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Slide Notes
www.bellracing.com
Twitter @bellracingusa
FB /bellracingusa
Instagram @bellracingusa
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More Champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance.
Bell Racing USA LLC
301 Mercury Drive, #8
Champaign, IL 61822
800: 800-237-2700
Tel: 217-239-5355
Fax: 217-819-5187
BELL is a registered Trade Mark owned by Bell Sports, Inc. and licensed to Bell Racing USA. Bell Racing USA LLC sells helmets and auto racing accessories exclusively to countries in North and South America and will not ship to countries outside of these territories. Sales to countries outside of North and South America are facilitated through Bell Racing Europe.
BELL RACING USA LLC MISSION STATEMENT:
Bell designs and develops innovative, technically superior auto racing helmets and accessories that maximize protection and enhance driver performance.
Twitter @bellracingusa
FB /bellracingusa
Instagram @bellracingusa
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More Champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance.
Bell Racing USA LLC
301 Mercury Drive, #8
Champaign, IL 61822
800: 800-237-2700
Tel: 217-239-5355
Fax: 217-819-5187
BELL is a registered Trade Mark owned by Bell Sports, Inc. and licensed to Bell Racing USA. Bell Racing USA LLC sells helmets and auto racing accessories exclusively to countries in North and South America and will not ship to countries outside of these territories. Sales to countries outside of North and South America are facilitated through Bell Racing Europe.
BELL RACING USA LLC MISSION STATEMENT:
Bell designs and develops innovative, technically superior auto racing helmets and accessories that maximize protection and enhance driver performance.
3.24.15
Published on Nov 21, 2015
A very diverse winners list from last week.
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Bell Racing USA
#championswearbell
www.bellracing.com
Twitter @bellracingusa
FB /bellracingusa
Instagram @bellracingusa
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More Champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance.
Bell Racing USA LLC
301 Mercury Drive, #8
Champaign, IL 61822
800: 800-237-2700
Tel: 217-239-5355
Fax: 217-819-5187
BELL is a registered Trade Mark owned by Bell Sports, Inc. and licensed to Bell Racing USA. Bell Racing USA LLC sells helmets and auto racing accessories exclusively to countries in North and South America and will not ship to countries outside of these territories. Sales to countries outside of North and South America are facilitated through Bell Racing Europe.
BELL RACING USA LLC MISSION STATEMENT:
Bell designs and develops innovative, technically superior auto racing helmets and accessories that maximize protection and enhance driver performance.
Twitter @bellracingusa
FB /bellracingusa
Instagram @bellracingusa
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More Champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance.
Bell Racing USA LLC
301 Mercury Drive, #8
Champaign, IL 61822
800: 800-237-2700
Tel: 217-239-5355
Fax: 217-819-5187
BELL is a registered Trade Mark owned by Bell Sports, Inc. and licensed to Bell Racing USA. Bell Racing USA LLC sells helmets and auto racing accessories exclusively to countries in North and South America and will not ship to countries outside of these territories. Sales to countries outside of North and South America are facilitated through Bell Racing Europe.
BELL RACING USA LLC MISSION STATEMENT:
Bell designs and develops innovative, technically superior auto racing helmets and accessories that maximize protection and enhance driver performance.
Sebastien Bourdais
12 Hours of Sebring
Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais claimed a clear victory in the Sebring 12 Hours for the Action Express Racing team.
The trio's Coyote-Chevrolet Corvette DP hit the lead in the second hour and went a lap clear before the end of the ninth hour.
That advantage gave no way back for the chasing Chip Ganassi, Spirit of Daytona and Wayne Taylor cars even when the safety car came out for a sixth time with two hours to go, and the Action Express car to take the flag one lap clear in the second round of the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.
Bourdais said: "It feels great; that was a heck of race and was physically very tough."
The Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet Corvette DP finished second in the hands of brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli.
They had to fight back from braking issues that blighted their Dallara's performance in qualifying and the first third of the race.
Ricky Taylor moved up to third ahead of Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona Coyote-Chevrolet during the penultimate pitstop sequence and was then able to catch and pass Scott Dixon in the Ganassi Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP.
Westbrook, who shared his Coyote with Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller, then overhauled the Ganassi Riley for the final podium spot with just six minutes to go.
Top LMP2 car was the Krohn Racing Ligier-Judd/BMW JSP2 shared by pole winner Olivier Pla, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn in eighth place.
Pla led during the opening exchanges, but a series of delays, including a stop to address a problem with a loose exhaust, left the car six laps down at the finish.
A high attrition rate among the Prototype class entries allowed the winning Prototype Challenge car to claim sixth place overall.
The class was won by the PR1/Mathiasen ORECA-Chevrolet FLM09 driven by Tom Kimber-Smith, Andrew Palmer and Mike Guasch.
Kimber-Smith resisted a late challenge from Colin Braun in the CORE ORECA before a quicker final pitstop gave him breathing space for the run to the flag.
CORVETTE BENEFITS AS PORSCHE WILTS
Corvette, Sebring 12 Hours 2015
Corvette Racing repeated its Daytona 24 Hours victory with Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe after the factory Porsche team's challenge wilted in the closing stages.
The #3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R took over the lead in Garcia's hands when Porsche's Nick Tandy encountered gearbox problems with 40 minutes of the race left to run.
The second Porsche, which had been running second in Frederic Makowiecki's hands, had an issue with the left rear wheel, resulting in a series of pitstops that left it seventh in class at the finish.
The problems for the CORE-run factory Porsche 911 RSRs allowed the Corvette to come through to take a one-minute victory from the Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer and Andrea Bertolini.
Alex Job Racing claimed its 10th class triumph at Sebring with GT Daytona honours with the Porsche 911 GT America driven by Mario Farnbacher, Ian James and Alex Riberas.
The car came back into contention after a puncture during the final yellow.
Farnbacher was able to take the lead, before going off under pressure from Jeroen Bleekemolen in the best of the Riley Motorsports Dodge SRT Viper GTS-Rs.
Bleekemolen, who had led much of the way together with brother Sebastiaan and Ben Keating, was deprived of victory when engine problems brought the Viper into the pits to retire with just five minutes left on the clock.
The trio's Coyote-Chevrolet Corvette DP hit the lead in the second hour and went a lap clear before the end of the ninth hour.
That advantage gave no way back for the chasing Chip Ganassi, Spirit of Daytona and Wayne Taylor cars even when the safety car came out for a sixth time with two hours to go, and the Action Express car to take the flag one lap clear in the second round of the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.
Bourdais said: "It feels great; that was a heck of race and was physically very tough."
The Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet Corvette DP finished second in the hands of brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli.
They had to fight back from braking issues that blighted their Dallara's performance in qualifying and the first third of the race.
Ricky Taylor moved up to third ahead of Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona Coyote-Chevrolet during the penultimate pitstop sequence and was then able to catch and pass Scott Dixon in the Ganassi Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP.
Westbrook, who shared his Coyote with Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller, then overhauled the Ganassi Riley for the final podium spot with just six minutes to go.
Top LMP2 car was the Krohn Racing Ligier-Judd/BMW JSP2 shared by pole winner Olivier Pla, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn in eighth place.
Pla led during the opening exchanges, but a series of delays, including a stop to address a problem with a loose exhaust, left the car six laps down at the finish.
A high attrition rate among the Prototype class entries allowed the winning Prototype Challenge car to claim sixth place overall.
The class was won by the PR1/Mathiasen ORECA-Chevrolet FLM09 driven by Tom Kimber-Smith, Andrew Palmer and Mike Guasch.
Kimber-Smith resisted a late challenge from Colin Braun in the CORE ORECA before a quicker final pitstop gave him breathing space for the run to the flag.
CORVETTE BENEFITS AS PORSCHE WILTS
Corvette, Sebring 12 Hours 2015
Corvette Racing repeated its Daytona 24 Hours victory with Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe after the factory Porsche team's challenge wilted in the closing stages.
The #3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R took over the lead in Garcia's hands when Porsche's Nick Tandy encountered gearbox problems with 40 minutes of the race left to run.
The second Porsche, which had been running second in Frederic Makowiecki's hands, had an issue with the left rear wheel, resulting in a series of pitstops that left it seventh in class at the finish.
The problems for the CORE-run factory Porsche 911 RSRs allowed the Corvette to come through to take a one-minute victory from the Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer and Andrea Bertolini.
