Vickers Controversial First Win At Talladega
Spin to win: Vickers takes Talladega
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- A wild afternoon of racing Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway was capped off with a wild and controversial finish as Brian Vickers won his first Nextel Cup race.
Running third on the final lap behind Chase drivers Jimmie Johnson and race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., Vickers clipped Johnson, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, as Johnson went low to pass Earnhardt for the lead. Johnson hit Earnhardt, taking out both cars, and Vickers flew by to win the UAW-Ford 500, his first victory in 107 Nextel Cup starts. Earnhardt was scored 23rd and Johnson 24th.
"It's not quite exactly how I planned it," Vickers said. "When (Johnson) turned down to pass the No. 8, the No. 8 kept pushing down and when he jerked to avoid the No. 8 trying to block him, I just got into him.
"I apologize. That is the last thing I want to do is to get into Jimmie, but when the No. 8 chopped him and Jimmie swerved, I just got him. It is not how I wanted to win it, but it is nice to get a win."
Earnhardt offered a kind assessment, considering he appeared to have the car to beat when the field took the green after a caution with 10 laps to go.
"He didn't mean to wreck anybody on purpose," said Earnhardt, who led the most laps, 37. "I think he was just trying to push the 48. He was just racing hard there."
Kasey Kahne was credited with second, followed by Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and rookie Martin Truex Jr. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, Mark Martin, Carl Edwards and Bobby Labonte.
Chase leader Jeff Burton, victim of a blown tire, finished 27th, and his lead was trimmed to six points over Kenseth. Martin remained third in points but is now 10 points out of the lead. Harvick is fourth, 33 back, and rookie Denny Hamlin dropped from second to fifth and is 51 points out of first. Burton entered the race with a 69-point lead over Hamlin.
more Brian Vickers spin to win at Talladega
Greg Engle
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- A wild afternoon of racing Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway was capped off with a wild and controversial finish as Brian Vickers won his first Nextel Cup race.
Running third on the final lap behind Chase drivers Jimmie Johnson and race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., Vickers clipped Johnson, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, as Johnson went low to pass Earnhardt for the lead. Johnson hit Earnhardt, taking out both cars, and Vickers flew by to win the UAW-Ford 500, his first victory in 107 Nextel Cup starts. Earnhardt was scored 23rd and Johnson 24th.
"It's not quite exactly how I planned it," Vickers said. "When (Johnson) turned down to pass the No. 8, the No. 8 kept pushing down and when he jerked to avoid the No. 8 trying to block him, I just got into him.
"I apologize. That is the last thing I want to do is to get into Jimmie, but when the No. 8 chopped him and Jimmie swerved, I just got him. It is not how I wanted to win it, but it is nice to get a win."
Earnhardt offered a kind assessment, considering he appeared to have the car to beat when the field took the green after a caution with 10 laps to go.
"He didn't mean to wreck anybody on purpose," said Earnhardt, who led the most laps, 37. "I think he was just trying to push the 48. He was just racing hard there."
Kasey Kahne was credited with second, followed by Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and rookie Martin Truex Jr. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, Mark Martin, Carl Edwards and Bobby Labonte.
Chase leader Jeff Burton, victim of a blown tire, finished 27th, and his lead was trimmed to six points over Kenseth. Martin remained third in points but is now 10 points out of the lead. Harvick is fourth, 33 back, and rookie Denny Hamlin dropped from second to fifth and is 51 points out of first. Burton entered the race with a 69-point lead over Hamlin.
more Brian Vickers spin to win at Talladega
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