Ryan Newman led once for 27 laps in Saturday’s Sharpie Mini 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway before finishing fourth in the Busch Series race that was halted for a brief time and contained a pit road controversy.
The race was stopped for seven minutes during the third of 12 caution flags while race officials cleared turn 3 following a four-car accident on lap 37. But it was the question as to when pit road opened during the ninth caution period - laps 183-200 - that caused the controversy.
Newman pitted his No. 12 Kodak Dodge Charger on lap 188 when NASCAR told the teams pit road was open. Newman, who was third at the time, said the pit road light was green when he passed it. However, Kyle Busch and eventual winner Carl Edwards, who were first and second, respectively, maintained pit road was closed.
| 
|