Nascar 2012 - race 28

KENTUCKY 300




Written by Rick A. Talford

Nascar Enthusiast



SPARTA, KENTUCKY - The Nationwide Series ran their race at the “Miracle Mile” this weekend. They ran 200 laps. Starting this race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(6) was the points leader over Elliott Sadler (2) by nine points, and Austin Dillon (3) by 34 pts. The Pole sitter was Austin Dillon, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. starting second. A “Competition Caution” was scheduled for lap 30, due to overnight rain showers at the track. In Friday nights race, James Buescher won the Truck Event. Ty Dillon is currently the points leader in the series. In other related news, Tony Eury Jr. was released by Junior Motorsports. Ryan Pemberton will be his successor for the race team (7). A couple young drivers would be in the race also. 19 year old Alex Bowman (99) and 18 year old Ryan Blaney (22). Blaney won his very first career truck series race last weekend at Iowa. He would become the youngest winner of that series. He raced truck number 29. The “Opening Ceremonies” had Pastor John Roberts providing the invocation. Mackenzie Morgan singing the “National Anthem,” while four T-38’s flew over the race track. The Grand Marshal was a Vietnam Veteran Joe Sturm, with his Military Dog (Sgt).



The race only ran one green flag lap, before the first caution came out for Joe Nemechek (87) spinning out. A second car spinning out on lap eight would bring out the second caution. Brad Sweet (38) also spun in turn three. During the caution, Nascar warned Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(6) about his starts being “too slow,” causing problems for cars behind him. The third caution flew at lap 30, for the scheduled “Competition Caution”. During this pit stop, the leader would have troubles. Stenhouse Jr. pulled out of his pit box, and ran right into the side of Eric McClure’s car. He damaged the nose of his own race car, and had to return to his pit box for repairs. This dropped him from the lead, back to 28th spot. Austin Dillon (3) would take the lead after the restart.



On lap 40, Drew Herring (18) would spin out of seventh place, after being tagged by Michael Annett (43). On lap 50, Stenhouse Jr. would have more troubles, as he hit the wall hard with both front and rear of his car. This would cause him to head to the pits for repairs, and dropped him two laps down in the race. Mike Wallace (01) would tag Taylor Malsham (19) on lap 88 for the fifth caution. As with many races in the past this season, the Kyle Busch entry (54) would have issues on track. Kurt Busch was driving this weekend, and the engine began smoking on lap 129. They would find that it was the transmission sticking, that caused the smoke.



Teammates Dillon and Elliott Sadler (2) would then begin battling back and forth for the lead around lap 145. Sadler then began having troubles with his steering, sticking and releasing on and off. During the sixth and final caution, when Eric McClure (14) spun out, they attempted to look at the problem. Austin Dillon would win the race to the finish over Sam Hornish Jr. (12). This became the perfect gift for his Owner/Grandfather Richard Childress, whom had a birthday the day before the race.



The rest of the top ten were: Brandon Gaughn (33), Drew Herring (18), Elliott Sadler (2), Cole Whitt (88), Michael Annett (43), Justin Allgaier (31), Ryan Blaney (22) and Brad Sweet (38). Other notables were: Johanna Long (70) one lap down in twelfth, and Danica Patrick (7) two laps down in fourteenth. Only the top ten cars were on the lead lap at the end of the race. Elliott Sadler would become the points leader again, with a four point lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Austin Dillon is now only 19 points back in third place.



The next race is at Dover, next Saturday at 3 PM EST on ESPN2











SILVANIA 300



LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - The Sprint Cup Series ran their twenty-eighth race of the season on the 1.5 mile motor speedway. The flat track was stop number two, of ten for the “Chase for the Championship”. A “Competition Caution” was scheduled for lap 40, due to rain overnight at the speedway. The Pole Sitter was Jeff Gordon (24), with Kyle Busch (18) starting second. During the “Opening Ceremonies”, Kevin Forrester provided the invocation. The Vermont 40th Infantry Band played the National Anthem. The Grand Marshal was Graham Wurk, and the In-Race reporter was Kevin Harvick (29). In other related news, A.J. Allmindinger was re-instated after completing “Road to Recovery” rehab. Regan Smith (78) also stated “I don’t believe I will be back with Furniture Row next season”



The first few laps were led by Jeff Gordon (24). Tony Stewart (14) would take the lead until the competition caution fell. Then Kyle Busch (18) would lead the next forty-eight laps, before his teammate Denny Hamlin (11) took over the lead.



There were three cautions (laps 132, 178, 275) for debris, that was never shown to the viewers. It did seem however, that when the leader got up a five second lead, the caution would come out. Around lap 174, Kyle Busch would start having engine troubles, and became very upset with his crew chief asking questions to him. He would continue and finish the race, but he did fall laps down.



Hamlin would dominate the race after running out of gas on the last lap, a week earlier. After the race last weekend, Hamlin told reporters “All was good, I’ll win next weekend,” and he did. Jimmie Johnson (48) did all he could, but Hamlin was just simply “Fast”.



The rest of the top ten were: Jeff Gordon (24), Clint Bowyer (15), Kasey Kahne (5), Brad Keselowski (2), Tony Stewart (14), Joey Lagono (20), Brian Vickers (55) and Ryan Newman (39). Other notables from the chase were: Kevin Harvick (29) in eleventh, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) in thirteenth, Matt Kenseth (17) in fourteenth, Martin Truex Jr. (56) in seventeenth and Greg Biffle (16) in Eighteenth. Nineteen cars would finish on the lead lap. This was also Owner Joe Gibbs 100th Win in the series.



The points standing now are : Jimmie Johnson (leader), Brad Keselowski (-1), Denny Hamlin (-7), Tony Stewart (-10), Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer (-15), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-26), Kevin Harvick (-31), Greg Biffle (-33), Ryan Truex Jr. (-34), Matt Kenseth (-35) and Jeff Gordon (-45).



The next race is at Dover on Sunday at 1 PM EST on ESPN.