Matt Kenseth was a consistent challenger throughout tonight’s race at Bristol, but he took the lead on lap 399 and managed the rest of the event to take his second consecutive win in the Sharpie 500 and in 2006. The win clinched Kenseth’s spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup as he searches for his second Cup championship. While the last portion of the race was dominated by the Wisconsin driver and his fast pit crew, the contenders at the front of the field constantly shifted as NASCAR’s finest fought around the challenging half-mile short track. Kurt Busch started on the pole, but the lead swapped early in the event as Jeff Burton and Kenseth moved to the top spot before the first caution waved on lap 61. About 50 laps later, the picture at the front of the field changed for the first time thanks to strategy during pit stops. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards stayed on track, which allowed them to move into first and second, respectively. In the next run of the race, the lead swapped several times before the fourth caution waved on lap 202 with Jeff Gordon out front. Gordon remained the leader after pit stops, but after three quick cautions, Burton was leading with a desire to dominate. The Richard Childress Racing driver led the race from the seventh caution on lap 234 all the way to lap 318 when he lost the lead to Kenseth. Fortunately for Burton, the eighth caution waved on lap 324 and quick work on pit road by his crew allowed him to retake the lead. He continued his dominance of the event until the ninth caution on lap 380 when the complexion of the race changed again. Burton entered pit road in the lead, but he left the pit lane in third as Earnhardt Jr. and Kenseth moved ahead of him. On the next restart, Earnhardt Jr. held onto the lead, but he was quickly challenged by the 2003 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion. Kenseth took the lead on lap 399 and he drove away from the field until the tenth caution waved on lap 445. The caution brought the last pit stops of the race and Kenseth’s fast crew returned him to the lead for the last 50 laps. When the green flag waved for the final time, he drove away from the drivers around him. As the laps clicked away, Kenseth moved into lap traffic as drivers looked to chase him down. In the final few laps, Kyle Busch attempted to catch his fellow competitor, but Kenseth negotiated lap traffic to perfection as he took his fourth checkered flag of the season and his second consecutive win after last week’s triumph at Michigan. For the 43 drivers in tonight’s race, Bristol proved to be a race of survival as accidents created huge stack-ups, restarts created chaos and frustration, and pit stops caused problems as crews performed in tight quarters. Plus, since the race was the third event before the Chase begins, drivers were forced to race for points at an unforgiving race track for championship drivers. As these five stages of analysis show, the high banks of Bristol proved to be a challenge for the entire field as Matt Kenseth stood tall in victory lane for the second straight year under the lights in Bristol, Tennessee.
Stage 1:
Clutch Closer: Kenseth Manages Late Restarts and Pit Stops to Take the Win at Bristol
Matt Kenseth has already won a championship in the NNCS, but his 2006 season has proven that he should be considered a perennial contender for the title. In the first 23 races of the year coming into tonight’s event, he had three wins, 12 Top 5’s, and a second-place position in the points standings with a shot at clinching his spot in the Chase. In addition to that, Kenseth and his team were filled with confidence after a win at Michigan last week and a win last year in the annual Bristol Night Race. Kenseth started the race in fourth and as soon the green flag waved, he was prepared to move into the lead. He grabbed the third spot on the first lap and throughout the first run, he maneuvered around the race track better than the drivers around him. On lap 54, he passed Jeff Burton for the lead and looked to drive away, but the first caution waved on lap 61. During the pit stops, Kenseth’s crew worked to perfection, but the tight pit road caused him to lose positions and he returned to the track in fifth position. Yet, he stayed calm and moved into third place over the next run. When the third caution waved on lap 114, Kenseth remained in third as more pit stops loomed. Again, the crowded pit lane mixed with strategy calls cost him several positions and Kenseth would be 11th on the restart. However, throughout the next run, fresh tires prevailed for Kenseth’s Ford and he moved all the way up to fourth position when the fourth caution waved on lap 202. The pit stops were much cleaner for Kenseth and his team, which allowed him to return to the track in third place with a fast Roush Racing car. He remained there through three quick cautions until Kurt Busch pitted just after the seventh caution from second place due to some damage on his Dodge. Busch’s misfortune allowed Kenseth to inherit second place with a shot at the leader, Jeff Burton. When the race restarted after the seventh caution, he attempted to pass Burton, but he was unsuccessful in the early part of the run. Finally, on lap 318, Kenseth passed him for the lead on the backstretch. The Wisconsin driver looked to run away from the field, but his drive was halted as the eighth caution waved on lap 324. All the lead lap drivers made pit stops during the caution and Kenseth returned to the race in second with Burton just ahead of him. Again, Kenseth