Archive for September, 2008

Race Review

September 28, 2008

Camping World RV 400

Kansas Speedway

Kansas City, Kansas

Welcome race fans to the twenty-ninth race of the season and the third race in the Chase. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya ran the fastest lap of 172.127. But his speed was disallowed after post-qualifying inspection. His shocks exceeded the 75 lb. gas pressure allowed by quite a bit. He will start the race from the 42nd spot. 48 Jimmy Johnson will start from the pole with a speed of 172.007. 8 Mark Martin will start second once again. 70 today is once again, Tony Raines. 21 is Bill Elliott, in on speed. 47 is Marcos Ambrose in his new 2009 JTG Daugherty race car. 96 is wonder boy Joey Logano. Rookie 00 Michael McDowell and 08 Johnny Sauter failed to qualify. Kansas is the flattest of the 1.5 mile tracks. 99 Carl Edwards is the in-car reporter. The race will be 267 laps for 400.5 miles. 31 Jeff Burton has tach problems before they get underway, and has to replace it before he can go onto the track, putting him in the rear of the field.
So, here we go! 07 Clint Bowyer starting 24th, passes before the Green Flag and will have to make a pass through the pits, putting him just ahead of the leader. 48 leads from the pole. 84 A J Allmendinger slides into 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. when 88 gets loose. 99 Carl Edwards is moving up through traffic. Jeff Gordon in the 24 isn’t feeling very well, and Brad Keselowski is standing by to replace Jeff if he can’t finish the race. 17 Matt Kenseth takes the lead. 07 is staying ahead of 17, still on the lead lap. 19 Elliott Sadler gets by 8  for fifth. 70 Tony Raines drives by 18 Kyle Busch. 66 Scott Riggs drives by 18. 20 Tony Stewart drives by 18. 18 is back to 27th place. Something is obviously wrong with that car! 42 gets by 18. 1 Martin Truex, Jr. and 48 battle for second. 1 gets second. 83 Brian Vickers gets by 48. 8 is back to eighth. 96, 2 Kurt Busch, 7 Robby Gordon and 78 Joe Nemechek are a lap down. 1 takes the lead from 17.
Green Flag Pitting begins. In the pits, 99 trying to leave, gets pushed back into the pits by 83. 99 and 20 have to back up to get out of the pits. 55 Michael Waltrip leads, then pits. 18 leads, then pits. 21 and 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. are caught speeding. 17 is back in the lead after all the pitting. 48 and 1 battle for second. 48 gets by 1 for second. The first caution comes out on lap 75 when 12 Ryan Newman slides into the wall. 07 Clint Bowyer is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. Out of the pits, it’s 17, 5 Casey Mears, 1, 24, 48, 19, 16 Greg Biffle, 88, 9 Kasey Kahne and 83. 41 Reed Sorenson and 7 are caught speeding. 5 takes the lead. 24 and 48 battle for third. 48 gets by 1 for second. 5 and 48 battle for the lead.
The second caution comes out when 45 Kyle Petty slides into the infield. 18 Kyle Busch is the Lucky Dog. The caution was for a piece of drive shaft from 66 Scott Riggs that is on the track on lap 95. 45 lost it on the apron and spun as the caution came out. 5 stays out while most everyone else pits. Out of the pits it’s 8, 31, 19, 48, 16, 24, 1, 88, 9, 29 Kevin Harvick. 44 David Reutimann battles with 5 to stay on the lead lap. 48 gets by 19 for fourth. 99 and 83 battle. 99 gets the spot. 44 gets by 5 to stay on the lead lap. 48 and 5 battle for the lead. 48 takes the lead. 31, 8 and 16 battle for position. 8 gets loose and 31, 16 and 24 get by. 9 gets by 99 for eighteenth.
The third caution comes out on lap 117 when 96 gets up too high and gets into the wall. 44 stays on the lead lap. 10 Patrick Carpentier is the Lucky Dog. The top ten out of the pits are 1, 48, 07, 16, 31, 24, 19, 88, 29, 5. 20 is caught speeding. 20 and 83 got together in the pits. 18 is back in the pits with the hood up. The fourth caution comes out on lap 123. 5 gets 17 sideways. 17 saves it and no one hits him. 5, 96 and 19 were three-wide and 5 got into 17 to spin him. 20 leaves the pits through the 83 pit.
The fifth caution comes out  on lap 130 when 20 squeezes 83 into the wall and gets sideways into the infield. 24 and 07 battle for fourth. 99 gets by 07. 24 and 99 battle for fourth. 88, 31 and 29 get by 07. 48 takes the lead. 99 and 16 battle for third. 99 gets by 1 for second. 31 and 88 battle. 31 gets by. 29 gets by 88 for seventh. 66 is back out on the track. 48 and 99 battle for the lead. 99 takes the lead. 07 and 5 start Green Flag Pitting. 83 leads. 44 leads. 10 leads. 48 is back in the lead after all the pitting.
99 catches 48, trying to lap 42. 99 and  48 battle for the lead. 99 takes the lead. 20 is in the pits, fixing the splitter. 1 and 24 battle for fourth. 1 is having troubles. 44 gets loose as 99 laps him. 07 gets by 1. The sixth caution comes out with 49 to go, when 28 Travis Kvapil gets into the wall. 83 Brian Vickers is the Lucky Dog. 07 is too fast. 16 gets loose in front of 17. 1 misses a gear at the restart. The seventh caution comes out with 42 to go. 55 and 77 spin when 6 David Ragan gets into 55. 11 Denny Hamlin goes down pit Rd. to get away from it all.  12 Ryan Newman is the Lucky Dog.
1 has a broken shifter and pits.16 gets by 31. 47 gets into the wall. 17 gets by 31 for fifth. 84 and 19 battle for ninth. 19 keeps ninth. 07 gets by 5 for thirteenth. 07 gets by 88 for 12th. 16 and 24 battle for third. 55 blows a tire and gets off the track. No caution. 99 catches 48 with two to go. 99 takes the lead and then gets into the wall. 48 Jimmy Johnson wins the race. 18 Kyle Busch, with eight wins in the regular season is out of the Chase. 16 gets by 24 for third.
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Race Review

