NASCAR - Las Vegas - Kobalt Tools

Happy 41st Birthday Matt Kenseth and Congratulations on your Kobalt Tools 400 win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Only 1 of 2 drivers who have ever won on their birthdays, following Cale Yarlborough, twice, 1977 and 1983 and Kyle Busch in 2009.

Las Vegas provide some racing this week. There was passing including for the lead. One time during the race TV coverage did show the drivers get 4 wide for a few seconds going into a corner. Kasey Kahne dominated the first part of the race, leading the most laps, but with great pit strategy Kenseth and his new Joe Gibbs Racing crew led the most of final 40 laps, keeping Kasey at bay for the win. This was Matt's 3rd Las Vegas win and his 3rd race for Joe Gibbs Race.
Top Ten Recap:
1. Matt Kenseth - started 18 - up 11 positions to 7th
2. Kasey Kahne - started 4th - up 17 positions to 14th
3. Brad Keslowski - started 1 - up 1 position to 2nd
4. Kyle Busch - started 13 - up 16 positions to 17th
5. Carl Edwards - started 16 - up 6 positions to 5th
6. Jimmie Johnson - started 3 - remain in 1st
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 12 - down 1 positions to 3rd
8. Martin Truex Jr. - started 11 - up 12 positions to 22nd
9 Kevin Harvick - started 8 - up 11 positions to 19th
10. Paul Menard - started - up 5 positions to 12th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 6th
2. Brad Keslowski - finished 3rd - up 1 position
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 7th - down 1 position
4. Denny Hamlin - finished 15th
5. Carl Edwards - finished 5th - up 6 positions
6. Mark Martin - finished 14th - up 1 position
7. Matt Kenseth - WINNER - up 11 positions
8. Greg Biffle - finished 17th - down 2 positions
9. Clint Bowyer - finished 27th - down 4 positions
10. Aric Almirola - finished 16th
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - finished 18th - down 2 positions
12. Paul Menard - finished 10th - up 5 positions

Biggest movers up this race were
Kasey Kahne up 17 positions to 14th - finishing 2nd
Kyle Busch up 16 positions to 17th - finishing 4th
Kevin Harvick - up 11 positions to 19th - finishing 9th
Matt Kenseth - up 11 positions to 7th - WINNER
Biggest mover down was:
Ryan Newman - down 11 positions - finishing 38th after blowing an engine

Next Race - Bristol Motor Speedway - Food City 500 - Sunday March 17, 2013 - 1 pm est

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care

Barbara

NASCAR - Race Chase #7 - Martinsville

Martinsville Speedway the 7th race in the chase. I was actually there watching the race today and am just getting home. I will recap it all for you tomorrow. I have listed my weekly list of winners and who is where in the points. Thank you for reading.

Had a good time at the race yesterday in Martinsville, right up to the last lap, when Jimmie Johnson won the race LOL... Seats were at the start/finish line, 2 rows up and only about 15 feet, yes 15 feet off the track, up close a personal and my favorite place to sit. The closer I am to the track the better, I love the smells, the wind, the sounds and the rubber off the tires literally flying at you. My son bought me the tickets for my birthday. The only down fall was because of the haulers in the infield we could not see the backstretch, but there was a big TV right in front of us, so we didn't miss much and there is nothing like watching the cars come down the front stretch straight at you and then watching them dive into turn 1 as they disappear out of sight. NASCAR racing is the best.
Congratulations Jimmie Johnson!!! started first, finished first. Dominate car all day. Very pushy all day long, nearly putting out three different cars. Putting you in the lead for the Chase at the moment, but watch your back because Brad Keslowski is very, very hungry for a Championship. Every Chase driver changed positions this week, with the exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and they thought Talladega was going to change up things. Martinsville proved to be a dilemma for 5 of the Chase drivers, Denny Hamlin, finishing in 33rd, had issues with his car, stopping in the middle of the track right at the start/finish, luckily everyone drove around him. Kevin Harvick, finishing 32nd, (as Darrell Waltrip would say ) blowed up. Tony Stewart, finishing 27th,  just couldn't get the car to handle the way he wanted. Martin Truex Jr., finishing 23rd,  never recovered from a pit road penalty and Dale Earnhardt Jr., finishing 21st, after a late race spin.

Top Ten Recap:
1. Jimmie Johnson - started on pole - up 1 position to Leader
2. Kyle Busch - started 3 - remains in 13th
3. Kasey Kahne - started 15 - up 1 position to 4th
4. Aric Almirola - started 10 - remains in 21st
5.Clint Bowyer - started 8 - up 1 position to 3rd
6. Brad Keslowski - started 32 - down 1 position to 2nd
7. Jeff Gordon - started 11 - up 2 positions to 6th
8. Brian Vickers - started 2 - up 1 position to 35th
9. Bobby Labonte - started 17 - remains in 24th/
10. Greg Biffle - started 30 - up 2 position in 9th

Race for the Championship:
1. Jimmie Johnson - WINNER - up 1 position
2. Brad Keslowski - finished 6th - down 1 position
3. Clint Bowyer - finished 5th - up 1 position
4. Kasey Kahne - finished 3rd - up 1 position
5. Denny Hamlin - finished 33rd - down 2 positions
6. Jeff Gordon - finished 7th - up 2 positions
7. Martin Truex, Jr. - finished 23rd - down 1 position
8. Matt Kenseth - finished 14th - up 1 position
9. Greg Biffle - finished 10th - up 2 positions
10. Tony Stewart - finished 27th - down 3 positions
11. Kevin Harvick - finished 32nd - down 1 position
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 21st -

Next Race - Texas Motor Speedway - AAA Texas 500 - Sunday, November 4, 2012, 2pm.

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara