March 22, 2009
- Driver wins before age 25: Only 58 of 2,215 NASCAR Sprint Cup races for which the winner’s age is known have been won by drivers under 25, #18-Kyle Busch is only 23 and is one win away from tying Jeff Gordon’s record of 15 wins before the age of 25:
1. Jeff Gordon, 15
2. Kyle Busch, 14 [still under 25 until May 2, 2010]
3. Kurt Busch, 7
(tie) Richard Petty, 7
5. Junior Johnson, 5
Tied with one each: Bob Burdick. Bobby Hillin Jr.; Parnelli Jones; John Kieper; Terry Labonte, Ryan Newman, Bill Rexford; Fireball Roberts; Donald Thomas; Brian Vickers (still under 25)(3-22-2009)
- Kyle Busch wins at Bristol: #18-Kyle Busch won the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, for his 2nd win of 2009, 14th of his career and the first time Busch has won twice at a track in Sprint Cup, he had won his 13 races at different track. The race ran three extra laps on a Green-White-Checkered after a late caution, Busch led 378 of 503 laps. #11-Hamlin finished 2nd, followed by #48-Johnson, #24-Gordon, #9-Kahne, #5-Martin (the pole sitter), #39-Newman, #31-Burton, #42-Montoya and #47-Ambrose. The top-35 in owners points didn’t change much, no drivers / teams fell out. There were 9 cautions for 58 laps and 7 drivers led a lap with 13 lead changes. The race is scheduled to re-air on SPEED, Thursday, March 26th at 12:00pm/et.
For race results, awards and more on the Bristol Race Results Page.(3-22-2009)
- UNOFFICAL Driver Points Standings [after Bristol race 5 of 36]:
1) #24Jeff Gordon 794
2) #2-Kurt Busch 718 -76 [1 win]
3) #33-Clint Bowyer 715 -79
4) #18-Kyle Busch 709 -85 [2 wins]
5) #99-Carl Edwards 665 -129
6) #9-Kasey Kahne 639 -155
7) #14-Tony Stewart 633 -161
8) #11-Denny Hamlin 631 -163
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson 627 -167
10) #17-Matt Kenseth 610 -184 [2 wins]
11) #00-David Reutimann 607 -187
12) #29-Kevin Harvick 584 -210
in running for top 12 – the chase:
13) #31-Jeff Burton 579 -215
14) #83-Brian Vickers 553 -241
15) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya 546 -248
For drivers and owners points standings, see the Drivers/Owners Points Standings.(3-22-2009)
- Race Fast Facts – Bristol Motor Speedway
Kyle Busch won the FOOD CITY 500, his 14th victory in 155 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and third top-10 finish in 2009.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in nine races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Busch brothers have won three consecutive races. They won four straight last year – Kyle at Infineon Raceway, Kurt at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Kyle at Daytona International Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2009.
Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 15 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Scott Speed (28th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Jeff Gordon leads the point standings by 76 points over Kurt Busch.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-22-2009)
- Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Bristol: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #09-Marlin, 40th
Caution 2: NONE as the drivers up for it [#34] caused the caution
Caution 3: #09-Marlin, 40th
Caution 4: #77-Hornish, 31st
Caution 5: #96-Labonte, 22nd
Caution 6: #88-Earnhardt Jr., 14th
Caution 7: #88-Earnhardt Jr.(2), 14th
Caution 8: #44-Allmendinger, 16th
Caution 9: none awarded when 10 or less laps are left in the race
(3-22-2009)
- Penalty Report – Bristol Motor Speedway
Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
#82 28, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
#8 60, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
#29 62, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End (Too Fast Entering also)
#7 64, Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
#8 125, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End, (Too Fast Exiting also)
#55 312, Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
#83 320, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
#16 321, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End (Also Too Soon)
#8 321, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
#43 325, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
#29 444, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End (Too Fast Entering and Exiting)
#77 445, Car/Truck pitting out of the assigned pit box
(NASCAR Statistics)(3-22-2009)
- Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Martinsville:
Adrer Bristol, the current (2009) OWNERS points are used to determine the Top-35 in owners points and the guaranteed starting positions. No drivers dropped out or moved in from race standings.
