Stewart Wins Atlanta/ Harvick Sneeks Under Edwards/ Open Wheelers Shine in Trucks/ Walker and Crocker News/ Stewart Scores Another Championship
Tony Stewart wins Atlanta
Tony Stewart recorded his 28th NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Jeff Gordon got together with Jamie McMurray in turn 2 when McMurray could “see Gordon because of the sun.” Ryan Newman ran into trouble on the backstretch on lap 244.
Kasey Kahne got into David Stremme on lap 250 in turn 1. Tony Stewart who led the most laps of the race, 146,
retook the lead from Dale Earnhardt on lap 315 and held on for the next ten laps for the win.
Cup Results Atlanta
1. 20 Tony Stewart
6. 24 Jeff Gordon
7. 99 Carl Edwards
10. 7 Robby Gordon
16. 18 JJ Yeley
18. 22 Dave Blaney
24. 21 Ken Schrader
29. 49 Mike Bliss
28. 42 Casey Mears
30. 12 Ryan Newman
38. 9 Kasey Kahne
Harvick Sneeks Under Edwards to Win in Memphis
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Kevin Harvick and his No. 21 Coast Guard team have dominated all season and Saturday at Memphis was no different. As I correctly predicted on Friday, Harvick won clinching the owner’s points championship for Richard Childress Racing. Kevin Harvick clinched the drivers points championship two weeks ago at Charlotte. It was not an easy road for the 2006 champ or three other Open Wheelers Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley and Carl Edwards. The drivers were all on Atlanta at Cup Happy Hour when their fill in drivers like USAC driver Pete Shepherd qualified their cars. Because of the change, all were forced to start from the rear. Pole sitter Johnny Sauter would lead the field to the green flag before a sellout crown of 38,000. A track record tying 15 cautions would fly on the afternoon.
The first, coming for a spin by Burney Lamar when Kasey Kahne helped Lamar around in turn 4 on lap 46. On lap 83, Clint Bowyer took the lead from Sauter. The two would trade places before Kenny Wallace took the lead on lap 144.
JJ Yeley was helped around by Juan Montoya on lap 148 in turn 4.
Juan Pablo Montoya went around with a little help from Jason Keller in turn 2 on lap 156. Montoya raced Keller hard in practice Friday. Kevin Harvick would take over the lead on lap 160.
John Andretti had a brief fire on a pit stop but would make it back onto the track. Burney Lamar went around again thanks to the help of Augie Vidovich on lap 179 in turn 1. Lamar’s day was over in his last race for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. Carl Edwards would nose under Harvick on a restart on lap 238.
It looked like Edwards would get his first win at Memphis Motorsports Park but the yellow flag flew for an accident involving Steven Wallace with four laps to go. NASCAR went to overtime with a “green-white-checker” restart and both Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were able to get around the Silver Crown team owner.
Harvick held off his teammate for the win. With the win, Harvick became the first Busch Series driver to win two races at the ¾ mile paved oval. The third place finish kept Carl Edwards second in the points, Yeley is 5th and Paul Menard is 6th.
Busch Series Results Memphis
1. (21 Kevin Harvick)
3. 60 Carl Edwards
8. 9 Kasey Kahne
10. 18 J.J. Yeley
11. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya
23. 11 Paul Menard
34. 38 Jason Leffler
35. 10 John Andretti
38. 77 Burney Lamar
Open Wheelers Shine at Atlanta
Former USAC driver Mike Bliss recorded his first NASCAR win since 2002 Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as other Open Wheelers shined. The other story of the day would be 21 lead changes amoung 9 drivers. Mike Skinner took the lead when the green flag dropped but newcomer AJ Allmendinger got his first chance to lead a NASCAR race on lap 8. Johnny Benson took the lead away from Allmendinger on lap 13. The former Champ Car World Series driver and Joe Nemecheck were then involved in a two car accident on lap 14 on the backstretch. David Reutiman took the lead from Benson on lap 28. Mike Bliss took the lead on lap 34. Reutiman took the lead back on the next lap and led until Johnny Benson took the point on lap 48. Mike Bliss led for the second time of the day on lap 53. Jack Sprague took the lead on lap 80 and Reutiman took it away 4 laps later. Other drivers would take the lead but Reutiman would get it back on lap 102. Bobby Hamilton Jr. would trade the lead with Reutiman several times before Erik Darnell would take the point on lap 114. Mike Bliss would take the lead for the final time with 9 laps to go and would hold on for the win on the 1.54 mile banked track. The day was also good for Terry Cook and David Reutiman who both scored top five finishes.
Open Wheeler Truck Results Hotlanta
1. 16 Mike Bliss
2. 10 Terry Cook
4. 17 David Reutiman
15. 21 Bobby East
23. 98 Erin Crocker
34. 24 AJ Allmendinger
Walker to Trucks
Tyler Walker will drive for Bill Davis Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 Walker will drive the No. 36 Toyota Tundra.
Also SPEED’s Ray Dunlap is reporting that Erin Crocker will have a new crew chief come next weekend.
Tony Stewart Racks Up Another Championship
Tony Stewart added to his long list of championships Saturday as he won his first IROC championship finishing third at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fellow Open Wheeler Ryan Newman was fourth. Stewart has national championships in six different series including the USAC Triple Crown in 1995.
USAC Midget 1994, 1995
USAC Sprint 1995
USAC Silver Crown 1995
IRL IndyCar 1997
NASCAR Nextel Cup 2002, 2005
IROC 2006
Coming Later this Week:
More with Juan Montoya and Schatz on Wind Tunnel
All images in this update courtesy of NBC, NASCAR Images and SPEED.
