NASCAR - Bristol

It was Bristol Baby...

 

Congratulations Denny Hamlin!!! Great Racing!!! love night racing and love Bristol... the track never disappoints... one unusual strategy was Carl Edwards, who ran out of gas with 5 laps left  to go.


Top Ten Recap:
1. Denny Hamlin - started 8 - up 2 positions to 8th
2. Jimmie Johnson - started 37 - up 2 positions to 2nd
3. Jeff Gordon - started 11 - up 1 position to 15th
4. Brian Vickers - started 22 - up 1 position to 35th in only 6 starts
5. Marcos Ambrose - started 9 - remains in 17th
6. Kyle Busch - started 10 - up 1 position to 13th
7. Clint Bowyer - started 23 - up 1 position to 6th
8. Joey Lagano - started 4 - remains in 18th
9. Kasey Kahne - started 22 - remains in 11th
10. Paul Menard - started 7 - up 1 position to 14th

Race for the Chase:
1. Greg Biffle - finished 19th
2. Jimmie Johnson - finished 2nd - up 2 positions
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr  - finished 12th
4. Matt Kenseth - finished 25th - down 2 positions
5. Martin Truex Jr; - finished 11th - up 1 position
6. Clint Bowyer - finished 7th - up 1 position
7. Brad Keslowski - finished 30th - down 2  positions
8. Denny Hamlin - WINNER - up 2 positions
9. Kevin Harvick - finished 15th - down 1 positions
10. Tony Stewart - finished 27th - down 1 position
11. Kasey Kahne - finished 9th
12. Carl Edwards - finished 22nd -

Kyle Busch took over the second wild card spot, moving up to 13th in points after a 6th place finish.

Next Race - Atlanta Motor Speedway - AdvoCare 500 - September 2, 2012  - Sunday Night  Racing 6:30 pm est.

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Michigan

Pure Michigan, what a name for this race. Even though I am not a fan of most flat tracks, Michigan is a horse of it's own color. Passing, passing every where, racing for every position on track. With 26 cars left on the lead lap, green flag racing is at it's best. No one seemed to have the upper edge being out front today. Mark Martin had a serious wreck while leading the race. Kasey Kahne tapped him from behind sending the car smashing into the edge of wall. The wall slicing into the car right behind the drivers seat. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman were the only Hendrick engines that made it to the end of the race. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart all had engine problems, Johnson's coming with just 5 laps left while in the lead.

Congratulations Greg Biffle!!! Nice racing, just being quiet all day, but staying right up there. Just taking one right after the other at the end of the race. Jimmie blew his engine before you could get up there to race him, but you by far had the car to beat anyway. Pushing yourself back into the points lead.  There were a few leaders in race, with the green flag pit stops. Pit stops were crucial a few seconds meant the difference between each position. Great racing. Love It. Next weed Night Racing, can't wait

Top Ten Recap:
1. Greg Biffle - started 13 - up 1 position to LEADER
2. Brad Keslowski - started 19 - remains in 5th
3. Kasey Kahne - started 5 - remains in 11th
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 22 - up 1 position to 3rd
5. Marcos Ambrose - started 8 - remains in 17th
6. Carl Edwards - started 2 - remains in 10th
7. Clint Bowyer - started 12 - remains in 7th
8. Ryan Newman - started 15 - remains in 13th
9. Paul Menard - started 10 - up 1 position to 15th
10. Martin Truex Jr. - started 7 - remains in 6th

Race for the Chase
1. Greg Biffle - WINNER - up 1 position
2. Matt Kenseth - finished 17th - up 1 position
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 4th - up 1 position
4. Jimmie Johnson - finished 27th - down 3 positions
5. Brad Keslowski - finished 2nd
6. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 10th
7. Clint Bowyer - finished 7th
8. Kevin Harvick - finished 16th - up 1 position
9. Tony Stewart - finished 32nd - down 1 position
10. Denny Hamlin - finished 11th
11. Kasey Kahne - finished 3rd
12. Carl Edwards - finished 6th

Carl Edwards still remains to be on the outside of the Chase. Ryan Newman holds the second wild card position for the moment but Kyle Busch in 14th in only 11 points behind him, Jeff Gordon in 16th, 30 points behind, Marcos Ambrose in 17th - 44 points and Joey Lagano in 18th - 80 points behind. With just 3 races left all 4 of these drivers are racing not only for points  for another wins, which will give them the spot they so desperately want.

Next Race - Bristol Motor Speedway - Irwin Tools Night Race - Saturday - August 25, 2012 - 7pm

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen proved to be a pretty good race. Brad Keslowski certainly added to the excitement during this race. Driving as hard as he could, at times it looked like he was "drifting" his car around the corners. Showing no fear, being the young driver he is, he and Marcos Ambrose, a veteran road course racer,  drove that last lap, daring each other to drive just a little harder to slip up, Brad was the first to make that slip and Ambrose drove by and never looked back.
Tony Stewart was the strongest car out there today. Proving that there really is more than a couple of places to pass on the course. After serving a plenty putting him back in 20's he passed his way back to the top ten in about 15 laps...He ran up in 2nd until he spun out, backing into the entrance of pit road and rendering him to a 19th place finish.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. fell out of the points lead after spinning out on oil on the track and flat spotting his tires, forcing him to pit with just 5 laps left in the race and finishing 28th.

