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Monday, October 19, 2009
Juan Pablo Montoya Drops to 6th Position in Chase
| Chasers Struggle On Home Turf |
| Written by Lindsey Marks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 19 October 2009 11:12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 After leading early in the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway Denny Hamlin blew his motor and lost two spots in the point standings. Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/GettyImages for NASCAR
Congratulations to the No. 48 team and their never-ending success.
Must be nice.
Not many teams can dominate four years in a row. Just ask all the other Chasers and the guys who did not even make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Even the drivers who were successful in Saturday’s race could not gain on Johnson’s points lead. Jeff Gordon moved up from 5th in the point standings to 3rd following Saturday night’s event but went from 105 points behind Johnson to 135 points back.
Kasey Kahne, who was mathematically eliminated from championship contention prior to this event due to poor performances and bad luck early in the Chase, rallied with a 3rd place finish at Lowe’s that moved him up two spots in the point standings to 9th, 331 points behind Johnson.
 Juan Pablo Montoya's night was unfortunate, getting into the back of Clint Bowyer on lap 126, and spinning himself out on lap 163 and then losing his right-rear quarter panel later on. Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/GettyImages for NASCAR Kurt Busch was the only other Chaser to finish in the top-10. Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart finished 11th and 13th, respectively.
The rest of the Chase drivers suffered from on-track incidents or mechanical problems that earned them less than stellar finishing positions.
Greg Biffle crossed the stripe 16th after spinning following contact with Newman on lap 312 and maintained his 7th place points position.
Mark Martin started his day off well, only 12 points behind Johnson in the standings and led the first lap of the race. Unfortunately, a restart debacle involving Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin on lap 126 gave Montoya and Martin damage that affected them for the rest of the event. He wound up 17th while Montoya ended up 35th, 4 laps down after spinning himself out on lap 163 and then losing his right-rear quarter panel later on.
Martin is now 90 points behind Johnson in the standings and remains second to the three-time champion. Montoya, on the other hand, lost three spots in the points and now sits 6th, a dismal 195 points out of first.
Brian Vickers ended his day in 34th and has been eliminated from championship contention, as have Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin who are 10th and 11th in the standings after finishing 39th and 42nd, respectively, after blowing their engines.
As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville, VA for the Tums Fast Relief 500, only eight of the 12 original Chasers are still eligible for the Sprint Cup Series championship.
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NASCAR Standings as seen by FIX
STANDINGS
NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson wins, takes control in Chase
CONCORD, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson completed the perfect weekend with a win at Lowe's Motor Speedway 90 points over teammate Mark Martin.
Seeking a NASCAR-record fourth consecutive Cup championship, Johnson led every practice session and won the pole to complete another dominating run at Lowe's. He has been the driver to beat at the suburban Charlotte track since early in his career, and the victory was the Lowe's-sponsored driver's sixth on the 1.5-mile oval.
"Man, we pulled off a perfect weekend and we've always wanted to do that," Johnson said in his first Victory Lane visit at the track since 2005.
Matt Kenseth was second, followed by Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon, Johnson's teammate at Hendrick Motorsports.
Martin, who started the race 12 points behind Johnson, finished 17th in part because of front-end damage received when he ran into the back of Juan Pablo Montoya on an early restart.
It was that kind of night for several title contenders, as eight of the 12 finished outside the top 10 in a rare off night for the Chase drivers.
Montoya, who was third in the standings and just 58 points out of the lead at the start of the race, dropped to sixth and is now 195 points out.
He damaged the front and back ends of his car on the restart problem with Martin and Clint Bowyer, and fell two laps down trying to get pit road for repairs.
Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards both blew motors, Greg Biffle was in a late spin and Tony Stewart never contended.
That left it up to Kahne and Gordon to chase down Johnson, and despite some thrilling late restarts, neither came close.
Gordon finished fourth, but lost ground to Johnson in the standings and is now 135 points out as only Martin is within shouting distance of the champion. Johnson will take the cushion into Martinsville, where he's won five of the last six races.
Johnson has six victories this year and 46 overall — 17 in Chase races.
Montoya's Chase run hits big bump in Charlotte
The Colombian driver likely saw his chances of winning NASCAR's Chase for the championship evaporate on a frustrating Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.A series of mishaps sent him to a 35th-place finish, dropping him from third to sixth in the standings.
CHECKERED FLAG -- Jimmie Johnson wins the NASCAR Banking 400 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His lead over second-place Mark Martin is now 90 points. Jeff Gordon, who finished fourth, is 135 points behind.
WHITE FLAG -- Johnson leads Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano.
Lap 329 -- Kenseth clears Kahne and is second.
Lap 328 -- Five to go. Johnson's lead is more than two seconds as Kahne and Kenseth battle for position.
Lap 327 -- Mark Martin has rallied back to 14th but is unofficially 81 points behind Johnson.
Lap 324 -- Ten to go.
Lap 323 -- Jeff Gordon drops to fourth as Kahne and Kenseth go by.
Lap 321 -- LEAD CHANGE: Johnson gets a big run down low and edges Gordon at the stripe.
Lap 319 -- LEAD CHANGE: Gordon grabs the advantage when Johnson bobbles coming off Turn 4.
Lap 318 -- Hendrick teammates run side-by-side but Johnson holds the lead. Kenseth and Kahne are battling for third.
Lap 317 -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson once again brings the field to the green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Casey Mears
Lap 312 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 10: Just after Tony Stewart makes a four-wide pass on the backstretch, David Stremme slams the outside wall. Greg Biffle gets tapped by Newman and spins through the grass. Reed Sorenson gets the free pass.
Lap 307 -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson brings the field to the green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Clint Bowyer
Lap 304 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 9: Now it's Carl Edwards blowing up right as the green dropped. He goes the wrong direction down pit lane, but there's a trail of fluid under the No. 99 Ford. David Ragan gets the free pass.
Lap 303 -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson brings the field to the green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Clint Bowyer
Lap 299 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 8: David Gilliland gets loose and is hard into the wall. Martin gets the free pass.
Lap 298 -- Jeff Gordon clears Kenseth to retain third.
Lap 295 -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson brings the field to the green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Clint Bowyer
Lap 292 -- LEAD CHANGE: Johnson beats Kahne by a whisker coming out of the pits.
Lap 291 -- Pit stops for the leaders.
• Kahne says he's getting a little loose.
• Johnson, slight air adjustment for a car a little snug.
• Gordon gambles and goes with two tires, picking up four spots.
Lap 290 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 7: The engine on Max Papis' car expires. David Stremme gets the free pass.
Lap 288 -- Kahne laps Martin, who is currently running 18th.
Lap 287 -- Logano and Kurt Busch go past Jeff Gordon, who is now shown in seventh place.
