2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 11: Dodge Challenger 500 @ Darlington

Race 11 of the season was a night race at Darlington Raceway, the only race of the season there. Greg Biffle scored his first pole of the season here beating out Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jr. was driving a retro Darrell Waltrip Mountain Dew paint scheme for this race and would drive yet another special scheme next week in the Sprint All-Star race (which I will recap due to starting the countdown a day early). On Lap 1 of the race, Elliott Sadler tried passing Tony Stewart low, but lost it drifting up the track and wrecking Tony. Elliott was done for the night (or still afternoon). Kyle Busch eventually got to the front and had a good fight with polesitter Greg Biffle for a good part of the race. Kyle was sporting an Indiana Jones themed M&M's car due to the Indy movie being released in the theatres at that time. Dale Jr. also hung tight in the Top 5 much of the race leading laps now and then in that neat paint scheme. Unfortunately, Biffle had some problems with his engine late in the race and had to retire. With Greg out of the way, Kyle Busch pulled off and scored his third win on the year, really making a statement so far in 2008. Three Toyotas, three Chevrolets, and four Fords got Top 10s there. The Hendrick cars Gordon and Junior scored Top 5s. Notable Top 10s are Travis Kvapil getting 8th and Dave Blaney running well finishing 9th. Next week, the cars would head to Charlotte for two weeks for the Sprint All-Star race and the Coca-Cola 600.

The Top 10:
1. #18 Kyle Busch (Toyota)
2. #99 Carl Edwards (Ford)
3. #24 Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)
4. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevrolet)
5. #6 David Ragan (Ford)
6. #17 Matt Kenseth (Ford)
7. #11 Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
8. #28 Travis Kvapil (Ford)
9. #22 Dave Blaney (Toyota)
10. #31 Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)