Hamlin Blows into Kansas Sprint Cup Victory Lane

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

Completing back-to-back on 1.5-mile ovals, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series transitioned from the Saturday night Texas Motor Speedway event to the Sunday afternoon day on the Kansas Speedway. The 8th race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Greg Biffle has shown early race championship form leading the points heading in the STP 400. Noteworthy in the Sprint Cup driver's points standings was the effort of Michael Waltrip Racing's Martin Truex Jr who has installed himself into the tight top-5 battle after 7 races.

The Penske Racing #22 Dodge of AJ Allmendinger led the 43-car field to the green flag at Kansas Speedway controlling the event with the lead for the first 44 laps until the first round of pit stops under green. After two laps where the #11 of Denny Hamlin and the #99 of Carl Edwards collected a point for leading a lap, the leader of the STP 400 was the #56 Toyota of Martin Truex Jr. While the race's first yellow flag flew for the #15 car of Clint Bowyer spinning as he attempted to enter pit lane, none of the lead pack of stock cars decided to pit during the break in the racing action. When the green flag was thrown, Truex Jr rocketed away as he asserted himself as a dominate force with his Michael Waltrip Racing car. Similar to the previous Texas Motor Speedway race, the 400-mile event at Kansas Speedway would only see 18 laps of caution as the yellow flag became a rarely-seen sight during the STP 400.

Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Despite the great positioning, the pole-sitting car and driver would incur a mechanical issue shortly after the race's restart robbing the #22 Penske Racing team of a top finish. On lap 60, Allmendinger reported an engine problem that would be associated with his car falling 1.3 seconds off the pace with the stock car field. The #22 car circulated slowly until the a caution for debris on lap 133. Requiring a change to the electronic fuel injection's ECU, mechanics were able to return Allmendinger to the race track to finish the STP 400. The #22 Dodge finished the race in 32nd place ultimately 10 laps down to the leader.  

Photo Credit: Brian Czobat / autostock ©

The driver of the #22 Dodge for Penske Racing last season before a dramatic removal from the team after the season finale at Homestead, Kurt Busch had a strong run for much of the Kansas Speedway race for Phoenix Racing. Starting 14th, Kurt Busch had has #51 Chevrolet in the top-10 for much of the STP 400. However, a power loss from his Hendrick Motorsports engine dropped him to finish 17th in the event.

With trouble plaguing the customer of Hendrick Motorsports' engines, one of the race operation's immediate teams suffered turmoil. In position for a steady top-10 finish, inaugural NASCAR Cup series winner at the Kansas Speedway Jeff Gordon suffered late-race engine woes. Wounded, the #24 car did finish the STP 400 three laps down in 21st spot. “We lucked out in some ways, I feel like, by finishing 21st. It could have been a lot worse. We struggled today. We missed the set-up. And we were still going to finish 7th or 8th. So I think that says a lot about our race team. But yeah, we obviously had a valve spring I believe, something in the valve train that broke." commented Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Chevrolet.

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty/Autostock Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports

Leading 173 laps up to the 236th circuit around the Kansas Speedway, Martin Truex Jr had held off all comers with exception of Joe Gibbs Racing's #11 Toyota piloted by Denny Hamlin. Capitalizing on less than ideal set of tires that Truex Jr reported through his last race stint, Hamlin reeled in the #56 car and stole the lead on lap 237 (Reminiscent of the moment where Biffle past Johnson at Texas 8 days before). While Denny Hamlin claimed the lead, Martin Truex Jr fought hard to position himself for a late race fight for the race win. With three laps remaining, the #56 Toyota stormed through turn 3 underneath the #11 car but lacked speed through turn four. Well in control of car, the move was Truex Jr's most ambitious attempt at a second-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win. Despite great efforts of the #56 Michael Waltrip Racing car, Denny Hamlin had the edge at the end of 267 laps to win the STP 400.

