Valvoline Drivers Claim Three Weekend Victories
Edwards Captures NASCAR Nationwide Win
Benson Victorious in NASCAR Truck Race
Schumacher Dominates NHRA Event
While the Sprint Cup Series was idle, Team Valvoline still continued its torrid pace by capturing weekend victories in the Nationwide, Craftsman Truck and NHRA POWERade racing series.
In Saturday's NASCAR races, Valvoline drivers Carl Edwards secured the Nationwide win at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis and Johnny Benson won the truck race at Kentucky Speedway.
And on Sunday in Seattle, Tony Schumacher was anything but sleepless as he scored his seventh Top Fuel dragster win of the season for Team Valvoline.
Edwards, driving the No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, crossed the finish line with a comfortable 6.87-second margin over 18-year-old sensation Joey Logano, who drove the powerful No. 20 Toyota.
"That was unbelievable," said Edwards, who captured his second Nationwide win of the season and the 15th of his career. "The 20 car has been great this year. Racing with them has been a challenge, but a fun one."
Benson, pilot of the No. 23 Toyota Tundra, took the lead for good with 32 laps remaining. It was his second victory of the season and he moved into first place in the Craftsman Truck driver point standings.
"This track was extremely difficult to pass on," said Benson. "I think we had one of the few trucks able to hug the bottom, and that was a key to winning."
Schumacher's dominating performance at Seattle Raceway culminated with a final-round victory over Top Fuel rival Brandon Bernstein. Schumacher's 1,000-foot elapsed time and speed were 3.902 seconds at 309.98 miles per hour. Bernstein ran a 4.056 at 291.19.
The victory was Schumacher's fourth win in the last five races at Seattle and it was also his 48th career win.
"It's a blast," said Schumacher. "Right now, for whatever reason, we're just having a great time and the car is running good. When you get on a roll like this, watch out. We're doing amazing things together."
Ron Capps almost gave Team Valvoline a double win in Seattle, but the Don Schumacher Racing driver lost in the Funny Car final round to Tony Bartone.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Event
July 19
Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, Ky.
(starting position in parenthesis)
Johnny Benson, No. 23 Toyota Tundra
Finished: 1st (4th)
Point Standing: 1st
Colin Braun, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Finished: 16th (3rd)
Point Standing: 15th
Erik Darnell, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Finished: 29th (25th)
Point Standing: 8th
John Wes Townley, No. 09 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Finished: 21st (22nd)
Point Standing: 39th
Next Craftsman Truck Event
July 25th (Friday night)
O'Reilly Raceway Park
Indianapolis
The following are Valvoline Racing NHRA Team Results
NHRA Nationals
July 20
Pacific Raceway
Seattle
Top Fuel:
Alan Bradshaw, Tuttle Motorsports
Did Not Enter
Point Standing: 14th
Antron Brown, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 2nd
Rod Fuller, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 4th
Cory McClenathan, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 5th
Tony Schumacher, Don Schumacher Racing:
Won Event
Point Standing: 1st
Bob Vandergriff Jr., Vandergriff Motorsports
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 12th
Funny Car
Jack Beckman, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 10th
Ron Capps, Don Schumacher Racing
Runner-up
Point Standing: 6th
Gary Scelzi, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 13th
Jerry Toliver, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 16th
Tim Wilkerson
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 1st
Pro Stock
Ron Krisher
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 9th
Pro Stock Motorcycle (category did not compete in Seattle)
Chip Ellis
Point Standing: 3rd
Next NHRA Event
July 27
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
