Edwards on Glen Pole

Carl Edwards ran a speed of 124.432 mph to capture the pole for Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen. Edwards was the only driver under the 71 second mark on his way to claiming the pole. Starting on row 1 with Edwards will be Jamie McMurray. They will be followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger and Kurt Busch rounding out the top five.

Marcos Ambrose who won the Nationwide race at the track Saturday will roll off 11^th. Robby Gordon and Jeff Gordon will roll off 15^th and 16^th respectively. SCR

3 in a Row for Ambrose at The Glen

Marcos Ambrose is making Watkins Glen his home in the Nationwide Series as he won his third straight race at the track Saturday afternoon. Ambrose pulled away from the field over the final 16 laps to win the race by 2.834 seconds over second place finisher Joey Logano.

Ambrose who started from the pole ran a flawless race on the 2.45 mile road course for his third straight win. Following Ambrose and Logano home in third was Kevin Harvick. Points leader Brad Keselowski finished fourth followed by Kyle Busch in fifth. SCR

Busch Best at Iowa

Kyle Busch was best in field Saturday night at the Iowa Speedway. Busch led the most laps and was able to to take the checkered flag. Kevin Harvick finished second as Cup drivers swept the first two spots. Jason Leffler a Nationwide Series regular finished third followed by Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne rounding out the top five. SCR

Kinser Conquers Quebec: Wins Inaugural World of Outlaws Event at Autodrome Drummond

Drummondville, QC - Steve Kinser has an amazing record over the years when he visits a track for the first time with the World of Outlaws, having scored well over 50 wins in debut events for the series. The 20-time series champion added to that remarkable list on Tuesday night as he was victorious in the World of Outlaws first-ever race at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada before a standing room only crowd on a picture perfect night.

Kinser started on the outside of the front row and battled his teammateDonny Schatz in the early going, taking the top spot from him on the fifth lap as the pair exited turn four, using the low side of the four-tenths-mile to surge ahead. He would quickly pull away in lapped traffic. The native of Bloomington, Indiana would pace the final 31 circuits of the 35-lap contest to score his sixth A-Feature win of the season and the 558^th of his amazing career.

"It is special," said Kinser in Victory Lane of scoring another inaugural event win. "I thought we may have been jinxed earlier when Johnny (Gibson) said earlier how we have won a lot of races in our first time at a track and I know we have, but you sort of hate hearing it before you go out there. To get another first win is great."

Kinser was out front for three double file restarts and chose the low line each and every time. He led Donny Schatz into turns one and two on the first two and had Paul McMahan lined up on his outside on the final restart with six laps remaining. Kinser used strong restarts each time to stay in front aboard the Bass Pro Shops Maxim.

"The leader gets to set the pace with the line he chooses, so I choked them down a bit and caught the moisture getting off (turn) four," explained the Hall of Famer. "I didn't want them to get up to speed and get a run at me coming off four. They were pretty slow starts, but that's what you have to do sometimes, pick a spot and do what you can."

Schatz, who led the first four laps of the race on Tuesday night, used a strong restart on the 22^nd lap to look high off turns one and two in his bid for the lead. He used the same strategy on the following lap, but could not quite make the pass. The final restart of the night would come with six laps remaining, after Schatz stopped on the track with a mechanical problem while running second.

"I didn't really know when to move back up and Donny (Schatz) showed himself and I moved back up on top," Kinser noted. "Then I started running out of fuel on the last five laps and didn't think I was going to make it to the checker on the last lap. It was spitting and sputtering, but we made and that's what matters."

Paul McMahan ended up second on Tuesday night to earn his 10^th Top-Five finish in the last 12 races, which is the most of any driver during that span. The veteran started fourth in the Great Clips Maxim and ran in the Top-Five all night, getting around Chad Kemenah late in the going for third, before moving into second when Schatz dropped out.

"We've been real good," said McMahan. "The car was awesome fast all night long. It's just great to be back in Canada. The fans are great and it's unbelievable how packed the place is. Hopefully we'll be back many times down the road."

