By Staff
BROOKLYN - Ryan Newman won Saturday's Domino's Pizza 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway, after starting all the way back in the 38th position. Greg Biffle finished second, followed by Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley in fifth place.
It was Newman's second consecutive NASCAR Busch Series victory.
Busch Pole qualifying was rained out on Saturday morning and the field was set by the owner's point standings, placing Truex and Clint Bowyer on the front row for the start of the 125-lap race. Bowyer wasted no time in grabbing the lead on the first lap. He then pulled out to a four-second lead before a yellow flag slowed the field on lap 37.
Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Kevin Harvick, exchanged the lead between laps 42-45 before the race was under caution once again, after a two-car accident involving Randy LaJoie and Kertus Davis.
After the next restart, Biffle chased down the two RCR drivers, who continued to pace the field. On the 66th lap, Biffle drove his No. 66 Duraflame Ford underneath Bowyer to take the lead. Bowyer was soon sandwiched between two very fast cars, as Newman had driven his No. 39 ALLTEL Dodge through the field and was already up to third.
The race leaders went to pit road for scheduled stops between the 87th-95th laps, and Biffle was solidly back in front with 25 laps remaining. Bowyer had returned to the track in the second position, but was forced to return to pit road to add fuel to his No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet three laps later, due to a mechanical problem that prevented fuel from properly filling his car's fuel cell.
The unscheduled stop cost Bowyer one lap on the track and he was then penalized for having an extra crew member over the wall. The resulting "pass through" penalty put Bowyer two laps down on the field, in 31st place.
During another caution period from laps 109-114, the leaders pitted one final time - except for Harvick. His bold strategy backfired, however, as Biffle passed him for the lead and another caution flag waved on the next lap.
On the final restart, Newman charged past Biffle with six laps remaining and held on for the victory. Bowyer finished 30th and lost significant ground in the championship standings - he now trails Truex, unofficially, by 204 points.