A 2nd win for the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and driver Denny Hamlin early in this 2012 season, the victory at Kansas Speedway was the first for the Toyota car make. As Martin Truex jr came across the finish line second, the Japanese brand took the top-two positions after 400 miles combining to lead 205 of the race's 267 laps.

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

While Martin Truex Jr came the closest ever for a win with Michael Waltrip Racing, his team cars suffered engine troubles. Clint Bowyer's #15 Toyota was parked after just 125 laps in the 267-lap event while the #55 Aaron's car driven by Mark Martin was forced out of the race with only a handful of laps to go foiling a top-10 run. Michael Waltrip Racing affiliate JTG Daughterty Racing also saw their #47 Toyota piloted by Bobby Labonte suffer a dramatic engine blow-up during the STP 400's second caution period.

For the second 1.5-mile track in a row, the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet appeared to be in position for the 200th win for his car owner. Into the late stage of the STP 400, it appeared that Jimmie Johnson was in position to spoil the battle between the Toyotas at the front. While fast on many occasions, the #48 Chevrolet was never able to mount a solid challenge on the #11 or #56 Toyota. "Just wish we had a little bit more today, and be in victory lane.” said Jimmie Johnson still searching for his first victory of 2012. Despite missing out on victory, the STP 400 did produce top-10 race results for 3 of Hendrick Motorsports' Chevrolets. Behind Johnson's 3rd place, the #88 car of Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 7th and Kasey Kahne completed a second-straight event in the top-10 with an 8th.

Roush Fenway Racing had a solid outing as the Ford of Matt Kenseth finished 4th ahead of NASCAR Sprint Cup point leader and teammate Greg Biffle. The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards rallied from 21st to 9th over the 400-mile event.

Next for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is a Saturday night event at the 3/4-mile short track of Richmond International Raceway.


2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
STP 400
Kansas Speedway
Race Results

Pos #	Car #	Driver	Sponsor/ Car Make
1	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground Toyota
2	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
3	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet
4	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford EcoBoost Ford
5	16	Greg Biffle	3M Novec 1230 Ford
6	29	Kevin Harvick	Rheem Chevrolet
7	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
8	5	Kasey Kahne	Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
9	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford
10	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Toyota
11	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge
12	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
13	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
14	1	Jamie McMurray	McDonald's Chevrolet
15	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota
16	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford
17	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services, Inc. Chevrolet
18	27	Paul Menard	Menards/Zecol Chevrolet
19	12	Sam Hornish Jr.	SKF Dodge
20	39	Ryan Newman	Haas Automation Chevrolet
21	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
22	31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet
23	43	Aric Almirola	STP Ford
24	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet
25	93	Travis Kvapil	Burger King Real Fruit Smoothies Toyota
26	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
27	38	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford
28	32	Reed Sorenson	@TMone We Drive Sales/FAS Lane Ford
29	10	David Reutimann	Accell Construction Chevrolet
30	34	David Ragan	Barrett-Jackson Ford
31	49	JJ Yeley	JPO Absorbents Toyota
32	22	AJ Allmendinger	AAA Dodge
33	55	Mark Martin	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
34	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King Real Fruit Smoothies Toyota
35	47	Bobby Labonte	Reese Towpower Toyota
36	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota
37	36	Dave Blaney	Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
38	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
39	26	Josh Wise	Morristown Driver's Service Ford
40	98	Michael McDowell	Curb Records Ford
41	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
42	19	Mike Bliss	Humphrey Smith Racing LLC Toyota
43	23	Scott Riggs	North TX Pipe Chevrolet

 

Wizard of the Chase Johnson Wins Kansas Cup Race

Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Kansas Speedway is the second of four 1.5 mile tri-oval track locales in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. At the first so-called "cookie-cutter track", Tony Stewart become an early championship favourite when he won the Chicagoland Speedway event on fuel mileage. With 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup series drivers entered for the Hollywood Casino 400, the 12 Chase drivers continue to be under a microscope as some contenders are attempting to assert themselves in this fourth event in the 10-race championship fight.