September 21, 2008

Camping World RV 400

Dover Downs International Speedway

Dover, DE

Welcome race fans to the twenty-eighth race of the season and the second race of the Chase. Jeff Gordon in the 24 is on the pole, and 8 Mark Martin is starting second. 21 is Marcos Ambrose from the NASCAR Nationwide Series. 96 is Ken Schrader. 70 is Tony Raines. Failing to qualify are 34 Chad Chaffin, 08 Johnny Sauter and 50 Stanton Barrett.
So, here we go! 24 Jeff Gordon leads from the pole. The first caution comes out on lap 2. 38 David Gilliland gets loose and runs into 2 Kurt Busch. And 15 Paul Menard slides sideways. 20 Tony Stewart gets by it all. 18 Kyle Busch gets by 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 99 Carl Edwards gets by 12 Ryan Newman. 88 gets back by 18. The second caution comes out when 10 Patrick Carpentier spins. 48 Jimmy Johnson gets through, but 99 hits 10 in the left rear.
88 gets by 07 Clint Bowyer. 26 Jamie McMurray gets by 17 Matt Kenseth for third. 26 gets by 11 Denny Hamlin for second. 26 catches leader 24. 26 takes the lead during the commercial. The third caution comes out on lap 64 when 78 Joe Nemechek gets into the wall. The leaders all pit. Out of the pits, it’s 17, 24, 8, 11, 26, 99, 44 David Reutimann, 48, 07, 31 Jeff Burton and 16 Greg Biffle. 18 had to back up in the pits to get out of his pit stall. 88 gets loose. 43 Bobby Labonte and 96 battle. 26 gets by 24 for second. 8 gets by 24 for third. 99 gets by 24 for fourth. 16 gets by 48 for seventh.
Leader 17 is having trouble lapping 7 Robby Gordon, which allows 26 and 8 to catch 17. 8 gets by 26. 16 gets by 44 for fifth. 18 is smoking and is about to blow up. The fourth caution comes out  when 88 blows a tire and gets into the wall. 07 gets by 44 for seventh. The fifth caution comes out on lap 156 when 9 Kasey Kahne and 84 A. J. Allmendinger get together. 43 Bobby Labonte is the Lucky Dog.
The sixth caution comes out when 7 and 26 get together. 21 Marcos Ambrose is the Lucky Dog. 7 got loose while 26 was trying to get by him. The seventh caution comes out when 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. gets into the wall, and looses the bumper cover. So the caution is for debris, not because 77 got into the wall. The crew of 18 is pushing him to the garage. Kyle is out of the race, and will finish last. (Out of the Chase, perhaps?)