Congratulations Marcos Ambrose!!! Awesome ending to a great last lap on a road course. Or to quote Kenny Wallace "An epic ending to a road course race". Will probably not see an ending like that on a road course for a very long time. Both you and Brad ran hard that last lap, Brad made the first mistake and you grabbed hold of the lead.  Giving you the opportunity to make the Chase. Another win in the next four races is a priority to grab a spot.
Top Ten Recap:
1. Marcos Ambrose - started 5 - up 1 position to 17th
2. Brad Keslowski - started 4 - up 2 positions to 5th
3. Jimmie Johnson - started 3 - up 3 positions to 1st
4. Clint Bowyer - started 8 - up 3 positions 7th
5. Sam Hornish Jr. - started 17 - remains in 59th
6. Greg Biffle - started 15 - up 1 position to 2nd
7. Kyle Busch - started 2 - up 1 position to 14th
8. Matt Kenseth - started 24 - down 1 position to 3rd
9. Regan Smith - started 13 - up 1 position to 23rd
10. Martin Truex Jr. - started 9 - down 1 position to 6th

Race for the Chase
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 3rd - up 3 positions
2. Greg Biffle - finished 6th - up 1 position
3. Matt Kenseth - finished 8th - down 1 position
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 28th - down 3 positions
5. Brad Keslowski - finished 2nd - up 2 positions
6. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 10th - down 1 position
7. Clint Bowyer - finished 4th - up 3 positions
8. Tony Stewart - finished 19th - down 3 positions
9. Kevin Harvick - finished 15th
10. Denny Hamlin - finished 34th - down 2 positions
11. Kasey Kahne - finished 13th
12. Carl Edwards - finished 14th

Ryan Newman has taken over the 13th position putting him in the 2nd wild card spot (12th position)
Carl Edwards is searching for that ever eluding win, or he will not make this years chase.
Denny Hamlin is sitting on the bubble after another bad finish. With 2 wins he might be safe if he drops further down, but there are 4 other contenders beside Ryan Newman, waiting for that second win. Kyle Busch in 14th just 12 points out of 12th, Jeff Gordon in 15th just 16 points away, Marcos Ambrose in 17th, 50 points back and Joey Lagano in 18th, 63 points out. One more win for any of these 5 puts them in. The next 4 races should be exciting ones with so many contending to get into the Chase.

Next Race - Michigan International Speedway - Pure Michigan 400 - Sunday, August 19, 2012, 12 pm. est.

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara

NASCAR - Pocono

Pocono seemed a little different today, maybe because the track was green, maybe because the drivers raced as if every lap would be the last, or maybe???? who knows, it made for a decent race. There was passing all the way around. Only 4 cautions littered this race the last being the end of the race after 98 laps. The rain shortened race proved to be a blessing to Jeff Gordon giving him a win and a berth in the Chase after this race. With only 5 races left, this should give the #24 team the momentum the need to get themselves in the top 10.

Congratulations Jeff Gordon!!! You put yourself in the perfect position when the rains came. Jimmie's little wiggle that caused the 3rd caution, taking out Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin and putting himself and Greg Biffle back in the pack, gave you the the opening you needed to scoot through the mess and land in the top position. Celebrating with your family added even more.

Kasey Kahne finished the race with flat tire, taking the chance the rains would come and secured himself a 2nd place and gaining 2 positions in the Chase putting him in 11th. Brad Keslowski took the chance also, but his was fuel landing him a 4th place finish also gaining 2 positions into 7th.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth both had problems. Dale Jr. had transmission issues, rendering him to the garage for 18 laps and breaking his streak of finishing every lap of every lap. He did not get a DNF however. Finishing 32nd he lost points but did remain the leader.
Matt Kenseth was involved in the 3rd caution of the race. Jimmie's wiggle took out Matt, finishing in 17th he held onto 2nd in the points only 5 behind.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Jeff Gordon - started 27 - up 2 positions to 13th
2. Kasey Kahne - started 4 - up 2 positions to 11th
3. Martin Truex Jr. - started 15 - up 2 positions to 5th
4. Brad Keslowski - started 31 - up 2 positions to 7th
5. Tony Stewart - started 28 - up 2 positions to 6th
6. Ryan Newman - started 9 - remains in 14th
7. Carl Edwards - started 17 - remains in 12th
8. Clint Bowyer - started 19 - remains in 10th
9. Regan Smith - started 11 - remains in 24th
10. Marcos Ambrose - started 5 - remains in 18th

Race for the Chase:
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 32nd
2. Matt Kenseth - finished 17th
3. Greg Biffle - finished 15th
4. Jimmie Johnson - finished 14th
5. Martin Truex Jr. - finished 3rd - up 2 positions
6. Tony Stewart - finished 5th - up 2 positions
7. Brad Keslowski - finished 4th - up 2 positions
8. Denny Hamlin - finished 29th - down 3 positions
9. Kevin Harvick - finished 17th - down 3 positions
10. Clint Bowyer - finished 19th
11. Kasey Kahne - finished 2nd - up 2 positions
12. Carl Edwards - finished 7th

Jeff Gordon gained 2 positions putting him in 13th position after WINNING today's race. He is also the second wild card, knocking Carl Edwards out of the chase.

Next race: Watkins Glen International - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Glen - Sunday, August 12, 2012 - 12pm est.

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take care
Barbara