Gary McLean wins Rick Woolner Memorial at Sunset Speedway
After topping the series in time trial action, first 30 lap action and heat action, Gary McLean led all 40 laps on Sunday to win the Rick Woolner Memorial at Sunset Speedway.
Originally, the Rick Woolner Memorial was to be run at Varney Motor Speedway. They ran time trial action there (with McLean first followed by Davey Terry) and the first 30 lapper (Gary McLean won ahead of Brian McLean, Brent McLean and Terry) on Saturday September 14th. However, when it came time to run the heats and the 50 lapper on the Sunday, the skies opened up and cut the night short.
As a result, the event was moved to Sunset Speedway to be part of the Velocity 250 weekend, with the main feature shortened to 40 laps.
The first heat saw Gary McLean pick up the win ahead of Brent McLean, the 92, Brad Pearsall and Billy Zardo.
The second heat saw Davey Terry pick up the win ahead of Shane Stickel, Branden Bullen, Justin Demelo and Mike Westwood.
So come feature time, Gary McLean started on pole followed by Davey Terry, Brent McLean, Shane Stickel, 92, Branden Bullen, Brad Pearsall, Justin Demelo, Billy Zardo, Mike Westwood, Chad Strawn, Brian McLean, Darryn Wright, Rod Sauder, Matt Barton, John Harper, Dave Osbourne, Ryan Dick, Ted Patterson, Dustin Jackson, Max Beyore, Bobby Tolton, Monty Kelly, Andy J. and Dean Scott.
Gary McLean grabbed the early lead ahead of Davey Terry while the 92 moved his way up to third ahead of Brent McLean and Branden Bullen before the first caution came out for Westwood spinning in turn two. Pearsall ran sixth now followed by Barton, Demelo, Stickel, Brian McLean, Sauder, Wright, Dick, Beyore and Zardo.
Gary McLean once again sped ahead on the restart as Terry continued to run second ahead of 92 and Brent McLean. Barton was able to move by Bullen for fifth before the next caution flew for Pearsall hitting the wall. Bullen now ran sixth followed by Stickel, Sauder, Beyore, Brian McLean, Dick, Wright, Zardo, Andy J. and Kelly.
The next caution wouldn’t be pretty as it started with the third place car and was basically one of those chain reaction deals. The 92 got loose in turns one and two, stacking up the field which caused Barton to get into the 92 slightly. Then in the process of the stack up, both Barton and Bullen would each go for a spin, collecting Brent McLean in the process. With all three drivers moved to the back, you had Gary McLean leading Terry, 92, Stickel, Sauder, Beyore, Brian McLean, Wright, Dick, Andy J., Zardo, Kelly, Strawn, Jackson, Westwood, Tolton, Demelo, Barton, Brent McLean, Bullen, Osbourne and Scott.
On the restart, Gray McLean once again jumped ahead of Terry and 92 while Beyore and Dick moved into fourth and fifth before the next caution at lap 29 for Brian McLean spinning. Kelly now was up to sixth followed by Wright, Zardo, Strawn and Barton.
They’d get two laps in, before the next caution at lap 32 for Osbourne spinning.
The sixth caution would then fly at lap 36 for Brian McLean having a flat tire. Gary McLean still led ahead of Terry while Beyore had slipped into third ahead of 92. Andy J was up to fifth ahead of Kelly, Dick, Brent McLean, Barton and Wright.
The final caution came with two laps to go on lap 38 for Kelly getting into the backstretch wall. it was unfortunate to see especially after Kelly suffered heavy front end damage during Saturday’s qualifying and had to spend hours fixing his ride to get be able to come back on the Sunday.
Gary McLean got a good restart at the end, as he had all day, and crossed the finish line first to take the win. Meanwhile, Max Beyore used the final restart to his advantage as he was able to get by Davey Terry for second. The 92 and Andy J. rounded out the top five.
Matt Barton finished sixth followed by Brent McLean and Darryn Wright.
From Nationwide to Sprint Cup, success remains for crew chief Jason Ratcliff
DOVER, Del. – Behind every driver is often an even better crew chief.
While Matt Kenseth is a past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who’s just now enjoying the best year of his career, he isn’t the only one on the No. 20 Home Depot team at Joe Gibbs Racing doing so.