The eighth caution is again for 77 getting into the wall. 5 Casey Mears is the Lucky Dog. Twenty-four cars are on the lead lap. 48 stays out to lead. 77 goes to the garage. 17 gets by 22 Dave Blaney. 48 and 12 are pitting. 99 is leading. 11 is creeping to the pits. 22 pits from fifth. 16 gets by 24 for third. 16 gets by 17 for second. And we have Green Flag Pitting. 16 leads, 29 Kevin Harvick leads. 07 leads. 55 Michael Waltrip leads. 48 is back in the lead after all the pitting. 17 gets by 12 for third. 21 and 70 get together. Both save it. Forty-two cars are on the track. 8 gets by 24 for fifth.
The ninth caution comes out with 109 to go for debris on turn three. 16, 48, 99 battle for the lead. 17 gets into the battle for the lead. 17 gets by 48. 2 and 77 get Black Flagged for sheet metal flapping. 29 gets by 24. 8 gets by 17 for third. 99 took the lead during the commercial. 16 slips and 99 gets by. 8 gets by 16 for second. The tenth caution comes out when 42 Juan Pablo Montoya gets into the wall with forty-nine to go. 44 pitted out of the box and gets a one lap penalty. 5 Casey Mears is the Lucky Dog. We go green with forty-four to go. 16 and 17 battle. 16 gets by 8 for third. 22 and 55 get together. 17 and 99 battle for the lead. 99 hangs onto the lead. 16 catches 17 and 99. 16 and 99 battle. 16 has to back out. 17 and 16 battle for second. 17 takes the lead. 16 gets by 99. 16 and 17 battle for the lead. 17 closes the door. 16 and 17 are side by side for the lead. 17 stays in the lead. 99 catches 17 and 16. 99 and 16 battle for second. 17 and 16 get loose together. 16 finally takes the lead with eight to go. 16 has a tire rub.
16 Greg Biffle wins the race. What a great race! 99 Carl Edwards is the points leader after the second race of the Chase. 48 Jimmy Jhnson and 16 Greg Biffle are tied for second. And 18 Kyle Busch is in twelfth, 210 behind the leader.

