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Rowdy does it again
Thrilling late pass gives Busch Cup win No. 7
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Kyle Busch passed Jimmie Johnson after a restart on the next-to-last lap Saturday night to win his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season.
Johnson had gone by Busch with 17 laps remaining in the LifeLock.com 400. But on the restart after the ninth caution, Busch went high on the track at Chicagoland Speedway and got by Johnson and held on for yet another victory.
Busch has 14 victories this season, spanning NASCAR's three series. He won a Nationwide Series race on the same track Friday night.
And the 23-year-old Busch showed again why he leads the Sprint Cup points race this season with some great driving at the end.
"This is a dream season, man," Busch said.
Busch's biggest problem came after the race when he got stuck in the mud as he tried to do a celebratory drive through the infield grass.
Johnson, the two-time defending Sprint Cup champion, took second and Kevin Harvick, who entered the race in 13th in points, was third.
Greg Biffle, who led for 43 laps, finished fourth. Tony Stewart, still looking for his first win this season, finished fifth. Stewart announced earlier this week that he would leave Joe Gibbs racing at the end of the season to become part owner and driver with a team that will be called Stewart-Haas Racing next season.
Saturday's race was also the first Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland to start in the late evening and end up at night.
Complete story
Race coverage
Cautions: 9 for 33 laps
Caution 1 / Laps 37-39: As expected, NASCAR has thrown a competition caution so teams can check out tire wear. There has been a lot of rain this weekend in the Joliet, Ill., area so teams are using this stop to create tire strategies for the rest of the race.
Free pass: J.J. Yeley (42nd).
Caution 2 / Laps 49-52: Denny Hamlin has been experiencing a problem the last few laps. He slows to a crawl between Turns 3 and 4 and brings out the caution. This is a brutal blow to Hamlin's Chase hopes. Most of the leaders decide to pit, Jeff Gordon stayed out to pick up bonus points for leading a lap.
Free pass: None.
Caution 3 / Laps 113-116: Michael Waltrip goes for a spin to bring out the caution. Jeff Burton slid up in Turn 4 and hit Waltrip, who was checking up behind Patrick Carpentier.
Caution 4 / Laps 143-146: Debris.
Free pass: Jeff Burton (29th).
100 laps to go: Kyle Busch is out front. Teammate Tony Stewart is second, just over a second behind.
Caution 5 / Laps 178-182: Debris on the backstretch. Spotters point out further debris to NASCAR to create an extended caution.
Free pass: Matt Kesenth (30th).
50 laps to go: A problem with Carl Edwards' splitter sent him to the pits a few laps ago, handing the lead to Kyle Busch with only 50 laps remaining in tonight's race. Kevin Harvick sits in second place.
Caution 6 / Laps 227-230: Debris on the backstretch. While the leaders pitted, Kurt Busch stayed on track to lead a lap.
Free pass: Jason Leffler (28th).
Caution 7 / Laps 238-240: Paul Menard gets into the back of the No. 70 and rips off his rear bumper to bring out the debris caution.
Free pass: Travis Kvapil (29th).
25 laps to go: Kyle Busch is out front, but now Jimmie Johnson is breathing down his neck. It will be an interesting end to tonight's race.
Caution 8 / Laps 246-248: Bobby Labonte gets hit from behind by J.J. Yeley and spins out.
Free pass: Jamie McMurray (30th).
10 laps to go: Jimmie Johnson passed Kyle Busch just a few laps ago and is pulling away at Chicagoland.
Caution 9 / Laps 263-265: David Gilliland's engine blows up, causing the late race drama.
Free pass: None.
Lead changes - 16 lead changes among 10 drivers: Kyle Busch (pole, 1-43), Carl Edwards (44-49), Jeff Gordon (50-55), Greg Biffle (56-91), Brian Vickers (92) Tony Stewart (93-103), Martin Truex Jr. (104-105), Greg Biffle (106-112), Brian Vickers (113), Matt Kenseth (114-120), Kyle Busch (121-202), Carl Edwards (203-211), Kyle Busch (212-227), Kurt Busch (228), Kyle Busch (229-250), Jimmie Johnson (251-265), Kyle Busch (266-267)
Off the track: David Gilliland (engine)
Starting in the back: Joe Nemechek (engine change)
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Ford teams flex their muscles
Roush, Yates look good at Chicagoland
Practice speeds: First | Second | Final
Ford Motor Company has never won at Chicagoland Raceway, but that could change this weekend.
Carl Edwards led the final practice of the weekend before the running of the LifeLock.com 400 by running a fast lap of 174.070 mph.
Jimmie Johnson, the sole Chevrolet in the top 10, was second quick with a 173.533 mph. Behind the top two were a troupe of Fords: David Gilliland, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan and Jamie McMurray.
Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Brian Vickers rounded out the top 10.
Coverage of Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 at FOXSports.com begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Practice 2 recap: Johnson heats up Chicagoland
In a session marred by multiple incidents, Jimmie Johnson led the way by setting a fast lap of 176.177 mph.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver held off a Roush Fenway Racing brigade of Carl Edwards (174.774 mph, second best), Greg Biffle (174.154 mph, third best), and David Ragan (174.008 mph, fifth best).
Tony Stewart was the fastest Toyota driver, fourth overall with a top lap speed of 174.042 mph.
The 45-minute session, which started a few minutes late because of Nationwide Series qualifying, included three caution periods. Casey Mears and J.J. Yeley spun in seperate incidents while Joe Nemechek appeared to have an engine issue to bring out the third.
The final hour-long practice was slated at 6:20 p.m. ET.
Practice 1 recap: Biffle leads rain-shortened session
Rain or shine, Greg Biffle appears to be the leader of the pack at Chicagoland Speedway.
The driver of the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford topped the first practice charts Thursday afternoon with a fast lap of 179.748 mph.
Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five in the practice session for Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400.
The 90-minute session was shortened by a little under 10 minutes due to rain in the Jolliet, Ill. area.
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Kyle Busch inherits pole
Qualifying wiped out due to weather
Starting lineup
The line of strong storms moving in on Chicagoland Speedway was so big, bad and dark blue that it looked more like an impending tidal wave on the horizon.
With sheets of rain pounding the track and flashes of lightning across the sky, NASCAR officials canceled Thursday night's Sprint Cup series qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.
The field for Saturday night's race will be set according to car owner points, putting series points leader Kyle Busch on the pole position and Dale Earnhardt Jr. alongside him on the front row.
Busch wasn't entirely happy with his car's speed in practice Thursday afternoon, and hopes the rain stays away for Friday's practice.
"Hopefully, we can get it better tomorrow - if we can practice tomorrow," said Busch, who leads the series with six victories.
Burton will start third, alongside Carl Edwards. With the field of 43 being set according to points, Johnny Sauter and Tony Raines failed to make the field.
Although this is the first year NASCAR will run under the lights at Chicagoland, drivers didn't seem particularly upset about missing out on their first chance to drive the track at night. Qualifying laps don't necessarily tell drivers and teams much about how the track will react under race conditions.
Greg Biffle was fastest in the first practice session Thursday afternoon, with a lap of 179.748 mph.
Complete story
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Darrell Waltrip
Classic Talladega
Talladega was built to be the fastest, biggest, baddest track in NASCAR. Last Sunday, it lived up to its name, DW says.
Lee Spencer
More than luck
Rain put Jimmie Johnson at the front of Saturday's Cup race in Charlotte. History says he'll stay there at the end, Lee Spencer says.
Jeff Hammond
Bring it on
Chasers beware. Unless somebody stops Jimmie Johnson this weekend, the title battle could be over, Jeff Hammond says.
Steve Byrnes
History road
The Chase returns to its Carolina roots this week at the tricky 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway. Steve Byrnes takes a look.
Mike Joy
Ticking away
NASCAR on FOX unveiled its new "Ticker" at Richmond, and Mike Joy says it will help viewers stay on top of the race.
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| OWNER POINT STANDINGS |
| Pos |
+/- |
Driver |
Car |
Points |
| 31 |
+86 |
Michael Waltrip |
Toyota |
2410 |
| 32 |
+63 |
Dave Blaney |
Toyota |
2387 |
| 33 |
+59 |
Scott Riggs |
Chevrolet |
2383 |
| 34 |
+17 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota |
2341 |
| 35 |
-- |
Robby Gordon |
Dodge |
2324 |
| 36 |
-39 |
Kenny Wallace |
Toyota |
2285 |
| 37 |
-177 |
Sam Hornish Jr. |
Dodge |
2147 |
| 38 |
-328 |
Ken Schrader |
Toyota |
1996 |
| 39 |
-338 |
Patrick Carpentier |
Dodge |
1986 |
| 40 |
-389 |
Terry Labonte |
Dodge |
1935 |
| Complete Owner Standings |
| Track Information |
| On Track With Larry Mac |
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Larry McReynolds, NASCAR on FOX analyst, scouts the track
Read his full analysis. |
| Track Vitals |
Location:
Joliet, IL |
Distance/Track Type:
1.5 Mile Tri-Oval 18-degree bank |
Nextel Cup Top Race Speed:
136.832 by Kevin Harvick on 7/14/2002 |
Nextel Cup Top Qualifying Speed:
188.147 by Jimmie Johnson on 7/8/2005 |
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