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Week of 8/21/05
Bristol - Complete Rundown
Race Recap: Kenseth Climbs Back Into Contention with Big Bristol Win
Bristol, Tenn. -- Matt Kenseth spent a fireworks-filled Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway in the safest place he could be at the high-banked, action-packed track -- in front of the action.
Kenseth started from the pole position and led all but a few laps of the 500-lap event that lived up to its reputation as one of the most exciting, if not THE most exciting races on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series circuit.
In typical Bristol fashion, tempers flared throughout the race, with Ryan Newman and Dale Jarrett crashing each other out of contention. Even teammates Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers bumped and banged each other at one stage of the race. And Carl Edwards, the popular, back-flipping, young charger of the Jack Roush stable of drivers, did nothing to endear himself to car owner and racing legend Richartd Petty when he tagged both Petty cars, one driven by Jeff Green and the other by Kyle Petty himself, and sent them spinning into the retaining wall.
It was clearly Kenseth's night and the 2003 champion stayed out front ahead of the trouble.
Trailing Kenseth was Jeff Burton in the Richard Childress Chevrolet, Greg Biffle, like Kenseth in a Jack Roush Ford, Ricky Rudd in the Wood Brothers Ford and Rusty Wallace in the highest-finishing Dodge, which also was Rusty's last call on the track where he has been most successful.
Gordon wound up sixth and moved into 10th place in the point standings. The victory moved Kenseth back within possible top 10 range in 11th spot.
Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler, Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are also still within range of the top 10 with two races remaining before the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship contender lineup is finalized.
The race at California Speedway next Sunday is the last before the cutoff race at Richmond International Raceway the following weekend. The drivers in the top 10 in points and any other driver within 400 points of the leader will qualify for the championship chase consisting of the season's final 10 races.
The top 10 after Bristol are: Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon. August 27, 2005
Points leader goes to backup car
Points leader Tony Stewart wrecked his #20 machine in the morning practice session at Bristol. Tony lost the car coming off turn 2 and hit the left rear of his car. This is only the 3rd time in his career, that Tony will need to use the backup car, second this year however. August 26, 2005
#41 Busch Crew Chief ejected from Bristol - Tires
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2005) – NASCAR announced today that Brian Pattie, crew chief for the No. 41 Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson, and crew member Brandon Stafford have been ejected from Bristol Motor Speedway for violating Section 20A-10.8.4-P of the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series rule book (Tires that, in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, have been altered by unauthorized treatment will not be permitted).
Additionally, the No. 41 will not be allowed to qualify for the Food City 250. The car will start at the rear of the field.
The original tires were confiscated from the No. 41 Dodge; the team will be re-issued tires for the event. August 26, 2005
TRACK STATS | BRISTOL
Distance: .533-mile oval
Banking/Turns 1-4: 36 º
Banking/Straights:16 º
Miles/laps: 266.5 miles, 500 laps
Last year's poll sitter: Jeff Gordon
Last year's winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Up for grabs: $5.9 million August 26, 2005
Who's hot going into Bristol this weekend?
Tony Stewart continues to show why his nickname is "Smoke" He has 9 Top-10's, including 5 wins in the last 9 races.
Brian Vickers has quietly scored 6 straight top-15 finishes
Jeremy Mayfield has 8 top-20's in a row, including his win last weekend. August 26, 2005
Can J. Gordon make the chase?
If Jeff Gordon is going to make the 'Chase, at least he does quite well at the next 3 tracks coming up. At 60 events at Bristol, California, and Richmond, Jeff has 10 wins including 5 at Bristol. August 26, 2005
Fusion pace car debuts at Miami
The all new Ford Fusion will make it's racing debut next February at Daytona, but it will be the official pace car at the season ending race at Homestead Miami Speedway. So you can check it out for yourself. August 26, 2005
Bristol CTS Race Recap - Skinner wins
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mike Skinner led all but 10 laps of Wednesday night’s O’Reilly 200 race to snap a 53-race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winless streak dating to 1996.
Skinner, who started his Toyota Tundra from the outside front row, passed pole winner David Reutimann on the first lap around Bristol Motor Speedway and led through lap 70 before pitting for fuel and tires under the race’s fourth caution.
