Nascar 2011

[TheMaster]

I think the Nationwide Series race yesterday, the Sam's Town 300 from Las Vegas, deserves some mention. Mark Martin took the win yesterday driving for Turner Motorsports. He holds the record for most NNS wins, now at 49. He almost did not get it. Brad Keselowski was leading on the final lap, the reigning series champion, but he cut down a tire and went into the wall, limping his car to a third place finish. That accident reminded me so much of the 1990 Daytona 500 when Dale Earnhardt lost a tire on the final lap as he was leading, surrendering the lead and the win to Derrike Cope. Justin Allgaier, Martin's teammate in the race, finished second. And Danica Patrick, driving for JR Motorsports, finished fourth, setting a new record for the best finish of any woman in the history of NASCAR.

The Sprint Cup race from said track will take place later this afternoon with Matt Kenseth starting on pole.

[TheMaster]

Following yesterday's race, Reed Sorenson remains the Nationwide Series points leader. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is now second, Jason Leffler third, Danica Patrick fourth, and Justin Allgaier fifth.

In today's Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup race, a shuffle in the point standings. After losing his engine and ending up with a 38th place DNF, Kyle Busch goes from the points lead all the way down to 14th in the standings, out of any Chase contending spots. Tony Stewart was the dominant driver today, leading the most laps, but the win went to Carl Edwards. Stewart is tied for the points lead now with Kurt Busch; Stewart gets the advantage because his top finish this season is higher than Busch's, that is the tie breaker for the moment. And the new Chase format is being put to the test now. Jeff Gordon, after crashing out of the race, is out of the top 12 in the standings, but he would be in the Chase if it began today, because of his win at Phoenix. Gordon is 19th right now, and would be one of the wild card Chase entries. Mark Martin would be the other one, he dropped down to 11th in the standings. The last of the top ten in the points is Dale Earnhardt Jr. He gained seven spots after finishing 8th today. So everyone running 1st through 10th in the points, plus Martin in 11th and Gordon in 19th, would be the 12 Chasers, but the Chase is still 23 races away, and that's plenty of time for the points to shuffle again.

[FUS1ON]

/hikes leg to wiz on Shrub .... Carl 'might' would be out there with a good margin in the points lead if not for Shrub wreaking him last week .... my boy looked today, they made the proper call and took home the W.

[TheMaster]

I'll tell you, Kyle just did not have the homecoming he desired. He crashed out of the Nationwide race yesterday when that move to the inside backfired, and now this. Congratulations to Carl though. He may not be my driver, but I like him and he deserved a little redemption.

[TheMaster]

Kasey Kahne won the Too Tough to Tame 200 from Darlington tonight in the Camping World Truck Series. Kahne dominated the event in the 18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Ron Hornaday finished second and moved up to 6th in the overall points. Finishing third was Todd Bodine, and he is now 8th in the points. In finishing fourth, Matt Crafton increased his lead in the points to a margin of 7. Rookie driver Cole Whitt started on pole and finished 8th, and is the new 2nd place driver in the points.

[TheMaster]

Carl Edwards is on pole for the Jeff Byrd 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. This is the second pole for Edwards this season in Sprint Cup competition in four races. Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle will also start on the front row. Edwards was damn fast all day today, topping the charts in the first two Nationwide Series practice and first Cup practice.

[TheMaster]

Kyle Busch has done it again. Today he took victory in the Jeff Byrd 500, his fifth straight NASCAR win at Bristol Motor Speedway. With the win he moves up to 6th in the overall point standings. This is the second time straight he swept the Bristol weekend.

Older brother, and former Cup champion, Kurt Busch has taken the championship lead. Also moving up and currently in a Chase spot is Carl Edwards, now 2nd. Ryan Newman and Paul Menard are both up one spot to 4th and 5th respectively. Jimmie Johnson gained five spots and is in 7th. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is up one to 9th. The two wild card spots in the Chase are currently held by Mark Martin (11th) and Jeff Gordon (19th).

[TheMaster]

Juan Pablo Montoya has grabbed the pole for the NSCS race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, the Auto Club 400. The #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin will also be starting on the front row.

[TheMaster]

Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag today in the Auto Club 400. With the win he moves up to 9th in the points. Carl Edwards is once again the points leader. The NNS race yesterday saw Kyle Busch take the win and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. take over the points lead.

[TheMaster]

Jamie McMurray took the pole position today for tomorrow's NSCS event at the Paperclip, Martinsville. McMurray has had something of a rough start to 2011, sitting 28th in the points currently, but perhaps he can turn that around with a good run tomorrow. Dennis Setzer withdrew from the race after he crashed his #92 car during practice yesterday, and the team did not have a back up.