelings from Kyle Busch which would become evident by the end of the night.

In the meantime, Kurt Busch's #2 Dodge was making a spirited march from 5th on the segment start to breathe heavily on the necks of the two Toyotas. Easily passing his younger brother's wounded car, Kurt Busch roared for Denny Hamlin. Perhaps partly enraged for the blocking move the #11 pulled on his brother Kyle, the Miller Dodge of Kurt Busch moved like lightning by Denny Hamlin to take the lead with 6 laps left.

With 2 laps remaining in the segment, Kyle Busch's anger toward Denny Hamlin would reach critical mass when the #18 shot into the outside wall on the front stretch. Clipping the Budweiser #9 Ford of Kasey Kahne also in the incident, the #18 M&M Pretzels Toyota was angily driven to pit road. Blaming the earlier incident with Hamlin, Busch waited inside the #11 hauler. After the race the two competitors finally met with team owner Joe Gibbs refereeing his two drivers to a peaceful resolution. However, Hamlin appeared less than apologetic following the race incident through a Twitter response. "And if roles were reversed kyle would check up and pull down?? Lol.. Ok back to reality." Both intense drivers on the track, Denny Hamlin was also not surprised by Busch's reaction saying in another Twitter message "He's a guy that wants to win just as bad if not more than me."

In the end, Kurt Busch stormed to victory for his first Sprint All-Star victory holding off Showdown winner Martin Truex Jr in the final lap. Rounding out the top-5 after the final segment was Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart.

Making an entire 1.5 miles celebration lap in reverse, Kurt Busch would go on to claim over a million dollars along with the trophy for the #2 Miller Lite Dodge. Driving for Roger Penske, this concluded a perfect day after the Penske Racing IndyCar program took pole as well as three of the top four positions for next week's Indy 500.

Kyle Busch Takes Truck Race in Charlotte

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR


The following article is from an outside news source delivered under agreement of NASCAR.

CONCORD, N.C.—Polesitter Kyle Busch survived a scrape with the wall and held off Todd Bodine in a two-lap dash to the finish to win Friday night's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch, who owns the No. 18 Toyota he drove to victory, crossed the finish line .228 seconds ahead of Bodine to give Toyota its first truck series victory at the 1.5-mile racetrack. Ron Hornaday Jr. was third, followed by James Buescher and Elliott Sadler.

The victory was Busch's second in five starts this season, his third at Charlotte and the 18th of his career. Busch has won three straight races in NASCAR's top three touring series, having triumphed in last weekend's Nationwide and Sprint Cup events at Dover.

On Lap 40 of 134, Busch's Toyota broke loose while leading and slammed the outside wall, damaging the front splitter. Initially, Busch slowed after the contact and lost three positions but began working his way back to the front.

As luck would have it, the brush with the wall helped correct a loose handling condition.

"I made it where I could drive it," Busch said. "I knocked some 'tight' into it. This team did a great job in preparing this truck to come here, and I tried to screw it up. I guess the driver owes the car owner a little something today."

On Lap 65, Bodine passed Brad Keselowski for the second spot and regained the lead when Sadler made a green-flag pit stop on Lap 67. Busch stayed out front until Lap 80, when Brent Raymer's truck blew an engine and went up in a ball of fire in the tri-oval to cause the third caution of the race.

After a lengthy pit stop to repair the right front fender on his Tundra, Busch restarted ninth on Lap 90. He gained two spots on the restart lap before Ryan Sieg blew his right front tire and slammed the Turn 3 wall to bring out the fourth yellow flag.

Eleven laps after a restart on Lap 95, Busch passed Bodine for the second position and held it until Dennis Setzer's hard contact with the Turn 2 wall slowed the field for the fifth time. With an excellent restart on Lap 118, Busch took the lead from Hornaday but ran only three green-flag laps before Donny Lia spun off Turn 2 and crashed nose-first into the inside wall on the backstretch.

Bodine leads the series standings by two points over Aric Almirola, who finished seventh.

Cup Series Reunited with the Rear Spoiler

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Through the past two weeks of coverage for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, it's interesting how much attention a slightly-contoured 64.5 x 3.5 inch piece of sheetmetal can receive within the NASCAR press. The Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway will be the first competition since 2007 where a spoiler will adorn the rear deck lid of NASCAR Sprint Cup cars.

The rear spoiler will of course replace the carbon-fiber rear wing as an aerodynamic enhancer to the tricky handling COT design Sprint Cup car. Under belief that the rear spoiler will restore some more needed downforce to the NASCAR vehicle, the spoiler blade will also be set at a fixed 70 degree angle to eliminate the adjustability option that the rear wing presented race teams. Regardless of the aerodynamic performance potential, the vanquishing of the notorious rear wing will immediately be greeted as a welcoming site on appearance alone.

Through a high-profile, two-day open test for Sprint Cup series teams at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jeff Burton driving his #31 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet set the fastest lap. Clocked at 28.539 seconds with an average speed of 189.215 miles per hour, Burton's speed was more than 7/10ths of a mile of hour faster than Ryan Newman's pole lap for the 2009 Coca-Cola 600. Second fastest car in the Charlotte spoiler test was fellow RCR teammate Kevin Harvick at a comparably more leisurely speed of 187.885 MPH. Judging by the gaps between the top times recorded in the test, it seems reasonably to accept that the change from a wing to the rear spoiler will have little affect to speeds around the 1.5 mile oval.

While competing on the smallest and slowest track on the NASCAR Sprint cup schedule, this weekend's race on the Martinsville Speedway will be a test as maximum downforce will be sought in hustling around concrete paved corners.

While the the return of the rear spoiler is clearly a back to basics move for the NASCAR series, some future changes for the premier stock car racing tour will again challenge traditions. NASCAR has indicated through earlier reports this week that testing of fuel-injection is progressing well. Penciling in the replacement of the cornerstone carburetor setup Sprint Cup in 2011, a fuel-injected NASCAR engine may also run a gasoline blended with ethanol.

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race Format Released

Scheduled on May 22nd at Charlotte Motor Speedway, eligible NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and car owners will compete for a 1 million dollar prize in the Sprint All-Star race.

For the 2010 edition of the Sprint All-Star race, all competitors will be required to make a four-tire pit stop before the final 10 lap segment. Other than the mandatory four-tire stop added for this season's upcoming event, NASCAR's 2010 Sprint All-Star race will run fundamentally unchanged from the 2009 race. With four segments totaling 100 laps (40 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and a final 10 lap segment), this race will also include the typical transfer drivers. Two driver will gain entry through the Sprint Showdown, a qualifying race amongst the All-Star non-eligible drivers. One final driver will gain access to the All-Star race by the vote of NASCAR fans.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star race first ran in 1985 as an non-points event arranged by than Cup series title sponsor Winston to reward the previous year's race winner. Originally a straight, single segment 70-lap race, the race has since been divided into multiple segments to four (the amount being run this year). In recent years, the had featured certain wrinkles such as field inversions and a so-called 'survivor-style' eliminations. One notable feature to the All-Star event was use of double-file restarts; a procedure expanded starting mid-last season to all-regular series races in major NASCAR series events.