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Race Review

September 14, 2008

Sylvania 300

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Lauden, new Hampshire

Welcome race fans to the twenty-seventh race of the year and the first race of the Chase. Qualifying was rained out, so the line up will be by Owner Points. 8 today is Aric Almirola. 21 is Bill Elliott. Joey Logano makes his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the 96. 45 is Chad McCumbee. 70 is Johnny Sauter. There will be a competition caution because there was rain this morning. There was a slight delay throwing the Green Flag to make sure the track was dry.
So, here we go! 18 Kyle Busch leads from the Pole. 99 Carl Edwards, who started second, battles 18 for the lead. 99 finally  takes the lead. 07 Clint Bowyer gets by 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 18 and 07 battle for second. 07 gets by 18. 20 Tony Stewart and 18 battle for third, while 88 and 24 Jeff Gordon battle for fourth. 20 gets by 18. 88 stays ahead of 24. 16 Greg Biffle flies by 31 Jeff Burton. 88 and 18 battle. 88 gets by. 48 Jimmy Johnson gets by 24. 38 David Gilliland slides around after contact with 44 David Reutimann. He saves it and there is no caution. 48 and 18 battle for fifth, and 48 gets by. 18 is falling back with a sway bar problem. 18 gets into the wall, and 6 David Ragan and 2 Kurt Busch get by. 17 Matt Kenseth and 1 Martin Truex, Jr. get by 18. 20 gets by 07 for second.
The first caution of the day is the competition caution. Everyone pits. 18 went into the pits before pit road was open, and so he’ll loose a lap and will start from the rear. 18 is back onto pit road for a one lap penalty for going on the track after pitting and not heeding the stop sign. While he’s being held, the crew opens the hood. 96, Logano, makes a Rookie mistake in the pits and takes the jack out of the pits with him. He will have to go back in. 10 Patrick Carpentier is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. 24 had to back up in the pits to avoid hitting the crew of 7 Robby Gordon. 99 comes out of the pits first.
48 catches 99, and 48 takes the lead. 20 and 2 get by 99. 88 gets loose. 1 gets by 24. The second caution comes out during the commercial. 18 gets loose and spins, with so much smoke no one can see where they’re going. 6 stops and 26 Jamie McMurray gets into him in the smoke. The top ten are 48, 20, 88, 99, 16, 2, 11 Denny Hamlin, 31 Jeff Burton, 07 and 17. 20, coming out of the pits, gets into 70 and has to come back in for repairs. 45 Chad McCumbee is the Lucky Dog. 88 takes the lead. 07 and 17 battle. 17 takes the position. 2 gets by 99. 07 and 42 battle for tenth. 1 is having trouble getting by 9 Kasey Kahne.
2 and 16 battle for third. 16 gets by. 88 laps 18 again. He’s now down nine laps.16 and 48 battle. 16 gets by 48 for second. 6 pits under Green, after going a lap down. 88 has trouble lapping 55 Michael Waltrip. 16 pits from second and Green Flag Pitting begins. 48 leads when 88 pits. When 48 pits 83 Brian Vickers takes the lead. 00 Michael McDowell stays out to take the lead. 20 is caught speeding and will return to the pits. When every one has pitted, 16 is leading. 88 takes the lead. 7 again holds up 24 in the pits. 48 gets by 11 for third. 88 and 16 battle for the lead. 88 waves 16 by.
16 is having trouble lapping 84 A. J. Allmendinger, which allows 48 to catch 16. 11 gets by 88 for third. 31 gets by 88 for fourth. 16 is having trouble lapping 83. The third caution is for debris. The leaders all pit. 83 Brian Vickers is the Lucky Dog. We go green with 48 in the lead. The fourth caution comes out with 79 laps to go. 01 Regan Smith gets into 78 Joe Nemechek, and 78 gets into the inside wall. 20 Tony Stewart is the Lucky Dog. 11 pits from second place, and comes back in to top off the fuel.
The fifth caution involves 17, 45, 83, 38, 5 Casey Mears with 90 to go. 45 got loose and into 17, comes down the track and into 38 and collects 83 with nowhere to go. There is so much fluid and debris on the track, NASCAR throws the Red Flag. Clean up is complete after ten minutes and 38 seconds! 88 and 16 battle for the lead. 43 Bobby Labonte, 70, 20,11, 42 Juan Pablo Montoya battle each other. 70 and 84 get together. The sixth caution comes out when 00  turns 84 into the wall with 31 to go. 66 Scott Riggs is the Lucky Dog. The top nine stay out.
07 is slipping and sliding. 24 gets by 29 Kevin Harvick. 88 and 31 battle. The seventh caution comes out when 6 gets loose and spins into the infield with nineteen laps to go. The Green Flag flies with seventeen to go. The eighth caution comes out when 10 spins into the wall. No one else is involved. 00 tries to pass on the inside before the Green Flag and is called into the pits. 16 takes the lead from 48. 9 gets by 42 and 44.
16 Greg Biffle wins the race. There were eight different leaders. Carl Edwards takes over the point lead, tied with Jimmy Johnson. Jeff Burton climbs two spots in the points, tied with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Tony Stewart moves up a spot, as does Kevin Harvick. Kyle Busch moves down seven spots and Clint Bowyer falls down four spots. Kasey Kahne and David Ragan remain in thirteenth and fourteenth respectively.

