Truex, Sauter Advance in Nextel Open; Montoya Wrecks Big

Carl Edwards looked like a shoe-in for tonight's Nextel All-Star Challenge after leading 36 of 40 laps during the Nextel Open. Then, Martin Truex Jr. showed up. And Johnny Sauter.

Edwards finished 3rd in the race, leaving Sauter and Truex to earn automatic bids into the All-Star race.

Sauter came from nearly two seconds back with 12 laps to go to catch Truex, but Truex had other plans. Instead of getting passed by Sauter's No. 70, the No. 1 car made it around Edwards with a three-wide move after Sauter looked low.

David Ragan spun during the start of second segment and collected Reed Sorenson.

Carl Edwards won the incident-filled first segment after leading all 20 laps -- eight ran under green. Ten cars were involved in wrecks.

Juan Pablo Montoya got the first segment off to an inauspicious start after causing multi-car pileup off of turn 2. Montoya started 5th on the grid and took Dave Blaney's spot on the start on a three-wide move. Montoya had too much momentum and lost the car up the race track.

"I had a really good start under Blaney. As soon as a I went to pick up the gas, it spun out," said Montoya.

The incident took out Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Paul Menard, Jon Wood, A.J. Allemendinger and Scott Riggs. Paul Menard didn't seem too pleased.

"Juan went three-wide right way. These tires are so hard you can't be doing that," said Menard.

Mike Bliss brought out the second caution after spinning off of turn 2 and collecting Boris Said. The 3rd caution flew when Elliott Sadler slid into the turn 3 wall and Jeff Green later cut through the infield grass after contact with Jamie McMurray.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-20-2007 @ 5:13PM

Sandie said...

Montoya go back to where you came from......"PLEASE"!!!!! We don't want you on the track. Each week you lose a record number drivers as friends. Johnny Sauter...great driving. I expect to see you shine in the future. Sauter has a "good and honest" crew chief and I expect to see this guy win in the future.

5-21-2007 @ 12:43PM

mikeymike said...

Do we not have enough highly talented drivers in the US that we need to start importing them? No offense to JPM he capitalized on an opportunity. Look to the car/team owner…what’s up Chip? Maybe it had something to do with Texaco’s financial holdings in South America. ;)

5-22-2007 @ 10:03AM

lindy said...

MONTOYA IS AS BIG OR MAYBE BIGGER THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF OTHER NASCAR DRIVERS AND SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO RACE. HE SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM HIS CONTRACT ASAP. FOR A SPORT THAT IS TRYING TO IMPROVE SAFETY FEATURES FOR ALL OF ITS DRIVES, MONTOYA IS THE BIGGEST HAZZARD.

5-22-2007 @ 10:07AM

MONTOYA IS AS BIG A THREAT, IF NOT BIGGER THREAT, TO THE SAFETY OF OTHER NASCAR DRIVERS AS KYLE BUSCH. THEY'VE BOTH CAUSED THEIR SHARE OF WRECKS. IN A SPORT THAT HAS BEEN WORKING SO DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE SAFETY MEASURES, GETTING RID OF MONTOYA WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST. HE'S WRECKLESS, CARELESS AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND NASCAR DRIVING WELL ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH THE BIG BOYS. HE NEEDS TO GROW UP AND SETTLE DOWN AND QUIT BEING SUCH A STUPID HOT DOG ON THE TRACK.

5-22-2007 @ 10:43AM

Bernie said...

Ok, fine! Montoya is not gaining any respect on the track by driving angry. I disagree with that approach he should have started his NASCAR career eating a bit of humble pie and taking things slow then maybe he mgiht be allowed to get in there with the front runners. However, being humble is difficult to do when everyone wants to see you fail. I think the majority of NASCAR nation IN AND OUT of the pits do not want JPM to win and he feels it everyday he puts that jump suit on. The comments above prove just that. GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM! Jackie Robinson heard the same words from baseball nation when he broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 50's. JPM get to changing something fast man or you will cause more problems for any latino to ever make it in NASCAR. GO 5 GO!

5-22-2007 @ 4:27PM

Hey Lindy, talk all the smack you need to talk about "MONTOYA" to get your frustrations out he deserves that for being a "HOT DOG" and hot headed on the track but you don't have a leg to stand on mentioning Kyle Busch in the same breath. Kyle Busch is going to be a great race car driver when he does mature and learn the controlled aggression it takes to be a true champion in this sport. If you like the taste of CROW PIE KEEP YOUR DEROGATORY REMARKS COMING ABOUT Kyle Busch!