- Kyle Busch led 214 laps as he dominated the Sixth Annual Speedfest
Sunday afternoon at Lanier national Speedway, winning by nearly a
second over
second
place Steven Wallace in a star filled lineup that included Chase
Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Jason Hogan, Jeff Fultz,
Bubba Pollard and Johnny VanDoorn.
Speedfest 2010 started on a cold and wet note as Saturday’s practice
and qualifying was washed out by a persistent mist as the temperature
hovered around freezing. Sunday was clear and warmer with a bright sun
helping to dry the track for the full day of activities including
practice, qualifying, an on the track autograph session and the
features events.
"I have to thank my guys, Chris Gabehart did a great
job in his first race as my crew chief. Racing is a people
thing, and I have gathered a great group of people that made this
happen." Busch commented from Victory Lane. "I want to thank all
the fans that came out today."
Bubba Pollard set fast time early with a time of
13.630 seconds, he held onto fast time until
Steven Wallace went out late and set a time13.269 which held for fast
time of the day, earning him the Lynch Tree Service Fast Qualifier
Award.
Wallace jumped out to the lead but Busch, who
started fourth, took over the lead from Wallace on the 16th lap.
Busch then led until the half way break. The race for second
through 10th was furious as the drivers jockeyed for position,
allowing Busch to stay out front easily to the half way point.
Busch drew a five for the invert to start the second
half of the race putting Cale Gale on the pole, he held the lead until
Wallace again assumed the front runner status on lap 139 only to have
Busch drive past him on lap 146 for a lead position he would not give
up. Wallace finished second, Jeff Fultz third, Bubba Pollard
fourth and Drew Bannon passed Chase Elliott on the last lap to get
fifth.
Jason Hogan was the first car out when he hit a
chunk of lead weight dropped from another car on the opening lap
knocking out his drive shaft. The lead then hit T.J. Reaid’s car
taking part of the brake pedal with it. This forced Reaid out later in
the race. Blaney had an excellent race, pushing Wallace for second in
the last few laps of the race when he went into the fourth turn too
strong attempting to get under Wallace and spun on lap 248, forcing
him to the tail of the lead lap cars. Blaney finished 11th.
Wallace also turned the fastest lap during the race
to earn the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award. Johanna Long
moved from the 27th starting position to finish tenth and
earn the Five Star Racecar Bodies Hard Charger Award.
The Wearcrete Racing with Jeff Fultz Performance
Award was given to the driver with the best overall finishes in the
Winchester 400 in 2009 and SpeedFest 2010 CRA Super Series events.
Busch won both events and takes home this Award. Busch nearly won the
Pro Late Model race as well, just missing the $10,000 bonus for
winning both, when after leading most of the race he was put to the
rear after bumping Casey Roderick with less than 10 laps to go.
Only one tow truck was needed in the Super Late
Model race, when Russell Fleeman had to be pulled off due to an
accident. That was the only time a tow truck has been needed at the
two Super Late Model Speedfest races at Lanier National Speedway, as
the 2009 race never rolled a tow truck. The Five Star Racecar Bodies
Hard Luck Award for the worst body damage during the race went to
Fleeman and David Stremme who was damaged when he was collected in a
different accident.
The next CRA
Super Series event is also in Georgia with the Season Opening Event at
Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA on March 13. For more
information including an entry form see
www.craracing.net.
Steven Wallace set fast time for the Speedfest 250 with a time of
13.629 seconds and will start on the pole. Bubba Pollard was
second just a tick slower at 13.630 seconds, Cale Gale, third, Kyle
Busch fourth and Jason Hogan fifth.
Kyle Busch had the fastest lap for the practice session with a time
of 13.690 seconds. Bubba Pollard was second at 13.762, Chase
Elliott was third, David Stremme fourth and Cale Gale fifth.
Qualifying will begin at the conclusion of the of the Pro Late Models.
Check back for qualifying results.
Due
to
a
persistent
mist
practice
and
qualifying
for
Speedfest
has
been
postponed
until
Sunday
morning.
The
pits
will
open
at
8
am
with
a
CRA
Drivers
meeting
at
8:30.
Practice
will
start
at
9:30,
with
CRA
qualifying
at
11:15
with
racing
starting
at
1:45
pm.
Donnie
Wilson
will
lead
off
qualifying
for
the
2010
Speedfest
250.
Jeremy
Rice
will
go
off
second
and
Johnny
VanDoorn
will
be
third.
Practice
and
qualifying
have
been
delayed
due
to
weather,
but
as
the
misting
rain
subsides
the
track
will
start
the
drying
process.
32
cars
are
at
the
track,
with
Steve
Wallace
moving
into
the
5
car
Spenser
Wauters
was
scheduled
to
drive.
Scott
Hantz
withdrew
due
weather
related
transportation
issues.
It
was
a
chilly
day
at
Lanier
National
Speedway,
but
that
did
not
stop
30
cars
from
taking
to
the
track
during
the
Lanier
National
Speedway
open
practice
preparing
for
Saturday's
opening
day
of
2010 Speedfest.
Steve
Wallace
lost
an
engine
and
he
will
now
be
in
the
#5
car
of
Spenser Wauters.
Heath
Hindman
was
an
late
entry
on
Friday.
Watch
the
CRA
website
for
updates
on
Saturday
and
Sunday,
with
Racetalk
Radio
broadcasting
the
race
live
on
the
Internet
on
Sunday.
been
postponed
until
Sunday
morning.
The
pits
will
open
at
8
am
with
a
CRA
Drivers
meeting
at
8:30.
Practice
will
start
at
9:30,
with
CRA
qualifying
at
11:15
with
racing
starting
at
1:45
pm.