TMS Cup story

[NickHolt]

Newman ‘Drives Miss Daisy’ to Victory Lane at TMS

 

It was the perfect ending that fans and officials at Texas Motor Speedway had hoped for at Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Winston Cup race.

 

Dale Earnhardt, Junior and Jeff Gordon – two of the fan favorites at TMS – battled side-by-side for most of the last 11 laps of the race. At the finish line, the two cars touched, with Earnhardt beating out Gordon by all of three feet.

 

Unfortunately for all concerned, the classic battle was for second place.

 

That’s because Ryan Newman passed Earnhardt for the lead on Lap 223, pulled away from Earnhardt and finished about 30 car lengths ahead of Earnhardt at the finish line.

 

Newman, who’s in his fourth season in the Winston Cup series, claimed his second career victory. It was Newman’s first victory at Texas Motor Speedway and it also marked his first win in a 500-mile race. He drove a car that his team had dubbed “Miss Daisy” at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

Newman was the seventh different winner at Texas. Jeff Burton won the inaugural race at TMS in 1997. Other winners at TMS include Mark Martin (1998), Terry Labonte (1999), Earnhardt (2000), Dale Jarrett (2001) and Matt Kenseth (2002).

 

Newman averaged 134.517 mph in the race slowed by 52 laps of caution. Newman, who led four times for 77 laps, appeared to gain control when he took the lead on lap 224 of the 334-lap event. That came during a caution period in the middle of a series of green-flag stops.

 

Newman hadn't pitted, yet, and found himself in front.

 

After Joe Nemecheck brought out the race’s 10th caution flag by spinning out with just 53 laps left in the race, Newman and Earnhardt ran side-by-side for the lead on the restart on lap 289. Earnhardt got a slight push on the inside and took the lead.

 

Earnhardt opened up as much as a 20 car-length lead over Newman with 31 laps left in the 334-lap race. But just two laps later, Newman started catching up to Earnhardt and challenged for the lead over the next 16 laps.

 

Jeff Gordon started moving up on Newman’s Dodge and pulled within striking distance of Newman and Earnhardt over that span.

 

With 11 laps to go, Newman ducked down inside on Earnhardt and the two raced side-by-side as Earnhardt’s car showed handing problems. Newman finally got past Earnhardt for the lead, with Gordon close behind. Newman then hit the outside lane and slowly started pulling away from Earnhardt.

 

Earnhardt’s attention then turned to Gordon, who raced nose-to-nose with Earnhardt three times in the final 10 laps. Gordon chased down and passed Earnhardt on lap 333, but Earnhardt bumped past Gordon on the final straightaway to take second place by 0.002 seconds – a matter of inches.

 

It was a very rough day for the Labonte brothers (Terry and Bobby), both natives of Corpus Christi.

 

Terry Labonte, a two-time Winston Cup champion, had to run his car down in the front-straighaway grass to avoid a spin out by Jimmy Spencer on Lap 226. Labonte’s car suffered damage to the front of the car, although he rebounded well and finished 16th, just one lap behind Newman.

 

Bobby Labonte, Terry’s younger brother who won the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, had high expectations for this race as he cruised to the pole during qualifying on Saturday. But Labonte’s Interstate Batteries Chevrolet had handling problems all day and his chances of winning the race were wiped out when he spun out coming out of Turn 2 on Lap 250. He finished 37th.

[rebelracewriter]

Did anyone see Lee Schiede's column in the SA Disgrace News? He called the race "BO-RING" Was I watching a different race or what? And to think he had more TMS access than me and got paid for his trip!!!

Chuck and I must been at the same show, his story looks alot like mine.

 

Seventh Different Winner in Seven Races

By J M Hallas

Fort Worth, Texas. 3-30-03 Flyin' Ryan Newman added his name to the short list of winners for the Samsung/Radio Shack 500, held annually at Texas Motor Speedway. Newman and his crew used an interesting pit strategy to grab the win ahead of a side by side to the line between former TMS winner, Dale Earnhardt jr. and four time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon. Joe Nemechek brought the caution with 55 laps to go, allowing all the leaders to pit under yellow. While everyone else changed four tires, Newman choose only to take two, and come out first. Once back to green that plan looked bad, when Earnhardt jr. got by Newman and looked to run away with the victory. But Newman stayed close behind and in the final laps caught back up and wrestled the lead away from Earnhardt with 10 to go. Newman then pulled away, leaving Earnhardt and Gordon to fight for the runner-up spot. The race was dominated early by the "Elliott's", Bill Elliott lead the opening 43 laps, with outside polesitter, Elliott Sadler leading the next 70 laps. Several drivers took turns leading during the middle stages of the race.

Corpus Christi natives, Bobby and Terry Labonte both had poor fairings. Bobby qualified on the pole but fell back into mid pack until things got worse. On lap 250 Bobby spun and hit the back stretch wall ending his day in 37th position. Terry's day was only a little better, after starting in the top 12 , he continued to run towards the front. His day took a turn for the worst when he and several drivers almost got caught a lap down during green flag pit stops. Terry ended up finishing 16th after trouble late forced him to lose thre laps.

The Houston racers also had some poor outings, related to the Famous AJ Foyt, Larry Foyt finished a disappointing 30th, while David Starr from the Craftsman Truck Series, failed to qualify for his first ever Winston Cup race.

 

Samsung/Radio Shack 500 results

1. Ryan Newman, 2. Dale Earnhardt jr. 3 Jeff Gordon, 4. Jerry Nadeau, 5. Mark Martin, 6. Matt Kenseth, 7. Jeff Green, 8. Jimmie Johnson, 9. Kurt Busch, 10. Jamie McMurray, 11. Todd Bodine, 12. Ward Burton, 13. Dale Jarrett, 14. Rusty Wallace, 15. Kevin Harvick, 16. Terry Labonte, 17. Michael Waltrip, 18. Robby Gordon, 19. John Andretti, 20. Jeff Burton, 21. Ricky Craven, 22 Jack Sprague, 23 Kenny Wallace, 24. Ken Schrader, 25. Jeremy Mayfield, 26. Ricky Rudd, 27. Casey Mears, 28.Greg Biffle, 29. Sterling Marlin, 30. Larry Foyt, 31 Brett Bodine, 32. Johnny Benson, 33. Jimmy Spencer, 34. Tony Stewart, 35. Joe Nemechek, 36. Dave Blaney, 37. Bobby Labonte, 38. Christian Fittipaldi, 39. Steve Park, 40. Mike Skinner, 41. Elliott Sadler, 42. Tony Raines, 43 Bill Elliott.

[97car]

Lee must have been at the legends short track that did not have a race on it this weekend.I thought like you it was a good race,and the track seems wickedly fast for only a 1.5 mile track. If he was into culture he should have ventured into the camping area behind the track,it is like taking the old TWS infield parties and multiplying it by 200 at least, I will definately be back. Listening to the scanners makes things even more interesting too. I did not think Newman could do it on only two tires when the rest got 4 tires.

[ChuckLicata]

Hmm...after reading Lee Scheide's story, I can only say one thing...

Jay Hallas and I need to do the story for the SA paper...How can you call THAT RACE BORING???? Good Lord, I will say this: I think it's very apparent that some of us (me and Jay and everyone here on Texasspeedzone.com) have a PASSION for racing..

Others, like the above-mentioned SA paper writer...see covering the race as a job...no offense...Thoughts?

[rebelracewriter]

Don't get me started on the SA paper......... Nick and Jason would spend all night editting it. LMAO I met Lee Scheide at the IHRA show(s), and he seemed like a nice enough guy once we talked for a while and he warmed up to my persistant inquiries. But I think you hit the nail on the head there Chucky. I'd hate to piss him off, he's a big dude, but I can run faster. LOL