Lap 280 -- With 54 laps remaining, Kahne's lead over Johnson is 6.5 seconds.
Lap 270 -- The top five: Kahne, Johnson, Kenseth, Bowyer and Jeff Gordon.
Lap 260 -- Kahne's lead over Kenseth is now up to 2.4 seconds.
Lap 250 -- A good stop by Kenseth has him running second, within eight car-lengths of Kahne. Clint Bowyer, who has been running solidly in the top 10 for much of the night, is up to fourth.
Lap 248 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kahne resumes the lead after the green-flag pit stops recycle the field.
Lap 247 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kurt Busch takes over when Kahne hits the pit lane. Stewart and Logano also make their stops.
Lap 246 -- Jeff Gordon is in for service. Robby Gordon is too fast entering pit road.
Lap 245 -- Johnson gives up third place and stops for four tires and fuel.
Lap 244 -- Truex is in and out.
Lap 243 -- Kyle Busch is in for a green-flag stop.
Lap 234 -- 100 laps to go. The top three: Kahne, Kenseth, Johnson.
Lap 228 -- Montoya returns to the pits for service.
Lap 223 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kahne surges past Kenseth for the lead.
Lap 220 -- The top five: Kenseth, Kahne, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch. Kenseth puts Montoya two laps down.
Lap 204 -- Martin is back up to 19th after getting repairs for a hole caused by his contact with Montoya earlier. He had dropped to 24th at one point.
Lap 200 -- Edwards makes an unscheduled stop to check to make sure all the tires are tight. He apparently was suffering from a vibration.
Lap 194 -- GREEN FLAG: Kenseth leads the field to the green.
1. Matt Kenseth
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kurt Busch
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Kasey Kahne
Lap 193 -- Hamlin makes one slow lap, then brings it back in and heads for the garage area.
Lap 192 -- And Hamlin returns to pit road and the crew pops the hood. They may have dropped a valve, which means the car is running on only seven cylinders.
Lap 190 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kenseth takes the lead off pit road.
Lap 189 -- Everybody pits for fresh rubber.
• With the exception of Kahne, who apparently took fuel only, the rest of the leaders choose the two-tire strategy this time.
Lap 188 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 6: There's a big piece of red metal on the track. It's Montoya's right-rear quarter panel, as evidenced by the big Target logo. David Gilliland gets the free pass.
Lap 178 -- We're halfway, with Gordon, Kenseth and Hamlin the top three.
Lap 171 -- LEAD CHANGE: Gordon drives back to the front. David Stremme scrapes the wall.
Lap 168 -- GREEN FLAG: Hamlin leads the field to the green.
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Greg Biffle
Lap 167 -- Montoya's crew works feverishly to repair his car, but he's 38th, two laps down.
Lap 166 -- LEAD CHANGE: Hamlin nips Gordon at the exit of pit road.
Lap 165 -- Pits are open and the leaders come in.
• All of the leaders choose to take four tires.
Lap 163 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 5: Montoya's damaged right-front fender finally casues him to lose control and spin out exiting Turn 4. He may have lost two laps to Gordon.
Lap 150 -- The top five: Gordon, Hamlin, Johnson, Kahne, Kenseth.
Lap 136 -- Johnson goes around Biffle for third.
Lap 134 -- Kahne goes around Kenseth for fifth.
Lap 126 -- Montoya has right-side damage after contact by Martin on the restart. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is slowing with transmission issues. After the crew checks it, he heads for the garage area.
Lap 125 -- GREEN FLAG: Jeff Gordon brings the field to the green.
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Greg Biffle
3. Ryan Newman
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Matt Kenseth
Lap 121 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon is the new leader.
Lap 120 -- The leaders head for pit road:
• Montoya complains his car was extremely loose.
• Hamlin gets air pressure adjustment.
• Jeff Gordon, Biffle and Newman make two-tire stops.
Lap 119 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 4: Kyle Busch spins sideways in Turn 4. Robby Gordon gets the free pass.
Lap 112 -- Martin Truex Jr. and David Reutimann have cracked the top 10. Dave Blaney is standing by in Reutimann's pits in case he needs relief. Apparently he's sick this weekend.
Lap 100 -- Your current top five:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Juan Montoya
Lap 99 -- LEAD CHANGE: Hamlin chases down Kenseth and returns to the top spot.
Lap 95 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott pits, handing the lead back to Kenseth.
Lap 94 -- LEAD CHANGE: Bill Elliott leads as Hamlin pits during green-flag stops.
Lap 93 -- Kyle Busch is in. Michael Waltrip may be penalized for an uncontrolled tire.
Lap 92 -- Kahne and Stewart complete service.
Lap 91 -- Martin in and out. Newman's stop is painfully slow (21 seconds).
Lap 90 -- Edwards and Johnson pit for service. Johnson had been fading on that run. There's a slight problem and Johnson's exit is somewhat delayed.
Lap 89 -- Kenseth is the first of the lead-lap cars to pit under green. His left-side tires had gone the entire distance.
Lap 87 -- Montoya has worked his way into the top five and is pressuring Johnson for fourth.
Lap 80 -- Hamlin is beginning to catch lapped traffic. The rest of the top five: Kenseth, Johnson, Kyle Busch, Martin.
Lap 71 -- LEAD CHANGE: Hamlin runs down Johnson and assumes the lead.
Lap 60 -- Stewart is fighting a loose car and has slipped back to 18th.
Lap 59 -- Mike Bliss brushes the right side of his car against the wall but continues without incident.
Lap 56 -- Hamlin motors past Kenseth for second.
Lap 52 -- LEAD CHANGE: Johnson roars past Kenseth on the backstretch.
Lap 50 -- The top six: Kenseth, Johnson, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin and Mears.
Lap 45 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kenseth clears Johnson and retakes the lead.
Lap 43 -- LEAD CHANGE: Johnson edges Kenseth at the line as they run side-by-side.
Lap 42 -- GREEN FLAG: Kenseth brings the field to the stripe.
1. Matt Kenseth
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Mark Martin
4. Kyle Busch
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 41 -- LEAD CHANGE: Terry Labonte and Max Papis pit, with Kenseth assuming the lead.
Lap 40 -- LEAD CHANGE: Michael Waltrip pits, handing the lead under caution to Terry Labonte.
Lap 38 -- The rain has almost stopped in Turn 4 but seems to have picked up some in other areas. NASCAR officials have the cars spread out across the track in an effort to keep the asphalt dry.
Lap 35 -- LEAD CHANGE: The pits are open and everyone is taking advantage of the opportunity, except Michael Waltrip stays out and assumes the lead.
• Kenseth takes two tires and moves up seven positions.
• Casey Mears gambles on two tires and picks up track position.
