NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...

03/21/2010

A CUT TIRE ENDS A GOOD FINISH FOR SPEED AT BRISTOL

+ THERE’S NO ESCAPING UNSCATHED

Scott Speed, disgusted with a 31st-place finish Sunday at Bristol, can at least breathe a sigh of relief. For the first time in a full year, he’ll walk into a race track carrying the luxury of a guaranteed starting spot.

After the first five races last season, the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota ranked 36th in car owner points and never recovered. This season, Speed and Co. is 18th, making qualifying at Martinsville and beyond a little less stressful.

DEFINING MOMENT:

With 25 laps to go and on target for his fourth top 20 in five races, Speed’s No. 82 cut a right-front tire. Speed tagged the wall — hard — and took the car to the garage where the team repaired a brake rotor. He returned to the track and finished 20 laps down in 31st, easily his worst showing of the season. The team’s hard work, however, helped Speed pick up a position in the final three laps.

RADIO CHATTER:

“It’s go time.” — Spotter Tim Fedewa to Speed with 50 laps to go. POINTS PICTURE: Fell from an 11th-place tie to 18th in points, but the No. 82 has a comfortable 197-point cushion on the top 35 entering Martinsville. Speed’s first Sprint Cup start came at Martinsville in October 2008.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Prior to Bristol, Speed had failed to complete only one lap this season (266 of 267 at Las Vegas).