would have to fight his way back into the lead and he was unsuccessful until the ninth caution waved on lap 380. The caution brought more pit stops and Kenseth’s team was consistent as he came out of the pits in the same position as he went in. However, Earnhardt Jr. was now leading as Burton dropped to third. With a new face in the lead, Kenseth still had the desire to move into first place. When the race restarted, he immediately pressured Earnhardt Jr. for the top spot. On lap 399, the leader broke loose in turn 2 and Kenseth used the miscue to take the lead as the two drivers powered down the backstretch. From there, he ran away from the rest of the field and negotiated lap traffic to perfection as he looked for a 14th win in the NNCS. Unfortunately for Kenseth, the tenth caution waved on lap 445 and he lost his gap on second-place with more pit stops looming. For the final time, the field came down pit road during the caution and for the second straight stop, Kenseth’s team was clutch as they returned their driver to the lead. For the final time, the field was lined up for the restart with the #17 DeWalt Ford out front. When the green flag waved, Kenseth drove away from Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch. The final laps clicked by in a matter of seconds as the field battled around the short track in Tennessee. With about 15 laps to go, Kenseth held a nice advantage over second position just as Busch moved into the runner-up spot. In the final few laps, Busch charged towards the lead and made it close, but Kenseth took the checkered flag after a dominant 100 laps to end the race. In the last 100 miles of the Sharpie 500, Matt Kenseth and his team were clutch as they managed a late pit stop and a final restart to win for the second straight week.
Stage 2:
Comeback of the Race: Kyle Busch Overcomes a Pit Road Miscue to Finish Second
In only his second full-time season in the NNCS, Kyle Busch has proven he belongs in NASCAR’s highest series. After winning two races last season for Hendrick Motorsports, Busch came into this season with a desire to improve his consistency and become a contender for the championship. Coming into tonight’s race, he had done just that with a win at New Hampshire last month and a seventh-place position in the standings, even after a 39th last Sunday at Michigan. However, tonight’s race would be the ultimate test on the young driver as he would be forced to overcome obstacles at one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks. Busch started the race in 19th, but he immediately began his charge to the front. After 100 laps around the high-speed corners of Bristol, he was sitting in ninth with a fast Hendrick Chevrolet. When the third caution waved on lap 114, Busch found himself in eighth as teams prepared to pit. The Nevada driver came down pit road and his team returned him to the track in the same spot, but several drivers stayed out in front of him. That meant Busch would restart a few positions deeper, but the team had another issue to contend with. During his stop, Busch’s team didn’t tighten all the lugnuts on one of his tires. Rather than risk a potential problem on the restart, his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, brought him back down pit road for a second time during the caution. While the stop was necessary, Busch returned to the race in 31st position with a field full of fast drivers in front of him and limited passing opportunities. However, last year’s Rookie of the Year was prepared for the challenge. Throughout the next run, he gained positions and charged towards the front as he pursued another victory in the NNCS. When the fourth caution waved on lap 202, Busch had moved into the Top 20 and he was still on the lead lap with a fast racecar. His team brought him down pit road with the rest of the field during the caution and made sure to properly install all lugnuts as they returned their driver to the track inside the Top 15. Again, Busch was ready to gain some more spots as the race restarted. Over the next 30 laps, three quick cautions waved and on lap 234, Busch was in ninth after a tough fight back to the Top 10. When the green flag waved after the seventh caution on lap 234, he pushed towards the Top 5 with hopes of obtaining an excellent finish. Busch was in seventh place when the eighth caution waved on lap 324. He came down pit road with the rest of the leaders and returned to the track two spots higher in fifth thanks to quick work by his crew. Over the next run, Busch maintained his spot in the Top 5 and when the ninth caution waved on lap 380, the younger Busch brother was still in fifth with more pit stops looming. Again, his crew returned him to the track in fifth as he looked to move into the lead and grab his fourth career win. Busch utilized the next run to take his fast Chevrolet all the way to second place as the tenth caution waved on lap 445 for an Elliott Sadler crash. On the final pit stops of the race, Busch lost two positions, but his fast racecar was prepared to fight for the victory. When the green flag waved for the final time, Busch shot past Carl Edwards for third as he set his sights on Dale Earnhardt Jr. With 15 laps to go, the young driver moved into second place with Matt Kenseth not far in front of him. Busch made a valiant charge in the final few circuits to move into the lead, but he crossed the finish line in the runner-up position. Despite coming up just short of a victory, Kyle Busch’s second-place was the ultimate comeback after his team faced adversity on pit road early in the race.