• Brad Keselowski is caught speeding exiting pit road.
Lap 34 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 3: This one's for weather. The rain has returned, although it's very light.
Lap 31 -- The NASCAR spotters in Turns 3 and 4 are reporting slight sprinkles again.
Lap 30 -- Hamlin is up to seventh, 10 spots better than where he started.
Lap 25 -- The top three have pulled away some from the rest of the field. It's Johnson, Martin and Kyle Busch in that order.
Lap 20 -- Joey Logano has worked his way into sixth, while Tony Stewart has faded to 13th.
Lap 13 -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson leads the field to the green.
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Ryan Newman
5. Brad Keselowski
Lap 11 -- Kevin Harvick is penalized for excessive speed entering pit road. He'll restart at the tail end of the field.
Lap 9 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Sam Hornish once again turns it around, this time coming out of Turn 4. He continues without further damage. No free pass.
Lap 7 -- LEAD CHANGE: Johnson returns to the top spot.
Lap 6 -- GREEN FLAG: Martin brings the field to the stripe.
1. Mark Martin
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Ryan Newman
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Brad Keselowski
Lap 3 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Hornish loses it coming out of Turn 2 and spins several times, somehow keeping it off the inside wall. But he has damage to the right rear from scraping the wall before the spin. No free passes.
Lap 1 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin sticks with Johnson as they go side-by-side, with Martin getting the advantage at the line.
7:50 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Johnson brings the field to the green flag and the NASCAR Banking 500 is under way.
7:47 p.m. -- Paul Menard and Bill Elliott are dropping to the back for the start.
7:43 p.m. -- The field is lining up in double-file order and will check their tachs for pit road speed. The speed tonight is 45 mph.
7:40 p.m. -- NASCAR spotters around the track are reporting back to David Hoots about the conditions. Hoots has asked the drivers to run single-file during the parade laps in an effort to help dry any damp spots.
7:34 p.m. -- Brian France, Teresa Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Junior Johnson, representing the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, give the command for drivers to start their engines.
7:33 p.m. -- There is a light drizzle right now but it doesn't appear to have affected the track conditions.
7:27 p.m. -- The North Carolina A&T marching band performs the national anthem.
7:25 p.m. -- Joe Gibbs offers tonight's invocation.
7 p.m. -- NASCAR Countdown is under way on ABC.
6:27 p.m. -- It's cloudy and cold at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It's currently 50 degrees with temperatures dropping into the mid-40s as the race goes on. There is a slight chance for rain all evening. Green for the NASCAR Banking 500 is set for 7:43 p.m. ET.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
NASCAR
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Lowe's Speedway 1600 x 1200 - 394k city-data.com | Charlotte Speedway 150 x 115 - 6k gearthhacks.com | Charlotte Speedway. 400 x 216 - 12k - jpg auto.howstuffworks.com | Lowe's Speedway 1600 x 1200 - 273k city-data.com |
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| RANK | +/- | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | STARTS | POLES | WINS | TOP 5 | TOP 10 | WINNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | Jimmie Johnson | 5728 | Leader | 30 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 6,074,780 |
| 2 | -1 | Mark Martin | 5716 | -12 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 4,598,680 |
| 3 | -- | Juan Montoya | 5670 | -58 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 4,560,080 |
| 4 | -- | Tony Stewart | 5644 | -84 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 6,184,680 |
| 5 | +2 | Jeff Gordon | 5623 | -105 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 21 | 5,628,030 |
| 6 | -1 | Kurt Busch | 5607 | -121 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 3,993,030 |
| 7 | +1 | Greg Biffle | 5540 | -188 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 4,151,310 |
| 8 | +2 | Carl Edwards | 5536 | -192 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 4,814,820 |
| 9 | -3 | Denny Hamlin | 5509 | -219 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 4,239,890 |
| 10 | -1 | Ryan Newman | 5505 | -223 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 4,320,030 |
| 11 | -- | Kasey Kahne | 5422 | -306 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 4,864,470 |
| 12 | -- | Brian Vickers | 5377 | -351 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 4,084,730 |
| Race Schedule | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| No. | Date | Race | Time (ET) | Links |
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| 31 | October 17 | Charlotte | Sat 7 p.m.  | Tickets |  |
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| 32 | October 25 | Martinsville | Sun 1 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 33 | November 1 | Talladega | Sun 12 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 34 | November 8 | Texas | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 35 | November 15 | Phoenix | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 36 | November 22 | Homestead | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
While the leader might not be a shock, there are plenty of eye-openers as you look up and down the standings. Some drivers like Mark Martin and Juan Montoya continue to be contenders while others like Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin haven't lived up to expectations.
Who's the biggest surprise after four races? Bill Kimm and Jason Schoellen have theirs. Read what they have to say and then weigh in with your thoughts in the Comments section below. And don't forget to vote for who you agree with most in the poll at the right.
Who's the biggest surprise in the Chase heading to the halfway point?
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| CARL EDWARDS | JUAN MONTOYA |
|---|---|
Am I alone in amazement that Carl Edwards is struggling the way he is? I thought once the Chase started things would turn around, but here we are four races in and I am astonished he continues to fall short each week. Edwards still is winless and, in fact, isn't even a threat. This is the same driver and team that won a series-leading nine races in 2008. Nothing has changed on the No. 99 team, except it can't seem to find the magic it was blessed with last year. Not only is Edwards not winning, he's not even performing up to his standards. He's either barely finished at or below his average finish at the first four tracks. • New Hampshire -- Average finish: 13.8; 2009 finish: 17
The way Edwards started the Chase last year, I really thought he would turn things around. A third at New Hampshire, a third at Dover and a second at Kansas led me to believe, despite Edwards' struggles, he could find that spark again. But it just hasn't happened. And that's what is so surprising. We saw Juan Montoya excel before the Chase started, so his success isn't surprising. Mark Martin predicted it before the Chase even started. But Edwards as a non-factor after his amazing '08, well, that is something I never thought I would see. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. | This isn't a veiled shot at Mark Martin's age, but the guy must be Nostradamus. The Joey Logano prediction? Yawn. Foreseeing Juan Montoya's success in the Chase? Pure prophet. Montoya has posted as many top-fives (four) in the four Chase races as in his previous 68 starts. I figured he'd be good, but not consistently stellar. He's the only driver to finish fourth or better beginning at Loudon, and led laps in three of the Chase events, including the most at Loudon and 78 at Fontana. That's impressive for someone who was driving cars without fenders three years ago. Montoya has had a career year in 2009, so top-15 finishes wouldn't have been a huge surprise ... but firing off third- and fourth-place finishes like rounds out of a Tommy gun is something few could have imagined. His performance is especially impressive considering this is his first time facing the heat of the Chase that leaves many drivers -- even veterans -- wilting under the pressure. What makes Montoya's finishes even more mind-boggling is how aggressively he drives. He was welded together in a four-wheel drift with Jeff Burton at Loudon. He was door-to-door with Brad Keselowski in the turns at Kansas. He waited just two laps to pound Greg Biffle's bumper at Fontana and didn't lift a hair when Denny Hamlin cut across his nose. He has had so many doughnuts, he should be sponsored by Krispy Kreme. How he has kept the fenders on it and run like a true title contender is beyond me. • Jason Schoellen, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. |
Monday, October 5, 2009
NASCAR CHASE STANDINGS as seen by FIX
Sprint Cup Series
Standings
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| Pos. | +/- | Driver | Points | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | -- | Mark Martin | 5,551 | -- |
| 2. | -- | Jimmie Johnson | 5,533 | -18 |
| 3. | -- | Juan Montoya | 5,500 | -51 |
| 4. | +1 | Tony Stewart | 5,484 | -67 |
| 5. | -1 | Kurt Busch | 5,460 | -91 |
| 6. | -- | Denny Hamlin | 5,452 | -99 |
| 7. | +1 | Jeff Gordon | 5,448 | -103 |
| 8. | +1 | Greg Biffle | 5,437 | -114 |
| 9. | -2 | Ryan Newman | 5,387 | -164 |
| 10. | +1 | Carl Edwards | 5,386 | -165 |
| 11. | +1 | Kasey Kahne | 5,361 | -190 |
| 12. | -2 | Brian Vickers | 5,301 | -250 |
CHECKERED FLAG: Tony Stewart wins in Kansas for his fourth victory of the season. Jeff Gordon comes home second with Greg Biffle third. Mark Martin extends his points lead to 18 points.
