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November 23, 2009

BRINGING HOME THE LOOT • ORIGINALITY VS IMITATION

Filed under: Wacky — Lynne Huntting @ 12:54 am

The winner of The 24 Hours of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza Race at Thunderhill Raceway Park will carry home (with help) $1500 in nickels. The Index of Effluence winner gets $1000 in nickels, for having the crappiest car which does well. The Organizer’s Choice Award winner gets $500, in nickels. Chief Perpetrator JAY LAMM has a banker friend who obliges by packing the nickels in neat cardboard box containers.

I would think that making subjective choices in this large field of 155 cars would be more than difficult.

This year’s LeMons season was comprised of ten races and the inaugural Concours d’Lemons in Toro Park near Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca the weekend of the Monterey Historics. That event will repeat next year, along with 21 races, and another Concours and Track Tour at Infineon Raceway. That is double the 2009 events. Lamm said it meant a lot of frequent flier miles checking out race tracks all around the country.

LeMons has grown. It all started with one man’s conception in 2006. “It seemed like a fun idea, entertaining and cheap. Nothing too serious,” said Lamm. Now in addition to Lamm, who eased out of his day job of editorial publishing to handle LeMons full-time, there are two other full-time managers – Event Manager JEFF GLENN, and Race Manager DAN RADOWICZ. Lamm has an Assistant Perp, NICK PON. There are also six or seven part time contractors.

The Judges this weekend were PHIL GRAYTON and JOHNNY LIEBERMAN, who were “inhabiting their persona” said Lamm. They were aided and abetted by Auditors and Punishers working in the Penalty Box.

The race officials are often found in each track area. At Thunderhill, most of them are SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) workers from San Francisco Region, along with a couple of Cal Club workers and one flagger who came all the way from Amsterdam just for the race.

It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Somehow I doubt that Lamm sees it that way about the new Chump Car Series, which is for $500 cars without the wackiness. Co-promotor of Chump Car, JOHN CONDREN, said his series is “North America’s home for $500 crap-can endurance road racing, for more serious endurance racers on bigger, more well-known race tracks.” Chump Car – whose logo is a direct knock-off of the late Champ Car World Series – had its inaugural race over Halloween with 20 teams which had irreverent names. Chump Car will have 22 races next season, ten of which conflict with LeMons. Some have been saying that Chump Car had the blessing of LeMons. Not so, said Lamm. There is no relationship between the two series, no history, no cooperation and no approval.

November 22, 2009

CLEVER CONSULAR CAR

Filed under: Wacky — Lynne Huntting @ 3:17 pm

Part of the process of running in the 24 Hours of LeMons includes Judging. This weekend at Thunderhill Raceway Park for The 24 Hours of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza Race, the Judging was Friday, after the more serious Scrutineering.

The judges can assess laps if the car is thought to be a cheater car. One such car Friday was the No.140 Diplomatic Immunity team. The car is a 1995 Mercedes S600 V12, which retails new for $135,000. The owner/builder SETH SCALLY, bought it for $1,000 on Craig’s List. He sold the air bags and driver’s seat for $500, thereby fulfilling in his mind the $500 purchase limit. Everything else remained in the car, which weighs 5000 pounds. This was no stripped down race shell. While it is not armored, the Mercedes does have double-pane bullet resistant (not bullet-proof) windshields. The car itself has had many owners, perhaps originally a drug dealer. It’s possible the car was part of a drug bust and couldn’t be sold in the US without a title or smog certificate, so it turned up in Mexico. All the Bills of Sale indicate it was sold at auction after auction, and ended up on Craig’s List. Scally decided it would either be a parts car or a LeMons car. He chose the latter.

The Mercedes has assumed the persona of the Republic of Paraguay, complete with official seal and (cleverly forged) Consular license plates. A license plate frame says “I collect 42 % G.D.P.” Team Captain/co-driver, JOHN MAGNUSON, is channeling the late General Heissman from Paraguay, complete with uniform, medals, sash and boots. In the Judging, the Generalissimo drove the car very slowly, while the crew – dressed as Secret Service men with sunglasses – ran beside the car.

The LeMons judges assessed a world-record 13,500 lap penalty against the Mercedes. The General does not accept any penalties and chose to run the risk of being voted The People’s Curse. He dodged the bullet. No car was voted The People’s Curse.