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Race Review

September 8, 2008

Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Richmond International Raceway

Richmond, Virginia

Hello race fans This is the final race of the regular season. This race determines who will be the twelve drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. 18 Kyle Busch, 99 Carl Edwards, 48 Jimmy Johnson 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and  31 Jeff Burton are locked in before this race. 16 Greg Biffle and 29 Kevin Harvick will be locked in when they start their engines. 8th-12th will be determined after the race. Qualifying was rained out by tropical storm Hannah. And there was only one practice session. The race was supposed to be Saturday night, but the race was postponed until Sunday afternoon. The line-up is by Owner Points.
02 Joey Logano (“sliced bread”) didn’t make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut because the car had no Owner points. Going home also were 34 Tony Raines and 09 Sterling Marlin. 21 is Bill Elliott with his past Champion provisional. 96 is Ken Schrader. 70 is Johnny Sauter. 24 Jeff Gordon is in a green Nicorette car. There will be a competition caution on lap 35 since there was no practice all weekend.
So, here we go! 18 leads from the pole. 6 David Ragan gets by 07 Clint Bowyer. 20 Tony Stewart and 31 battle. 24 scrubs the wall. 99 falls back to 15th. 29 and 88 battle. 29 gets by during the commercial. 99 is back up to 8th. 6 gets by 31. 24 gets by 48. 29 catches 18. 29 takes the lead from 18. 18 and 88 battle. 88 gets by 18. 29 starts lapping cars. 88 catches 29. The competition caution comes out on lap 36. 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. 18 comes into his pit hot and has to back up before they can service him. He looses seven spots as a result. 6 has to stop before going out of his pit to avoid hitting 21 coming into his pit.
24 takes two tires and comes out first. 84 AJ Allmendinger is down one or two cylinders, and afraid he will blow up. After the Green flag, 29 takes the lead.16 and 48 get by 44 David Reutimann. 6 gets by 8 Mark Martin. 6 and 44 battle. 6 takes the position. 07 and 24 battle. 07 and 88 battle. 88 finally gets by 07 for third. 84 is off the track. 9 Kasey Kahne is falling back after trouble in the pits. 48 gets by 99. 6 gets by 99.16 gets by 99. 99 has a tire going down and pits. He will loose a lap. 11 Denny Hamlin and 29 battle for the lead. 11 takes the lead. 88 gets by 29 for second. 11 and 88 battle for the lead. 88 takes the lead.
99 is back to 40th, a lap down. The second caution comes out on lap 97 when 70 gets into the wall. 88 leads them into the pits. Out of the pits, it’s 88, 11, 29, 18, 17 Matt Kenseth, 07, 20, 6, 31 and 48. The third caution comes out when 55 Michael Waltrip gets turned around by 12 Ryan Newman. 28 Travis Kvapil is the Lucky Dog. We go Green on lap 109. 17 and 20 battle. The fourth caution comes out when 16 gets into the wall trying to get by 48 who is in tenth place.
The fifth caution comes out when 6 and 17 slide into each other and into the wall. Kenseth radios in that there was oil on the track. 00 Michael McDowell is the Lucky Dog. 9, 83 Brian Vickers and 41 Reed Sorenson are three wide. 20 and 48 battle for sixth. 20 finally gets by. 29 is leading. 18 and 11 battle for third. 07 and 48 battle for seventh. The sixth caution comes out when 42 Juan Pablo Montoya gets into the wall and into 19 Elliot Sadler, who gets a flat tire. 17 is pitting with damage. 6 David Ragan is the Lucky Dog.
Out of the pits it’s 88, 29, 18, 11, 48, 20, 31, 07, 24, 12 . 29 takes the lead. 88 takes the lead back. 18 takes the lead. The seventh caution comes out during the commercial. We go back to commercials. The eighth caution comes out when 88 spins 18. 18 was blocking 88 and 18 actually spins himself out. 18 will restart in thirty-second. 07 nearly makes it three wide with 11 and 42, but backs off.
The ninth caution comes out when 19 Elliot Sadler gets a flat tire. 18 is back in the pits with the crew pounding on the car. The top sixteen stay out. 88, 20 and 48 are three wide in the battle for the lead. 20 takes the lead. The tenth caution is for 18 again. This time the top fourteen stay out. 07 had trouble in the pits. 48 gets into the wall. 17 scrapes the wall. 44 in the lead is having trouble lapping 96.
The eleventh caution comes out when 83 gets into the wall. 96 Ken Schrader is the Lucky Dog. 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. has a tire come off while leaving the pits. 83 gets a penalty for slowing down instead of pitting to cause the caution. 42 stayed ahead of the leader 44 to stay on the lead lap. 12, 26 Jamie McMurray and 07 are three wide. 88 gets by 31 for third. The 12th caution comes out when 43 Bobby Labonte gets loose and 21 and 99 slide together. We go Green with 80 to go. 1 Martin Truex, Jr. and 11 battle for seventh. 88 and 48 battle.
07 and 6 get into each other. (they are both going for the Chase position) 07 knocks 01 Regan Smith into 6. 88 gets into the wall. 20 catches 44. 20 and 44 battle for the lead. 20 takes the lead. 11 scrapes the wall.1 follows 11 into the wall. The thirteenth caution comes out during the commercial. 66 Scott Riggs does a lazy spin. 1 takes two tires to come out first from the pits. 1 and 48 battle for the lead. 19 gets into the wall. 17 and 19 take their lap back by getting in front of the leader. 48 takes the lead.
The fourteenth caution comes out when 10 Patrick Carpentier and 15 Paul Menard go side by side into the wall. 19 Elliot Sadler is the Lucky Dog. 11 and 31 battle for fourth. 31, 8 and 44 battle for fifth. 29 gets into the battle for fifth. 11 gets by 88 for third. 8 gets by 31. 20 and 48 battle for the lead, side by side. 48 Jimmy Johnson gets by 20 for the win. 44 led the most laps.
The twelve drivers in The Chase and their points going into the Chase:
1.  18 Kyle Busch 5080
2.  99 Carl Edwards 5050
3.  48 Jimmy Johnson 5040
4.  88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 5010
5.  07 Clint Bowyer 5010
6.  11 Denny Hamlin 5010
7.  31 Jeff Burton 5010
8.  20 Tony Stewart 5000
9.  16 Greg Biffle 5000
10. 24 Jeff Gordon 5000
11. 29 Kevin Harvick 5000
12. 17 Matt Kenseth 5000
Matt Kenseth and Jimmy Johnson are the only drivers who have been in the Chase since it was started in 2004.

