It was a best of times, worst of times for several drivers at Martinsville Speedway Sunday. Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup series STP 500, a career first at NASCAR’s shortest track. He staged a dominating performance leading a race high 352 of the 500 laps.
While Busch was firmly in control much of the afternoon, the story of the day for many was rally. The trouble started early for former Martinsville winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. He struggled in qualifying Friday and started Sunday 21st. . On lap 5 Earnhardt Jr. and David Regan got together while fighting for 20th; Earnhardt spun with a flat tire and lost a lap. He came back to run inside the top 10 at one point. On the final caution however, Earnhardt pitted for fresh tires. They were no help though and Earnhardt settled for 14th place finish.
“The car was fun,” Earnhardt said.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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