Stage 3:
Move of the Race: Earnhardt Jr.’s Team Makes Bold Strategy Calls Early to Take a Third Place Finish
Since his triumphant entry into the NNCS in 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a fan favorite due to his success in the series and racing pedigree. He has won every season in his Cup career, including a win earlier this year at Richmond International Raceway. Plus, thanks to that win and his good season, Junior held the final transfer spot in the Chase coming into tonight’s race with only three events left before the Chase field is decided at Richmond. For Earnhardt Jr. and his team, though, everything would need to go perfectly to rebound from a dismal qualifying effort. The one-time winner at Bristol started the race all the way back in 40th after running exceptionally slow in qualifying. With Bristol being a short track and drivers going a lap down early in the event, the North Carolina driver would need to gain positions quickly to have a chance at a good run. When the initial green flag waved, Earnhardt Jr. began to move up a few positions, but he was still in danger of losing a lap as he sat outside the Top 30. Just as the leaders began to close on his back bumper on lap 61, the first caution waved and Earnhardt Jr. stayed on the lead lap without needing the lucky dog. Still, his crew would have to make some adjustments to his Chevrolet during pit stops to help him continue gaining positions. His crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., made some changes and sent his driver back on track. However, the team knew they needed to make strategy calls to move towards the front. When the second caution waved on lap 88, Junior came down pit road for fresh tires while the Top 20 stayed on track. Over the next 25 laps, he used his fresh tires to move into 14th as the third caution waved on lap 114. Again, Eury Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. used some strategy as the team stayed on track, which handed them the lead. Thanks to two key strategy calls, Earnhardt Jr. would look to hold onto the top spot on older tires. He held the lead for a few laps after the green flag waved before Carl Edwards took the lead on lap 136. Even though he continued to lose positions to the drivers on fresh tires, Earnhardt Jr. was still in the Top 10 when the fourth caution waved on lap 202. The entire field came down pit road and the two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion returned to the race in sixth after quick work from his pit crew. The green flag waved to restart the race and Earnhardt Jr. progressed to fourth through three quick cautions on track. After the race restarted following the seventh caution on lap 234, he maneuvered into third place thanks to a long run during the middle of the event. The eighth caution waved on lap 324 with Junior and his team prepared for more pit stops as they sat in third. His crew worked perfectly again and they returned their driver to the track in third with a fast Chevrolet. When the race restarted, Earnhardt Jr. maintained his spot in the Top 3 and after a 50-lap run, the ninth caution waved on lap 380. For the penultimate time, the field came down pit road and Earnhardt Jr.’s team returned him to the track in the lead with just over 100 laps remaining. The green flag waved and Junior looked to maintain the top spot, but he couldn’t hold off Matt Kenseth as he slid into the lead on lap 399. Earnhardt Jr. lost another spot to Kyle Busch, but he was still in third when the tenth and final caution waved on lap 445. For the final time, his pit crew changed all four tires and added fuel as he returned to the track in second position. The race restarted for the last time and Earnhardt Jr. maintained his position in second as Busch began to race him hard around the half-mile short track. The two swapped positions with about 15 laps to go as they pursued Kenseth for the win. As the checkered flag waved, Earnhardt Jr. crossed the finish line in third place after a hard-fought race. For Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team, the decision to use a different strategy early in the race allowed them to move from 40th to 3rd in the race and grab the ninth spot in the points standings with two races left to go before the Chase.