Brought to you by Sheila Hawley

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Race Review

September 1, 2008

Pepsi 500

Auto Club Speedway

Fontana, CA.

Welcome race fans to the twenty-fifth race of the season. 48 Jimmy Johnson starts on the pole with a speed of 180.397. 84 AJ Almendinger will start second. 8 is Aric Almirola, 96 is Ken Schrader, 00 is Mike Skinner from the Craftsman Trucks, 21 is Marcos Ambrose from the Nationwide Series and 08 is Johnny Sauter. 70 Tony Raines had to go home. That seems a little pathetic to me, as this is a two mile track and NASCAR certainly could have filled the final row. 17 Matt Kenseth is in a gold and green R&L Carriers car. 20 Tony Stewart is in a yellow and green Subway car. 99 Carl Edwards will be the in-car reporter.

So, here we go. At the start 48 and 84 are side by side around the track, with 84 leading the first lap by just a little bit. 48 takes the lead by lap two. 26 Jamie McMurray has a left front tire going down, which brings out the first caution on lap five. We go back to green on lap eight. 44 David Reutimann and 22 Dave Blaney battle for ninth. 16 Greg Biffle and 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. battle for position.    The second caution comes out when the caution lights come off the pole! Someone had gotten into the wall, and with the speeds they were going, and the wind, the lights ended up on the track. I have to wonder what kind of set-up Auto Club Speedway has for these lights if they fall off onto the track. 26 Jamie McMurray is the Lucky Dog and gets back the lap he lost with the flat tire. Everyone comes into the pits. It’s light out in California with blue skies and dark here on the East Coast, so this race feels like it was previously taped.    19 Elliott Sadler and 6 David Ragan battle for position. 84 gets by 9 Kasey Kahne for second. 9 and 83 Brian Vickers battle for third. 11 Denny Hamlin and 18 Kyle Busch battle. 11 gets by. 29 Kevin Harvick gets by 18. 11 and 29 get by 88. 88 gets back by 29 by going way up high. 83 gets by Team mate 84 for second. 84 gets back by 83. 16 gets by 83 for third.