| 2009 Standings | Behind |
|---|---|
| 1. Mark Martin (5) | - |
| 2. Jimmie Johnson (48) | -18 |
| 3. Juan Pablo Montoya (42) | -51 |
| 4. Tony Stewart (14) | -67 |
| 5. Kurt Busch (2) | -91 |
| 6. Denny Hamlin (11) | -99 |
| 7. Jeff Gordon (24) | -103 |
| 8. Greg Biffle (16) | -114 |
| 9. Ryan Newman (39) | -164 |
| 10. Carl Edwards (99) | -165 |
| 11. Kasey Kahne (9) | -190 |
| 12. Brian Vickers (83) | -250 |
Lap 266 -- WHITE FLAG: Tony Stewart takes the white flag and is 1.5 miles away from victory.
Lap 265 -- Tony Stewart has opened the gap up with two laps to go.
Lap 263 -- Jeff Gordon is running out of time but is giving it all he has.
Lap 262 -- Five to go and Jeff Gordon trails Tony Stewart by 0.4 seconds.
Lap 259 -- Tony Stewart's lead has shrunk to 0.6 seconds. Mark Martin passes David Reutimann for seventh.
Lap 257 -- Ten laps to go and Jeff Gordon trails Tony Stewart by one second.
Lap 254 -- Jeff Gordon passes Greg Biffle for second and has his sights on Tony Stewart with 13 to go.
Lap 251 -- Jeff Gordon closing on Greg Biffle for second.
Lap 250 -- Jimmie Johnson not happy with his car and continues to fall.
Lap 248 -- Mark Martin passes Jimmie Johnson for eighth.
Lap 246 -- Denny Hamlin goes to the apron and passes Kasey Kahne and Juan Montoya for fourth.
Lap 244 -- Kurt Busch gets loose but makes a great save.
Lap 243 -- Jimmie Johnson falls to sixth as he is struggling with the two tires.
Lap 242 -- Greg Biffle with a huge restart and jumps to second. Tony Stewart opens up a big lead.
Lap 241 -- GREEN FLAG: Tony Stewart brings the field to the green on the outside for the first time.
1. Tony Stewart
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Greg Biffle
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 240 -- Sam Hornish Jr., Elliott Sadler and Bill Elliott the wave-around cars to get back on the lead lap. There are numerous other wave-around cars all multiple laps down.
Lap 239 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart wins the race off pit road and takes the lead. The top-three of Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson took two tires, everyone else took four. Fuel is no longer an issue.
Lap 238 -- All the leaders hit pit road as strategy comes to play.
• Jeff Gordon with four tires and a track bar adjustment
• Greg Biffle with four tires and fuel
• Denny Hamlin with four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with two tires
• Tony Stewart with two tires
• Kasey Kahne with two tires
Lap 236 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 6: Fluid from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s engine brings out the caution. A.J. Allmendinger gets the free pass. Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes his car to the garage.
Lap 234 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on pit road with the hood up and no power.
Lap 230 -- Mark Martin passes Juan Montoya for seventh.
Lap 227 -- Greg Biffle has clinched the five bonus points for leading the most laps.
Lap 223 -- Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Juan Montoya are three-wide for fifth.
Lap 221 -- Jimmie Johnson and Juan Montoya side-by-side for sixth.
Lap 220 -- Denny Hamlin up to third. Kasey Kahne has climbed to fourth.
Lap 217 -- Greg Biffle leads by 7.8 seconds but will have to make another pit stop. Brian Vickers has taken his No. 83 to the garage.
Lap 213 -- Denny Hamlin passes Jeff Gordon for fourth.
Lap 212 -- Brian Pattie has asked Juan Montoya to try and save a little fuel when he can.
Lap 211 -- The top five after green-flag stops:
1. Greg Biffle
2. Tony Stewart
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 209 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle out front as the green-flag stops cycle through.
Lap 208 -- Kurt Busch and Casey Mears on pit road. Busch with four tires and the team is saying they can make it to the end of the race.
Lap 207 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin pits giving the lead to Kurt Busch. Kyle Busch also on pit road.
Lap 206 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin leads as Tony Stewart pits. Four tires and no changes for Stewart. Juan Montoya also pits for four tires.
Lap 205 -- Kasey Kahne on pit road for a wedge adjustment and four tires.
Lap 204 -- Mark Martin and Ryan Newman on pit road. Martin with four tires and no adjustments.
Lap 203 -- Jeff Gordon on pit road as is David Reutimann.
Lap 202 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart takes the lead as Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson pit. Biffle with a wedge adjustment and Johnson with four tires.
Lap 201 -- David Stremme and Brad Keselowski on pit road beginning green-flag stops.
Lap 198 -- Not a lot of passing taking place as the cars are pretty spread out getting ready for a green-flag stop.
Lap 193 -- Greg Biffle out front by 3.5 seconds as teams look at fuel mileage strategies. Green-flag stops coming in the next 10-15 laps.
