NASCAR: Newman survives Martinsville

[ron olds]

Rayn Newman survived a wild restart to take his Stewart/Hass Outback Steakhouse car to victory lane in todays Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

The restart was set up when #10 David Reutimann, also a Stewart/Hass driver would have mechanical issues and stop on the race track. Reutimann would be summoned to the NASCAR trailer for his actions following the race.

Reutimann would explain that he was having mechanical issues and he was just trying to finish the race to keep the car in the top 35 owners points. Why is the top 35 owners points so important? Reutimann and Danica Patrick share the car and on May 5th Danica Patrick is scheduled to return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at Darlington 500. Patrick would have to qualify the car on time to make the race, if the car is not in the top 35 points. Will there be another team merger to keep her from qualifying?

The restart would be a green/white/checker with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon bringing the field to the green. Clint Bowyer's #15- 5-hour Energy Toyota would try and make it three wide into turn one sending all three spining. Allowing Ryan Newman who started in the 5th position to squeeze by on the inside. The final green/white/checkers would have A.J. Allmendinger battling with Newman, however Newman would hold on and win his first race of 2012, his first at Martinsville, and 16th win of his career.

Jimmie Johnson need some Goodys Relief after todays race. Early in the race Johnson had a speeding penalty and had to go to the rear of the field, the following pit stop there would be confusion between crew chief Chad Kanus and Johnsons but would only cost Johnson one spot on the restart. Team mate Jeff Gordon also caught up in the attempted green/white/checker is the only driver in the Sprint Cup Series who has lead a lap in every race in 2012.

Mention Ryan Newman at an Outback Steakhouse on Monday receive a free Bloomin Onion

[Joe Starr]

RACE RESULTS

1. (5) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 515, $198,808.
2. (27) AJ Allmendinger, Dodge, 515, $150,610.
3. (14) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 515, $116,985.
4. (21) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 515, $152,821.
5. (13) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 515, $117,949.
6. (3) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 515, $128,101.
7. (15) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 515, $133,410.
8. (19) Aric Almirola, Ford, 515, $121,196.
9. (7) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 515, $117,455.
10. (4) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 515, $111,999.
11. (28) Carl Edwards, Ford, 515, $124,451.
12. (22) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 515, $124,071.
13. (26) Greg Biffle, Ford, 514, $89,385.
14. (9) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 514, $129,846.
15. (12) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 513, $109,668.
16. (17) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 513, $106,343.
17. (16) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 513, $104,368.
18. (6) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 513, $79,035.
19. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 513, $125,971.
20. (20) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 513, $110,718.
21. (32) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 512, $108,176.
22. (18) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 512, $116,435.
23. (10) Joey Logano, Toyota, 511, $85,660.
24. (24) David Ragan, Ford, 511, $91,518.
25. (25) Casey Mears, Ford, 511, $89,218.
26. (11) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 510, $84,685.
27. (34) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, 510, $93,907.
28. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 509, $76,060.
29. (31) Landon Cassill, Toyota, 507, $102,230.
30. (39) David Stremme, Toyota, 506, $76,760.
31. (41) Hermie Sadler, Chevrolet, 505, $80,610.
32. (36) Ken Schrader, Ford, 503, $80,460.
33. (40) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 497, $80,235.
34. (42) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, Brakes, 439, $72,110.
35. (29) David Reutimann, Chevrolet, Engine, 436, $72,060.
36. (8) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 435, $119,218.
37. (43) JJ Yeley, Toyota, Brakes, 359, $71,930.
38. (1) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Engine, 256, $86,253.
39. (37) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, Brakes, 74, $69,100.
40. (23) Michael McDowell, Ford, Brakes, 60, $69,025.
41. (30) Josh Wise, Ford, Brakes, 49, $68,975.
42. (33) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, Brakes, 30, $68,895.
43. (35) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Brakes, 25, $68,418.