2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 17: LENOX Industrial Tools 301 @ Loudon

Loudon was next on the Cup schedule for Race #17 which was a wake up call to teams to run well to get into the Chase. Patrick Carpentier wowed the crowd in New Hampshire scoring the pole in the #10 car. New Hampshire is right by Canada so that was pretty cool for him to get that. Bobby Labonte would start alongside in the second spot. In the race, Casey Mears had his best showing of the year getting lucky with some pit strategy to get his #5 Chevrolet Impala out front. But it was Tony Stewart that got to the front to dominate and lead the most laps. They've said over the years, Tony Stewart hits his stride in the midseason and he sure had the car capable to score a win. Later in the race, a big wreck occured as Dale Earnhardt Jr. was trying to enter pit lane to make his final pit stop. However, Jamie McMurray had no idea Junior was pitting and the #88 got rear ended. Pretty much all of the leaders pit to top off on fuel handing off the race lead to cars that ran midpack all race. Kurt Busch was out front as the final caution came out around 20 to go with Clint Bowyer and Sam Hornish being involved. Moments later under caution, Juan Montoya and Kyle Busch tangle, with the #42 turning into the #18. Intentional it appeared. Turns out the race didn't restart due to rain hitting the track just under 20 laps to go. Kurt Busch scored his first win of the year due to the race cancellation with others like Michael Waltrip and J.J. Yeley playing the same strategy that Busch did getting lucky too. This was Yeley's best career finish. Stewart who had probably the best car there, wound up a disappointing 13th. Four Dodges, three Toyotas, and three Chevys got Top 10s. This is the first time this year a Ford failed to score a Top 10.

The Top 10:
1. #2 Kurt Busch (Dodge)
2. #55 Michael Waltrip (Toyota)
3. #96 J.J. Yeley (Toyota)
4. #1 Martin Truex Jr. (Chevrolet)
5. #19 Elliott Sadler (Dodge)
6. #41 Reed Sorenson (Dodge)
7. #5 Casey Mears (Chevrolet)
8. #11 Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
9. #48 Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
10. #43 Bobby Labonte (Dodge)

The Sprint Cup returns to Daytona for the Coke Zero 400 for next week.