Mike Bliss takes his second NASCAR victory

This is Mike Bliss’s second victory in the Nationwide series, his first win also happened at Charlotte on October 15, 2004. Bliss managed to keep his car in one piece along with Gaughan and stay out on the track longer than the other drivers and this turned out to be the deciding factor. His fuel management and track management skills allowed him to give team owner James Finch his second win of the month, Brad Keselowski drove to victory for him in the Sprint Cup race at Talladega in April, and will certainly give him and the team confidence heading into the main part of the Nationwide season.

This result is probably a surprise to the other drivers, and many may think he kind of stole the race, but good timing and car management are important and essential to winning in NASCAR. Bliss actually had a pretty good car during practice runs and he managed to work his way into the top ten, so fuel mileage was only a significant element in the win, not the only determining factor.

The fastest cars and hottest drivers lately, Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers, finished third and fourth respectfully, and Kyle Busch was even heard commenting that Bliss definitely stole one today. Mike Bliss after hearing the comments of Busch, mentioned that this was interesting coming from a driver who wins all the time, and who the other drivers tend to shy away from.

What will happen next in the Nationwide series? You can find out on Saturday at 2 PM on CBC or MRN radio as the NASCAR pulls into the Dover International Speedway to run the Heluva 200. Kyle Busch will certainly be there to defend his points lead and the field will be gunning for him as always, and I am sure Mike Bliss will be hoping for Lady Luck to smile on him again.

“Image: Newscom”

Post from: EveryJoe

Bliss Wins Carquest Auto Parts 300

Image details: Coca-Cola 600 served by picapp.com

Yes, it’s Friday once again, and I think we all know what that means!  Welcome, everyone, to yet another edition of “Loose in Turn Three” with your favorite blogging panel. Of course, you know who I am, and I believe my colleagues here no longer need introduction, either … but, just formality’s sake, I’m joined once again by Bruce Simmons from Bruce’s NASCAR Bits & Pieces, and the infamous Charlie Turner from On Pit Row.

We’ve got another exciting lineup for you this week, as we refuse to let go of the drama that was the Coca Cola 600 as we analyze the decisions of Tony Stewart and Greg Zipadelli on pit road late in the race. We will also examine the struggles of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to get into Victory Lane, and we also tackle NASCAR’s “great debate” … otherwise known as “Give and Take”. So, sit back and buckle up tight. Three questions, three voices, and three different answer … we’re about to get Loose in Turn Three! 

Should the no. 20 team have called for two right-side tires on Tony Stewart’s next-to-last stop at the Coca Cola 600?

TZ: As we all know, hindsight’s 20/20, so it’s easy to sit here and bash Zippy for not giving Smoke some fresh rubber with sixty plus laps left. But, it was the right call. For the past two weeks, the checkers at Lowe’s have gone to the gamblers , so I don’t see why they’d have reason to call this one differently. Kahne won the All-Star race by not taking tires; Busch won the Nationwide race not pitting so they could keep their track position; and, the 20 crew had the same thing in mind. No tire stops aren’t common for this team, and now I guess we know why, but it was still the correct call, and Tony should’ve been climbing the fence in Charlotte.

Bruce:  I’m all about fresh rubber…  Yes you lose time putting on tires, but you can gain that time if you have enough laps back up..   nothing ventured, nothing gained.. then again, they did venture.  No, it was not a bad call for the 20 team to not take tires…  the dice just came up snake eyes this time and did not work for them.  They must have had reason to believe the tires would have lasted.    Wouldn’t they?

Charlie: Charlie:  When in doubt, trust Zippy. Nobody knows Tony Stewart better than Zippidelli. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, what do I know anyway?

Follow the rest of our discussion here:
- Kyle Busch got his panties in a bunch because Jeff Gordon kept racing him hard for position in the Coca-Cola 600.  Should drivers get over the idea of people moving over for them because they think they're faster than they are? 

- Why Can’t Junior Finish?

Post from: EveryJoe

Loose in Turn Three: Did Tony Stewart’s Team Make The Right Call In Charlotte?

Image details: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 served by picapp.com

Kyle Busch has visited the Nationwide Series Winner’s Circle three times this season from behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, but Saturday night, he won the Carquest Auto Parts 300 by driving his no. 32 Braun Racing ride to the front of the field, and stretching out a tank of fuel over the course of the final 68 laps.

Busch had to hold off his JGR teammate, Denny Hamlin, to secure the win on a green-white-checkered finish that ended under caution when Mike Wallace slammed the wall. Hamlin finished ahead of the no. 88 JR Motorsports car driven by Brad Keselowski, whom Hamlin had an earlier on-track altercation with just moments before. Keselowski had gotten into the back of Hamlin earlier on, and as the field drove under caution, Denny decided to take a swipe at him in retaliation to what he described as ‘poor racing eitquette’. Immediately following the race, as Busch was taunting the crowd with his post-race victory bows en route to grabbing the checkered flag, both drivers’ pit crews got into a shoving match that was eventually separated by NASCAR and track officials.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers finished fourth and fifth to round out the top-five, followed by points leader, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, David Ragan, and Jimmie Johnson in sixth through tenth. Carl Edwards ended the evening with a decent 13th place finish, and Kasey Kahne ran in a disappointing 16th after getting caught up in a late-race tussle.

The win gives Kyle Busch his fourth Nationwide victory of the season, and his first for Braun Racing. He also has three Sprint Cup Series victories on the season, as well as two wins in the Craftsman Truck Series while driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports. The race ended a six-race winning streak for Joe Gibs Racing in the series, but does give Toyota their seventh consecutive win.

Nationwide Series Standings (from nascar.com):

Post from: EveryJoe

Busch Puts Third Different Team Owner in Victory Lane This Season