NASCAR 2012

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Just saw a local news interview with Blech (while he was doing deep-fried, bacon-wrapped bourbon balls)... LOTS of improvements to Kentucky Speedway: wider roads leading to the track, more parking lots, pedestrian bridge, more concessions. Not sure I will want to go to it this year, especially after the fiasco last year.

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Ambrose takes the pole with the 3rd fastest NASCAR qualifying time ever, followed by Harvick, Biff, KK, and Newman.

NASCAR is having an additional practice with a change of tire. The tires from yesterday's practice were all blistering. Edwards had car trouble, and will start next to last.

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Speed is reporting that Newman and JJ have changed engines, and will start from the rear of the pack.

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A nearly 2-hr race delay today.
Lap 2 of 200: CAUTION: Kurt Busch spins, and brushes the wall and David Gilliland. Minor damage.
There will be a competition yellow at Lap 20.

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Lap 5: Bayne has some trouble... perhaps a plug wire.
Lap 9: CAUTION: Wise's engine blows.
Kurt Busch gets the lucky dog.

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Lap 25: Competition Caution
Another competition caution will be on Lap 50.
Ambrose and Biff have been in the lead. Now it's Kenseth in the lead.
Newman and JJ started in the back of the pack. Both are moving up in the 10-20 position.
Harvick had some slight mechanical issues, but he's okay.
Bayne is still off the track in 43rd place (out of 43). Looks like he's out too.

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Lap 60 of 200
Biffle in the lead... Kenseth dropped to 8th with a bad pit stop.
Don't look now, but Jr is 4th.
Biff, Ambrose, MM, Jr.

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Lap 71 of 200
The crowd stand up as Jr TAKES THE LEAD!!
The Batmobile paint scheme on Jr's car is neat... nice to see Jr driving a black car.
Jr, Ambrose, Biff, MM, Kes, JPM, Smoke.

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CAUTION Lap 82 of 200
Dinger hits debris (safe-r barrier foam got loose and hit him, causing damage)
Dave Blaney does not come in, and now takes the lead under yellow.
Blech is in the garage with engine problems... how many weeks in a row?
Blaney takes a pit eventually.
On the restart, it's:
Jr, Smoke, JG, Bowyer, Ambrose, Biff.

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Lap 100 of 200
Smoke (led last 12 laps), Jr, Bowyer, JG, Biff, Newman, Logano, MM, Kes, JPM
Kenseth 12
KK 14
JJ 17
Almirola 18
BLabonte 21
Burton 22
Hamlin 24
Ragan 29

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Lap 112 of 200
Jr, Smoke, Bowyer, JG, Biff, Newman, Logano, MM, JPM, Kenseth
KK 13
JJ 14
Almirola 17
BLabonte 21
Hamlin 22
Burton 25
Ragan 29
Green flag pitting just started.

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Lap 121 of 200 CAUTION: Kurt Busch hit the wall
All cars stopped under green, except JPM (who has the lead)

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Lap 126: CAUTION on the restart lap.
Logano gets nailed into the wall, while trying to avoid Gilliland, both hit, KK then hits them as well. Logano is OUT. KK is heavily damaged.

As someone who picked both Logano and Bayne, I am DEAD this week. colchar had KK and Bayne... I think KK might get a repair, but will finish no higher than around 33rd or so.

The ONLY CTN selector this week who does not have a selection in the garage/out is KNIGHTS!!

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Lap 133 of 200
Jr, JG, Bowyer, Smoke
CAUTION: Hamlin slid, crash, and Hamlin's car is on fire as he pulls into the pits.
Hamlin is fine... he got loose as the 2nd of four cars spread across on a turn. Newman was loose, corrected it, but drifted into Hamlin, who touched Truex (he escaped fine), who touched JJ (who escaped fine).
The fire started as Denny braked entering pit row.
Joe Gibbs Racing is done for the day.

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59 laps to go restart
47 laps to go
Jr, Smoke, JG, Biff, Bowyer, Kenseth, JJ, JPM, Edwards, MM, Ambrose
Burton 19
Almirola 21
BLabonte 24
Ragan 25
Logano 33 (Off)
KK 34 (Off)
Bayne 43 (Out)

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34 laps to go... green flag pit stops. They can make it home without pitting from here. Bowyer led a lap. Jamie Mac led a lap.
Kes led a lap. Kes and Burton are the last to pit.

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25 laps to go
Jr, Smoke, Biff, JJ, Kenseth, JG, MM, Bowyer, JPM, Ambrose
BLabonte 19
Almirola 21
Burton 23
Ragan 26
Logano 33 (Off)
KK 34 (Off)
Bayne 43 (Out)

[colchar]

If Jr. wins this thing I am going to be mightily pissed off that I left him on the bench.

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8 laps to go
Junior is PULLING AWAY, with a 3.7 second lead.
Jr, Smoke, Kenseth, Biff, JJ, JG, MM, Bowyer, JPM, Ambrose
BLabonte 18
Almirola 19
Burton 22
Ragan 24
KK 32 (Out)
Logano 35 (Out)
Bayne 43 (Out)
4 laps to go... Junior ahead by 5.9 seconds.
JJ is slipping.

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JUNIOR WINS!!!!

Jr (led most laps), Smoke, Kenseth, Biff, JJ, JG, Bowyer, JPM, Harvick
BLabonte 16
Almirola 17
Burton 21
Ragan 23
KK 32 (Out)
Logano 35 (Out)
Bayne 43 (Out)