Darlington "Lady in Black"

                                                                  “VFW Sport Clips 200”




DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA- The Nationwide Series ran another Friday Night race at “The Lady in Black” There were 12 drivers who had never raced at the track starting the race. The pole sitter was Kyle Busch (54), and Elliott Sadler (11) started second. The race was scheduled for 147 laps. All four JGR cars started in the top four spots.

Opening Ceremonies had Pastor Mark Jones providing the Invocation. Master Sergeant Steven David sang the “National Anthem.” The Grand Marshal for the race was Gordon Logan. Kasey Kahne (5) was the In-Race Reporter.

The first caution came out on lap 24, when Trevor Bayne (6) ran up and into the front end of Bryan Silas (24), causing damage to both cars.

The second caution came out on lap 32, when Eric McClure (14) tried to stay off the lap car of Harrison Rhodes (23), but as Rhodes was sliding along the wall, McClure tagged the rear of his car and spun out.

The third caution flew on lap 50, for Elliott Sadler (11) spinning off track. He only lost 6-8 spots, and never hit anything with the car.

On lap 79, Travis Pastrana (60) got a second stripe after hitting the wall twice. He took his car to pit road as he had repairs needed.

On lap 91, Brian Vickers (20) had a bad vibration, so he hit pit road for new tires.

Green flag stops began at lap 109.

On lap 120, the caution flew for Kyle Fowler (79), who hit the wall after a tire failed. Alex Bowman (99) made a good move to keep from getting wrecked as he was tagged by Fowler.

On the restart Kyle Busch was able to pass the two cars that stayed out, to gain positions in the finish. Joey Lagono (22) and Austin Dillon (3) did not pit. Busch (54) was able to hold off teammate Elliott Sadler (11) for the win.

The rest of the top ten were: Brian Vickers (30), Joey Lagono (22), Matt Kenseth (18), Kyle Larsen (32), Regan Smith (7), Sam Hornish Jr. (12), Kasey Kahne (5) and Justin Allgaier (31).

The next race will be at Charlotte on May 25, 2013 for the “History 300” on ESPN or ESPN2.





                                                                  “BOJANGLES 500”

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA- “The Track Too Tough to Tame” was the site of the Southern 500. The Pole Sitter for the race is Kurt Busch (78), with a Track Record Speed of 181.918 mph. Jimmie Johnson (48) started second. Danica Patrick (10) started at the rear in her backup car, after crashing her primary car in practice. The penalties against the JGR team received many reductions through the appeal process. The crew chief will only be suspended for one race instead of six. Kenseth (20) received 38 of the 50 points taken back, moving him from 11th to 4th in the standings. Jimmie Johnson (48) ran an emerald green car for this race. Brad Keselowski (2) and Joey Lagono (22) are racing the next two without their crew chiefs after penalties were imposed. Jeff Gordon (24) & Bobby Labonte (47) will run their 700th race, making another milestone in their careers. The race was scheduled for 501 miles, with 367 laps.

In Opening Ceremonies, Captain John Denny provided the Invocation. The “National Anthem” was sung by Waylon Owings. The Grand Marshal’s for the race are the Mom’s of the Drivers in the race. The In-Race reporter was Denny Hamlin (11).

Green flag stops began around lap 46. Kurt Busch (78) had a two second lead when the stops began. On lap 56, Kenseth (20) made his stop as the last of the lead lap cars to stop. Another round of green flag stops began near lap 100. The final stop for the lead lap cars was near lap 104. Only 17 cars remained on the lead lap at this point in the race.

The first caution was on lap 124, for debris. No debris was shown to the viewers.

More green flag pit stops were completed around lap 240. Clint Bowyer (15) was penalized for taking equipment from the pit box, as the gas can stayed connected when he pulled away.

On lap 301, the second caution came out for Regan Smith (51) spinning out.

On lap 313, the third caution flew when Casey Mears (13) and Kurt Busch got together enough, that Mears got into the wall. Brad Keselowski (2) was also involved, as he ran into the back of Mears car. Keselowski had a tough night, once being down two laps due to a loose tire on a pit stop.

On lap 347, Kyle Busch (18) got into the back end of Kasey Kahne (5) for a third time this season, causing him to spin out, and the fourth caution of the race flew. Kahne was not happy with the fact that Busch cost him another race that he was strong in.

Busch led 265 of the 367 laps, but fell short of winning the race, as teammates Matt Kenseth (20) won the race, and Denny Hamlin (11) was second, in his first full race back from his injury. Busch would leave the track again, without talking to any media. This is a common theme for Busch when he fails to finish a race well.

The rest of the top ten were: Jeff Gordon (24), Jimmie Johnson (48), Kevin Harvick (29), Kyle Busch (18), Carl Edwards (99), Juan Pablo Montoya (42), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) and Ryan Newman (39).

The next race will be the “All Star Race” next Saturday Night at 8PM on FOX. This is the first weekend of two they will race at Charlotte Superspeedway.

Jimmie Johnson remains the point’s leader over Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer.