It was two great events for Speed Racer this past weekend.
Speed Racer the Movie opened in over 3,600 movie theaters in the USA and Speed Racer the NASCAR driven by Stanton Barrett and co-sponsored by Interush, survived a major slam into the wall at over 150 mph to climb back up to 19th position among a field of 43 cars entered.

Despite a less than perfect engine, Stanton Barrett qualified to start in 23rd position (of 43 starting positions) with an average speed of over 172 mph, behind Carl Edwards at 176 mph and Tony Stewart with 175 mph. Carl Stewart had won the pole position but blew a tire and hit the wall early in the race and was unable to return. Tony Stewart went on the win the 200 mile race.

The Darlington race track had just installed a new surface which was very fast, but also proved treacherous for many cars. The Speed Racer/Interush car driven by Stanton Barrett, was no exception as the car spun out of control in the 80th lap and slammed into the wall. Observers thought that this was the end of the race for Stanton, but the pit crew managed to pound out the fenders, repair the fuel filling lines and the car was back on the track, now in 30th position. Over the next 65 laps, Stanton managed to bring the Speed Racer/Interush car all the way back up to a very respectable 19th position.

For Tony Stewart a former IndyCar Racer and now one of the most famous NASCAR racers, this was his first win at the Darlington track, beating Clint Boyer by less than a second.

This very exciting NASCAR race was watched live by millions of fans, while at the same time, millions more poured into over 3,600 US movie theatres to be thrilled by "Speed Racer the Movie". This was the Japanese anime-inspired racing movie that ended up in second place between two other block-buster films, "Iron Man" and "What Happens in Vegas". Speed Racer has received mixed reviews from movie critics due to its high-tech special effects that were often too much for older audiences. However among younger Internet users and gamers, the movie was very highly rated. The film is expected to continue to do well in the USA for the next few weeks, then have a spectacular reception when it opens in Japan, where the Speed Racer inspiration first originated with the classic Japanese cartoon 'Mach GoGoGo'.

"I love the look and style and spirit of this film" Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper. "Speed Racer is one of the most colorful, visual, fun and exhilarating movies I have seen in a while" Kevin McCarthy, CBS Radio

Over the next few months, racing fans will see and hear lots more from both the Speed Racer the Movie, and its Stanton Barrett's a real-life speed racer.

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