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Series Leaders
17 of 36 1. T. Stewart-2524 2. J. Gordon-2455 3. J. Johnson-2355 4. Kurt Busch-22254 5. C. Edwards-2157 6. D. Hamlin-2132 7. R. Newman-2127 8. Kyle Busch-2108 9. G. Biffle-2106 10. M. Kenseth-2054 11. M. Martin-2052 12. J. Montoya-2049
After 16 of 35 1. Ky. Busch-2581 2. C. Edwards-2419 3. B. Keselowski-2338 4. J. Leffler-2261 5. J. Logano-2040 6. M. Bliss-1910 7. J. Allgaier-1864 8. B. Gaughan-1844 9. S. Wallace-1823 10. J. Keller-1810
After 11 of 25 1. R. Hornaday-1713 2. M. Crafton-1637 3. M. Skinner-1579 4. T. Bodine-1564 5. D. Starr-11482 6. B. Scott-1468 7. T. Malsam-1418 8. T. Cook-1415 9. R. Crawford-1397 10. C. Braun-1381
1. P. Kligerman-1875 2. J. Lofton-1830 3. F. Kimmel-1700 4. B. Silas-1655 5. C. Goess-1575 6. P. Sheltra-1500 7. J. Coutier-1490 8. T. George-1475 9. T. Hessert-1465 10. S. Arpin-1430 OTHER GREAT DRIVERS
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2009 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE
Sat., July 4, Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400, Starting time: 6:30 p.m. (EDT): TV: TNT
LOGANO GETS FIRST CUP WIN By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter LOUDON, N.H.—Nineteen year-old Joey Logano won Sunday’s rain-shortened Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Speedway to become the youngest driver to ever win a Cup race. With skies threatening, Logano’s crew chief, Greg Zippadelli decided to keep his driver on the track as long as possible, even during green-flag stops. He conserved fuel and was in the lead as the rains came, ending the race after 273 of the scheduled 301 laps. “We didn’t have anything to lose,” said Logano. “It was our opportunity and we took advantage of it. It was a great call by “Zippy.” We saved just enough fuel to make it here. “This is my home track so it makes it all that more special.” Logano is from nearby Middletown, CT. During a restart on lap 176, Kyle Busch got into the back of Martin Truex causing a 14-car pileup that sent eight cars to the garage for repairs. The cars that had to go to the garage included, Truex, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray, David Reutimann, and David Ragan. NASCAR red flagged the race immediately after the big wreck so speedway workers could clean up the mess of debris and metal on the front straightaway. “I guess Kyle just didn’t want to wait,” said Truex, who was not able to return to the race. Jeff Burton was another one of the cars knocked out of the race. “We didn’t do anything wrong today,” he said. “We didn’t cause the wreck. We had about as fast a car as anyone out here. When you have aggressive racing, you’re going to have wrecks and that’s what we had today.”
Additional Story: Don't Mess With an Old Time chicken Farmer |
Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter has covered NASCAR racing since 1994. He was the only photojournalist to cover all three NASCAR races in Japan, and currently has a syndicated newspaper column.
In addition to being a professional photographer, he is an instructor at the Univ. of South Alabama
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To its fans, the supermodifieds were the "Golden Age" of racing. It began on short dirt tracks and moved to super fast asphalt speedplants. The competitors "run-what-they-brung." It evolved into souped up, methanol, big-bore engines that produced exciting wheel to wheel racing. It was the day of speed without safety. Though they only lasted a few years, before giving way to the modern day Sprints, those early contests were wild and sometimes disorganized. But how the fans loved to watch their favorite hero, whether it was Armond Holley, Ellis Palasini, Red Farmer, Bobby or Donnie Allison, Gene Tapia, Jim Cushman, Billy Yuma, Hooker Hood, Ival Cooper, Wayne Niedecken, Herman Wise, Bill Roynon, Jim Gresley, Rat Lane, Wayne McGuire, or Jimmy and Frank Riddle, do battle, and maybe afterwards have a beer with him. |
They called him, "King of the Supermodifieds," but Gene Tapia wouldn't accept the title. "Never be ugly to a child because they won't ever forget it," he said. Tapia was destined for a life of adventure. A U.S. Marine Raider who fought the Japanese on Guadalcanal, hit the beaches at Guam on Day One, and spent 35 days of hell on Iwo Jima When he returned to the States in 1946, his nerves were shot. In 1947, he discovered automobile racing, and that is what brought him back to a real life. But he had one last almost lifelong adventure. He and his wife spent over 40 years searching for their stolen baby.
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Race 500 is owned and managed by Hodges News Services. All the information and photos contained within the site are either used by permission, or the property of Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter. No material may be used without permission. Contact: hodgesnews@earthlink.net |
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