Nextel Open Race Report

#49 Red Baron Dodge
Nextel Open, May 21, 2005
1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Concord, N.C.

RESULTS:

1. Brian Vickers, Chevrolet
2. Mike Bliss, Chevrolet
3. Travis Kvapil, Dodge
4. Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
5. Bobby Hamilton Jr., Chevrolet
9. Ken Schrader, Dodge

FULL RUNDOWN: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/103/data/results_unofficial.html

Twenty-eight cars took the green flag on a picture-perfect evening in Concord, N.C. as they attempted to claim one of the final remaining spots in Saturday night’s All-Star race by winning the Nextel Open at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Nextel Open was divided into two segments; the first segment lasted 20 laps, then the caution flag was thrown and teams had the opportunity to come to pit road for adjustments, before taking the green for one last ten-lap shootout.

It appeared as if Mike Bliss would pick up his first win in Nextel Cup competition, starting on the pole and leading for much of the race.  But, second-year Cup driver, Brian Vickers had other plans.  The two battled nose to tail for the final 10-lap segment and were hooked that way entering the tri-oval for the final time.  That’s when Vickers made contact with the leader, Bliss, and sent him spinning through the grass.  Vickers eluded the spinning car won the race, just mere feet ahead of Bliss who came across the finish line backwards.  Vickers ended up winning his first Nextel Cup event and transferring into the Nextel All-Star Challenge.  Bliss crossed the line backwards in second, staring at rookies, Travis Kvapil and Kyle Busch; followed by Bobby Hamilton Jr.

Ken Schrader and the Red Baron Dodge rolled off sixth and wasted little time advancing into the top five.  The tricky part about the Nextel Open is the mandatory caution thrown after two-thirds of the race is complete giving teams the option of coming to pit road.  Schrader gained three positions and ended the first 20-lap segment in third, making the decision whether or not to pit a difficult one.  Running third the Red Baron team’s hand was forced; Schrader had to stay out to maintain track position.  Schrader was stronger on long green flag runs, but that proved to be little help on a final ten-lap shootout.  Despite having most of the field on fresh tires, bearing down his neck, Schrader managed to hang on to a ninth-place finish.

“This car was pretty good,” said Schrader.  “We were real good on some long runs, but that’s not what this race was about.  Fortunately for us, this is the same car we plan to bring next week, and the 600 will be full of long runs.  We just couldn’t afford to give up that track position during the break.  If we could have pitted, then I’m sure we could have been even faster, but that wasn’t really an option at the time.”   

The Nextel Open aired live on FX and was broadcast live on MRN Radio.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will stay at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway, for Saturday night’s Nextel All-Star Weekend.

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