Crew chief Jason Ratcliff is in his second full year as the team’s leader but he’s made it look as if he’s been here winning races for a while. In truth, Ratcliff has been winning races, a lot of races, but with different drivers in a different series. He and a guy named Kyle Busch took the Nationwide Series by storm a few years ago, winning a combined 22 races in 2009 – along with the championship – and 2010.
Gibbs promoted Ratcliff to the top in 2012, working with Joey Logano in his final year at JGR before Kenseth joined the company prior to the start of this season. After only one career win with Logano, Ratcliff has guided Kenseth to seven wins and the point lead with seven races to go.
“I think everybody in this sport, regardless of what position they’re in, want to get to the Cup Series, they want to go Sunday racing. Especially if you can come up here – and there’s some challenges – if you feel you can come here and compete every week, which we’ve been able to do,” Ratcliff said on Friday in the team’s hauler after completing all of the on-track activities for the day. Before talking about his move to the NSCS, he was debriefing with Kenseth and the team after they qualified second for the AAA 400.
“I enjoyed my Saturday stuff, the Nationwide Series was great and we were successful on Saturday and that was fun. I was completely content doing that but I knew if the right opportunity came along, which it did, I’d want to come over here.”
Throughout his NNS career, Ratcliff called the shots for some of the best drivers in the series. He won with not only Busch but also Logano and Denny Hamlin. As well as Jamie McMurray back in 2002 and David Green in 2003. The list of drivers he’s worked with is even longer.
Now at the sport’s top level, Ratcliff is again among the best. But he also has one of the best in a car he prepares.
“It’s a big challenge to come over, the competition is just unbelievable. You have so many good teams and drivers that can come out here and win every week,” he said. “So anytime you come to the Sprint Cup Series and you’re successful it’s a big deal in auto racing, I think.”
Sunday Kenseth finished seventh, unable to win three-straight to open the Chase. But he and Ratcliff remain favorites for the title and the competition has taken note, including five-time champion Jimmie Johnson who won. For Johnson, he acknowledged how tough the 20 team is and what Kenseth brings to the table as a driver.
Which might have made Ratcliff a little nervous to work with him entering the season. But instead, it’s been the right combination for both he and the driver.
“Nah, more so excitement,” Ratcliff revealed about what his reaction was when Kenseth signed with the team. “I think you’re a little concerned about, ‘Hey, are we going to work?’ Because you can take a good group, a good race team and a great experienced driver and sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Which was something Ratcliff and the 20 team focused on making sure didn’t happen. Now with almost their first full season together complete, it’s gone the best anyone at JGR could have hoped for.
“I knew Matt would come over here and do well with this group,” he said. “So we were really excited before it happened and we’re really excited about it now that it’s happened.”
Brandon Watson wins rain shorted OSCAAR Super Late Velocity 250
When the skies opened up at Sunset Speedway on lap 20, it’d be Brandon Watson picking up the win as he was the leader at the time. It marks the third win at Sunset this year for the current point leader.
Dwayne Baker won the first heat ahead of Jeff Hanley, Brandon Watson, Jeff Dunford, Ian Bourque, Ed Bowlby and Craig Stevenson. J.R. Fitzpatrick got the blackflag due to smoking.
The second heat saw a caution when Glenn Watson spun Shane Gowan in turn four on lap two. Brad Cororan picked up the win ahead of Derrike Tiemersma, Tyler Hawn, Watson, Jim Bowman and Gowan.
The third and final heat went to Jesse Kennedy ahead of Andrew Gresel, Mike Beyore, Gary Passer, Brent McLean and Quinn Misener.
Come feature time, Derrike Tiemersma started pole ahead of Jeff Hanley, Dwayne Baker, Brad Corcoran, Jesse Kennedy, Andrew Gresel, Jeff Dunford, Brandon Watson, Tyler Hawn, Mike Beyore, Cory Jones, Gary Passer, Brent McLean, Glenn Watson, Ian Bourque, Ed Bowlby, Jim Bowman, Shane Gowan, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Craig Stevenson and Quinn Misener.
Right away there’d be a caution on the opening lap as Stevenson went around in turn four.
On the restart, Hanley pulled ahead with the lead while Corcoran and Tiemersma ran side-by-side for second. Corcoran was able to clear Tiemersma on lap five, leaving Tiemersma to run side-by-side with Gresel for third till the second caution at lap six for Dunford spinning un turn one.
