Qualifying
Some different names made the top five during qualifying for the 2008 Coke Zero 400. Chevrolet drivers swept the top five spots lead by Paul Menard.
Mark Martin announced on Friday that he would be racing full-time for Hendrick Motorsports in 2009. He then went out and put his Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy on the outside of the front row.
Row two was made up of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joe Nemechek while Johnny Sauter rounded out the top five.
Drop Of The Green
Paul Menard took the early lead as the inside line moved forward on the first lap. He then continued to lead until AJ Allmendinger blew a tire and brought out the first caution on lap 23.
Storylines
Tony Stewart came into tonight's race as one of the favorites. However, he wasn't feeling well before the race. He spent some time before the race in the infield medical getting loaded up with fluids. It wasn't enough though. Tony had to get out of the car during the race and let J.J. Yeley finish for him.
Tony was treated for "flu-like symptoms" and released.
J.J. Yeley was running in the top ten until he was involved in the final wreck.
Chasing The Checkers
The drivers turned up the aggression and were bumping and blocking as the laps wound down. There were three cautions in the first 75 laps. In the final 45 laps we saw 8 cautions. There was no flow to the final segment of this race.
The final green was a green-white-checkers two lap dash for the finish. Kyle Busch was out front over Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards.
Jeff Gordon spun right when the green flew but NASCAR didn't throw the caution. Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards took the white flag side-by-side. As the field rolled into turn one there was another big crash which instantly froze the finishing order.
Kyle Busch had a fender on Carl Edwards the instant that the yellow flag flew and was awarded the win.
Top Ten
- Kyle Busch
- Carl Edwards
- Matt Kenseth
- Kurt Busch
- David Ragan
- Robby Gordon
- Kasey Kahne
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Clint Bowyer
- Mark Martin
The Points
Kyle Busch stretched his point lead further and claimed even more bonus points for The Chase with another big 2008 win. His six 2008 wins so far in the season would give him a 30 point lead over Carl Edwards when the Chase begins.
At the back of the top twelve Matt Kenseth replaced Kevin Harvick in the top twelve. Kenseth jumped all the way up to ninth as Tony Stewart's problems dropped him to the twelfth and final Chase spot.
The top twelve are now:
- Kyle Busch
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -182
- Jeff Burton -202
- Carl Edwards -249
- Jimmie Johnson -385
- Jeff Gordon -440
- Denny Hamlin -458
- Clint Bowyer -515
- Matt Kenseth -520
- Kasey Kahne -528
- Greg Biffle -533
- Tony Stewart -547
Next Week
We stay under the lights next week as the series races at Chicagoland Speedway next Saturday night under the lights. Last year Tony Stewart scored his first win of the season. Tony could use some good luck this season. Will next Saturday night get his 2008 back on track?