Lap 187 -- Greg Biffle has opened up a 2.2-second lead on Tony Stewart.
Lap 184 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on pit road for his stop.
Lap 183 -- Brian Vickers and Erik Darnell on pit road.
Lap 180 -- Casey Mears down to 10th as Kurt Busch goes around.
Lap 177 -- Kasey Kahne up to sixth. Brian Vickers says he may have an engine problem.
Lap 172 -- Chase drivers make up the top eight and nine of the top 10. Carl Edwards (17th), Ryan Newman (27th) and Brian Vickers (35th) the cars outside the top 10.
Lap 171 -- Jimmie Johnson up to eighth after passing Casey Mears.
Lap 170 -- Since ending their battle for the lead, Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart have opened up a three-second lead on the field.
Lap 169 -- Juan Montoya up to fifth after passing Mark Martin.
Lap 167 -- Casey Mears down to eighth as Kasey Kahne passes him.
Lap 166 -- Jimmie Johnson up to ninth after passing David Reutimann.
Lap 165 -- Juan Montoya passes Casey Mears for sixth.
Lap 163 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kyle Busch for 10th.
Lap 162 -- Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart as they battle for the lead.
Lap 159 -- Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart side-by-side for the lead.
Lap 157 -- Casey Mears, Juan Montoya and David Reutimann in a three-wide battle for sixth.
Lap 153 -- Jeff Gordon passes Mark Martin for fourth. Kasey Kahne up to 10th after passing Marcos Ambrose.
Lap 152 -- Casey Mears up to seventh. Jimmie Johnson in 11th.
Lap 150 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green as the top seven took just two tires.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Tony Stewart
3. Mark Martin
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jeff Gordon
Lap 149 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle won the race off pit road and retakes the lead. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Erik Darnell and Robby Gordon are the wave-around cars but remain at least one lap down.
Lap 148 -- LEAD CHANGE: Juan Montoya takes the lead on pit road as all the leaders pit.
• Jeff Gordon with two tires
• Jimmie Johnson with four tires
• Juan Montoya with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Greg Biffle with two tires
• Tony Stewart with two tires
Lap 147 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 5: Elliott Sadler spins but makes a great save avoiding contact with other cars in Turn 2. Carl Edwards gets the free pass and is back on the lead lap.
Lap 144 -- Good runs for A.J. Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose. Allmendinger is currently 13th and Ambrose is 15th.
Lap 141 -- Juan Montoya passes Greg Biffle for second as Jimmie Johnson has opened up a 4.4-second lead.
Lap 137 -- Mark Martin down to 10th. Kyle Busch up to seventh. Matt Kenseth is in the garage.
Lap 136 -- Matt Kenseth on pit road saying he thinks his engine is going to give.
Lap 135 -- Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Brian Vickers go four-wide on the track.
Lap 132 -- Quietly Denny Hamlin has worked his way up to sixth after starting 22nd.
Lap 131 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson passes Greg Biffle in Turn 3 to retake the lead.
Lap 130 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Juan Montoya
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 128 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle leads as he pitted and stayed on the lead lap when the caution came out. Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. the wave-around cars to get back on the lead lap.
Lap 127 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart passes Jimmie Johnson on pit road as the rest of the field pits.
• Jeff Gordon with a chassis adjustment and four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with minor adjustments and four tires
• Tony Stewart with a wedge adjustment
• Juan Montoya with a track bar adjustment
Lap 126 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 4: Brian Vickers spins bringing out the caution. Kevin Harvick gets the free pass.
Lap 125 -- Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray on pit road.
Lap 124 -- Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth pit. Newman with four tires and a chassis adjustment.
Lap 123 -- Brad Keselowski on pit road for four tires and an air pressure adjustment.
Lap 122 -- Joey Logano on pit road for his stop.
Lap 120 -- Kevin Harvick goes a lap down as green-flag stops approach.
Lap 119 -- Juan Montoya is up to fourth. Matt Kenseth passes Brad Keselowski for fifth.
Lap 118 -- Joey Logano goes a lap down. Kevin Harvick is next.
Lap 115 -- The wave-around cars have pitted the last couple laps.
Lap 112 -- Robby Gordon and Scott Speed go a lap down.
Lap 110 -- Good runs going for Casey Mears, David Stremme and Sam Hornish Jr. Mears is 15th, Stremme is 17th and Hornish is 18th.
Lap 104 -- Two tires starting to fail of for Martin Truex Jr. as he is down to eighth after Matt Kenseth passes him. Kurt Busch down to 14th on two tires.
Lap 102 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle gets held up by Max Papis and Jimmie Johnson passes him for the lead. Papis goes a lap down.
Lap 100 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson continue to battle for the lead as they close on the tail end of the field.
Lap 98 -- Juan Montoya passes Martin Truex Jr. for fifth.
Lap 97 -- Jeff Gordon up to eighth. Juan Montoya currently sixth.
Lap 95 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson are out front by five seconds.
Lap 94 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle gets back to the front and leads.
Lap 93 -- LEAD CHANGE: Still side-by-side, Jimmie Johnson inches ahead of Greg Biffle.
Lap 92 -- LEAD CHANGE: This lap goes to Greg Biffle who leads by a nose.
Lap 91 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson beats Greg Biffle to the line and leads that lap. Tony Stewart passes Martin Truex Jr. for third.
Lap 89 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson side-by-side for the lead.
Lap 85 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has caught Carl Edwards as the two battle to be the first car a lap down.
Lap 82 -- Jimmie Johnson up to second and closing on leader Greg Biffle.
Lap 76 -- Juan Montoya passes Matt Kenseth for seventh. Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski battling for fourth.
Lap 74 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Kurt Busch
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 73 -- Ryan Newman too fast exiting and will restart at the rear.
Lap 72 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle wins the race off pit road and leads for the first time today. Brian Vickers, John Andretti, Max Papis and Robby Gordon are the wave-around cars and all return to the lead lap. David Ragan and Paul Menard also wave-around cars but are multiple laps down.
Lap 71 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart leads the lap after passing Jimmie Johnson on pit road as all the leaders pit.
• Brad Keselowski with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with four tires
• Tony Stewart with four tires
• Mark Martin with no changes and four tires
• Greg Biffle with two tires
• Kurt Busch with two tires
Lap 69 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 3: Reed Sorenson into the Turn 2 wall bringing out the caution. Elliott Sadler gets the free pass.
Lap 65 -- Brian Vickers goes a lap down in 29th place. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 32nd and Carl Edwards is 33rd after their penalties.
Lap 64 -- The top five after green-flag stops:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Mark Martin
Lap 62 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson passes Brad Keselowski and leads for the first time today.
Lap 61 -- LEAD CHANGE: Brad Keselowski gets the lead as John Andretti pits ending this round of green-flag stops.
