NASCAR Nationwide Series News And Notes - Nashville

Series-Only Regulars Ride Hot Streak Into Stand-Alone Season

The start of June signals the true beginning of “stand-alone season” in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Over the next three months, half of the races — seven of 13 — will either feature the NASCAR Nationwide race or have it as the marquee event as opposed to supporting a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Nashville Superspeedway, which kicked off the first of nine stand-alone races on the 2009 schedule in April, also hosts the traditional summer starting point with Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300.

Stand-alone races offer series-only regulars a prime opportunity to shine — and win — since the majority of double-duty drivers who would race at combo events don’t make the back-and-forth trips to the different tracks.

This year, though, series-only regulars haven’t had to wait for the “opportunity” associated with stand alones. Instead, they’ve been making the most of their opportunities in the previous 12 races.

Case in point: Wins in the last two races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway by Mike Bliss (No. 1 Miccosukee Resort Chevrolet) and Brad Keselowski (No. 88 Hellman’s Chevrolet), respectively. Those races, companion events with NASCAR Sprint Cup, averaged 12 double-duty entrants. Those were the first consecutive victories by full time series-only regulars when competing at a companion event since 2003 when Brian Vickers and David Green won in back-to-back fashion at Dover and Kansas Speedway, respectively. Those races averaged 6.5 full time NASCAR Sprint Cup entrants.

A season-low two double-duty drivers will be at Nashville this weekend — but they’re the two who are competing full time in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and in NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Kyle Busch (No. 18 NOS Toyota), the NASCAR Nationwide standings leader, and Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scotts/Ortho Ford), 40 points behind Busch in second, will have to navigate a strong field of regulars along with the travel from Pocono Raceway, site of Sunday’s Pocono 500. Five years ago, Edwards missed the Nashville race as it was postponed to the following day — Pocono race day — due to weather.

Waiting to pounce are the six series-only regulars who reside in the top 10 rankings this week. Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) is third while Keselowski is fifth. Both drivers are primed to make a move. In addition to his win at Dover, Keselowski has seven top-10 finishes in his last eight races, including five top-five results. Leffler has nine top 10s — six consecutive — in his last 10 outings. Both registered their first career series wins in this race — Keselowski last year and Leffler in 2004.

Will Busch’s Luck Turn At Nashville?

Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings. He also leads the series with three wins and in Driver Rating (126.1). He’s led a staggering 1,071 laps on the year, including 349 of a possible 523 in the last three races.

So why would this guy be suffering from bad luck?

For starters, he has no wins in the last three races despite leading a bundle of laps. Leading or poised to strike for the lead in those events, a bizarre series of late-race incidents have helped the proverbial black cloud form over his head.

You can’t make this stuff up:

A flat tire forced him to pit heading to a green-white-checkered restart at Darlington Raceway (he ultimately finished 16th);

Pitting just before a caution cost him — and the bulk of the field — track position at Lowe’s Motor Speedway prior to the race being called complete early due to rain (finished third);

Having a tire issue with three laps to go last week at Dover, resulting in Joey Logano, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, inadvertently punting him from the lead (he finished 17th).

Add to those finishes his record at Nashville, where he has just two top 10s — although one was his runner-up finish in April (he led 77 laps to winner Logano’s 95) — in seven career races.

And it figures that his closest competitor in the points, Carl Edwards, would have the opposite record at the track. Edwards has three wins, seven top fives and seven top 10s in eight career starts there.

Busch and Edwards will have to count on substitute drivers to set up their cars this weekend. Aric Almirola will stand in for Busch while Auggie Vidovich is preparing Edwards’ ride.

NASCAR Nationwide Garage Comes Together For Tornado Victims

As the schedule moves into summer, the racing gets more competitive.

But the start of heated rivalries will take a back seat this weekend throughout the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage.

The series returns to Nashville following its first visit in April, when a series of violent storms rocked the area, resulting in a devastating tornado that destroyed neighborhoods in nearby Murfreesboro. The funnel cloud actually hovered near the track before making a turn and touching down in Murfreesboro.

The day after the April 10 storm struck, the Nationwide Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the Nashville-area chapter of the American Red Cross. Various teams also offered support to the victims, from assisting with clean-up to securing hotel rooms.

This weekend, series sponsor Nationwide Insurance and Nashville Superspeedway along with drivers and teams, will join together to raise funds for the storm victims who are still attempting to rebuild.

Saturday, nearly half the drivers entered for the Federated Auto Parts 300 will participate in an autograph session at the Nationwide display at Expo Row at Nashville Superspeedway from noon – 1 p.m. There, fans can make a donation to the local American Red Cross.

Before the race, there will be competition of a different kind throughout the garage with Nationwide’s “Tornado Relief Fund Team Challenge,” to see which team can raise the most funds, also to benefit the Nashville-area American Red Cross.

ESPN2 will highlight the team that secures the largest donation on its pre-race broadcast which begins at 7 p.m. ET. Race coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Nashville Produces A Parade Of Young Drivers

They’ve already made their series debuts, but this stand-alone season offers Trevor Bayne (No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota), Sean Caisse (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 16 CitiFinancial Ford) the opportunity for progression as NASCAR drivers starting at Nashville.

Bayne and Caisse recently learned that they would have more starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year.

Bayne, 18, a former developmental driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc., made his series debut for Jimmy Means at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. He’s now on board with Michael Waltrip Racing for seven events, all stand-alones except Montreal, plus the August race at Bristol and the November event at Phoenix International Raceway.

He has added incentive this weekend — he’s a native of Knoxville, Tenn., about two hours from Nashville Superspeedway.

Caisse, 23, made his series debut last year at Dover for Kevin Harvick Inc., and is now a developmental driver for RCR. He’s scheduled for a limited number of races this year with an eye on an expanded schedule in 2010.

The 2005 NASCAR Camping World Series East Rookie of the Year, Caisse has seven wins in that series. He’s in one of RCR’s flagship cars and has a champion crew chief to lead him. Dan Deeringhoff took Clint Bowyer to the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver title last year.

Stenhouse Jr. made his series debut at Nashville in April and made an early impression with his fifth-place starting position. He ran in the top 10 most of the day until a late-race incident relegated him to 23rd. He’s set for six more races this year.

A couple of “old” new faces will make their season debuts at Nashville. Brad Coleman (No. 20 Rudys.com Toyota), 21, is back with Joe Gibbs Racing after a one-year hiatus. He’ll drive the defending owner champion car that ranks third in the current owner standings, only 61 points behind the team’s No. 18 Toyota. He made his series debut at Nashville in 2006.

And Cale Gale is back for one more turn in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet. Gale, 24, has competed in 20 races over the last two seasons for KHI, and will move over to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for the remainder of the season following this race. He’ll be the first of four different drivers in the No. 33 Chevy during the month of June.

IN THE LOOP

Can “Concrete Carl” Regain His Nashville Crown?

Two statistical storylines always spring up when the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits Nashville Superspeedway: “Concrete Carl” and “Standalone Standouts.”

Carl Edwards has earned the nickname “Concrete Carl” for good reason, and his success at Nashville is a prime reason for the handle’s origination.

Edwards has run at Nashville eight times – seven of those resulted in top-five finishes. Three of those were victories. His worst finish at Nashville was a still-impressive 13th, in last season’s June event.

In his Nashville career, Edwards has a Driver Rating of 118.2, an Average Running Position of 5.7, 229 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 96.3%.

Nashville also signals the beginning of stand-alone season where the series does not share the weekend with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This often means that series-only regulars shine, as victories by Brad Keselowski and Scott Wimmer (No. 40 Federated Auto Parts/Stoprepairbills.com Chevrolet) last season would prove.

A number of series-only regulars pepper this weekend’s entry list. And many of those have strong stats at Nashville.

Chief among those is Wimmer, who has done most of his Nashville damage in the No. 29 car. This weekend, he’ll be in the No. 40. Still, look for a solid run from Wimmer. He has a Nashville Driver Rating of 106.2 and an Average Running Position of 10.0.

Other series-only regulars with strong stats:

Kelly Bires (No. 91 MSRP Chevrolet): Driver Rating of 94.6 and an Average Running Position of 11.2

Stephen Leicht (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet): Driver Rating of 93.1 and an Average Running Position of 10.7

Michael McDowell No. 47 Constructionjobs.com Toyota): Driver Rating of 91.9 and an Average Running Position of 10.3

Mike Bliss: Driver Rating of 89.8 and an Average Running Position of 13.2

Brad Keselowski: Driver Rating of 85.2 and an Average Running Position of 18.8.

NNS Etc.

At Home In Tennessee

In addition to Knoxville’s Trevor Bayne, Tennessee natives will be working throughout the garage at Nashville Superspeedway.

Some include:

Casey Atwood (Antioch) — No. 05 driver

Stewart Cooper (Mt. Juliet) — No. 10 crew chief

Scott French (Knoxville) — NASCAR Nationwide Series Advance Logistics & Race Coordinator

Bobby Hamilton Jr. (Nashville) – No. 81 driver; No. 24 co-owner

Burney Lamar (Brentwood resident) — No. 32 driver

Kevin Moss (Mt. Juliet) — NASCAR Nationwide Series Technical Inspector / Flagman

John Reese (Mt. Juliet) – No. 27 car chief

Rocky Ryan (former Nashville resident) — No. 29 spotter

Jeff White (Nashville) – No. 27 engineer

Butch Waugh (Smyrna) – No. 27 rear tire carrier Shepherd Up For Talladega Walk Of Fame

Morgan Shepherd (No. 89 Eldora Speedway-Lagina Plumbing Chevrolet) is among 13 active drivers — the sole NASCAR Nationwide Series-only regular — up for a place among the “all-star” drivers voted by fans along the Davey Allison Memorial-Walk of Fame.

Shepherd, who has 770 starts in each of NASCAR’s three national series, has raced 38 times at Talladega, five in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Fans can vote online at www.talladegawalk.com through July 15. The 2009 induction ceremony will be held Oct. 31.

“Incredible Hero” Helps Save Mother, Baby

When Herman Patton was crossing the Jubilee Bridge in Nashville this past Easter morning on his way to church, he noticed a car stopped on the wrong side of the bridge. After stopping to check on the driver, he realized she was in labor and in danger. Cynthia Price was losing blood quickly, and her baby was being born the wrong way — feet first.

Patton dialed 911 and stayed with Price until help came. Only 30 minutes later, Malik Isaiah was born at Baptist Hospital.

Had Patton not stopped to assist, Price would have bled to death according to hospital staff.

Patton will be recognized as an “Incredible Hero” as part of the America’s Incredible Pizza Co. season-long program at cities in which the NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

He will be the guest of the No. 11 AIPC Toyota team of Scott Lagasse Jr. on Saturday.

Steve Wallace Hits 100

Steve Wallace (No. 66 5 Hour Energy Chevrolet) reaches a career milestone this weekendat Nashville — his 100th career series start.

Wallace, 21, made his debut at Memphis Motorsports Park in 2005. He made his first top 10 apperance in the points earlier this year and is currently ranked 12th, 58 points out of 10th.

Rookies: A Tie At The Top

The Raybestos Rookie competition may be heading toward a two-man race.

Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 USFidelis Chevrolet) and Justin Allgaier (No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge) are tied for the lead and may be in prime position to pull away from a talented rookie group.

Michael McDowell is third, 11 points out of the lead, which is the largest deficit between first and second place this season.

None of those three drivers had a particularly good outing at Nashville in April. But Allgaier may have added incentive. He’ll be celebrating his 23rd birthday on race day.

Close Quarters In Manufacturer’s Race

After 12 races, only three points separate first from third in the Bill France Performance Cup standings.

Three of the four manufacturers — Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford — have led the standings at least once this season.

Toyota’s win with Joey Logano at Nashville in April broke a two-race Chevrolet winning streak at the track. It was the first win in series competition there by Toyota. Each of the current manufacturers in the series has won at Nashville Superspeedway at least once.

Chevrolet has the most wins at the track with seven, the most recent coming last year at this race by Brad Keselowski.

Up Next: Kentucky Speedway

The track that’s become known as the place where series-only regulars rule, Kentucky Speedway, hosts the Meijer 300 presented by Ritz on Saturday, June 13.

Over the last three years, series-only regulars have won, including last season when Joey Logano became the youngest driver in NASCAR Nationwide Series history to win at 18 years, 21 days. It was just his third series start.

Stephen Leicht pulled a stunner in 2007, and David Gilliland won what is arguably one of the most memorable races in series history in 2006. Running for a part-time team, Gilliland outran a field that included eight double-duty drivers.

