(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Saturday,July 4th, 2009
(By Greg Engle, NDN Editor, SPEEDTV.com)
DAYTONA BEACH FLA-At first glance Clint Bowyers Nationwide Series win at Daytona International Speedway Friday night might seem a mundane affair. The defending Nationwide Series champion started from the pole led the most laps –48- and scored the seventh win of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career.
But the race was anything but boring. In fact was an edge of your seat dogfight for the entire event.
The Series debuted the double-file shootout style restarts Friday with the first coming on lap 15 after the first of seven cautions. The practice of allowing only lead lap cars to start two abreast kept the leaders together with the rest of the field chomping at their heels. Among the early leaders were Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch, David Ragan and Bowyer.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 03: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Ragan emerged as a strong contender battling Bowyer for the lead before a miscue sent him to, the pits while most of the leaders stayed out during a caution on lap 70. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Brian Vickers battled Bowyer as the laps wound down.
Edwards seemed to drop from contention when he was forced in late during a caution with a flat tire. Despite starting from outside the top 20 on the restart however, Edwards charged through the field and found himself in second with less then 10 to go.
The final caution for a crash in the back of the field set up a green white checkered flag finish. Bowyer elected to start on the inside row with Edwards, Busch and Logano right behind. But Bowyer was able to hold them off and another crash coming out of turn four as Bowyer took the white flag gave him the win when the race ended under caution.
“The 18, Kyle gave me a good push right there at the end,” Bowyer said. “Luckily, the caution came out. Who knows what would have happened in that last lap. It’s been tough this year. It’s been tough on him (team owner Richard Childress). It’s been tough on everybody.”
Busch who is the Series points leader was second, Logano third, Edwards was fourth and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five.
“We had to settle for second tonight,” Busch said.” But it was hard fought and well battled so we’ll take it.”
Justin Allgaier was sixth, Kasey Kahne seventh, Brian Vickers eighth, David Ragan ninth and Kevin Harvick 10th.
Busch increased his Nationwide Series points lead to 177 over second place Carl Edwards as the series heads to Chicagoland next week.
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