Nascar 2012 - race 31

DOLLAR GENERAL 300




Written by Rick A. Talford

Nascar Enthusiast



CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - The Nationwide Series ran race number 29 of 33. The Charlotte race ran 200 laps on the 1.5 mile track. This race was promoted by, and for National Breasts Cancer Awareness. “Pink” was seen everywhere around the track, even the trophy was pink. Every car had a pink nationwide banner across their windows, and 300 survivors stood with pink flags around the starting line in pre-race ceremonies. The Pole Sitter was Elliott Sadler (2) , with Austin Dillon (3) starting second. The In-Race Reporter was Elliott Sadler. Joe Andersen provided the invocation. Shannon Magraine sang the National Anthem, and Mike Calbert was the Grand Marshal.



The race started with a caution on lap 1, when Angela Cope (00) had damaged her radiator on the start of the race. Before she was able to get back to pit road, she dropped plenty of fluid on the track. The second caution came out on lap 13, when Justin Allgaier (31) and Sam Hornish Jr. (12) got together on track. The race had many drivers taking the lead for a few laps here and there. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (6), Kevin Harvick (33), and Brad Keselowski (22) all took turns out front early. Lap 84 brought out the third caution for Mike Bliss (19) crashing, after a tire blew out. During the caution, Austin Dillon (3) was penalized for a tire violation on pit road. A member of the pit crew (tire carrier) was not back to the wall enough before the car left the box, causing the penalty. On lap 92, Brad Sweet (38) had bounced off Michael Annett (43) and then he spun out for a fourth caution. The fifth caution came on lap 131 for debris. A soda can ripped in half was the cause.



The race ran green to the end. Joey Lagono (20) was able to take the victory over Kevin Harvick (33). Lagono won his eighth win of the season, in the Nationwide Series. This leads all drivers in the series. He has raced in eighteen races, winning eight. That is a 44.4% winning percentage. The rest of the top ten were: Elliott Sadler (2), Kyle Busch (54), Denny Hamlin (18), Austin Dillon (3), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (6), Brian Scott (11), James Buescher (30) and Michael Annett (43). Danica Patrick (7) started in eleventh, and finished in the same position, one lap down. Only the top ten cars finished the race on the lead lap, with Patrick getting passed on the final corner.



The points leader is Elliott Sadler (2), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (6)(-13), Austin Dillon (3) (-29), Sam Hornish Jr. (12) (-93) and Michael Annett (43) (-146). Dillon may not win the title this season, but he is definitely looking at being the Rookie-of-the-Year for sure.



The next race is Saturday 3 EST at Kansas on ESPN.











BANK OF AMERICA 500



CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - The Cup Series ran their 31st of 36 races. The race was scheduled for 334 laps, making a five hundred mile race on the one and a half mile track. In the only night time race of the “Chase”, the Most Popular Driver in the series would not be in the race, due to a second concussion in six weeks. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was diagnosed with a concussion by Dr. Jerry Petty. Jr. had a crash at Kansas in practice on Aug. 29, when he had the first concussion in a hard crash. He has ran 461 consecutive races to this point, dating back to 1999. He will have to sit out this race, as well as next weeks race in Kansas. Regan Smith drove the 88 Car for the race. The Pole Sitter was Greg Biffle (16), with Mark Martin (55) starting second in his 850th career start. Martin’s first race was in 1981. Kurt Busch (78) started the race with a new team. AJ Almandine (51) was re-instated to race, and was hired to race again. During Opening Ceremonies, Mike Novak provided the invocation. The Group “NewSong” sang the National Anthem. The Grand Marshal was a Wounded Warrior Veteran, Dan Nevins. The In-Race Reporter was Denny Hamlin (11). Nick Walenda also walked a high-wire from atop the grandstand to a crane, 100 feet above the ground, in Victory Lane.



The first caution came out on lap 12, when Matt Kenseth (17) blew a tire and spun out by himself. On the restart, another caution flew for cars that ran into one another getting up to speed. Involved in the mess were: Jeff Burton (31), David Ragan (34), Sam Hornish Jr. (22), Tony Stewart (14) and Marcus Ambrose (9). The third caution came out on lap 36, when Paul Menard (27) hit the wall hard. On lap 61, Regan Smith (88) had to pull off track when the engine failed on his AMP ride. He was the second fastest in the final practice, after starting this weekend for Dale Earnhardt Jr. On lap 167, a fourth caution came out for a pop can that was sitting at the end of pit road. The fifth caution came out for debris on lap 224. The debris was never shown to the viewers. With the race running long green runs, on lap 260 Martin Truex Jr. (56) was the first to make a green flag stop. Most the drivers are trying to get to lap 280, making it their last stop to the end. Johnson, Hamlin, Bowyer were all very close to doing what they were attempting. The rest of the field had to make at least one more stop to get to the end of the race. Clint Bowyer made it to the checkered flag ahead of Hamlin and Johnson, who all saved fuel to get to the end.



The rest of the top ten were: Greg Biffle (16), Kyle Busch (18), Mark Martin (55) on the lead lap. One lap down were: Carl Edwards (99), Kasey Kahne (5), Joey Lagono (20), Martin Truex Jr. (56). Other “Chase” drivers were: Keselowski (2) in eleventh (led 140 laps), Stewart (14) in thirteenth, Kenseth (17) in fourteenth, Harvick (29) in sixteenth and Gordon (24) in eighteenth.



The point standings are: Leader - Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson (-7), Denny Hamlin (-15), Clint Bowyer (28), Kasey Kahne (-35), Greg Biffle (-43), Martin Truex Jr. (-49), Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon (-50), Kevin Harvick (-56), Matt Kenseth (-67) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-86).



The next race will be held at Kansas on Sunday on ESPN.