ESPN2 will carry the race beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

FAST FACTS

The Race: Federated Auto Parts 300

The Place: Nashville Superspeedway

The Date: Saturday, June 6

The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Distance: 300 miles / 225 laps

TV: ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET

Radio: Sirius NASCAR Radio / MRN

2008 Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

2008 Polesitter: Joey Logano

Event Schedule (all times CT):

Friday—Practice 5-6:15 p.m.; Final Practice 6:45-8 p.m. / Saturday—Qualifying 1:35 p.m.

For Immediate Release

NASCAR Nationwide Series News And Notes - Lowe's Motor Speedway

Keselowski’s Stand A Springboard For Success

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 19, 2009) - Last year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch (No. 18 NOS Toyota) won the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, but Brad Keselowski (No. 88 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet) won respect.

The memorable stand he made during — and especially following — the race also seemed to serve as an ignition switch, blasting the 25-year-old into a new competitive stratosphere.

Late in the event, Denny Hamlin, one of 14 double-duty drivers competing, felt NASCAR Nationwide Series-only regular Keselowski hadn’t give him enough racing room and gave a bump to the No. 88 to show his displeasure. Keselowski and his JR Motorsports team took exception, especially owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 5 Klondike Chevrolet), who gave Hamlin a retaliatory bump of his own. The on-track incidents led to fisticuffs between the teams’ crews on pit road after the race.

One of the memorable quotes from the 2008 season followed at the tense post-race press conference with Hamlin, who finished second, and Keselowski, who was third, at the podium.

"I race one day a week, not two," Keselowski said. "I have 200 laps to prove myself, not 400. I have to make the most of every lap."

Since that confrontation, he’s certainly taken advantage of his races and laps, and has indeed proven himself.

Dating back to this race last year, Keselowski has secured two wins (including his first career victory), his first career pole, 13 top fives and 21 top 10s in NASCAR Nationwide competition. He also won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with his stunning frontstretch dash to the finish last month at Talladega Superspeedway in only his fifth start in the premier series. He’s the leader of a resurgent group of series-only regulars, six of whom are currently ranked in the top 10.

“The spring race at Lowe’s last year was a race that stands out in my mind for a few different reasons,” Keselowski said. “For one, it proved to a lot of people that my team and I were not going to back down to anyone — Cup driver, Nationwide driver or otherwise — and I think that was evident during the race.

“I knew my team and team owner, who was also my teammate that night, were behind me. It was kind of the same situation as this year at Talladega, with me holding my ground against Carl (Edwards) to win the race. In both situations, I feel that I made the right decision.”

Looking Back At Leffler’s Charlotte / Indy Double

After participating in a Goodyear tire test at Iowa Speedway during last week’s open date on the competition schedule, Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) took the short jaunt to Indianapolis to visit family and friends. He also took in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.

He encouraged fellow NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Stanton Barrett (No. 31 Circle K-Thirst Buster Chevrolet), who was attempting to pull an LMS / Indy double. Barrett, who’s competing full-time in the IndyCar Series this year while also running a limited NASCAR Nationwide schedule, would have to qualify on time for both the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 and the Indy 500. Unfortunately, he fell short of his Indy quest, failing during last Saturday’s last-chance Bump Day.

Leffler, though, has a much better memory of his “double” in 2000.

That year, Leffler was in his first season as a 24-year-old rookie in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. His start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 27, 2000, was his first at the track in national series competition. He led three laps and finished 21st, one lap down.

The next day, he was at the Brickyard, running as a rookie in the Indianapolis 500 for Treadway Racing. He finished 17th, the third-highest rookie finisher in the race behind Jacques Lazier (13th) and the race winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, one of many open-wheel alums who has made the switch to NASCAR.

Interestingly, Leffler finished ahead of another rookie who has also since moved from open-wheel to stock car racing. That driver had a pretty good showing at LMS last week by winning the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and transferring into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Sam Hornish Jr. was 24th. He would go on to win the Indy 500 in 2006 — the same year he made his NASCAR debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Sentiment Aside, Standings Leader Busch Tries For Three Consecutive Wins At LMS

Kyle Busch may not be known as a sentimental type, but he may just have a soft spot tucked away when it comes to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

He made his series debut at this race in 2003, starting fifth and finishing second for team owner Joe Nemechek (No. 87 NEMCO Chevrolet), the 1992 series champion. Nemechek won this race in 1997.

