The reunion of Busch and Winston Cup series in Fontana, California brought the return of the "Busch-whackers", Winston Cup drivers racing the Busch series to gain an advantage in Sunday's event. Just as in the early races of the season, most of the 150 lap 1-800-PIT-SHOP.com 300 was dominated by Cup drivers.
After a record breaking qualifying session, Kevin Harvick led the field from the pole position, followed by fellow Winston Cup drivers Michael Waltrip and Ron Hornaday. Point leader Todd Bodine started 14th in what could be his last Busch race of the season due to the team's continued inability to find a sponsor. The top 18 cars all broke the previous qualifying record.
Harvick opened up a comfortable, though short lived, gap between himself and the rest of the field. A caution flag on turn two after contact between Troy Cline and Jason Schuler sent Cline skidding across the infield grass brought the field back together behind the pace car. On a single lap of green flag racing, Matt Kenseth moved up ten positions from his starting spot of 17th up to 7th. Only a handful of cars pitted, to repair damage or make adjustments, and Chris Bingham lost a lap to a NASCAR penalty for pitting out of his pit box.
On the restart, Harvick pulled away again, but Michael Waltrip started closing in fast. On lap 15, Waltrip passed Harvick to take the lead for a few laps, until the #17 of Matt Kenseth raced to the front to challenge for the top spot. The two raced side by side for a full lap before Kenseth managed to edge ahead of Waltrip and take the lead as the pair pulled away from the rest of the field. Just two laps later, Waltrip reclaimed the lead once more.
The second caution of the day came on lap 40, when Randy LaJoie's car began smoking as the tried to make it around to pit road. All of the leaders pulled into the pits for the first stop of the race. Matt Kenseth's crew missed a lug nut on the left front tire so he had to return to pit road to correct the problem, costing him considerable track position. Harvick came out of the pits in the lead, followed by Stacy Compton and Michael Waltrip.
On the restart, Kenseth began a charge back to the front of the field as Stacy Compton snuck past Harvick for the lead. Harvick took the lead again just before the caution flag came out again a few laps later. Kerry Earnhardt spun in turn 4, sending several cars onto pit road to avoid him. Hermie Sadler and Chad Blount made contact at the entrance to pit road, sending Blount spinning into the outside pit wall. Sadler suffered only minor damage, but Blount lost a lap as he got straightened out and moving again. Under the yellow, many of the leaders headed to the pits for fuel, but the leaders held the track.
Only 25 cars remained on the lead lap on the restart, led by Harvick, Waltrip and Compton, all Winston Cup regulars. Once again, Harvick jumped to a strong lead, only to lose it again when the caution flag waved when Lance Norick's car began smoking. Only and handful of teams pitted to top off on fuel, and again the leaders stayed out.
As the leaders neared the first round of green flag pit stops, Michael Waltrip passed Harvick for the lead, only to lose it to Matt Kenseth a few laps later. Pit stops began on lap 100 as the leaders came to pit road. In the middle of the cycle, though, Stanton Barrett spun in turn three, bringing out a caution. It was a big break for Todd Bodine and many of the other teams mired back in traffic, because many of the top cars were caught a lap down.
Matt Kenseth led the restart and another short-lived stretch of green flag racing. With only 10 laps to go, Tony Raines hit the outside wall, bringing out another yellow flag and setting up a 7-lap shootout to the finish. On the last restart, Kenseth drove away from the pack, and the top five finished in the order that they'd restarted.
Unofficial Results
- Matt Kenseth
- Michael Waltrip
- Kevin Harvick
- Kasey Kahne
- Todd Bodine
- Jamie McMurray
- Jason Keller
- Shane Hmiel
- David Green
- Ron Hornaday
Unofficial Standings
- Todd Bodine
- Ron Hornaday -99
- David Green -102
- Shane Hmiel -110
- Mike Bliss -145
- Jason Keller -158
- Jamie McMurray -168
- Kasey Kahne -221
- Scott Riggs -222
- Johnny Sauter -229
