The 2006 Sharpie Mini 300 was a NASCAR Busch Series race held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on March 25, 2006. The race was the 6th of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was once again dominated by Cup Series regulars. Kevin Harvick won the pole and led the most laps at 120 but it was Kyle Busch who would win his first ever Busch Series race at Bristol.[2] But the race was most remembered when Snow fell onto the track during the race that caused a long red flag and would become one of the most remembered red flagged events and one of the craziest weather events in NASCAR history.[3]

2006 Sharpie Mini 300
Race details[1]
Map of Speedway
Map of Speedway
Date March 25, 2006 (2006-03-25)
Official name 2006 Sharpie Mini 300
Location Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Short Track
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 300 laps, 160 mi (257 km)
Weather Cloudy
Average speed 71.606 mph (115.239 km/h)
Attendance 110,000
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time No qualifying
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Laps 120
Winner
No. 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip

Background

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The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry List

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver
# Driver Team Make
00 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
0 Kertus Davis Davis Motorsports Chevrolet
01 Jay Sauter Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports Chevrolet
1 Jason Keller Phoenix Racing Dodge
2 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Mark Green Biagi Brothers Racing Dodge
05 Brad Teague Day Enterprise Racing Chevrolet
5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
06 Todd Kluever (R) Roush Racing Ford
9 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge
10 John Andretti (R) ppc Racing Ford
11 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet
12 Joel Kauffman (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge
14 Tracy Hines (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
18 J. J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
20 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
22 Kenny Wallace ppc Racing Ford
23 Chris Wimmer (R) Keith Coleman Racing Chevrolet
25 Ashton Lewis Jr. Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
27 David Green Brewco Motorsports Ford
28 Shane Hall Jay Robinson Racing Ford
32 Jason Leffler Braun-Akins Racing Chevrolet
33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
34 Mike Bliss Frank Cicci Racing Chevrolet
35 Regan Smith Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
36 Tim Sauter McGill Motorsports Chevrolet
38 A. J. Foyt IV (R) Braun-Akins Racing Dodge
41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
43 Aaron Fike Curb Agajanian Performance Group Dodge
47 Jon Wood Wood Brothers Racing/JTG Racing Ford
49 Jorge Goeters (R) Jay Robinson Racing Ford
50 Danny O'Quinn Jr. (R) Roush Racing Ford
56 Kevin Lepage Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet
58 Kevin Conway Carver Racing Dodge
59 Stacy Compton Wood Brothers Racing/JTG Racing Ford
60 Carl Edwards Roush Racing Ford
64 Steve Wallace (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge
66 Ken Schrader Brewco Motorsports Ford
72 Jerry Robertson MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet
75 Caleb Holman Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet
77 Burney Lamar (R) Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
88 Mark McFarland (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
90 Matt McCall Robert Yates Racing Ford
99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Dodge
Official Entry list

Qualifying

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Kevin Harvick won the pole after qualifying was cancelled due to snow falling. The starting grid would go by points standings.

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
2 18 J. J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
3 64 Steve Wallace (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge
4 2 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
5 9 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge
6 33 Ron Hornaday Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
7 20 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet
8 32 Jason Leffler Braun-Akins Racing Chevrolet
9 60 Carl Edwards Roush Racing Ford
10 77 Burney Lamar (R) Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
11 47 Jon Wood Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford
12 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford
13 00 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
14 25 Ashton Lewis Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
15 1 Jason Keller Phoenix Racing Dodge
16 11 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet
17 06 Todd Kluever (R) Roush Racing Ford
18 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
19 88 Mark McFarland (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
20 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
21 90 Matt McCall Robert Yates Racing Ford
22 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
23 22 Kenny Wallace ppc Racing Ford
24 66 Ken Schrader Brewco Motorsports Ford
25 35 Regan Smith Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
26 50 Danny O'Quinn Jr. (R) Roush Racing Ford
27 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Dodge
28 10 John Andretti (R) ppc Racing Ford
29 14 Tracy Hines (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge
30 36 Tim Sauter McGill Motorsports Chevrolet
31 4 Mark Green Biagi Brothers Racing Dodge
32 59 Stacy Compton Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford
33 58 Kevin Conway Carver Racing Dodge
34 27 David Green Brewco Motorsports Ford
35 12 Joel Kauffman (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge
36 38 A. J. Foyt IV (R) Braun-Akins Racing Dodge
37 01 Jay Sauter Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports Chevrolet
38 43 Aaron Fike Curb Agajanian Performance Group Dodge
39 34 Mike Bliss Frank Cicci Racing Chevrolet
40 49 Jorge Goeters (R) Jay Robinson Racing Ford
41 0 Kertus Davis Davis Motorsports Chevrolet
42 23 Chris Wimmer (R) Keith Coleman Racing Chevrolet
43 56 Kevin Lepage Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet
Failed to Qualify, driver changes, or withdrew
44 75 Caleb Holman Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet
45 05 Brad Teague Day Enterprise Racing Chevrolet
46 72 Jerry Robertson MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet
47 28 Shane Hall Jay Robinson Racing Ford
Official Starting grid

