[Biodiesel News] Woody Howard Wins Soy Biodiesel 250 USAR Race at Iowa Speedway

Woody Howard Wins Soy Biodiesel 250 USAR Race at Iowa Speedway

WhoWon.com - Lincoln,NE,USA

NEWTON, Iowa- It was a photo finish to a perfect race at the Biodiesel 250. When the white flag waved for the Soy Biodiesel 250, Woody ...

 

NEWTON, Iowa- It was a photo finish to a perfect race at the Biodiesel 250. When the white flag waved for the Soy Biodiesel 250, Woody Howard was running fourth. But when checkered flag flew, Howard eked his No. 55 Dean Motorsports Chevrolet across the finish line .064 seconds ahead of Daniel Johnson to win the inaugural race at Iowa Speedway.

 

"My car owner, Jim Dean, said he didn't care if we only led one lap all night as long is it was the last one," said Howard, who led for the first time on the last lap. "I don't even remember which way I made the pass; I was just going where it was open. I'm just glad it all worked out."

 

Coming to the white flag, Johnson, driver of No. 3 Charlotte Check Cashers Pontiac, looked like he would be the first one to christen Iowa Speedway's Victory Lane.

 

After a late-race caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, Johnson nudged Mardy Lindley out of the lead on Lap 258, but the contact allowed Howard to get a run on the leader going into Turn 1 on the final lap. With momentum on his side, Howard ducked to the inside of Johnson, and the two went side-by-side for the final lap, banging off each other several times. But in the end, Johnson, who led a race-high 82 laps, fell short of his first Hooters Pro Cup Series win.

 

"This is an awesome place, and it felt so good running up front here," said Johnson. "I really wanted to win, but this is one of the best runs I've had. We almost didn't make this race due to lack of funds. This definitely helps us out."

 

As Johnson and Howard fought for the top spot, Justin Hobgood also joined the fray on the final lap. Hobgood, driver of the No. 16 Naturally Fresh Ford, made it three-wide coming to the checkered flag, but the Winnsboro, S.C., driver finished .129 seconds behind in third.

 

"There's just so much grip out there," said Hobgood, who was the highest-finishing rookie. "We were three and four wide out there. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to be doing, but it was time to go."

 

Johnny Rumley, driver of the No. 80 Champion Chevrolet, finished fourth, while Mardy Lindley, who led coming to the green flag with two laps remaining, slipped to fifth.

 

The Soy Biodiesel 250 featured 26 lead changes among 13 drivers and was slowed 11 times for 93 laps of caution.

 

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Posted by Vince to Biodiesel News at 9/18/2006 11:04:00 AM