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Week of 8/7/05
Race Recap | Truck Series | Reutimann wins
David Reutimann, driving a Toyota owned by former NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip, squeezed past Mike Skinner with two laps remaining to capture Saturday’s Toyota Tundra 200 truck race at Nashville Superspeedway.
The victory was the first for the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year, who’d finished among the top three in three of his most recent four finishes.
Reutimann and pole starter Skinner drove side-by-side into Turn 3 of the 1.333-mile concrete on the 149th of 150 laps. Skinner, also driving a Toyota, carried too much speed into the corner and slid up the track and out of the lead. That also opened the inside lane for Ted Musgrave and Todd Bodine, who finished second and third.
Skinner, who led 98 laps in pursuit of his first series victory since 1996, finished fourth. Rookie Todd Kluever was fifth in a Ford.
Reutimann, who won $52,110, edged Musgrave by .850 second – about two truck lengths.
Racing Skinner for the lead at lap 136, Reutimann was fortunate to avoid fluid dropped by Tracy Hines’ spinning Chevrolet. Skinner wasn’t so lucky, grazing the wall between turns three and four as the race’s eighth caution flag flew.
The incident flattened the side of the leader’s truck and may have played into the final decision.
“He got in the wall,” said Reutimann, “Thank the Lord I missed it.”
Skinner said, “The loss was really unfortunate. Our race team did such a good job and I stayed focused all day and I feel I did a pretty good job. That particular truck that blew up in front of us; It wasn’t his fault but it was unfortunate. You hit a little and what can you say?”
Reutimann, who’d failed to post a top-10 finish during the season’s first seven races, continued a mid-season surge that’s moved the sophomore driver from 18th to fifth in the championship standings.
“I told my guys (crew) that we’ve turned the corner,” said the Tampa, Fla.-area driver. “We’ve definitely come full circle.”
The victory was the fourth for Nashville-area resident Waltrip, a FOX TV analyst who was the event’s grand marshal. He won three times with Rich Bickle in 1997, the last time at Martinsville, Va.
Reutimann became the season’s 11th different winner in the first 16 races. He averaged 109.246 mph for the 200-mile distance. Nine caution periods consumed 35 laps. The final caution, for Ricky Craven’s Turn 4 accident, set up the three-lap sprint to the finish that settled the race.
There were nine lead changes among five drivers. The winner, who started sixth, led twice for 41 laps.
Brendan Gaughan survived an early race scrape with the outside wall to finish sixth. Bill Lester was seventh with Johnny Benson, 2004 race winner Bobby Hamilton and Rick Crawford completing the top 10.
Twenty-one of 29 finishers went the full, 150-lap distance.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship leader Dennis Setzer finished 14th and out of the top-10 for just the second time in eight races. His standings margin slipped from 220 points to 178 over Musgrave with 2004 champion Hamilton third.
Nine races remain on the schedule, the next on Aug. 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. August 13, 2005
Race Recap | Busch | Newman Wins
Ryan Newman won the rain-delayed Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen to pick up his second career NASCAR Busch Series victory. Newman started fourth on the field and stayed near the front most of the race, taking the lead from Brian Vickers at the starting line with 10 laps remaining. NASCAR Busch North Series driver Matt Kobyluck and Tyler Walker tangled in turn 4 bringing out the seventh and final caution of the race to set up a three lap shootout to the finish.
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly gave an emotional command to start engines, dedicating it to his late son Hunter who passed away last week. The race was delayed two hours due to rain with the first 18 laps run under caution as pole-sitter Tony Stewart led the field. As the green flag waved Robby Gordon dove under Kasey Kahne going into turn 1 at the start of the race to capture second spot, smoking his left front tire heavily in the process. Leader Stewart, along with many of the front runners, pitted on lap 1 to top off their gas tanks for what they hoped would be a one-stop stategy. Gordon stayed on the track to take over the lead on lap 19.
Events came in rapid succession soon after. The first caution came out when Canadian driver Ron Fellows lost an engine. Brian Vickers took over the race lead on lap 28 as David Green, Matt Kobyluck and Joe Nemechek were involved in a pit road collision. All three drivers were able to continue. Johnny Sauter lost an engine on his Yellow Transport number 1 and coasted to a stop near the chicane for the next caution while Kenny Wallace lost power near the same spot to bring out another caution on lap 38.
