NNS Recap: Bliss Stretches Fuel, Wins Rain-Shortened Race

Bliss celebrates winning the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The victory was the second in Bliss’ NASCAR Nationwide Series career. (Photo credit: CIA Stock)
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(May 23, 2009)

CONCORD, N.C. — Superior fuel mileage got Mike Bliss out front late in Saturday night’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Rain did the rest. Three laps after Bliss took the lead from runner-up Brendan Gaughan on Lap 167, NASCAR red-flagged the race because of rain and made Bliss’ win official by calling the event 30 laps short of its scheduled distance of 200 laps.

Continue reading “Race Recap: Mike Bliss wins at Lowes Motor Speedway”

1 10 1 Mike Bliss
2 15 62 Brendan Gaughan #
3 2 18 Kyle Busch
4 5 32 Brian Vickers
5 12 20 Joey Logano
6 28 38 Jason Leffler
7 4 6 David Ragan
8 40 88 Brad Keselowski
9 9 29 Jeff Burton
10 1 60 Carl Edwards
11 14 99 Scott Speed
12 3 16 Greg Biffle
13 13 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14 38 12 Justin Allgaier #
15 7 42 David Gilliland
16 22 27 Jason Keller
17 17 66 Steve Wallace
18 27 28 Kenny Wallace
19 29 24 Eric McClure
20 6 47 Michael McDowell #

Continue reading “Mike Bliss wins rain shortened NNS race”

1 60 Carl Edwards
2 18 Kyle Busch
3 16 Greg Biffle
4 6 David Ragan
5 32 Brian Vickers
6 47 Michael McDowell #
7 42 David Gilliland
8 33 Kevin Harvick
9 29 Jeff Burton
10 1 Mike Bliss
11 31 Stanton Barrett
12 20 Joey Logano
13 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14 99 Scott Speed
15 62 Brendan Gaughan #
16 77 Peyton Sellers #
17 66 Steve Wallace
18 91 Terry Cook #
19 0 Mark Green
20 98 Paul Menard

Continue reading “Nationwide Series Starting Lineup: Edwards on pole”

Last year at LMS, Kyle Busch won the race but Brad Keselowski won respect. Late in the event, Denny Hamlin felt Keselowski didn’t give him enough room and bumped him to show his displeasure. Keselowski and his JR Motorsports team took exception, especially owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who gave Hamlin a bump of his own. The on-track incidents led to fisticuffs between their crews on pit road after the race.

One of the season’s memorable quotes came from the tense post-race press conference with Keselowski and Hamlin at the podium: “I race one day a week, not two,” Keselowski said. “I have 200 laps to prove myself, not 400. I have to make the most of every lap.”

He’s come full circle since that confrontation. Dating back to last year’s event at LMS, Keselowski has two wins, one pole, 13 top fives and 21 top 10s in NASCAR Nationwide competition and also won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. He’s the leader of a resurgent group of series-only regulars, six of whom are currently ranked in the top 10.

1 39 Ryan Newman
2 18 Kyle Busch
3 24 Jeff Gordon
4 5 Mark Martin
5 48 Jimmie Johnson
6 9 Kasey Kahne
7 09 Mike Bliss
8 83 Brian Vickers
9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya
10 21 Bill Elliott
11 87 Joe Nemechek
12 1 Martin Truex Jr.
13 11 Denny Hamlin
14 20 Joey Logano #
15 19 Elliott Sadler
16 16 Greg Biffle
17 2 Kurt Busch
18 82 Scott Speed #
19 99 Carl Edwards
20 96 Bobby Labonte
Continue reading “The Rocketman Ryan Newman nabs 600 pole”