Charger Sports

NASCAR: living life in the fast lane

Kristen Herd, Charger Staff

By now, there have been over thirty races this season in Nascar.

On Feb. 15 at the Daytona 500 on the Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr., #8, took the win. Earnhardt Jr. took the lead on lap 181 and held it for the last nineteen laps. On May 15, the Chevy American Revolution 400 took place at the Richmond Internation Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. also won this race.

At the Food City 500 on Mar. 29, Kurt Busch, #97, won while racing on the Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch held the lead despite four cautions in the last 105 laps. Busch won the Siemens 300 at the New Hampshire Internation Speedway on July 25.
At the Pocono Raceway on Jun. 14, the Pocono 500 took place and Jimmie Johnson, #48, claimed the number one spot. On Aug. 8, the Brickyard 400 took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon, #24, finished first.

On Sep. 5, the Pop Secret 500 took place at the California Speedway. Brian Vickers, #25, Bud Pole leader, had an off-and-on lead throughout the race until he was passed by Elliott Sadler, #38, on lap 226, who finished number one.

The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 was held on Sep. 11 at the Richmond International Speedway. Ryan Newman, #12, led the start of the race. After lap eight, a caution was already issued out for Todd Bodine’s, #50, who wrecked. After a battle for the lead between Jeremy Mayfield, #19, and Busch in the last sixty laps, Mayfield took the lead, winning the Chevy 400.

Sep. 26 was the date of the MBNA America 400 held at the Dover International Speedway. In lap 122, Matt Kenseth, #17, lost control of his car and hit a tire barrier while trying to pit. He completely damaged the front end of his vehicle. Newman took the win of the MBNA 400. Newman stated, “When you win races you are going to be good. Now we just have to keep going.”

The EA Sports 500 was held at the Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 3. On lap thirty, Kevin Harvick, #29, went into the pit, overshot and knocked down his own jackman, causing him to lose time. In lap 188, the final lap, Sadler flipped and Earnhardt Jr. took the win.

Oct. 16 the UAW-GM Quality 500 was held. It took place at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. On lap twenty-three, the caution flag was waved for a vicious wreck between Vickers and Robby Gordon, #31. Johnson won the race on lap 334.

On Oct. 24, the Subway 500 was held at Martinsville Speedway. Kyle Petty, #45, spinned and was hit by Earnhardt Jr., which sent Earnhardt Jr. to the garage. “You've got to step up to the plate and race hard in each of these final ten races, “ Busch said.

On Oct. 31, the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 was held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Newman held the first thirty-four out of thirty-six laps at the beginning of the race. On lap fifty-three, Busch blew out his engine. Mark Martin, #6, held the lead for most of the race until the end, when Johnson lead the last seven laps and took first place.

On Nov. 8, theChecker Atuo Parts took place at the Phoenix International Raceway. Newman started off the race in the pole posistion. Casey Mears slammed into the wall on lap 307 and the eleventh caution went out. Earnhardt Jr. won this race to make two victories the ten-race playoff.

The next race few races will be the Mountain Dew Southern 500 on Nov. 14 and the Ford 400 on Nov. 21.