2012 Race 15 (Saitama 200)

The "speeding penalties" were due to a problem where a car would be held in its pit stall until the rest of the field left. I have no idea why this happened, and it plagued the original Buffalo Downs too.

Carlo De Pretto Benefits from Tanaka's Choke, Wins from Pole in Race 1 ahead of Gaffigan & Howard, Hetsuno Blows Up Again in Race 2

Score one for Italy & (former) pay drivers everywhere!

The only time that Carlo De Pretto has ever won a race is when the rest of his competitors all fell out through crashes or mechanical failures. He never told anyone that at the time, De Pretto was running 9th in that race, one lap down. Now he never has to tell that story again, because this win means a lot more.

"This is a great feeling to have after having a great car!" De Pretto said after celebrating in victory lane. He proceeded to open up all the champagne bottles set up in victory lane for the winner to spray, and started drinking each bottle. "This is only time I have the drink! Forza Italia! Forza MRD! Forza De Pretto!!!" The increasingly drunk De Pretto added before passing out from drinking all the champagne. Apparently we now know that Carlo De Pretto is a lightweight when it comes to the bubbly.

Meanwhile, watching the celebration was Kyle Gaffigan, who once again had to settle for 2nd place. Amidst rumors that his position at MRD Motorsports was gone at the end of 2012, Gaffigan turned in a top display, coming back from a questionable speeding penalty. "We came so close again. I'm tired of being the bridesmaid! Now there are gonna be more pictures of me wearing dresses!" Gaffigan said, citing an MRD ritual where if one of their drivers finishes 2nd to another MRD driver, the 2nd placed finisher has to wear a dress.

Joseph Howard had a quiet day, finishing 5th and moving up to 15th in the championship. He was not immediately available for comment, but that's just how Howard is. He lets his results do the talking, which is the kind of veteran driver that MRD Motorsports owner Tom Delgado had been looking for to lead his band of personalities.

Unfortunately, the only bad egg in this bright day for MRD was another engine failure for Kiriki Hetsuno. After starting 3rd in race #2, she blew up under caution and would be the only MRD driver to not have anything to celebrate. Her future is unclear at this point, but she's not being done any favors by the engineers of the team, who at last check, were not fired yet. However, by the time we get back to the United States, I'm sure Delgado will have done away with them.

Dempsey finishes a quiet 12th after getting as high as 5th place at Saitama

Round 1 for Jack Dempsey was rather quiet as he finishes 12th while trying to get back to the front after pitting with half the field from 5th place. He told reporters that he actually liked that track and hoped it was raced on again.

Matthews finishes 20th in Round 1, still 11th in points

To say Tiffany Matthews had an anonymous run in the Saitama 200 is an understatement.

And for her, it was welcomed.

"I'm happy to have been off everyone's radar," she said after finishing 20th in Round 1. "Given the events of the last few weeks, I think it's for the best. I'm just glad to be out here racing."

She also had praise for the Saitama Ken Race Track.

"This is a great facility," she said. "I love racing here. I only hope we come back here next year. I want to improve on my finishing 20th!"

Matthews remained in an 11th-place tie in the points standings.