Joey Saldana, the current World of Outlaws point leader finished third after lining up 11^th in the Budweiser Maxim to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. The second generation driver holds a 29-point advantage over Kinser as he chases his first title.

"We were struggling with our car all night and weren't too bad in the feature," said Saldana. "It's hard racing with these guys when you start in the 11^th spot and it's tough to make it up. We had a good solid car and just came home third."

McMahan lined up on the outside of Kinser on the final restart with six laps to go. He dove to the low side of turns one and two to no avail as he kept pace with Kinser on the restart. Coupled with Saldana's third-place finish it was the fourth time this season that both Kasey Kahne Racing cars have finished on the podium on the same night.

"My motor wasn't taking off very good so I was trying to get down to the bottom as fast as I could," shared McMahan. "I got down there and had one shot at Steve (Kinser) and he was better than we were. I was probably a third-place car until Donny (Schatz) broke. We came home second and it was a great night for Kasey Kahne Racing."

Jason Meyers, who is currently third in points, finished fourth in the GLR Investments KPC. Sam Hafertepe Jr. used a strong restart following the lap-29 caution to power his way from 10^th to fifth in the final six laps in the Lone Star Speedway Maxim.

Chad Kemenah scored a sixth-place finish in the Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks Maxim, with Kraig Kinser seventh in the Quaker State Maxim. Lucas Wolfe was eighth in the Allebach Racing Maxim with Danny Lasoski ninth aboard the Casey's General Stores Maxim. Jason Sides rounded out the Top-10 in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim.

The World of Outlaws return to action on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 at Ohsweken Speedway in Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada for a two-night event. SCR

Ambrose to RPM

According to SCR sources Marcos Ambrose who announced that he would be leaving the 47 team at seasons end will replace Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 at Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011. According to SCR sources the deal is 90% done. SCR

Labonte to Drive No. 47 in 2011

Harrisburg, N.C. - JTG Daugherty Racing announced today that 2000 Cup Champion Bobby Labonte will replace Marcos Ambrose in the No. 47 Toyota in 2011.

Labonte who has 21 Cup Series wins in his career said of joining the 47 team “JTG Daugherty Racing is a solid race team that has come close to winning races with Marcos Ambrose and I’m looking forward to developing our new partnership in 2011.”

“The team is thriving and their technical alliance with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is intact. It’s great to have next year already set in stone so when this season ends we can begin focusing on next year right away. Everything is in place and we have all the right ingredients to win races together.”

Labonte will replace Ambrose who has decided to part ways with JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the current season.

“We are really happy Bobby has decided to join our team because I have known him for a long time and I have always admired him as a professional driver and as an individual,” Daugherty said. “He will do an outstanding job representing our products and team. He has gotten to a point in his career that he still has some things to accomplish. He is highly experienced with a championship on his résumé’ and we know he is capable of winning.”

Labonte will pilot the No. 47 Toyota for the first time at the Daytona International Speedway in February 13, 2011 at the Daytona 500. SCR

Jack Roush Injured in Plane Crash

Oshkosh, WI – NASCAR team owner Jack Roush is in serious but stable condition at hospital in Oshkosh after the plane he was piloting crashed. Roush was in Oshkosh for the annual EAA AirVenture show, was landing his Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet when the accident occurred.

The accident occurred Tuesday night as Roush was landing at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. 


Dr. Kevin Wasco, the attending physician, says that Roush is in serious but stable condition. His injuries are not life threatening.

Roush was involved in another plane crash in 2002 that nearly cost him his life near Troy, AL. SCR

McMurray Gets the Sweetest Kiss

Jamie McMurray got one of the sweetest kisses of his life Sunday at Indianapolis when he won the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). McMurray who did not have the best car all day (that went to Earnhardt Ganassi teammate Juan Pablo Montoya) started on the outside of race leader Kevin Harvick on the final restart at lap 150 and before the lap was complete McMurray was on the pint and from there he never looked backed.

Montoya who had the best car of the day and led the most laps (116) brought out the final caution on laps 147 when he got loose back in traffic and hit the outside wall ending his day, Montoya finished 32^nd.

