Martinsville Lap by Lap or Caution to Caution at the TUMS Fast Relief 500

MARTINSVILLE, VA - RIS - Martinsville Motor Speedway once again did not lack action, mayhem and a few temper tantrums.

 The following can be considered lap action of caution to caution adventures.

 Green flag start on a chilly but sunny day. Carl Edwards led the field to the green flag with starting positions determined by points due to early morning rain washing out qualifying Saturday.

Lap 1. Matt Kenseth edged Carl Edwards to lead the first lap.

Lap 3. Carl Edwards took the lead just before the start finish line to officially lead lap four and then held onto the lead through lap 31.

 Caution one.  Laps 9-21. Caution one flew early due to a big pileup in turns one/two.  88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 22 Kurt Busch got together while battling for position. Included in the wad of stopped cars were 88, 22, 11 Denny Hamlin, 24 Jeff Gordon, 33 Clint Bowyer 37 Mike Skinner plus 7 Reed Sorenson and 83 Brian Vickers plus many others who stopped or swerved to maneuver through the metal road block.  The 37 received the most damage in the group and was the first car out of the race.

Lap14.    The restart order was 99 Edwards, 14 Tony Stewart, 17 Kenseth, 2 Brad Keselowski, 18 Kyle Busch, 29 Kevin Harvick, 48 Jimmie Johnson, 39 Ryan Newman, 22 Kurt Busch and 16 Greg Biffle.

 Caution two. Laps 29-35.  36 Dave Blaney spun in turn three.  83 Brian Vickers then got into 78 Regan Smith.  It was reported that 24 Jeff Gordon was overheating.  (As a side note, nothing was mentioned about overheating later in the race.)

The caution served as the competition yellow. Pits opened on lap 30 and about half the field pitted including leader Carl Edwards (99).

14 Tony Stewart stayed out and got a bonus point for leading a lap.

The restart order on lap 36 was 14 Tony Stewart, 18 Kyle Busch, 48 Jimmie Johnson, 2 Brad Keselowski, 17 Matt Kenseth, 22 Kurt Busch, 43 AJ Allmendinger, 1 Jamie McMurray, 11 Denny Hamlin and 31 Jeff Burton.

 Lap 39. 18 Kyle Busch took the lead from14 Stewart to lead lap 40 (through 54) followed by 48 Jimmie Johnson and 43 AJ Allmendinger.

 Caution three. Laps 48 -51.  Brian Vickers in the 83 slid up into 42 Juan Pablo Montoya and both spun in turn four.

22 Kurt Busch, 2 Brad Keselowski, 24 Jeff Gordon, 42 Juan Pablo Montoya,1 Jamie McMurray, 78 Regan Smith, 9 Marcos Ambrose, 71 Hermie Sadler, 83 Brian Vickers and others pit.  Seven cars have still not pitted.

The restart order on lap 52 was 18 Kyle Busch, 43, 14, 48, 11, 17, 31, 39, 29, 16.

Lap 52. 43 beside14 at line. 18 pulled in front of 43.

Lap 54. 43 did pass 18 to lead lap 55.  Then 11 Denny Hamlin passed 18 Kyle Busch for second position.

Lap 63.  Denny Hamlin in 11 took lead at end of lap 62. (Led laps 63-68).

 Caution four. Lap 66-71.  Teammates 00 David Reutimann and 56 Martin Truex Jr. spun in turn two. 9 Marco Ambrose was under 00 and slid up into the 00 causing the spin. Others spun or had to slow quickly. 36 Dave Blaney locked it down but made it safely through..

11 Denny Hamlin, 18 Kyle Busch, 99 Carl Edwards, 31 Jeff Burton, 43 AJ Allmendinger, 14 Tony Stewart, 17 Matt Kenseth and the majority of the field pitted.

The restart order was 39 Ryan Newman, 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., 6 David Ragan, 13 Casey Mearsk, 22 Kurt Busch, 24 Jeff Gordon, 42 Juan Pablo Montoya, 83 Brian Vickers, 9 Marcos Ambrose and 1 Jamie McMurray.

39 Ryan Newman pulled ahead by three car lengths over David Ragan while Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ragan beat on each other with Jr on the inside.  Newman pulled away as the 8 and 6 bottled up the field with their battle.

 Caution five. Laps 87-96.  83 Brian Vickers slid or turned right into 1 Jaime McMurray. McMurray smacked the wall and received heavy damage to the rear of the car.  McMurray then turned into Vickers as they came around the track. McMurray then spun back into the wall.

Restart on lap 97with 39 Ryan Newman in the lead. A big spin occurred on front stretch.  47 Bobby Labone came around with right front damage and smoke.  NO caution was thrown. Labonte got started as the field came to the start finish line. Ragan has left rear damage and tire smoke.

 Caution six. Laps 106-111. Marcos Ambrose in the 9 spun in turn four.  On lap 105. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya moved under the 9 and slid up into him to bring out the caution.  The lead front row on this restart was 43 Allmendinger and 29 Harvick.

Lap 119. Kyle Busch moved around 43 AJ Allmendinger to lead the next 53 laps.

