How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track L

Busch Wins at Darlington: #18-Kyle Busch won the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway for his 3rd win of 2008 and his 7th career win. He dominated the later stages of the race and led 169 laps on the night. renaissance atlanta hotel downtown #99-Carl Edwards was second, with the rest of the top-10 being #24-Jeff Gordon, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #6-David Ragan, #17-Matt Kenseth, #11-Denny Hamlin, #28-Travis Kvapil, #22-Dave Blaney, and #10-Jeff Burton (who continues his streak of finishing every lap this season). Pole sitter #16-Greg Biffle broke a transmission midway renaissance atlanta hotel downtown through the race and finished 43rd. There were 8 cautions for 31 laps and 15 leaders with 35 lead changes.
Biffle on pole at Darlington: #16-Greg Biffle won the Coors Light Pole for the Dodge Challenger 500, Biffles 1st pole of 2008, first since Atlanta last Oct and 5th of his career. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified 2nd, followed by #48-Johnson [in a backup car], #20-Stewart, #2-Busch, #18-Busch, #19-Sadler, #24-Gordon, #66-Riggs and #43-Labonte. Missing the race were two drivers; #70-Sauter and #34-Jeff Green. See qualifying results, renaissance atlanta hotel downtown pole progression, starting lineup on my Darlington renaissance atlanta hotel downtown Lineup/Qualifying Page .(5-9-2008)
.. Biffle broke Ward Burton�s track qualifying record of 28.295 seconds, 173.797 mph � set March 22, 1996, in the first qualifying session after the last re-paving of Darlington raceway. Burton�s was the longest standing qualifying record at an active, non-restrictor-plate track. The top-41 times bettered Burton�s speed.
Qualifying Order for the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway is posted. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session on Friday, May 9. 2008 at 5:15pm/et, once the top-35 drivers are done. The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #15-Menard, the final top-35 driver scedhuled is #9-Kahne. The first go-or-go homer to go out [36th] is #21-Elliott, the final driver scheduled to qualify is #84-Allmendinger. See the full qualifying renaissance atlanta hotel downtown order on my Darlington renaissance atlanta hotel downtown Qualifying Page .(5-8-2008)
renaissance atlanta hotel downtown incidents: got another one in the wall as #41-Sorenson slapped the turn 2 wall and crushed the right front of the car and will have to go to a backup car for qualifying this afternoon, the 4th driver to a backup; late in the session, #48-Johnson spun off turn 4, held it off the outside wall, and kissed the inside wall, doing some damage to the left front and the splitter...this renaissance atlanta hotel downtown is a backup car already, but it is repairable. Then just after the track went green again, #15-Menard came off turn 4, scraped the wall, then came down and slapped the inside wall, the #15 will go to a backup; then in turn 2, #7-Gordon scraped the wall, but the car looks repairable.
incidents: dozens of cars have the famed Darlington strip, #6-Ragan slapped the wall and slmost spun but saved it; #45-Petty spun off turn 4 and did some damage to ther right rear and wing endcap; #11-Hamlin slapped the wall just after running a fast lap; #48-Johnson slammed the wall hard and is going to a backup car; #18-Busch lept up to speed after Johnson wrecked and was admonished by NASCAR; #07-Bowyer crashed late, but the team is making repairs
Darlington Practice TODAY: there are two scheuduled renaissance atlanta hotel downtown [there is rain in the area] one-hour practice sessions on Thursday, May 8th for the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway. The first one is scheduled for 4:30pm and the second session at 7:00pm/et. Neither is scheduled to be televised. Will post speeds here when I get them.(5-8-2008) Comment here
Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: NASCAR announced renaissance atlanta hotel downtown in January that starting with the Cup race at California, teams outside renaissance atlanta hotel downtown the top 35 in owners points renaissance atlanta hotel downtown will be allowed to qualify together at the end of the qualifying renaissance atlanta hotel downtown session. The Nationwide and Truck Series used this procedure at Daytona. Sprint Cup didn't use the new procedure at Daytona due to the unique/somewhat complicated qualifying session/races there. The thought renaissance atlanta hotel downtown is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.(2-19-2008)
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, renaissance atlanta hotel downtown NASCAR renaissance atlanta hotel downtown instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed , the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, renaissance atlanta hotel downtown providing they have made an attempt renaissance atlanta hotel downtown to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned renaissance atlanta hotel downtown to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] � the champion�s provisional � can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver renaissance atlanta hotel downtown during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position � 43rd in the Sprint Cup � is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series� current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers renaissance atlanta hotel downtown in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]
renaissance atlanta hotel downtown Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion�s provisional rule in the Sprint Cup Series renaissance atlanta hotel downtown for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion�s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, renaissance atlanta hotel downtown a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion�s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,� said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. �We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.�(NASCAR PR)
This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional.(1-31-2007)
� Not only is Darlington the site of the oldest NASCAR race on asphalt, it is also the site of one of the closest race finishes in NASCAR history. Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds on March 16, 2003 � the smallest margin of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in mid-1993.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-6-2008)
Jack is back on the #07: After a three-race hiatus, Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy returns to its traditional black and white Jack Daniel's paint scheme this weekend at Darlington. Jack Daniel's will be the primary sponsor on RCR's #07 entry for the remainder of the 2008 schedule with the exception of Dover in June and Watkins Glen in August when DIRECTV will assume the primary sponsorship position.(RCR)(5-7-2008)
Waltrip Honors Friend, McDowell Pays Special Tribute to Mother: For Brain Cancer Awareness week May 4-10, Michael Waltrip designed a special paint scheme for the #00 Toyota Camry to honor his dearly departed friend Max Helton who was instrumental in establishing Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) in 1988. "Max was a really special person in my life," Waltrip said. "I cherished the time I spent with him and the positive influence he had on me. We will miss him, but we will never forget him." Helton's vision came to life with the help of Darrell and Stevie Waltrip and so many others. Michael befriended Helton in the late 80's as he began work in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing renaissance atlanta hotel downtown community providing ministries for drivers, team members, family and friends. "I don't believe renaissance atlanta hotel downtown our racing family would have the continuity and the family atmosphere it has if it wasn't renaissance atlanta hotel downtown for Max and MRO," Darrell Waltrip said. "Max came to my wife Stevie and me in Riverside, California in 1987 and said he wanted to start a ministry in NASCAR. He said he was willing to move to North Carolina. We were excited because he