Recapping the Sprint Cup Race

Michael Schlee

It was like taking all the presents out from under the tree on December 25th and putting them back in your closet. That is the closest way I can describe the crushing disappointment felt when a NASCAR race is called off due to rain roughly 2 minutes from the start. To further this disappointment, imagine being 5 hours from home and knowing that there is no way you can stay an extra day to watch the race Monday.

#88 National Guard Chevrolet

Well that is exactly what happened to several of us during the pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen. And judging by the number of solemn faces wearing NASCAR t-shirts I past by during my trip back to Canada, there were plenty.

I was at the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen this weekend. I was in my seat watching the pre race festivities when a very intense storm cell descended over the fans and started pandemonium. Luckily everyone cleared out before the heaviest of the rains came. Two hours later the official one day suspension of the race came and the unfortunate 9-5ers like me had to head home.

Storm Descending

Too bad because it was an amazing race.

The race was rescheduled for August 10, 2009 at noon EST. I was able to watch Tony Stewart in the #14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS win the race, albeit on television. He was able to get around Kyle Busch in the #18 M&Ms Toyota Camry on lap 67 and hold off a late charge by Saturday’s Nationwide winner Marcus Ambrose in the #47 Little Debbie/Kingsford/Clorox Toyota Camry.

The Canadians did not fair too well as Ron Fellows finished 29th in the #09 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Chevrolet Impala SS after losing 6 laps in the garage for a broken starter. The other Canadian in the race was Patrick Carpentier subbing for Michael Waltrip in the #55 NAPA Toyota Camry. He had a few spins and wound up several laps down in 33rd position.

#55 NAPA Toyota

The biggest action of the day occurred on lap 62 when Sam Hornish Jr. and Kasey Kahne got together sending Hornish Jr into the wall hard. The impact caused Hornish Jr. to careen back onto the track right in front of Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon who hit him hard. All 3 vehicles were total wrecks and the race was red flagged for 20 minutes. Joey Logano and Andy Lally were also involved in the incident.

After Stewart and Ambrose, Carl Edwards in the #99 Aflac Ford Fusion came 3rd with Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle rounding out the top five.

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