Alex Job Racing claimed its 10th class triumph at Sebring with GT Daytona honours with the Porsche 911 GT America driven by Mario Farnbacher, Ian James and Alex Riberas.
The car came back into contention after a puncture during the final yellow.
Farnbacher was able to take the lead, before going off under pressure from Jeroen Bleekemolen in the best of the Riley Motorsports Dodge SRT Viper GTS-Rs.
Bleekemolen, who had led much of the way together with brother Sebastiaan and Ben Keating, was deprived of victory when engine problems brought the Viper into the pits to retire with just five minutes left on the clock.
Christian Fittipaldi
12 Hours of Sebring
Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais claimed a clear victory in the Sebring 12 Hours for the Action Express Racing team.
The trio's Coyote-Chevrolet Corvette DP hit the lead in the second hour and went a lap clear before the end of the ninth hour.
That advantage gave no way back for the chasing Chip Ganassi, Spirit of Daytona and Wayne Taylor cars even when the safety car came out for a sixth time with two hours to go, and the Action Express car to take the flag one lap clear in the second round of the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.
Bourdais said: "It feels great; that was a heck of race and was physically very tough."
The Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet Corvette DP finished second in the hands of brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli.
They had to fight back from braking issues that blighted their Dallara's performance in qualifying and the first third of the race.
Ricky Taylor moved up to third ahead of Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona Coyote-Chevrolet during the penultimate pitstop sequence and was then able to catch and pass Scott Dixon in the Ganassi Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP.
Westbrook, who shared his Coyote with Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller, then overhauled the Ganassi Riley for the final podium spot with just six minutes to go.
Top LMP2 car was the Krohn Racing Ligier-Judd/BMW JSP2 shared by pole winner Olivier Pla, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn in eighth place.
Pla led during the opening exchanges, but a series of delays, including a stop to address a problem with a loose exhaust, left the car six laps down at the finish.
A high attrition rate among the Prototype class entries allowed the winning Prototype Challenge car to claim sixth place overall.
The class was won by the PR1/Mathiasen ORECA-Chevrolet FLM09 driven by Tom Kimber-Smith, Andrew Palmer and Mike Guasch.
Kimber-Smith resisted a late challenge from Colin Braun in the CORE ORECA before a quicker final pitstop gave him breathing space for the run to the flag.
CORVETTE BENEFITS AS PORSCHE WILTS
Corvette, Sebring 12 Hours 2015
Corvette Racing repeated its Daytona 24 Hours victory with Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe after the factory Porsche team's challenge wilted in the closing stages.
The #3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R took over the lead in Garcia's hands when Porsche's Nick Tandy encountered gearbox problems with 40 minutes of the race left to run.
The second Porsche, which had been running second in Frederic Makowiecki's hands, had an issue with the left rear wheel, resulting in a series of pitstops that left it seventh in class at the finish.
The problems for the CORE-run factory Porsche 911 RSRs allowed the Corvette to come through to take a one-minute victory from the Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer and Andrea Bertolini.
Alex Job Racing claimed its 10th class triumph at Sebring with GT Daytona honours with the Porsche 911 GT America driven by Mario Farnbacher, Ian James and Alex Riberas.
The car came back into contention after a puncture during the final yellow.
Farnbacher was able to take the lead, before going off under pressure from Jeroen Bleekemolen in the best of the Riley Motorsports Dodge SRT Viper GTS-Rs.
Bleekemolen, who had led much of the way together with brother Sebastiaan and Ben Keating, was deprived of victory when engine problems brought the Viper into the pits to retire with just five minutes left on the clock.
The trio's Coyote-Chevrolet Corvette DP hit the lead in the second hour and went a lap clear before the end of the ninth hour.
That advantage gave no way back for the chasing Chip Ganassi, Spirit of Daytona and Wayne Taylor cars even when the safety car came out for a sixth time with two hours to go, and the Action Express car to take the flag one lap clear in the second round of the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.
Bourdais said: "It feels great; that was a heck of race and was physically very tough."
The Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet Corvette DP finished second in the hands of brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli.
They had to fight back from braking issues that blighted their Dallara's performance in qualifying and the first third of the race.
Ricky Taylor moved up to third ahead of Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona Coyote-Chevrolet during the penultimate pitstop sequence and was then able to catch and pass Scott Dixon in the Ganassi Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP.
Westbrook, who shared his Coyote with Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller, then overhauled the Ganassi Riley for the final podium spot with just six minutes to go.
Top LMP2 car was the Krohn Racing Ligier-Judd/BMW JSP2 shared by pole winner Olivier Pla, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn in eighth place.
Pla led during the opening exchanges, but a series of delays, including a stop to address a problem with a loose exhaust, left the car six laps down at the finish.
A high attrition rate among the Prototype class entries allowed the winning Prototype Challenge car to claim sixth place overall.
The class was won by the PR1/Mathiasen ORECA-Chevrolet FLM09 driven by Tom Kimber-Smith, Andrew Palmer and Mike Guasch.
Kimber-Smith resisted a late challenge from Colin Braun in the CORE ORECA before a quicker final pitstop gave him breathing space for the run to the flag.
CORVETTE BENEFITS AS PORSCHE WILTS
Corvette, Sebring 12 Hours 2015
Corvette Racing repeated its Daytona 24 Hours victory with Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe after the factory Porsche team's challenge wilted in the closing stages.
The #3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R took over the lead in Garcia's hands when Porsche's Nick Tandy encountered gearbox problems with 40 minutes of the race left to run.
The second Porsche, which had been running second in Frederic Makowiecki's hands, had an issue with the left rear wheel, resulting in a series of pitstops that left it seventh in class at the finish.
The problems for the CORE-run factory Porsche 911 RSRs allowed the Corvette to come through to take a one-minute victory from the Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer and Andrea Bertolini.
Alex Job Racing claimed its 10th class triumph at Sebring with GT Daytona honours with the Porsche 911 GT America driven by Mario Farnbacher, Ian James and Alex Riberas.
The car came back into contention after a puncture during the final yellow.
Farnbacher was able to take the lead, before going off under pressure from Jeroen Bleekemolen in the best of the Riley Motorsports Dodge SRT Viper GTS-Rs.
Bleekemolen, who had led much of the way together with brother Sebastiaan and Ben Keating, was deprived of victory when engine problems brought the Viper into the pits to retire with just five minutes left on the clock.
BELL RACING USA HP.7
The FIA8860 specification requires the helmet to be certified to the Snell SA standard plus pass an additional single impact from 5 meters to help protect against more massive impacts and withstand a special shell hardness test to help prevent objects from penetrating the shell. Bell was the first helmet company to introduce an FIA8860 certified model in 2004. Since the initial introduction, Bell’s HP helmets have been constantly improved and the current models are a direct result of intense research and development and close collaboration with the world’s best drivers, teams and testing facilities. Test results show that in certain impacts, the Bell HP helmets absorb up to 40% more energy than standard models.
The HP7 features a high-strength, ultra-lightweight shell made using aerospace and military grade carbon made in Bell Racing’s high-pressure proprietary molding system that allows pressures twice as high as conventional autoclaves. The shell and shield design has been optimized by moving the shield pivot pointer to a lower position to improve acoustic comfort, aerodynamic behavior and energy absorbing capacities. The HP7 liner system is all new featuring a multi-piece, multi-density high-impact custom bead absorbing liner with a reinforced layer of Kevlar for added protection. The helmet’s redesigned ergonomic interior incorporates multiple density comfort foams and padding to ensure the best possible fit to accommodate a variety of head shapes.
Ventilation has been improved with the introduction of 14 air intake and extraction channels strategically placed around the shell and a duel chamber air intake, maximizing airflow around the head and the face. The HP7 has titanium hardware and an optical grade injected Double Screen Anti Fog (DSAF) shield, with variable thickness exceeding 5mm in the field of vision, setting a new standard for clarity and fog control. The shield seal has also been improved with the introduction of a hollow synthetic rubber gasket ensuring that air and water especially in wet conditions can’t penetrate into the helmet through the eyeport. The helmet’s chin guard face piece is removable, available in various thicknesses to accommodate different cheek and jaw shapes. The integrated channels in the face piece offer multiple options to install integrated drinking tube systems and radio microphone systems.
The HP7 is also available without chin bar duckbill (front spoiler). Additional chin bar and top gurneys (sold separately) are available to customize the aerodynamic performance of the helmet.
The HP7 is certified to the Snell SA2010 and FIA8860-2010 standards and is available in an all carbon finish in sizes 7 1/8 minus (57-) to 7 5/8 plus (61+). The helmet takes the SE07 3MM shield and SV SE07 pivot system. It comes equipped with Hans Anchors, double screen anti fog visor insert and fleece lined helmet bag.
The HP7 features a high-strength, ultra-lightweight shell made using aerospace and military grade carbon made in Bell Racing’s high-pressure proprietary molding system that allows pressures twice as high as conventional autoclaves. The shell and shield design has been optimized by moving the shield pivot pointer to a lower position to improve acoustic comfort, aerodynamic behavior and energy absorbing capacities. The HP7 liner system is all new featuring a multi-piece, multi-density high-impact custom bead absorbing liner with a reinforced layer of Kevlar for added protection. The helmet’s redesigned ergonomic interior incorporates multiple density comfort foams and padding to ensure the best possible fit to accommodate a variety of head shapes.
Ventilation has been improved with the introduction of 14 air intake and extraction channels strategically placed around the shell and a duel chamber air intake, maximizing airflow around the head and the face. The HP7 has titanium hardware and an optical grade injected Double Screen Anti Fog (DSAF) shield, with variable thickness exceeding 5mm in the field of vision, setting a new standard for clarity and fog control. The shield seal has also been improved with the introduction of a hollow synthetic rubber gasket ensuring that air and water especially in wet conditions can’t penetrate into the helmet through the eyeport. The helmet’s chin guard face piece is removable, available in various thicknesses to accommodate different cheek and jaw shapes. The integrated channels in the face piece offer multiple options to install integrated drinking tube systems and radio microphone systems.
The HP7 is also available without chin bar duckbill (front spoiler). Additional chin bar and top gurneys (sold separately) are available to customize the aerodynamic performance of the helmet.
The HP7 is certified to the Snell SA2010 and FIA8860-2010 standards and is available in an all carbon finish in sizes 7 1/8 minus (57-) to 7 5/8 plus (61+). The helmet takes the SE07 3MM shield and SV SE07 pivot system. It comes equipped with Hans Anchors, double screen anti fog visor insert and fleece lined helmet bag.
Brad Keselowski
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club Raceway
FONTANA, Calif. -- While Kevin Harvick chased Kurt Busch down the stretch in a battle of the best cars in the Fontana field, Brad Keselowski was buried in 17th place -- until the yellow flags started flying.
A caution for debris allowed Keselowski to move up to sixth. When a second flag went up, he took four new tires while Harvick and Busch got only two.
More from ESPN.com
Brad Keselowski can bask in the glow of a surprising victory at Auto Club Speedway with the full -- and angst-ridden -- knowledge he's bound to lose one like this the next time. Story
Keselowski burned that extra rubber all the way to Victory Lane.
Keselowski roared past Busch on the final lap and held off the streaking Harvick to win at Fontana on Sunday, earning his first NASCAR victory of the season in a wild finish.
"I knew [Harvick] and [Busch] had been the class of the weekend and deserved to win on speed," Keselowski said after his 17th career Sprint Cup victory. "Maybe we kind of stole one today."
Although their Team Penske Ford led only one lap, Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe concocted a strategy to capitalize on the green-white-checkered finish after a caution for debris prevented Busch from cruising to a probable win. They made up track position under the first yellow flag, and Wolfe then made the winning decision after Kyle Larson's bumper flew off to cause another caution.
"Paul made the call to come down pit road and put four tires on, and I said, 'Well, this could either go really good or really bad,'" Keselowski said. "I didn't know which one it was going to be. Some guys stayed out, some guys took two tires, all kinds of different strategies."
"On the restart, we were just able to find our way through the lanes and get to the front there and somehow end up in Victory Lane leading the last lap there," he added. "That's kind of a race car driver's dream. This is one we're going to sit back and go, 'Wow,' for a while."
[+] EnlargeBrad Keselowski
AP Photo/Alex Gallardo
Brad Keselowski capitalized on two late restarts to capture his first NASCAR win of the season.
Keselowski slipped underneath Busch for the decisive pass, taking full advantage of the California speedway's wide racing surface. He had never finished better than 18th on this track, which he thinks is the best in NASCAR.
Although Greg Biffle crashed behind them during that final lap, NASCAR let the field keep racing while Biffle got his car off the track, and Keselowski finished strong.
"At the end, we caught some breaks and made the most of the breaks we caught," Keselowski said.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, since 1980, Keselowski is the only driver with two Sprint Cup wins in which he only led on the final lap, the other coming in April 2009 at Talladega.
Harvick fell just short of a three-race West Coast sweep, but finished second to extend his remarkable streak of top-two Sprint Cup finishes to eight races dating to last season. Only Richard Petty ever did it better, setting the NASCAR record with 11 straight in 1975.
"I hate that [Busch] wasn't able to hold on for the win there,'' said defending series champion Harvick, who leads Joey Logano by 28 points in the overall standings. "I would have loved to see those guys get their first win."
Busch and Harvick made the most of their superior Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolets, and they likely would have cruised to a 1-2 finish before the first late caution led to another chapter in the thrilling races that have recently characterized the well-aged asphalt at Fontana.
Team owner Roger Penske praised Wolfe's decisive call on the tires as "perfect." Penske's team hadn't won a NASCAR race since 2002 on the track he built one hour east of Los Angeles two decades ago.
“
I knew [Kevin Harvick] and [Kurt Busch] had been the class of the weekend and deserved to win on speed. Maybe we kind of stole one today.
”
- Brad Keselowski
"Tires are worth a lot here," Wolfe said. "And once you put one lap or one heat cycle on them, you're pretty much looking to put new tires on and pick up quite a bit of grip."
Busch, who won the pole, finished third in his second race back from suspension, clipping the wall on his final lap in a desperate attempt to catch up.
He hasn't won since last March at Martinsville, but has two top-five finishes since his return from a three-race ban. Busch's girlfriend accused him of domestic assault, but he wasn't charged.
"We just got hung out on the yellows at the end," Busch said. "That last restart, I just didn't get the job done. Brad outmuscled us on four tires."
Paul Menard came home fourth ahead of Ryan Newman in their Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in sixth and Jimmie Johnson ninth.
A caution for debris allowed Keselowski to move up to sixth. When a second flag went up, he took four new tires while Harvick and Busch got only two.
More from ESPN.com
Brad Keselowski can bask in the glow of a surprising victory at Auto Club Speedway with the full -- and angst-ridden -- knowledge he's bound to lose one like this the next time. Story
Keselowski burned that extra rubber all the way to Victory Lane.
Keselowski roared past Busch on the final lap and held off the streaking Harvick to win at Fontana on Sunday, earning his first NASCAR victory of the season in a wild finish.
"I knew [Harvick] and [Busch] had been the class of the weekend and deserved to win on speed," Keselowski said after his 17th career Sprint Cup victory. "Maybe we kind of stole one today."
Although their Team Penske Ford led only one lap, Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe concocted a strategy to capitalize on the green-white-checkered finish after a caution for debris prevented Busch from cruising to a probable win. They made up track position under the first yellow flag, and Wolfe then made the winning decision after Kyle Larson's bumper flew off to cause another caution.
"Paul made the call to come down pit road and put four tires on, and I said, 'Well, this could either go really good or really bad,'" Keselowski said. "I didn't know which one it was going to be. Some guys stayed out, some guys took two tires, all kinds of different strategies."
"On the restart, we were just able to find our way through the lanes and get to the front there and somehow end up in Victory Lane leading the last lap there," he added. "That's kind of a race car driver's dream. This is one we're going to sit back and go, 'Wow,' for a while."
[+] EnlargeBrad Keselowski
AP Photo/Alex Gallardo
Brad Keselowski capitalized on two late restarts to capture his first NASCAR win of the season.
Keselowski slipped underneath Busch for the decisive pass, taking full advantage of the California speedway's wide racing surface. He had never finished better than 18th on this track, which he thinks is the best in NASCAR.
Although Greg Biffle crashed behind them during that final lap, NASCAR let the field keep racing while Biffle got his car off the track, and Keselowski finished strong.
"At the end, we caught some breaks and made the most of the breaks we caught," Keselowski said.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, since 1980, Keselowski is the only driver with two Sprint Cup wins in which he only led on the final lap, the other coming in April 2009 at Talladega.
Harvick fell just short of a three-race West Coast sweep, but finished second to extend his remarkable streak of top-two Sprint Cup finishes to eight races dating to last season. Only Richard Petty ever did it better, setting the NASCAR record with 11 straight in 1975.
