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Carpentier planning to do what it takes to make all-star race
By SceneDaily Staff
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Jason Smith
Getty Images
Patrick Carpentier hopes to make it in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race by finishing first or second in the preliminary Sprint Showdown. But if he doesn’t, there’s still the fan vote. And if he’s voted in, fans will get a show.
Carpentier has promised to run naked down pit road if he’s voted into the all-star race, and if you think that’s a shallow promise, think
again. The former open-wheel driver has done it before.
In 2002, Carpentier made good on a bet after he won a CART race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, running around the road course wearing only a checkered flag.
“For those of you who don’t remember, this wouldn’t be my first time streaking,” Carpentier said. “I did it at the Mid-Ohio road course. I bet some friends that if I won the race I would run a lap naked. I ended up winning the race. So I had to do what I had to do. A bet’s a bet. So I can guarantee you, if the fans vote me in, I will live up to my promise.”
The highest vote-getter who is on the lead lap at the end of the second segment of the Sprint Showdown will move to the all-star race. If it’s Carpentier, get ready for a strip tease.
“If we don’t race our way in, I hope the fans remember what I promised,” Carpentier said. “I told them I would run naked down pit road if they voted me in, and I’m serious. We’ll see if they give me that chance.”
The all-star race is a new concept to the rookie Carpentier, who drives Gillett Evernham Motorsports' No. 10 Dodge.
“This is one of the neat things about NASCAR,” Carpentier said. “They always do things to make the sport stand out, and this is one of those times. The drivers will be excited. The fans will be excited. It’s just going to be fun weekend. One of the coolest things is how the fans will be able to vote a driver into the all-star from the Showdown race.
“I’ve been looking forward to this race for a while. It’s going to be nice to have a Friday where I’m not stressed about qualifying on time. This race is going to be all about fun.
“We had a pretty decent test at Lowe’s a couple weeks ago. So, hopefully, we can run strong enough to finish in the top-two in the Showdown race. But we’d be more than happy if we got the fan vote. We just want the chance to race in the all-star.”
Mentioned Drivers:
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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