Busch’s results since then are well documented: 24 NASCAR Nationwide wins (tied for fifth all-time), the most among his 50 national series victories.

His four wins at LMS — three in this race tying Mark Martin’s event record — are the most he’s accumulated at any one track in NASCAR Nationwide competition. He swept the 2008 races there and will try to become the third driver to win three straight, joining Rob Moroso (1988-89) and Martin (1995-96).

He’s also got Martin’s all-time record for wins (six) at LMS in his sights.

His excellence at this track comes at an opportune time. Busch has seen his lead in the series standings dwindle to 37 points over Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scotts Ford), the lowest his advantage has been over the second-place driver since he led Edwards by 20 points following Busch’s victory at Auto Club Speedway in February.

Edwards won this race in 2006, but has an average finish of 21.7 in his other three May events. Aside from his trio of victories, Busch has an average finish of 13.6 in his other three May races at LMS.

JD Motorsports Brings Sentimental Favorite Back To NASCAR

It started as a minor associate sponsorship deal between seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Earnhardt and his famed No. 3 Chevrolet and a soda beverage bottler out of the Charlotte, N.C. area.

A decade later, Sun Drop Citrus Soda — Earnhardt was known to buy 10 cases at a time — makes its return to NASCAR this weekend at Charlotte-based Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The sponsor will adorn the hood of the No. 01 Chevrolet of JD Motorsports and driver Danny O’Quinn Jr., the 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

Sun Drop is scheduled as the primary sponsor on the No. 01 for a limited number of races this season. The marketing package between JDM and Choice USA Beverage Inc. will also include a show car, apparel, die casts and stand-up displays — big ones — of O’Quinn, who is well over 6-feet tall.

“This is a great opportunity for Sun Drop to get back in racing,” said Choice USA President Jay Falls. “We loved racing and teaming up with Dale Sr., but JD Motorsports and Danny will represent our brand well. We couldn’t be more excited about it.”

In The Loop

Slow And Steady Really May Win The Race — Just Ask Logano

Slowly – and quietly – Joey Logano (No. 18 GameStop Toyota) is living up to the unbelievable hype that surrounded him as soon as the belts snapped him into his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway last season.

It was one year ago on May 24 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that he celebrated his 18th birthday, signaling the start to his national series career.

He won quickly – it took only three races for him to claim his first victory in the NASCAR Nationwide race at Kentucky Speedway – but 2009 brought new challenges. Logano joined the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on a full-time basis and early polls said the jump might have been harder than expected.

But slowly, he has come around on the NASCAR Sprint Cup side, scoring two top 10s in the last three races.

He has the NASCAR Nationwide Series to thank for that. Except for one race this year – at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Logano has pulled double duty all season. Despite missing that one race, he’s fourth in the standings, 199 points out of first.

It’s that kind of seat time that hastened the learning curve (see: Juan Pablo Montoya, 2007). It’s also the confidence that bloomed with each passing successful NASCAR Nationwide race. Ask David Ragan (No. 6 Discount Tire Ford), who was a prime example in 2007-08.

Figure on another similar scenario this weekend in Charlotte.

In his only LMS race last season, Logano thrived racing against a number of double-duty drivers. His 14th-place finish last October was solid, but the result itself was not indicative of how he actually performed throughout the event.

In that race, Logano had a Driver Rating of 101.4, an Average Running Position of 10.8, 12 Fastest Laps Run and 32 laps led.

Also on the youngster front – watch for a strong run from Raybestos Rookie Scott Lagasse Jr. (No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Co. Toyota).

Lagasse scored a 13th-place finish in his only LMS race, also last October. In that event, he had a Driver Rating of 76.0 and an Average Running Position of 18.9, solid stats for a first-time visit.

NNS Etc.

Make Room For Burton In “300 Club”

When he starts the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, Jeff Burton (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet) — the self-proclaimed “Nationwide driver who happens to be driving on Sundays” — will become the 13th driver in series history to start 300 races.

Burton made his series debut on March 13, 1988, at Martinsville Speedway for his father, John. His race lasted only two laps due to a blown engine. He finished last.