McMurray became only the third driver to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. Dale Jarrett first accomplished the feat in 1996, and Jimmie Johnson followed in 2006.

“It’s unbelievable,” McMurray said. “We didn’t have the best car. When Kevin (Harvick) got by me a few laps from the end, I thought it was over. Ten laps to go, just do what you’ve got to do. Don’t worry about those guys.

“It’s just an awesome day. It’s unreal right now.”

With the win McMurray gave team owner Chip Ganassi the big three in wins all in the same season (Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400).

McMurray said “How about Chip winning the (Indianapolis) 500 and both of these big races? I’m just shocked I won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. It’s been an unbelievable year.”

Finishing second Sunday was Kevin Harvick, he was followed by Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart in third, fourth and fifth. SCR

Jac Haudenschild Sidelined by Broken Right Hand

Concord, NC- Jac Haudenschild, who has won twice this year with the World of Outlaws, will miss a couple of weeks of action after suffering a broken bone in his right hand. Haudenschild is currently ninth in the World of Outlaws championship standings on the strength of 19 Top-10 finishes with eight of those being Top-Five performances.

The Hall of Famer took a wild ride at LaSalle Speedway on July 8 in the finale of the Showdown for the Bud Crown, getting into the turn three fence and wall very hard. He competed in a few races following that accident, turning in a very gutsy performance in the Knight Before the Kings Royal, charging from the 23^rd starting spot to finish sixth, while driving with significant pain and discomfort in the hand.

"It's pretty disappointing," said Haudenschild. "We've felt good in the car this year and been fast and have won a couple of times. We're looking forward to getting back to racing in a few weeks."

Haudenschild hopes to return to the seat for the Knoxville Nationals at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, August 11-14 then be back inWorld of Outlaws action at Nodak Speedway in Minot, North Dakota on August 20-21 in the Magic City Showdown. SCR

Edwards, Keselowski Penalized for Gateway Indecent

Daytona Beach, FL – NASCAR penalized Carl Edwards, driver of the number 60 Ford in the Nationwide Series 60 driver points and placed him on probation until December 31, 2010 for his on track altercation with Brad Keselowski at Gateway Int. Raceway Saturday night. In addition to the penalties accessed to Edwards NASCAR place Keselowski on probation until December 31, 2010.

Carl Edwards car owner Jack Roush was docked 60 owner points. SCR

Parking Edwards Could Save a Life

Matthew Blaylock – SCR

Carl Edwards did all but admit Saturday night at Gateway International Raceway (GIR) that he wrecked Brad Keselowski on purpose to get a win in the Nationwide Series and at his home track.

As the field took the white flag Saturday night Keselowski and Edwards were racing for the lead when the two got together coming out of turn 1. What looked to be just an on track racing incident turned into a final lap melee when both Keselowski and Edwards were coming to take the checkered flag.

Edwards who was running second to Keselowski turned his wheel to the left getting into the right rear fender of Keselowski sending him into a spin that got Keselowski blindsided by Shelby Howard and a 14^th place finish.

Now I know many will say that this is just a racing incident but the facts speak for themselves.

In Victory Lane Edwards said he did what he had to do. "I just couldn't let him take the win from me," said Edwards, my guys work way too hard for that.” If that is not damming enough in itself well Edwards had even more to say.

"We had a great restart. My guys built me a great car. We came to the checkered flag, and I hate to see stuff tore up, but we came here to win and he took it from us there in Turn 1. Just an awesome race. ... I'm sure some of them don't like that win -- Brad Keselowski fans and stuff -- but, man, I just couldn't let him take it from me. I had to do what I had to do."

Edwards even referring to Keselowski as taking something from him is a joke and a bad one at that. From what I saw and in every replay Keselowski was in front of or beside Edwards in both incidents, Edwards never had a car length on Keselowski, not until he turned low took Keselowski out and went on to take the checkered flag.

This is not the first nor will it be the last time that Edwards has done something like this. It does seem though that Keselowski is the one always on the receiving end, Atlanta comes to mind when Edwards put Keselowski upside down into the catch fence and all NASCAR did then was put Edwards on probation for three Sprint Cup Races.

