[media-credit name=”Photo Credit: John Harrelson” align=”alignright” width=”225″]
[/media-credit]It was a beautiful autumn day but it would be one that many hope to forget. With a record number of cautions for the track, and the most of any race this season, the Hollywood Casino 400 more resembled a survival expedition than a NASCAR race. Matt Kenseth’s Ford was hurt. It was bandaged. It was bruised. But when the track opened in front of it, it did what all thoroughbreds do it ran. It ran fast and it ran hard and it had enough left to make it all the way to the end and give Matt what will be one of his last victories with Jack Roush.
The race started off with promise and trepidation. The Nationwide race had a record number of cautions but at the end the track was very racey. It had a distinct 2 grooves and they were both very usable and at times and in places it was starting to get a third one in. The new track surface was rapidly maturing and going through growing pains. She was fast and smooth at times and she was wicked and slick at times. The tires Goodyear gave teams to tame her with she chewed up and spit out. It was the drivers that respected her and raced her with respect that ding or not came out on top.
One of the most courageous displays of championship ethic came from the 5 time champion, Jimmie Johnson’s Lowes Racing team. Jimmie took a hard crash on lap 137 in turn 4. The car was badly damaged and questions were raised could they get fuel in the car. Car owner Rick Hendrick said in his years in racing he had never seen such extensive surgery done so quickly on pit road. Johnson came back to finish in the top 10. Johnson said of his drive back to the front, “I had to get a look at it here. It’s pretty tore up. Definitely proud of this team and the fact that we never give up and continue to fight and try to get every point we can. I think yesterday’s Nationwide race showed that this thing isn’t over until the checkered flag falls and then again on Sunday. So all that said, I’m very proud but I was disappointed. I crashed the car. I spun out trying to get inside the 56. He bobbled a little in front of me and I thought that it was opportunity to jump in the gas real hard and when I did that, my car took off and I couldn’t catch it. All in all a good day but could have been a lot better. I think we could have been in victory lane and stretched some points on these guys.”
Martin Truex Jr again showed Toyota’s muscle finishing 2nd. “I’m happy with my team and my race car that we had all day. We really had to battle for this one. We got track position early — we got up towards the top five and we had a strong car, a little bit tight. The we got caught out by that caution deal and had to go all the way to the back. Just tough to pass. So, it was a battle all day long. Proud of the guys on the NAPA Toyota — they never gave up. Just kept digging all day long. That’s a good run for us, for sure. Just a little bit too tight there at the end there to run with Matt Kenseth. A good run and we’ll go on to Martinsville.”
Paul Menard held on to come home in third. He was the only non chase car in the top 10. “We kind of hit on something yesterday morning that we liked, thought was promising and stuck with it. Obviously running the Nationwide car on a new surface, we learned a lot about the tire pressures, what grooves come in. The second grooove came in a helluva lot better than I think anybody thought. You could make lap time and pass cars. Overall, just really happy with the weekend, the repave. The track came in real well and it’s just going to keep getting better. Real proud of my Menards guys” said Menard.
Kasey Kahne would bring the Farmer’s Insurance Chevrolet home in the 4th spot. But not without a scare. On the final caution while saving fuel, Kahne turned the engine off and it wouldn’t refire. When it finally did refire, he had lost several positions. But once the green flag flew again Kasey was able to climb back up to 4th. “It just wouldn’t re-fire. Disappointing. But we got through there. We had a good car; we got back to fourth. We passed a lot of cars there. The Farmers Insurance Chevrolet team did an awesome job. Great pit stops; great pit calls. A lot a tire and fuel strategy race throughout. Our guys did a really nice job. I had an awesome car. It was a little loose there taking off. It was a little loose there taking off. It was coming to me and getting good there at the end. We just weren’t close enough at that point in time. But still, a solid day.” remarked Kahne.
Tony Stewart had two incidents that threatened his day. The first was a pit penalty for leaving the pit box with equipment when his team didn’t get the wrench out of the car from a chassis adjustment. Stewart would have to come back in and it there would confusion and chaos that caused the owner/driver to remark, “You all can get your heads out of your a**’s anytime now.” Restarting at the tail end of the longest line Stewart would again make his charge. Only to spin and blow out 3 tires on the back stretch on lap 166. Stewart would nurse the car around to the pits with minimal damage. Again he would start at the end of the pack. Stewart would climb as far back up as second and finish 5th. “Our guys led by Steve Addington, they never gave up today. Really proud of the effort they gave. That’s how we won a championship last year, by never giving up. We probably had to pass more cars than anybody today, but that seems to be our M.O. We seem to have to do that every week. We’ve got a little bit of work to do, but we’re gaining on it. Proud of my guys. We worked with a little different package this week. We still didn’t get it right, but we got pretty close.” said Stewart.
The points leader Brad Keselowski came home in 8th spot. “I don’t even know how to explain it. I’m ready to go home and have a couple beers. It’s just been a long day and you know, everybody has been asking all season long where the cautions have been. Well they flew to Kansas and they’ve been hanging out here because there was a caution after caution and it seemed like every wreck that happened today happened right in front of me. So I’m glad to have survived the carnage and brought back a decent car, my Miller Lite Dodge, in great shape and dodged a bullet of a race. That is the only thing I can use to describe it. Whew! Just a tough day.”
Keselowski would extend his points lead to 7 over Jimmie Johnson heading into Martinsville. Martin Truex Jr, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon all gained one spot in the points while race winner Matt Kenseth would gain 2 spots while Greg Biffle lost five spots.
The Hollywood Casino 400 was an exciting race. The new track was a bit like a moody teenager. It went through growing pains and temper tantrums it ate tires. It picked and played favorites. Obviously, Matt Kenseth suited her fancy today.