"I hate that [Busch] wasn't able to hold on for the win there,'' said defending series champion Harvick, who leads Joey Logano by 28 points in the overall standings. "I would have loved to see those guys get their first win."
Busch and Harvick made the most of their superior Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolets, and they likely would have cruised to a 1-2 finish before the first late caution led to another chapter in the thrilling races that have recently characterized the well-aged asphalt at Fontana.
Team owner Roger Penske praised Wolfe's decisive call on the tires as "perfect." Penske's team hadn't won a NASCAR race since 2002 on the track he built one hour east of Los Angeles two decades ago.
“
I knew [Kevin Harvick] and [Kurt Busch] had been the class of the weekend and deserved to win on speed. Maybe we kind of stole one today.
”
- Brad Keselowski
"Tires are worth a lot here," Wolfe said. "And once you put one lap or one heat cycle on them, you're pretty much looking to put new tires on and pick up quite a bit of grip."
Busch, who won the pole, finished third in his second race back from suspension, clipping the wall on his final lap in a desperate attempt to catch up.
He hasn't won since last March at Martinsville, but has two top-five finishes since his return from a three-race ban. Busch's girlfriend accused him of domestic assault, but he wasn't charged.
"We just got hung out on the yellows at the end," Busch said. "That last restart, I just didn't get the job done. Brad outmuscled us on four tires."
Paul Menard came home fourth ahead of Ryan Newman in their Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in sixth and Jimmie Johnson ninth.
Brad wears the RS.7 Carbon with Ear Cups
The RS7 Carbon is available in two variations, non-duckbill (with regular interior) and a Ear Cup version (compatible with ear cups to reduce ambient noise). Both can be adapted for closed car forms of racing with top forced air inserts to improve ventilation (accessory items sold separately). The Snell SA2010 and FIA8858-2010 homologated RS7 Carbon is also designed to work with Bell’s chin bar, top gurney and rear spoiler kits to enhance helmet performance and stability at higher speeds. The RS7 Carbon improves shield seal with the hollow synthetic rubber gasket and takes the SE07 3MM shield with Double Screen Anti Fog Insert (DSAF) which features the SV SE07 pivot system with thumb tab on the driver’s left side to allow for easy shield operation. Available in carbon finish in sizes
7 1/8 (57) to 7 3/4 (62), the RS7 Carbon includes M6 terminal hardware for head and neck restraint devices.
Kevin Harvick
NASCAR XFINITY Series Auto Club Raceway
Here we go again.
Kevin Harvick pulled away from Brendan Gaughan and held on to win the Xfinity Series Drive4Clots.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday. It's his 46th career Xfinity Series win but first at the track for the California native. Harvick also now has 12 top-five finishes in 19 races at Fontana.
MORE: Busch leads Cup practice again | SHR great divide | SN fan gallery contest
"We've been close to winning here before, but today was a day that was pretty much flawless from start to finish," Harvick said, according to The Associated Press. "Everything is clicking right now, and you've just got to keep riding the wave."
Harvick led 100 of the 150 laps for his second Xfinity Series win of the season. He beat Gaughan by 3.317 seconds at the finish line. He also won the Xfinity race at Atlanta.
"A lot of fun to drive the race cars right now," Harvick said. "For me as the driver, making laps around this place and knowing what seam does what ... I feel like the more laps I can make, the better off I'm going to be tomorrow."
Gaughan finished second followed by pole-sitter Erik Jones, Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher.
"You can never say you're going to beat Kevin Harvick on a restart, but man, I would have loved a shot," Gaughan said. "His Chevrolet was on a mission today."
"We had a good car," Jones said in a Toyota Racing press release. "The 88 (Harvick) has just been so fast and the 22 (Brad Keselowski), but nothing to take away from our day. Running third, that's great.
"Improved from last week and got better and just keep moving forward and getting our Camrys better. We're really close. We're right on the verge. I wish we could get that last little piece to get that speed that the guys that are winning races have. Looking forward to the next two weeks and getting back after and trying again."
Ty Dillon, who came into the race as the points leader, maintains the top spot but finished 13th. That allowed Buescher, who will get his first Sprint Cup start Sunday in the Auto Club 400, the chance to close within six points of the lead.
"We always have work to do and we know that," Buescher said in a Ford Performance press release. "Until you’re winning every race you’re gonna say the same thing every Monday, so we’re gonna keep working at it. Everybody is working really hard.”
Kevin Harvick pulled away from Brendan Gaughan and held on to win the Xfinity Series Drive4Clots.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday. It's his 46th career Xfinity Series win but first at the track for the California native. Harvick also now has 12 top-five finishes in 19 races at Fontana.
MORE: Busch leads Cup practice again | SHR great divide | SN fan gallery contest
"We've been close to winning here before, but today was a day that was pretty much flawless from start to finish," Harvick said, according to The Associated Press. "Everything is clicking right now, and you've just got to keep riding the wave."
Harvick led 100 of the 150 laps for his second Xfinity Series win of the season. He beat Gaughan by 3.317 seconds at the finish line. He also won the Xfinity race at Atlanta.
"A lot of fun to drive the race cars right now," Harvick said. "For me as the driver, making laps around this place and knowing what seam does what ... I feel like the more laps I can make, the better off I'm going to be tomorrow."
Gaughan finished second followed by pole-sitter Erik Jones, Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher.
"You can never say you're going to beat Kevin Harvick on a restart, but man, I would have loved a shot," Gaughan said. "His Chevrolet was on a mission today."
"We had a good car," Jones said in a Toyota Racing press release. "The 88 (Harvick) has just been so fast and the 22 (Brad Keselowski), but nothing to take away from our day. Running third, that's great.
"Improved from last week and got better and just keep moving forward and getting our Camrys better. We're really close. We're right on the verge. I wish we could get that last little piece to get that speed that the guys that are winning races have. Looking forward to the next two weeks and getting back after and trying again."
Ty Dillon, who came into the race as the points leader, maintains the top spot but finished 13th. That allowed Buescher, who will get his first Sprint Cup start Sunday in the Auto Club 400, the chance to close within six points of the lead.
"We always have work to do and we know that," Buescher said in a Ford Performance press release. "Until you’re winning every race you’re gonna say the same thing every Monday, so we’re gonna keep working at it. Everybody is working really hard.”
Kevin Harvick
chooses the GP.2 Carbon
The GP.2 Carbon features an ultra-lightweight carbon shell made using Bell’s high-pressure resin transfer molding system, allowing us to build a carbon helmet with superior performance at an economical price. The GP.2 Carbon is certified to the Snell SA2010 and the FIA8858 standard. The FIA8858 certification requires the helmet to be tested for use with Head and Neck Restraint Devices. Bell’s M6 terminal hardware is incorporated into the helmet shell and accepts anchor systems.
The GP.2 Carbon features a front aero chin bar, an ultra-lightweight, pro-style interior for outstanding comfort and a front air intake that forces air into the helmet's forehead vents for maximum ventilation. The .200mm GP.2 air intake is replaceable and the helmet can be used without the air intake. The direct flow upper and lower chin bar vents on the front of the helmet help to increase airflow and prevent shield fogging. The GP.2 Carbon can also be adapted for use as a top forced air helmet. The top forced air kit has been designed to utilize the helmet’s vents to flow air around the top of the head and also maximize airflow to the face by directing the air to the eye port between the foam seal and back of the shield. The top forced air kit is available in clear ($39.95) or carbon fiber ($99.95). Both versions are available with Bell’s standard V.05 nozzle or the smaller QL nozzle.
The GP.2 Carbon is built with an interior that can be adapted for use with ear cups. Originally developed for Bell’s rally helmets, the ear cups can be incorporated into the helmet’s interior by installing an ear cup face piece and collar assembly. The integrated ear cups provide a quieter environment for the driver by reducing the ambient noise transmitted to the ear. Bell has developed a specific liner and face piece to allow the helmet to accommodate ear cups. The GP.2 Carbon can be easily adapted for use with ear cups by installing the GP.2 ear cup face piece ($39.95) and full EC neck collar ($19.95) plus standard size 21mm ear cups ($29.95). The total price is $89.95 to convert the GP.2 Carbon for use with ear cups. The cups install with Velcro and include spacers to adjust the fit as needed.