The winner needed just two green flag laps to overhaul Chad Chaffin’s Toyota between turns three and four of the .533-mile concrete-surfaced oval and led the remaining 120 of 200 laps.
Skinner, who averaged 83.390 mph, beat Todd Bodine’s Toyota by 1.667 seconds – about four truck lengths – to claim his 17th career victory. Skinner, who’d finished fourth on five occasions during the current season, won $47,650.
The 1995 champion’s last win came Oct. 14, 1996 at Bakersfield, Calif.
Jack Sprague, winner of the race in 1999, finished third in a Chevrolet with Skinner’s teammate, Johnny Benson fourth and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Kyle Busch fifth. Ted Musgrave, Jimmy Spencer, David Starr, Mike Wallace and Ken Schrader completed the top 10 finishers.
Pole starter Reutimann, who won the series last race at Nashville, was 29th – 34 laps behind – after his crew replaced a power steering unit.
“What a motor in this thing,” said Skinner, who gave owner Bill Davis his first series victory. “I knew if this thing stayed green, Todd would have had a shot.”
The race’s fifth caution, however, closed the field at lap 188 and ended Bodine’s chances for a second win of the season.
Skinner easily pulled away over the final five laps.
“At the end, I slowed down to save the tires,” he said.
“If that caution hadn’t come out, we had something for Mike,” said Bodine, who started 32nd in the 36-truck field but used an early pit stop strategy to gain track position he never relinquished. “It was a pretty awesome run.”
As it was, Bodine had to hold off a challenging Sprague for the No. 2 position.
“Second was great,” he said.
By Bristol standards, the race was a tame affair with the night’s six caution periods claiming 34 of the 200 laps.
Accidents, however, hurt two of the series championship contenders. Dennis Setzer saw his lead drop to 143 points over Musgrave after slapping the outside wall on the 187th lap to wind up 16th. Setzer had been running in the top five.
Defending series champion Bobby Hamilton was involved in a five-truck accident at lap 81. The Nashville veteran held his third position but is 257 points behind Setzer with eight races remaining on the schedule. August 25, 2005
Bristol T.V. Schedule
ON TV
NEXTEL CUP FINAL PRACTICE @ Noon Friday on Speed
BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING @ 4:40pm Friday on Speed
NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING @ 6pm Friday on TNT
BUSCH SERIES RACING @ 7:30pm Friday on TNT
NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACING FROM BRISTOL @ 7pm Saturday on TNT
All times are eastern August 24, 2005
'Ol DW will race for the last time
Darrell Waltrip has announced that his final race of his career will come at Martinsville in October. He'll drive his own #12 Toyota Tundra in the Craftsman Truck Series race at the track. August 24, 2005
Michigan Penalties announced
Some penalties were announced this week, first Ken Schrader's #49 car was too low during post race inspection. Kenny was docked 25 points, and his crew chief was fined $25,000. In the Busch Series, Rusty Wallace's #64 car failed opening day inspection for and unapproved jacking bolt. That team was also docked 25 points, and the crew chief was fined $10,000. August 24, 2005
Akins axes Walker
Akins Motorsports and the #38 Busch Series team have parted ways with rookie driver Tyler Walker. A new full-time driver has not been announced yet, but Mike Wallace will drive the car this weekend in Bristol. August 23, 2005
Dale Jr. to field own Busch car in 2006
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that his JR Motorsports team will field a Busch Series car next year sponsored by the U.S. Navy. Mark McFarland who drives Jr.'s Hooters Pro Cup car this year, will wheel the #88. August 23, 2005
Paint Schemes for Bristol
Bobby Labonte's 18 machine will feature a Powerade scheme with NBA star LeBron James on the hood.