Stage 4:
Driver of the Day: Burton Leads More Than Half of the Race, But Only Finishes Ninth
Jeff Burton has won 17 races in the NNCS, but it has been a long time since the Virginia driver went to victory lane. Burton’s last win came in October of 2001 at Phoenix International Raceway. Since that win five years ago, Burton has swapped teams and he is currently a competitor for Richard Childress Racing. While the team has run well with Burton behind the wheel, victory lane has been elusive for the #31 team. Coming into tonight’s race, his winless streak stood at an astounding 177 races, but the championship contender and his team came to BMS prepared to run up front. Burton started the race in second, but he didn’t remain there for long. He passed the polesitter, Kurt Busch, on lap 12 driving through turns 1 and 2 to grab the lead for the first time. Burton stretched his lead over the next handful of laps, but lap traffic began to slow him down as the field battled through the tight corners. Matt Kenseth used the lapped cars to his advantage and he took the lead from Burton on lap 54. However, the first caution waved just a few laps later on lap 61. The entire field came down pit road and Burton’s crew worked efficiently as they returned him to the race in second with Kurt Busch just in front of him. When the green flag waved, the two drivers battled hard for the lead and Burton grabbed the top spot on lap 77. From there, he continued his domination of the race as he led through the second and third cautions. However, during the pit stops on the third caution on lap 114, several strategy calls by drivers at the back of the lead lap dropped Burton into seventh position for the restart. As soon as the race restarted, though, he used his fresher tires and fast racecar to move back to the lead. He grabbed the top spot on lap 152 from Carl Edwards and looked to drive away again. Yet, the combination of lapped cars and a tight racecar allowed Jeff Gordon to pass Burton for the lead on lap 180. Still, the Virginia driver remained in second until the fourth caution waved on lap 202. The caution brought more pit stops and Burton’s team returned him to the race in second. The race restarted and Gordon maintained the lead until the fifth caution waved on lap 210. On the subsequent restart, though, Burton used his quick Chevrolet to move past Gordon on lap 219. Two quick cautions waved after he took the lead, but the #31 was still first through the yellow flags. When the race restarted after the seventh caution on lap 234, the race entered a long run with Burton in the lead. He led for a good portion of the run until Kenseth took the lead on lap 318. Again, the eighth caution waved on lap 324 just after Burton lost the lead. The pack returned to pit road for more fresh tires and Burton’s team gained him the lead after a perfect stop. When the race restarted, he continued to control the pace of the event and he led until the ninth caution on lap 380. The pit stops during the caution turned out to be the turning point for Burton and his team. After being flawless on pit road throughout the night, the #31 team struggled on their penultimate stop and Burton returned to the race in third. However, he had proven throughout the race that he could rebound after losing the lead. Yet, when the race restarted, he lost positions as his car began to handle differently in traffic. When the tenth caution waved on lap 445, Burton was in sixth spot with a struggling racecar. His team brought him down pit road during the caution, but they didn’t gain him any spots as he returned to the track just outside the Top 5. When the green flag waved for the final time, Burton continued to lose spots in the final run of the race as the laps clicked by. He crossed the finish line in ninth place after a dominating performance during the first half of race. After leading 263 of 500 laps with an excellent racecar, Jeff Burton and his team were disappointed to lose a win due to struggles late in the event, but they proved that the #31 can compete for dominant victories.
