Beginning the second half of the season, this week the SRX Racing Series travels to the Fairgrounds at Nashville on a hot Saturday night. Temperatures are 92 degrees at race start.
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden and retired Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth joins the field of races tonight.
The 13 car field for tonight’s iconic race is:
Josef Newgarden
Tony Stewart
Helio Castroneves
Bobby Labonte
Paul Tracy
Cole Williams – local hero
Tony Kanaan
Ryan Newman
Marco Andretti
Greg Biffle
Matt Kenseth
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Michael Waltrip
After the pole was chosen at random, Josef Newgarden brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number one and 12 minutes of racing. Newgarden gets out in front to lead the race with fellow IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves in second.
This is the first time in his racing career that Josef Newgarden has driven anything with bumpers on the car.
Josef Newgarden wins heat number one after leading every lap.
The results for heat number one:
Josef Newgarden
Helio Castroneves
Bobby Labonte
Paul Tracy
Marco Andretti
Tony Stewart
Ryan Newman
Matt Kenseth
Michael Waltrip
Greg Biffle
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Tony Kanaan
Cole Williams
The field is inverted for heat number two.
For heat number two, local hero Cole Williams brings the field down for the green flag and takes the lead.
Currently in last place, Tony Stewart’s crew asked him if he was all right, Stewart replied, “no, this is all I got”.
This week’s lineup of drivers includes five NASCAR champions, six IndyCar champions, and five Daytona 500 winners; along with some Indy 500 winners.
Cole Williams wins heat number two.
The results of heat number two:
Cole Williams
Marco Andretti
Greg Biffle
Bobby Labonte
Paul Tracy
Ryan Newman
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Tony Kanaan
Helio Castroneves
Josef Newgarden
Matt Kenseth
Michael Waltrip
Tony Stewart
The starting lineup for the 75 lap main event:
Bobby Labonte
Marco Andretti
Paul Tracy
Josef Newgarden
Helio Castroneves
Greg Biffle
Ryan Newman
Cole Williams
Tony Stewart
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Matt Kenseth
Tony Kanaan
Michael Waltrip
Bobby Labonte brings the field down for the green flag and edges out Marco Andretti for the lead.
A rain storm came through Nashville and the track during the early morning hours of Saturday and caused some damage to the cars and the area. At 3am Tony Stewart was among the people cleaning up the area and getting the cars ready for racing.
After a caution flag, Bobby Labonte brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 44 with Paul Tracy alongside. Labonte gets out in front to hold on to the lead. Labonte has led every lap of the main event so far.
Josef Newgarden spins out and gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag on lap 49.
Bobby Labonte brings the field down for the green flag restart with Marco Andretti on the outside lane with 17 laps remaining in the race. Marco Andretti goes side by side with Bobby Labonte in a battle for the lead with Labonte holding on to the lead. Josef Newgarden is back in the race after spending some time on pit road for repairs.
The caution flag comes out with 10 laps to go after Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan spin out. Caution laps do not count in the last 10 laps of the race.
Bobby Labonte brings the field down for the green flag restart with Marco Andretti alongside. Bobby Labonte gets out in front to continue his dominance of the race. He has led every lap of the main event so far.
Tony Kanaan is on pit road with a flat tire.
After leading every lap of heat number two and every lap in the main event, Bobby Labonte gets his first SRX win.
The results of the race at the Nashville Fairgrounds:
Bobby Labonte
Marco Andretti
Matt Kenseth
Paul Tracy
Helio Castroneves
Ryan Newman
Josef Newgarden
Michael Waltrip
Greg Biffle
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Tony Stewart
Cole Williams
Tony Kanaan
At 58, Bobby Labonte is the oldest winner in the SRX Racing Series.
Labonte said that he didn’t think he would win; adding that the field is filled with intimidating drivers. He thanked the fans at the track and those watching on the TV; he also thanked series sponsor Camping World.
1st Time SRX Winner at Nashville
