Busch, Martin Keep it Clean at Bristol August 23, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Kyle Busch and Mark Martin have both won four races this year, but are hovering around the cutoff for the Chase.
Kyle Busch and Mark Martin couldn’t be any different, but the two drivers continue to draw comparisons as their season’s run parallel courses.
At times this year, Busch has been phenomenal, winning his fourth race at Bristol Saturday night. But he’s also had finishes of 41st (Daytona) 38th (Indianapolis) and 34th (Darlington). It’s going to take performances like the one he gave Saturday night for the 18 team to make the Chase.
Martin has been equally successful, winning four races this year and his fifth pole of the year at Bristol, but at one point was 34th in points.
Both drivers are hovering around the critical 12th place cutoff to make the Chase, which begins in just three races.
In a four-lap shootout at the end of the Sharpie 500 at Bristol, Busch held Martin off to take the win. (more…)
Vickers Wins at Michigan August 16, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, crosses the start/finish line to take the checkered flag and win at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Ser.ies CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway
The last time Brian Vickers was in Victory Lane at a NASCAR Cup Series event, it wasn’t a very popular win among fans.
Vickers, a lame duck driver finishing out his last season with Hendrick Motorsports, was running third behind teammate Jimmie Johnson and leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. Trying to make a move on the last lap, Vickers wrecked Johnson and Earnhardt and went on to win, much to the disappointment of Earnhardt’s livid Talladega fan base.
Vickers has come a long way since that race nearly three years ago. Driving a Toyota for Team Red Bull, it’s been an uphill climb for Vickers’ No. 83 team. (more…)
Stewart wins again at Waktins Glen August 10, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Tony Stewart won his fifth career race at Watkins Glen, the most of any Cup Series driver.
Tony Stewart avoided a six-car accident in the closing laps to take a series-record fifth career win at the Watkins Glen road course and strengthen his position as the Cup Series points leader.
It was Stewart’s third win of 2009 and the first-year car owner continues to surprise the NASCAR world with his dominating success.
“[T]here’s something about this place that we’ve been really good,” Stewart said. “I know what fuel I need when we get here.”
NASCAR road racing is just as much about fuel mileage as it is the driver’s ability to master the track’s left and right turns. (more…)
Hamlin gives inspired Pocono performance August 3, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Federal Express Toyota, comes to the finish line to take the checkered flag from NASCAR flagman Rick Monroe as he took victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 3, 2009 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Personal tragedies have led to some of the most inspired performances in sports.
When Dale Earnhardt died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, replacement driver Kevin Harvick went on to win three weeks later at Atlanta. Later that year, when the circuit returned to Daytona for the first time since the tragic accident, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. rose to the occasion and won.
Denny Hamlin put on such a performance Monday. Hamlin, who lost his grandmother Friday, won the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, his third at Pocono’s triangle-shaped track.
Going into Sunday, it seemed like déjà vu was going to be the story of the weekend. Just like it had six races ago at Pocono, rain scrubbed qualifying, putting points leader Tony Stewart on the pole. But, just like he did in June, Stewart wrecked during practice and was forced to switch to a backup car and start at the back of the field. Stewart won that June race, the question was could he do it again Sunday? (more…)