Three drivers of NASCAR top division secured for themselves spots in the Chase after the breathtaking race under the lights in Bristol, Tennessee. Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Junior obviously will continue to fight for the championship while Math Kenseth at least takes a wild-card.
Irwin Tools Night Race took place at the half-mile oval Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 25th. Ken Schrader crashed on lap 10 and this became the first of the row of spectacular Irwin Tools’ events.
Incident between Ryan Newman and Juan Montoya in the first half of the race triggered Jeff Burton’s crash as well so as he couldn’t avoid the contact with Newman’s car.
Aric Armirola and David Gilliland collided on lap 224 and one of the Chase challengers, Brad Keselowski, from Cap Penske’s team spun on lap 271.
Cup’s defending champ Tony Stewart and one of the point leaders Meth Kenseth collided on lap 332. After the incident infuriated Smoke threw his helmet at Kenseth’s car also promising “to run over him every chance he’s got from now till the end of the year”. Although later Tony “backed off of treats”, according to Bob Pockrass for http://aol.sportingnews.com.
“The fastest girl in town” Danica Patrick was running her best so far Sprint Cup race, holding P19 while starting from the last, 43th place, when Ragan Smith from Furniture Row Racing spun her when till finish were left only 65 laps.
Denny Hamlin with 37 laps to go was fighting for the lead side by side with Carl Edwards while five time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson pursued them being really close to the cars #11 and #60. When Edwards had to go to the pits, Hamlin managed to stay ahead of Johnson and took the checkered. Jimmie Johnson became a runner-up, breaking through from 37th position. Jeff Gordon finished the race on the third place.
After the storm washed away the top division’s quali, the new Bristol oval granted everyone the unforgettable race and the magnificent spectacle.