Lap 60 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott Sadler pits giving the lead to John Andretti, who is the final car yet to make a pit stop.
Lap 58 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott Sadler out front as he has yet to pit.
Lap 57 -- Martin Truex Jr. pits. Carl Edwards too fast exiting and will serve a pass through.
Lap 56 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. gets five bonus points as Carl Edwards pits.
Lap 55 -- LEAD CHANGE: Carl Edwards leads as Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch pit. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is black-flagged for missing a lug nut.
Lap 54 -- LEAD CHANGE: Matt Kenseth leads as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin all pit.
Lap 53 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart leads as Dale Earnhardt Jr. pits. Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman also on pit road.
Lap 52 -- Brad Keselowski gives up second and pits. Air pressure adjustment and four tires.
Lap 51 -- David Reutimann goes to the outside on the backstretch and passes Mark Martin for fifth.
Lap 48 -- Matt Kenseth passes Juan Montoya for eighth. Greg Biffle up to 17th after starting 31st.
Lap 47 -- Jeff Gordon has dropped to 12th as he continues to struggle with the handling.
Lap 45 -- David Reutimann has worked his way up to sixth.
Lap 40 -- Tony Stewart up to fourth and Mark Martin is fifth as they both pass Jamie McMurray.
Lap 37 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Jamie McMurray for third.
Lap 35 -- Tony Stewart passes Mark Martin for fifth.
Lap 31 -- Jimmie Johnson up to fourth after passing Mark Martin.
Lap 30 -- Dave Blaney takes the No. 66 to the garage.
Lap 28 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Tony Stewart for fifth. Mike Bliss takes his No. 09 to the garage.
Lap 27 -- Joe Nemechek takes the No. 87 to the garage.
Lap 25 -- Jamie McMurray gets around Mark Martin for third.
Lap 23 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has opened up a 1.9-second lead on Brad Keselowski.
Lap 21 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kasey Kahne for sixth. Juan Montoya passes Jeff Gordon for eighth.
Lap 20 -- Juan Montoya flying on the track up to 10th in just three laps.
Lap 19 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Jeff Gordon for seventh.
Lap 18 -- Denny Hamlin is up to 11th after starting 22nd. Kurt Busch has worked his way to 23rd after starting 39th.
Lap 17 -- Carl Edwards and Juan Montoya side-by-side for 13th.
Lap 15 -- Jimmie Johnson passes David Reutimann for eighth.
Lap 13 -- Smoke is coming off of David Ragan's car and he is back on pit road.
Lap 12 -- LEAD CHANGE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. passes Mark Martin on the outside in Turn 4 to take the lead. Brad Keselowski follows behind for second.
Lap 11 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin brings the field to the green on the inside.
1. Mark Martin
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Jamie McMurray
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 10 -- Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip are the only two to take their cars to the garage after the crash.
Lap 9 -- Elliott Sadler was too fast entering pit road and will start at the tail end of the longest line.
Lap 8 -- Brian Vickers, Martin Truex Jr., David Stremme, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch among the dozen cars to pit.
Lap 7 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Paul Menard spin in Turn 2 collecting David Ragan, Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip. No free pass is given.
Lap 6 -- Jamie McMurray has a good start and challenges Dale Earnhardt Jr. for second. Tony Stewart makes it three-wide in Turn 4.
Lap 5 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin brings the field to the green.
1. Mark Martin
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 3 -- Sam Hornish Jr., Robby Gordon and John Andretti the only cars to pit.
Lap 2 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Joey Logano spins in Turn 2 bringing out the caution. Logano doesn't hit anything and continues. No free pass is given.
Lap 1 -- Mark Martin leads the first lap. Brad Keselowski falls to sixth.
2:19 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin gets the field up to speed and the Price Chopper 400 is under way.
2:12 p.m. -- The cars are rolling off pit road for three warmup laps.
2:08 p.m. -- Grand marshal Kent Blair gives the command: "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
2:01 p.m. -- Blaine Larsen performs the national anthem.
2 p.m. -- Pastor Jimmy Ybarra delivers the Invocation.
1 p.m. -- NASCAR Countdown is under way on ABC.
12:50 p.m. ET -- It's a gorgeous day for racing at Kansas Speedway. It's currently 56 degrees under sunny skies with temperatures reaching the mid-60s during the race. The wind that has been around all weekend has tapered off as well. Mark Martin brings the field to the green at 2:16 p.m. ET.
Pit Moves
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Kasey Kahne
Pit Move: Kasey Kahne
Pit Move: Week 28...
Pit Move: Week 28 Winner
Pit Move: Denny...
Pit Move: Denny Hamlin
Pit Move: Kurt Busch
Pit Move: Kurt Busch
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Week 26...
Pit Move: Week 26 Winner
Pit Move: Week 23...
Pit Move: Week 23 Winner
Pit Move: Kurt Busch
Pit Move: Kurt Busch
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Brian...
Pit Move: Brian Vickers
Pit Move: Week 22...
Pit Move: Week 22 Winner
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Pit Move: Week 23 Winner
Pit Move: Juan...
Pit Move: Juan Montoya
Pit Move: Marcos...
Pit Move: Marcos Ambrose
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Brian...
Pit Move: Brian Vickers
Pit Move: Week 21...
Pit Move: Week 21 Winner
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Reed...
Pit Move: Reed Sorenson
Pit Move: Week 20...
Pit Move: Week 20 Winner
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Juan...
Pit Move: Juan Montoya
Pit Move: Week 19...
Pit Move: Week 19 Winner
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Pit Move: Week 18...
Pit Move: Week 18 Winner
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Robby...
Pit Move: Robby Gordon
Pit Move: Week 17...
Pit Move: Week 17 Winner
Pit Move: Tony...
Pit Move: Tony Stewart
Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Pit Move: Week 16...
Pit Move: Week 16 Winner
Pit Move: Michael...
Pit Move: Michael Waltrip
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Week 15...
Pit Move: Week 15 Winner
Pit Move: Bobby...
Pit Move: Bobby Labonte
Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Pit Move: Week 14...
Pit Move: Week 14 Winner
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Pit Move: Reed...
Pit Move: Reed Sorenson
Pit Move: Week 13...
Pit Move: Week 13 Winner
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Matt...
Pit Move: Matt Kenseth
Pit Move: All-Star...
Pit Move: All-Star winner
Pit Move: Week 12...
Pit Move: Week 12 Winner
Pit Move: Dale...
Pit Move: Dale Earnhadt Jr.
Pit Move: Denny...
Pit Move: Denny Hamlin
Pit Move: Week 11...
Pit Move: Week 11 Winner
Pit Move: Jeff Burton
Pit Move: Jeff Burton
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Kasey Kahne
Pit Move: Kasey Kahne
Pit Move: Week 8...