 

Non-Chase driver Greg Biffle in the #16 Ford took the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole Friday outrunning his Roush Fenway Racing teammate and Chase points leader Carl Edwards. One of the 29 other cars and teams caught in the delicate spot of racing for wins without performing any costly moves against Chase contenders, Biffle was undaunted from racing to win. However, the #16 driver himself would realize having raced within the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship format in previous years.

 

Starting in 19th place, the Hendrick Motorsports #48 Lowes Chevrolet was led to the front quickly by the skillful Jimmie Johnson. Up to 9th place after only the first 15 laps, Johnson took the lead for the first time in the Hollywood Casino 400 at lap 24. Competitors and race fans would soon realize as the Kansas Speedway Sprint Cup event endured the force of the #48 team was in full force. After a rather dormant existence in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson resided at the front for 197 laps over the 267-lap race distance. At one point in the race, Johnson pulled out a 12-second lead on the second-place running vehicle.

 

Other than Jimmie Johnson, the Roush Fenway Ford Fusions of Matt Kenseth and Kansas race pole winner Greg Biffle recorded the only significant collection of laps at the end of the Hollywood Casino 400. With Biffle leading most of his 23 total laps early in the #16 Ford, Matt Kenseth led for 26 laps in the #17 Crown Royal Ford. Between lap 64 and lap 66, Kenseth and Biffle battled to stay at front prior to pit stops. Important for the 2011 NASCAR Chase standings, Kyle Busch in the #18 Toyota, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon would lead laps during the Kansas Speedway event netting a single championship point a piece.

Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick Autostock USA

 

While Johnson enjoyed a glorious time at the front of the Kansas Speedway event, the rest of the Hendrick Motorsport team participated in a relatively quiet scheduled 400.5-mile event. Previous Kansas track winner Mark Martin came home 10th in the #5 Chevrolet while Dale Earnhardt Jr soldiered through a rather uneventful race in the #88 car. Concluding without a tire issue, the 14th place finish was improved over the previous two NASCAR Sprint Cup races.

 

The final Hendrick Motorsport car, the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon, had a dramatic end to his day. Chancing older tires against the force of new tires, Gordon and the #24 Dupont stayed on track improving his track position. Restarting on lap 211, Gordon and the #14 Chevy of Tony Stewart made slight contact causing the #24 car to lose pace, falling out of the top-10 quickly. As the end of the car neared, Jeff Gordon's day turned worse when mechanical problems caused the Hendrick Motorsports engine to break spectacularly with only on lap 265. Dropping to 34th place at the end, the timing of this caution inadvertently threatened what was an almost guaranteed sprint to victory by teammate Jimmie Johnson. 

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

 

In the late stage of the Hollywood Casino 400, the #4 Red Bull Toyota piloted by Kasey Kahne. Starting 5th and demonstrating strong race pace with the Toyota Camry stock car, Kahne lost considerable ground early at Kansas Speedway on a pit stop under the race's first caution on lap 21. Combined with a broken jack, Kahne's entrance out of pit road was blocked by the #48 car of Jimmie Johnson.

 

Bypassing the #2 Dodge of Brad Keselowski in late laps at Kansas, Kasey Kahne was the closest contender showing any ability of defeating the Lowes-sponsored Chevy. On a green-white-checker restart resulting from the blown engine of the #24 Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson obtained a major jump that allowed a safe distance ahead of Kahne through the final 2 laps of the race. Winning his 55th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, the Kansas victory was Johnson's first since the Talladega spring 2011 race.

 

Behind second place Kasey Kahne in the finishing order of the Hollywood Casino 400 was Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. Besides non-Chase driver Kahne, four other drivers outside of the 12-driver end of season points fight for 2011 were in the Kansas race's top-10. From 7th to 10th were the cars of Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Marcos Ambrose and Mark Martin.

