MICHIGAN RACE REPORT
- by Stenzo



COYOTE GRABS SECOND WIN IN LATE RACE SHOOTOUT!

Michigan Speedway (9/8/00) -- Coyote was “Johnny-on-the-spot” this weekend, taking full advantage of a late race caution to charge past Speed and Stenzo to grab his second win of the season. After starting from the 22nd position, he hung around the middle of the pack most of the race, patiently working his way past the other competitors, when, after a series of green-flag pit stops, he'd finally worked his way into the top three. Then, with just ten laps to go, the only yellow flag of the race was displayed when Bob spun, which bunched the field up for what became a 5-lap shootout to the checkers. Once the green flag dropped to restart the race, Coyote followed Speed past Stenzo and into second place, then managed to make the pass for the lead with only two to go in a side-by-side dual heading off into turn one, where Stenzo and Speed briefly got together, sending Stenzo spinning, while Coyote pulled away to grab the win. This marks his third career win at this track, and his sixth top five and ninth top ten finish of the season, as he closed the points gap between he and Bob to only 120 points.

Speed is a force to be reckoned with at any track, and this weekend was certainly no different. After starting from the 20th position, he slowly and methodically made his way through the field and into second place after a series of green flag pit stops, when, like Coyote, he had put himself into position to challenge for the lead when the caution flag came out on lap 60. On the restart, Speed wasted no time threatening Stenzo for the lead, then finally completed the pass in a drag race down the front stretch to the line, before being passed by Coyote and Stenzo with only two to go. Then, as they made their way into turn one, Coyote stayed down low while he and Stenzo went high. But as Stenzo swept down to get a run on Coyote, Speed was already there, and the two touched ever so slightly, but just enough to spin Stenzo, allowing he and Coyote to get away to finish first and second respectively. The second place finish marks his 13th top five and 15th top ten of the season, as he extended his points lead to 305 points over Stenzo.

Stenzo is certainly no fisherman, but this was definitely “the big one that got away.” After qualifying 7th, he quickly claimed the lead on lap two, and held onto it throughout most of the race, leading a race-high 52 of 70 laps. After racing under green had allowed him to build up a monsterous lead of over 8 seconds on the field, he was looking to claim his third career victory here, when the caution flag was flown with only ten to go, which was precisely what he didn't want to see. After three seasons of racing with teammates Speed and Coyote, he knew what to expect when the green flag fell to restart the race, and his expectations were quickly met as Speed dashed past him to grab the lead with only 4 to go, bringing Coyote along with him. Then, as he was positioning himself to mount a challenge to reclaim the lead, he slid down into Speed in turn one, spinning himself out and ending any chance he may have had for the win, and was forced to settle for 24th. His disappointment was overwhelming, and he refused to speak to reporters after the race. This marks the sixth time this season he's finished 20th or worse, but still maintains second place in the points standings despite losing 74 points to Speed.

Bob qualified well and started from the 9th spot, but his race setup was just a little off, as he was unable to maintain position as the race proceeded for 60 laps under green, and slowly slid back through the field. Then, with only ten laps to go, he made slight contact with another car and spun out, bringing out the only caution of the event, dropping himself down a lap and into 25th place, where he would eventually finish. Michigan Speedway has never been very kind to Bob, who, in only his fourth career race at the superspeedway, has posted finishes of 16th, 19th, 9th, and 25th respectively.