NASCAR Weekly Report

NASCAR Weekly Report

5/17/09

Author: Matt Gerwitz
http://www.RacingWeeklyNews.com, U. S. Sports Media, Inc

CONCORD, N.C. - Smoke was on fire Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the NASACAR Sprint Cup Series' annual all-star race. Tony Stewart, whose nickname in the garage is "Smoke", won his first race as an owner-driver by passing Matt Kenseth with two laps to go. Though the all-star race is not a points race, the winner's purse over $1 million makes for some great competition and exciting racing. The winnings are sure to help the bottom line for Stewart-Haas racing which is running its inaugural season on NASCAR's senior circuit.

Jeff Gordon had a very strong car, sticking to the bottom of the track most of the night. Inside of ten laps the number twenty-four was in a back-and-forth battle with Kyle Busch for the lead. With eight laps to go Gordon was three-wide with Busch in the middle and Ryan Newman on the high side. Assuming he was clear on the right, Gordon allowed himself to drift up at the same time Busch and Nedwman were coming down. The contact sent him into the grass, then up the track and into the wall. Asked afterwards about the contact, Gordon said that it was just a group of guys racing really hard.

Matt Kenseth finished second, Kurt Busch was third, Denny Hamiln fourth, and Carl Edwards fifth. Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top ten. The Sprint Cup Series returns to Lowe's Motor Speedway next weekend for the Coca-Cola 600, long considered the series most difficult endurance race.

Meanwhile, the Camping World Trucks returned to action at Lowe's on Friday night after taking off the last two weekends. Points leader Mike Skinner crashed just 35 laps in, ending his night and causing him to surrender the points lead to second place driver Ron Hornaday. For his part, Hornaday went on to win the 200 mile race and build a lead of 84 points over Skinner. At one point Hornaday was a lap down when he got caught in the pits by a caution flag. He battled back and took the lead from Matt Crafton on lap 106. Kyle Busch and Crafton both tried to catch Hornaday, but he clearly had the better truck and finished the job.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Nationwide Series was off this week, but there was still action in the front office. NASCAR announced on Wednesday that Michael Allen, crew chief for Terry Cook's number 91 Chevolet has been fined for violations at Darlington on May 7th. The $2,500 fine is the result of three violations of the 2009 Nationwide Series rule book, all dealing with equipment that does not conform to the rules. Allen has not made any moves to appeal the fine. The Nationwide Series resumes this Saturday at Lowe's, as Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jason Leffler lead the field in the Carquest Auto Parts 300.
Source: http://www.RacingWeeklyNews.com, U. S. Sports Media, Inc