 

The Hollywood Casino 400 top-4 consisted of a Chevrolet ahead of a Toyota with a Dodge and a Ford resulting in some close manufacturer parity. However, Chevrolet clinches the Sprint Cup Series manufacturer's championship thanks to the #48 Impala's Kansas win.

 

Elevated in the points with the win, Jimmie Johnson is in 3rd place in the Chase points standing. Driver of the #99 Ford Carl Edwards obtains a one-point gap over Kevin Harvick who came home in 6th place. Edwards and Harvick entered the Kansas race tied with the difference of a single position breaking the draw.

 

A 500-mile night race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is next for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jamie McMurray won the Charlotte event in 2010 over Kyle Busch.

  

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Hollywood Casino 400
Kansas Speedway
Race Results


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

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

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

Keselowski powers to Nationwide win at Kansas

Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(October 8, 2011)

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Driving a No. 22 Dodge that felt as if it were on rails, Brad Keselowski dominated Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway to win his fourth Nationwide Series race of the year and the 16th of his career.

The reigning series champion passed runner-up Carl Edwards with just over 13 laps left and pulled away to win by 2.795 seconds. Elliott Sadler ran third, followed by Paul Menard and Nationwide points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Keselowski had a 10-second lead over Menard when the engine in Josh Wise's
Chevrolet exploded on Lap 142. The No. 22 Dodge hit pit road for tires and fuel and quickly stretched out his lead.

But when Angela Cope spun and hit the Turn 2 wall on Lap 173, Edwards was able to grab the lead to the inside after a restart on Lap 179. His advantage didn't last. Keselowski moved past Edwards to the inside on Lap 187 and pulled away for the win.

From Keselowski's perspective, the winning pass was anything but a foregone conclusion.

"The first few laps that I was behind him, I was pushing so bad in his air that I had some serious doubts," Keselowski said. "I go back to last week at Dover in the (Sprint) Cup car. In the last segment, we restarted 21st or something like that, drove through the lapped cars, and I ran down the lead pack from a straightaway behind in about four laps—I was three or four tenths (of a second) a lap faster.

"Then I caught the back half of the field and slowed down three or fourth tenths of a second in the dirty air. I was thinking about that the whole time I was behind Carl there, and I was like, 'Oh, my God, this is going to be another one of those days.' But I was able to move my line around and find clean air."

Keselowski may have had his doubts. Edwards—not so much.

"Brad's car was so fast," Edwards said. "I knew after about 30 laps that, unless something happened, we were going to be racing pretty hard for second place. Fortunately, there at the end, I did get a chance to race with him a little bit."

As it turned out, not for long.

Keselowski was the clear class of the field in the first half of the race. On successive green-flag runs, he opened leads of seven, five and four seconds before cautions bunched the field. Keselowski led Sadler by 3.785 seconds when NASCAR called the fourth caution of the race on Lap 86 for Timmy Hill's blown engine.

Keselowski, who had stayed out under the previous yellow, came to pit road for fuel and four tires on Lap 88 but stalled his car in his pit box because of a miscommunication between driver and crew on when to leave the stall.

"My fault," Keselowski radioed after the mistake. "I wasn't ready when you dropped the jack."

Keselowski restarted 14th on Lap 96. Six laps later, he was back in the lead, blowing past Aric Almirola for the top spot on Lap 101.

Notes: Stenhouse leads Sadler by 20 points in the series standings with four races left in the season. … Reed Sorenson, driving the Randy MacDonald's No. 82 Dodge after his sudden ouster from the No. 32 Turner Motorsports Chevy earlier in the week, ran 26th, two laps down. He remains third in points but fell from 49 to 70 behind Stenhouse. … With his runner-up finish in the No. 60 Ford, Edwards trimmed the lead of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to seven points in the owners' standings. … Danica Patrick finished 15th, her best result since finishing 10th at Daytona in July.