Pit Move: Week 8 Winner
Pit Move: Week 10...
Pit Move: Week 10 Winner
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Kyle Busch
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Dale...
Pit Move: Dale Earnhadt Jr.
Pit Move: David...
Pit Move: David Reutimann
Pit Move: Week 6...
Pit Move: Week 6 Winner
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Clint Bowyer
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Matt Kenseth
Pit Move: Week 5...
Pit Move: Week 5 Winner
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Jeff Gordon
Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Kurt Busch
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Week 4 winner
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move Week 3 Winner
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Martin Truex Jr.
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move Week 2 Winner
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move Week 1 Winner
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Martin edged teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to capture his series-leading seventh pole of the season on Friday at Kansas. The No. 5 team is one of the hottest teams in the Sprint Cup Series right now and veteran Martin will factor in the win on Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
The No. 42 team continues to race well at the end of this season. Montoya collected his third straight Top-5 finish in Sunday's Price Chopper 400. As a result the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing star is still thick in the hunt for this season's championship. Montoya sits third overall at 51 points behind leader Mark Martin after Kansas.
It was another strong intermediate oval effort by the No. 24 team. Gordon stayed in the Top 10 for much of the race and gave Tony Stewart a good challenge for the win late. He held on for the brilliant runner-up finish and had a great day in the points. Gordon climbs to seventh-place overall, and now at 103 points behind leader Mark Martin has some slim championship hopes still alive.
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NASCAR’s 50-year-old wonder kid looked as if his dog ran away. His face washed with gloom, his eyes going to and from a nearby television, his ears unable to escape Tony Stewart’s joy from winning Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Mark Martin slumped in his chair, a seventh-place finish his worst in six weeks.
It all set up another surly postrace evaluation from Martin, who’s everybody’s sentimental pick to win his first Sprint Cup championship. Except then he said this:
“I’m proud of this race team.”
The words kept coming like this, as Martin extended his points lead over Jimmie Johnson from 10 to 18.
There is an important distinction in Martin’s evaluation. He’s not necessarily proud of a seventh-place finish, but he will take it considering he was driving what he considered a car that was off by more than it’s been in a while.
“I’ve been, at times, off this much and been in 25th place,” Martin said. “If we miss it a little bit and battle and fight and scratch and come up in seventh place, I’m very proud.”
Juan Pablo Montoya is among the drivers who say that Martin’s consistency — this makes six consecutive top-seven finishes and 16 overall — is frustrating to compete against because it’s so difficult to make up ground.
Martin’s extra eight points of lead aside, the standings actually tightened a bit. Stewart and Denny Hamlin joined Jimmie Johnson, Montoya and Kurt Busch within 100 points of Martin.
“You can look at anything any way you want,” Martin said. “I did and I didn’t (extend the lead). I did on (Johnson), but I didn’t on several guys. So, look at it however you want. It’s a race. Every race, that’s how you score points.
“There’s, what, seven more to go? We shouldn’t be getting all hyped up about the tally right now. We have a lot more racing to go. The races are actually what determines it.”
It sets up a dramatic finish in the last seven races of the Chase, one that will continue to generate even more buzz as fans and drivers alike pull for Martin to shed the Buffalo Bills tint to an otherwise standout career that includes four runner-up and four third-place finishes.
Martin actually stepped away from full-time racing three years ago. He’s back and rejuvenated, but still careful to talk about his title pursuit in hushed tones. He’s been close before. He knows not to tempt fate with letting his thoughts drift too far into the future.
“We just lacked a little bit in getting up there and being able to contend for the win,” Martin said. “But we pretty well peaked at the end. Our car was probably the strongest at that last run.”
Martin was speaking about Sunday’s race, of course, but there’s a hoped-for metaphor in there about his own career possibly peaking toward the end, so long as his season peaks toward the end.
The eyes of the NASCAR world will be watching whether he can complete the sport’s feel-good story.
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JPM NASCAR CHASE STANDINGS
Montoya and his #42 are running their best, when it really counts AP Photo/Mary Schualm
With his third top five finish in the first three 2009 Chase races, Juan Montoya has served notice to the entire NASCAR world that he is for real. No longer can we call this a fluke, no longer is it a great run, now it is a notice that he and his team are here to make a serious run at the Sprint Cup title. However his performance still feels a little short of serious contender.
Until Juan can win on an oval track, he is going to be known as a road racer, an F-1 transplant who came to NASCAR seeking more money and more fame. While he is a great race car driver, until that first oval win comes many will not consider him a great NASCAR driver.
It is really too bad, cause this playoff run by Montoya is nothing short of incredible. On the season Juan has five top five finishes, and three of them have come in the three chase races. Talk about stepping up to the plate, Montoya and Crew Chief Brian Pattie are running their best when it really counts.
It is really too bad this isn’t a bigger story; Montoya is a great character that could bring more people to the NASCAR world. If he didn’t have such a heavy accent, I would have thought it was Dale Sr. on his team communications today. Montoya is unafraid to call out his crew about the way his car drives and he does it in really funny ways.
This is the second time this season, while listening to Montoya’s team communications; he has made me outright laugh. Sure this is a serious sport, with big money behind it, but for my money Juan makes it a whole lot more enjoyable.
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NASCAR JPM as seen by FIX
The usually aggressive Juan Pablo Montoya played it relatively safe during NASCAR's regular season to avoid poor finishes and qualify for its Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff.
Now that he's in the Chase, Montoya is back to his old ways.
"There's no holding back, nothing, we have to go," Montoya told reporters today in a teleconference after the Colombian finished third in the first Chase race, at New Hampshire, on his 34th birthday Sunday -- and after banging into a few of his competitors.
Kansas: Kyle Busch race report
| Racing series | NASCAR-CUP |
| Date | 2009-10-04 |
M&M's Team Runs Strong Before Scrape with Wall Slows Progress to Front
Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), overcame a mid-race scrape with the wall and rallied for a 12th-place finish in Sunday's Price Chopper 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
"We didn't qualify well, but our M&M's Camry was strong enough to get up to the top-10 at one point," said Busch, who notched his second top-15 finish in six starts at Kansas. "We had a good car with our balance, but it didn't have the speed that we needed. We still hung up there toward the front, even though we got into the fence, there. We didn't have a winning car, but it was probably good enough for a seventh- or eighth-place finish if we didn't have the damage."
While he started in the 34th spot, Busch made an impressive charge in his M&M's Toyota and was up to 17th by lap 67.
Throughout the course of the day's first few pit stops, crew chief Steve Addington ordered track-bar and air-pressure changes in hopes of aiding the M&M's Toyota that was tight in the center but loose off the corner. With the help of strong pit stops by the M&M's over-the-wall crew, Busch slowly gained track position and moved all the way up to seventh by lap 137 of the 267-lap race.
