Roush Rewind: Irwin Tools Night Race

For the second time this season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series headed to Thunder Valley for the running of the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, located in the mountains of Bristol, TN. Bristol was looking to add to the history books as the race would be the track’s 100th Cup race. Rain fell in the early hours of the afternoon, but the weather improved before the race was set to begin. While many drivers looked like they had what it took to win on Saturday, it was Kyle Busch who would show he was the class of the field as he took the checkered flag and added his name to the NASCAR history book’s once again as not only Bristol’s 100th Cup winner but also as the first driver to win all three races in NASCAR’s top three series in one weekend.
The Roush Fenway Racing drivers headed into the weekend looking to build on the wave of momentum they have been riding. Statistically speaking, Bristol Motor Speedway is one of Roush Fenway’s best tracks. With 10 Cup wins and 9 poles at Bristol, the organization hoped to add to those impressive stats this past weekend. While none of them got the win, they proved that the facts don’t lie. Back in March, three of the four Roush Fenway drivers finished inside the top ten at Bristol, while one got caught up in a wreck not of his own doing that knocked him out of contention. Saturday night’s race was almost like déjà vu. Three finished inside the top 12, while once again, one was left accepting a less than stellar finish after being knocked out of contention.
David Ragan and his team struggled in the two practice sessions on Friday. He ran outside the top 20 for nearly the entire time, and when it came to qualifying, things did not improve. Ragan took the green flag from the 38th position on Saturday night. From the drop of the green flag, the No. 6 UPS Ford began to pick up positions. The first caution came out lap 56, and by then, Ragan had worked his way up to t

The main goal for Carl Edwards and his crew at Bristol was to clinch their spot in the Chase. They didn’t reach that goal, but they did make progress toward achieving it. Edwards was decent in practice on Friday and really found some speed in qualifying to start 2nd in the No. 99 Aflac Ford. He was knocked from the pole by Jimmie Johnson. Once the green flag waved, Edwards drifted back a couple

Matt Kenseth returned to Bristol hoping to add to his impressive achievements at the track. In seven of the last eight August races at Bristol, Kenseth had finished inside the top ten. It’s a streak that he was able to continue. Kenseth started 14th in the No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford on Saturday. He was 10th when the first caution of the race came out on lap 56. Kenseth took that opportunity to tell crew chief Jimmy Fennig that the No. 17 Ford was loose on the exit of the turns. Kenseth pitted for four tires

Greg Biffle ran inside the top ten for a while in practice on Friday, but qualified 21st in the No. 16 3M Ford later that evening. It was a rough start for Biffle on Saturday as he report


After winning the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday and the Food City 250 on Friday, Kyle Busch brought home the win in the Irwin Tools Night Race on Saturday. Busch, who has been breaking records and setting records almost ever since his NASCAR career began, showed no signs of slowing down at Bristol Motor Speedway over the weekend. Congratulations to Kyle Busch and the three crews it took to help him pull off the impressive Bristol sweep!
The Sprint Cup Series takes the weekend off and will return to action next weekend.
Next up: Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
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Photos courtesy of Whitney's personal collection.
Photo 1: The Irwin Tools Night Race banner painted on the pit road wall on the frontstretch.
Photo 2: David Ragan standing on the pit road wall as his crew works on the No. 6 UPS Ford during practice on Friday
Photo 3: Carl Edwards's crew makes adjustments to the No. 99 Aflac Ford during practice.
Photo 4: Matt Kenseth climbs into his racecar for practice.
Photo 5: Greg Biffle on pit road during practice.
Photo 6: The No. 18 crew congratulates Kyle Busch on his victory on Saturday night.
Roush Rewind: Irwin Tools Night Race
Reviewed by Whitney R.
on
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Rating:
