Kyle Busch Victorious Again at Bristol
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Following Busch across the line was Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Elliott Sadler (the highest finishing series regular) and Joey Logano in fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Jason Leffler, Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola.
The 29th annual Scott’s EZ Seed 300 proved to be another event- filled race after what looked to be a smooth start. Other than a competition caution ordered by NASCAR on lap 25 to change to the new tires provided by Goodyear Saturday morning, the race remained green for 68 laps. It was lap 68 when Robert Richardson Jr. made contact with the outside wall in turn three. The damage to Richardson’s No. 23 car resulted in lots of fluid across the track which Trevor Bayne found and it forced him into the outside wall. That spelled trouble for his day, as he finished 3 laps down in 19th place.
The beginning of the race was not without it’s own drama as Jennifer Jo Cobb refused to start the race after being ordered by car owner Rick Russell to ‘start and park’ the car. The car eventually started and parked after 4 laps, but not before the race had reached the 100 lap marker, with the third announced driver for the car.
The third caution for the day came on lap 183 as reigning Series Champion, Brad Keselowski cut a tire and made contact with the wall in turn 3. The last 100 laps of the race would bring out five more cautions, slowing the pace of the race. The fourth caution came on lap 201 as Aric Almirola spun the 388 car down the front stretch, while just 8 laps later the No. 05 of Willie Allen would crash on the front stretch. Lap 236 saw Bayne and Michael Annett wrecking in turn 2 while on lap 249, Danica Patrick would run into the left rear fender of Ryan Truex. Although Truex would keep control of his car and drive safely away, Patrick went into a spin and collected the outside wall ending her day with a 33rd place finish.
The win was Busch’s second of 2011 and his third top 10 finish this year. He also lead the most laps with 268, which set an all time record for the Series with 10,045 laps led. This is also Busch’s 45th win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Heading to California, Jason Leffler leads the series 2 point ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr, with Justin Allgaier, Reed Sorenson and Aric Almirola rounding out the top 5 in points.
Mikey Kile Talks About His New Deal With Turner Motorsports and More
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[/media-credit]Earlier this week, Mikey Kile announced that he would be driving at least seven races for Turner Motorsports this year in the Nationwide Series.
Kile ran the entire ARCA Racing Series schedule last year with Venturini Motorsports, scoring his first win at Michigan, along with two pole awards, seven top fives and 15 top-10 finishes.
He got started in racing by racing go-karts at a young age. Since then he has moved up the ranks, having success at various levels. Career highlights include four carting championships, eight IMCA modified wins and 2008 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He also has experience in the Camping World Truck Series with Brad Keselowski Racing. In six starts, he has scored three top-15 finishes.
Kile took some time out of his schedule to discuss the new deal and more.
Ashley McCubbin: What are some of your thoughts on the announcement?
Mikey Kile: I think its exciting. It’s a great opportunity for me to perform really well this year and Steve Turner has the right people in place and he’s doing everything the right way. I’m really looking forward to driving their car this year and putting on a good performance everywhere we run this year.
AM: Speaking of Turner having the right people, what are some of your thoughts on working with some of your fellow teammates?
MK: All the drivers are really good racecar drivers. I’m really looking forward to that. Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin – there’s a lot of experience there in these Nationwide cars. It’s really going to help me out a lot in the Nationwide Series to have someone to lean on like that if I’m having trouble with something. Then you have all the people within the team to lean on in the organization.
AM: How do you think your previous experience in the ARCA Series will help you?
MK: I would say the ARCA car has a little more horsepower and a little faster, but overall its seat time and being to some of the race tracks with the ARCA car, so in the Nationwide car, I think that’s going to be a huge advantage for me. I learned a lot there about aero and how to race cars side-by-side and what the air does to the car when you’re side-by-side and everything.
AM: What are some of your expectations?
MK: I would say the equipment is some of the best in the series and I am expecting the top 10. I think we can run up front and you may have bad luck here and there and that may push you back, but I think I running in the top 10 is not out of the question.
AM: What are some of your long-term goals?
