Race Report - Dover

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet
2. Ryan Newman, Dodge
3. Carl Edwards, Ford
4. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet
5. Matt Kenseth, Ford
18. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
34. Kyle Petty, #45 Wells Fargo Dodge

OVERVIEW:

Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team finished 18th in Monday’s rain delayed Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa at the one-mile Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Labonte started from the third position, and a quick start put the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge in the second spot in the opening laps. That, however, was the highest the team climbed. Labonte, like so many others in the field, fought a tight car all race. Crew chief Paul Andrews made wholesale changes on the car that kept Labonte as close to the front as possible. Labonte used his abilities to gain positions at the end. Labonte finished 18th and unofficially secured his 17th spot in the point standings. Labonte is unofficially 131 points out of a spot for the championship chase.

“We fought this thing all day,” said Labonte. “I know other guys weren’t handling well either, but we wanted to gain on them. It was good that we were able to keep our position at the end. Paul (Andrews) made changes and the guys stuck with it. We got a few of them at the end. The battle will continue at Pocono.”

Rain from a storm that tracked up the east coast forced NASCAR officials to postpone the race to Monday afternoon. Teams entered the race without any idea of the track conditions since all the ‘rubber’ from the weekend had been washed away. A ‘green’ track, teams and drivers complained on various degrees of loose or tight handling conditions. The one driver that was dominant all afternoon was Truex Jr. Truex Jr. led the majority of the race and lapped half the field for his first victory. There seemed to be no question, even early in the race, that Truex Jr. had the best Car of Tomorrow on the track.

Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge started in the 39th position Monday. The team was looking to carry the momentum it earned after finishing third in the Coca-Cola 600 the weekend prior. A top finish wasn’t meant to happen, but it wasn’t without a fight. Petty, too, fought a tight handling car all day. Crew chief Billy Wilburn made big changes early. He ordered the team to replace the sway bar during an early race competition caution. The team went to work, and a job that normally can take several minutes, the team completed the task in seconds. Petty restarted in the rear, but made moves forward the rest of the race. The car was better, but not what Petty needed for a top finish. The team was able to fight to a 34th place finish at days end. Petty is now unofficially 30th in points.

“The car was really tight,” said Petty. “I don’t know if anyone besides Truex Jr. had a good handle on it. He lapped a lot of cars out there. We didn’t give up and tried a ton, but only a few guys had the combination right today.”

News broke during the race that NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France Jr. had passed away at his home in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bill France Jr. was the son of the late NASCAR founder Bill France. France Jr. led NASCAR to its rising popularity that is enjoys today.

Martin Truex Jr. won his first Nextel Cup race in the rain delayed event. It marks the second consecutive weekend that a new winner has found victory lane. The event was met with heavy hearts after news broke that NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France Jr. passed away Monday.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads to the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway for next Sunday’s Pocono 500. The race will be televised live by TNT and broadcast live on MRN Radio.