CUP: Reed Sorenson Tightens 2012 LASTCAR Cup Championship With Seven Races To Go

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Reed Sorenson picked up the 8th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway when his #91 Plinker Tactical Toyota fell out with brake problems after completing 18 of the race’s 400 laps.

The finish was Sorenson’s third of the season, his first since Richmond three races ago. He now stands tied for 2nd in the 2012 LASTCAR Cup Series rankings, one finish behind leader Michael McDowell along with Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, and Josh Wise.

Sorenson was one of many "go-or-go-home" drivers who were impressive in Happy Hour, the #91 turning in the 15th fastest time overall. Four others ran faster still, including defending NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (12th), McDowell (11th), Speed (8th), and David Stremme (5th). However, in qualifying, Stremme narrowly missed the field, bumped out by the #37 Larry Gunselman-owned Chevrolet driven Sunday by Dave Blaney.

Sorenson qualified a respectable 29th at an average speed of 156.223 mph, whereas teammate Mike Bliss in the #19 was among those sent home.

Sorenson fell to the back of the field before the start and remained there during the opening green-flag run, eventually retiring after 18 laps. Scott Riggs, the next-closest competitor, exited eight laps later to take the 42nd spot, while Michael McDowell missed edging Joe Nemechek for a Bottom Five spot by three laps.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #91 in a Cup Series race at Dover since 1999, when Dick Trickle’s Larry’s Homes Chevrolet crashed after six laps of the MBNA Platinum 400. Trickle’s car was owned by Joe Falk, the current owner of the #33 that missed Sunday’s race with driver Cole Whitt.
*This was Sorenson’s first last-place finish in a Cup Series race at Dover.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #91-Reed Sorenson / 18 laps / brakes
42) #23-Scott Riggs / 26 laps / brakes
41) #37-Dave Blaney / 29 laps / overheating
40) #95-Scott Speed / 32 laps / suspension
39) #87-Joe Nemechek / 48 laps / electrical

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell (4)
2nd) Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
3rd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, J.J. Yeley (2)
4th) Trevor Bayne, Kelly Bires, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #98-Phil Parsons Racing (4)
2nd) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports (3)
3rd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing, #91-Humphrey-Smith Racing (2)
4th) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #83-BK Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (14)
2nd) Toyota (9)
3rd) Chevrolet (6)