Pit Passes

NASCAR driver struggles in return to Myrtle Beach Speedway

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Chad McCumbee struggled Saturday night in two Late Model series races at Myrtle Beach Speedway.

McCumbee, a Supply, N.C. native, finished fifth of 10 drivers in the first 40-lap race, then sixth of nine drivers in the second race. Rick Smith won the first race and Brent Brinson the second.

McCumbee said he purchased the car recently and tested it for the first time Thursday at Myrtle Beach Speedway.

He said he is hoping to have the car in better shape for the Myrtle Beach 250 race in late November.

It was also a tough day for McCumbee the car owner. Terry Evans, who drives the No. 20 car for Chad McCumbee Motorsports, suffered an engine issue during the first race and was forced to the pits at lap 25. Evans did not compete in the second race.

The Camping World Series is idle this weekend and McCumbee will return to the driver's seat of the No. 07 truck for the Aug. 19 race in Bristol, Tenn.

Pick the winner - Watkins Glen

It's getting close to The Chase and Sunday's race at Watkins Glen could go a long way to determine who makes the cut for the final 12 drivers.

Kasey Kahne won the road course race earlier this year at Sonoma. Kyle Busch is the defending race champion.

Going way out on a limb for my winner. Marcos Ambrose!

Pick the winner- Pocono part II

Tony Stewart won the first race at Pocono Raceway in June. It was the first race with the double-file restarts and that added some excitement to an otherwise typically boring race.

Who do you like this week?

I'll take Stewart to repeat.

McCumbee back in truck, set for Kentucky

Former Myrtle Beach Speedway Late Model Series driver Chad McCumbee is returning to the seat of the No. 07 truck for Saturday's NASCAR Camping World Series Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway.

McCumbee, who missed the last race because of a lack of sponsorship, and the SS Green Light Racing team will have tiwi back as a sponsor.

McCumbee will be driving the truck that he last raced at Dover. He qualified fifth and finished seventh.

''This is a great truck,” McCumbee said. “It reacts positive to change and we’ve run competitively with it. The guys have been working real hard getting it ready for Kentucky.”

The series will hold practice sessions on Friday from 3:15-4:50 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Qualifying is set for 3 p.m. Saturday and the green flag will fly at 7 p.m. Saturday. The race will be televised by Speed.

Johnny Benson is the defending race champion.

Your picks for the NASCAR Hall of Fame

Jim Utter of the Charlotte Observer made his picks for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame - William France, Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Petty along with one of the following: David Pearson, Junior Johnson and Lee Petty.

Read the complete story on www.thesunnews.com click here then let me know who you think deserves to get in.

And you can only pick 5.

Pick the winner - Daytona

Matt Kenseth won the season-opening Daytona 500 in February at Daytona International Speedway. But I don't expect a repeat performance from a driver who typically doesn't finish well at restrictor plate tracks.

The favorites are the usuals: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and everyone always gets giddy when Dale Earnhardt Jr. races at Daytona.

But I'm going with Kevin Harvick. He finishes second at the Daytona 500. And he's due for something good to happen.

Pick the winner - Loudon

Short and sweet.

Who wins?

Give me Kurt Busch

McCumbee replaced for Saturday's NASCAR race

Jason Young will replace Chad McCumbee in the No. 07 truck for this weekend's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Memphis, Tenn.

McCumbee did not have a sponsor for the race and will return to the truck for the Aug. 1 race in Nashville.

“Chad McCumbee is still the primary driver of the SS Green Light No. 07 team,'' said  Ken Smith, co-owner of SS Green Light Racing, in a press release. ''We had no sponsor for Chad for this race and we would most likely not been able to bring the team to Memphis. The opportunity to run Jason is purely a business decision.”

McCumbee finished 25th in Saturday's race in Milwaukee after suffering an oil pump issue. He dropped three spots to 13th in the driver standings.

Live updates from USAR race at Myrtle Beach Speedway

Unofficials results from the USAR Pro Cup Series Grand Strand 250 on Saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
1. Clay Rogers, Mooresville, N.C., $8,000
2. Brandon Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C.
3. A.J. Frank, Blufton, S.C.
4. Bobby Gill, Concord, N.C.
5. Matt Lofton, Mooresville, N.C.
6. Lucas Ransone, Madison, N.C.
7. Justin Boston, Sparks, Md.
8. Caleb Holman, Abingdon, Va.
9. Michael Ritch, High Point, N.C.
10. Billy Bigby Jr., Naples, Fla.
11. J.P. Morgan, Ether, N.C.
12. Derrick Kale, Winfield, W. Va.
13. John Gibson, Mooresville, N.C.
14. Alan Purkhiser, Mooresville, N.C.
15. Ronnie Souders, Beloit, Ohio
16. Tyler Young, Midland, Tex.
17. Larry Barrett, Ringgold, Va.
18. Drew Herring, Benson, N.C.
19. Gary St. Amant, Delaware, Ohio
20. Jeff Agnew, Floyd, Va.
21. Brett Butler, Snellville, Ga.
22. Wally Smith, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
23. Kyle Fowler, Smyrna, Ga.
24. Dana White, Charlotte, N.C.