Stage 5:
Terrible Luck: Kurt Busch and Sadler Have Excellent Races Go Bad Late at Bristol
Kurt Busch and Elliott Sadler have been two of the most successful drivers at Bristol in the past few years. In fact, over the last 11 races at the half-mile track in Tennessee, Sadler and Busch have combined to win six of those events. Because of that, the two drivers were prepared to race hard and compete for another win at the track under the lights tonight. For Busch, he started the race on the pole after a fast qualifying lap in his Penske Racing Dodge. Sadler rolled off in ninth as he made his second start in the #19 for Evernham Motorsports. Through the first run, Busch fell back to third after losing the lead while Sadler moved into fifth as the first caution waved on lap 61. The yellow flag brought pit stops for the entire field and Busch grabbed the lead after a fast stop. Sadler lost a couple of spots on the tight pit road, but he still had a fast racecar. The race restarted and after a 50-lap run around Bristol, Busch found himself in second while Sadler sat in sixth place. When the third caution waved on lap 114, though, the races for the two drivers began to change as strategy started to shake-up the event. During the pit stops, Sadler and his team decided to put on only two tires, which allowed him to restart sixth after five drivers stayed out in front of him. Busch, on the other hand, took four tires and came out of the pits in ninth with fresh tires. When the green flag waved after the third caution, a long run occurred as drivers with newer tires passed the drivers who made strategy moves during the stops. Finally, the fourth caution on lap 202 ended the run with Busch in sixth and Sadler running in ninth. Again, the caution allowed the field to come down pit road and Busch’s team worked to perfection as he returned to the event in fourth with Sadler just inside the Top 10 after his stop. The race restarted before a quick caution waved on lap 210. After a short clean-up, the green flag waved again and the short run proved to be detrimental to Busch’s chances of winning. On lap 227, Reed Sorenson began to slow on track with a flat left rear tire. Coming into turn 4, Sorenson spun right in front of Busch, who was trying to pass him. Busch slammed into Sorenson and caused damage to the #2 Dodge. The incident caused the yellow flag to wave for the sixth time in the race. Even though he had damage, Busch and his team decided to stay on track instead of pitting to fix his wounded racecar. However, as soon as the race restarted, Busch’s left front tire began to smoke as the front-end damage created a tire rub on his racecar. Fortunately for the team, Clint Bowyer crashed on lap 234 to bring out the seventh caution and allow Busch to pit under yellow. The team brought their driver down pit road and they fixed the damage, but they dropped all the way to 27th for the restart. Meanwhile, Sadler maintained his spot in the Top 10. On the subsequent restart after the seventh caution, Busch used a long run to move back into the Top 15 while Sadler found himself in sixth. The caution turned out to be the point where bad luck affected both drivers. After Busch and Sadler had smooth pit stops during the caution, both drivers were hit with penalties. Busch entered pit road without properly entering through the commitment line while Sadler sped during his time in the pit lane. They were sent to the back for the restart and they would have to fight back to the front. When the green flag waved, they began their charge to the front with drivers around them. On lap 380, Sadler’s charge began to face some adversity. He bumped Joe Nemechek in turn 3, which caused Nemechek to slam the outside wall and Sadler to spin down the track. J.J. Yeley tried to pass Sadler, but he clipped his nose and spun up the race track. All three drivers drove away, but Sadler’s damage cost him many laps. After the restart, Busch’s excellent run continued to unravel after the penalty. Around lap 400, he came down pit road and drove to the garage with a transmission issue. His team began to work on fixing the problem, but laps clicked by and Busch’s chance for a great finish were over. 45 laps later, Sadler’s day finally ended as well. As he drove into turn 1 on lap 445, a part on his engine broke and oil littered the speedway. Sadler spun in his oil and slammed into the outside wall before he backed into the inside wall. The broken engine and crash damage ended Sadler’s night after an excellent shot at a Top 10. Ironically, just as the caution waved, Busch returned to the track after transmission repairs. He completed the last 50-laps of the race and brought his Dodge home in 37th. Sadler finished the race in a dismal 39th. After competing for fantastic finishes throughout the race, Kurt Busch and Elliott Sadler couldn’t overcome terrible luck with penalties and mechanical issues to grab Top 10’s.
