RICHMOND, Va. — Scott Dixon grabbed the lead from teammate Dario Franchitti in the only spot he could have — on pit road — and made a bit of history Saturday night.
Dixon won for the 19th time in the IndyCar Series, tying Sam Hornish Jr.’s career victories record, and said the night could have been a turning point in the season.
While he and Franchitti gave Target Chip Ganassi Racing a 1-2 finish, the other dynamic team — Team Penske — had a miserable night in which neither Ryan Briscoe, the points leader at the start, nor Helio Castroneves finished. Castroneves wound up 17th, Briscoe 19th.
“Any time you can make a gain on the Penskes, you’ve got to take that and try to run with it,” Dixon said. “Tonight was a big gain for us and could be a pivotal point of the season.”
The result was better than the show that produced it, however, as the smallest oval in the IndyCar Series allowed for one-groove racing and almost no passing all night long.
“You just had to keep trying to follow the car in front of you,” Dixon said.
Kyle Busch gets it right this time
LOUDON, N.H. — After two straight frustrating runner-up finishes in the Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano near the end of the Camping World 200 and held off the precocious 19-year- old to get the victory at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Logano, who started from the pole and led 108 of the 200 laps, beat Busch out of the pits by the length of a hood on the final pit stop by the two leaders. But Busch was able to stay with the leader and eventually drive past him with 36 laps left.
Hornaday wins again
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ron Hornaday dominated his second consecutive race and won the Camping World Truck Series 200.
Hornaday started on the pole after a qualifying lap of 117.7 mph and led 176 of 200 laps on the 3/4-mile oval.
Brian Scott, who was running second, stayed with Hornaday through much of the first extra-period lap, but Hornaday pulled away from him on the final sweep.
Coughlin captures Challenge
NORWALK, Ohio — Jeg Coughlin beat Greg Anderson to win the $50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge.
It was the third win for Coughlin in the special bonus NHRA event for the eight quickest pro stock teams from the last year. Coughlin covered the quarter-mile distance in 6.675 seconds at a top speed of 207.05 mph. Anderson posted a 7.322 at 161.69.
In other racing, Larry Dixon (top fuel), Mike Neff (funny car), Anderson (pro stock) and Andrew Hines (pro stock motorcycle) claimed No. 1 qualifying positions for today’s eliminations at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
The Associated Press
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP – Lenox Industrial Tools 301
Site: Loudon, N.H.
TV: TNT, 10:30 a.m.
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles).
Race distance: 318.46 miles, 301 laps.
Next race: Coke Zero 400, July 4, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
On the Net: www.nascar.com
NHRA – Summit Racing Equipment Nationals
Site: Norwalk, Ohio.
TV: ESPN2, 5 p.m. tape
Track: Summit Motorsports Park.
Next event: Mopar Mile- High NHRA Nationals, July 10-12, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison.
On the Net: www.nhra.com