On lap 124 the order was 18, 16 Biffle and 43 Allmendinger.

Finally a green flag stretch.  18 Kyle Busch moved out to a ¼ track lead over16 Biffle.

Lap 142 the 18 caught the rear cars of field.  Lap 143 48 Johnso caught and passed Biffle.  11 Denny Hamlin got to rear of 16 at lap 146 and passed him in turns 3 and 4.

 Caution seven.  Laps 151  - 154.   88 Dale Jr moved under and up into 20 Logano to spin Logano in turns ¾.   At the restart the order was 39 Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch. On lap 156,  Kyle Busch took lead from Newman.

At this juncture or the race, 28 cars were still on the lead lap. On lap 168 , 48 Jimmie Johnson passed 39 Newman for second place while Kyle Busch was pulling away from the field. 

 Caution eight.  Lap 198- 203. 47 Bobby Labonte got turned coming out of turn two after contact with Hermie Sadler (71).  All lead lap cars pitted.

Lap 200 running order was 18 Kyle Busch, 48 Jimmie Johnson, 11 Denny Hamlin, 24 Jeff Gordon, 17 Denny Hamlin, 29 Kevin Harvick, 16 Biffle, 43 Allmendinger, 31 Jeff Burton and 33 Clint Bowyer..

Green flag on lap 204 and Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson battled side by side for one lap until Busch pulled ahead of the 48. 

 Lap 233. 24 Jeff Gordon moved up to the bumper of 18 Kyle Busch. Then on lap 234 Gordon nosed under the 18 for the race lead as they crossed the starting line.

Lap 235 #24 jeff Gordon led followed by  18 Busch, 48 Johnson, 11 Hamlin, 29 Harvick, 17 Kenseth, 88 Earnhardt Jr, 43 Allmendinger, 31 Burton and 2 Keselowski.

Lap 238 Hamlin moved around Johnson and into 3rd.  Points contenders Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards were running back in the 20’s at this point of the race.

 Lap 250 half way order was 24 Jeff Gordon, 11 Hamlin, 18 Kyle Busch, 48 Johnson, 29 Harvick, 17 Kenseth, 43 Allmendinger, 88 Dale Jr, 31 Burton and 2 Keselowski.

Lap 254. 24 Jeff Gordon put 99 Carl Edwards one lap down.  Carl Edwards was running 25th.

 Caution nine.  Lap 259 - 263. #5 Mark Martin spun out of four.  Carl Edwards got the free pass to get back on the lead lap.

The leaders all pitted while Edwards stayed out to lead one lap before pitting.

The restart order on lap 264 was 24 Jeff Gordon, 48 Jimmie Johnson, 18 Kyle Busch, 11 Denny Hamlin, 17 matt Kenseth, 29 Kevin Harvick, 2 Keselowski, 31 Burton, 43 Allmendinger and 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr,

 Lap 312. Leader Jeff Gordon passed the 99 to put Carl Edwards a lap down again.

Lap 319. 11 Denny Hamlin passed 24 Jeff Gordon for the lead.

 Caution ten.  Lap 362  - 368. 34 David Gilliland spun coming into turn one.  He was finally able to get turned on the track and drive away with several flat tires.  Green flag pit stops had been approaching but everyone was now able to pit on the same schedule.

On lap 369 the restart order was 11 Hamlin, 48 Johnson, 24 Gordon, 17 Kenseth, 18 Kyle Busch, 2 Keselowski, 42 Montoya, 43 Allmendinger, 29 Harvick and 88 Dale Jr.

Lap 372 was led by 24 Jeff Gordon as he passed Hamlin approaching the start-finish line on lap371. 

 Caution eleven.  Lap 399 - 404  by 31 Jeff Burton’s spin in turns one/turn took away another potential green flag lap pit stop situation for the field. 

With less than one hundred laps remaining, the restart order was 29 Kevin Harvick, 24 Jeff Gordon, 14 Tony Stewart, 48 Johnson, 11 Hamlin, 17 Kenseth, 18 Busch, 42 Montoya, 2 Keselowski and 43 Allmendinger.

Harvick and Tony Stewart took only left side tires on their pit stops to gain track position.

Allmendinger has some damage to his car on the restart and had smoke from a tire rub.

 Caution twelve. Lap 409  - 412.  71 Hermie Sadler spun and stalled in turns ¾ on lap 408. Also involved were 5 Mark Martin and 78 Regan Smith. Sadler did not get his car restarted in time to prevent the waving of the caution flag.

The cars that took the earlier wave around without pitting now made their pit stops.

Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart restarted on the front row and had contact while battling for the lead.

 Caution thirteen just after the restart.  Lap 416-419.     16 Greg Biffle spun in turn four.

Tony Stewart pitted and gave up second position to check for damage from the contact with Harvick.  Harvick maintained the lead with Jeff Gordon in second.

On lap 425 the running order was 29 Harvick, 24 Gordon, 48 Johnson, 11 Hamlin, 18 Busch, 2 Keselowski, 17 Kenseth, 42 Montoya, 88 Dale Jr and 56 Truex Jr.

