Let's start off at the Indianapolis 500 that finished almost 3 hours before this race started. JR Hildebrand was looking for his first career win at the biggest race of the year in the IZOD IndyCar Series. On the last turn on the last lap, with the checkered flag in his sights, Hildebrand slammed into the wall and gave the win away to Dan Wheldon. Hildebrand came in 2nd.
In this race, it was going to be a fuel mileage race. Cars hit pit road with 55 laps to go, which is just around the fuel window. With drivers saving fuel, it was hard to tell who was good, and who was short on fuel. Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a charging Matt Kenseth was going to battle for the win. In the closing laps, it turned out Kenseth pushed the car a bit too much and was out of fuel, so he was out of contention to win. Then just a few laps later, Jimmie Johnson blew up a engine, bringing out the caution. The caution did not help Greg Biffle, Biffle had to pit for fuel. This put Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and even others in contention to win.
On the restart, just as Kahne passed the line, he ran out gas. Causing a domino effect to everyone behind him. Jeff Burton even spun, and it didn't bring out a caution. This gave Dale Earnhardt Jr. the lead. Jr. kept the lead as he got the white flag. Turns 1 and 2 on the last lap, Jr.'s doing good, and Junior Nation is cheering like crazy. Turn 3, Jr. starts slowing down. Turn 4, Jr is out of gas and Harvick and few others passed him to the finish line. Harvick unexpectedly, ended up winning the race at the track he doesn't even enjoy racing at. Dale Earnhardt Jr. came in 7th.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., making his Cup debut, came in 11th.
Next week, the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway (and the last race FOX will televise for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season)
(FUN FACT: In both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 this year, the leader was leading until the last turn on the last lap, and both were sponsored by National Guard.)
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