2008 EZ Rent-A-Diaper 100
| 2008 EZ Rent-A-Diaper 100 | |
| 200px | |
| Date | March 15, 2008 |
| Location | Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Japan |
| Laps | 65 |
| Polesitter | Nokamaru Tsukari |
| First | Anthony Griffith |
| Second | Mike Andrews |
| Third | Kevin Monroe |
| Cautions | 3 (1 Red Flag) |
| Race Results | |
The 2008 EZ Rent-A-Diaper 100, the fourth race of seventeen in the 2008 ARLA Elite Series season, was held at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. The race marked the first time ARLA ventured outside of North America.
The race also marked Alexis Rainsford's ARLA Elite Series debut.
Watch[edit | edit source]
Event[edit | edit source]
History was made at this race as it was the first event held outside of North America for the series. ARLA had previously run several races in Canada, but never before overseas.
The Race[edit | edit source]
Japanese driver Nokamaru Tsukari took the pole in the blue #11 for J-Motor, with Kevin Colley in the CeeJay Racing #08 starting second. Alexis Rainsford made her ARLA debut at this race. She drove the #40 Pandamonium Tranquilizers Calton Morel.
Lap 2 saw the first caution as Travis Keating got spun off of turn 4. On the restart, Will Schweig in the #82 and Jason Bates in the #51 Karl, Inc. Racing machine dueled for the lead, with Bates prevailing. The #45 European Domination machine of Ronald Porter then managed take the lead, with Rosebud Racing driver and defending ARLA champion Kurt Walker in the #98 in tow. Tsukari then challenged for and promptly took the top spot with Kevin Colley right behind him. Colley became the next leader when he passed the #11 the next lap. After the #08 took the lead, Tsukari figured that the #11 car should take another turn up front.
On Lap 21, caution 2 waved when Bob Stephans and Akira Tsukari spun down the frontstretch. Anthony Griffith took the lead in the race back to the yellow flag.
Tsukari, Colley, and Griffith had a brilliant three car duel after the restart, but another yellow flew on lap 30. The cause was a wreck between Tsukari, Alexis Rainsford, Vinnie Enzo and Harry S. Enola. Other drivers piled into the wreck including Chris Johaanes, Matt Scarano, points leader Dale Underwood, and points runner-up Charlie Waters, who ended up on his roof. This incident also caused the race's only red flag, which lasted 23 minutes.
On the restart, Nakano Satasumi, on a euphoric high after his maiden win at Indianapolis and shedding his "chronic bridesmaid" tag, blasted by Kevin Colley to take the lead, much to the enjoyment of the home crowd. That was short lived though as Kurt Walker passed the bright orange #32 J-Motor machine the next lap. But Walker wouldn't last long out front either as Jason Bates swept into first. Anthony Griffith and Will Schwieg also took turns up front. Griffith, Walker, Satasumi, and Bates continued to put on a massive dogfight for the lead, that really made the crowd excited. Also in the mix was Kevin Colley and 2001 champion Mario Franchetti in the #4 for European Domination.
The leaders encountered lapped traffic soon after, with Scott Hamilton's wounded #13 giving fits to Will Schweig, who was held up in the outside lane. Franchetti took advantage and Satasumi joined in the fun. Anthony Griffith also had another turn up front, with Mike Andrews in the #23 sneaking into first. But coming into turn three of the last lap, Anthony Griffith managed to get underneath the #23 car. It was a drag race between the two to the line, with Griffith edging Andrews for his second career win and first since his debut in 2006 at Darlington, in one of the most competitive ARLA races in the organization's history, with 29 lead changes in a race that was just 65 laps.
Top Ten Race Results[edit | edit source]
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06 | Anthony Griffith |
| 2 | 23 | Mike Andrews |
| 3 | 63 | Kevin Monroe |
| 4 | 32 | Nakano Satasumi |
| 5 | 98 | Kurt Walker |
| 6 | 50 | Leslie Riggs |
| 7 | 45 | Ronald Porter |
| 8 | 51 | Jason Bates |
| 9 | 4 | Mario Franchetti |
| 10 | 19 | Allie Riggs |
2008 ARLA Elite Series Top 10 Points Standings[edit | edit source]
| Position | Number | Driver | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06 | Anthony Griffith | 312 |
| 2 | 63 | Kevin Monroe | 281 |
| 3 | 4 | Mario Franchetti | 274 |
| 4 | 03 | Dale Underwood | 271 |
| 5 | 16 | Matt Scarano | 258 |
| 6 | 9 | Jared Andersen | 256 |
| 7 | 98 | Kurt Walker | 255 |
| 8 | 32 | Nakano Satasumi | 248 |
| 9 | 41 | Charlie Waters | 246 |
| 10 | 78 | Manuel Ortiz | 239 |