Johnson and Riggs
For Lowe's Motor Speedway, and the Lowe's Home Centers, they clearly have the right team and driver to get the most out of
their sponsorship dollars. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe's Monte Carlo took home the $1 million dollar prize on Saturday night in the Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge.
Johnson, who also won the all-star race in 2003, has won three consecutive Coca-Cola 600s and will try to make it four in a row next Sunday night. He's also won the past four points races at Lowe's.
"When the money's on the line, this race team steps up and we get it done,'' Johnson said. Johnson's record at the Concord, NC, track will probably
leave the rest of the teams battling for second place next weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 also.
The All-Star race was its normal wreck-fest with more cars crashing out than finishing. Most of the issues centered around the new tire that Good-Year brought, which was harder than what has been used before. Cars simply 'took off' unexpectedly in the corners - mostly in corner four - and rest assured this week will be a busy one in Akron, Ohio, where the Good-Year's are built.
Kasey Kahne looked like the man to beat as the field headed into the second of three segments. Kahne had the 'pole', with Mark Martin on his outside. Kahne's
race ended in turn 2 when his car 'took off' and slammed into Martin. This started a chain reaction, which took out many good cars including Kyle Busch - winner of segment one - Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, and a host of others.
Scott Riggs raced his way into the Challenge by winning the Open, but Riggs was basically handed a 'do-not-pass' sentence by NASCAR as soon as the Challenge started. In the first segment, mandatory pit stops were to be made somewhere between lap 13 and 16, and several drivers opted for lap 13. At the same time, Riggs spun coming out of turn 4 and got a flat tire - no yellow. This meant Riggs went a lap down. NASCAR would normally have
thrown a yellow, but with cars already on pit lane there was a very real chance that the entire field, save three, would have been a lap down if they did, so they didn't, hanging Riggs out to dry in the process.
Riggs had a good car, made his way forward, but with no 'lucky dog' he was anything but lucky. He had to start from the back after each yellow, as the rules say all lead lap cars line up first. Even during the stoppage for the big wreck, where numerous drivers worked on their cars, none went a lap down due to the stoppage, so Riggs, once again had to line up behind them on the restart. During the final stop - between segments two and three - Riggs came out second in line, but once again had to go to the back - still a lap down. In my opinion he got the shaft big time on this one, and if I was Valvoline - his sponsor - I would be bending NASCAR's ear this week.
Nextel All-Star Challenge Unofficial Results:
Pos. Driver - Make
1. Jimmie Johnson - Chevy
2. Kevin Harvick - Chevy
3. Jeff Gordon - Chevy
4. Carl Edwards - Ford
5. Ryan Newman - Dodge
6. Bobby Labonte - Dodge
7. Dale Jarrett - Ford
8. Kyle Petty - Dodge
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Chevy
10. Scott Riggs - Dodge
For Lowe's Motor Speedway, and the Lowe's Home Centers, they clearly have the right team and driver to get the most out of
 |
| An star-studded cast lines up for the Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge in Charlotte, NC. (Photo: Autostock) |
Johnson, who also won the all-star race in 2003, has won three consecutive Coca-Cola 600s and will try to make it four in a row next Sunday night. He's also won the past four points races at Lowe's.
"When the money's on the line, this race team steps up and we get it done,'' Johnson said. Johnson's record at the Concord, NC, track will probably
 |
| Jimmie Johnson took home the $1 million prize on Saturday night in the Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge. (Photo: Dorsey Patrick) |
The All-Star race was its normal wreck-fest with more cars crashing out than finishing. Most of the issues centered around the new tire that Good-Year brought, which was harder than what has been used before. Cars simply 'took off' unexpectedly in the corners - mostly in corner four - and rest assured this week will be a busy one in Akron, Ohio, where the Good-Year's are built.
Kasey Kahne looked like the man to beat as the field headed into the second of three segments. Kahne had the 'pole', with Mark Martin on his outside. Kahne's
 |
| Not everyone was smiling, especially Scott Riggs. (Photo: Autostock) |
Scott Riggs raced his way into the Challenge by winning the Open, but Riggs was basically handed a 'do-not-pass' sentence by NASCAR as soon as the Challenge started. In the first segment, mandatory pit stops were to be made somewhere between lap 13 and 16, and several drivers opted for lap 13. At the same time, Riggs spun coming out of turn 4 and got a flat tire - no yellow. This meant Riggs went a lap down. NASCAR would normally have
 |
| Jimmie Johnson's Lowe's Monte Carlo celebrate in Victory Lane after taking the Nextel Cup All-StarChallenge. (Photo: Dorsey Patrick) |
Riggs had a good car, made his way forward, but with no 'lucky dog' he was anything but lucky. He had to start from the back after each yellow, as the rules say all lead lap cars line up first. Even during the stoppage for the big wreck, where numerous drivers worked on their cars, none went a lap down due to the stoppage, so Riggs, once again had to line up behind them on the restart. During the final stop - between segments two and three - Riggs came out second in line, but once again had to go to the back - still a lap down. In my opinion he got the shaft big time on this one, and if I was Valvoline - his sponsor - I would be bending NASCAR's ear this week.
Nextel All-Star Challenge Unofficial Results:
Pos. Driver - Make
1. Jimmie Johnson - Chevy
2. Kevin Harvick - Chevy
3. Jeff Gordon - Chevy
4. Carl Edwards - Ford
5. Ryan Newman - Dodge
6. Bobby Labonte - Dodge
7. Dale Jarrett - Ford
8. Kyle Petty - Dodge
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Chevy
10. Scott Riggs - Dodge