Native son Bowyer dominates Kansas truck race

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

By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

June 4, 2011


KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The unquestioned class of the field in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway, Clint Bowyer won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season in dominating fashion.


Bowyer, from Emporia, Kan., beat Johnny Sauter to the finish line by 1.695 seconds to claim his third victory in 11 starts in the series. Todd Bodine ran third, followed by James Buescher and Joey Coulter, who passed Kyle Busch on the last of 167 laps for the fifth spot.


It was a watershed race for Bowyer, who posted his first NASCAR national series victory in his home state in the 400th race in Truck Series history. Previously, Bowyer had finished second in the 2007 Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile track and second in the 2008 Nationwide Series event here.


“We’ve come close here,” Bowyer said. “We’ve had good runs here, but we just haven’t been able to seal the deal. To finally be able to do a burnout on the frontstretch in front of that crowd is big, man. It’s a good feeling.


“This place means a lot to me. I watched this place being built. I dreamed of being able to race here in anything, and to be able to roll into victory lane ... is pretty cool.”


Bowyer, however, has unfinished business at his home track.


“I want to win a Cup race here bad,” said Bowyer, who will start 27th in Sunday’s STP 400 Cup event.


A debris caution on Lap 98 was a godsend for Bowyer and Sauter, who hadn’t been to the pit for fuel and tires since Laps 50 and 59 respectively. Both took advantage of the yellow and came to the pits.


After restarting third on lap 103, Bowyer took the lead from Todd Bodine on Lap 109, two laps before Shane Sieg smacked the Turn 2 wall to cause the sixth caution of the race. Bowyer returned to the pits under yellow on Lap 112 to take on enough fuel to go the distance.


Though he restarted 11th on Lap 116, Bowyer quickly moved to the front, passing Bodine to regain the lead on Lap 122. Bowyer, Sauter and Busch all remained on the track under caution for Clay Rogers’ spin off Turn 2 on Lap 131.
Bowyer led the field to the green flag on Lap 138 and after battling Sauter for half a lap began to pull away.


Notes: Bowyer led 124 laps, including the first 49 ... Sauter took over the series lead from Cole Whitt, who fell to second and trails Sauter by 12 points ... Polesitter Austin Dillon, who finished 12th Saturday, gained one spot to third in the standings.

Biffle Boffo: Ford Driver Wins Kansas' Price Chopper 400



Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/ Getty Images



Obtaining his 3rd pole for the 2010 season, Kasey Kahne led the 43-car NASCAR Sprint Cup field in the Price Chopper 400 held on the 1.5 mile Kansas Speedway oval. As Kahne placed his #9 Ford at the front in qualifying, teammate Paul Menard completed a front-row sweep for Richard Petty Motorsports with a marvelous 2nd fastest time in the #98 Ford. With only four of the twelve Chase eligible qualifying in the top-10 for the Sprint Cup event, some of the notable 2010 title contenders had a to climb the running order included Jimmie Johnson starting 21st and Kevin Harvick rolling off 26th.

Staying out front for the race's first 27 laps of the Price Chopper 400, Kahne's Ford stay at the front was brought to an as the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon launched himself into to the lead. Still winless since Texas of 2009, Gordon comes to Kansas as a two-time previous winner.

The first caution of the event flew on lap 43 when the #42 Chevrolet driven by Juan Pablo Montoya slid up into the turn 3 wall. Though the Kansas Speedway race is known for creating long green flag runs, the laps under race conditions were ever more plentiful this race. Recording the fewest cautions for any NASCAR Sprint Cup event run on the 1.5 mile Kansas Speedway, the Price Chopper 400 was slowed only 5 times for 24 of the event's total 267 laps.

