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AUTO RACING Fans debate Cup chase
HARTFORD
Three gentlemen from Zanesville working in the area decided to visit Sharon Speedway for the fourth annual “Lou Blaney Memorial” Alzheimer’s Association Benefit on Tuesday.
Specifically, Mark Carpenter came to see Tony Stewart, while Cale Addis and Justin Boyer were content to watch the evening’s racing, which was highlighted by a 410 Sprint Car feature race.
Addis, 28, is a Matt Kenseth fan and the 25-year-old Boyer is a fan in general.
Stewart, unfortunately, took a spill on lap three and was out of the race. It was another heart-breaking end for Stewart, who led the first 26 laps at last month’s Ohio Speedweek All-Star event at Sharon Speedway before blowing a right rear tire.
Stewart, however, is the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and he’s in excellent position to make “The Chase” again this season.
“I enjoyed watching him pass Kenseth last week, especially since my buddy is a Kenseth fan,” Carpenter said while eating at a table behind the Sharon Speedway grandstand before the night’s first race began.
Carpenter was referring to Stewart in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday when “Smoke” charged past Kenseth to emerge the winner.
The win vaulted Stewart four places in the points standings to his current fifth place.
Kenseth finished third while Kasey Kahne was seventh. Stewart started the Coke Zero 400 in the 42nd position.
“At least he’s first,” Addis said of Kenseth’s top-ranking in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points after 18 races.
“For a while,” Carpenter shot back.
Kahne was also on hand at Sharon Speedway on Tuesday when he finished third behind winner Brad Sweet and runner-up Dale Blaney. Sharon Speedway co-owner Dave Blaney was fourth.
Carpenter was wearing a Tony Stewart t-shirt with the driver’s No. 14 Office Depot-sponsored car as a logo.
Carpenter said he also attends races at the Tony Stewart-owned Eldora Speedway in Rossburg.
“This is actually closer than Eldora,” Carpenter said in comparing Sharon Speedway’s distance from his home in Zanesville where an exotic animal-escape last October made national headlines.
“That wasn’t too far from the house,” Carpenter said of the proximity of his home to the exotic animal property.
Carpenter, Addis and Boyer are working in Brookfield where they’re involved in the demolition of the district’s old school buildings.
Although Carpenter and Co. missed the outdoor stage appearances of Stewart, Kahne and Dave and Ryan Blaney, he said he has Stewart’s autograph from visits to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee where Carpenter is a NASCAR season-ticket holder.
Kahne, 16th in points, likes the fact that his Farmers Insurance Chevy is fast each week.
“That’s really all that matters; if you’ve got speed, hopefully, you’ll figure out how to win.”
Of being the third behind Johnson and Gordon in fastest laps, it’s an indication that Kahne is quick each week.
“We may not have some of the results that we wish we did, but, in all those races, we’ve been up front when [not-so-good] things have happened and taken us out of those good finishes.”
Yeah, I feel good about our speed and our team and where I’m at. I think we’re having a fine year, but I wish the results were a little better.”