On the restart, Hanley continued to lead ahead of Tiemersma while Corcoran and Brandon Watson ran side-by-side for third till the caution at lap 12 for Bowlby spinning in turn four. With 38 laps to go, Hanley led Tiemersma, Brandon Watson, Corcoran, Gresel, Baker, Glenn Watson, Beyore, Passer, Hawn, Jones, Bourque, Dunford and Fitzpatrick.
On the restart, Tiemersma grabbed the lead from Hanley before the next caution flew at lap 14 for Misener and Bowman coming together on the front stretch, collecting Kennedy with them.
On the restart, Tiemersma led while Hanley and Brandon Watson battled for second. Watson would grab second and get alongside Tiemersma for the lead on lap 17 when the caution then flew for Gresel spinning. Under the caution, Baker head down pit road due to the hood starting to come up slightly. With 33 laps to go, Brandon Watson led Tiemersma, Hanley, Glenn Watson, Corcoran, Passer, Beyore, Hawn, Jones and Bourque.
There’d be another caution on the restart as Bowlby went for a spin.
The second restart would be a go with Brandon Watson pulling ahead of Tiemersma and Glenn Watson, however the skies would open up and result in the caution flying at lap 20. With the rain not stopping, the race would be called and Brandon Watson would get the win ahead of Derrike Tiemerma, Glenn Watson, Jeff Hanley and Gary Passer.
Due to the race not being halfway before the call to end it early, everybody will get a flat 50 points in the standings rather than the points for their position.
Marshall’s Madness: Danica Patrick Supports Breast Cancer
The wonderful women in NASCAR are donating some of there valuable time this month of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie, Danica Patrick will debut this weekend in Kansas with a new paint scheme featuring a pink color. The scheme that Danica will carry in Kansas will be the exact scheme she carries throughout the month of October in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
“GoDaddy has been such a strong partner in the fight against breast cancer … the fact GoDaddy wanted to ‘go pink’ for the whole month of October really says a lot about our commitment to this cause,” Patrick said.
Danica unveiled the beautiful pink GoDaddy machine on Tuesday morning, as well as announcing GoDaddy is teaming with the Public Interest Registry to donate $50,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A portion of Danica’s merchandise proceeds will go to the foundation as well.
IndyCar driver, James Hinchcliffe will carry this pink scheme with sponsor GoDaddy this weekend in Houston. In the NHRA ranks, three-time Funny Car winner Courtney Force and Top Fuel’s Brittany Force will be supporting the cause with their paint schemes at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading.
“I’ve been told real men wear pink, so I am all for it,” said Hinchcliffe, who like Danica is wearing pink GoDaddy sneakers today as a visible sign of solidarity. “But seriously, it’s a great opportunity to support a fantastic cause and I’m really happy GoDaddy invited us to be a part of their campaign. They have been tremendous supporters of breast cancer research in the past. It’s great to see GoDaddy keep this effort going and for us to help out in our little way.”
GoDaddy CEO, Blake Irving, is one of many people who’s family has had an encounter with breast cancer. Irving’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently the longest-living survivor of breast cancer in New Mexico.
“My mom is an amazing woman, who not only is surviving breast cancer, but is thriving … living an active lifestyle and giving a lot of inspiration to the people she meets,” Irving said. “Our commitment to the cause right now at GoDaddy is to stand up and do our part financially, but also to inspire more people to join the fight against breast cancer.”
Danica Patrick, James Hinchcliffe and Courtney Force are some of the many trying to help develop a cure for breast cancer through racing. Wear your pink when attending the racetrack this month of October to support the ones who have lost there loved one’s to this disease and to support the one’s experiencing it now, together as a racing community we can throw the checkered flag and find a cure for breast cancer.
Penske No. 22 Team Hit With Penalty
Joey Logano dominated Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover and found his way to victory lane. Later on Saturday we found out that Logano’s Ford didn’t pass post-race inspection due to the car being to low. NASCAR announced late Tuesday evening that Logano and the No. 22 team will be docked 6 owner and driver points as well as Crew Chief Jeremy Bullins fined 10,000 dollars.
During post-race inspection Sept. 28, the No. 22 car was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the NASCAR rule book, or has been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20A-12.8.1(B) (the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights) of the 2013 rule book.
This put’s a tiny bit of a damper on the No. 22’s lead in the Nationwide Owner Standings as they currently are in a head to head battle with the No. 54 Toyota for that Owner’s Championship. Brad Keselowski will be back in the Penske machine this weekend in Kansas looking to beast out Kyle Busch.