The green flag waved once again on lap 39 as Mexican driver Jorge Goeters moved steadily toward the front of the field after an 18th starting spot. He was sitting in seventh position at the restart. Reed Sorenson lostan engine,creating a smoke screen at the half way mark to cause yet another caution. Leader Vickers took this opportunity to pit on lap 42, reentering the event in 19th spot while Robby Gordon led the field for the restart.
Dale Jarrett, Boris Said, Michael Waltrip and Stanton Barrett Jr. were invovled in an incident on lap 47 with Waltrip and Barrett exiting the event. Carlos Contreras spun off the course at the same time becoming mired in the pea gravel. Gordon pitted under caution on lap 49 giving the lead to Jeff Burton while early contender Greg Biffle dropped to 34th due to time lost on a bad pit stop and a missing lug nut on the right front wheel. Gordon sat in 16th position at the restart with 25 laps to go.
Tyler Walker was running in eighth spot when he spun in turn 1 on lap 61, but no caution was shown for this incident. Brian Vickers showed his hand as he made his way to the front once again, taking the lead from Burton in turn 1 on lap 66. Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart were beginning to make their respective moves as they closed in on second-place Burton. Newman took the lead as the Kobyluck-Walker incident took place. This caution was just what Robby Gordon needed to put him back in contention. The field was ready for a restart when Denny Hamlin's car shut down on the course to extend the caution. Three laps remained as the field took the green. Gordon sat in sixth position and seemed to have the fastest car of the day but was handicapped due to poor track position. Gordon put on a stirring charge to the front as he muscled his way past Truex Jr., Burton, Vickers and Stewart to pull off a second place finish. Stewart and Vickers got into a fender-banging match at the checkered flag as Newman made his way to victory lane and the winner's purse of nearly $48.000.
Series point leader Martin Truex Jr. finished fifth extending his lead to 122 points over Clint Bowyer. Twenty-six cars finished on the lead lap while driver Jorge Goeters, from Mexico, had an impressive ninth place finish. August 13, 2005
TRACK STATS | WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Distance: 2.45-miles road course
Turns: 11
Banking: Ranging from 6 to 10 º
Miles/laps: 220.5 miles, 90 laps
Last year's poll sitter: Jimmie Johnson
Last year's winner: Tony Stewart
Up for grabs: $4.6 million August 11, 2005
Busch sees road ringers and cup regulars
The Busch Series returns to Watkins Glen after a 4 year break for some road course racing. The specialists are entered for this race including Boris Said, Ron Fellows, Scott Pruett...plus Cup regulars like Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart. August 11, 2005
Who's hot / Home Depot Coupon
-Tony Stewart has won the last two road course races, plus 4 wins in the last 6 races....scorching hot...no one else even compares right now. Other Tony news, Home Depot is running a special on bricks this weekend in honor of his Indy win, and you can grab the coupon right here.
http://www.finallapradio.com/images/2005/home_depot_bricks.pdf August 11, 2005
Office Depot runs 'Back to School' paint on 99
Kids aren't going to want to hear about Carl Edwards paint scheme for this weekend. The Office Depot Ford will carry a 'Back to School' theme, which will also be available as a die-cast car that you can pick up at any Office Depot. August 10, 2005
Weekend Schedule - Watkins Glen
ON TV
NEXTEL CUP SERIES FINAL PRACTICE @ 4PM Friday on Speed
BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING @ 9AM Saturday on Speed
NEXTEL CUP SERIES QUALIFYING @ 11AM Saturday on Speed
BUSCH SERIES RACING @ 2PM Saturday on NBC
TRUCK SERIES RACING @ 5PM Saturday on Speed
NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACING from Watkins Glen @ 1PM Sunday on NBC August 10, 2005
Outside looking in
Things are heating up in the Cup Series, with only 5 races to go, those on the outside looking into the top 10 will battle hard to make the Chase for the Championship. Drivers from 15-11 include Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, and Jamie McMurray is only 12 points back of 10th place. August 10, 2005
Kurt Busch Issues Statement
“I met with Jack Roush personally Tuesday morning to let him know that I am committed to Roush Racing and the #97 team as we attempt to defend our Nextel Cup Championship this season and through the remainder of my contract, but that I have signed a multi-year agreement to drive the Penske Racing South #2 car beginning in 2007. We did briefly address, solely as a matter of timing, the possibility of a release from my 2006 contract with Roush Racing, but that is Jack’s decision. There are a lot of factors involved in a release and no immediate decision was made. All of this, however, is in the future. For as long as I am in the #97 car, my total focus and commitment will be to Roush Racing, its sponsors and on our collective goal to win another Nextel Cup Championship. I look forward to success this weekend at Watkins Glen and hopefully solidifying our position in the 2005 Chase for the Cup.” August 10, 2005
TESTING | MICHIGAN | Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy a Champ Car Series Champion has been getting the feel for stock cars this week at the track. If all goes well and Richard Childress agrees, he hopes to drive the #33 Cup car next weekend.
