Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide Series, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Feb. 2010

Day two of the NASCAR event held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway got off to a late start as we had a lot of weather in the area, it rained most of the night and morning so the Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide Race was delayed by a couple hours.  By the time we got to the track it was mostly drizzling and the track crews were out in force getting the track dried off so they could get the event underway.  Rain delays at home watching the race on TV is frustrating but at least you have the comforts of home; at the track it fans tough it out, crews find refuge under their pit carts but it gives the TV media a chance to interview drivers as on air time filler until the event gets underway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of attention came to Danica Patrick, and for those not a race fan or living under a rock in the sports world; she is bridging over from the Indy cars into NASCAR and has created a stir…. “Danica Mania” as they call it and I too have bought into the hype.  She is a marketing machine teamed up with Jr Motor Sports owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and has a lot to get used to in a heavy and wide NASCAR stock car compared to the light Indy cars she normally drives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I perched down in Turn one for the start of the race thinking if anything were to happen on a cold track that had all the rubber washed off and if drivers weren’t patient a wreck was likely to happen in turn one in the first couple laps.

 

 

 

 

In the first couple laps, Danika and Michael run side by side and would meet again later…… of course AFTER I moved from here and to the turn 4 area.

 

 

 

 

The #81 Monte Carlo Casino sponsored Dodge Charger of Michael McDowell cuts a right front, eats the wall and spins to the infield.  He had a busy day and turn one would not be his favorite place today.

 

 

 

 

After that spin and a couple other cautions for debris from cut tires and such, the field went green for a long period and the field spread out and the side by side racing was out the window.  Races like those are a yawner even for an avid race fan so I turned my concentration to practicing shots for tomorrows Big Race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Childress Racing’s John Wes Townley was cited Thursday for underage possession of alcohol in Las Vegas, the 20-year-old Townley was allowed to compete and finished 15th Saturday in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  NASCAR officials said they were aware of the citation and had talked with Townley, who after the race Saturday declined to be specific when asked if NASCAR gave him a breath and/or blood test during the weekend.  Townley’s sponsor is Zaxby’s, where his father is the chief financial officer and one of the restaurant’s founders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere about mid race Danika comes out of the pits after getting fresh tires and I was watching her crew chief Tony Eury Jr. when I saw his eyes slam shut in disgust and over the race scanner they mentioned she had just tangled with Michael McDowell.  I caught her limping into the pits, her day was done.

 

 

 

As the event wore on, it started to get a little darker and the track lights came and gave some pretty neat highlights to the cars.  I had to get excited about something, I struggled all day with myself being all over the place with camera settings.  I tried to run yesterday and today in Aperture Priority, something I had never tried before and quite frankly was stupid to try on an event like this; lesson learned.

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Harvick stayed out front and out of trouble for the Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide race and take home the trophy for his KHI team.

 

 

 

 

Robert Butterfield - Butterfield Photography - Sierra Vista, Arizona