Elliott Sadler, driver of the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2012 Photo – Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Phoenix International Raceway is the site of the second stop on the 2013 Nationwide Series schedule. A much more calm-mannered race is expected this Saturday at Phoenix but, championship hopefuls will look to get ahead of the game and that could create some excitement. As the championship-contending drivers begin the real hunt for the championship this weekend, they will all be eyeing a jump start in the point’s standings this Saturday during the Dollar General 200. Continue reading →
Fans at Daytona International Speedway for Daytona 500, Feb 24, 2013 Photo – Getty Images
Heroic
Ordinary NASCAR fans enjoying the Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon acted heroically when fellow race fans were injured following the last lap crash. No fan expected to be in danger when they entered the Speedway that day but, when disaster struck, fans helped fans to make sure everyone was alright.
In other sporting events, there is little to no evidence that fans have helped each other in the way that some racing fans did following the frightening last lap crash in the Nationwide race. This incident once again proved that NASCAR fans are the best fans in sports. Continue reading →
Jimmie Johnson driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 24 2013 Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images
A late race surge helped Jimmie Johnson remain in the front of the pack and allowed Johnson to hold off his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr for the Daytona 500 win. This is Johnson’s second Daytona 500 win; he won the 500 for the first time in 2006. A very strung out raced featured lots of great racing and Johnson played the game perfectly to hold up his second Daytona 500 trophy.
Johnson did not get to the front early but, he got there at the end which is all that mattered. Johnson’s teammate Jeff Gordon led the race on lap one and Gordon stayed out front for much of the first portion of the race. The first caution of the race came out on lap 26 for debris on the backstretch. Gordon held the lead after the pit stops under the caution but, Jimmie Johnson got his first glance at the lead on lap 32. Johnson’s lead was brief since the second yellow-flag came out one lap after he took the lead. Continue reading →
Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013 Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
In the most eventful season opener in NASCAR Nationwide Series history, Tony Stewart won the race while the rest of the field wrecked including Kyle Larson who flew into the catch fence and destroyed his car. Among all that carnage, 28 fans in total were injured due to Larson’s car flying into the catch fence and scattering debris everywhere. The race was going normally until this last lap incident occurred and this race will forever be remembered as one of the scariest in NASCAR history.
As all of our thoughts and prayers are with the injured race fans along with their families and friends, I will try to recap the Drive4COPD 300 as best as I can.
With the two-car tandem in full-play for the Nationwide Series, many lead changes occurred throughout the race. The first one was on lap four when Kyle Busch got around pole-sitter Trevor Bayne. Not long after that, Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick exchanged the lead a few more times. The first caution of the day came out when Scott Lagasse Jr. got hit from behind by Bayne and Lagasse spun through the grass on the turn one end of the tri-oval. Continue reading →
