Irwin Tools Night Race - Bristol Motor Speedway

[HDT05]

Irwin Tools Night Race

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #24 of 36 for the 2012 season
Race Analysis
Track Length: 0.533-mile concrete oval
Race Length: 266.5 miles /500 laps
Pit Road Speed: 30mph
2012 March Pole Sitter: #16-Greg Biffle, 125.215, finished 13th
2012 March Race Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski, 93.037mph, started 5th



TV Team:
In the Booth: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch
NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham


2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
[after Michigan, race 23 of 36]
1) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 823
2) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 803, -20
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 801, -22
4) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 795, -28
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 776, -47
6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 763, -60
7) #15-Clint Bowyer [1 wins], 757, -66
8) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 738, -85
9) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 728, -95
10) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 727, -96
Current wild card Chase drivers:
WC1) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins, 11th in points]
WC2) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win, 13th in points]
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(8-19-2012)



2012 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Wild-Card Race:
[after Michigan, race 23 of 36]
A look at the race for the two wild-card positions for the Chase based on wins and being inside the top 20 in points.
Driver [wins] standings, behind 10th
first two would make the chase as wild cards:
#5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins] 11th -33 points out of 10th
#39-Ryan Newman [1 win] 13th -47
eight other drivers currently in the running for the wild cards:
#18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 14th -58
#24-Jeff Gordon [1 win] 16th -77
#9-Marcos Ambrose [1 win] 17th -88
#20-Joey Logano [1 win] 18th -127
these drivers have no wins but are in the top-20
#99-Carl Edwards 12th -38
#27-Paul Menard 16th -62
#1-Jamie McMurray 20th -156
#31-Jeff Burton 19th -161
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
The Chase: The top-10 drivers will make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Positions 11 and 12 in the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are Wild Cards, and will go to drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, as long as they are ranked in the top 20 in points. If multiple drivers outside the top 10 tie for wins, the tie-breaker will go to the race winner with the highest points position.
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(8-19-2012)

jayski.com/stats/2012/pdfs/23mis2012points.pdf

[Bundy]

Jeff Gordon really needs a win if he is going to get one of the wild card spots...can't see Ambrose troubling the scorers

[HDT05]

Gordon won't win here...his best bet is at Atlanta and that's if Hendrick sort out their engine issues (Valve Springs) troubles. They must of had a bad batch because four Hendrick engine went including two of Jimmies, one for Tony Stewart and Gordon last race.

But even if they sort out all their issues on the 1.5 mile tracks cone Atlanta Jimmie will be the one to beat, it just doesn't look good for Gordon, hopefully he can win soon though i don't want to see him miss the chase.

This track is more suited to a Brad Keselowski (defending winner) or Kyle Busch. IMO. And Ambrose would need a bloody lot of luck go his way to make the chase and alot of good results.

[HDT05]

Qualifying was washed out so the fastest from practice 1 is on the pole.



Practice 2:



Qualifying:




**** I'm dissapointed at Jimmie Johnson results this weekend and to make it worse the rain ****ed it up and now he starts from 41st. Can't see him winning, this track is hard to pass, Brad Keselowski for the win.

[HDT05]

Sorry 37th

Here's the results from the Nationwide series Qualifying:

[HDT05]

Jeff Gordon will be running a 'special' scheme this weekend on the #24 with FarmVille (Facebook game) on the #24 this weekend.









Wonder whether 'that' will bring some good luck to the #24 team.

[wrighty05]

Ambrose running well.

Tony Stewart needs a new helmet

[HDT05]

Matt Kenseth is a wanker, I've never liked him and after he raced Stewart dirty when he raced him clean, I hate him even more. Hopefully Stewart gives him a few at the next races, Some ups and downs...first of all a great shame that Jimmie Johnson couldn't win, but 2nd is a massive effort from 37th. Good job from Jeff Gordon in 3rd also, seems that FarmVille scheme did work lol good effort for Kahne to come back from his ealier disaster after leading and slipping on a backmarkers oil to finish in the 10. And Jr in 12th was an ok job considering...great job from Ambrose also.

Roush Fenway Fords are struggling, Ambrose was the only Ford in the top 5/10 and there was Biffle next best in 19th!! That's shocking but awesome at the same time, as they could struggle to keep up with Hendrick Motorsports.

[HDT05]

www.jayski.com/stats/2012/pdfs/24bms2012results.pdf