Saturday it was off to the Iowa Speedway for the 2nd NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Iowa which was the U.S. Cellular 250. After getting there and it being a little raining and cold i got a new sweatshirt to stay warm early in the day but by the end of the day i had taken it off a couple of times to stay warm.
I went down to the pits and got to see the end off qualifying and watch some of the cars coming after there round of pits stops. Elliott Sadler would win the pole with Darrell Wallace Jr., a normal NASCAR K&N Pro Series Driver, driving the #20 car in 2nd. 3rd fastest was the #3 of Austin Dillon, Jason Leffler was 4th and Justin Allgaier was 5th fastest. Johnanna Long was the fastest female by qualifying 14th and Danica Patrick was 18th. Iowa Native Michael Annett was 17th in qualifying and Making his Nationwide Series Debut Brett Moffitt was 10th fastest.
On to the U.S. Cellular 250 it would be Darrell Wallace Jr. jumping to the early lead but it was Austin Dillon making the pass on lap 37. The first race caution came out on Lap 52 for a Competiton Caution by NASCAR because of the rain earlier in the day that washed the rubber off the race track.
Dillon would lose the lead to teammate and pole sitter Elliott Sadler on the restart but Sadler's lead was short lived as Dillon would work his way by again on lap 59. Dillon would continue to lead until the next race caution on lap 90 for John Blankenship spinning out on the the exit of turn 4. Justin Allgaier would take the lead and he would lead even through the caution on lap 174 for debris in turn 3.
Allgaier would get passed by Elliott Sadler on lap 193 and Sadler would not look back as he would take the win. Allgaier, Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Annett and 3 time winner at Iowa Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top 5.
3M Lap Leader award goes to Justin Allgaier for leading 101 laps, Coors Light Pole Award goes to Elliott Sadler with a speed of 135.141 mph (track record), Featherlite Most Improved Driver was Danica Patrick after finishing 24 spots better than her finishing position at Indianapolis, Mobil 1 Oil Driver of the Race was Elliott Sadler and Sunoco Rookie of the Race was Brad Sweet.
Finishing Order
1) 2 Elliott Sadler
2) 31 Justin Allgaier
3) 12 Sam Hornish Jr.
4) 43 Michael Annett
5) 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
6) 18 Michael McDowell
7) 20 Darrell Wallace Jr.
8) 30 Jason Leffler
9) 99 Brett Moffitt
10) 22 Ryan Blaney
11) 7 Danica Patrick
12) 38 Brad Sweet
13) 70 Johanna Long
14) 33 Brendan Gaughan
15) 3 Austin Dillon (-1 lap)
16) 87 Joe Nemechek (-1 lap)
17) 54 Kurt Busch (-1 lap)
18) 11 Brian Scott (-1 lap)
19) 88 Cole Whitt (-1 lap)
20) 10 Mike Bliss (-2 laps)
21) 51 Jeremy Clements (-3 laps)
22) 19 Tayler Malsam (-3 laps)
23) 44 John Blankenship (-5 laps)
24) 23 Jamie Dick (-6 laps)
25) 01 Mike Wallace (-6 laps)
26) 52 Justin Jennings (-7 laps)
27) 40 Erik Darnell (-8 laps)
28) 24 Scott Saunders (-10 laps)
29) 81 Jason Bowles (-12 laps)
30) 41 Timmy Hill (Out)
31) 14 Eric McClure (Out)
32) 39 Joey Gase (-34 laps)
33) 4 Daryl Harr (-74 laps)
34) 08 Josh Richards (Out)
35) 89 Morgan Shepherd (Out)
36) 50 TJ Bell (Out)
37) 74 Mike Harmon (Out)
38) 71 Carl Long (Out)
39) 42 Tim Schendel (Out)
40) 15 Dusty Davis (Out)
41) 47 Matt DiBenedetto (Out)
42) 46 Chase Miller (Out)
43) 91 Jeff Green (Out)