Team Diplomatic Immunity is not especially fast and not without mechanical problems. It’s car number was almost its position after Saturday’s run – P137 at 1:49.01.662. But it’s still out there and having a good time…and has no dents.

CLEVER CONSULAR CAR

Filed under: Wacky — Lynne Huntting @ 2:21 pm

Part of the process of running in the 24 Hours of LeMons includes Judging. This weekend at Thunderhill Raceway Park for The 24 Hours of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza Race, the Judging was Friday, after the more serious Scrutineering.

The judges can assess laps if the car is thought to be a cheater car. One such car Friday was the No.140 Diplomatic Immunity team. The car is a 1995 Mercedes S600 V12, which retails new for $135,000. The owner/builder SETH SCALLY, bought it for $1,000 on Craig’s List. He sold the air bags and driver’s seat for $500, thereby fulfilling in his mind the $500 purchase limit. Everything else remained in the car, which weighs 5000 pounds. This was no stripped down race shell. While it is not armored, the Mercedes does have double-pane bullet resistant (not bullet-proof) windshields. The car itself has had many owners, perhaps originally a drug dealer. It’s possible the car was part of a drug bust and couldn’t be sold in the US without a title or smog certificate, so it turned up in Mexico. All the Bills of Sale indicate it was sold at auction after auction, and ended up on Craig’s List. Scally decided it would either be a parts car or a LeMons car. He chose the latter.

The Mercedes has assumed the persona of the Republic of Paraguay, complete with official seal and (cleverly forged) Consular license plates. A license plate frame says “I collect 42 % G.D.P.” Team Captain/co-driver, JOHN MAGNUSON, is channeling the late General Heissman from Paraguay, complete with uniform, medals, sash and boots. In the Judging, the Generalissimo drove the car very slowly, while the crew – dressed as Secret Service men with sunglasses – ran beside the car.

The LeMons judges assessed a world-record 13,500 lap penalty against the Mercedes. The General does not accept any penalties and chose to run the risk of being voted The People’s Curse. He dodged the bullet. No car was voted The People’s Curse.

Team Diplomatic Immunity is not especially slow (1:49.01.662) but is not without mechanical problems. It’s car number was almost its position after Saturday’s run – P137. But it’s still out there and having a good time…and has no dents.

PUCKISH PENALTIES • PEOPLE’S CURSE…NOT!

Filed under: Wacky — Lynne Huntting @ 1:09 pm

Sunday morning the weather at Thunderhill Raceway Park was chilly, breezy and overcast for the second half of The 24 Hours of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza Race. The forecast had been for rain in the am, and the drivers were told in the morning meeting to have rain tires and windshield wipers if they could.

At the Sunday morning drivers’ meeting, conducted by Chief Perpetrator, JAY LAMM, a tall bundled-up driver asked to speak. FOMFOR, speaking with an accent, denied he was washed up driver/journalist, TOMMY KENDALL and wanted that clarified … before he asked about a white line rule. Kendall later said he’s always wanted to have a single name, a la Madonna.

PENALTY BOX
One of the most fun parts of the LeMons races is the Penalty Box. There are various reasons for getting a black flag besides a mechanical problem – overdriving/aggressive driving, passing under caution, body contact, pit lane speeding, offs or spins, etc. There are three judges and sometimes Lamm, meting out the penalties in the large central paddock car port.

Penalty Assessment starts with the Wheel of Misfortune, which is spun to determine what penalty will be given. Some penalties are based on local track setup and weather conditions, such as water balloons heaved at the very hot Altamont races.

Among the penalties are “Mime The Crime”; an archangel in costume welding a barn animal air brake on the top of the car (pig, cow or humping rabbits); sitting in the Dog House; Sharpie writing ‘I Will Not —’ 100 times on the race car; Preaching to the Converted; LeMons Trivia Quiz; Studs and Spurs; Barret Jackson; Bobby Bosch Relay; Faces of Math; Puzzled in the Pits; Three-legged race; Paint Your Whip with Bob Ross; Bart Simpson; Judge’s Choice; LeMons Haiku; Buying Lunch for the Judges; The Chronic Search; and Cultural Revolution. New this weekend was  dressing up as a Red soldier with Mao cap, goose stepping around the area and reading from the Red Book, and wrapping the car with Christmas paper.

