Articles by Heather, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup

Looking in the Rearview Mirror: Was Kentucky a Disaster Second Time Around?

Monday, July 2, 2012 57 reads
Heather Meyer

After last year’s Kentucky Speedway traffic disaster things were somewhat better in 2012, but there were still some issues.

Did hear complaints that elevators and escalators were not working and with as hot it was that is not a good thing.

All three series were at Kentucky this weekend. The trucks led off with Crafton on the pole.

The action in this race started early with a caution on lap 3 for Townley’s crash on exit of turn 3.

Crafton was the first off pit road; Starr had a pit road penalty.

Restart lap 21 with Crafton taking the lead.

Get only a lap in before Bodine spin bringing out the caution.

Race goes back green on lap 27 with Buescher muscling his way to the lead.

Again only a lap run before caution out for Crum into the wall.

Green flag drops on lap 33 with Buescher keeping the lead.

The top ten in running order on lap 40 are: Buescher, Kligerman, Lofton, Keselowski, Sauter, Hornaday Jr, Crafton, Peters, Coulter and Dillon.

Lap 52 finds Kligerman thinking he might have a battery issue.

Lap 58 finds only 22 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 61 finds Agnew spinning in turn 3.

Most of the field pits, with Buescher off pit road first and Sauter getting a pit road penalty.

Restart on lap 67 finds it 3 wide racing for the lead and Buescher finding his way to the front.

Once again the caution comes out on lap 69 for Bodine, Lofton and Piquet Jr getting together.

Lap 73 your top five are Buescher, Crafton, Kligerman, Coulter and Keselowski

Green flag drops again on lap 77 with Buescher in the lead.

Chastain had problems early and replaces Silas in the 99 truck.

Lap 102 finds a caution for George Jr who was loose into outside wall. Dillon was the first off pit road.

Restart lap 108 finds Buescher back to the lead.

The yellow waves again on lap 110as Gale finds the outside and inside was on turn 2

With 37 to go the green waves again and Buescher is the leader.

With 27 laps to go your top ten are Buescher,Dillon,Keselowski,Peters,Crafton,Leffler,Coulter,Sauter,Hornaday and White.

Lap 140 finds Buescher with a 2.182 second lead over Dillon.

Intense battle for second place between Dillon and Keselowski over the last 5 laps.

Buescher is the winner in dominating fashion. Keselowski finished ahead of Dillon, Crafton and Peters.

Points standings: Peters, Lofton -4, Dillon -4, Buescher -9, Kligerman -34, Crafton -42, Coulter – 50, Hornaday Jr – 53, Piquet Jr -57 and Paludo -75

Austin Dillon on the pole for the Nationwide race.

Lap 5 finds the top five Dillon, Hornish Jr, Keselowski, Harvick and Hamlin

The first caution flag waves at lap 25 for Mosley’s spin in turn 4.

Blaney and Keselowski each get a pit road penalty during this caution.

Green flag waves on lap 29 with Dillon taking the lead.

Lap 60 finds Dillon with a 2.947 second lead over Harvick.

Only 19 cars seem to be on the lead lap at lap 76

Green flag stops find Bowles and Richards getting speeding penalties. Stenhouse Jr had a 30 second stop with his jack man being carted off to the care center.

When the green flag stops have cycled through Dillon is back to being the leader.

By lap 100 Dillon has an 8.536 second lead over Harvick.

With 90 laps to go only 10 cars are on the lead lap.

Hamlin driving the 18 this week went to the garage with a lost engine on lap 136

Caution waves for debris just as Dillon finishes his green flag stop. Annette is the leader.

Mike Wallace bounced off the wall pretty hard leaving the debris and goes straight to the garage.

Green flag waves on lap 149 with Dillon finding the lead again.

Lap 165 finds Dillon with a 4.118 second lead.

Dillon sets record for most laps led in Nationwide at Kentucky Speedway with 156+ surpassing Edwards ’05 record of 150.

20 laps to go finds Scott behind the wall with another JGR engine issue.

Dillon gets his first Nationwide win. Dillon’s car also failed post-race inspection.

Point standings: Dillon, Sadler-2, Stenhouse Jr -23, Hornish Jr -33, Allgaier -73, Whitt-82, Annett -99, Bliss -163 and Patrick -185

Johnson gets his first Sprint Cup pole since 2012 and it’s his 26th.

Before the race even starts Keselowski has a broken steering wheel.

Kyle Busch to the lead at the drop of the green flag could be heard saying “48 forgot how to start these things.”

Lap 20 finds your top five Kyle Busch, Hamlin, Keselowski, Johnson and Bowyer

Stewart is off pace and pits on lap 28 for ignition problems.

Keselowski to the lead on lap 35

The yellow waves on lap42 as Riggs limps back to pit road.

Kyle Busch is the first off pit road.

Kahne to pit road on lap 53 for an unscheduled stop because of a loose wheel.

Lap 96 green flag stops start and cycle through with Kyle Busch back to the lead.

Debris finds its way on the track bringing out the yellow on lap 124. Kyle Busch is the first off pit road.

Hamlin makes his way to the lead on lap 129 restart.

He yellow waves again as Blaney blew up.

Restart on lap 155 finds Hamlin in the lead.

Bowyer has to pit from damage with Logano has a tire down.

Lap 189 Johnson finally finds the lead.

Green flag stops start on lap 201, Johnson cycles back to lead as Keselowski and Kyle Busch coast into pit road for their stops.

Caution waves again on lap 211 as Newman blows an engine and Collects Smith in the oil

Green flag waves with 48 to go and Keselowski to the lead.

Keselowski takes the checkers for the third time this season. Followed by Kahne, Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr, Gordon and Johnson.

Kenseth still leads the point standings with Earnhardt Jr in second.

Nationwide and Sprint Cup will be in Daytona with Friday and Saturday night races.