Race

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Pole sitter Kevin Harvick led the first lap of the race. On lap 3, Steve Wallace, who was 18 years old and making his second career Busch Series start, took the lead from Harvick. But on lap 6, Harvick took the lead from the 18 year old Wallace. On lap 8, the first caution flew when Kevin Conway crashed in turns 3 and 4 after he got bumped from behind by David Green. The race restarted on lap 16. On lap 20, rookie Todd Kluever would be involved in his first of three incidents of the day in what would become a bad day for Kluever after Kluever tried to sneak under Jason Keller in turn 4 but slid up the track into Keller and both would lose momentum and lose positions while Kluever hit the wall on the frontstretch. On lap 21, the second caution flew when Steve Wallace spun off of turn 4 after contact with Scott Riggs. The race would restart on lap 28 with Kevin Harvick still as the leader.

Snow starts falling and red flag

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On around lap 29, snow started to fall onto the track. The snow would reduce the grip on the track causing cars to slide. Eventually, the third caution flew on lap 30 when Todd Kluever's bad day would continue as Kluever's car lost grip and spun all by its self off of turn four down the frontstretch on the slippery track. While Kluever spun, Ron Hornaday got bumped from behind by Clint Bowyer in almost the same area where Kluever spun causing Hornaday to spin down the frontstretch. Hornaday did a full 360 degree spin and got going again like nothing ever happened. On lap 33, the red flag was shown to dry the track and wait for the snow to stop. During the red flag, drivers, crews, and even the fans in the stands began to have fun in the snow as they made snow angels, had snowball fights, and built snowman. Kyle Busch and his crew began launching snowballs into the stands at the fans including Tony Stewart. Other crew members such as the crew guys of David Green, Stacy Compton, and Aaron Fike were seen chucking snowballs towards the stands from pit road. Reed Sorenson's crew began building a snowman during the red flag. Drivers also found the time to mess with the Fox reports when Kevin Harvick tried to blind Matt Yocum with his umbrella before Yocum stopped him in the process. Next to Yocum and Harvick, the crew members of Mark McFarland and J. J. Yeley had a snowball fight against each other. One of Burney Lamar's crew guys began taunting the fans to hit him as fans threw snowballs on the track and one fan did hit him right at the top of his helmet and he pointed out the fan as if he's saying "good throw." The sound guys in the booth of Bristol also found some humor of their own. While Dick Berggren was interviewing Scott Riggs, the PA system was playing the Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks even though Christmas was exactly 4 months ago. While Michael Waltrip was about to get interviewed by Steve Byrnes, fans began throwing snowballs towards Waltrip's way. Waltrip defended the snowballs away with his umbrella like he was in a gladiator war while Byrnes was interviewing him with a few close calls as the snowballs almost hit Waltrip and Byrnes. A fan even found a small rock and threw it at Waltrip's way and it bounced off Waltrip's umbrella and Waltrip was surprised saying "golly that was a rock?!" at the end of his interview. Before Matt Yocum was about to interview Carl Edwards, Edwards drilled Yocum in the face with a snowball. Edwards apologized to Yocum during his interview saying he meant to get him in the shoulder. The crew guys of Mark Green even decided to play some baseball with the snowballs with one pitching and one hitting. While Edwards was getting interviewed by Yocum, the sun began to come out, the snow stopped, and track was starting to dry. Soon, drivers were ordered to get in their cars. While they were getting in their cars, Harvick decided to jokingly taunt Kenny Wallace, who was parked right next to Harvick, and Harvick said something to Wallace that made Wallace laugh hysterically at Harvick. The red flag was soon lifted after an 80-minute red flag. Before the cars started again, Fox decided to post a "Snow Delay Summary" that said "12 drivers interviewed, 1 Kenny Wallace interview (4:40; shortest time ever), 3 Snowball fights, 1 snowman built, 1 Director's text message, 1 bad Jamie McMurray "throw.""

Restart of race

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Kevin Harvick led the field and the race restarted on lap 40 of the race. On lap 61, the fourth caution would fly when Burney Lamar spun in turn 2 after getting bumped by Ken Schrader. Behind them, Joel Kauffman spun after contact with another car. Many cars pitted including Harvick but Michael Waltrip, Denny Hamlin, Paul Menard, and Joel Kauffman did not pit and Waltrip led the field to the restart on lap 71. On lap 89, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Waltrip. On lap 97, the 5th caution flew when Joel Kauffman crashed on the backstretch after contact with Ashton Lewis. The race would restart on lap 102 with Harvick still leading. On lap 112, the 6th caution flew for debris when the exhausts flew out of A. J. Foyt IV's car. The race would restart on lap 120 with Harvick leading. During the restart, Denny Hamlin attempted to take the lead from Harvick but couldn't. On lap 123, the 7th caution flew for a 3 car crash in turn 2 involving Mike Bliss, Mark McFarland, and Mike McCall after McFarland spun after contact from Ashton Lewis. The race would restart on lap 130. On lap 141, the 8th caution would fly when Mike McCall spun after contact with the slower car in Joel Kauffman. Denny Hamlin would be the new race leader and he led the field to the restart on lap 148. On lap 176, Greg Biffle took the lead from Hamlin. On lap 193, the 9th caution flew when Jason Leffler blew a right front tire and crashed in turn 4. Carl Edwards was the new race leader and he led the field to the restart on lap 199. On lap 226, the 10th caution would fly for debris. The race would restart on lap 232. On lap 234, the 11th caution would fly for a 4 car crash in turn 2. It started when Ashton Lewis got into Clint Bowyer sending both cars sideways. Lewis then tagged Johnny Sauter sending Sauter sideways and sending cars crashing behind them with those being Paul Menard, Regan Smith, J. J. Yeley, and Chris Wimmer.

