Brian Vickers won today’s Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan today in a Red Bull Toyota Camry ahead of Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Vickers outlasted Jimmy Johnson who led the closing stages of the race only to run out of fuel with 3 laps to go.
With one eye on the chase Carl Edwards managed his fuel in the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion to make it to the end and finished 4th.
Carl Edwards was the top finishing Ford Fusion with 4th place. (pic: autostock, Brian Czobat )
“It’s very important. We talked about it on the radio. It’s not that much to race like that – you want to race for the win and go out there and go for it, but we couldn’t run out of fuel. This Ford Fusion gets great fuel mileage – I’m just proud of that, because a couple of those guys ran out, and that’s excruciating. That would be terrible,” said Edwards
Marcos Ambrose has worked tirelessly to improve his race car during a tough Carfax 400 for the Australian. Ambrose started from 26th in today’s 23rd Sprint Cup race of the season, but could only manage 35th place in the 200-lap event.
Ambrose and crew chief Frank Kerr worked all race long at getting the #47 Little Debbie-backed entry of JTG Daugherty Racing to turn better through the corners, with Ambrose continually reporting a ‘tight’ race car (ie: understeer) despite set-up changes during pit stops.
Paul Menard and Matt Kenseth lead a restart with David Ragan close behind. (pic: Autostock )
“I fought it all race and we worked hard at making changes during the stops, but it wasn’t our best day unfortunately. The car was just too tight all day,” said Ambrose.
RESULTS: Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway
Race 23 in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
1. #83 Brian Vickers 200 laps
2. #21 Jeff Gordon
3. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr
4. #99 Carl Edwards
5. #77 Sam Hornish Jr
6. #07 Casey Mears
7. #20 Joey Logano
8. #33 Clint Bowyer
9. #00 David Reutimann
10. #11 Denny Hamlin
35. #47 Marcos Ambrose 199 laps
2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver’s Standings – After Race 23 of 36
1. Tony Stewart 3500
2. Jeff Gordon 3216
3. Jimmie Johnson 3197
4. Carl Edwards 2995
5. Denny Hamlin 2986
6. Kurt Busch 2957
7. Juan Pablo Montoya 2887
8. Kasey Kahne 2884
9. Ryan Newman 2845
10. Greg Biffle 2821
11. Matt Kenseth 2811
12. Mark Martin 2791
13. Brian Vickers 2779
14. Clint Bowyer 2733
15. Kyle Busch 2721
16. David Reutimann 2673
17. Marcos Ambrose 2474
THE RACE:
Carfax 400
First race staged in 1969
200 laps (400 miles/643.7 kilometres)
FORM GUIDE:
2008 August Race Winner: Carl Edwards
2008 August Polesitter: Brian Vickers
2009 June Race Winner: Mark Martin
2009 June Polesitter: Brian Vickers
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Carfax 400 (Same Day Replay)
Monday 17 August 2009
FOX Sports 1
10:30pm AEST
Marcos Ambrose – Standing Out
Tuesday August 2009
ONE
6:40pm AEST
Carfax 400 with Intro from Marcos Ambrose
Tuesday 11 August 2009
ONE
10:00pm AEST