The Penalty Auditors have a large chart taped to a long table, listing every car by name and number, and space for listing the errors. A team of Punishers carry out the penalties.

As of noon Sunday there were 26 teams which had no penalties.

As the race progresses, the lines are longer in the Penalty Box. It is also a fun place for spectating.

The biggest penalty of the weekend is The People’s Curse. All teams are given ballots at Registration, listing every entered team. Each team can choose the team it wants to see crushed…or not. The deadline was 10 am Sunday and the crushing scheduled for noon. It’s not a first that no team ticked off enough people to be voted The People’s Curse. So the giant Excavator Crane will sit idle and the paddock spectators and teams will have to find something else to do for fun.

As of noon, still no rain and the sun was shining through some breaking clouds.

November 21, 2009

IRREVERENT PERFORMANCE ART CARS

Filed under: Wacky — Lynne Huntting @ 11:10 pm

So many cars, so little time. Even with The 24 Hours of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza Race being a not quite 24-hour event, there won’t be enough time to track down all of the 157 cars at Thunderhill Raceway Park this weekend. Each car has four or more drivers.

Some of the 625+ drivers are running under alias. Race promoter aka Chief Perpetrator, JAY LAMM, said, tongue in cheek, “the smart drivers changed their names.”

Among the famous (or infamous) drivers this weekend is a well-known professional SPEEDy racer cum motorsports TV star who folded his long limbs into a small BMW, which was ninth overall at days end, with 128 laps. He raced under a pseudonym as the Gift With Purchase team owner felt it’s what Fomfor would want.

On the other side of the coin, a well-known motorsports artist competed in his first-ever race of any kind. BILL PATTERSON raced under his own name, and got half an hour in the car before a driver change. It turned out to be his only time in the car, as the yellow 1977 Killer Bee MGB later did a spectacular roll, side over side and then barrel roll. The driver was very much unhurt, but the car was not. The  MGB was 114th of the 155 cars on course.

The Killer Bees were pitted across the road from a 1977 Triumph – The Wedginator. It turned out to have come off the same assembly line as the MGB. Small world.

The basic concept of the series, which began with a single race in October 2006 at Altamont Speedway in Livermore Ca, is that the race car can’t cost more than $500 (excluding safety enhancements.) Those cars go through serious Scrutineering, followed by a more subjective Judging. The judges can deem a car to be a ‘cheater’ car, worth more, and assess penalty laps. The amount is determined by the bribable magistrates who are appropriately garbed and wigged. It is almost a badge of honor to have a ‘Bribed’ insignia painted on a race car. The Killer Bees earned two such honors, by having strategically placed honey mead in the trunk during Judging.

There were 248 total entries for the Arse race, but only 160 were accepted by Lamm, based on paddock and track size. Each team had to fill out an entry form which included team concept. Lamm prefers teams which aren’t boring and don’t take themselves too seriously. There’s extra points for a car and/or crew that is fun to see. I call it a motorsports costume party. Even the  race officials get into the spirit of things. One female working the pit lane was a pit bunny – literally, complete with a Playboy fire suit, big pink ears and a fluffy cotton tail.

Word’s can’t begin to describe some of the cars. Truly an example of a picture being worth a thousand words. I call them art cars.

Lamm’s description of his LeMons Series is (low) performance art cars – meets racing – meets Burning Man.

At the Saturday morning ‘Newbie” Drivers’ Meeting, a show of hands came from all the drivers for running their first LeMons race, and half the drivers raised hands as first time ever drivers. What fun!

At the end of the first half of the race (six hours 35 minutes), the best time around the 2.866-mile elevated road course  was 2:18.013, set by the Save The Whale team, which was eighth overall.

The leading team, Pandamonium Racing, ran 131 laps. Only one other team, Fast Times @ Placer High, was on the lead lap.

This is not the first time for the wacky, irreverent series to run at Thunderhill, but it is the first time in November rather than December. For TRP President/CEO DAVE VODDEN, who holidays in December, this is his first experience with the group and he’s loving it.

The day ended just prior to a stunning and spectacular sunset.