Saturday nights race was not a Sprint Cup race and three races had passed.

NASCAR's response to Edwards causing a melee as hard racing.

According to Nationwide Series director Joe Balash "I think at the last lap there was a lot of hard racing going on, there was some movement on the racetrack. It was a tough finish for a really great race.”

In other words NASCAR is saying we will not suspend one of our Sprint Cup stars for an incident in our second series. If that is not a cop-out then I don't know what is.

It is great that NASCAR is letting the racers race, but some things do cross the line and Saturday night that line was crossed.

What now makes it even worse is that Edwards has come out and said he was not the aggressor in the incidents with Keselowski.

"The deal is he'll eventually learn he can't run into my car over and over and put me in bad situations," Edwards said. "In every situation, there's an aggressor and there's someone who reacts.

"I was not the aggressor in this situation."

And two that Mr. Edwards two words fit here, but I refuse to put them in print, kind of like you refuse to ever take blame for your on track faults.

Reaction is fine but when you blatantly take someone out as Edwards did on Saturday night, someone needs to call you out on it, and someone did.

In a post race interview with Bob Keselowski, an old-school racer and father of Brad it was simply put.

"Brad got into Carl getting out of Turn 1 - racing - they bumped, they rubbed, typical rubbing-racing deal," Bob Keselowski said. "Carl flipped out like he did at Atlanta and tried to kill the kid. I'm sick and tired of this. I'll get my own damn uniform back on and take care of this. He ain't going to kill my boy."

"He just overreacted so bad. If he wanted to bump Brad, it's one thing. But don't drive him through the inside guardrail. Don't put him in the grandstands at Atlanta. That's asinine."

It is as simple as the replay shows. Edwards realized that he would not get into trouble with NASCAR for dumping Keselowski and he could pick up some points too, having beef with Keselowski for sometime was just icing on the cake. He saw a great time to dump him and that is what he did, the problem with that is Edwards only sees his part and not the danger he puts that kid in (and every other driver on the track) every time he dumps him.

What Edwards really needs is to be parked; not for wrecking Keselowski but for the hit Keselowski took when Howard plowed into him. That is what gets someone killed and death is a lot worse than being parked for a handful of races.

To soothe Edwards let him keep the win.

Hemric Wins Legends Million

Daniel Hemric won $250,000 Saturday night by winning the Legends Million race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hemric was followed by Doug Stevens, Steven Cantrell, David Ragan and Tyler Green. SCR

Edwards Wins at Home

Carl Edwards hinted in victory lane that he wrecked Brad Keselowski on purpose to get the win at his hometown track Gateway International Raceway. Edwards spun Keselowski as they came to the checkered flag giving Edwards the hometown win.

With the wreck Keselowski who was running first ended up finish 14. Edwards was followed across the line be Reed Sorenson, Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard and Steve Wallace.

Edwards said in victory lane "I just couldn't let him take the win from me," speaking on the spinning of Keselowski, "My guys work way too hard for that.”

"We had a great restart. My guys built me a great car. We came to the checkered flag, and I hate to see stuff tore up, but we came here to win and he took it from us there in Turn 1. Just an awesome race. ... I'm sure some of them don't like that win -- Brad Keselowski fans and stuff -- but, man, I just couldn't let him take it from me. I had to do what I had to do."SCR

Harvick Rolls to Gateway Victory

After a power outage postponed the trucks from running Friday night, when they finally took to the track Saturday it was the Kevin Harvick show. Harvick led 143 of the 160 laps on way to his third Camping World Truck Series win of 2010.

Finishing second was Brad Keselowski followed by Johnny Sauter, Todd Bodine and Matt Crafton in third, fourth and fifth. SCR

Truck Race Rescheduled for Saturday

Due to a power outage at Gateway International Raceway the Camping World Truck Series race that was to be run Friday night has been rescheduled for today (Saturday July 17^th) at 1:30 p.m. EST.

The Nationwide Series qualifying and race will take place immediately after the truck race. Qualifying is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. EST and the race is set to take the green flag at 8 p.m. EST.

A downed power line near the track was the reason for the power failure Friday night. SCR