The Pit Report Online

Navigation: Weblog /

Things That Go Bump In The Night

Posted by Penni On May - 7 - 2008

Richmond was night racing in all its glory.

The first Richmond race is always the shortest race weekend; it doesn’t include any of the non-points races. Everything is done in a single day, with the exception of the Sprint Cup race.

The Nationwide and Cup series have one two-hour practice session each in the morning and both series qualify toward the middle of the afternoon. The Nationwide race starts immediately after Cup qualifying.

The Nationwide race began with Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 Lipton Dodge on the pole, which was interesting (but not in a bad way) considering Lipton was the sponsor of the race — the Lipton Tea 250.

Despite Kahne’s great qualifying attempt, his race attempt didn’t fair so well. Kahne would only lead the first 17 laps before Carl Edwards, in the No. 99 Ford, took the lead for 126 laps. Kahne ended up in the wall, with help from another driver, on lap 158. He would finish the race at 14 and on the lead lap. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

The Desert, The Night And The Usual Suspects

Posted by Penni On April - 16 - 2008

The weekend started a day, or rather night, earlier than usual, with a Cup practice session, both Nationwide practice sessions and Cup qualifying.

During qualifying, Ryan “Rocketman” Newman was able to put his No. 12 Alltel Dodge on the pole and starting second, beside him, was Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 Best Buy Dodge. Sadler and his Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) teammate, Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, teams brought brand new cars to the track. A fact that was evident, with Kahne sitting fifth in the lineup.

Carl Edwards, No. 99 Aflac Ford, and Mark Martin, No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet, rounded out the top five. However, the three Dodges wouldn’t fair very well in Saturday’s race. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

Third Time Is The Charm

Posted by Penni On April - 9 - 2008

The Samsung 500 at the Great American Speedway — apparently the new name for Texas Motor Speedway — wasn’t the best race, so far, this season. Not much happened during the race.

That wasn’t the same for Sprint Cup qualifying two days before.

Michael McDowell, driver of the No. 00 Aaron’s Toyota, began his first lap in his qualifying attempt. As he turned into the corner, it appeared the car got loose and he over-corrected it by “hooking to the right,” said McDowell on The Today Show Monday. In doing so, he went straight into the wall.

Due to the tremendous amount of speed, once the car initially hit the wall, it flew up and barrel-rolled several times. “I counted seven,” Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

Sprint Back From A Break

Posted by Penni On March - 26 - 2008

An off weekend means, not only was I bored, but I have a chance to review the first five races of the season.

I have been very pleased with the racing, so far. I think this new car, respectfully the Car of Today (no longer should it be called the Car of Tomorrow), is worth the aggravation it brought last year. The racing has improved, maybe that isn’t just due to the new car, but nonetheless it has been enjoyable to watch.

The race finishes, most of them, have been spectacular. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

Free Fries And A Lot Of Firsts

Posted by Penni On March - 12 - 2008

Atlanta proved to be every bit as exciting as the previous races.

The racing at our in-state speedway was good and clean as a limited number of caution flags flew. Once again, a dominant driver won and, of course, the weather was indecisive.
The weather, it seems to me, is very wishy, washy these days. One minute it’s hot, the next it’s freezing and then it’s hot again. I should have figured that the weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) would be no different. And it wasn’t.

It did rain, but not enough to totally cancel anything Friday. The Nationwide practice sessions were combined into one with Kyle Busch being the fastest.

The rain was gone Saturday, but snow appeared that morning canceling Nationwide qualifying, causing the drivers to start according to the owner points, and joining both Cup practice sessions into one final practice. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

We Got Two Of A Kind

Posted by Penni On March - 5 - 2008

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? Let’s hope not, because once again, Vegas was great racing.

Where weekend before where it was all rain, all day — Las Vegas was far from rainy. It was very much a typical race weekend.

Qualifying was Friday, as usual. The Cup drivers and fans got their first taste of the new way of qualifying (that is if you haven’t been watching Truck or Nationwide qualifying).

The top 35 in owner’s points qualified first and then all those who weren’t in the top 35 qualified at the end together. It makes it more fair for the teams who may or may not make it in, they say.

I agree with this. I think it gives all the “go or go-home” cars the same advantage (or disadvantage) — but that’s just my opinion. Read the rest of this entry »

Race Reviews

VIDEO

TAGS

2008-column 2009-column AJ Allmendinger Aric Almirola Brian Vickers Budweiser Shootout Carl Edwards Casey Mears Chase for the Sprint Cup Clint Bowyer Coor's Light Pole Dale Earnhardt Jr. David Ragan Daytona 500 Denny Hamlin Dodge Elliott Sadler first wins Greg Biffle HMS Jamie McMurray Jeff Burton Jeff Gordon JGR Jimmie Johnson Kasey Kahne Kevin Harvick Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Mark Martin Martin Truex Jr. Matt Kenseth NASCAR Nationwide Nationwide Series Owner Points Patrick Carpentier penalities qualifying rain Reed Sorenson Ryan Newman Tony Stewart Victory Lane weather

RECENT

Sponsors

About Me

The Pit Road Report is a place for NASCAR fans and writers of all ages and genders to express their opinion and share the truth that is NASCAR with everyone.

Twitter

    Photos

    Casey MearsDave BlaneyCale GaleReed SorensonJ.J. Yeley