Reutimann Wins Coke 340
Written by Racin with Russ, Monday May 25 2009
After postponing the nighttime version of this year's Coke 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a first time Monday afternoon version saw first time winner David Reutimann take the checkers.
No less than four red flags for rain slowed the action down in what seemed to be a race that would never end. Kyle Busch led most of the laps during the first half with fellow Toyota driver Brian Vickers leading 33 laps as well.
But, when the final caution, then red flag fell, Reutimann, Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon stayed on the track while most of the field pitted.
NASCAR tried in vain for nearly two hours to dry the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway before calling the race officially ended at lap 227 out of the scheduled 400. Fox TV reporters interviewed everyone but the hot dog vendors during the down time in addition to repeatedly showing the anguish on Reutimann’s face during the wait.
Naturally, Busch felt snake bit again after leading the most laps only to lose another race, two on the weekend in all. (See Nationwide)
Rounding out the top five included Carl Edwards and Vickers.
Notable: Busch wound up sixth, Dale Earnhardt Jr struggled most of the day with an ill-handling car to finish two laps down in 40th and Jeff Gordon notched a 14th, yet was good enough to stay atop the standings over Tony Stewart by 44 points.
Nationwide - The 300-miler run at Lowe’s on Friday night wound up a rain-shortened affair with Mike Bliss recording his first win in over 83 races. His team rolled the dice by staying out on a run that caught out most of the field, putting Bliss and Brendon Gaughan as the only two on the lead lap.
A late race red flag for rain wound up handing Bliss his first win in 83 races, going back five years. I have said many times that Bliss is one of the most underrated drivers on any NASCAR circuit. Time and again he has proved he can get a car in the show and run well with it.
This time, he edged Gaughan, Kyle Busch had led most of the laps, but came up short, settled for third with Brian Vickers and 19-year-old Joey Logano wrapping up the top five.
Busch now leads Carl Edwards (10th place) by 73 in overall points with Gaughan and Bliss jumping four spots to 8th and 9th respectively.
Indy 500 - Helio Castroneves managed to bide his time among the top five before bolting into the lead in the closing stages of this year’s Indy 500, going on to claim his third sip of milk in victory lane. The race had more wrecks than normal, sidelining 13 cars before the checkers flew. Some of those less fortunate included Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan and Oriel Servia among others.
Capping the top five in this year’s 93rd running of the Great American race were Dan Wheldon, Danica Patrick, Townsend Bell and Will Power.
It was a little disturbing to see how many empty seats there were at the biggest auto racing venue of the year. More economic concerns the reason, I’m sure.
Formula One - Jenson Button made it five wins over the past six races after winning the street F-1 race in Monaco. His teammate, Rubens Barrichello took second in front of Ferrari shoe Kimi Raikkonen. Button now leads Barrichello by 16 points in the big picture.
From Rumorville - Waltrip out….Truex Jr in? Latest rumors indicate Martin Truex Jr will be leaving DEI and replace the soon-to-retire Michael Waltrip at MWR in the NAPA Toyota No. 55 for next year and beyond. Stay tuned.
--- Matt Kenseth and wife Katie are about to expect their first child together after being married for eight years. It will be Katie’s first and Matt’s second child from a previous marriage. His son Ross, now 16, has started racing Late Models at local short tracks in North Carolina with the help and advice from his talented father.
--- By the time you read this, NASCAR will have conducted a special meeting at their R & D Center in Concord, NC for all Sprint Cup drivers and owners. The topics of conversation will probably include the state of the sport, the COT car and of course, the suspension of Jeremy Mayfield.
That’s it for this week. Next week’s RWR will review the action from the Monster Mile, Dover, DE where all three top divisions will compete along with results from the IRL racing in Milwaukee and more racing news from around the globe.
Questions? Comments? Contact Russ at racinwithruss@comcast.net
Photo Credit: David Allio / Icon SMI
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