After winning last week in California on a 2 mile track Kevin Harvick picks up a win on a short track in Martinsville. The #29 of Kevin Harvick won the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 2nd win of 2011 and 16th win of his career. It is Richard Childress Racing's first win at Martinsville since Dale Earnhardt won there in 1995. An emotional #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second holding off the #18 Kyle Busch, fourth place went to #42 Juan Montoya, fifth #24 Jeff Gordon, sixth #17 Matt Kenseth, seventh #1 Jamie McMurray, eighth #6 David Ragan, nineth #33 Clint Bowyer and tenth #5 Mark Martin.
There were a record 31 lead changes among 12 drivers; 11 cautions for 72 yellow flag laps.
2011 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
[after Martinsville, race 6 of 36]:
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 219
2) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 214, -5
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 207, -12
4) #22-Kurt Busch, 205, -14
5) #29-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 204, -15
6) #39-Ryan Newman, 203, -16
7) #42-Juan Montoya, 201, -18
8) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 199, -20
9) #17-Matt Kenseth, 195, -24
10) #5-Mark Martin, 181, -38
11) #14-Tony Stewart, 180, -39
12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 170, -49
Johnny Sauter wins the “Kroger 250” at Martinsville: The #13-Johnny Sauter, driving the ThorSport Racing Safe Auto/104 WTQR Country Chevrolet, took the lead from #18-Kyle Busch following a late race restart to win at Martinsville. Johnny Sauter was able get to the inside and underneath Kyle Busch with a slight nudge to the #18. He stayed low and the two gave each other room to race clean to the checkered flag. This is Johnny Sauter's third series win, and as a result has taken over the top spot in the driver's point standings. Busch finished second. Rounding out the top ten were; #33 Ron Hornaday Jr., #2 Kevin Harvick, #17 Timothy Peters, #60 Cole Whitt, #3 Austin Dillon, #4 Ricky Carmichael, #62 Brendan Gaughan, #9 Max Papis. There were 12 lead changes among 8 drivers, with 13 cautions for 61 laps.
The next Sprint Cup race is under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway for the “Samsung Mobile 500” Saturday night with pre-race at
7pm and green flag racing at 7:30, on FOX.
ESPN2 continues its coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series live from Texas Motor Speedway.
The Nationwide Series rolls into Texas Motor Speedway Friday night under the lights for the “O’Reilly Auto Parts 300” on ESPN2 at 8pm.
The Camping World Truck Series returns to Nashville Superspeedway Friday night at 8pm for the “Bully Hill Vineyards 200” live on Speed TV.
Catch The WING Racing Show Monday’s at 4pm for your racing news on 1410 ESPN Radio with Brian “BC” Casey.