But soon after a restart just past the halfway point, the Las Vegas native ran into trouble as he was following three cars in front of him for position. He got in their dirty air and his No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry brushed the SAFER barrier on the outside retaining wall of turn two on lap 164, damaging the right side of his car. While the scrape with the wall was not enough to force Busch to pit, it was enough to drop him from 10th to 17th as he held on for the next chance to pit, which finally came under green-flag conditions on lap 207.
Busch was in 15th place shortly after the aforementioned lap 207 stop, but caught a break as the caution flew on lap 236, sending him to pit road for four tires, an air pressure adjustment, and another strong stop from the M&M's team. From there, Busch rallied furiously, eventually settling for the 12th-place finish and getting the most out of his racecar after the mid-race scrape with the wall.
"On one of those restarts, I got into some dirty air from the three cars racing in front of me and just misjudged it and got my right side into the fence," said Busch of the lap 164 scrape with the wall. "We just had to tread water and wait until the next pit stop, but I'm really proud of the M&M's guys for hanging in there, battling back, and getting a decent finish after getting into the wall like that."
Busch's JGR teammates -- Denny Hamlin and rookie Joey Logano -- finished fifth and 28th, respectively.
With only seven races remaining in the Sprint Cup season, Hamlin leads the JGR trio in the championship point standings, as he is JGR's lone representative in the 12-driver Chase for the Championship. Hamlin held his sixth position in the standings, 99 markers behind Chase leader Mark Martin. Busch gained one spot to move up to 13th in the standings while Logano maintained his 20th position in the standings.
Tony Stewart beat Jeff Gordon by .894 of a second to win the Price Chopper 400 and score his 37th career Sprint Cup victory, his fourth of the season and his second at Kansas, as he also won at the 1.5-mile oval in 2006.
Greg Biffle finished third, while Juan Pablo Montoya and Hamlin rounded out the top-five. Kasey Kahne, Martin, David Reutimann, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were six caution periods for 23 laps, with eight drivers failing to finish the 267-lap race.
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Oct. 11 Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The race begins at 3:15 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 2:30 p.m.
-credit: jgr
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Steambo14 has an image of JPM as a cocky, careless, impolite person, and I couldn?t agree more, I watch him drive since he was in CART, and hey, he was one cocky hot shot wanabee. But let me tell you something, I?m Colombian too and I think that if he had a little more of charisma, he?d be everybody?s hero. I personally admire him, caus this is a sport and he is a winner, and a hard worker and determined person. Plus he respects Martin and Jimmy Johson, two of the best in NASCAR.
1booger4u, stop crying, he figured out how to win withouth wrecking his car trying to achieve wins, BIG DEAL!!!
For all the rest, thanks for being objective and not racist as I have seen in many forums, let?s hope he learns how to talk and actually say something, without lifting up his shoulders as a 5 year old. GO 42 GO!!!!!!
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Steambo14 asks when Montoya has ever did anything in NASCAR before? Dude, he is in his third season and made the chase. The guy had no experience in stock cars at all. I think winning a race and making the chase in just three years is pretty impressive. After all, most of the field have been racing stock cars the majority of their lives.
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anyone who is a race fan, loves to follow strategy moves, and keep track of stats has got to see that JPM is making it happen when it comes to running up front and staying there race after race. Regardless of your like or dislike of the driver, JPM is a smart driver and fierce competitor. GO GET'EM JUAN
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Steambo14 wrote the following at 9/30/2009 6:36:25 AM
"This guy is worse than Kyle Bush when it comes to talking to people. No respect at all. He has had a very good year this year but when has he ever did anything in Nascar before? Lets wait and see if he's a one year wonder or can he make the chase year in and out. My bet is on the latter."
By saying your bet is on the latter, you are saying your bet is on him being able to make the chase year in and year out, which isn't exactly the vibe one gets from your comments.
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This guy is doing this practically as one car team compare to the rest. You have to respect the crew chief and JP. These two have clicked and this is only the beginning. So many known drivers have been in nascar longer than JP and they wish they could have done what he and his crew chief have done in so little time. I won't be surprised if he takes this at his home in Fl. and if he doesn't then he and crew chief can only look up. Go JP
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Steambo14
What is there to say except to plug his sponsors, and say i just went around the track like i was supposed to. Wait till next year drivers will scream into the mike and threaten other drivers.
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Nascar is terrible. A playoff system that is stupid. Dont call this a sport because it is not! Since Dale Earnharts death nascar has lost the excitment it once had.
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This guy is worse than Kyle Bush when it comes to talking to people. No respect at all. He has had a very good year this year but when has he ever did anything in Nascar before? Lets wait and see if he's a one year wonder or can he make the chase year in and out. My bet is on the latter.
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Great comment RCP5691.
Dear NASCAR, I was a casual fan of this form of autosport until JPM moved into the mix. His involvement has led me to 1) watch it every weekend, 2) frankly, give a d_mn , 3) talk other F1 fans into taking it seriously and now they watch. Good move NASCAR, good move Chip and Felix!
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Well Hambree's final comment in this article manages to throw in a Grateful Dead and a Beatles song reference. But JBM will not win the sprint cup this year. But he has shown himself to a force in NASCAR this season. I'm inclined to feel I'd rather see him win it then to see Johnson win it again.
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Hmmm Reference to sucking a shot gun sounds a lot like our ex-friend, the perverted JJ3Peat, would say. Guess he has been released. Maybe some day he will actually get a real life.
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Montoya will win it all only after France and Hendrick come out of the closet and admit to being an item.
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Snaggle says some of the stupidest **** I have ever seen. Who the hell is this guy that is without a doubt puffing the rock? Get the **** on a puff a shotgun pal.
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Chase for the Championship | 10/11 | Pepsi 500 | Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, CA | 3:31 pm |  | On ABC
| Jimmie Johnson |
| 10/17 | NASCAR Banking 500 | Lowe's Motor Speedway
Concord, NC | 7:41 pm |
| On ABC
| Jeff Burton |
| 10/25 | TUMS Fast Relief 500 | Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, VA | 1:43 pm |
| On ABC
| Jimmie Johnson |
| 11/1 | AMP Energy 500 | Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, AL | 1:19 pm |
| On ABC
| Tony Stewart |
| 11/8 | Dickies 500 | Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, TX | 3:31 pm |
| On ABC
| Carl Edwards |
| 11/15 | Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 | Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, AZ | 3:30 pm |
| On ABC
| Jimmie Johnson |
| 11/22 | Ford 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, FL | 3:30 pm |
| On ABC
| Carl Edwards |
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