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Katie Loomis
NASCAR Analyst
NASCAR Busch Series @
Gateway Int'l Raceway
Only seven Nextel Cup
drivers were in the field for the Gateway 250, providing
the Busch Series prospect drivers a chance to show their
talent. With glimpses of brilliance and the errors of
youth and inexperience, these young talents provided an
action-packed event.
Four of the prospects in the Gateway field were able to
come home with top-fifteen finishes. Washington's Kevin
Hamlin started in 13th, but quickly
climbed his way into the top-ten where he would remain
to finish 7th.
Todd Kluever
came from 26th starting position to finish 11th. 2006
World of Outlaws Late Model champ
Tim McCreadie
had an uneventful evening finishing 14th, with Dodge
development driver
Chase Miller
one spot behind.
The stars and stripes were flying Saturday night as
Landon Cassill
drove Hendrick Motorsports' National Guard entry in his
first ever NASCAR Busch Series race. The 18 year-old
qualified 6th and remained in the top-ten through the
first half of the race. His night would end early after
the lapped car of
Travis Kittleson
slid into his car in turn one on lap 110.
Brad Keselowski,
who pitted early with mechanical problems, charged from
41st to the lead and led 6 laps during green flag
stops. He was an innocent victim of the on-track
altercation between Kittleson and Cassill, which forced
his No. 88 behind the wall for repairs. The Michigan
native returned to finish 26th, thirteen laps down.
Steve Wallace
faced yet another hurdle in his up-and-down season. Just
nine laps into the event, a right rear brake line
failure sent him into the turn 3 wall. His team worked
feverishly to make repairs and get him back out; Wallace
limped across the checkered flag in 28th. Robert Yates
Racing’s
Stephen Leicht
also had mechanical issues with a broken sway bar
link. Leicht made several pit stops during the night and
ended up 23rd.
Brad Coleman
made a return to the Busch Series after a three race
hiatus. In his previous four races, Coleman came away
with one pole and three top-tens, but struggled at
Gateway. With 68 laps to go, Coleman made contact with
another car sending him spinning. The No. 47 of
Kelly Bires, a
victim in the crash, also came away with damage. Bires
finished slightly better than Coleman, claiming 24th
over Coleman's 27th.
Look for the race-winning No. 41 of Chip Ganassi Racing
as they prepare for another prospective driver,
Bryan Clauson, to
take the wheel towards the end of the season.
Official Finishing Order:
1. R. Sorenson (41); 2. S. Wimmer (29); 3. D. Reutimann
(99); 4. J. Leffler (38); 5. D. Ragan (6); 6. C. Edwards
(60); 7. K. Hamlin (42); 8. R. Hornaday (77); 9. J.
Yeley (1); 10. T. Bodine (03); 11. T. Kluever (16); 12.
M, Wallace (7); 13. B. Hamilton Jr. (35); 14. T.
McCreadie (21); 15. C. Miller (9); 16. B. East (37); 17.
T. Kittleson (20); 18. M. Ambrose (59); 19. M. Green
(70); 20. S. Barrett (30); 21. B. Rowe (05); 22. R.
Richardson (28); 23. S. Leicht (90); 24. K. Bires (47);
25. B. Sherman (36); 26. Bra. Keselowski (88); 27. B.
Coleman (18); 28. St. Wallace (66); 29. C. Gale (33);
30. J. Keller (27); 31. R. Johns (25); 32. L. Cassill
(24); 33. M. Bliss (22); 34. K. Wallace (2); 35. D.
Blaney (10); 36. K. Krisiloff (14); 37. E. McClure (0);
38. F. Kreyer (56); 39. M. Shepherd (89); 40. B. Teague
(52); 41. Je. Johnson (76); 42. D. Cope (49); 43. D.
Efland (01)
July 23, 2007
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