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FROM THE TRACK: Race called; Reutimann wins
Photo by Jonathan E. Coleman
More than 24 hours after the race was scheduled to start, David Reutimann earned his first Sprint Cup victory at the rain-shortened Coca Cola 600.
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Published: May 24, 2009
Updated: 05/25/2009 06:29 pm
CONCORD - 6:30 p.m.: NASCAR has called it and David Reutimann has won the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600.
This is his first career win and this is the first time a Toyota car has won at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
5:25 p.m.: Here are some stats from the halfway point of the Coca-Cola 600:
- Nine leaders: Kyle Busch (152 laps); Brian Vickers (33); Jimmie Johnson (6 laps); Scott Riggs (3 laps); Ryan Newman (2 laps); Dave Blaney (1 lap); Michael Waltrip (1 lap); Robbie Gordon (1 lap) and Joey Legano (1 lap).
- 13 total lead changes
- Five caution flags: Two for rain, two competition cautions and one for Kevin Harvick, who lost a tire.
- Four red flags: One for the National Day of Remembrance.
5:02 p.m.: Still waiting on the rain delay. No word from NASCAR on whether to call it or not.
It is still raining, and the heavy rain has not arrived yet. Radar shows a couple of heavy cells coming from the south through Matthews and Charlotte.
Drivers are hanging out in the pits or heading back to their trailers in the infield. Jeff Gordon said he thinks we have about 30 more minutes of rain, then we can restart and finish the race. Joey Legano said he was hopeful that NASCAR will allow one more lap.
Kasey Kahne rode past the media center in his golf cart back to the garage area.
If NASCAR calls the race, David Reutimann, driver of the No. 00 car, would be declared the winner. This would be ironic because he, Reutimann's pit crew chief, and Tony Stewart got into a heated discussion during the second rain delay. Stewart told Reutimann he was racing too hard and advised him to ease up.
Reutimann's pit crew chief, whom Stewart called "Billy Bad Butt," jumped in and exchanged words with Stewart. Even the commentators at Fox have latched on to the "Billy Bad Butt" moniker.
Kyle Busch was leading at the sixth caution flag, but he promptly went to Pit Road for four new tires, while Neutimann stayed out, along with Ryan Newman and Robbie Gordon, who are in the second and third place, respectively.
If the rain holds out, and after Stewart's lecture, Neutimann may just be vindicated.
4:15 p.m.: 6th caution of the day called; third one for rain. Pit Road is open and drivers are conserving fuel and getting new tires. Strategy is to wait it out while lapping the track.
Radar shows rain over the speedway and more coming from the south.
NASCAR has the option to call the race since it is past the halfway mark. If they do, David Reutimann, who is in the lead right now, will be declared the winner.
4:05 p.m.: It's official: We have past the halfway point of the race. That means if it rains anymore, NASCAR can end the race and whoever is ahead at that point is declared the winner.
The media center erupted in applause when they passed the 200-lap mark.
3:55 p.m.: We are 10 laps away from the halfway point. Will see if NASCAR calls it then or race as long as the weather holds out.
3:30 p.m.: A rainstorm is over the speedway, tracking in from the south and we are 25 laps away from the halfway point. NASCAR rules say 200 laps have to be completed in order to make the race officials.
The cars are parked on Pit Road to wait out the weather. Officials just called the 3rd official red flag for this race. Radar shows rain and storms south of the speedway and moving north.
So we sit, 24 laps away from the halfway mark. Here are some stats from the first half of the race:
- Six race leaders: Kyle Busch (88 laps); Jimmie Johnson (6 laps); Scott Riggs (3 laps); Ryan Newman (2 laps); Michael Waltrip (1 lap) and Robbie Gordon (1 lap).
- Seven total lead changes
- Four caution flags: Two for rain, one competition caution and one for Kevin Harvick, who lost a tire.
- Three red flags: One for the National Day of Remembrance.
3:10 p.m. MOMENT OF SILENCE: Shortly before 3 p.m., NASCAR officials threw the fifth caution flag of the race, as the drivers queued up in a single-file line and stopped in the front stretch. American flags were lowered to half-staff.
At 3 p.m., the drivers turned off their engines and the entire speedway audience stood in silence for the National Moment of Remembrance.
It was eerily peaceful throughout the media center and on the track, as the noises of the race disappeared into the air, replaced with deafening silence. As soon as it started, it was over. The red flag lasted only about a minute and a half.
The engines started back up and the driers continued to lap the mile-and-a-half track under the yellow flag.
2:50 p.m.: We are approaching the halfway point at the speedway, and Kyle Busch has maintained the lead for most of the race. He's held off Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers and Juan Pablo Montoya, all who have been jockeying for the top three spots.
Despite some dark clouds around the track, the rain is to the east and west of LMS. Radar shows a thunderstorm blowing up in Gaston County to the west and rainstorms to the east, moving into the Mount Pleasant area.
