Dollar General 300 - Lowe's Motor Speedway

Newman Survives to Win Wreakfest at Charlotte
Under the lights at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Ryan Newman survived the record 14 caution flags, not counting the yellow flag that flew following the checkered flag, and two red flags to win the Dollar General 300, posting his fifth consecutive NASCAR Busch Series victory, setting a single-season series record. Newman was able to avoid the carnage by staying at the front of the field, leading 133 of the event’s 200 laps, and letting the wrecks happen in his wake. The majority of the accidents were caused by either tire problems or a track that wouldn’t allow side-by-side racing. When most cars attempted to make a pass on the low side, the cars got extremely loose and shot up the track and into the wall. Just ask NEXTEL Cup point leader Tony Stewart who attempted to pass Newman for the lead on a restart with nine laps to go. Stewart was completely under Newman but his No. 19 Chevrolet suddenly veered directly for the SAFER barriers with a hard hit, then as his car would come down the track it would collect his teammate J.J. Yeley and David Stremme, bringing out the 14th caution and eventually the second red flag. On the ensuing restart with only three laps to go, second-place Elliott Sadler was not able to mount a challenge on Newman, who went on to take the checkered flag 0.313 seconds ahead of Sadler. After Newman had taken the checkered flag, cars were wrecking behind him once again, so the unofficial 15th caution flag of the day flew, causing the rest of the field to be scored by the scoring loops on the track. Newman, who has only attempted seven Busch races this season, entered the Dollar General 300 tied with Sam Ard for the NBS series record of four consecutive wins in four consecutive starts in a single season, now holds the record all to himself with five wins in five straight starts. Newman also ties Dale Earnhardt Jr. with five consecutive wins that were not in a single season, Earnhardt won five in a row over a three-year time span. This is Newman’s sixth career Busch Series victory and his fifth win in his last six starts. Sadler settled for the runner up position, while Paul Menard came home in the third position. Carl Edwards ended his day in fourth while Sterling Marlin rounded out the top five. The 200-lap race was slowed by 14 caution flags for a total of 67 laps with two red-flag periods that totaled 21 minutes and 51 seconds.

Dollar General 300 Notes
· Race Results · Ford Post-Race Quotes · Rookie Post-Race Quotes · Point Standings · Owner Point Standings · Starting Lineup · Qualifying Results · Final Practice · Rookie Practice Quotes · Practice 1 · Qualifying Order · Rookie Thursday Quotes · Entry List · Weekend Schedule · Race Notes · Raybestos Rookie Notes · T.J. Bell Notes	· Clint Bowyer Notes · Carl Edwards Notes · Reed Sorenson Notes · Kevin Harvick Notes · Kenny Wallace Notes · Kasey Kahne Notes · Ryan Newman Notes · Matt Kenseth Notes · Brent Sherman Notes · Stacy Compton Notes · Jon Wood Notes · Jason Leffler Notes · Justin Labonte Notes · Tony Stewart Notes · Jimmie Johnson Notes · Kyle Busch Notes · Adrian Fernandez Notes

Johnson, Lowe's Chevy Takes Busch Pole at Lowe's Track
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe’s Chevrolet, has a special love affair with the Lowe’s Motor Speedway… and the feeling appears to be mutual. Johnson, going out 47th out of 50 drivers, set a new NASCAR Busch Series track record when his second qualifying lap of 28.764 seconds, at an average speed of 187.735 mph, knocked fellow Nextel Cup competitor Ryan Newman off of the pole position. Johnson’s lap surpassed the old track record of 28.918 seconds, at an average speed of 186.735 mph, set by Kasey Kahne earlier this season on May 27 2005. The pole is the second in only eight Busch starts this season for Johnson, who seems to win in every attempt at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, not matter the series. This is also the second career Busch Series pole for Johnson. Newman, who is attempting to set a single-season Busch Series record with five straight victories, will roll off from the outside pole after posting a qualifying speed of 28.933 seconds, at an average speed of 186.638 mph. Kyle Busch will start third, followed by rookie Reed Sorenson and Regan Smith in the top five.