31) #5-Martin/Hendrick: 441 +106
32) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing: 398 +63
33) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 397 +62
34) #20-Logano/Gibbs Racing: 370 +35
35) #71-Gilliland/TRG: 356 21 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull Racing: 335, 21 points out of 35th
37) #8-Almirola/Earnhardt Ganassi: 335 -21
38) #98-Menard/Yates Racing: 326 -30
39) #28-Kvapil/Yates Racing: 323 -33
40) #66-Blaney/Prism: 230 -126
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(3-22-2009)
- Six Race Tracks Jimmie Johnson has never won a Sprint Cup race at: There are six current race tracks the Sprint Cup Series runs on that #48-Jimmie Johnson has not won at [a Sprint Cup race]:
Bristol
Michigan
Infineon Raceway
Chicago
Watkins Glen
Homestead
- Bristol could be last race for #28 UPDATE – done: Sources at Yates Racing confirmed that Sunday’s Food City 500 will be the last race in the foreseeable future for the #28 Ford driven by Travis Kvapil. Last year, the team was able to piecemeal enough sponsorship together to last the entire season for the #28, but despite some support from Golden Corral for the first five races of 2009, it wasn’t enough to keep the car going beyond this week.(SPEEDtv)(3-21-2009)
UPDATE: Yates Racing will suspend operations of the #28 Ford of Travis Kvapil due to lack of sponsorship following Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team entered the race 40th in points. A decision on how many employees will be laid off has not been made. Geoff Smith, the president of Roush Fenway Racing that partners with Yates, said most of the #28 team members will be dispersed to other parts of the organization. “It’s difficult to be in a situation when you have to deal with the consequences of the economy,” Smith said. “We’re in a situation where there’s no extra cash to support running an unsponsored car for any period of time. If the economy picks up later in the season maybe we’ll be able to pick up something for that team.” The team suffered a major setback when Kvapil failed to make the third race at Las Vegas. That was compounded a week later when a blown engine left him 42nd at Atlanta. Smith wasn’t optimistic sponsorship for Kvapil will come this season. He’s having enough trouble with selling sponsorship for some of his other programs, such as Aflac on Carl Edwards’ car, that have asked for relief. Roush has sponsors for all of its drivers through at least 2010 except Matt Kenseth, whose deal with DeWalt expires after this year. Smith said he’s working with DeWalt to find a partner for next season. “There’s a lot of pressure internally and externally for sponsors to decrease participation and find a partner or pull back altogether,” Smith said. “There just aren’t enough sponsors on our side of the garage to go around right now.”(ESPN.com)(3-22-2009)
- Loomis on the pit box for Sadler: An ill Kevin Buskirk left Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night and Richard Petty Motorsports Executive Vice President of Race Operations Robbie Loomis will serve as crew chief for #19-Elliott Sadler in the Food City 500 today. It will be the first time Loomis will be calling the shots for a driver since he worked with Jeff Gordon in 2005. “The big thing is figuring out what’s wrong with [Buskirk] – his wife is getting him checked out [by doctors] today,” Loomis said Sunday morning. “We’ve got a great team over there. Everybody knows their role. Kevin Kidd is their engineer, and I’ll be there for any assistance and leaning on.” Buskirk had been feeling ill all weekend, and Loomis had been paying more attention to the team in case Buskirk had to leave. As part of his new role resulting from the Petty Motorsports-Gillett Evernham Motorsports merger, Loomis oversees all the crew chiefs in the RPM organization. Loomis said the decisions on whether to take tires and fuel on pit stops as well as changes that will be made to the car likely will be done by committee. “We’ll be talking about it as a team, but I’ll be the voice on the radio,” Loomis said. “It will be fun. I’ve always liked Elliott. I’ve never worked with him. I’ll have to get that Virginia slang down pat.”(SceneDaily)(3-22-2009)
- Marlin wins Saturday Night Special: Sterling Marlin, who will run the Sprint Cup race Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, won the Scotts Saturday Night Special, Rusty Wallace finished 2nd followed by 70-year-old L.D. Ottinger, Terry Labonte and Jimmy Spencer. The race will be re-aired Sunday morning [March 22nd] 10:00am/et on ESPN Classic. Philadelphia [Jayski fave team] Eagles Kicker David Akers and ESPN’s Andy Petree won the celebrity races which set up the starting lineup for the Legends race.(ESPN.com)(3-21-2009)