MK: In five years, hopefully in Cup. That’s everybody’s ultimate goal. I want to be able to pay my bills while driving racecars cause that’s what I like to do. I can run a part-time schedule this year and the full-time schedule next year with Turner Motorsports and that’s what I’d like to do. I’m just looking to make a good living and be happy with what I love to do.
AM: What is your first Racing Memory?
MK: Probably when I was racing go-karts when I won a National championship in 1996.
AM: What is your most memorable Racing Moment?
MK: At Michigan last year – I would say that’s the biggest win of my career – in ARCA. In 2010 in June, winning the race at Michigan and leading a bunch of laps at Pocono and just running upfront. Mainly, winning the race at Michigan is the best moment so far.
SM Pick ‘Em: Jeff Byrd 500
Kyle Brandt
Who I think will win: Carl Edwards.
Dark-horse: Regan Smith.
Carl has all the momentum in the world right now, including starting from the pole for Sunday’s race. Regan has had strong cars every week since the season has started. With all the technology his team is getting from Hendrick and Childress, as well as starting near the front, Regan is poised by a strong run on Sunday.
Barry Albert
Who I Think Will Win: Kyle Busch
My Dark Horse Pick: Jimmie Johnson
Roberta Cowan
Who I Think Will Win: Dale Jr.
My Dark Horse Pick: Ryan Newman
Mark Odor
Who I Think Will Win: Kyle Busch
My Dark Horse Pick: Joey Logano
Ryan O’Hara
Who I Think Will Win: Kurt Busch
My Dark Horse Pick: Tony Stewart
Comments: Busch dominated this race last year and Stewart is looking for redemption.
Matt LaFlair
Who I Think Will Win: Kyle Busch
My Dark Horse Pick: David Ragan
Comments: One word for the #18 pick…DOMINANCE! Each year, a group of folks from the Syracuse area make the trek to the great state of Tennessee, and each year they watch Kyle run circles around all their own drivers ALL WEEKEND. This race weekend will not be any different. Watch for the #18 to lead the majority of laps both Saturday and Sunday. As for the David Ragan pick, his luck has to turn soon. He has run well at Bristol in the past, and I see him somewhere towards the front come lap 500 on Sunday.
Jeffrey Boswell
Who I Think Will Win: Clint Bowyer
My Dark Horse Pick: Joey Logano
Ed Coombs
Who I Think Will Win: Carl Edwards
My Dark Horse Pick: Kasey Kahne
Comments: Carl Edwards is back and with the first pit stall, a fast car and a hot streak I can\’t bet against him. It is Bristol and anything can happen but when this guys on a rail at Bristol, he\’s tough to beat, if he can stay out of trouble.
Kahne is another guy that if he can stay out of trouble will be a factor. I\’d love to also throw Martin Truex Jr. in this mix too, he does well on concrete too…
should be a fun time …
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the Pole for Scott’s EZ Seed 300
Carl Edward’s jumped to the provisional pole as he went out 22nd qualifying for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race with a speed of 125.052 mph. But the idea of Edwards grabbing both poles was short lived.
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[/media-credit]Two cars later, Edwards’ teammate Trevor Bayne pushed Carl to the outside as he posted a lap of 125.461 mph, .050 seconds faster. A few spots later, it was Jason Leffler hitting the top spot with a speed of 125.939, but the very next car out would be Edwards’ and Bayne’s teammate Stenhouse Jr. who took the top spot for the day with a speed of 126.071 mph. This will be Stenhouse Jr’s second pole of his career, the first one coming at Iowa in 2009. This will be his third top 10 start in 2011 and his third race at Bristol.
When the qualifying session was complete, Edwards was bumped back to 7th. Start on the outside of the front row will be Leffler, followed by last year’s winner Justin Allgaier, Bayne, and Kyle Busch starting 5th. Rounding out the top 10 will be Elliott Sadler, Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano.
Only one car will miss the race, Chris Lawson who crashed during his qualifying run. It should also be noted that these cars did qualify on the tires from yesterday as they had no practice on the new tires.