The GP.2 Carbon has been designed to work with Bell's aero kits including chin bar gurneys, top gurneys and rear spoilers to configure the helmet for all open wheel and open compartment forms of racing depending on aerodynamic requirements and environment. While the GP.2 Carbon has a front aero lip and chin bar designed into the helmet, these aerodynamic kits enhance helmet performance to provide greater helmet stability at higher speeds.
The GP.2 Carbon takes a 287 SRV Shield which features the SRV-1 pivot system and thumb tab on the drivers left side to allow for easy shield operation. The GP.2 Carbon incorporates Bell's redesigned face piece with recessed areas that allow for seamless radio integration and easy installation. Racers can also customize the fit of the GP.2 Carbon by using Bell's Cheek Pad Inserts in 5mm, 10mm, 15mm and 20mm sizes to tighten the fit in the cheek area. The GP.2 Carbon is available in carbon finish only in size 7 1/8 minus (57-) to 7 3/4 and retails for $799.95.
The GP.2 Carbon features a front aero chin bar, an ultra-lightweight, pro-style interior for outstanding comfort and a front air intake that forces air into the helmet's forehead vents for maximum ventilation. The .200mm GP.2 air intake is replaceable and the helmet can be used without the air intake. The direct flow upper and lower chin bar vents on the front of the helmet help to increase airflow and prevent shield fogging. The GP.2 Carbon can also be adapted for use as a top forced air helmet. The top forced air kit has been designed to utilize the helmet’s vents to flow air around the top of the head and also maximize airflow to the face by directing the air to the eye port between the foam seal and back of the shield. The top forced air kit is available in clear ($39.95) or carbon fiber ($99.95). Both versions are available with Bell’s standard V.05 nozzle or the smaller QL nozzle.
The GP.2 Carbon is built with an interior that can be adapted for use with ear cups. Originally developed for Bell’s rally helmets, the ear cups can be incorporated into the helmet’s interior by installing an ear cup face piece and collar assembly. The integrated ear cups provide a quieter environment for the driver by reducing the ambient noise transmitted to the ear. Bell has developed a specific liner and face piece to allow the helmet to accommodate ear cups. The GP.2 Carbon can be easily adapted for use with ear cups by installing the GP.2 ear cup face piece ($39.95) and full EC neck collar ($19.95) plus standard size 21mm ear cups ($29.95). The total price is $89.95 to convert the GP.2 Carbon for use with ear cups. The cups install with Velcro and include spacers to adjust the fit as needed.
The GP.2 Carbon has been designed to work with Bell's aero kits including chin bar gurneys, top gurneys and rear spoilers to configure the helmet for all open wheel and open compartment forms of racing depending on aerodynamic requirements and environment. While the GP.2 Carbon has a front aero lip and chin bar designed into the helmet, these aerodynamic kits enhance helmet performance to provide greater helmet stability at higher speeds.
The GP.2 Carbon takes a 287 SRV Shield which features the SRV-1 pivot system and thumb tab on the drivers left side to allow for easy shield operation. The GP.2 Carbon incorporates Bell's redesigned face piece with recessed areas that allow for seamless radio integration and easy installation. Racers can also customize the fit of the GP.2 Carbon by using Bell's Cheek Pad Inserts in 5mm, 10mm, 15mm and 20mm sizes to tighten the fit in the cheek area. The GP.2 Carbon is available in carbon finish only in size 7 1/8 minus (57-) to 7 3/4 and retails for $799.95.
Jonathan Davenport
Lucas Oil Late Model Atomic Speedway
CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 20, 2015) - Jonathan Davenport led every lap of a fast and furious Buckeye Spring 50 on Friday Night at Atomic Speedway. With the win, Davenport takes over the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points lead heading to Brownstown Speedway on Saturday Night.
Josh Richards briefly took the lead from Davenport on a restart, but Davenport quickly shot back around him re-taking the lead. Richards came home in second, followed by 17th starting Mason Zeigler, Chris Brown, and Jimmy Owens.
"The car was unbelievable all night long. We found a few things wrong after qualifying. We were just spot-on in the heat and feature. The track was extremely fast and hooked-up. It is a great feeling to have a car that handled like that for the entire race. The only thing we really tore up was the right front flair, but we will get that fixed and get ready for Brownstown tomorrow night."
"I can't thank Kevin and Le Roy Rumley enough for what they have done for me. I have very rarely won north of the Mason-Dixon Line, so to come here and win feels real good. When Josh went by me on that one restart, I just got up on the wheel and was able to get back under him."
Davenport started on the pole and was into lapped traffic only five laps into the race as he set a blistering pace. At times; to show how dominant Davenport was; he was a full second faster than anyone else several times during the race.
"We have added some new sponsors this year in Sundance Services and Sundance Flowback Well Testing out of Texas. I want to thank TS Crane Service and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas as well. It's going to great to go to Brownstown tomorrow night sporting that Midwest Sheet Metal Orange Spoiler. That means we are leading the points, and that's great."
Richards was pleased with his second place finish, continuing a good start to the racing season. "Jonathan was so fast tonight. I lost track of him several times out there. Having not raced much last year, and to come here when it's hooked up, I think I need to get back in the gym and work out some more. I want to thank Valvoline and Seubert Calf Ranches. We are coming to Brownstown tomorrow night, and will try and get the win there."
Zeigler charged through the field to take third at the finish. He put on an impressive show for the huge crowd on hand. "Wow! What a racetrack and race that was tonight. We had only been here once, and it was rained out. I hoped the crowd enjoyed that one. We were just biding our time out there and then all of sudden we had some really great restarts and we were in the top five. To have Longhorn Chassis finish first and third in this stout field; that is something."
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Devin Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Don O'Neal, and Dustin Linville.
In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 40 entrants, and set a new Atomic Speedway Track Record, with a lap of 12.748 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.877 seconds. Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Steve Francis, and Chris Brown won their respective heat races. Mason Zeigler and Scott Bloomquist won their respective B-Mains.
Josh Richards briefly took the lead from Davenport on a restart, but Davenport quickly shot back around him re-taking the lead. Richards came home in second, followed by 17th starting Mason Zeigler, Chris Brown, and Jimmy Owens.
"The car was unbelievable all night long. We found a few things wrong after qualifying. We were just spot-on in the heat and feature. The track was extremely fast and hooked-up. It is a great feeling to have a car that handled like that for the entire race. The only thing we really tore up was the right front flair, but we will get that fixed and get ready for Brownstown tomorrow night."
"I can't thank Kevin and Le Roy Rumley enough for what they have done for me. I have very rarely won north of the Mason-Dixon Line, so to come here and win feels real good. When Josh went by me on that one restart, I just got up on the wheel and was able to get back under him."
Davenport started on the pole and was into lapped traffic only five laps into the race as he set a blistering pace. At times; to show how dominant Davenport was; he was a full second faster than anyone else several times during the race.
"We have added some new sponsors this year in Sundance Services and Sundance Flowback Well Testing out of Texas. I want to thank TS Crane Service and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas as well. It's going to great to go to Brownstown tomorrow night sporting that Midwest Sheet Metal Orange Spoiler. That means we are leading the points, and that's great."
Richards was pleased with his second place finish, continuing a good start to the racing season. "Jonathan was so fast tonight. I lost track of him several times out there. Having not raced much last year, and to come here when it's hooked up, I think I need to get back in the gym and work out some more. I want to thank Valvoline and Seubert Calf Ranches. We are coming to Brownstown tomorrow night, and will try and get the win there."
Zeigler charged through the field to take third at the finish. He put on an impressive show for the huge crowd on hand. "Wow! What a racetrack and race that was tonight. We had only been here once, and it was rained out. I hoped the crowd enjoyed that one. We were just biding our time out there and then all of sudden we had some really great restarts and we were in the top five. To have Longhorn Chassis finish first and third in this stout field; that is something."
Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Devin Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Don O'Neal, and Dustin Linville.
In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 40 entrants, and set a new Atomic Speedway Track Record, with a lap of 12.748 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.877 seconds. Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Steve Francis, and Chris Brown won their respective heat races. Mason Zeigler and Scott Bloomquist won their respective B-Mains.
Donny Schatz
World Of Outlaws Stockton Dirt Track
Schatz entered the feature on the second row. He took the quick time in qualifying earlier in the night and set a new track record with a lap of 12.566.
