From the Crossville Chronicle – Crossville, TN. Wednesday Sept. 3, 2008
By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com
Heading west for the Pepsi 500 at California it looked like a two driver battle for the Championship between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. That attention changed as Johnson claimed victory Sunday night and moved up to third in the points.
Starting from the pole and leading 228 of the 250 laps, Johnson enjoyed huge leads throughout the race with Greg Biffle mounting the only serious challenge. On lap 163 five teams gambled on a 2 tire change which left Johnson back in 6th place. But with 4 fresh tires Johnson made quick work of them and retook the lead in two laps. The win locked Johnson into the Chase for the Nascar Sprint Cup with one race remaining before the chase begins in two weeks in New Hampshire. Also sealing berths in the Chase Sunday were Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton.
On Saturday night at California it was Kyle Busch dominating the Camping World RV Service 300, Nascar Nationwide race. Leading 144 of the 150 laps Busch was in command all night. Carl Edwards provided the only serious challenge but had to settle for second. Joey Logano, the youngster announced last week as next year’s replacement for Tony Stewart in the Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot Toyota, had another strong showing finishing 6th in only his 11th start in the series.
A couple of weeks ago, I reported about Ryan Newman signing to drive for Stewart Haas Racing next year. At that time it was announced that Newman would be in the #4 car for 2009, however, Morgan McClure Racing of Abingdon, Va. Complained to Nascar that they still held rights to the number and intended to field a team again next year. Newman is now slated to be in the #39 next year. Although no official announcement has been made yet, it appears that David Stremme will replace Newman in the #12 car for Penske Racing. Nascar’s top three series head to Richmond, Va. This weekend with the Emerson Radio 250 Nascar Nationwide race Friday at 6:30pm (CT) on (SPEED TV), the Camping World 200, Craftsman Truck series race on Saturday at 1PM (ESPN2) and the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Nascar Sprint Cup race at 6pm. (ABC)
LOCAL RACING
Crossville Raceway’s final points events of the season took place on Friday August 29th, where the 2008 Season Champions were determined as follows:
Late Model Sportsman- Brandon Williams, UMP Open Wheel Modifieds- Billy Palmer, Pro Street- Jessie Lowe, Mini Stock- Bradley Hamilton, Pure Mini- JD Rector and Cruisers- Hannah Proffitt
The first members of the Upper Cumberland Dirt Racing Hall of Fame were also inducted at a special ceremony during Friday’s intermission. Inductees are, J Paul Smith, Lloyd ’Red’ Williams, Venable Tabor and Dave Bilbrey.
I-40 Dragway will hold it’s ever popular Bounty Races to Saturday September 6 as VP Racing Fuels will guarantee a $1500 first place award. Other classes will include a $2,000 1st place for the Pro Torque Converters 4.90 index, $1,000 for the PRC Race Cars – Real Street, and $700 each for the Holeshot Wheels 6.0 Index, Mondello Tech Center 7.0 Index and the HVH Cylinder Head 8.5 Outlaw.