Race updates

Clay Rogers wins the race

Lap 221 of 250 - Clay Rogers, Brandon Ward, Michael Ritch, A.J. Frank and Bobby Gill are the top 5.

Lap 208 - Clay Rogers takes the lead.

Lap 200 - Caleb Holman and A.J. Frank get together in Turn 2 and bring out the caution.

Lap 190 - Caution for crash involving Drew Herring and A.J. Frank. Frank was running in forth place. Lucas Ransome will get the free pass making six cars on the lead lap.

Lap 184 - Michael Ritch and Bobb Gill take fuel and come out 1-2. Clay Rogers, A.J. Frank and Matt Lofton take tires and come out 3-4-5.

Lap 183 - Caution for debris. Michael Ritch, Bobby Gill, A.J. Frank and Clay Rogers are lone cars on the lead lap. Matt Lofton in the No. 07 will get the free pass and get back on the lead lap.

Lap 177 - There are four cars left on the lead lap.

Lap 168 - Michael Ritch and Bobby Gill hold the top two spots. Gary St. Amant down a lap. Six cars left on lead lap.

Lap 161 - Michael Ritch back in the lead. Drew Herring and polesitter Caleb Holman go one lap down. Eight cars left on lead lap.

Lap 146 - Bobby Gill comes from a lap down to take fifth place.

Lap 141 - Clay Rogers leads. Derrick Kale goes a lap down. Nine cars are on the lead lap.

Lap 128 - Clay Rogers regains the lead.

Lap 123 - Michael Ritch takes the lead. He took tires on the first pit stops, while the other lead lap cars took fuel.

Lap 116 - Gary St. Amant grabs the lead. Clay Rogers is second and followed by Caleb Holman, A.J. Frank and Derrick Kale.

Lap 114 - Derrick Kale is leading after first series of pit stops. Lucas Ransone penalized a lap for having a crew member over the wall without a helmet.

Lap 107 - Clay Rogers passes A.J. Frank for the lead. Michael Ritch is second and followed by Brandon Ward and Drew Herring. The caution is out for debris. Teams will make their first pit stops of the night.

Lap 100 - A.J. Frank leads followed by Clay Rogers, Michael Ritch, Drew Herring and Caleb Holman. There are 10 cars left on the lead lap.

Lap 83 - Jeff Agnew has gone to the garage. Agnew started 17th in the 24-car field.

Lap 81 - Former champion Michael Ritch has climbed to third place. A.J. Frank leads.

Lap 70 - Breet Butler has an engine problem and went to the garage. Kyle Fowler, Jeremy Goddard and Dana White are off the track.

Lap 60 - A.J. Frank takes the lead. Derrick Kale is second and followed by Clay Rogers, Caleb Holman and Drew Herring.

Lap 33 - Derrick Kale takes the lead. Rookie Kyle Fowler in the pits with engine issues.

Lap 25 - Dana White crashes in Turn 1 and brings out the first caution. Caleb Holman is leading and followed by Derrick Kale, Clay Rogers, A.J. Frank and Brandon Ward.

Lap 16 - Holman passes Rogers to regain the lead. Kale slides into second.

Lap 9 - Two-time race winner Clay Rogers passes polesitter Caleb Holman to take the lead.

7:30 p.m. - The drivers have received the command to start their engines. There are about 6,000 to 7,000 fans in attandance.

7:10 p.m. - Driver introductions are taking place

6 p.m. - The drivers are on the track for an autograph session.

5:29 p.m. - Stuart Ricks won the pole for the 100-lap Super Truck race, which will follow the USAR Pro Cup race.

5:10 p.m. - Caleb Holman won the pole for tonight's USAR Pro Cup Grand Strand 250 presented by Black's Tire and Auto Service with a lap of 21.440 seconds. A.J. Frank will start second and be followed by Clay Rogers, Derrick Kale and Brandon Ward. The Super Trucks are preparing to qualify.

4:45 p.m. - Qualifying has begun for the USAR Pro Cup Grand Strand 250 presented by Black's Tire and Auto Service. The race is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

4:40 p.m. - Former race winner Clay Rogers turned the quickest lap in qualifying (21.325) followed by Caleb Holman (21.146), J.P. Morgan (21.459), Derrick Kale (21.459) and Drew Herring (21.904).

Pick the winner - Sonoma

Love them or hate them, road courses are back on the schedule this week with the Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Kyle Busch won last year's race, which was kind of a surprise considering his past results on road courses.

This year - I like Tony Stewart. But keep an eye on Marcos Ambrose.