AND Sterling Marlin got an assist from teammate Andy Petree and lead from start to finish to capture the Scotts Saturday Night Special at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 51-year-old Marlin started on the pole after Petree finished first in his celebrity heat. The Columbia, Tenn., native was elated in victory lane, where he was awarded the same trophy that will go to Sunday’s Food City 500 winner. “Man, that felt so good,” said Marlin. “It felt so good to get in the car and to run like that. It just felt good to come back and run like that. I just had a great car and Andy got me a really good starting position. I had a great time. I’d like to do this again. I ran this car a couple of times in Nashville. Andy had tested a couple of times and we talked some. Andy’s car was really fast. I had a good car… so we should have won it. Rusty Wallace finished second, followed by L.D. Ottinger, Terry Labonte and Jimmy Spencer. Rounding out the 12-car field was Harry Gant, Phil Parsons, Jack Ingram, Cale Yarborough, David Green, Junior Johnson and Larry Pearson. In the first heat of the afternoon featuring celebrity drivers, Philadelphia Akers place-kicker David Akers outlasted the field to take the win, while former crew chief and current ESPN analyst Petree picked up the win in the second heat. Trailing Akers to the finish line in the first heat was Bill Jordan, followed by Riki Rachtman, Frank Beamer and Mike Compton. Brad Daugherty finished second to Petree in the second heat while Ron Capps came home third and Ray Evernham finished fourth. Doug Herbert and Greg Anderson wrecked their cars in practice and were unable to compete in the second heat.(BMS)(3-22-2009)
- Stewart donates to help injured Shih Tzu: #14-Tony Stewart’s charitable foundation has donated an undisclosed amount of money to pay surgery costs for an injured stray Shih Tzu dog. Around midnight on St. Patrick’s Day, the three-year-old male was taken to the Humane Society for Hamilton County with a broken back, and he needed immediate surgery. Joni Thompson, executive director of the Indianapolis-based Tony Stewart Foundation, found out and told the driver, whose Shih Tzu, Buddy, died in 2007. The foundation made a gift to the Humane Society specifically covering the costs of the surgery and the dog’s special “wheelchair” to make up for losing the use of his hind legs. Stewart’s past philanthropic work earned him NASCAR Illustrated’s “Person of the Year” honors last year.(Florida Today/AP)(3-22-2009)
- Kahne and Setzer test at Motor Mile: Two Sprint Cup teams participated in a test this past Tuesday (March 17th) at Motor Mile Speedway. The track in Radford, VA was because of the similarities it shared with the paper-clip Martinsville Speedway short track in Henry County. Banked 15 degrees in the turns, MMS has a steeper banking than Martinsville by a mere three degrees. Certain similarities are the reason many teams throughout the NASCAR spectrum choose Motor Mile Speedway as their proving ground for waging a competitive campaign at weekend short tracks. In attendance on this particular Tuesday were Kasey Kahne, driver of Richard Petty Motorsports’ #9 Budweiser Dodge, and the #46 Romeo Guest sponsored Dodge, owned by Carl Long and driven by Dennis Setzer. It was Kahne’s first outing at the .416-mile oval. For veteran driver Dennis Setzer, the asphalt corners of MMS have become as familiar as the finish line at Martinsville. For crew chief Kenny Francis, the Radford short track could serve as a solution for more speed at the Sunday short tracks looming on the Sprint Cup schedule. “This is a pretty good track and pretty close to home. It’s got good grip and is pretty consistent, so you can learn here; you don’t have to chase the tires all day,” explains Francis. Carl Long and Setzer have partnered up in order to attempt the 500-lap event at Martinsville later this month. By the end of the test session the #46 team was a half-second off the pace set by Kahne’s #9 Dodge, with a top time of only 16.5.(MMS site)(3-22-2009)
- A little old, but congrats: Kevin Haynes (a Lead Test Technician at Windshear Windtunnel in Concord, NC) and his wife Rosanne welcomed triplet girls to the family over the holidays on December 12, 2008. Abigail, Cecilia, and Madeline all spent 6-8 weeks in the NICU at Northeast Medical Center. They were 3lb 1oz, 2lbs 10oz and 2lbs 4oz respectively. All are home now and doing well.(3-22-2009)
- Changes at SK Motorsports? UPDATE 2: hearing that several employees, including crew chief Jon Wolfe, and have left the #07-SK Motorsports team. Lack of sponsorship was the reason cited. [see note below].(3-17-2009)
UPDATE 1: Have confirmed that Wolfe and a number of other crew members are no longer with the team.(3-18-2009)
UPDATE 2: Roger Johnson is now serving as crew chief for the #07 team.(3-22-2009)
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