|| *Comments on the 2009 Kroger 200:* View the most recent comment <#46> | Post a comment <#post> 1. CarlEdwards99 posted: 07.25.2009 - 11:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) just caught the race right before the last restart. Last 27 laps were amazing. As great as the battle for the lead was the first 10 laps after the restart, the battle for 3rd was amazing. 3 guys battle all 27 laps almost even going 3 wide at one point. isn't it amazing how great the racing can be when aero isn't a factor? Carl passes Harry Gant and Dale Earnhardt on the all time wins list in the Busch series 2. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.25.2009 - 11:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Wrecker spins one under the caution. Reminds me of Vegas. If Trevor could have slid just a little bit lower, we could finally add the pace car to Wrecker's LONG hit list. Outstanding racing again. We need more tracks like this, not these crappy big wide snoozefests. John Wrecks Weekly DNQs. Him being in the series has nothing to do with the fact his Dad owns Zaxby's. How bout Kenny Wallace!!! What a run for a barely funded effort. Also a shout out to Morgan Shepherd. He stayed on the lead lap for a long time. Good job by Trevor Bayne. Nice recovery after being spun out under caution. But that was totally the pace car's fault, it has nothing to do with Wrecker following too close while everyone should be slowing down. At least that's according to Rusty and Randy LaJoie. Ugh. Poor Scott Lagasse. He gets dumped by Kes one week after being dumped by Gaughn. Now, if I heard the telecast correctly, he will be kicked out of the car for Denny Hamlin. Why? Wouldn't want to develop any drivers now would we? Let's let more established egotistical schmucks hog the spotlight. 3. Dion posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:02 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) -Chris Lawson's first Nationwide Series race -Steven Wallace and Trevor Bayne were running 1 and 2 on lap 38 when the caution came out and the pace car came out and Bayne slowed and was run into by Wallace from behind. They both lost there spots and never got back to the lead -Chase Austin also has his best finish so far in his brief Nationwide series career -Terry Cook was running up as high as 3rd, but when the 1st caution came out he pulled into the garage with a "vibration" It was a good race overall, I just wish a Nationwide only driver could have won the race 4. gordi101 posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) CARL EDWARDS WINS!!!! He beats Kyle Bu$ch and leads the most laps with a dominating car. 5. Anonymous posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:27 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Good to see Trevor Bayne get the pole and for Hornaday and Wimmer to lead early on. It looked like a real Busch race for a while but then greedy carl and kyle had to ruin yet another race. Wallace will get ripped for spinning Bayne but it was a NASCAR error sending the pace car out right in front of the leaders. It was the right call though not to put them back up front. The rules are the rules as Robby knows. 6. WallaceFan posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:45 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) WELL, Nascar screwed this up. Caution comes out....Bayne leading, Steve in second.....pace car comes out in front of them too soon....Bayne gets hard on the breaks, Steve cant do it in time...spins Bayne out. So then Nascar lines these guys up 8th and 12th becuase they couldnt keep up the caution speed? Good Move. 7. WallaceFan posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) AWSOME RUN FOR STEVE! As i mentioned he had that early run in, but kept his cool. Had the absolute fastest car on the track for a long long time. Great battle between him, kenseth, and kes at the end there....hoping he could have had 3rd...instead 5th..ok though. Great Run. 8. Anonymous posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Keselowski wrecked Lagasse, and just about wrecked a few other guys. Hes pretty good at that sort of thing isnt he? good old golden boy. 9. b4il3y posted: 07.26.2009 - 2:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great runs for Wallace, Herman, and Bayne. Bayne could be the real deal...we'll see though. 10. 18fan posted: 07.26.2009 - 3:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Strange accident under caution early. None other than Steve Wallace, running second, spins leader Trevor Bayne after Bayne slowed for the pace car. Interesting that the two slowest cars in qualifying finish one-two 11. Rusty posted: 07.26.2009 - 6:04 am Rate this comment: (2) (2) Terry Cook was running as high as 3rd but then just took it to the garage in ten laps. The start and parking is getting ridiculous. Steve Wallace had probably the best race of his career but that didn't stop him from spinning out the leader under caution. 12. Willy on Wheels posted: 07.26.2009 - 9:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Kryle Busch didn't win!!! I was hoping for a regular to win this one, but I am an Edwards fan, so this was good. 13. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.26.2009 - 11:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Good to see Trevor Bayne get the pole and for Hornaday and Wimmer to lead early on. It looked like a real Busch race for a while but then greedy carl and kyle had to ruin yet another race." I totally agree. It reminded me of Milwuakee. All the unproven guys battling for the lead and the respect of car owners and sponsors, then come the Cup guys in their Cup equipment to hog the spotlight. Again, at least Carl is gracious about it and it was a great race. But it is still ridiculous. Nobody is being developed and they are sending people into to Cup that aren't ready as a result like Stale Bread, Scott Slow, and Sideways Sam (although he is improving). I have a ton of respect for Randy LaJoie, but for the love of God please don't let him broadcast any more races. Listening to him and Rusty, two racers that I admire the hell out of, was painful. I would say they need to hire Kyle Petty, but ESPN would never let him do his politically incorrect and irreverent analysis. "Steve Wallace had probably the best race of his career but that didn't stop him from spinning out the leader under caution." I know. He finally gets another Top 5 and he still manages to do something stupid. His third Top 5 in 107 starts, and his first in over a year. 14. WallaceFan posted: 07.26.2009 - 12:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) That was in NO WAY Steves fault. He wasnt even on the gas when the accident happened, and he hit the breaks as quick as he could. Anyways i forgot to say, great runs for KENNY, Almirola, and Morgan again. Brad Coleman qualifies second, and manages to get loose and smack the wall on the FIRST TURN, effectivley ending his race. 15. DJ88 posted: 07.26.2009 - 1:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Wrecker spins one under the caution. Reminds me of Vegas. If Trevor could have slid just a little bit lower, we could finally add the pace car to Wrecker's LONG hit list." Trevor Bayne couldn't even blame Steve Wallace there. The pace car came out when it wasn't supposed to, and both cars were at full speed. When the pace car merged out of nowhere, Trevor got hard on the brakes and Steve reacted to Trevor, but he was right there. You should never check up that hard for a caution right in front of somebody. It wouldn't have made a difference if Trevor coasted by the pace car and then let him by. Instead, it was an unsafe situation (mainly because the pace car pulled out at a very wrong time). I don't see how it reminds you of Vegas, at all. Dale Jr intentionally doorslammed Steve Wallace when Wallace was letting him back by after the caution. If you compare the two as similar, you're an incredibly naive race fan. All the Steve Wallace haters are eating their words so they have to attack minor things that aren't even his fault. Steve was the fastest car all race with a team that is never in that position. With better pit stops, he could have had a better shot. Wallace would have to work his way through the field almost every single pit stop. Kenseth was in his way at the end, and he lost a spot to Brad Kese (who I also like) while trying to work the bottom around the 16. Steve at least had a 2nd place car at the end, but it was so tough to pass and he just didn't have enough time. It's kind of ironic that Steve runs up front all race after people talk about how he's lapper trash. 16. Bronco posted: 07.26.2009 - 3:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Great weekend for Aric Almirola. Finishes 3rd in the truck race, then backs it up with a lead lap finish in an underfunded car. Someone needs to give him a full time ride in Cup, Nationwide or Trucks. How is Terry Cook able to qualify so well in a Phil Parsons machine? You would think a 5th place starting spot would motivate them to run the whole race, but no, they still parked it in 11 laps. Glad to see Carl win, but it sucks that Cup drivers once again steal the show at a race which is supposed to let Nationwide talent shine. 17. Geoff posted: 07.26.2009 - 4:58 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Yeah I don't get the whole Terry Cook deal either. 18. John posted: 07.26.2009 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) As much as it pains me to say this, Carl Edwards and Kyle Dou*** shouldve not competed in this race, I dont care for Kenseth but seriously if your going to have Buschwhackers come from the back of the field to end up winning the race you got a recipe for a bad race, Keselowski, Bayne, and Steve shouldve been the top 3 nascar needs to do something about these buschwhackers and i mean it! i want to see a young gun win a nascar race not the cup guys! 19. WallaceFan posted: 07.26.2009 - 8:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Terry Cook's team doesnt have the funds to run the whole race. They cant afford the tires, and they definatley cant afford to wreck it. The reason they qualify so well, is because they just go all out on the qualifying setup, not worrying about running in race trim. They pocket the last place money, or whatever they should get, and are happy with that. 20. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.26.2009 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "That was in NO WAY Steves fault." Yeah, he only drove square into the back of Trevor and spun him out UNDER CAUTION. No fault there. "I don't see how it reminds you of Vegas, at all. Dale Jr intentionally doorslammed Steve Wallace when Wallace was letting him back by after the caution. If you compare the two as similar, you're an incredibly naive race fan." It's funny that both times there was a contact issue UNDER CAUTION it involved the same guy. So by putting a pattern together I am naive? When you add those two incidents to his Daytona GARAGE crash and him crashing out at Montreal exiting the pits UNDER CAUTION, a picture begins to form. He is driving too fast when there is no reason to do so because he isn't very smart and doesn't think. "All the Steve Wallace haters are eating their words so they have to attack minor things that aren't even his fault." Eating our words? That was Wrecker's THIRD Top 5 (all 5th place finishes) in ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN STARTS. Meanwhile, other drivers driving for non affiliated Nationwide teams, Mike Bliss and Jason Leffler, are driving circles around him. Literally. And you can make excuses all day long about what was or wasn't his fault, but at the end of the day there is only one driver consistenly involved in most of the wrecks. Well, half the wrecks now. John Wrecks Weekly is taking up some of the slack for Wrecker. "It's kind of ironic that Steve runs up front all race after people talk about how he's lapper trash." That is because even in a RARE good run and finish for Wrecker, he still manages to do something stupid. 21. Anonymous posted: 07.26.2009 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) It's not good to look at top 5 and 10 stats for Nationwide only drivers because most top finishers are usually full time Cup drivers. 22. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2009 - 11:38 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Again, I am not comparing him to other Cup drivers, I am comparing him to drivers on similar teams. It is a fair comparison, and he doesn't compare well at all. 23. RR posted: 07.27.2009 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Do some of you people even watch the race, or do you just focus on what Steven Wallace does? You know there are others out there, right? 24. RR posted: 07.27.2009 - 3:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Although to be fair, besides Morgan Shepherd, there's really nothing that interests me in this boring series. Edwards and Busch 1-2. Yawn. 25. Anonymous posted: 07.27.2009 - 3:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) But I don't think anyone is saying he's the best driver in NW. He's ranked 5th in NW only drivers and ahead of his teammate Brendan Gaughan. He's not ever going to be a championship caliber or a Cup caliber driver but he could be someone like Gaughan who has a long and decent career in the minor leagues. 26. DaleJrFan18 posted: 07.27.2009 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Oh hell yes! Sheppy makes it into the race and gets another strong finish! He seriously needs some top notch equipment. Imagine what he could do. 27. Anonymous posted: 07.27.2009 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) funny you mention Mike Bliss, DaleSrFanForever, because his 2009 average finish is 16.8 compared to Steve Wallace's 16.2. I think you'd be a much happier person if you stopped obsessing over hating the kid. Seriously. 28. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2009 - 1:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bliss and Leffler definatley have something Steve doesnt.....EXPERIENCE! Gaughan? EXPERIENCE! WIMMER, HORNADAY, GEEZE EVEN TONY RAINES! THEYVE DONE IT BEFORE!!! STEVE is 21 YEARS OLD! Give him a break! DaleSrFan - STOP TRYING TO PROVE HOW BAD HE IS AND JUST CHILL OUT! YOU CANT DEFEAT THE FACTS! JUST FORGET ABOUT IT AND BE HAPPY! 29. Kit posted: 07.29.2009 - 3:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) "He seriously needs some top notch equipment. Imagine what he could do." I laughed when I read this because Shep used to be a top five driver in Cup. 30. Kit posted: 07.29.2009 - 3:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "STEVE is 21 YEARS OLD! Give him a break!" Why? If he's going to drive in Busch, he better at least know how to drive the damn car. He's still on training wheels and this is a series he should be competitive with. If he needs more experience, why can't he get it in ARCA full time? 31. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.29.2009 - 12:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "You know there are others out there, right?" No, I don't know this thanks to ESPN's slanted coverage. They are constantly talking about Wrecker (which I'm sure Rusty has nothing to do with). At Chicago they showed him racing for five solid minutes WHILE HE WAS TWO LAPS DOWN!!! As far as ESPN is concerned there are 4 drivers in the Nationwide Series: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, and Wrecker. "Bliss and Leffler definatley have something Steve doesnt.....EXPERIENCE!" Wrecker has made over 100 starts in this series. This is his third full time season to go along with his 2006 half season. If he hasn't figured it out now (and he hasn't) he needs help. "STEVE is 21 YEARS OLD! Give him a break!" Casey Atwood won a Busch race when he was 18 years old with less than a season's experience with a Busch only team. Brian vickers won a championship at 19, and he sucks!! "YOU CANT DEFEAT THE FACTS!" The facts: 107 starts 3 Top 5s (2.8%) 13 Top 10s (12.1%) 45 laps led (0.4 per race) 39 lead lap finishes (36.4%) Pathetic 32. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.29.2009 - 12:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I laughed when I read this because Shep used to be a top five driver in Cup." Yeah, he was a weekly contender, especially at the tough tracks. Actually, what makes that even more amazing, is the fact that he never had top notch equipment in Cup. He drove, and WON with a past their prime Bud Moore Racing and a past their prime Wood Brothers Racing. In 1986 he won a race for Jack Bebee, one of only two wins for his Race Hill Farm team in 211 starts. And in 1981 he got one of Cliff Stewart's 2 wins as an owner. The other? Jim Pasqual in 1962. 33. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2009 - 3:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just take off the bias goggles DaleSrFan, Steve is getting better, and you are wrong. 34. Kit posted: 08.01.2009 - 12:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Steve is getting better, and you are wrong." That does not justify him being in Nationwide right now. I mean, wow, we are really impressed that he can now drive through the pre-existing fence entrance instead of making one himself... Morgan Shepard was a much better driver than people realize. I think he said something back in the 90s that led to sponsors steering clear of him or something, which effectively ended his Cup career. 35. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2009 - 11:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I mean, wow, we are really impressed that he can now drive through the pre-existing fence entrance instead of making one himself..." But remember Kit, it is "improvement". The bar has really been lowered! 36. Anonymous posted: 08.01.2009 - 8:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) that's truly a ridiculous metaphor that doesn't work whatsoever, but I wouldn't expect any less from the two of you since you're both oblivious to the facts. wow, he didnt pump his brakes once and had no brakes when he was leaving the garage. guess who else has done the same thing? Kyle Petty. do you obsess over Kyle Petty wreckin in the garage area at a solo test session at Charlotte like you do with Steve? Get a life. 37. 18fan posted: 11.02.2009 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They think Brad Keselowski exists, but they love him just like they loved Carl last year in Cup and still do along with Jr. 38. Daniel posted: 05.21.2012 - 1:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using fastest 43: #0 Mike Wallace, #09 John Wes Townley, #26 Brian Keselowski, #71 Joe Ruttman, #96 Dennis Setzer Out using fastest 43: #10 Chad Blount, #18 Johnny Sauter, #24 Eric McClure, #47 Kelly Bires, #60 Colin Braun 39. CBASS posted: 02.02.2013 - 7:31 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #11 Incredible Pizza #24 Hefty/ Kroger/ Comfort Suites #33 Vlasic/ Kroger #26 K Automotive Performance #71 E.O.C. Motorsports #89 Racing with Jesus/ "Super" Dave #5 Fastenal/ GearWrench #0/04 JD Motorsports #01 Watermelon Month #27 Kroger "Making a Difference Hand in Hand" http://www.thehotlap.com/gallery/2009/248/ 40. b4il3y posted: 10.03.2013 - 3:44 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Might have been good, but too bad it was all cup guys. 41. Paul posted: 03.01.2016 - 3:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) There were four substitute drivers on-hand for this race in order to accommodate their Cup Series counterparts who were pulling double-duty between IRP and the Brickyard. Here's a list of those drivers: #16 - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (sub for Matt Kenseth) #18 - Johnny Sauter (sub for Kyle Busch) #32 - Brian Ickler (sub for David Reutimann) #60 - Colin Braun (sub for Carl Edwards) I cannot verify which substitute drivers were used during the first practice session, but I do know that both Braun and Ickler participated in final practice. None of the four Cup drivers qualified their cars, thus they all had to start the race from the rear of the field. 42. Windows Millennium Edition posted: 03.14.2016 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew: WD|Brad Teague|41|Circle K Thirstbuster|Rick Ware|Chevrolet 43. Ultimate Warrior #18 posted: 07.21.2016 - 10:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) That ultra rare moment when Morgan Shepherd out runs Austin Dillon and Justin Allgaier. 44. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 10.01.2016 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Driver Changes 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr CitiFinancial Ford Jack Roush 18 Johnny Sauter NOS Energy Drink Toyota Joe Gibbs 32 Brian Ickler Dollar General Toyota Todd Braun 60 Colin Braun Vitamin Water Ford Jack Roush 45. RaceFanX posted: 03.21.2017 - 3:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Carl Edwards' win here was the second and last for Ford in this series at IRP. While the Busch/Nationwide series ran here from its inception until 2011 the Blue Oval Boys only victories both came in the 2000s from Roush Racing's #60 entry, the first was with Greg Biffle in 2002 during his championship season. 46. Yeet #PrayForWickens posted: 08.30.2018 - 11:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The owner of the #71 ran by Joe Ruttman never made a race, therefore does not have a page on this site. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: