2010 Race 18 - AERS Finale 250 Presented By Logitech at Darlington

Race
Results
Final Points Standings
Final Statistics

Spoiler:

Race is up.

I got a bruise on my leg the size of a watermelon after this race

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Contey pleased with overall run, yet unhappy with Mertz

"We managed to lead some laps there, I was getting real excited, I thought 'Man, am I really leading this race?' That's the best feel, we could've won that race."

"I need to have a word with Josh Mertz. I don't care if that was his fault or not, he's done shit all season, and needs to be taught how to drive. He would've kept hisself under control, we would've won. I've had those kind of cautions screw up the field, and it's aggrivating when you're leading the damned race, and all of a sudden you're screwed by a caution. That isn't the first time Mertz did something like that, and it definately won't be the last."

Hey Nick, "RJ Fail Bandsma"? Nice one, you know RJ's gonna be pissed.

Speaking of RJ, I almost mistook RJ's car for Eric Webler's. Sorry Eric!

Tellez pleased with season, looks forward for 2011

After a hellatious race at the lady in black, Louis Tellez stepped out of his car and congratulated every single member of his team on a tough, but successful season. He went to speak with media on the race and the year ovarall.

"We had a great car, this Walmart Chevy was fast and was in contention to win until that Mertz wreck screwed us over, that could sum up our downfall in the title race. We've had great chances to win races and something always tends to screw us over. It it weren't for those things that happened to us late in the stretch, we would be in contention for the title. Regardless, this race was fun and this sophomore season for our team in both series was fun. Congrats to Herbie and all those 426 guys, they deserved it."

Tellez also talked about what he'll look forward to in 2011

"I really excited about the new points system for next year, I'm also excited about how our team will look like for 2011. We're evaluating the drivers, sponsors and other things, we'll be ready to announce everything in a few weeks."

Lautenschlager Satisfied With Season; Says Gonzalez Jr. Will Drive 49

After winning the inaugural race at Lowell this year, Lautenschlager was reported as saying his season was, 'satisfying'.

"We didn't have an amazing season, but this jayski.com dodge ran well all season long and sometimes, our timing was good and sometimes it was terrible putting in somebody elses mess and it was just unfortunate."

Lautenschlager also had a few things to say about the race.

"Man, there were some parts of this race where I almost s*** my pants! We were just lucky to get through all those big ones. The guys made a huge mistake on pit road. On one of our stops, my right rear tire changer, Kasei McCallum slipped on the hose and fell on his ankle and broke it so that wasn't good and then on the next green flag stop, we had a jammed lugnut which cost a lap, but oh well."

When asked about the future of Cesar Gonzalez Jr and DDR all Tyson had to say was this.

"He's coming back next year, 'nuff said."

(Highlight to see)

Herb Cilantro's Post-Race Interview

Reporter: Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, your 2010 AARO Amp Energy Racing Series champion! Herb Cilantro takes the title by 81 points in a thriller of a race at Darlington...Herb, what's going through your mind?

Herb: Uh, I'd say, first of all, disbelief...I mean, I never, ever thought I'd get this far in racin'...Y' know sometimes when I drove them there weekly races down in Bristol...sometimes it was the Friday before the NRPA cars or the AARO cars came in for their big show...and I'd be packin' the late model up onto the trailer just like we always did...and seeing those drivers come in, I always wanted to be one of them. And now I'm up here thinkin' bout those there times...oh gosh...in victory lane in front of all these people...it's just surreal. I gotta thank Vinny Manucci, all the guys on this 426 team, uh...NaturalCures.com and Kevin Trudeau for sponsoring us...they have this great package right now where if you get an annual subscription, you get all his books and health reports and you don't have to pay a darn thing for 'em. Uh, gotta thank Chevrolet for puttin' these Impalas in our shop, Cobra Starship too. And the fans, the officials, everybody that makes this possible.

Reporter: Before the green flag, what did you think it was going to take to lock up this championship?

Herb: Well...my main mindset was to just stay ahead of the 26. That way I knew I had more points than him... (Laughs) ...and y' know, this is Darlington, so I was really on watch today for all the wrecks. Fortunately, they didn't happen to me until around 10 to go, but unfortunately a lot of good cars got banged up in 'em, and I sure hope everyone's OK.

Reporter: You mentioned the wreck with a few laps to go. What were you thinking as you piled in? Can you take us through it?

Herb: Well, first I see the wreck, my first thought is to race back to the darn line...then I realize it's real close to me, and I'm thinking "I have to get through. I have to get through. I cannot screw up."

Reporter: But that's what they said at McKinley last year, right?

Herb: Yeah, exactly. (Laughs) Uh, so once I hit, I was just...in shock. I was thinkin', 'Did I really just lose it right there?" I was 'bout ready to punch somethin' just after, but then I got the car movin' again and it was runnin' just fine. So my thought there was "Holy cow. I'm the luckiest man in the world." And I moseyed on down to the checkers and here we are now.

Reporter: Considering the way your season has gone this year, do you have any regrets?

Herb: My only regret...was that the fight for the championship wasn't much of a battle. Jalen and Aaron...they both have a tremendous amount of talent, I have a heck of a lot of respect for 'em...I certainly would have liked for it to come down to the end between the three of us. Would have been more fun, to be honest. And I think the fans would have liked it a lot more too.

Reporter: There you have it, folks. Our newly crowned champion, Herb Cilantro.