2012 Nightdona 500

The 2012 Florida 500 is known for Ernie Gearson taking an amazing win over second-place Lightning McQueen and third place going to Jimmy Cables. This race was remembered for a big crash on lap 156 started with Ponchy Wipeout loose and hitting the wall before going back into the field and taking out the defending champion Cal Weathers. The crash involved 17 cars. This is considered to be the best Florida 500 of the 2010s so far (2019 is still yet to come).

## Footage

Big one footage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7veXqna\_mmc in the video Ponchy is #25, Cal is #48 (Jimmie) and Todd is #9 car (Marcos Ambrose) which ends up on his roof.

## Transcript

### Big One

Bob: OH TROUBLE TURN TWO! PONCHY WIPEOUT TAKES OUT CAL WEATHERS! REV ROADAGES TAKES OUT TODD MARCUS AND TODD UP AND OVER! ENDS UP ON HIS ROOF!

Darrell: THE BIG ONE AT FLORIDA TODAY! PHIL TANKSON SLAMS INTO CARL CLUTCHEN!

Bob: CLUTCHEN GETS INVOLVED! DIRKSON D'AGOSTINO INTO MARKUS KRANKZLER! T.G CASTLENUT INVOLVED AS WELL AND SO IS RALPH CARLOW!

(replay)

Darrell: Ponchy just got loose into Cal and sent Cal in the outside wall. Then chaos happens as Rev Roadages puts Todd Marcus on his roof!

Bob: Poor Carl Clutchen though! Phil Tankson slams into him before he gets hit again this time by Buck Bearingly!

### ERNIE FOR THE WIN!!!!!

Bob: Darrell. What is happening right now is nothing short of incredible. Ernie Gearson at 58 years of age has successfully held off Lightning, Bobby and Jimmy to TAKE HIS FIRST NIGHTDONA 500 WIN AFTER A CAREER OF ALMOST 40 YEARS!!!!!

Darrell: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO WIN A NIGHTDONA 500! AND ERNIE PROVES YOU JUST THAT! AFTER 40 YEARS OF EFFORT, IT'S ERNIE GEARSON FOR THE WIN!

Ernie: YES!!!!!! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD I WON! THIS CANT BE REAL I WON!

Murray: ERNIE! I'M SO GLAD YOU FREAKIN WON! Now we can both be happy we won a Florida 500. I won in 1989 you today in 2012. Don't forget I won a Cup in 1999 and you won a Cup in 1994.

Ernie: OH YEAH! I almost forgot you won the 1989 Florida 500!

Murray: I did Ernie. Just can't believe you actually won though man!

Ernie: I know! IT'S SO AWESOME!

Murray: We are best friends for life!!!!!

Ernie: Yeah!!!!!

Murray: I know right!

(end of transcript)

## Results

1. Ernie Gearson - 200 laps - 38 points
2. Lightning McQueen - 200 laps - 34 points
3. Jimmy Cables - 200 laps - 33 points
4. Bobby Swift - 200 laps - 32 points
5. Brian Spark - 200 laps - 31 points
6. Rex Revler - 200 laps - 30 points
7. Reb Meeker - 200 laps - 29 points
8. Bruce Miller - 200 laps - 28 points
9. Brick Yardley - 200 laps - 27 points
10. Terry Kargas - 200 laps - 26 points
11. Bobby Roadtesta - 200 laps - 25 points
12. Chip Gearings - 200 laps - 24 points
13. Dud Throttleman - 200 laps - 23 points
14. Murray Clutchburn - 200 laps - 22 points
15. Speedy Comet - 200 laps - 21 points
16. Jack Depost - 200 laps - 20 points
17. Mac iCar - 200 laps - 19 points
18. Ponchy Wipeout - 155 laps - 18 points
19. Cal Weathers - 155 laps - 17 points
20. Parker Brakeston - 155 laps - 16 points
21. Dino Draftsky - 155 laps - 15 points
22. Rev Roadages - 155 laps - 14 points
23. T.G Castlenut - 155 laps - 13 points
24. Phil Tankson - 155 laps - 12 points
25. Todd Marcus - 155 laps - 11 points
26. Floyd Mulvhill - 155 laps - 10 points
27. Markus Krankzler - 155 laps - 9 points
28. Carl Clutchen - 155 laps - 8 points
29. Dirkson D'Agostino - 155 laps - 7 points
30. Wayne Dasher - 155 laps - 6 points
31. Lane Locke - 155 laps - 5 points
32. Buck Bearingly - 155 laps - 4 points
33. Tommy Highbanks - 155 laps - 3 points
34. Ralph Carlow - 155 laps - 2 points
35. Darren Leadfoot - 22 laps - 1 point