While Sunday brought the Sprint Cup tour to Phoenix for the next to last race of the season, myself and a friend opted to take a trip to Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Georgia.; for the 2011 running of the World Crown 300. While the 300 moniker is a bit misleading (300 stood for 100 laps for Pro Late Models on Saturday, and 200 laps for Super Late Models on Sunday), I felt like it still would be worth a trip

The super late model race was split into 3 segments, 100 laps, 75 laps and a 25 lap shootout. Each segment paid separately to the leader/winner, with $4,000, $6,000, and $10,000 for first place after each segment.

While I am a bit of a purist, and would like to just see the drama play out over a straight 200 (even better if 300); the way this was setup was interesting enough.

The first segment contained a tremendous amount of carnage, with Wisconson’s Chris Wimmer winning the first $4,000. At this lap 100 break, they inverted the top six based off fan voting leading up to the event. This would only temporarily shake up the front of the pack as Chris Wimmer quickly got back to the point, stay away from continued wrecks; and win the second $6,000 segment.

At this lap 175 interruption, it was predetermined that only the lead lap cars plus the first car one lap down would advance to the final shootout. Well, by this point of the race there were only 13 cars of the 34 original starters still running. The 13th place car, Mike Garvey; was not able to continue. I believe he was a few laps down anyway. Only a couple of the back cars decided to pit for tires and adjustments, as a few had done so at a lap 162 caution; but were unable to gain any ground.

 Chris Wimmer was able to check out from the field over the last 25 laps, sweeping all three segments and collecting a cool $20,000 for his efforts. Matt Kenseth’s son Ross finished second, with Bill Elliott’s son Chase finishing third. Rounding out the top five were polesitter and early leader Stephen Nasse, and Eric Jones. The Gresham family has done a tremendous job in giving this place a makeover, and I am looking forward to making this trip again.

On the NASCAR side of things, it looks pretty solid that the Truck and Nationwide Series champions have been decided; but the Sprint Cup championship is a real barn burner.

Leader Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart left Phoenix exactly how they entered, with a scant three points between them. Edwards has finished second the last two weeks, and could possibly finish second again at Homestead, but still lose the title to Stewart. All other contenders have been knocked out, and all eyes will be on these two drivers.

Congrats to Kasey Kahne on his first win in the last 82 starts, and to Sam Hornish for winning his first NASCAR points race in the Nationwide series on Saturday. The changes to Phoenix International Raceway definitely made things very interesting.

One last note, in my opinion; somebody needs to have a heart to heart talk with Brian Vickers.

Now I know nobody but Mr. Kenseth and Mr. Vickers really knows what happened on the track yesterday, but it sure seems to me that Vickers clearly can’t get over what transpired at Martinsville a few weeks ago. This is professional auto racing, and while I have no problem with retribution; this might be getting a little bit out of control. He is tarnishing his image as a racer, but these are just my thoughts.

Until next week, keep the shiny side up!

 MORE NASCAR NEWS