Harvick Edges out McMurray for Talladega Victory April 25, 2010
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Kevin Harvick crosses the finish line in his No. 29 Chevrolet, edging out Jamie McMurray driving the No. 1 Chevy at Talladega Superspeedway. Photo courtesy NASCAR.
One year ago, a horrific crash sent Carl Edwards’ car into the catch fence at Talladega Superspeedway, causing outcry in the NASCAR community. Sunday’s race at the Alabama track marked the fourth race that the rear spoiler was back on the car, replacing a wing that bared the brunt of the criticism for cars going airborne.
The result? A race with no major incidents, but by no means was it boring. The race set new records for the number of leaders and lead changes in a Cup Series event, and after three green-white-checker restarts, ended with Kevin Harvick making a breath-taking last-second pass on Jamie McMurray for the win. (more…)
Jimmie Johnson – A Deserving Champion November 22, 2009
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Jimmie Johnson will likely drive away with his fourth consecutive championship in 2009.
Jimmie Johnson deserves to win the 2009 championship. After winning Sunday at Phoenix, he’ll have to finish 25th or better to clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. It’s certainly far from a done deal going into Homestead Miami Speedway – the race at Texas showed us that – but if the No. 48 team approaches the season finale like it has approached every other race this season, NASCAR fans will get to see history made.
A champion wins. Sunday’s Phoenix win was Johnson’s seventh of the season. He also has four poles this year. After he was involved in a wreck on lap three that resulted in losing more than 100 points of his lead on second place Mark Martin, Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the rest of the team did what they always do, going out and qualifying third at Phoenix, leading 238 of 312 laps and cruising to victory. His lead over Martin is now 108 points going into the last race, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be resting on their laurels this week. (more…)
Kurt Busch Win Nets NASCAR Fan $1 Million November 8, 2009
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Kurt Busch celebrates his victory - and winning a fan $1 million - at Texas Motor Speedway by driving backwards around the track.
Kyle Busch didn’t make history by winning all three Texas Motor Speedway races this weekend, but Jimmie Johnson’s seemingly insurmountable lead in the points standings now seems surmountable and Kurt Busch’s win at the Dickies 500 earned a NASCAR fan $1 million.
The two Busch brothers battled each other throughout the race. Kyle led 232 of 334 laps, but Kurt was always within reach of his younger brother.
On the final run of green-flag pit stops, Kurt stayed out an extra two laps. He lost positions, but with the strategy, needed less fuel to make it to the end. Kurt said he was saving fuel in the race and knew, barring a miracle, his brother couldn’t make it, enabling him to cruise to the victory.
As for Johnson, on lap three, David Reutimann tapped the rear quarter of Sam Hornish Jr.’s No. 77 Dodge in between turns one and two, sending Hornish up the track and into championship leader Jimmie Johnson. (more…)
As Long as He’s Winning, Martin’s Ok with Points Standing November 6, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farA somewhat emotional Mark Martin reflected on his NASCAR career during a press conference at Texas Motor Speedway.
Martin’s finished second in the points four times in his career, and currently sits second behind teammate Jimmie Johnson. All season long, Martin’s said he’s content not winning a championship, and took the ride in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 car to win races, which he’s done five times in 2009.
“I have learned a lot and I have seen a lot and I have come to realize that I’m no Dale Earnhardt. My record don’t stand up to his…just doesn’t. And when you stand me up against Jeff Gordon…it just don’t stand up to it man. I understand that,” Martin said. (more…)
Johnson’s Perfect Weekend Bolsters Chase Run October 18, 2009
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While Jimmie Johnson dominated in his Lowe's Motor Speedway win, it was a less successful day for teammate Mark Martin.
With all the success Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 team have had during his historic run of three-consecutive championships and 45 career wins, he’s never been able to deliver one thing to perfectionist crew chief Chad Knaus – leading the time sheet during all the weekend’s practice sessions, winning the pole and the race.
But in his sponsor Lowe’s last race as sponsor of the track located deep in the heart of NASCAR country, it seemed like an only appropriate venue for Johnson to finally deliver. After all, Johnson had dominated at the track for years early in his career, but hasn’t visited victory lane since 2005. (more…)
Stewart Marches Back to Points Lead with Kansas Win October 4, 2009
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Tony Stewart took two tires on the last pit stop to take the checkered flag at Kansas
Tony Stewart lost his position atop the Sprint Cup Series points standing when Mark Martin made the Chase and the field was reset based on wins. But he made some progress in fighting his way back to the top by winning at Kansas.
A quick pit stop put Stewart out front at the end of the race, and the No. 14 cut his deficit from 106 points to 67 in the Sprint Cup points standings with his fourth win of the season.
“He’s like that. He’s a little gutsy. That’s a good thing,” Stewart said of crew chief Darian Grubb’s decision to take two tires on the last caution. “You don’t question him; you just know it’s the right thing to do.” (more…)
Johnson Sweeps Dover, Edges Closer to Points Lead September 27, 2009
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If Jimmie Johnson wins a fourth championship, his win at Dover will be remembered as the place where his championship run began.
If Jimmie Johnson wins a NASCAR-record fourth consecutive championship in 2009, his win at Dover will likely been seen as the start of the historic run.
Johnson, who won the first Dover race earlier this season and started Sunday on the pole, dominated the 400-mile race, leading 271 laps and pulled within ten points of the championship lead.
“I certainly hope that our performance today scares some people and affects them in a way that benefits us,” Johnson said.
While the No. 48 team’s performance was impressive, other Chasers were close by, as nine of the top 11 finishers are competing for the Chase playoffs.
Points leader Mark Martin finished second, but was in awe of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate.
“I’m pretty sure that dude is Superman,” Martin said. “I’ve seen that dude up close and I see why he’s so successful. He works harder at it than anybody else, I think, on the circuit.” (more…)
Martin Keeps Lead With New Hampshire Win September 20, 2009
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Crew members pit the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet driven by Mark Martin during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway
It took Mark Martin all 26 races in NASCAR’s “regular season” to secure his place in the Chase. But once he got there, he took his spot atop the points standing by virtue of his series leading four wins this year.
This weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martin solidified his position, taking the first checkered flag of the Chase.
Martin held off fellow Chaser and race pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya in a three-lap final run to the checkered flag, something Montoya wasn’t pleased with after the race, and accused Martin of slowing down to keep Montoya from making a potential race-winning pass, and relegating Montoya to third behind Denny Hamlin. After the race Montoya told his crew he could have wrecked Martin. (more…)
2009 Chase Field is Set September 13, 2009
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The top 12 drivers who will race for the Sprint Cup championship.
As Virginia native Denny Hamlin celebrated his first win at Richmond International Raceway, 11 other drivers celebrated making the cutoff for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The Chase field is set, and in a season that’s been marked by economic turmoil, eight different organizations have drivers in the field of 12 that will battle for the 2009 Sprint Cup.
Last year, four teams – Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing – dominated the Chase field, each putting three drivers in the Chase. But the number of teams in the Chase doubled in 2009, thanks in no small part to the testing ban NASCAR enacted before the start of the 2009 season. (more…)
Busch, Martin Keep it Clean at Bristol August 23, 2009
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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…)