 Caution fourteen laps 428 – 432.    Paul Menard and Kurt Busch finally took their on track battle to another level with contact and serious sheet metal damage to both cars coming out of turn two.

Restart on lap 433 had the order 29 Harvick, 24 Gordon, 48 Johnson, 11 Hamlin, 18 Busch, 2 Keselowski, 17 Kenseth, 42 Montoay, 88 Dale Jr and 56 Truex Jr.  Mark Martin received another free pass to get back on the lead lap.

Lap 437, found the 48 of Johnson leaning on the bumper of 29 Harvick.  Harvick lost positions to 24 Jeff Gordon, 11 Denny Hamlin and 18 Kyle Busch and dropped to fifth in one lap.  Brad Keselowski was the next to pass Harvick.  Jimmie Johnson seemed to return to his former Martinsville form with teammate Jeff Gordon in second.

 Lap 450 with 50 to go, the running order was 48 Johnson, 24 Gordon, 11 Hamlin, 18 Busch, 2 Keselowski, 88 Dale Jr, 29 Harvick,17 Kenseth, 83 Vickers and 14 Tony Stewart.

Lap 452 83 Vickers was running side by side with Matt Kenseth for a precursor to the next caution.

 Caution fifteen.laps 459-462.  Vickers made it around Kenseth but then Kenseth booted the rear of the 83 going into turn three causing Vickers to spin and back into the wall.

Jimmie Johnson did not pit while others pitted behind him.  The restart order on lap 463 became 48 Johnson, 31 Burton (didn’t pit), 88 Dale Jr. (didn’t pit),

 Caution sixteen. 465-473 (101 total caution laps through this point)

There was a big pile up again going into turn three on the restart.  Kenseth got into the Kyle Busch’s 18. There was damage to 5 Mark Martin, 17 Kenseth and 18 Kyle Busch.. Kenseth’s 17 received serious damage and headed to the garage area to repair a broken track bar.   Kyle Busch pitted and confusion reigned with his team.  Trying to beat the pace car before being caught a lap down, Kyle Busch exited with lug nuts still not tightened. The tire came off and the 18 went a lap down anyway.

The restart on lap 474 now was 48 Johnson, 31 Burton, 14 Tony Stewart, 00 Reutimann, 24 Gordon, 2 Keselowski, 88 Earnhardt Jr, 11 Hamlin, 29 Harvick and 33 Clint Bowyer.

 Caution seventeen came one lap into the restart and lasted for laps 476-478 (104 total laps of caution). 39 Ryan Newman spun in lap two after contact with the 22 of Kurt Busch. 22 Busch bounced off curb and into 39.  Everyone drove away and 16 Greg Biffle got the free pass onto the lead lap.

Restart on lap 479 had the order of   48 Johnson, 14 Stewart, 31 Burton, 24 Gordon, 88 Earnhardt Jr, 00 Reutimann, 29 Harvick, 2 Keselowski, 11 Hamlin and 33 Bowyer..

Jeff Burton moved into second  place on the restart.

Lap 485. 48 Johnson was pulling away followed by 31 Burton, 14 Stewart, 24 Gordon, 88 Earnhardt Jr, 29 Harvick, 2 Keselowski, 11 Hamlin, 20 Logano and 99 Carl Edwards  (In tenth!!).

Lap 489. 48 Johnson still maintained the big lead with 14 Stewart, 24 Gordon, 31 Burton and 29 Harvick following.  Behind them Hamlin passed Earnhardt Jr. with ten to go.

 Caution eighteen.  Lap 494 - 497  (108 total caution laps was due to another spin by 83 Brian Vickers. This time the front end caved in too much to continue.  Matt Kenseth had returned to the track after repairs and he slid under and into Vickers after battling for a few laps.

The restart order on lap 498 was 48 Johnson, 14 Stewart, 24 Gordon, 29 Harvick and 31 Burton.

 Tony Stewart powered around Jimmie Johnson for the lead after the restart.

The running order winding down to the finish was 14 Stewart, 48 Johnson, 24 Gordon, 29 Harvick, 31 Burton and 11 Hamlin then Hamlin passed Burton.

Tony Stewart won with cars spinning everywhere on the final laps with no cautions being thrown. 

Kyle Busch and others spun in turn two  Kyle.finished 17th.   Earnhardt Jr. had been jacked up by the car behind him (11 Hamlin?) and Busch became caught up in the jam. No caution came out.

The 20 of Logano crashed and was damaged in turns 3 and 4.  No caution flew.

The 33 of Clint Bowyer spun out of four on the last lap.  No need for a caution at that point.

The top ten finishing order was 14 Tony Stewart, 48 Jimmie Johnson, 24 Jeff Gordon, 29 Kevin Harvick, 11 Denny Hamlin, 31 Jeff Burton, 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., 56 Martin Truex Jr. and 99 Carl Edwards.

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Tony Stewart moved up toward the points lead with the win. He is eight points behind the Carl Edwards (who recovered for a 9th place finish) with three races remaining in the chase.

Three races remain in the points chase.  Next on the schedule is the larger track of Texas Motor Speedway on November 6, 2011.