After 500 miles of intense short track racing in the mountains of Tennessee, the drivers of the NNCS head to Southern California for 250 laps at dusk around the two-mile California Speedway. Much like the Michigan race last weekend, 43 of NASCAR’s finest competitors will battle around a track with speeds over 200 mph as they look to take the checkered flag. Also, the wide turns in Fontana create action-packed battles for position and cause restarts to be chaotic as drivers race three and four-wide. Plus, since the race will be run in the evening, speeds will increase and handling conditions will change throughout the event, which will cause crew chiefs to work hard on making the right adjustments. In addition to making the proper changes, teams will have to play the strategy game to perfection since pit road calls end up deciding who visits victory lane under the lights in California after 500 miles. Finally, with only two races left before the Chase field is decided, every driver in the championship hunt will be fighting for points with the hopes of clinching their spot in title fight. In addition to potential track storylines and the battle for the Chase, several drivers find themselves with compelling storylines heading into next Sunday’s Labor Day shootout. Matt Kenseth has won the last two races in the NNCS and heads to Fontana with a desire to win his third consecutive race as he look to build momentum in his pursuit of a second NNCS championship. Kyle Busch came up short in winning tonight’s race at Bristol, but he heads to the site of his first Cup win last year with a chance to add another win to his already successful Cup career. Jimmie Johnson maintained his lead in the points after a quiet day at Bristol and the championship contender heads to his home track with a shot at visiting victory lane in California for a second time. Finally, Mark Martin dropped to the tenth spot in the points standings after a tough night, but the former California winner will look to rebound and maintain his spot in the Chase grid. Tonight’s race at Bristol featured a thrilling victory for Matt Kenseth, constant battles for the lead and positions in the Top 5, several big wrecks, a runaway tire from Clint Bowyer’s car, and changes in the points standings with only two races left before the start of the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
(More Stats Down Below!)
Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 61- Sterling Marlin had a tire go flat in turn 3, which caused him to slide up the race track and slam the outside wall hard.
2nd Caution: Lap 88- Dave Blaney pinched Kyle Petty down as the two drivers battled into turn 1. After slight contact, Petty spun up the race track and slammed the outside wall hard with his driver’s side door.
3rd Caution: Lap 114- David Gilliland broke loose exiting turn 4 and slammed into the outside wall, which caused his right front tire to go flat.
4th Caution: Lap 202- Kevin Harvick had a tire go down entering turn 1, which caused his car to drive up the track and slam into the outside wall.
5th Caution: Lap 210- Debris from Scott Wimmer’s car dropped on the race track.
6th Caution: Lap 227- Reed Sorenson spun in turn 4 due to a flat left rear tire. Kurt Busch bumped into Sorenson slightly as he spun around in front of the field. Sorenson ended up bumping the outside wall with his front end as Busch drove away.
7th Caution: Lap 234- Clint Bowyer’s left rear tire came off his racecar, which caused him to spin up the race track and slam into the outside wall with his driver’s side door.
8th Caution: Lap 324- David Stremme had a right front tire blow out entering turn 3, which caused him to shoot up the track and slam into the outside wall.
9th Caution: Lap 380- Elliott Sadler bumped Joe Nemechek in turn 3, which caused Nemechek to slam into the outside wall with his right side while Sadler spun down the banking. Sadler clipped J.J. Yeley, which caused him to spin up the race track and slam into the outside wall.
10th Caution: Lap 445- Elliott Sadler had an engine part break on his car, which caused oil to drop onto the race track. Sadler spun in the oil and slammed into the outside wall with his driver’s side door. Then, he slid down the banking and backed into the inside wall.
Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: Joe Nemechek
2nd Caution: Travis Kvapil
3rd Caution: David Stremme
4th Caution: Michael Waltrip
5th Caution: Mark Martin
6th Caution: None
7th Caution: David Stremme
8th Caution: Martin Truex Jr.
9th Caution: Martin Truex Jr.
10th Caution: Dave Blaney
Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Matt Kenseth
2nd: Kyle Busch
3rd: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4th: Scott Riggs
5th: Jeff Gordon
Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Denny Hamlin
7th: Carl Edwards
9th: Jeff Burton
10th: Jimmie Johnson
11th: Kevin Harvick
12th: Kasey Kahne
15th: Dale Jarrett
18th: Martin Truex Jr.
22nd: Tony Stewart
23rd: Bobby Labonte
28th: Mark Martin
37th: Kurt Busch
38th: Clint Bowyer
39th: Elliott Sadler
Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2006_Sharpie_500/W
-Image:
https://www.pinterest.com/anitagarrison5/matt-kenseth/
-Full Race:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUOSe0N2TE4
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