Tracy Q&A: (WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD WEEKEND FOR YOU HERE?)
“Qualifying and finishing in the top-20 and on the lead lap would be like winning the race. I have no experience yet with anybody else that is going to be out on the track. That’s going to be a whole different deal as well. I haven’t even run around anyone here yet. There are 43 other cars out there, so it will be very different.”
(HOW HAVE YOU BEEN RECEIVED DURING THE TEST BY THE OTHER DRIVERS?)
“I talked to Dale (Jarrett) yesterday and met him. I know Jeff (Gordon) a little bit. Jeff said he never thought he would see me drive one of these things. I’m having fun.” August 9, 2005
Kurt Busch leaves 97 team in 2007 for Penske
Updated: Penske Racing South announced today that it has signed Kurt Busch, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion, to a multi-year contract to drive for the team beginning with the 2007 season.
CONCORD, N.C. (August 9, 2005) – Roush Racing announced today that Kurt Busch has advised team officials that he has signed with another team commencing in 2007. The name of the team is not known. Kurt also requested a release from his contract for 2006. Due to sponsor and team considerations no decision on that request will be made for an indefinite period. Roush Racing will have no further comment at this time. August 9, 2005
Leffler released from Gibbs
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., (Aug. 8, 2005) - Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has released driver Jason Leffler from his driving duties with the #11 car in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Terry Labonte will compete in several of the upcoming Nextel Cup races in the #11, beginning this weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. JGR will also turn to its NASCAR Busch Series drivers - J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin - to split driving duties in the #11 in the remaining Nextel Cup races where Terry Labonte is not scheduled to drive.
"This was a difficult decision," said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. "Everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing had high hopes for Jason and the #11 team, but our performance wasn't meeting the expectations all of us set forth at the beginning of the year.
"It hasn't been for lack of effort, as Jason is a talented race car driver who worked incredibly hard and was terrific with our sponsor.
"With an experienced veteran in Terry Labonte, the #11 will benefit from his 25 years of Nextel Cup racing, and ideally, climb higher in points. In looking toward next year, J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin will get some valuable seat time at the Nextel Cup level that will allow us to build the #11 into a race-winning contender for 2006 and beyond."
Terry Labonte's addition to JGR is a natural, as Terry's younger brother, Bobby, is a 10-year veteran of JGR, having piloted the #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet since 1995.
The Labonte brothers are the only brothers in NASCAR history to win NASCAR Cup Series championships. Terry won the title in 1984 and 1996, while Bobby won in 2000.
"We want to thank Hendrick Motorsports for allowing Terry to assist us with the #11 team," said Gibbs, whose team now features three NASCAR Cup Series champions in Bobby, Terry and 2002 series champion Tony Stewart. "In planning the future of the #11 team, we looked around the Cup and Busch Series garages and decided that the two best talents were already driving for us. J.J. and Denny are exceptional race car drivers, and we felt it was important to give each of them a shot at Nextel Cup." August 8, 2005
Newman, Kahne sign new contracts
A couple of contracts to let you know about, Kasey Kahne has inked a long term deal with Evernham Motorsports that keeps him in the 9 car "into his 30's" according to Ray Evernham. Also Ryan Newman stays on board with Penske for 3 more years with an option for an additional 3 after that, so scratch those guys off your silly season list. August 8, 2005
Riggs gets new sponsor for 5 races
Over the weekend, Scott Riggs' #10 team announced that Checkers/Rally's will run the car for 5 select races this year. Still no word on Scott's future with the 10 car or sponsorship for 2006. August 8, 2005
Weekend Roundup | Busch & Truck
On Saturday night in the Busch Series at IRP, David Stremme grabbed a 5th place finish, followed by Jason Keller, Reed Sorenson, Clint Bowyer, and Martin Truex Jr. gets his 6th win of 2005, and 100th for DEI (Dale Earnhardt Incorporated) Dennis Setzer won his 4th in 6 races on Friday night in the Truck Series. August 8, 2005
Point Standings | Cup Series
1. Tony Stewart New Leader?2. Jimmie Johnson -75?3. Greg Biffle -111?4. Rusty Wallace -218?5. Kurt Busch -277?6. Mark Martin -287?7. Ryan Newman -355?8. Jeremy Mayfield -369?9. Dale Jarrett -430?10. Carl Edwards -436?after Indy August 8, 2005
Cup Series Notes | Indy
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Tony Stewart held off a stirring charge by sophomore phenom Kasey Kahne in the exciting final laps of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Sunday and won a race he so wanted to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Hoosier native from nearby Columbus, where he grew up, took the lead from Kahne with just 11 laps remaining and held off Kahne to win the historic event before a capacity crowd of an estimated 300,000 partisan fans who chanted, "Tony! Tony! Tony!" for several minutes following Stewart's emotional victory.
