Jul 19

Written by: The Commish
7/19/2010 4:49 PM 

Carl Edwards won Saturday night's Nationwide Series race at Gateway because he intentionally crashed out leader Brad Keselowski coming out of turn four, on the straightaway, on the last lap.

The crowd mostly cheered.  Flipper's crew high fived each other and celebrated.  Carl got the trophy and points while Keselowski and Penske got stuck with a totaled race car.  Other teams will also have to write checks to repair their cars, all thanks to Carl Edwards and his issues with Brad Keselowski.  Or with losing.  Or with anger.  Or with his mother.

Or maybe the once promising, still talented, recently appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition driver who represents Jack Roush, Roush Fenway and a slew of big sponsors is simply on drugs.

After the way he took Keselowski out, again, it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

As far as points are concerned, most popular pick Brad was classified 14th so he got to keep his qualifying, most-laps-led and manufacturer points.  Kevin Harvick finished 16th, Kyle Busch wasn't entered (along with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano) and other than Edward's embarrassing gaffe Roush Fenway Racing had its best race of the season with a win, fourth (Paul Menard), seventh (Colin Braun) and ninth (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.).

What a shame the team's four-cars-in-the-top-10 result was overshadowed by a Lindsay Lohan -type performance by its leader.

After being postponed due to electrical issues at Gateway on Friday night, the trucks took the green flag Saturday morning under oppressively hot and humid conditions.  Kevin Harvick earned maximum points in starting on pole and leading the most laps on his way to the win with Brad Keselowski second and Johnny Sauter third.  Todd Bodine, Matt Crafton, TImothy Peters, Austin Dillon, Aric Almirola, Brian Ickler and Mike Skinner filled out the top 10 and Ron Hornaday, again the most popular pick, was classified 26th after another crash for zero FMFL points.

Bummer.

In the lovely little burg of Milleville, New Jersey, at Thunderbolt Raceway, the No. 99 GAINSCO Stallings Chevy Riley finally found a Grand Am Rolex victory lane this season after passing the No. 01 Pruett/Rojas BMW Riley with less than two laps to go thanks to the Ganassi car cutting a tire but still hanging on for second.  The No. 10 Ford Dallara was third ahead of the No. 61 AIM Autosport Ford, the No. 8 Starworks BMW and the No. 77 Doran Racing Ford.  Only nine DPs finished in the points, the last being the No. 59 Brumos Porsche, with 10th through 16th going to GT drivers.

And finally, on the streets of Toronto, Will Power scored his fourth IndyCar win of the season for Team Penske with Dario and Ryan Hunter-Reay filling out the podium.  TK, Graham Rahal and Danica were fourth through sixth with polesitter and most-laps-led racer Justin Wilson seventh after loging the lead on the race's final restart and then spinning, all by his British lonesome, while trying to re-pass Power.

Marco, Simona and Dan Wheldon filled out the top 10 with Paul Tracy 13th.  Helio crashed early while fighting for the lead, Dixon was taken out by RHR in one them racin' deals and Ryan Briscoe got punted by young Rahal while running seventh.  None of those favorites scored any points for their players.