Paul McMahan and Stewart led the field to the green flag in the 30 lap feature. Stewart quickly jumped to the lead on the start as McMahan fell back. Schatz overtook McMahan for the third spot on lap two. After battling for several laps, he cleared Saldana for second on lap seven. Saldana retook the spot just before a caution was called on lap eight, which gave the position back to Schatz.
As the field returned to green, Stewart built up a sizable lead over Schatz and Saldana.
A rash of cautions through the early and middle portion of the feature bunched up the field on laps eight, 12, 13 and 19. Each time, Stewart hung tough, holding off challenges from Schatz and building his lead back up.
"Those restarts are kind of what killed us," Schatz said. "You get everybody bunched back up and they get a run at you."
Schatz nearly lost his second place position to Saldana following the restart on lap 13, but after a side-by-side back straight battle, Schatz maintained.
The battle for the lead took shape after the lap 13 restart. Stewart got a good start, but Schatz quickly closed the gap and fought past Stewart as the two drivers exited turn two. Schatz led lap 16.
Meanwhile, in third, Saldana worked hard on each restart to hold off McMahan who tried to find a way around the No. 71m Motter Equipment car. Saldana held the position each time and stayed focused on the leaders.
The battle between Schatz and Stewart intensified after the restart on lap 19. The drivers made contact on lap 20 as Stewart looked low in three and four and Schatz fought to hold him off. Schatz held onto the lead. In the waning laps, as the two drivers worked their way through lapped traffic, Stewart worked to get around Schatz. He soon found his opportunity.
"We got by (Stewart) in traffic," Schatz said. "I didn't know if we had any leeway or not, I was just trying to hit my marks the best I could. I don't know, I kind of got worse as the race went on. I just kept trying to change my style and couldn't quite get my car to do what I needed it to."
With two laps remaining the caution flag flew for the final time as D.J. Netto found himself stopped off track in turn one. When the field returned to green, Stewart got his opportunity as he battled past Schatz on the backstretch to lead lap 29.
As Stewart led the field to the finish, he looked low as Schatz went high.
"Shane dove into three across the bottom and I knew if I didn't go Hail Mary on the top, there was no prayer for me," Schatz said.
The two banged bumpers and then drag raced down the front stretch. As they crossed the finish line, Schatz had nosed ahead by just .220 seconds.
"I wasn't sure where I needed to be coming off of four and obviously when Donny got by me, he was better than I was off of four but I felt like I was better than he was in one and two," Stewart said. "Just the last couple of laps, I told him I didn't even see the white flag. I didn't see the checkered - a hell of a race."
"It was close," Stewart continued. "We try to keep (Schatz) honest - he's the best and tonight proved that. Just hoping we can stay where we are. We've got a heck of a car and if the driver doesn't mess up very many times, I think we can win some more races."
Stewart ended the night with a 16 point lead over Schatz in the championship standings. It was the fourth night in a row Stewart finished second.
Saldana, who finished the night in third after battling McMahan for position much of the night, almost found disaster after getting forced off the track late in the race.
"I don't think Shane saw me there and I almost didn't finish - I got lucky there that I got run off the track and got back on," Saldana said. "It's fun racing up front and when you get close you want more but it's so hard to get more out here. You've just got to kind of take what you can get and move on. So hopefully tomorrow we can get a little bit better."
Paul McMahan and Stewart led the field to the green flag in the 30 lap feature. Stewart quickly jumped to the lead on the start as McMahan fell back. Schatz overtook McMahan for the third spot on lap two. After battling for several laps, he cleared Saldana for second on lap seven. Saldana retook the spot just before a caution was called on lap eight, which gave the position back to Schatz.
As the field returned to green, Stewart built up a sizable lead over Schatz and Saldana.
A rash of cautions through the early and middle portion of the feature bunched up the field on laps eight, 12, 13 and 19. Each time, Stewart hung tough, holding off challenges from Schatz and building his lead back up.
"Those restarts are kind of what killed us," Schatz said. "You get everybody bunched back up and they get a run at you."
Schatz nearly lost his second place position to Saldana following the restart on lap 13, but after a side-by-side back straight battle, Schatz maintained.
The battle for the lead took shape after the lap 13 restart. Stewart got a good start, but Schatz quickly closed the gap and fought past Stewart as the two drivers exited turn two. Schatz led lap 16.
Meanwhile, in third, Saldana worked hard on each restart to hold off McMahan who tried to find a way around the No. 71m Motter Equipment car. Saldana held the position each time and stayed focused on the leaders.
The battle between Schatz and Stewart intensified after the restart on lap 19. The drivers made contact on lap 20 as Stewart looked low in three and four and Schatz fought to hold him off. Schatz held onto the lead. In the waning laps, as the two drivers worked their way through lapped traffic, Stewart worked to get around Schatz. He soon found his opportunity.
"We got by (Stewart) in traffic," Schatz said. "I didn't know if we had any leeway or not, I was just trying to hit my marks the best I could. I don't know, I kind of got worse as the race went on. I just kept trying to change my style and couldn't quite get my car to do what I needed it to."
With two laps remaining the caution flag flew for the final time as D.J. Netto found himself stopped off track in turn one. When the field returned to green, Stewart got his opportunity as he battled past Schatz on the backstretch to lead lap 29.
As Stewart led the field to the finish, he looked low as Schatz went high.
"Shane dove into three across the bottom and I knew if I didn't go Hail Mary on the top, there was no prayer for me," Schatz said.
The two banged bumpers and then drag raced down the front stretch. As they crossed the finish line, Schatz had nosed ahead by just .220 seconds.
"I wasn't sure where I needed to be coming off of four and obviously when Donny got by me, he was better than I was off of four but I felt like I was better than he was in one and two," Stewart said. "Just the last couple of laps, I told him I didn't even see the white flag. I didn't see the checkered - a hell of a race."
"It was close," Stewart continued. "We try to keep (Schatz) honest - he's the best and tonight proved that. Just hoping we can stay where we are. We've got a heck of a car and if the driver doesn't mess up very many times, I think we can win some more races."
Stewart ended the night with a 16 point lead over Schatz in the championship standings. It was the fourth night in a row Stewart finished second.
Saldana, who finished the night in third after battling McMahan for position much of the night, almost found disaster after getting forced off the track late in the race.
"I don't think Shane saw me there and I almost didn't finish - I got lucky there that I got run off the track and got back on," Saldana said. "It's fun racing up front and when you get close you want more but it's so hard to get more out here. You've just got to kind of take what you can get and move on. So hopefully tomorrow we can get a little bit better."
RS.7 Carbon
worn by 6 time WoO Champion Donny Schatz
The RS7 Carbon is available in two variations, non-duckbill (with regular interior) and a Ear Cup version (compatible with ear cups to reduce ambient noise). Both can be adapted for closed car forms of racing with top forced air inserts to improve ventilation (accessory items sold separately). The Snell SA2010 and FIA8858-2010 homologated RS7 Carbon is also designed to work with Bell’s chin bar, top gurney and rear spoiler kits to enhance helmet performance and stability at higher speeds. The RS7 Carbon improves shield seal with the hollow synthetic rubber gasket and takes the SE07 3MM shield with Double Screen Anti Fog Insert (DSAF) which features the SV SE07 pivot system with thumb tab on the driver’s left side to allow for easy shield operation. Available in carbon finish in sizes
7 1/8 (57) to 7 3/4 (62), the RS7 Carbon includes M6 terminal hardware for head and neck restraint devices
Earl Pearson Jr
Lucas Oil Late Model Brownstown Speedway
PEARSON TAKES THIRD CAREER INDIANA ICEBREAKER AT BROWNSTOWN SPEEDWAY
Scott Bloomquist moved past Moran on lap 31 and chased down Pearson, but never found enough room to overtake him. Moran finished third, followed by Jimmy Owens, and the defending race winner, Don O'Neal.
"I knew getting to the front was critical," said the winner afterwards in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "It's Kemp Lamm's birthday, so what a way to celebrate by winning here at Brownstown! With all the bad winter weather they have had here, they did a good job getting the track smooth. They had a heck of a crowd here tonight."
"I wanted to get the jump on Moran quickly. The car felt good all night. The heat race we ran was a good one, and winning that sure helped us tonight, because we were able to start on the front row. It's great to win with the Lamms being here. Andy Durham builds a great engine and I want to thank him for all of the horsepower he is providing us this year."
Bloomquist; in one of his best runs of the season on the LOLMDS tour; was pleased with his runner-up finish. "Our car hasn't been that bad this year. We just haven't had the finishes to show for it. We needed a good run here tonight and we got it. I didn't know if I could get around Moran. Once I was able to do so, I tried to run down Earl. We caught him there, but with passing at a premium, we just had to settle for second and get a good finish."