Hendrick Motorsports' young gun Brian Vickers was third, Jeremy Mayfield fourth, and Matt Kenseth, fifth.
While it was definitely Stewart's day, the race was filled with twists and turns that kept the huge crowd on its feet much of the muggy afternoon.
Jimmie Johnson, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points leader at the start of the day, fought back from numerous problems including an early race spin, a gas catchcan that failed to disconnect during a pit stop that sent him to the rear of the field for the second time, and finally, another spin after battling his way back into contention, this one that sent him into the outside SAFER barrier and out of contention. Johnson wound up 38th and lost the points lead to the hometown Hoosier, Tony Stewart.
Johnson's teammate and four-time Indy winner Jeff Gordon battled an ill-handling car much of the race but came on strong at the end to finish eighth.
Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a terrible day, starting near the back of the 43-car field and staying there before getting hit in the rear on a restart, sending him careening across the track into his DEI teammate Martin Truex Jr.. The incident knocked both cars out of the race as Earnhardt finished 43rd and Truex was 42nd.
Stewart fullfilled a lifelong dream of winning a race at the historic old track and let out a "whoop" and a "holler" after taking the checkered flag. He then told his team, after pulling his car to a stop at the start-finish line, "Don't get excited, boys. I'll be back. I'm gonna enjoy this one."
He then drove around the track to where friends and family had watched him win from a trackside suite in Turn Two. He climbed up on the wall and waved to the wildly cheering clan. He then drove nback around to the start-finish line, climbed a few strands of the fence, which has become a Stewart trademark with him winning four of the past seven races. He then laid down on the wall and said, "I need to catch my breath for five minutes and then I'll celebrate." August 7, 2005
Dale Jr. wrecks on restart, finished 43rd
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Note: Incident on Lap 62 restart.
WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
Everybody took off and then everbody stopped and when I stopped I got ran into. It's hard to see when you're way back in the back-you know, what the leaders are doing. But, they called the green flag and I was waiting for Bill to go and when Bill took off, I took off and we stopped again. I don't think Skinner knew what was going on, or whoever took off behind me. I think it was Skinner. I got turned into the wall. I don't know. My spotter said the leader checked on the restart, but I don't know. I didn't see anything.
THIS IS A BLOW TO YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE, ISN'T IT?
Man, I just hope I don't have to get into that (race car) today. Hopefully I can go home.
BUT ISN'T THIS A BLOW TO THE POINTS YOU WERE TRYING TO GET TODAY?
Yeah, obviously. That's life. You've got to deal with it-good and bad. We'll be alright. I mean, if we make the Chase, we make it. If we don't, we don't. We'll still try to win some races before the year is out. August 7, 2005
Race Recap | Cup Series | Stewart Wins
RACE RECAP | INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
10 Kyle Busch
9 Sterling Marlin
8 Jeff Gordon
7 Mark Martin
6 Casey Mears
5 Matt Kenseth
4 Jeremy Mayfield
3 Brian Vickers
2 Kasey Kahne
VICTORY LANE
1 Tony Stewart realized his lifelong dream of winning at the Brickyard getting his 4th win in 6 races, and is the new points leader over Jimmie Johnson by 75. The fans at Indy were amazing after the race cheering Tony on during the victory celebration.
OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY
-Tires were an issue again, with blown rubber claiming a bunch of victims, including the 32, 43, 15, & 48.
-Poll sitter Elliott Sadler dominated early in the race, only to blow a tire with 10 laps to go in the race.
-Dale Earnhardt Jr. got turned into the inside wall on a restart by Mike Skinner, he finishes 43rd, essentially ending his bid for the Chase.
-Jimmie Johnson had a horrible weekend, starting with failing to qualify on Saturday, to blowing a tire late in the race, hitting the wall hard, losing the points lead, ending with a trip to the hospital after saying he didn't remember anything after hitting the wall, all the way to stopping on pit lane. August 7, 2005
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