November 15, 2009

JOHNSON WINS RACE BUT NOT CHAMPIONSHIP

Filed under: NASCAR — Lynne Huntting @ 5:40 pm

Ninety thousand fans watched JIMMIE JOHNSON/No.48 Lowes Chevrolet win the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Sprint Cup race Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson dominated the at Phoenix International Raceway, leading four times for 235 laps of the 312-lap race. For some, it felt like diminished drama.

Johnson’s victory has all but clinched the Race to the Sprint Cup Championship. Johnson, 34, leads the Chase by 108 points, which means all he has to do next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway is finish twenty-fifth or better to win his fourth consecutive Cup championship

Johnson’s strategy for the season’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “We need to show up down there (Homestead-Miami Speedway) and treat it like any other race. The further forward we start, the better we are going to be track position wise. Better pit stall selection we are going to have so until we get in the race and see what we really have, we’re going to treat it like any other race and just go as fast as we can.”

It was Johnson’s seventh victory this year, his fourth in his last five PIR races, and the forty-seventh of his Cup career. Johnson has run 290 Cup races since October 2001.

JEFF BURTON/No.31 CAT Financial Chevrolet finished 1.033 seconds behind in second place, after starting an uncharacteristically low thirty-sixth. “I was excited by the way I ran today, but I did finish second. So we’ll keep working. Fair to say this is the best we’ve run this year and this is the best second-place I’ve had. Success breeds momentum.”

Third place went to DENNY HAMLIN/No.11 FedEx Ground Toyota. Points runner-up MARK MARTIN/No.5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet finished fourth.

Fifth through tenth were Pole sitter MARTIN TRUEX Jr/No.1 Rain-X Chevrolet; KURT BUSCH/No.2 Miller Lite Dodge; CLINT BOWYER/No.33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet; JUAN PABLO MONTOYA/No.42 Target Chevrolet; JEFF GORDON/No.24 Dupont Chevrolet; and DAVID REUTIMANN/No.00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.

Up and coming Aussie, MARCOS AMBROSE/No.47 Little Debbie/Kingsford/Clorox Toyota  started twenty-first, ran as high as ninth before finishing eleventh.

JOEY LOGANO/No.20 Home Depot Toyota finished twenty-first and was the top Rookie.

Johnson’s Team Owner RICK HENDRICK has had thirteen victories this year. Three of his four drivers (Johnson, Martin and Jeff Gordon) are 1-2 3 in the standings, with DALE EARNHARDT Jr/No.88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet in P24. Junior was running well until he was caught out in the second big melee, forcing garage time for damage repair. Among those working on the car were four of his pit crew, who were rear-ended on the way to the track Sunday morning. They weren’t hurt, but were/will be sore. Earnhardt finished thirty-fifth, sixty-one laps down.

There were four cautions for 23 laps – two of which were multi-car accidents involving nearly 20 cars. The race ran for 120 laps before the first caution. The record for the longest green-flag run at PIR was 184 laps in 1994.

Sixteen drivers finished on the lead lap. Thirty-seven drivers finished the race, which ran for 2 hrs, 49 mins and 26 secs. The average speed was 110.486 mph.

Four drivers swapped the lead nine times. The other leaders were Busch for 69 laps; MATT KENSETH/No.17 DeWalt Ford – four laps; and RYAN NEWMAN/No.39 Chevrolet – one lap. Kenseth finished eighteen and Newman in twentieth, each one lap down.

The season’s finale race is next weekend at HMS, with the live ABC telecast starting at 2:30 pm EST.

PIR ANNOUNCEMENTS

Filed under: NASCAR — Lynne Huntting @ 3:40 pm

MICHAEL WALTRIP – SUPER SALESMAN

MICHAEL WALTRIP admits that only MARK MARTIN can drive forever. Waltrip will move to a full-time managerial position with his team. And if Saturday’s media conferences were any indication, Waltrip has a full time career awaiting after racing, pitching products on TV.

LEE WHITE. President/GM of Toyota Racing Development confirmed that TRD will continue its association with MWR and the new team, with an extension of a multi-year contract.

MOBILE 1 AND TRD

Mobile 1 is a long-time NASCAR Official Sponsor of the Mobile 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race award in all three NASCAR top tier series, and that contract extends through 2012. Mobile 1 also has a technical partnership with Toyota Racing Development to customize Mobile 1 technologies and racing oil to supply TRD teams, and then available to all teams in all levels of motorsports.

White said the Mobile 1 focus is providing technology, — and key benefits for the company is gathering additional data and technology. There are extremely severe demands on Cup cars, especially on drive trains, extreme pressures (9800 pressures rpm at PIR). Mobile 1 has been providing custom lubrications to NASCAR for the past ten years.

TRD factory driver, MICHAEL WALTRIP said sixty percent of the race cars at PIR have Mobile 1 in them.

The Mobile 1 deal with TRD will change nothing with the current Mobile 1 partnership with Penske Racing which runs SAM HORNISH/No.77 Mobile 1 Dodge in NASCAR. “It is great partnership and will continue,” said White.

Michael Waltrip Racing (owned by Waltrip and ROB KAUFFMAN) is partnering with GARY and son BLAKE BECHTEL to form Diamond-Waltrip Racing for a full-time 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series team with MWR NASCAR Nationwide Series driver TREVOR BAYNE. The 18-year old driver will race No.99 Toyota out of the MWR shop in Cornelius NC, run by the existing team. Bayne has a multi-year contract and will run at least seven Sprint Cup races in 2011 towards his goal of a full-time Cup run in 2012.

Bayne’s 2009 season includes one pole at O’Reilly Motorsports Park,  leading 34 laps, two top-ten finishes, and is currently thirty-fourth (of 158 drivers) in 14 NNS starts.

This MWR partnership is Gary’s first venture with son Blake. Gary had a NASCAR team before – Diamond Ridge Racing  – and left in 1999, because he felt he was uncompetitive. He sold his team to Joe Gibbs Racing. Then Bechtel became a racing enthusiast. Now he is returning to NASCAR as a business venture, partnering with an already-established team and manufacturer. The first nine races in 2010 races will be sponsored by Aaron’s – a ten-year old sponsor with MWR. The team is pursuing other sponsorships.

CAL WELLS is behind the scenes with the new MWR effort. The long-time team owner has been involved with MWR. As always he says his job is to herds cats, keeps them in their swim lines, acting as a coach. Further than that he won’t say, just smiling enigmatically.

TORNADOS PARTNER WITH STEWART-HASS RACING

Tornados, a new-to-NASCAR food sponsor, will partner with Stewart-Haas Racing, and be the primary sponsor five races for driver RYAN NEWMAN/No.39 Chevrolet: Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, PIR in April, Daytona International Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in August and Martinsville in October. Tornado will also be an associate sponsor at other races.

Tornadoes are a frozen convenience food – crispy rolled wraps with meat or cheese fillings. The drivers will be helping to introduce the five-year old product, and grow the business and its awareness. It’s motto is “Bold is How We Roll.” Unlike many other foods found at NASCAR tracks, Tornadoes claim it has zero trans fat.

TRG AND BOBBY MAKES THREE

TRG (The Racer’s Group) will run BOBBY LABONTE in No.71 Chevrolet for the two remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup races, with Victory Lane Wealth Solutions as an associate sponsor. The company will also donate ten percent of its profits directly to the Bobby Labonte Foundation.

Earlier this year, Labonte had been racing for the Hall of Fame/Yates Racing team, but was replaced for seven races. TRG picked up his option for those races. It will be full-time for 2010. Nearly half of those races will have TaxSlayer.com as sponsor. The plan is to have several other companies filling in the blanks for the rest of the season.

Labonte’s Crew Chief is RICHARD ‘SLUGGER’ LABBE and the team’s General Manager is MIKE BROWN. These two and about 20 other crew members are expected to remain with the team. Additionally, on ‘Black Monday’ – the day after the season’s finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway when teams start their layoffs – TRG Team Owner KEVIN BUCKLER said he would be hiring – another ten people. In the meantime, Buckler has been talking with Chevrolet in hopes that something can be worked out with the manufacturer for 2010 support.

PIR AND  NASCAR CAMPING WORLD WEST SERIES GOING FORWARD

Phoenix International Raceway will run two NASCAR Camping World Series West races in 2010 including the season’s finale event. The Series first race at PIR was in 1997 and has already run 33 races at PIR including nine races with the Sprint Cup Series between 1988 and 1996. Among the famous drivers who have run the West Series are RICHARD PETTY (three wins), BOBBY ALLISON, KEN SCHRADER (four PIR wins-the most of any driver), JOEY LOGANO, DAVID GILLILAND, KEVIN HARVICK and KURT BUSCH.

PIR SUNDAY SEEN SCENE • F1 INTEREST

Filed under: NASCAR — Lynne Huntting @ 12:38 pm

It’s chilly, breezy and brightly sunny at Phoenix International Raceway as things start to fall into place for Sunday’s Checker O’Reilly Car Parts “500″ presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Sprint Cup Race – a nice autumnal day at the track for the penultimate round to a long and grueling schedule.

The Grand Marshal for Sunday’s race is Arizona Senator JOHN McCAIN, who met with the media to answer a wide variety of questions. He diplomatically declined to name a favorite driver, saying he might have 43 other displeased drivers. McCain said he was pleased that The Chase has tightened up and provided more excitement. He also was glad for the race to be in Phoenix at a time the state was the second most economically deprived areas in the country.

The crowd is large and enthusiastic.  The total capacity of this venue is more than 100,000 including hillside, infield and suites.  The grandstand capacity is 67,000 and it appears nearly full. One veteran NASCAR insider said it’s the most supportive Cup crowd at recent races.

MICHAEL WALTRIP/No.55 Toyota is thinking outside the box, so to speak. Next week he’s running a two-day test at New Smyrna Raceway in Central Florida, and among those driving the No.00 Toyota (usually raced by MWR driver, DAVID REUTIMANN) are two former Toyota Formula One drivers. Tuesday Waltrip is testing MIKA SALO of Finland and Wednesday it will be JARNO TRULLI of Italy. Salo has been out of F1 since 2002 and has been racing sports cars, most notably Ferraris. Trulli was most recently with Toyota F1, but Toyota has withdrawn from Formula One, leaving Trulli on the job market. Rumor has it that he will drive for the new Lotus F1 team.

Both drivers are with the MWR team this weekend at PIR. Salo said it has been very interesting being so closely involved, being in the pits, listening on the radio and being a part of it all. Stock car racing is about the only form of motor sports he has not yet tried. This will be his first ever time in a stock car and on an oval. Salo is looking forward to the experience, and hopes he isn’t asking too many questions of Waltrip. Salo, who looked very much under the radar in the NASCAR garage, met Waltrip through mutual friends.

Also seen in the pit lane during pre-race ceremonies was NELSON PIQUET Jr, who then went up to the hospitality suites. Best guess is that he’s part of the Formula One crowd testing next week in Florida.

Sprint Cup driver, CLINT BOWYER/No.33 Chevrolet has Hamburger Helper as a sponsor. General Mills, the parent company, is handing out large foam hands to the fans on Monumental Hill above Turns Three and Four watching the race. While they sit under the Hamburger Helper-provided shade tent, the plan is wave the hands on Lap 33 of the Sprint Cup race.

A.J. ALLMENDINGER had already re-signed with the Petty team before the recent merger with Yates Racing. He will be racing the full season next year with the team, although all the merger details have yet to be finalized. The team will be running Fords instead of Dodges, and Allmendinger started racing a Ford Sprint Cup car two races ago. He is working with the Ford folks to race Fords in other series also, including the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona again with Michael Shank Racing and perhaps some other Grand-Am races. There is also the possibility Allmendinger could race selected Nationwide races.

Among some race folks seen around is Indy Racing League driver, RYAN BRISCOE who drives for Penske Racing. He is engaged to NICOLE MANSKE, who covers NASCAR for ESPN.

November 14, 2009

EDWARDS WINS AND DENIES ROWDY’S CHAMPIONSHIP ONE MORE WEEK

Filed under: NASCAR — Lynne Huntting @ 6:27 pm

CARL EDWARDS/No.60 Ford won the Able Body Labor 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway. His victory closed the gap between points leader KYLE BUSCH/No.18 Toyota. Edwards led twice for the most laps (109), giving him the ten bonus points.

Edwards wasn’t able to do his traditional back flip due to his recent friendly frisbee foot fracture, but he did manage a pseudo summersault down the front straight.

It was the fifth NNS victory this year, and his third at the Arizona track.

Busch crashed nine laps into the race, after losing control and hitting the outside wall. His left-side damage kept his car in the pits twice while the team used race staple duct tape to patch up the body damage. He moved back up from thirty-fifth to finish ninth after two tweaking pit stops, not high enough to clinch the NNS championship. But with a 190-point lead, all Rowdy has to do is start at the season’s finale next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway and he wins the championship. Busch was ahead by 272 points at the start of the race.

Both Edwards and Busch are also running full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. Edwards is a Chase driver, but Busch failed to make the cut.

Edwards victory also deprived KEVIN HARVICK/No.33 Chevrolet of being two-thirds into a NASCAR hat trick by winning a second race this weekend. Harvick finished as runner-up, 2.415 seconds behind. Harvick won Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

REED SORENSON/No.32 Toyota, CLINT BOWYER/No. 29 Chevrolet and BRAD KESELOWSKI/No.88 Chevrolet completed the top five.

Pole sitter DENNY HAMLIN/No.20 Toyota finished twelfth, after leading twice for 91 laps. He and Keselowski got into it while going for fifth place. The retaliatory nudging between the two ended up spinning Hamlin out of the duel.

JUSTIN ALLGAIER/No.12 Dodge was the top Rookie in the race and in the points. He finished sixteenth overall after starting eleventh, and is sixth in the standings.

ALEX TAGLIANI/No.81 Dodge gridded the race in forty-first position, with Owner Points, after crashing on his second Qualifying lap. Tag, a French-Canadian, drove his backup car (which had been setup for next weekend’s race), which put him at the back of the pack. He finished thirty-eighth, only completing 49 laps of the 200-lap race due to rear end problems.

Thirty-nine drivers finished the race, with nineteen on the lead lap. There were six cautions for 29 laps.

The reported attendance was 35,000.

HAMLIN ON POLE • TAG OK AFTER CRASH

Filed under: NASCAR — Lynne Huntting @ 1:04 pm

DENNY HAMLIN/No.20 Toyota is on the pole for Saturday afternoon’s Able Body Labor 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. His quick lap of 26.872/133.968 mph was close but didn’t surpass the 2004 lap of 26.902/133.819 mph set by KYLE BUSCH.

This is Hamlin’s second pole this season and fourteenth in 188 NNS races.  He also had the pole for this race last year.

The weather was overcast, cool and windy, not typical fall Phoenix weather. Soon after it rained a bit, so NASCAR Sprint Cup second practice was canceled.

However, with the track dried after the jet dryers were turned loose, the schedule is on time. “Happy Hour” final practice will start as planned, followed by the NNS 200-lap race.

Second through fifth fastest NNS drivers were CARL EDWARDS/No.60 Ford; KEVIN HARVICK/No.33 Chevrolet; KYLE BUSCH/No.18 Toyota and CLINT BOWYER/No.29 Chevrolet.

Harvick and Busch are among the over-achievers this weekend, running all three NASCAR races. Harvick won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night, with Busch runner-up.

JUSTIN ALLGAIER/No.12 Dodge was the top Rookie qualifier in eleventh place.

Four drivers failed to make the show: CHRIS LAWSON/No.52; BLAKE KOCH/No.05; MORGAN SHEPHERD/No.89; and DARYL HARR/No.31. All four were Chevrolets.

Chevrolet still has the most NNS cars in the race – 19; Ford has 11, Toyota has nine and Dodge has four.

ALEX TAGLIANI/No.81 Dodge hit the wall on his second Qualifying lap. “I was caught up in the car hopping in Turn Four. I lost the back of the car trying to make the best of it.” The car sustained severe body damage, with the passenger door being just about the only unscathed panel on the car.

Tagliani will start forty-first, based on Owner Points. He will race the McDonald Motorsports backup car, which is setup for a one and a half mile race track – “not really good for the ‘short’ one-mile oval at PIR. It has small brakes.” Most of the team’s efforts are on that set up task now, with the rest sorting out the damaged tub. Tag said “This is the worst situation in racing.  But,  (he said with a smile) we will try our best.”

The race is scheduled to start at 2:30 PM local time, 4:30 PM EST, shown live on ESPN2.

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