Edwards, Ragan Score Top 10s for Team Valvoline in California Sprint Cup Race
FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2009) -- Carl Edwards and David Ragan each claimed top-10 finishes in Sunday's Pepsi 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Southern California.
Edwards, one of the 12 Chase drivers, came home with a sixth-place result while Ragan finished seventh. It was the 13th top-10 of the season for Edwards and the second for Ragan.
The two other Valvoline Chase drivers -- Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne -- were both heading to a top-10 finish until getting collected in a multicar wreck with six laps remaining in the 250-lap, 200-mile event. Biffle ended with a 20th-place finish. Kahne was farther back with a 34th-place result.
"It's pretty disappointing," said Biffle about the late-race accident. "It probably took us out of the (Chase) hunt. You know, it's not over 'til it's over, but that really hurt us."
Biffle is seventh in the 12-driver Chase point standings with six races remaining. Edwards is eighth and Kahne is 11th. (see Chase point standings below)
The Pepsi 500 race winner was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart.
Current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings as of Oct. 11, 2009:
1. Jimmie Johnson, 5728 points
2. Mark Martin, 5716 (-12)
3. Juan Pablo Montoya, 5670 (-58)
4. Tony Stewart, 5644 (-84)
5. Jeff Gordon, 5623 (-105)
6. Kurt Busch, 5607 (-121)
7. Greg Biffle, 5540 (-188)
8. Carl Edwards, 5536 (-192)
9. Denny Hamlin, 5509 (-219)
10. Ryan Newman, 5505 (-223)
11. Kasey Kahne, 5422 (-306)
12. Brian Vickers, 5377 (-351)
Team Valvoline NASCAR Race Results
Auto Club Speedway
Sprint Cup Series
Oct. 11, 2009
Fontana, Calif.
(starting position in parenthesis)
AJ Allmendinger, No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge Charger
Finished: 33rd (12th)
Point Standing: 24th
Greg Biffle, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 20th (2nd)
Point Standing: 7th
Carl Edwards, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 6th (11th)
Point Standing: 8th
Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge Charger
Finished: 34th (25th)
Point Standing: 11th
Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 13th (17th)
Point Standing: 14th
Bobby Labonte, No. 96 Yates Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 26th (35th)
Point Standing: 31st
Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 36th (29th)
Point Standing: 23rd
David Ragan, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 7th (31st)
Point Standing: 28th
Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge Charger
Finished: 32nd (39th)
Point Standing: 27th
Reed Sorenson, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge Charger
Finished: 31st (28th)
Point Standing: 29th
Next NASCAR Sprint Cup Event
Oct. 17
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte, N.C.
Nationwide Series Race
Oct. 10
Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, Calif.
Greg Biffle, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 14th (14th)
Point Standing:*
Carl Edwards, No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 3rd (16th)
Point Standing: 2nd
David Ragan, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion
Finished: 9th (9th)
Point Standing:*
*Not competing full-time in Nationwide Series
Next Nationwide Series Race
Oct. 16
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte, N.C.
Next Camping World Truck Race
Oct. 24
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Va.
