Parker Jr. stretches fuel to win at Pikes Peak

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Though some folk deem fuel mileage races miserably anticlimactic, Hank Parker Jr. has nary a qualm with them.

For the second time in his NASCAR Busch Series career, Parker used a fuel mileage gamble to gain victory, this time in the NetZero 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. He won at California Speedway in eerily similar fashion last season.

Parker was cycled into the lead on lap 233 -- when then-leader Kevin Lepage was forced to pit for fuel -- and never looked back, leading the final 17 laps to win for the second time in 117 career starts. Interestingly enough, Parker had led just once all year -- for just one lap.

	Hank Parker Jr. celebrates his second career Busch Series victory. Credit: VPS Motorimages

In a year riddled with misfortune, Parker wasn't taking anything for granted.

"You just never know -- I didn't think I'd won until I crossed that start/finish line," said an elated Parker in Victory Lane. "All my bad luck seems to happen within 10 to go. I figured the tires would fall off or the windshield would blow out or something. I'm just glad it didn't happen."

Parker's victory came on the heels of one the best duels for the lead in quite some time. From just after the race's halfway point until the deciding pit stops 20 laps later, second and third place finishers Greg Biffle and Jason Keller, respectively put on a battle for the ages.

After the 20-lap, door-to-door duel, Keller finally got by Biffle on lap 176. But as he entered Turn 3 as the race leader, Keller came upon Shane Hmiel's lapped machine.

As he went low to pass, the two made contact. Keller got loose and nearly wrecked. And although he was able to gather the car up and carry on, the mishap enabled Biffle to speed by. By the time Keller righted his Ford, Biffle had a half-second lead.

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"I'd worked my heart out to get by Greg, and I'd just taken a deep breath thinking I'm going to be in good shape," Keller said. "I felt like (Hmiel) kind of came down a little bit. I was very fortunate I didn't wreck.

"I got very lucky. If Greg would have been underneath me, I'd have been out."

Furious, Keller mashed the throttle as if possessed, quickly re-igniting the heated battle. By lap 186, the two were once again door-to-door. Four laps later, Biffle pitted for tires and fuel, cycling Keller into the lead. Keller pitted a lap later, pushing Kevin Lepage to the front for the second time.

Lepage, who pitted on lap 132 for tires and fuel, had hoped to stretch that tank of fuel the required 118 laps to the checkered flag, but was unable to do so.

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Lepage finally pitted with 17 laps remaining, cycling Parker into the lead for good.

"We were going to be about four laps short," said Lepage, who battled back to finish fifth. "We just went ahead and decided to get gas and go ahead and get a top-five finish. Great job. This is my first time here, so I'm really looking forward to coming back."

As is Parker.

"We had an awesome car today," Parker Jr. said. "We made the right decision in the pits. It's always so good to have momentum on your side. We needed this."

Following the race, both Biffle and Keller were surprised Parker could make it so far on one tank of fuel. Keller said his tank maxed out at 106 laps. Biffle said he could go but 105.

"I'm surprised he could make it, but they've won like this before," said Biffle, who stretched his lead in the championship points race to 77 over Keller. "This isn't his first rodeo."