Two of the race's cautions involved a situation between the Toyotas of David Reutimann and Kyle Busch. Shortly after the first yellow flag for Montoya, caution was thrown on the field once more on lap 53 when the #18 M and M Toyota of Busch raced behind the #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota of Reutimann into turn 3. With Kyle Busch maintaining a fast pace, Reutimann's car apparently bobbles traveling through the corner allowing the #18 to charge quickly on the #00 Toyota. Appearing to be attempting a low pass on David Reutimann, Busch's car surged quickly and taps the left rear of the #00 car's bumper. Sending the Michael Waltrip Racing car into the outside wall, Kyle Busch skated by undamaged. Regrettably for Kyle Busch, his #18 Toyota would not escape the Price Chopper 400 completely unscathed by the incident.

Part 2 of the Reutimann/Busch show occurred 103 laps after the initial incident. The #18 Joe Gibbs Racing car was was running within the top-10 flying up on the wounded #00 Toyota. Lapping the #00 on the 156th lap, Kyle Busch had almost completed a pass on the Reutimann's car when the slower Michael Waltrip Racing car shot up into the #18 Toyota's left rear quarter panel. Making contact, the incident was bizarre since David Reutimann was the one who went spinning down the backstretch while Kyle Busch received a hard shove against the outside wall. While the #00 car suffered noticable cosmetic damage with the contact, a visual analysis of the #18 car of Busch would have given the impression the Joe Gibbs Racing car again averted damage. However, as the car circulated the track under caution, the driver of the #18 Toyota reported handling problems. The appraisal of the Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew confirmed problems for their team's Toyota. Facing the option of fixing the problem for an extended stay behind the wall, the #18 crew chief Dave Rogers and associates chose to keep the car out on the race track. To the disgust of Kyle Busch, the #18 Toyota soldiered through the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway in 21st place effectively minimizing the Chase points lose for the weekend.

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

With problems in the Toyota camp, the Ford contingency also suffered a blow in the Price Chopper 400. Caution flew on lap 166 when the pole-winning #9 Ford of Kasey Kahne blew a tire. Quickly heading to pit lane, the left front fender of Kahne's car was battered apart. Finishing 49 laps down, the Budweiser Ford race ended in 37th place.

As one Ford fell from contention, the blue oval brigade developed into a dominate force at the end of the Kansas race. Leading the field's final 78 laps after a fifth and last caution for fluid on the track, Roush-Fenway Racing-backed Ford Fusions driven by Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards as well as a Richard Petty Motorsports car of Paul Menard led as a strong collective effort for the manufacturer. The strongest of the three Fords was Greg Biffle who led the remaining 29 laps for the Price Chopper 400 win. Celebratory in victory lane with team and car owner Jack Roush for his two win of the 2010 season, Biffle gained one position in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup to 8th place. Greg Biffle rests 85 points behind the new Chase points leader leaving Kansas.

Emerging by front at the end, 4-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in second place. Possessing a thin 8 point lead, Johnson's important points day was left unfulfilled by missing an opportunity to claim 5 bonus points for leading a race lap.

Completing the top-5 running order of the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway composes of Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. All drivers finishing in the first five positions of this race were Chase contenders. Because of this, some drivers suffering even mediocre runs at Kansas were face with frustrating results in the point standings.

A 400 mile race, the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway ended up as feeling much longer for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. With Kyle Busch's problem already documented, the #11 FedEx Toyota of Denny Hamlin led a sub-par Joe Gibbs Racing effort at Kansas in 12th place. The Chase points-leading car heading into weekend, the #11 car's run measured against the runner-up finish by Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson resulted with Hamlin losing top spot in the points standings.



2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Price Chopper 400
Kansas Speedway
Finishing Order 


Top-10:

1. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Sherwin Williams Ford
2. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's/Johns Manville Chevrolet
3. 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
4. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
5. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
6. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
7. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
8. 98 Paul Menard Zecol/Menard Ford
9. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Chevrolet
10. 43 A J Allmendinger Insignia HDTV Ford