Final laps

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The race would restart on lap 242. On lap 244, the 12th caution would fly when Tracy Hines, Reed Sorenson, and Clint Bowyer all crashed in turn 2. The race would restart on lap 250. With 41 laps to go, Greg Biffle took the lead from Carl Edwards. With 32 to go, the 12th and final caution would fly when Todd Kluever's bad day would continue after Kluever hit the wall after contact from Steve Wallace. The race would restart with 27 laps to go. Kyle Busch was all over the rear bumper of Greg Biffle but with 22 to go, Biffle started to pull away. But Busch would soon close in on the rear bumper of Biffle with 15 to go. With 12 to go, Busch passed Biffle for the lead with Harvick right behind Busch. Harvick tried to pull the bump and run on Busch in the last 11 laps but couldn't and Kyle Busch would win his first ever Busch Series race at Bristol and Harvick would finish in 2nd. Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, and Carl Edwards rounded out the top 5 while Scott Riggs, Ron Hornaday, Kenny Wallace, John Andretti, and Johnny Sauter rounded out the top 10.[4]

In the Cup Series race the following day, Kyle's brother Kurt Busch would win and Kurt would celebrate by doing snow angels on the start finish line as if he was in the Busch Series race in the snow.

Race results

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Pos Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Laps Led Status Points
1 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 300 12 running 185
2 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 300 120 running 180
3 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 300 0 running 165
4 20 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 300 29 running 165
5 60 Carl Edwards Roush Racing Ford 300 65 running 160
6 9 Scott Riggs Evernham Motorsports Dodge 300 0 running 150
7 33 Ron Hornaday Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 300 0 running 146
8 22 Kenny Wallace ppi Racing Ford 300 0 running 142
9 10 John Andretti (R) ppi Racing Ford 300 0 running 138
10 00 Johnny Sauter Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 300 0 running 134
11 50 Danny O'Quinn Jr. (R) Roush Racing Ford 300 0 running 130
12 2 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 300 0 running 127
13 14 Tracy Hines (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge 300 0 running 124
14 59 Stacy Compton Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford 300 0 running 121
15 1 Jason Keller Phoenix Racing Dodge 300 0 running 118
16 11 Paul Menard Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 300 0 running 115
17 47 Jon Wood Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford 300 0 running 112
18 43 Aaron Fike Curb Agajanian Performance Group Dodge 300 0 running 109
19 56 Kevin Lepage Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet 300 0 running 106
20 77 Burney Lamar (R) Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 300 0 running 103
21 36 Tim Sauter McGill Motorsports Chevrolet 300 0 running 100
22 4 Mark Green Biagi Brothers Racing Dodge 300 0 running 97
23 01 Jay Sauter Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports Chevrolet 299 0 running 94
24 90 Matt McCall Robert Yates Racing Ford 299 0 running 91
25 27 David Green Brewco Motorsports Ford 299 0 running 88
26 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Dodge 299 23 running 90
27 41 Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 298 0 running 82
28 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 298 48 running 84
29 18 J. J. Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 298 0 running 76
30 25 Ashton Lewis Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 296 0 running 73
31 88 Mark McFarland (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 290 0 running 70
32 32 Jason Leffler Braun-Akins Racing Chevrolet 289 0 running 67
33 64 Steve Wallace (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge 288 3 running 69
34 06 Todd Kluever (R) Roush Racing Ford 262 0 crash 61
35 38 A. J. Foyt IV (R) Braun-Akins Racing Dodge 257 0 running 58
36 34 Mike Bliss Frank Cicci Racing Chevrolet 237 0 running 55
37 66 Ken Schrader Brewco Motorsports Ford 237 0 running 52
38 35 Regan Smith Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 233 0 crash 49
39 23 Chris Wimmer (R) Keith Coleman Racing Chevrolet 195 0 crash 46
40 0 Kertus Davis Davis Motorsports Chevrolet 175 0 engine 43
41 49 Jorge Goeters (R) Jay Robinson Racing Ford 167 0 too slow 40
42 12 Joel Kauffman (R) FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge 128 0 crash 37
43 58 Kevin Conway Carver Racing Dodge 6 0 crash 34
Official Race results

References

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  1. ^ "2006 Sharpie Mini 300". Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  2. ^ "Kyle Busch logs 1st Bristol victory". Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  3. ^ "Snow stops the Sharpie Mini 300 Busch Series race after 32 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on March 25, 2006". Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  4. ^ "Kyle Busch Wins Busch Race at Bristol". 26 March 2006. Retrieved March 26, 2006.


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