Tony Stewart recorded his 28th NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Jeff Gordon got together with Jamie McMurray in turn 2 when McMurray could “see Gordon because of the sun.” Ryan Newman ran into trouble on the backstretch on lap 244.
Kasey Kahne got into David Stremme on lap 250 in turn 1. Tony Stewart who led the most laps of the race, 146,
retook the lead from Dale Earnhardt on lap 315 and held on for the next ten laps for the win.
Cup Results Atlanta
1. 20 Tony Stewart
6. 24 Jeff Gordon
7. 99 Carl Edwards
10. 7 Robby Gordon
16. 18 JJ Yeley
18. 22 Dave Blaney
24. 21 Ken Schrader
29. 49 Mike Bliss
28. 42 Casey Mears
30. 12 Ryan Newman
38. 9 Kasey Kahne
Harvick Sneeks Under Edwards to Win in Memphis
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Kevin Harvick and his No. 21 Coast Guard team have dominated all season and Saturday at Memphis was no different. As I correctly predicted on Friday, Harvick won clinching the owner’s points championship for Richard Childress Racing. Kevin Harvick clinched the drivers points championship two weeks ago at Charlotte. It was not an easy road for the 2006 champ or three other Open Wheelers Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley and Carl Edwards. The drivers were all on Atlanta at Cup Happy Hour when their fill in drivers like USAC driver Pete Shepherd qualified their cars. Because of the change, all were forced to start from the rear. Pole sitter Johnny Sauter would lead the field to the green flag before a sellout crown of 38,000. A track record tying 15 cautions would fly on the afternoon.
The first, coming for a spin by Burney Lamar when Kasey Kahne helped Lamar around in turn 4 on lap 46. On lap 83, Clint Bowyer took the lead from Sauter. The two would trade places before Kenny Wallace took the lead on lap 144.
JJ Yeley was helped around by Juan Montoya on lap 148 in turn 4.
Juan Pablo Montoya went around with a little help from Jason Keller in turn 2 on lap 156. Montoya raced Keller hard in practice Friday. Kevin Harvick would take over the lead on lap 160.
John Andretti had a brief fire on a pit stop but would make it back onto the track. Burney Lamar went around again thanks to the help of Augie Vidovich on lap 179 in turn 1. Lamar’s day was over in his last race for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. Carl Edwards would nose under Harvick on a restart on lap 238.
It looked like Edwards would get his first win at Memphis Motorsports Park but the yellow flag flew for an accident involving Steven Wallace with four laps to go. NASCAR went to overtime with a “green-white-checker” restart and both Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were able to get around the Silver Crown team owner.
Harvick held off his teammate for the win. With the win, Harvick became the first Busch Series driver to win two races at the ¾ mile paved oval. The third place finish kept Carl Edwards second in the points, Yeley is 5th and Paul Menard is 6th.
Busch Series Results Memphis
1. (21 Kevin Harvick)
3. 60 Carl Edwards
8. 9 Kasey Kahne
10. 18 J.J. Yeley
11. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya
23. 11 Paul Menard
34. 38 Jason Leffler
35. 10 John Andretti
38. 77 Burney Lamar
Open Wheelers Shine at Atlanta
Former USAC driver Mike Bliss recorded his first NASCAR win since 2002 Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as other Open Wheelers shined. The other story of the day would be 21 lead changes amoung 9 drivers. Mike Skinner took the lead when the green flag dropped but newcomer AJ Allmendinger got his first chance to lead a NASCAR race on lap 8. Johnny Benson took the lead away from Allmendinger on lap 13. The former Champ Car World Series driver and Joe Nemecheck were then involved in a two car accident on lap 14 on the backstretch. David Reutiman took the lead from Benson on lap 28. Mike Bliss took the lead on lap 34. Reutiman took the lead back on the next lap and led until Johnny Benson took the point on lap 48. Mike Bliss led for the second time of the day on lap 53. Jack Sprague took the lead on lap 80 and Reutiman took it away 4 laps later. Other drivers would take the lead but Reutiman would get it back on lap 102. Bobby Hamilton Jr. would trade the lead with Reutiman several times before Erik Darnell would take the point on lap 114. Mike Bliss would take the lead for the final time with 9 laps to go and would hold on for the win on the 1.54 mile banked track. The day was also good for Terry Cook and David Reutiman who both scored top five finishes.
Open Wheeler Truck Results Hotlanta
1. 16 Mike Bliss
2. 10 Terry Cook
4. 17 David Reutiman
15. 21 Bobby East
23. 98 Erin Crocker
34. 24 AJ Allmendinger
Walker to Trucks
Tyler Walker will drive for Bill Davis Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 Walker will drive the No. 36 Toyota Tundra.
Also SPEED’s Ray Dunlap is reporting that Erin Crocker will have a new crew chief come next weekend.
Tony Stewart Racks Up Another Championship
Tony Stewart added to his long list of championships Saturday as he won his first IROC championship finishing third at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fellow Open Wheeler Ryan Newman was fourth. Stewart has national championships in six different series including the USAC Triple Crown in 1995.
USAC Midget 1994, 1995
USAC Sprint 1995
USAC Silver Crown 1995
IRL IndyCar 1997
NASCAR Nextel Cup 2002, 2005
IROC 2006
Coming Later this Week:
More with Juan Montoya and Schatz on Wind Tunnel
All images in this update courtesy of NBC, NASCAR Images and SPEED.
posted by Blake Johnson at 12:24 AM
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