Ben Simmons pulls off his 2nd Cup Series win by stretching his fuel

Friday, September 3rd - Kansas Speedway   Drivers of the N4Nites Cup Series came to Kansas prepared to do battle as the track held an additional practice night to get ready for their trip to Kansas for the "Where are you Toto 120."  In all three practices leading up to the race drivers where putting up some blistering times especially by Cad Vis Racing’s Jeff Prutzman pulling a sub 29 second lap.

When the checkered flag flew it was an all Cad Vis Racing front row with Ben Simmons grabbing his 1st pole of this cup season running a speed of 179.373 mph with his teammate Alex Shoemaker grabbing second with a speed of 179.010 mph.  Jo Morabito snuck in and grabbed third from 4th place Jeff Prutzman who couldn’t back up his qualifying lap in practice.  The Speedpro team took row three with John Boneske in 5th and former cup Champion Dave Porter in 6th.  Bobby Rafuse and Bob Moore took provisional’s and started together on the 4th row.  N4Nites Series rookie Ronnie Perryman, and series regular Matt Farrell did not qualify for the event.

When the green flag flew all of the drivers seemed loose coming into turn 2 but the 49 of Boneske seemed to have a very stable car and was able to pull to the side of the Simmons going into three.

Simmons getting loose slid into the outside wall dropping out of the lead draft and to the back of the field.  This was not the only thing to happened to the 94 Kellogg’s team in the opening laps at Kansas.  Series Veteran Bobby Rafuse got loose coming out of turn 2 spinning in front of the 94 car, and the Kellogg’s Impala also looped it right behind Rafuse, but no caution was displayed.

The race went green for two long green flag runs, with the 01 of Alex Shoemaker and the 21 of Morabito running closely together for the lead.  Struggles for the 01 started on the second green flag stop when Simmons pulling in to his pit stall, got clipped by the 49 of Boneske coming out of his pit hoping to get the quick lead from the 01 of Shoemaker.

Simmons was sent sliding into his teammate and all three were sent crashing into each other and the pit wall.

Thankfully no pit crew members were hurt from the incident, but the incident allowed Cup Champ Porter to sneak out front and get back to the top spot that he is so accustomed to over the years.  The pit road incident put all three drivers far behind Porter leading the field even putting Boneske and Simmons one to two laps down to the leader.

The third (3rd) caution of the night came as the drivers where on a green flag pit stop, timing was on the side of Boneske and Simmons, both staying out just long enough to regain some laps and get back on the lead lap.

Simmons getting one lap back got the lucky Dog to put him back on the lead lap just past half way in the race.  The caution was brought out when Cad Vis Racing Teammates got together when Shoemaker got loose passing Prutzman and sent both of them into the outside wall coming onto the front stretch.  Prutzman's car was damaged severely.

When going back to green having most of the field back on the lead lap would make the closing laps of the Kansas race very exciting.  All drivers without any major damage had a real shot at winning with all the drivers and cars seemed to have equal equipment.

Jo Morabito running up front all day, had one of the cars to beat when Jamie Little talked with Ben Simmons, “Jo looked very strong in practice, he was the car to beat in Wednesday and Thursday practice.  He had a very strong car on the long run in those practices that made my crew chief throw a lot at this 94 Kellogg’s Impala.”  Morabito after the green flag start was running hard out of 4 just in front of the 94 Kellogg’s Chevy when he got sideways in front of Simmons and slammed into the outside wall, just getting clipped by Simmons as he scooted by the spinning Motorcraft Ford.

The caution flag would come out again on the next restart when Boneske drove hard into turn 2 and was sent into the outside wall when Prutzman got loose below the 49 and send him hard into the outside wall.  The past cautions allowed the 60 of Bob Moore and Alex Shoemaker to get back on the lead lap, but that was the last caution the drivers would see.  It looked like everyone would have to stop one more time before the checkered flag would fly, and the battling for the lead would head up as Boneske pushed his Speedpro teammate for the lead as Simmons and Moore battled for third.  Porter would work back in front of Boneske as Simmons got loose and slide back behind Moore in 4th.

The calculations from all the teams crew chiefs had everyone short, but spotters heard the crew chief for the 94 team asked his driver to stay behind Moore and conserve fuel, because everyone had to pit for fuel.  That’s what Simmons did got up behind the 60 ford of Bob Moore and drafted off him conserving fuel.  Moore pitted, then Porter and Boneske while Simmons stayed out and started rolling out of the throttle all the way around the track.  Porter came out of the pits behind Simmons and a lap down which allowed Simmons to pull back even more.

The Kellogg’s Impala came across the checkered flag full throttle capturing his second win of the young cup season.  “Whoo hoo, we pulled a Porter tonight boys!” Simmons shouted over the radio as he took the checkered flag.  “A Porter” in the N4NItes garage is a term the driver came up with from the years of Cup Champion Dave Porter would school the field on fuel mileage and being smarter on the pit box.  “It’s a term of endearment for our fellow competitor, League administrator and more importantly a friend.”

Jamie Little: What happened early on with you and your team?
Simmons: Well it was just being impatient, got a little loose trying to keep the 49 behind me, then a little bit of focus when I spun behind Bobby tonight.

Jamie Little: What was the turning point of your race tonight?
Simmons: It was definitely pushing my fuel mileage to stay out a lop or two more then the leaders and that caution came out and got us the lucky dog.  Without that caution we would have been about 6th.

Jamie Little: At what point did you and your crew chief know you could make it?
Simmons: We didn’t really know.  I was trying to pass the 60 got loose and slide up behind him, I got the call that we where close and John and Dave had us by a straightaway.  So I started rolling out of the throttle behind Bob.

Jamie Little: On what lap did you know you were going to make it?
Simmons: It was about a lap or two after the leaders pitted, and Dave came out a straightaway behind me.  So all I had to do was roll off a little more and it worked out for us.  We have been having some horrible luck in recent weeks in N4NItes and CARS, and I am thrilled it turned around for us today.  It’s all thanks to my great Kellogg’s crew and great teammates that help us get good setups that help us get here, and a little bit of lady luck getting back on our side tonight.

Jamie Little: It seems you came to Kansas with a sneaky fast car, not top on the charts but just a few tenths behind ready to pounce.  How did you get your DuPont 24 Impala SS to the front and lead the most laps tonight?
Porter: Our pit crew has been really good with keeping on top of things and pullin rabbits out of their hat at the last minute.  We really didn't have a tuned setup until the green was waived.  Then a few subtle tweaks during the race, you know.   I think we jumped out towards the front from the first lap and then it was all about our pit crew banging out some really good stops that put us suddenly ... In the lead.

Jamie Little: You’re the elder statesmen of N4Nites, and it seems that no one can adjust a car mid race like your DuPont crew can, what makes them so good?
Porter: I think just think thru the years of practice.  As a driver, we come to 'feel' the car and how it handles on the track.  When I relate that to my crew chief, he knows just the right adjustments to make.  It's a harmonious relationship.

Jamie Little: You seemed in control of the race after the incident on pit road collected the 01 of shoemaker, your teammate Boneske in the 49, and the 94 of Simmons what happened to your 24 Dupont Impala that didn’t allow you to get the usual great fuel mileage we are so accustomed from seeing the 24 team?
Porter: Well, that incident was blessing for our team but after our last pit, a fuel check showed us running out at lap 28 or so leaving us a good 2-3 laps short so the call was to short pit.  I don't know how Ben’s team pulled it off? He must have had a water bottle in his pocket full with gas!

Jamie Little: N4Nites is even more competitive than in years past in every division with 4 different winners out of 5 races early this cup season, and 4 different winners in the N4Nites Truck series, and N4Nites Grand national series.  Not to mention that every driver running up front in almost every race this 2010 season with a chance to win.  N4Nites youngster Alex Shoemaker getting his first wins in N4Nites series, Bobby Rafuse (a Wiley veteran) getting in his first Cup win ever, the rapidly improving Jeff Prutzman on the verge of his first N4Nites points win.  Then adding N4Nites Rookies Ronnie Perryman, and Jo Morabito adding winning teams and quality depth to N4Nites, and having quality veterans that you and N4Nites have groomed into winners in Ben Simmons and John Boneske.   How would you compare the current N4Nites Roster to the greats of the past and other simulation leagues around?
Porter: Oh my goodness, this lineup is proving to be something special.  Even good ole Bob Moore has pulled some new dimensions to his racing.  Just tonight it was door to door with him for quite a few laps.  So basically- extremely impressed at the caliber of the drivers, and I honestly can't think of a single driver that isn't impressive.   We have a great bunch of skilled drivers.  No doubt about it.  These guys are amazing!

Jamie Little: How do you see the top 5 shaking out when it comes to the 5 race chase format?
Porter: Well Ben, John, Jo, Ronnie and I hope myself would be the top 5 however, I think I'll be overshadowed by Jeff. :(. I'll try to give these guys a run as best I can.

Jamie Little: You seemed to have a good strong car, possibly a top 3-5 car, how was your car tonight?
Boneske: My car was good. Having Dave Porter as my owner this year has really helped! It seems that we drive a similar setup, so it helps a lot when you have two people working on a setup!

Jamie Little: You ran up front with all the leaders tonight, what happened in the pits that allowed your teammate to get such a big lead on the field?
Boneske: When I was done with my stop, I was trying to clear Alex, and I knew Dave was behind me.  I NEVER heard Ben say he was pitting, it was my fault completely, and I am sorry for the issue on pit road, but I was "zoned in" on getting out safely, so I never heard/saw him coming!

Jamie Little: On restarts you seemed to have a strong gearing package that put yourself into some very risky positions out in the middle of turn 1 and 2 what happened on the restart that sent you into the turn 2 wall?
Boneske: I got up high on Jeff Prutzman, and I don’t think Jeff saw me there, it wasn’t his fault at all, just a racing incident... It was very strong on the restarts for sure!

Jamie Little: After the final caution you and Porter were running first and second, and on your second to final pit stop you spent a long time in the pit and came out a two laps down to the leader?
Boneske: I got caught for having an unsafe pit entrance on the final stop.   I got on my brakes kind of hard coming in, then had to serve a 30 second penalty for that.. and that cost me being able to run up front!