NASCAR Nationwide at Chicagoland: Best Car is First Loser

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

July 22, 2012 3:59 pm UTC No Comments

A caution with 31 laps to go almost turned a laugher into a crier for Ricky Stenhouse Jr and his dominant Roush-Fenway Mustang. Stenhouse had led 200 miles of the race up to that point but got caught out when Brad Sweet spun.

Elliott Sadler had battled a loose handling car all day but pitted at the right time and the final adjustments hit the sweet spot. On the restart, E-Sad checked out. Stenhouse got the Lucky Dog for the restart and had passed everyone but Sadler, with eight laps to go, but looked like he’d come up short.

Then Kyle Busch, who also had battled an evil handling race car all race, was hit from behind by a (later) repentant Sam Hornish Jr. Busch slammed Brendan Gaughn bringing out the final caution, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr had one more shot.

On the green-white-check restart, Sadler (inside) and Stenhouse were front row, Justin Allgaier and Michael Annett were behind. Sadler got a big push from Allgaier and some separation at the start. Allgaier battled with Stenhouse trying to get to Sadler. Stenhouse went high, then low, but couldn’t make it happen at the end.

Fantastic finish and the best car didn’t win. But they don’t always and that sometimes makes the best races. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is where the action is right now.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Chicagoland Speedway, Elliott Sadler, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Sam Hornish Jr

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