Post by thefallen365 on Jan 21, 2020 1:38:01 GMT -5
Darlington - Race #5
Pre-Race News
Mark Martin was humble after his long-awaited victory in Atlanta last week.
MM: "Man, it feels great to get back here again. I just hate that it had to be Dave in my way at the end there. He drove a great race."
Reporters also caught up with Blaney:
DB: "Yeah, I heard 'ten to go' and he was there. He had a fast car all day and I knew I wasn't gonna be able to hold him without wreckin' it...I shoulda wrecked Tony though *laughs* He's like forty points to the good, he can afford it."
They also talked to Tony Stewart about his consistent performance thus far:
TS: "Personally, I'm not happy 'til we win a couple more times. I'd say if things were running at 100%, we'd have three wins already. Plenty of time left though, we just gotta be running at 100% by September."
Here are the results of first practice:
1. 24 J Gordon
2. 88 Jarrett
3. 97 Busch
4. 2 R Wallace
5. 5 T Labonte
6. 31 R Gordon
7. 12 Newman
8. 9 Elliott
9. 48 Johnson
10. 17 Kenseth
Jeff Gordon puts up the best time, which is unsurprising, given his history of dominance at this track.
Here's the starting grid. There were no DNQ's this week, as exactly 41 cars showed up to race:
Starting Grid
17 Kenseth
12 Newman
28 Rudd
99 J Burton
8 Earnhardt jr
6 Martin
20 Stewart
40 Marlin
31 R Gordon
15 Waltrip
48 Johnson
2 R Wallace
97 Busch
19 Mayfield
88 Jarrett
18 B Labonte
29 Harvick
30 J Green
1 Park
32 Craven
10 Benson
77 Blaney
9 Elliott
4 Skinner
36 Schrader
5 T Labonte
43 Andretti
21 E Sadler
55 Hamilton
22 W Burton
45 Petty
11 B Bodine
23 Stricklin
14 Compton
25 Nadeau
26 Nemechek
44 Jones
49 Robinson
24 J Gordon
7 Atwood
41 Spencer
Matt Kenseth takes the pole award for the first time in his career and, for the first time this year, Tony Stewart isn't starting on the front row. Jeff Gordon made contact with the wall out of turn four during his first qualifying lap and it's cost him enough to put him 39th on the grid. He'll have some work to do, but he has a fast enough car to do it.
Here are the results for 2nd practice:
1. 12 Newman
2. 5 T Labonte
3. 88 Jarrett
4. 2 R Wallace
5. 6 Martin
6. 24 J Gordon
7. 77 Blaney
8. 48 Johnson
9. 21 E Sadler
10. 20 Stewart
Terry Labonte might be a dark horse pick going into this one. He starts 26th, but he's had one of the faster cars in practice. At a track like Darlington, we can absolutely expect a surprise or two.
Pre-Race News
Mark Martin was humble after his long-awaited victory in Atlanta last week.
MM: "Man, it feels great to get back here again. I just hate that it had to be Dave in my way at the end there. He drove a great race."
Reporters also caught up with Blaney:
DB: "Yeah, I heard 'ten to go' and he was there. He had a fast car all day and I knew I wasn't gonna be able to hold him without wreckin' it...I shoulda wrecked Tony though *laughs* He's like forty points to the good, he can afford it."
They also talked to Tony Stewart about his consistent performance thus far:
TS: "Personally, I'm not happy 'til we win a couple more times. I'd say if things were running at 100%, we'd have three wins already. Plenty of time left though, we just gotta be running at 100% by September."
Here are the results of first practice:
1. 24 J Gordon
2. 88 Jarrett
3. 97 Busch
4. 2 R Wallace
5. 5 T Labonte
6. 31 R Gordon
7. 12 Newman
8. 9 Elliott
9. 48 Johnson
10. 17 Kenseth
Jeff Gordon puts up the best time, which is unsurprising, given his history of dominance at this track.
Here's the starting grid. There were no DNQ's this week, as exactly 41 cars showed up to race:
Starting Grid
17 Kenseth
12 Newman
28 Rudd
99 J Burton
8 Earnhardt jr
6 Martin
20 Stewart
40 Marlin
31 R Gordon
15 Waltrip
48 Johnson
2 R Wallace
97 Busch
19 Mayfield
88 Jarrett
18 B Labonte
29 Harvick
30 J Green
1 Park
32 Craven
10 Benson
77 Blaney
9 Elliott
4 Skinner
36 Schrader
5 T Labonte
43 Andretti
21 E Sadler
55 Hamilton
22 W Burton
45 Petty
11 B Bodine
23 Stricklin
14 Compton
25 Nadeau
26 Nemechek
44 Jones
49 Robinson
24 J Gordon
7 Atwood
41 Spencer
Matt Kenseth takes the pole award for the first time in his career and, for the first time this year, Tony Stewart isn't starting on the front row. Jeff Gordon made contact with the wall out of turn four during his first qualifying lap and it's cost him enough to put him 39th on the grid. He'll have some work to do, but he has a fast enough car to do it.
Here are the results for 2nd practice:
1. 12 Newman
2. 5 T Labonte
3. 88 Jarrett
4. 2 R Wallace
5. 6 Martin
6. 24 J Gordon
7. 77 Blaney
8. 48 Johnson
9. 21 E Sadler
10. 20 Stewart
Terry Labonte might be a dark horse pick going into this one. He starts 26th, but he's had one of the faster cars in practice. At a track like Darlington, we can absolutely expect a surprise or two.
