NASCAR - Darlington

Happy Mothers'Day
to all the Racing Moms and all Moms everywhere

 NASCAR - Darlington - Saturday night racing. Love Saturday night racing, The crew chief has to shine in night racing. Keeping up with the track, changing constantly throughout the race with the changing air temperatures make for changing track temperatures, make for less grip, and complaining drivers, but makes good racing and great calls by crew chiefs. Some make the right ones, some make the wrong ones. Lots of green flag racing, as long as your weren't watching the leader (Kyle Busch for most of them) the racing was pretty good. A few drivers made attempts at getting by Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson tried once and couldn't quite complete the pass. Kasey Kahne completed the pass but took the next corner just a little too fast and loss control and tapped the wall. Matt Kenseth made his attempt and at that moment Kyle lose the handle on the car and started dropping back. Matt took the lead and never looked back. Denny Hamlin took 2nd in his first  race back after breaking his back 6 six weeks ago.
Jeff Gordon made his 700th Sprint cup start tonight. It is also his 700th consecutive start, edging closer to the 788 consecutive start record by Ricky Rudd.

Congratulations Matt Kenseth!!! You showed your strength throughout the race. You stayed up front all night long, Joe Gibbs Racing had an awesome showing at Darlington finishing 1st (Kenseth), 2nd (Hamlin) and 6th (Busch). Hendricks also had a great showing finishing 3rd (Gordon), 4th (Johnson) and 9th(Earnhardt Jr.). RCR, 5th (Harvick), Roush/Fenway, 7th (Edwards), Earnhardt/Ganassi 8th, (Montoya) and Stewart/Haas 10th (Newman) made of the rest of the top ten.

Top Ten Recap
1. Matt Kenseth - started 7 - up 1position to 3rd
2. Denny Hamlin -started 6 - up 4 positions to 27th
3. Jeff Gordon - started 8 - up 2 positions to 12th
4. Jimmie Johnson - started 2 - remains in 1st
5. Kevin Harvick - started 10 - up 2 positions to 10th
6. Kyle Busch - started 3 - up 2 positions to 8th
7. Carl Edwards - started 17 - remains in 2nd
8. Juan Pablo Montoya - started 12 - up 3 positions to 22nd
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 16 - down 1 position to 4th
10. Ryan Newman - started 21 - remains in 17th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 4th
2. Carl Edwards - finished 7th
3. Matt Kenseth - WINNER - up 1 position
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 9th - down 1 position
5. Clint Bowyer - finished 11th
6. Kasey Kahne - finished 17th - up 1 position
7. Brad Keslowski - finished 32nd - down 1 position
8. Kyle Busch - finished 6th - up 2 positions
9. Aric Almirola - finished 20th - down 1 position
10. Kevin Harvick - finsihed 5th - up 2 positions
11. Paul Menard - finished 19th - down 1 position
12. Jeff Gordon - finished 3rd - up 2 positions

Happy 21st Birthday to my baby boy Joseph tomorrow Mothers Day, May 12th.. best Mothers Day present ever

Next Race - Charlotte - Sprint All Star Race - Saturday - May 18, 2013, 7:30 pm est

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care
Barbara