"I want to thank all of my sponsors this year. We have several new ones including Reece Monument Company, Mark Martin Automotive, Sorbera Chiropractic, and Horton Coal. Hopefully we can build on our momentum from this race and get back in the points chase."
Moran, who last year had an 18-win season, was looking for his first-ever win at Brownstown. He started on the pole and led the opening lap. "I thought maybe tonight was the night we could get that first win here. I tried my best to hold Earl off, but he had enough momentum on the outside to get by me. I slipped just enough later on to allow Bloomquist to get by, but we will gladly take a top three here. It's the best we have ever finished here. I want to thank Dow Cameron Oil and Gas, Eddie's Sunoco, and Donnie Moran Driving School for all of their help. To run third with these guys, I am tickled to death."
Completing the top ten were Chris Simpson, Brandon Sheppard, Eddie Carrier Jr., Steve Casebolt, and Steve Francis.
In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of 14.108 seconds. Jonathan Davenport set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.384 seconds. Devin Moran, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., and Don O'Neal won their respective heat races. Kent Robinson and Matt Westfall won their respective B-Mains.
Scott Bloomquist moved past Moran on lap 31 and chased down Pearson, but never found enough room to overtake him. Moran finished third, followed by Jimmy Owens, and the defending race winner, Don O'Neal.
"I knew getting to the front was critical," said the winner afterwards in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "It's Kemp Lamm's birthday, so what a way to celebrate by winning here at Brownstown! With all the bad winter weather they have had here, they did a good job getting the track smooth. They had a heck of a crowd here tonight."
"I wanted to get the jump on Moran quickly. The car felt good all night. The heat race we ran was a good one, and winning that sure helped us tonight, because we were able to start on the front row. It's great to win with the Lamms being here. Andy Durham builds a great engine and I want to thank him for all of the horsepower he is providing us this year."
Bloomquist; in one of his best runs of the season on the LOLMDS tour; was pleased with his runner-up finish. "Our car hasn't been that bad this year. We just haven't had the finishes to show for it. We needed a good run here tonight and we got it. I didn't know if I could get around Moran. Once I was able to do so, I tried to run down Earl. We caught him there, but with passing at a premium, we just had to settle for second and get a good finish."
"I want to thank all of my sponsors this year. We have several new ones including Reece Monument Company, Mark Martin Automotive, Sorbera Chiropractic, and Horton Coal. Hopefully we can build on our momentum from this race and get back in the points chase."
Moran, who last year had an 18-win season, was looking for his first-ever win at Brownstown. He started on the pole and led the opening lap. "I thought maybe tonight was the night we could get that first win here. I tried my best to hold Earl off, but he had enough momentum on the outside to get by me. I slipped just enough later on to allow Bloomquist to get by, but we will gladly take a top three here. It's the best we have ever finished here. I want to thank Dow Cameron Oil and Gas, Eddie's Sunoco, and Donnie Moran Driving School for all of their help. To run third with these guys, I am tickled to death."
Completing the top ten were Chris Simpson, Brandon Sheppard, Eddie Carrier Jr., Steve Casebolt, and Steve Francis.
In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 41 entrants, with a lap of 14.108 seconds. Jonathan Davenport set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.384 seconds. Devin Moran, Scott Bloomquist, Earl Pearson Jr., and Don O'Neal won their respective heat races. Kent Robinson and Matt Westfall won their respective B-Mains.
Tim Keading
World Of Outlaws Tulare Thunderbowl
Tim Kaeding Wins Wild Friday the 13th Feature at Thunderbowl Raceway
Becomes the seventh different winner in seven World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series features
TULARE, Calif. - March 13, 2015 - It was fitting Friday night's World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and King of the West Series feature at Thunderbowl Raceway took place on Friday the 13th. The unusual A main saw a first half plagued by flipping racecars and red flags, and a tail end car end the night for the leader. Ultimately, it was Tim Kaeding who avoided the on-track disorder and battled past a hard charging Terry McCarl to become the seventh different winner in seven Outlaws events.
"I've got to thank (Owners) Dennis and Teresa Roth, (Crew Chief Todd Ventura) all these guys with the Roth Enterprises team," an emotional Kaeding said in victory lane. "One year ago I definitely screwed up bad and this is one way to repay them for the ten years of hard work that they put in and I put into this deal. To keep the winning streak going here at Tulare with Dennis and them is a dream come true."
Kaeding, who started the feature in fourth, hung around in that spot for the first half of Friday night's A main. After a wreck on lap 12 took out both the leader, Joey Saldana, and third place Brad Sweet, Kaeding moved onto the front row.
Through the last ten laps, Kaeding closed on then leader Terry McCarl as the two worked their way through lapped traffic. With five to go, Kaeding finally found the momentum he needed, running the high side of the track and clearing McCarl out of turn four as they raced to the start/finish line.
"I thought we were going to be a fourth place car there for a while," Kaeding said. "That red came out and I finally took a drink of water and got calmed down and got my head out of my butt, and did what I know how to do at this place. I ran the fence and I ran the living crap out of this Roth Motorsports car."
Tonight's win was the fourth for Kaeding at Thunderbowl, tying him with Joey Saldana as the winningest Outlaws driver at the track. Kaeding now has 20 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature wins in his career. It was the first Outlaws win of the season for Roth Motorsports.
Saldana led the 35-lap feature to the green flag with Sweet in second and Carson Macedo in third. Before the field could complete the first lap, Macedo brought out the night's first red flag after getting caught in the cushion in the middle of turns three and four, flipping and snagging Donny Schatz. Schatz was able to return to the track.
Saldana again led the field to the green flag with Sweet in second. On the restart, McCarl took over the second position as Kaeding held steady in fourth. By lap 10, Sweet was challenging McCarl for the position and briefly took it back over. McCarl ran back though and held on to second.
Just two laps later McCarl narrowly avoided Ian Madsen who flipped in turn four and caught up Joey Saldana. Sweet was not so lucky - he hit the then leader after Saldana spun to the bottom of the track. After leading the first 12 laps, Saldana's night was ended. Sweet managed to eventually get back out, finishing the night in 15th.
Green flag racing returned with McCarl in the lead and Kaeding in second, but not for long. On lap 15, David Gravel, Daryn Pittman, Willie Croft and Bud Kaeding all wrecked, again in turns three and four. An open red was called as the track was cleared. Heavy damage ended Bud Kaeding's and Croft's nights. Pittman and Gravel were able to return to the track after time in the work area.
McCarl built up a strong lead in his No. 88 Country Builders car after the field returned to green - Kaeding was in second and Kerry Madsen in third. McCarl hit lapped traffic on lap 21 and began working his way through. Meanwhile, Shane Stewart, who started the night in ninth, had worked his way up to fourth and began battling Madsen for the third spot. After a battle that lasted several laps, Stewart cleared Madsen to take over the third position on the bottom of the track as the two drivers exited turn two.
Through the last ten laps, McCarl and Kaeding waged a fierce battle for the lead. Kaeding worked the top of the track right on the cushion while McCarl ran the bottom. Lap after lap, Kaeding looked to get a run, only to have McCarl shut the door. He finally got his chance as the two exited turn four, side-by-side, Kaeding took over the lead.
Stewart battled McCarl in the closing laps, taking over the second spot, as the two raced to the checkered flag.
"That was a crazy race," Stewart said. "Obviously with Joey and Brad and those guys crashing out, it helped us. Just have to thank Terry (McCarl) for racing me clean. It's always fun to race clean like that and not crash. And it was very easy to crash tonight as everybody could see. Definitely a good run for us, we're on a little bit of a high so hopefully we can keep it rolling."
Stewart exits the night with a 16 point lead over reigning World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz. The Larson Marks Racing driver has one win on the season, and just one finish outside the top-ten.
McCarl, who ultimately led 18 laps Friday night, said he was disappointed in where he finished.
"We had a strong middle race, got a little loose there at the end," said McCarl, an Altoona, Iowa-native. "I drove my butt off and kept pulling the wing back and then the wing got jammed and wouldn't move on me. I just got loose there and couldn't run with Tim off of the corners there as I was earlier. He's the best in the business around Tulare, so if you can run with him here, it's a testament to this team."