But as the day goes on, more rainstorms could develop.
2:35 p.m.: At Lap 120, Brian Vickers takes the lead from Kyle Busch, who had maintained the lead for most of the race.
2:15 p.m. The Coca-Cola 600 restarted after a 57-minute-long rain delay for rain. A heavy rainstorm soaked the speedway enough to force the red flag. Kyle Busch was in the lead at the restart.
During the competitive pit stop, Mark Martin's pit crew lost a tire and let it roll into the infield. Martin took a penalty and was sent to the back of the line.
CORRECTION: After reviewing the historical files, Lowe's Motor Speedway said that Sunday's postponement was not the first rain-out in 600 history.
The first one was in 1963, when heavy rain forced the race to be pushed from May 26 to June 2.
Junior Johnson lead the race until he blew a tire late in the race. That allowed Fred Lorenzen to take the race. It was the fourth running of the 600.
This corrects what LMS announced Sunday night.
2 p.m.: The drivers are headed back to Pit Road and the crews are uncovering the cars. We're getting close to a restart here.
Radar show more rain coming north through Charlotte. We could see another rain delay before we get to 201 laps.
1:05 p.m. : Heavy rain has forced a caution. Cars are now on Pit Road, waiting out the rain storm. Drivers out of the cars; jet dryers on the track.
Radar shows another rain storm right on the doorstep of Lowe's Motor Speedway.
1:02 p.m.: Fourth caution flag -- there is a rain shower right over the speedway.
12:53 p.m.: Kyle Busch retakes lead from Jimmie Johnson and holds it.
12:45 p.m.: Green flag restart. Jimmie Johnson has taken the lead.
12:42 p.m.: Competition caution flag at lap 41. Pit road is open and the cars are pulling off.
Radar shows rain showers all around the track, but no rain right now at the track.
12:36 p.m.: After 30 laps and two cautions, Kyle Busch is in the lead, with Brian Vickers and Joey Legano right behind. Kevin Harvick lost a tire early on, causing the second caution flag. The first caution was for rain.
There will be a competition caution at lap 41.
12:30 p.m.: Green flag restart at lap 20. Leader Kyle Busch reports he is smelling electrical wires burning. He is still in the lead.
12:26 p.m.: Second caution flag. Kevin Harvick has damaged a fender and is pitting the Shell car.
12:20 p.m.: First caution flag after 6 laps for a rain sprinkle. Kyle Busch is in the lead.
12:15 p.m.: The 50th Coca-Cola 600 is underway. We'll keep you updated with weather and race conditions as they happen.
12:11 p.m.: Green flag! BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY LET'S GO RACIN'!
12:01 p.m.: Bobby Allison, as grand marshal, just gave the order: GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!
11:56 p.m.: LMS General Manager Marcus Smith just addressed the crowd and the National Anthem is being sung. Looks like we'll start this race on time.
Rain still moving toward the track.
11:45 a.m.: NASCAR officials just announced there will be a competition yellow flag on or around lap 40. See post below for the reason.
11:43 a.m. Radar shows a line of rain showers headed straight for the speedway. The cars are out on the track and the pit crews are ready. The green flag is set for 12:01 p.m.
There has been talk about a caution flag at lap 25. The cars were set up to race at night and after the race was called last night, NASCAR impounded the cars so no changes could be made.
The word is crews are hoping for a caution flag at lap 25 so they can pit the car and make quick modifications if need be.
That is, if we start the race at noon. Those rain showers are moving closer and closer
11:40 p.m.: Lowe's Motor Speedway is offering a 10-percent discount on tickets to the Oct. 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup race to show gratitude for sticking it out through the rain.
The offer is extended to anyone who purchases their October race tickets today. The ticket office number is 1-800-455-FANS (3267).
11:30 a.m.: The race have shown up in force.
DOT reports that U.S. 29 is jammed up. They are recommending fans use N.C. 49 to get to the speedway.
The weather is holding off for now.
MAY 25, 10:15 a.m.: We're back at Lowe's Motor Speedway to see if we can get this race in. It's pretty quiet here in the media center and out on the roads, race traffic is light for now, but that will change as we get closer to the green flag.
As for the weather, the skies are gray, but the radar shows no rain in the area, which is good. If it does rain, the best we can hope for is NASCAR gets 200 laps in and calls it.
Start time is still set for noon. Fox will broadcast it live.
We'll check in with the National Weather Service office in Greenville/Spartanburg to get the race forecast and update shortly.
Here is the latest from the N.C. Highway Patrol:
The N.C. Highway Patrol is advising motorists to follow these routes today:
Going to the speedway from Charlotte and points south: Take I-85 north to I-485, and then get off at N.C. 49 (Exit 33). Follow N.C. 49 north to Harrisburg, and turn left on Morehead Road to the track.
Going to the speedway from Concord and points north: Take I-85 south to Poplar Tent Road (Exit 52), and take Poplar Tent Road to Pitts School Road, to U.S. 29 south.
Going to Concord Mills Mall: Take I-85 north to Mallard Creek Church Road (Exit 46B), then Mallard Creek Road to Odell School Road.
The Highway Patrol is also advising fans to use N.C 49 instead of U.S. 29 to get to the track.
Also, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are in session today to make up a snow day. So fans may see a school bus or two on the road this afternoon. And it is Memorial Day, so folks not going to the race may be going to Concord Mills to enjoy their holiday. Traffic be just as bad as yesterday.
6:30 p.m.: Long rain delay at the speedway now. It will take two hours to dry the track enough to race and there is more rain on the way. If the race doesn't start by 9 p.m., NASCAR will postpone and the Coca-Cola 600 will run on Monday -- Memorial Day.
6:20 p.m.: The skies opened up and dumped rain on the speedway, as fans ran from the grandstand to take cover. The downpour has eased into a steady rain. Radar shows another big rain cell tracking through southeast Charlotte and it looks like it is headed toward the speedway.
It looks like NASCAR will hold off with any decisions on calling the race.
6:05 p.m.: Radar shows a heavy rain running through north Charlotte and bearing down on the speedway. Pre-race ceremonies completed and the cars out on the track, waiting.
5:27 p.m. The drivers are being introduced now, as we get closer to race time. The jet blowers are drying the track, and the weather radar shows a rain cell headed toward the speedway. Can they get a couple of laps in before the rain hits?
Remember, this race is 600 miles long and the weather could set up the race to be a long one.
Traffic around the speedway is moving now and the parking lots are filling up. So is the grandstand, as 125,000 fans get ready for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600.
5 p.m.: The U.S. Army is landing helicopters and blowing up shacks on the infield, underneath a gray sky threatening more rain. They also have delivered the flag that flew over the multi-national forces headquarters in Iraq and raised it on a flag pole on the main stage.
There is a storm cell moving into south Charlotte that could swing toward the speedway. Still no word about race delays from NASCAR.
U.S. 29 around the speedway is all jammed up, but I-85 is clearing up.
Green flag is scheduled at 5:45 p.m.
3:40 p.m.: The weather news is not good.
The National Weather Service in Greenville/Spartanburg is tracking rain cells headed out of South Carolina and into the Charlotte area.
Meteorologist Jeffrey Taylor the speedway area should expect rain in various degrees of intensity for the next several hours. There is a possibility for thunderstorms, but none are expected to become severe, he said.
"It's not looking too good," he said. "We've seen some bolts of lightning southwest of that [the speedway] area."
Meanwhile, traffic on northbound U.S. 29, between I-485 and Morehead Road is at a standstill, bumper-to-bumper. Law enforcement recommend race fans take N.C. 49 up through Harrisburg instead. Northbound I-85 is also backed up.
Fans at the speedway are still milling around in the infield through the intermittent rain, wearing ponchos and raincoats.
2:55 p.m.: There is a rain storm headed north up Interstate 85 from Charlotte that will hit the speedway area in the next 20 minutes. NWS radar shows thunderstorms developing between Columbia and Rock Hill, S.C. tracking north toward Charlotte.
Meanwhile, DOT reports heavy traffic on all routes to the speedway -- I-85 and U.S. 29 especially. Fans stuck in traffic will be there for a while, and they might want to roll up the windows when the rain comes.
2:20 p.m.: There was a light rain shower about an hour ago at the speedway, but the sun has peeked out from behind the clouds. Radar, however, shows rain moving north from South Carolina. There is heavy rain south of Rock Hill that looks like it could track toward the speedway later in the day.
2:10 p.m.: Traffic on Interstate 85 is at a standstill going north. Coming southbound from Kannapolis, traffic is heavy, and slows around Poplar Tent Road. Traffic is also bumper-to-bumper on U.S. 29 and on Bruton Smith Boulevard. And it's only going to get worse throughout the day.
1:30 p.m. : A rain shower is moving into the speedway area. There is a light rain falling on the track. This could affect Bobby Allison's ceremonial lap in his old race car at 2 p.m.
Noon : Traffic on Interstate 85 is already backing at Bruton Smith Boulevard from the south. And the cloud are gray and ominous.
The National Weather Service office in Greenville/Spartanburg is forecasting rain showers tracking from the southeast through western North Carolina throughout the day. The greatest threat for an isolated thunderstorm will come after 2 p.m. At race time, about 5:45 p.m., the chance of rain will be at 80 percent.
Race fans, bring your ponchos.
Stay with independenttribune.com for updates throughout the day. Follow the action on Twitter at http://twitter.com/indytribune
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