NNS Race Recap: Austin Dillon, Pole Sitter and Race Winner in Kentucky



Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR
Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, captured his first win within 26 race starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He crossed the finish line in dominating fashion – 9.828 seconds ahead of Kurt Busch.

Leading for a total of 192 laps, Dillon was able to break Carl Edwards record of 150 laps led at Kentucky Speedway. Two more exciting facts about the impressive night for this young driver is the fact that he is being shown as the new points leader (2+ over teammate Elliott Sadler) and also nabbed honors as being the highest finishing rookie this season.

Dillon believes that his last pit stop helped to seal the deal for his eventual race win tonight - "That last adjustment, he (referring to crew chief Danny Stockman) got me tight enough to fire off the corners really good. We knew Kurt was good, but our car was just stronger."

Car owner and grandfather Richard Childress is elated about this win for his grandson. He commented on the radio “Dale [Earnhardt Sr.] would be proud tonight, I know he would.”

In an emotional post-race interview with ESPN Pit Reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, crew chief Danny Stockman had this to say about the win: “I believe its been 26 races and it’s just really emotional. I mean – this is what we do it for. Richard and Mike believed in me three years ago to come take this kid to a new level and I feel like we can do it.”

The drivers who finished out the top ten tonight are as follows: Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Michael Annett, Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish Jr., Brad Keselowski, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott Sadler and James Buescher.

Race Cautions:
1. Lap 25 – Jamie Mosley spins
2. Lap 143 – Debris on the frontstretch

Race Highlights:
1. Kurt Busch finished P2 after losing a cylinder with six laps remaining
2. Four different race leaders – Dillon (192), Allgaier (4), Annett (3) and Stenhouse Jr. (1) with seven lead changes
3. Top three green flag speeds – Dillon (169.073), Kurt Busch (168.595) and Kevin Harvick (168.592)

Unofficial Race Results:
http://www.nationwide.nascar.com/nationwide-series/races/standings/

The next NASCAR Nationwide race will be held on July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. The Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca Cola will be broadcast on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET

BREAKING NEWS: Dillon's No. 3 car failed post race tech inspection. Heights on the rear of the car were too low and penalties are expected at the beginning of next week.  Note: Elliott Sadler had the same thing happen earlier this year, it was a six point penalty. 
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Unique Hiram is an Associate Editor/Contributing Writer/Media Rep for Skirts and Scuffs. Additionally, she is also the author of "Fast Lane Poetry" which was published April 2011. Unique can be contacted via email or through Twitter.
NNS Race Recap: Austin Dillon, Pole Sitter and Race Winner in Kentucky NNS Race Recap: Austin Dillon, Pole Sitter and Race Winner in Kentucky Reviewed by Unique Hiram on Friday, June 29, 2012 Rating: 5