Kevin Harvick's #29 car will carry the Reeses Big Cup colors, it kinda looks like the #21 Busch car. August 23, 2005
POINT STANDINGS | BUSCH & TRUCK
BUSCH SERIES
5 Kenny Wallace
4 Carl Edwards
3 Reed Sorenson
2 Clint Bowyer
1 Martin Truex Jr. has built a 204 point lead over second place
TRUCK SERIES
5 David Reutimann
4 Ron Hornaday
3 Bobby Hamilton
2 Ted Musgrave is 178 back of the leader
1 Dennis Setzer August 23, 2005
EA Sports announces new NASCAR game
Video gamers listen up, EA Sports has announced a new game called "NASCAR 06: Total Team Control" and is the first Squad Based Racing experience, meaning you play with a team mentality like racing for Roush or Hendrick. The game hits the stores on September 1st, and look for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson on the box cover.
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Full story: REDWOOD CITY, Calif., August 22, 2005 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that its EA SPORTS™ branded NASCAR® videogame, NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. The two avid “gamers” personify the focus of this year’s game - Team Racing.
“It’s amazing how EA continues to innovate and make the game more fun for gamers and the drivers year after year,” said Gordon, driver of the number 24 DuPont Chevrolet.
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the number 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, expanded, “The addition of the team racing really changes the game in an amazing way. It’s not just about you, the driver. Now, you are challenged to manage a whole team, using your on-track relationships with other drivers and especially your teammates to bring home the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship and build a racing dynasty.”
About Hendrick Motorsports’ Gordon and Johnson?Jeff Gordon, the four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, won rookie of the year honors in 1993 and the first of his four titles in 1995. Gordon also took top honors in ’97, ’98 and 2001.
Jimmie Johnson spent two full seasons in the Busch Series before stepping up into NASCAR Cup Series racing in 2002, where he sat on the pole in the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished fifth in the points. Johnson finished runner-up in the points standings in 2003 and 2004.
About NASCAR 06: Total Team Control:?Take command of the biggest teams in NASCAR by building a multi-car dynasty with NASCAR 06: Total Team Control. In the first-ever Squad Based Racing experience, you are not alone. Radio to teammates for assistance, while managing on-track partnerships, or take the wheel of a teammate’s car in the middle of a race to fend off rivals. With all-new game controls, including real-time voice command, communicate with your crew chief, spotters, and on-track allies to help punch your team through the pack. As an owner, build your own racing empire or even buy top NASCAR Teams like Hendrick Motorsports. Earn the title of Teammate, Champion, and Hero in NASCAR 06: Total Team Control.
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox® video game system from Microsoft will be on store shelves September 1st and is rated “E” for (Everyone) by the ESRB. August 22, 2005
POINT STANDINGS | CUP SERIES
Only 3 races remain for drivers to get into The Chase for the Championship
Two drivers are now locked in no matter what, points leader Tony Stewart, and second place Jimmie Johnson. Let's take a look at those looking to get in, and those looking to stay in the Top 10.
15 Matt Kenseth -104 (back of 10th)
14 Kevin Harvick -82
13 Elliott Sadler -66
12 Jeff Gordon -58
11 Dale Jarrett -51
10 Jamie McMurray
9 Carl Edwards
8 Ryan Newman
7 Kurt Busch
6 Jeremy Mayfield
Full Top 10: http://www.finallapradio.com/nascar_top10.html August 22, 2005
Race Recap | Cup Series | Michigan
RACE RECAP | MICHIGAN
10 Jimmie Johnson
9 Brian Vickers
8 Joe Nemechek from the poll
7 Kurt Busch led the most laps, but came up short
6 Greg Biffle
5 Tony Stewart 8th top 5 in 9 races
4 Carl Edwards
3 Matt Kenseth
2 Scott Riggs
VICTORY LANE
1 Jeremy Mayfield came up on the winning side of a fuel mileage gamble, picks up his 5th career win, and 1st since Richmond last year
OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY
-Three factors played into this race: trash on the front grills, tires (again), and fuel mileage.
-Kyle Busch's 5 car looked to dominate the day, but a blown engine put a stop to that real quick
-Elliot Sadler wrecked his 38 machine on lap 82 and falls to 13th in points
-Dale Earnhardt Jr ran in the top 10 part of the day, but finished 18th, Jeff Gordon gets a 15th place finish.
-Blown tires claimed Joe Nemechek, Kevin Harvick, Terry Labonte, and others as victims. August 21, 2005
Michigan - Complete rundown
IRISH HILLS, Mich. -- The old Kenny Rogers tune, "You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them" was the theme of the day for NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield at Michigan International Speedway Sunday.
The Dodge-driving Mayfield topped off with gas at the end of a caution period when the race's frontrunners didn't and streaked home to victory after a slew of those frontrunners had to stop for fuel within the final laps.
"We robbed a bank and got away with it," said Mayfield's crew chief Slugger Labbe. "It was a gamble but it paid off."
Indeed it did.
Guys like Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle, who had dominated the race throughout the sunny afternoon, were forced to stop for a splash of gas within the final few miles of the race and that was all Mayfield needed.
Scott Riggs finished second and Kenseth wound up third. Carl Edwards was fourth, Stewart fifth, Biffle sixth, Busch seventh and pole sitter Joe Nemechek eighth.
Five-time champion Jeff Gordon wound up 15th and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 18th.
The win pushed Mayfield into the sixth spot in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Point Standings with three races remaining before the cutoff for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL at Richmond International Raceway in September.
The top 10 drivers in the point standings after the Richmond race, and any other driver within 400 points of the leader at that time, will run the final 10 races for the coveted Nextel Cup.
The top 15 in the point standings after Sunday's race are: 1) Tony Stewart - 3269 points; 2) Jimmie Johnson - 3142 points (126 back); 3) Greg Biffle - 3016 points (-252); 4) Rusty Wallace - 2979 points (-289); 5) Mark Martin - 2899 points (-369); 6) Jeremy Mayfield - 2869 points (-399); 7) Kurt Busch - 2848 points (-420); 8) Ryan Newman - 2773 points (-495); 9) Carl Edwards - 2758 points (-510); 10) Jamie McMurray - 2702 points (-566); 11) Dale Jarrett - 2651 points (51 points out of 10th place); 12) Jeff Gordon - 2644 points (58 points out of 10th place); 13) Elliott Sadler - 2636 points (66 points out of 10th place); 14) Kevin Harvick - 2620 points (82 points out of 10th place); 15) Matt Kenseth - 2598 points (104 points out of 10th place). August 21, 2005
Race Recap | Busch | Newman Wins second in a row
Race Recap: Newman Wins Domino's Pizza 250 at Michigan
BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 20, 2005) – Ryan Newman won Saturday’s Domino’s Pizza 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway, after starting all the way back in the 38th position. Greg Biffle finished second, followed by Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley in fifth place. It was Newman’s second consecutive NASCAR Busch Series victory.
Busch Pole qualifying was rained out on Saturday morning and the field was set by the owner’s point standings, placing Truex and Clint Bowyer on the front row for the start of the 125-lap race. Bowyer wasted no time in grabbing the lead on the first lap. He then pulled out to a four-second lead before a yellow flag slowed the field on lap 37.
Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Kevin Harvick, exchanged the lead between laps 42-45 before the race was under caution once again, after a two-car accident involving Randy LaJoie and Kertus Davis.
After the next restart, Biffle chased down the two RCR drivers, who continued to pace the field. On the 66th lap, Biffle drove his No. 66 Duraflame Ford underneath Bowyer to take the lead. Bowyer was soon sandwiched between two very fast cars, as Newman had driven his No. 39 ALLTEL Dodge through the field and was already up to third.
The race leaders went to pit road for scheduled stops between the 87th-95th laps, and Biffle was solidly back in front with 25 laps remaining. Bowyer had returned to the track in the second position, but was forced to return to pit road to add fuel to his No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet three laps later, due to a mechanical problem that prevented fuel from properly filling his car’s fuel cell.
The unscheduled stop cost Bowyer one lap on the track and he was then penalized for having an extra crew member over the wall. The resulting “pass through” penalty put Bowyer two laps down on the field, in 31st place.
During another caution period from laps 109-114, the leaders pitted one final time – except for Harvick. His bold strategy backfired, however, as Biffle passed him for the lead and another caution flag waved on the next lap.
On the final restart, Newman charged past Biffle with six laps remaining and held on for the victory. Bowyer finished 30th and lost significant ground in the championship standings – he now trails Truex, unofficially, by 204 points.
The NASCAR Busch Series continues its 2005 season Friday night, Aug. 26 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. August 21, 2005
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