Kenseth uses smarts to win Busch race
Matt Kenseth couldn’t beat the field with speed, so he did it with strategy in the crash-filled NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway at Loudon, N.H.
The reigning Nextel Cup champion, making only his seventh Busch start of 2004, came up with his second win of the season and 16th of his career in the Siemens 200.
“We had a good car, but it wasn’t good enough to pass everybody,” said Kenseth, who started 21st in the 43-car field. “The team had to come up with a good pit strategy to get by some of those guys. We made an early stop to get track position and it put us in position where we could get past those last four or five guys.”
Runner-up Tim Fedewa tried hard to overtake Kenseth, moving alongside the leader on a restart with 13 laps to go. But Kenseth, with the outside position, was able to hold off the challenge and pulled away, winning by 1.51 seconds – about six car-lengths.
“I got under him, but I couldn’t get by him,” Fedewa said. “I wish I could have caught Matt, but we needed more laps than we had.”
Kenseth said: “Tim Fedewa did a great job. He got under me and could have punted me, but we gave each other room to race, like you’re supposed to.”
Earnhardt relying on Truex for help
Like many youngsters, Martin Truex Jr. fantasized about stepping up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded.
Today at Loudon, N.H., he’ll be a pinch-hitter of sorts, replacing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 8 car at some point during the first NASCAR Nextel Cup race of Truex’s career.
Recovering from a fiery crash last weekend, Earnhardt plans to drive only a handful of laps during the Siemen’s 300 before handing off to Truex, who will attempt to give his boss and friend a victory.
“That’s a big task,” Truex said. “But I don’t think it’s out of the question.”
Earnhardt and Truex shared the car Saturday, with Earnhardt running eight laps and quickly getting up to speed during the first of two practices.
Schumacher ends drought
Michael Schumacher took his first pole position in two months by leading qualifying at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Germany, giving him a good chance to match his own record of 11 wins in a season.
Entering the 12th race of the season he has just six poles but 10 wins.
Schumacher had a time of 1 minute, 13.306 seconds in his Ferrari on the 2.843-mile course. His last pole came at the European Grand Prix at the end of May.
Meira wins first pole of season
Vitor Meira won the pole for the inaugural Menards A.J. Foyt Indy 225 at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis.
Meira took his first pole of the season, averaging 169.338 mph at the one-mile, oval course. To earn his first Indy win, Meira will have to hold off series points leader Tony Kanaan, who qualified second with a speed of 168.597 mph.
Tracy retains pole
Paul Tracy’s day-old lap was good enough to retain pole position after final qualifying for today’s Molson Indy Vancouver (British Columbia).
The Toronto driver’s top time from Friday – one minute, 0.87 seconds – went unchallenged in Saturday’s qualifying session.
Johns fastest in Pro Stock
Steve Johns was first in Pro Stock qualifying at the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Kent, Wash., completing his run in 6.762 seconds in a track record 205.29 mph.
Greg Anderson was second with a run of 204.57 mph and 6.776 seconds.
Tony Schumacher led the top fuel with a 4.631-second run at 319.90 mph. John Force was No. 1 in funny car in 4.923 seconds and 306.67 mph.