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Road America

Race Photo By Joe Paolella

Carl Edwards Loves Wisconsin

Carl Edwards comes a long way after a dismal first practice on Thursday.

After Thursday's first NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Road America, Edwards was the first person to tell just how bad he was on the 4.048-mile road course, even though he was the fifth fastest driver.

Edwards proved to be a quick study, as he dominated the Bucyrus 200 to win the first NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.

"The corner workers, I could tell they were shaking their heads at me and the rest of us. It was ugly,"

Edwards said of Thursday's day-long practice. "But as a driver, this track is pretty tough. It's a long track, there's a lot going on. … I thought about it a lot going back and forth (to Sonoma, Calif. for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race) on the airplane. Last night, laying in my motor home, I ran laps in my head. I really tried to give my guys the best focus I could give them."

Race Photo By Joe Paolella

Edwards credited road-course veteran Boris Said #88 and a Road America driving instructor for providing tips on how to get around the mammoth track.

Then, Edwards and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer got some motivation from Roush Fenway Racing teammate Paul Menard, who was blistering fast on Thursday.

"To be honest, Drew was mad that he was faster than us," Edwards said.

So the team worked on getting the No. 60 Ford better, and by the time Edwards showed up for Saturday's qualifying and race, he was the class of the field. Edwards put down a blazing fast lap to claim the pole in qualifying, and then he led 35 of the race's 50 laps.

"First of all, my guys built an amazing race car," Edwards said. "That car was really, really fast. It was just a joy to drive."

Brendan Gaughan goes off roading early in Turn 6

Race Photos By Joe Paolella

But the race wasn't without some drama. Road-course races are usually filled with fuel-mileage strategy, and this one was no different. Edwards gave up the lead to pit for fuel under caution with 19 laps to go and restarted 13th.

Carl on the Charge..

"I was nervous about that," Edwards said. "Once I got to the fast section at the back of the track, my car didn't handle as well without fresh air on the nose. That was a little wild. … I saw the race slipping away at that point. I was pretty nervous."

Race Photo By Joe Paolella

Brad Coleman #18 inherited the lead, but the race got physical in the closing laps, and Coleman got punted out of the way in Turn 1 by Brad Keselowski #22 In the melee, Edwards moved up quickly, following Jacques Villeneuve toward the front.

After yet another yellow, Edwards charged inside Villeneuve #32 into Turn 1 and got the lead. From there, he pulled away to 4.3-second victory over runner-up Ron Fellows #88. Brendan Gaughan was third, with Keselowski fourth and Owen Kelly fifth.

Race Photos By Joe Paolella

Villeneuve suffered a broken alternator wire in the closing laps and finished 25th.

Edwards led four times for 35 of the 50 laps. and he also won the pole... that's what I would call domination.

How was reaction to the new Road Course race at Elkhart Lake? Nothing but positive.

"It was a great event," George Bruggenthies, track president and general manager, said after the race. "Look at all the people it attracted. I think we attracted a lot of new people. I want to do it again."

The early reports showed 40,000 tickets sold and with the infield crowd included, the crowd was estimated near 100,000. This might have been one of, if not the largest crowd ever at Road America. "I don't know if I've ever seen this many people here," race fan George Connolly said. "It's good to see. It helps Wisconsin and helps the economy."

"This is such a beautiful atmoshere," said race fan Mike LaPlant of Gillete, who made is first trip to a Road America race. "What a great place to have a race. It is just awesome."

Where did he see a race last year? Where else, the Milwaukee Mile.

Edwards reflected on the loss of racing in Milwaukee..

"I loved racing in Milwaukee, and when they said we weren't going to be racing there, I was sick. Then we got here, ran and got to meet some of the fans and we're sitting in victory lane. If we had to not race in Milwaukee, there'd be no better place tnan this.

NASCAR has found a new home in Wisconsin.

Road America: Longest Track in NASCAR
The last in a stretch of three consecutive stand-alone races also is the first of three road-course races on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule this summer.
And for the fourth time in the last six years, the series debuts at a new track. The latest addition is Elkhart Lake’s Road America, a 4.048-mile, 14-turn course nestled in the Wisconsin countryside.
Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards replaces the Milwaukee Mile on the schedule. And this event keeps alive the series’ opportunity to continue to race in front of Wisconsin’s staunch racing fan base, now for the 17th consecutive year.
A Badger State favorite, Paul Menard (No. 98 Mastercraft/Menards Ford) — one of three drivers pulling fulltime double-duty — may be able to use some “home cooking” to his advantage.
The native of Eau Claire hasn’t just raced in a stock car at Road America before, he’s won. In 2001, he captured a victory in the former NASCAR Re/Max Challenge Series. That was the second time NASCAR had
visited Road America, having debuted at the-then one-year-old track in 1956. Tim Flock won in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Menard comes home sixth in the point standings in his first fulltime season in the series since 2006, when he finished sixth in the final rankings.
There will be a full day of practice on Thursday at Road America before the first official practice takes place on Friday. That, according to Menard, makes his familiarity with the road course more perception than reality. “By the second practice, I’m sure everyone will be up to speed because the drivers are so good in the Nationwide Series,” he said.
Two unique competition aspects are specific to the NASCAR Nationwide Series when it races at road courses. Teams will utilize road-course qualifying, where drivers go out in timed groups as opposed to a maximum of two individual qualifying laps. And, the NASCAR Nationwide Series brings Goodyear rain tires and will race in inclement weather as it has done at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal the last two years.
The last time the series ran three road courses in the same year was 2007, when it competed at Autodromo
Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, at Watkins Glen International and in Montreal.

Carl Edwards makes Wisconsin his kind of State

Photos By Joe Paolella

If there is a NASCAR Race to be run in the State of Wisconsin, Carl Edwards has won it. Edwards won the last two races at the Milwaukee Mile in 2008 & 2009, and now the Inaugural race at the famed Road America 14 turn 4.048 mile road course.

Not only did Carl win the race, but some special prizes an trophies as well...

The Inaugural Bucyrus 200 by Menards Trophy is outlined in chrome and black marble and features the Harley-Davidson's iconic "Bar and Shield" Logo. The trophy was designed by the Motor Company's award-winning styling department, which is lead by Willie G Davidson, grandson of the company's co-founder William A. Davidson. "We have always considered our motorcycles rolling sculptures," said Ray Drea, Senior Director of Styling at Harley-Davidson. "Our Passion for creating rolling art combined with our rich racing heritage and 107-year history in the State of Wisconsin makes Harley-Davidson the perfect partner to help celebrate the return of NASCAR racing to Road America." The last NASCAR race at Road America -- 1956.

In addition to the special trophy, race-winner Carl Edwards received a special 2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200X. With a tank and tail section designed to evoke the Legendary Harley-Davidson XR750 -- King of the gritty American flat-track racing scene -- the XR1200X features blacked-out powertrain and exhaust, revised tank graphics and black wheels with an orange rim pinstripe.

"I'm certain this trophy will create considerable buzz throughout the entire NASCAR driver community. We're thrilled to welcome NASCAR racing to our track, as well as have a partner as iconic as Harley-Davidson to help make this race for the drivers and the fans." said Road America president, George Bruggenthies.

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Photo Gallery From Road America

DPR Sports & Racing

United States
ph: 630-776-3411
dan@danspitstopracing.com