The second caution comes out when 2 Kurt Busch blows a tire. The tire cap comes off and onto the track and 12 Ryan Newman runs into it. 2 had gotten into 1 Martin Truex, Jr. to cause the tire cap to come off.  The top ten are 48, 16, 84, 83, 88, 9, 29, 11, 17, and 20. 17 Kenseth started  in thirty-seventh. 55 Michael Waltrip and 96 were caught speeding on pit road. 29 and 84 battle for fourth. 44 gets by 18. 18 and 88 fall back to thirteenth and fourteenth. 88 gets by 18 for thirteenth. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya, 20 and 31 Jeff Burton get by 18.    The fourth caution comes out on lap 69 when 78 Joe Nemechek gets loose, tries to save it and ends up into the wall.Out of the pits, it’s 48, 16, 11, 29, 17, 99, 44, 9, 88, and 84. 19 is repairing the car. 83 had a lug nut issue. 16 and 48 battle for the lead. 08 Johnny Sauter was the Lucky Dog. 88 and 24 Jeff Gordon battle. 17 gets by 9. 20 and 31 get by 18. 83 gets by 9 for fifth. 44 and 42 battle. Lots of drivers are getting sideways, nearly into the wall. Green Flag Pitting begins with 26 and 7 Robby Gordon on lap 110. 16 leads when 48 pits. 17 leads when 16 pits. 24 leads when 17 pits. After all the Green Flag stops, 48 is back into the lead. 1 has to go back into the pits with a loose wheel. 84 is wabbling all over.    6 brushes the wall.

The fifth caution comes out during the commercial for debris. 12 Ryan Newman is the Lucky Dog, and is back on the lead lap. The race is restarted with ninety-eight to go. The sixth caution is also for debris. 16 and 99 take two tires. 12 takes two tires and gains fourteen spots. 48 gets by 83 and 22 at the restart. 48 catches the leader 16, and takes the lead.

The seventh caution is for  7. He spins out onto the grass and there is turf all over the track and on his splitter. In the pits, the jack man for the 48 gets tangled in the air hose. 44, 16, 99 and 29 take two tires to come out ahead of 48 who takes four tires. 83 looses control of a tire in the pits. 43 Bobby Labonte is the Lucky Dog. 16 takes the lead from 44. 48 takes the lead. 44 and 99 battle for fourth. 99 gets by 44. 9 gets by 18. 18 battles back. 83 and 31 battle for position.

The eighth caution comes out when they were needing to make pit stops under green, for debris from 21 when he got into the wall. 1 Martin Truex, Jr. is the Lucky Dog. 16 is leading, followed by 48, 11, 99, 29, 17, 18, 9, 44 and 07 Clint Bowyer. 48 takes the lead. 99 is falling back. 29 and 17 get by him. 99 and 17 battle. 42, 24 and 84 are three wide. 24 backs out of it. 88 gets by 12. 83 gets by 88 and 12. 16 has trash on the grill and it seems to be making him go faster, getting closer to the leader 48. But the trash falls off, and so does 16. 84 gets by 6 for thirteenth. 18 gets by 9 at the line. 48 Jimmy Johnson wins the race after leading the most laps, from the pole. This has never happened in the sixteen years NASCAR has been coming to Southern California.

Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmy Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle are all locked in The Chase. The remainder of the twelve will be locked in at Richmond, the final race of the regular season. Kasey Kahne deserves to be in the Chase with his three wins, but is 48 points out of it. Richmond, under the lights should be an exciting race.

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