2 Down 1 To Go In Racings Finest Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is racing's finest with the three of the biggest races all occurring in one day. The Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500, and Nascars Coke-Cola 600.
 The Monaco Grand Prix was first up and when the green flag dropped it was Monaco native Nico Rosberg who lend the field. Rosberg had already dominated the weekend in Italy by leading practice and winning the pole. So Rosberg decided to go for the cycle by leading all the laps on the narrow Monaco circuit and winning the Grand Prix of Monaco, just as his father Keke Rosberg had years ago. With Rosberg's win he also got the first win for Mercedes in a Mercedes Silver Bullet at the historic Monaco track.

While the Grand Prix of Monaco was winding down the Indy 500 was just getting started, Ed Carpenter the owner/driver of the number 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevy led the field to the green flag and from the start we knew it would be interesting. Marco Andretti quickly made his was to the lead, but Carpenter came right back around, then it was Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Munoz, James Hinchcliffe, and many more. There were over 60 lead changes today but at the eand it came down to pit strategy to set yourself up for the finale 10 laps, until a caution came out with 7 to go. The restart would come with 3 laps to go  with Ryan Hunter-Reay in the lead followed by Tony Kanan, Carlos Munoz, and Marco Andretti. The green flag flew and the field went on the attack Kanan and Munoz quickly passed Hunter-Reay with Kanan getting the lead and as they headed down the back stretch Dario Franchitti made contact with the turn one wall causing a caution and freezing the field. With not enough time to clean up the wreck it was finally Tony Kanan's time after twelve long years of trying TK has finally won the Indy 500. An emotional Kanan made the hard left turn in to victory lane to finally be graced with the Borg-Warner reef.

With Breakfest and Lunch out of the way and two first time winners all we have left is dinner the Coke-Cola 600. The 600 is Nascars most difficult race its a race of endurance and strength. The race starts in the day but finishes at night giving drivers and crew chiefs essentially two different tracks to contend with. Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch will lead the field to the green flag. The is Kurt Busch's second front row start on a row, but as far as the race goes my eye will be on the number 5 Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne, over the past few years Kahne has proven he knows how to run the track and this racing by staying on top of the changes.
One this is for sure it will be a great race.

Sit back and enjoy the final race of the weekend, but please remember what this weekend, Memorial Day weekend is about. Our troops the ones serving for our freedom and the ones who have sacrificed the ultimate. Thank You for all you have done.

-Stephen Appell
-stephenappell.com
Facebook: stephenappell.com
Twitter: @stephenappell or @stephen_combat









    

A Front Row One Two

The underfunded three car team of Front Row Motorsport mostly supported by its owner Bob Jenkins, finally found themselves in Victory Lane of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Bob Jenkins ultimate dream finally became reality late Sunday afternoon, as his two star drivers David Ragan and David Gilliland found themselves pushing towards the lead exiting turn two on the final lap.  The Duo found themselves seventh and eighth when the received the white flag but they had there Fords wound up as they exited two and passed second place Matt Kenseth. Gilliland pushed Ragan straight up to the back bumper of leader Carl Edwards who dove in front of Ragan when he saw how fast he was coming. Ragan ran right up to he bumper and then dove to the bottom with Gilliland locked on. When they hit the Tri-Oval David Ragan was long gone, and David Gilliland was battling hard side by side with Carl Edwards for second, Gilliland won the battle. With Gilliland's second it makes it not only Front Row and Bob Jenkins first win but there first one two finish.
They timed it perfectly and knew how much it would mean to them, Gilliland stated " It has been a dream of mine to get Bob Jenkins his first win... I wasn't leaving his bumper". This underfunded team is no slouch with Frankie Kerr who came on board as crew chief for Gililand this year and motors from Roush Yates, this team has a lot more in store.

-Stephen Appell

Expect The Unexpected at Talladega

It was that time for NASCAR to yet again add three inches to the back bumper and and slap on the  restrictor plate because it was Talladega time. This was only the second official race at a Superspeedway  for the Impressive Gen 6 Car, and a lot was expected coming to a smother track the Daytona; and what we got was a lot better then Daytona. Although most of the day belonged to Matt Kenseth who led over 100 laps, the competition got a lot stiffer when the words "rain is coming" came a crossed the radio to the drivers. Suddenly this mellow single car pack started to move with the 48 of Jimmie Johnson going to the high side leaving his drafting partner Kenseth and taking the lead. Only a few laps later a two pack of Fords lead by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and teammate Carl Edwards charged up right behind Johnson 48, and with a well executed draft and spotting, the two began to go low the shot up the track to retake the lead from Johnson. With just under 80laps to go Edwards pulled the same exact move going into turn one on teammate Stenhouse Jr. to become the leader by only a few thousandths as the caution flew for rain.
The race kept appearing to be over since it was past halfway but Thanks to NASCAR'S new Air Titan track drying system they were able to dry the track with darkness on the way. Racing resumed to normal until the final ten laps closed in and it all broke loose when the 78 of Kurt Busch was truned sideways down the backstretch with turning him upside down and causing another "Big One". The green flag flew on the first attempt at a Green, White, Checkered with Kenseth leading them to the green and Johnson pushing from behind in third, as the field took the white flag it was Carl Edwards who found himself in the lead followed by Kenseth, and Johnson, but as they entered turn one they all fanned out Johnson, Kenseth, and Almarola found themselves three wide for second exiting two, as they entered the back stretch Edwards and Kenseth were nose to tail first and second and three by three behind the when out of no where the Front Row Motorsports teammates of David Ragan and David Gilliland flew past Kenseth. Edwards saw them coming and dove in front but Gilliland's push to Ragan was to much for Edwards as Ragan took a commanding lead, as they went through the tri-oval it was all Ragan as Gilliland and Edwards battled for second and it was Gilliland who prevailed. Ragan captured the first ever win for Front Row Motorsports and with Gillilands second it made it a one two finish for the tiny team.
Talladega was as exciting as ever as the first and second place cars were seventh and eighth when the white flag dropped. The Gen 6 was very impressive in its second Superspeedway showing