NASCAR SPRINT CUP AND NATIONWIDE SERIES NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTARY

On Saturday night, the Sprint Cup Series drivers raced under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway. In case you missed the race, or would just care to read a recap of the events that took place, this is what happened… 

Mark Martin sat on the pole for the fifth time this season. When the green flag waved, Martin got loose and fell back. Greg Biffle was able to gain the position in turn one, and successfully led the first lap.  

The first caution arrived rather early in the race. On lap 11, Logano had a flat tire that came completely  off of his car, which caused him to make contact with the wall. While under caution, Tony Stewart’s radio was not working. Stewart came down pit road attempting to get it repaired, but ended up going a lap down because of this incident. The race restarted on lap 16, and Greg Biffle led the field.  

On lap 30, the top five running order consisted of: Biffle, Kenseth, Martin, Newman, and Ku. Busch. Biffle began lapping the field on lap 51, starting with Menard.  

A second caution was brought out on lap 64 after Denny Hamlin had a tire go down. While still under yellow, Biffle’s pit crew changed four tires and made a wedge adjustment. Biffle won the race off of pit road. Stewart remained out on the track, and was able to get his lap back. The race restarted on lap 70, and Biffle led the field. 

Martin was able to run down on the bottom of the track and pass Biffle for the lead on lap 78. Dale Jr. was having quite a run on lap 85, he had made his way into the 17^th spot after having started farther back in the field. His momentum continued on lap 108, Dale Jr. had moved up two spots, and was running in the 15^th position.  

On lap 136, Allmendinger lost his break rotor on the track. A third caution was brought out for debris. Martin won the race off of pit road. The race restarted on lap 145, and Martin led the field. Dale Jr. had moved up to the 11^th position by lap 151, and six laps later (lap 157) Dale Jr. was able to pass Kenseth and take over the 10^th place spot.  

A fourth caution was brought out on lap 163 after Labonte got loose, spun, and made contact with the wall. The race restarted on lap 171, and Martin led the field yet again. By lap 227, the top five spots were occupied by: Martin, Ku. Busch, Ambrose, Ky. Busch, and Johnson.

On lap 252, Andretti slowed down, made contact with the wall, and lost parts all over the track. NASCAR didn’t bring out a caution until lap 255. A race fan would have to question why NASCAR would wait three laps to call a caution when parts were on the track and could potentially become a hazard? Martin ended up winning the race off of pit road yet again. 

The race restarted on lap 264, and Martin took off like a rocket. Martin allowed Johnson to get by him on lap 275, in order to lead a lap and collect five bonus points. Then, Martin went back by him and regained his lead.  

Dale Jr. had gotten loose, fell back to the back of the field, but after the last pit stop he began charging up the field yet again. By lap 314, he was running in the 15^th spot. Martin got hung up behind lap traffic (on lap 318), and Johnson was able to catch up to him and pass for the lead.  

Gilliland got loose after having a tire go down, and made contact with the wall. This incident brought out the sixth caution on lap 356. Gilliland took his car to the garage. Johnson won the race off of pit road. The pace car pulled off the track on lap 363, and the race restarted with Johnson out front.  

Dale Jr. continued to move up the field. On lap 388, Dale Jr. was running in the 12^th spot, on lap 391 he was in 11^th, and had cracked into the top 10 by lap 408.  

A seventh caution was called for rain on lap 421. At this moment in the race, everyone was focused on pit strategy. Drivers had enough fuel to remain out on the track, but would they? The drivers who pitted included (but are not limited to): Johnson, Martin, Dale Jr., Ky. and Ku. Busch.  

Johnson had to come down pit road a second time to fix a right-rear tire. Waltrip made the decision to remain on the track, and was marked as the race leader. Johnson returned to the track in the 21^st position.  

The race restarted on lap 431, and Waltrip led the field. Ky. Busch got up behind him and passed for the lead. An eighth caution was brought out on lap 438. Drivers were running three-wide, which caused them to make contact with one another, and some cars went spinning. Drivers involved in this incident with minor or major damage included: Bowyer, Ku. Busch, Harvick, Mears, and Stewart.  

While under caution, Stewart’s racecar stalled on the track, and his car had to be pushed. Stewart was able to get his car fired back up and back on the track. The race restarted on lap 451, and Ky. Busch led the field. On the restart, Dale Jr. was running in the fifth spot.  

Hornish Jr. had tire issues and brushed up against the wall on lap 457. This incident brought out the ninth caution of the race. The race restarted on lap 463; Ky. Busch and Martin were side-by-side on row one on the double-file restart. Ky. Busch got the spot, and led the field. 

Montoya had a tire go flat on lap 467, he headed down pit road. No caution was brought out. Martin was quickly making his way up behind Ky. Busch with 29 laps remaining in the race. A 10^th caution arrived when Truex Jr. cut a left-front tire, and spread debris onto the track. The race restarted with 15 laps to go.  

With only nine laps remaining in the race, NASCAR brought out the 11^th caution. Waltrip got loose, and spun around. Bowyer slowed down because of the accident, and got turned by Logano. Bowyer ended up sliding his car into Waltrip’s wrecked car. With eight laps to go, NASCAR  red flagged the race in order to be able to clean up the debris from the incident.  

When the race was red flagged, the top five running order consisted of: Ky. Busch, Martin, Biffle, Ambrose, and Dale Jr.  

Although, one suspicious event was after the race was red flagged for 11 minutes, the caution flag was brought back out and remained out for several laps.

8 to go – Caution flag.

7 to go – Caution flag.

6 to go – Caution flag.

5 to go – Caution flag.

The debris had been cleaned up, what was NASCAR waiting for? Were they attempting to give a particular driver an advantage on the restart?

The race finally restarted with four laps to go, and Ky. Busch led. Martin raced right behind him. With two laps to go, Martin and Ky. Busch were racing side-by-side for position. Then on the final lap, Martin fell behind, and Ky. Busch went on to win at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

At Bristol Motor Speedway anything is possible. Race fans will just have to watch and see how the 2009 standings will change over the next two races.

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