Katie Loomis
NASCAR Analyst


NASCAR Busch Series @ Chicagoland Speedway

Due to long green-flag runs, many of the prospect drivers in the Chicagoland race were trapped laps down. Only two standout drivers were able to fight their way into the top-fifteen.

It was a long day for Steve Wallace in his Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge. After losing his primary car in practice, Wallace started the race in row 18. His team made wholesale changes throughout the race, but were unable to improve the handling on the back up car. He finished 32nd.

Marcos Ambrose was running in the top 25 before a pit road altercation with Clint Bowyer left him with heavy front end damage. Shortly after, he slid up the track and pancaked the wall coming out of turn 3. Ambrose soldiered on to finish the race in 37th, ten laps down.

Starting the event with a tight race car, Todd Kluever stopped to pit after the first caution flag at lap 6. Using pit strategy he was able to lead three laps of the event but finished three laps down, a disappointing 26th.

Aric Almirola qualified 3rd but faded back in early stages due to a loose car. While running three-wide in the corner, the middle car of Kelly Bires slid up into Almirola and forced his Chevrolet into the wall. Having minimal damage, Almirola continued on but the trouble was not over. A flat tire on lap 94 caused him to again brush the wall. The Joe Gibbs team attempted to fix the damage but the car was not drivable. Almirola ended his trying day 40th, out of the race. Bires fared slightly better in the No. 47 Ford, coming home 24th only two laps down.

Starting 15th, Stephen Leicht and his Robert Yates Racing crew prepared themselves for another solid day. Leicht was trapped laps down early, but fought his way back into position to receive two free passes and get back on the lead lap. Gambling on pit strategy, he did not pit his No. 90 Ford on during the final caution period and restarted 10th where he would remain till the checkered flag.

Brad Keselowski made his debut appearance this weekend with JR Motorsports, qualifying 33rd. The Michigan native methodically drove through the field and into the top 15. He was trapped a lap down during the long green-flag runs, but patiently waiting until he received the free pass back on the lead lap during the lap 150 caution. Brad drove his way to 14th, his career best Busch Series finish. So, is Keselowski the right captain to steer JR's Navy ship? It's too soon to tell...

Official Finishing Order: 1. K. Harvick (21); 2. M. Kenseth (17); 3. J. Burton (29); 4. C. Bowyer (2); 5. Ky. Busch (5); 6. P. Menard (15); 7. D. Hamlin (20); 8. T. Stewart (33); 9. D. Blaney (10); 10. S. Leicht (90); 11. J. Yeley (1); 12. K. Kahne (9); 13. C. Mears (24); 14. Bra. Keselowski (88); 15. R. Sorenson (41); 16. B. Labonte (77); 17. D. Reutimann (99); 18. M. Wallace (7); 19. D. Ragan (6); 20. C. Edwards (60); 21. J. Montoya (42); 22. W. Burton (27); 23. J. McMurray (37); 24. K. Bires (47); 25. D. Stremme (22); 26. T. Kluever (26); 27. D. Gilliland (25); 28. K. Krisiloff (14); 29. B. Hamilton Jr. (35); 30. M. Green (70); 31. S. Barrett (30); 32. St. Wallace (66); 33. J. Leffler (38); 34. R. Gordon (55); 35. J. Keller (11); 36. D. Cope (28); 37. M. Ambrose (59); 38. A. Almirola (18); 39. G. Biffle (16); 40. B. Sherman (36); 41. E. McClure (0); 42. M. Shepherd (89); 43. R. Newman (12)


NASCAR Truck Series @ Kentucky Speedway

Driving for Bill Davis Racing, Ryan Mathews captured his first career Truck Series pole. Mathews shined throughout the evening, battling Truck veterans. After a terrible start, he was shuffled out of the top-ten, but worked his way through traffic to 4th at the checkered flag.

Not all of the prospects in this week's Truck race were able to capitalize like Mathews. Blake Bjorklund finished 33rd after encountering engine troubles that put him behind the wall on lap 50. Kraig Kinser spend the evening in the rear of the field, finishing 28th.

Matt Crafton came from the back of the pack to finish 16th in his Chevrolet. His ThorSport Racing teammate Willie Allen lost control of his race truck in the center of turn three and spun. He was able to avoid contact with the wall and soldiered home to a 15th place finish.

Erik Darnell's night began looking like he was poised for another top-five finish. After starting 6th, he quickly moved into the 3rd spot. He remained in sixth-place until lap 95, when he reported tire problems. Just moments later, Darnell slammed the wall hard going into turn ones. His night ended with a 29th place finish.

USAC star Josh Wise pulled double duty at Kentucky Speedway, competing in the ARCA event, prior to Saturday night's Truck race. He quietly brought his Toyota home in 21st. Chad McCumbee finished one spot ahead of Wise in 20th after starting the event 10th.

Official Finishing Order: 1. M. Skinner (5); 2. T. Kvapil (6); 3. T. Musgrave (9); 4. R. Mathews (22); 5. D. Green (1); 6. J. Wood (21); 7. J. Clanton (09); 8. B. Lester (15); 9. M. Bliss (4); 10. R. Hornaday; 11. T. Bodine (30); 12. D. Starr (10); 13. J. Sprague (60); 14. J. Benson (23); 15. W. Allen (13); 16. M. Crafton (88); 17. K. Schrader (18); 18. D. Setzer (75); 19. B. Miller (40); 20. C. McCumbee (08); 21. J. Wise (00); 22. B. Gaughan (77); 23. J. White (7); 24. J. Stout (91); 25. B. Silas (71); 26. T. Sauter (07); 27. J. Smith (63); 28. K. Kinser (47); 29. E. Darnell (99); 30. R. Crawford (14); 31. T. Cook (59); 32. P. Shepherd (50); 33. B. Bjorklund (8); 34. K. Hendrick (16); 35. W. Edwards (06)

July 16, 2007