Earlier in the night, Brad Sweet became the fifth different driver of the season to take home a quick time after he put down a record breaking lap of 12.582 in qualifying. The night's winner, Tim Kaeding, was the old track record holder with a lap of 12.651 from 2010.
Becomes the seventh different winner in seven World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series features
TULARE, Calif. - March 13, 2015 - It was fitting Friday night's World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and King of the West Series feature at Thunderbowl Raceway took place on Friday the 13th. The unusual A main saw a first half plagued by flipping racecars and red flags, and a tail end car end the night for the leader. Ultimately, it was Tim Kaeding who avoided the on-track disorder and battled past a hard charging Terry McCarl to become the seventh different winner in seven Outlaws events.
"I've got to thank (Owners) Dennis and Teresa Roth, (Crew Chief Todd Ventura) all these guys with the Roth Enterprises team," an emotional Kaeding said in victory lane. "One year ago I definitely screwed up bad and this is one way to repay them for the ten years of hard work that they put in and I put into this deal. To keep the winning streak going here at Tulare with Dennis and them is a dream come true."
Kaeding, who started the feature in fourth, hung around in that spot for the first half of Friday night's A main. After a wreck on lap 12 took out both the leader, Joey Saldana, and third place Brad Sweet, Kaeding moved onto the front row.
Through the last ten laps, Kaeding closed on then leader Terry McCarl as the two worked their way through lapped traffic. With five to go, Kaeding finally found the momentum he needed, running the high side of the track and clearing McCarl out of turn four as they raced to the start/finish line.
"I thought we were going to be a fourth place car there for a while," Kaeding said. "That red came out and I finally took a drink of water and got calmed down and got my head out of my butt, and did what I know how to do at this place. I ran the fence and I ran the living crap out of this Roth Motorsports car."
Tonight's win was the fourth for Kaeding at Thunderbowl, tying him with Joey Saldana as the winningest Outlaws driver at the track. Kaeding now has 20 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature wins in his career. It was the first Outlaws win of the season for Roth Motorsports.
Saldana led the 35-lap feature to the green flag with Sweet in second and Carson Macedo in third. Before the field could complete the first lap, Macedo brought out the night's first red flag after getting caught in the cushion in the middle of turns three and four, flipping and snagging Donny Schatz. Schatz was able to return to the track.
Saldana again led the field to the green flag with Sweet in second. On the restart, McCarl took over the second position as Kaeding held steady in fourth. By lap 10, Sweet was challenging McCarl for the position and briefly took it back over. McCarl ran back though and held on to second.
Just two laps later McCarl narrowly avoided Ian Madsen who flipped in turn four and caught up Joey Saldana. Sweet was not so lucky - he hit the then leader after Saldana spun to the bottom of the track. After leading the first 12 laps, Saldana's night was ended. Sweet managed to eventually get back out, finishing the night in 15th.
Green flag racing returned with McCarl in the lead and Kaeding in second, but not for long. On lap 15, David Gravel, Daryn Pittman, Willie Croft and Bud Kaeding all wrecked, again in turns three and four. An open red was called as the track was cleared. Heavy damage ended Bud Kaeding's and Croft's nights. Pittman and Gravel were able to return to the track after time in the work area.
McCarl built up a strong lead in his No. 88 Country Builders car after the field returned to green - Kaeding was in second and Kerry Madsen in third. McCarl hit lapped traffic on lap 21 and began working his way through. Meanwhile, Shane Stewart, who started the night in ninth, had worked his way up to fourth and began battling Madsen for the third spot. After a battle that lasted several laps, Stewart cleared Madsen to take over the third position on the bottom of the track as the two drivers exited turn two.
Through the last ten laps, McCarl and Kaeding waged a fierce battle for the lead. Kaeding worked the top of the track right on the cushion while McCarl ran the bottom. Lap after lap, Kaeding looked to get a run, only to have McCarl shut the door. He finally got his chance as the two exited turn four, side-by-side, Kaeding took over the lead.
Stewart battled McCarl in the closing laps, taking over the second spot, as the two raced to the checkered flag.
"That was a crazy race," Stewart said. "Obviously with Joey and Brad and those guys crashing out, it helped us. Just have to thank Terry (McCarl) for racing me clean. It's always fun to race clean like that and not crash. And it was very easy to crash tonight as everybody could see. Definitely a good run for us, we're on a little bit of a high so hopefully we can keep it rolling."
Stewart exits the night with a 16 point lead over reigning World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz. The Larson Marks Racing driver has one win on the season, and just one finish outside the top-ten.
McCarl, who ultimately led 18 laps Friday night, said he was disappointed in where he finished.
"We had a strong middle race, got a little loose there at the end," said McCarl, an Altoona, Iowa-native. "I drove my butt off and kept pulling the wing back and then the wing got jammed and wouldn't move on me. I just got loose there and couldn't run with Tim off of the corners there as I was earlier. He's the best in the business around Tulare, so if you can run with him here, it's a testament to this team."
Earlier in the night, Brad Sweet became the fifth different driver of the season to take home a quick time after he put down a record breaking lap of 12.582 in qualifying. The night's winner, Tim Kaeding, was the old track record holder with a lap of 12.651 from 2010.
Devin Gilpin
UMP Modified Twin Cities Raceway & Brownstown Speedway
Devin Gilpin picked up 2 wins over the weekend in his UMP Modified. Devin also picked up a Crate Late Model win at Twin Cities.
Dominator.2
worn by Earl Pearson Jr, Tim Keading and Devin Gilpin
The Dominator.2 is certified SAH2010 certified, available in sizes 7 1/8 to 7 3/4 in white and rubberized matte black. (The anchor locations for the Snell SAH2010 standard were determined using the rules and procedures established by the FIA for the FIA8858-2010 standard which requires the manufacturer to install M6 terminals in the shell for use with head and neck restraint anchor systems). The helmet also has M6 terminal hardware incorporated into the helmet and accepts Head and Neck Restraint anchor system hardware. (We recommend consulting with the Head and Neck Restraint manufacturer to select an anchor system that allows the user to index the hardware in the proper location for use with the device.)
The Dominator.2 features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite shell and retains the traditional Dominator chin bar vents and aero gurneys that are designed into the shell. The Dominator.2's aerodynamic elements enhance helmet performance by providing greater stability and reduced helmet lift at higher speeds. The wicker gurneys built into the side and top of the shell create an air separation point on the top of the helmet to allow airflow to detach from the helmet reducing buffeting. The helmets front lip gurney and angled chin bar vents add down force to the front of the helmet to prevent lift and improve overall helmet stability.
Updated features include the 287/3MM SRV-1 visor system and new rubber eyeport gasket for improved visor seal. Each helmet comes with a clear shield and Bell visor strip as standard equipment. The interior on the Dominator.2 has been completely redesigned with contoured cheek pads and higher density foam neck collar for a firm and secure fit.
Also available as an accessory item for the Dominator 2, Bell Racing has developed a rock guard that can be installed on the helmet’s chin bar and forehead areas for added protection against rocks and other debris chipping the outside surface of the standard white, rubberized matte black or custom painted helmet. The rock guard is vacuum formed clear plastic with aggressive double side adhesive that can be installed on the shell surface and later easily removed if needed. The rock guard kit retails for $49.95.
The Dominator.2 features an ultra-lightweight carbon composite shell and retains the traditional Dominator chin bar vents and aero gurneys that are designed into the shell. The Dominator.2's aerodynamic elements enhance helmet performance by providing greater stability and reduced helmet lift at higher speeds. The wicker gurneys built into the side and top of the shell create an air separation point on the top of the helmet to allow airflow to detach from the helmet reducing buffeting. The helmets front lip gurney and angled chin bar vents add down force to the front of the helmet to prevent lift and improve overall helmet stability.
Updated features include the 287/3MM SRV-1 visor system and new rubber eyeport gasket for improved visor seal. Each helmet comes with a clear shield and Bell visor strip as standard equipment. The interior on the Dominator.2 has been completely redesigned with contoured cheek pads and higher density foam neck collar for a firm and secure fit.
Also available as an accessory item for the Dominator 2, Bell Racing has developed a rock guard that can be installed on the helmet’s chin bar and forehead areas for added protection against rocks and other debris chipping the outside surface of the standard white, rubberized matte black or custom painted helmet. The rock guard is vacuum formed clear plastic with aggressive double side adhesive that can be installed on the shell surface and later easily removed if needed. The rock guard kit retails for $49.95.