Twenty years later, Burton has more than made up for that inauspicious start. He’s collected 27 wins (fourth all-time), 11 poles, 88 top fives and 147 top 10s in Nationwide Series competition and has blossomed into one of the top drivers — and garage spokesmen — in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

He’s got three series wins at LMS.

Nationwide “Driving While Distracted” Campaign Begins; Petty Is Spokesperson

Series sponsor Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR veteran Kyle Petty have joined to raise awareness of DWD — “Driving Whille Distracted.”

The national campaign, in conjunction with the series, begins its second year this week with the first of seven events conducted at high schools in cities where the series races. Petty and Roush Fenway Racing teammates David Ragan and Erik Darnell will be at New Technology High School at Garinger in Charlotte on Friday at 1:15 p.m.

The program pushes messages to young drivers that multitasking behind the wheel is a dangerous practice. Students will be able to learn firsthand from Petty and series drivers the impact of a short attention span by utilzing a NASCAR simulator.

Hockey-Crazy MacDonald Supports ‘Canes

The NASCAR Nationwide Series season may be at the quarter pole, but hockey season is in full playoff mode. And Randy MacDonald, owner of the No. 81 D.H. Griffin - Go 'Canes Dodge driven this week by Kevin Hamlin, couldn’t be happier keeping up with both.

MacDonald was a standout youth hockey player in Canada, and was inducted into the Clarington Sports Hall of Fame two years ago for his hockey accomplishments at the Junior level.

He’s a huge Carolina Hurricanes fan and will have the team’s logo on the No. 81 as he supports their run for the Eastern Conference championship against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I’ve been going to the Hurricanes games since they arrived in Greensboro in 1997,” MacDonald said. When (they won) last Thursday’s dramatic 3-2 game, we had to incorporate the ’Canes into the race at LMS.”

"The Hurricanes are delighted that MacDonald Motorsports (is) supporting their current run to the Stanley Cup,” said Ben Aycock, Director of Marketing and Brand Development for the team.

Stout’s Volunteers Try For Team Debut

The 51 cars vying for 43 spots Saturday night represent the most entries for any of the 11 races thus far in 2009. An average of 48 cars have entered each race this year.

JC Stout and his all-volunteer No. 19 Stellar-Quest Racing team will try to break into the field and make the organization’s series debut. Stout has five career starts for Johnny Davis — two this year. All but six of his 25 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts since 2003 have also been for Stellar-Quest.

Brandon Knupp (No. 75 Schacht Motorsports Chevrolet), with nine NASCAR Camping World Truck starts since 2007 — five this year including last Friday at LMS where he was a career-best 23rd — will attempt his series debut.

Allgaier, Lagasse Jr. Lead Rookies

Justin Allgaier (No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge) has what this season is a commanding lead in the rookie rankings; he’s seven points ahead of second-place Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), who has cooled off following a hot start. His average finish over the last three races is 27.6. Scott Lagasse Jr. and Michael McDowell (No. 47 Tom’s Toyota) are both eight points back.

This week, it’s Lagasse who’s best among the strong rookie class in its season-long joust among the top 10 in the point standings. He’s eighth, while Allgaier is six points out in ninth.

Up Next: Dover International Speedway

Last year, it was Joey Logano who made the headlines as far as his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Dover.

Next week, one of Logano’s former challengers in the NASCAR Camping World Series East prepares for his next step up the national series ladder.

Jeffrey Earnhardt, a third-generation driver, will attempt to debut at a track where his grandfather, Dale, and uncle, Dale Jr., have a combined six wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series. He’ll drive for Rick Ware Racing.

Logano finished sixth in his highly-anticipated debut for Joe Gibbs Racing.

His JGR teammates, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, have won the last three races at Dover. Hamlin won the fall 2007 race and this event last year while Busch won the 2008 fall race at the Monster Mile from the pole.

ABC will carry the Heluva Good! 200 beginning at 2 p.m. ET. The race will be the third of four to be broadcast on ABC this season.

FAST FACTS

The Race: CARQUEST 300

The Place: Lowe’s Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, May 23

The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Distance: 300 miles / 200 laps

TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET

Radio: Sirius XM Radio / PRN

2008 Winner: Kyle Busch

2008 Pole: Brian

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For Immediate Release

Kerry and Jeffrey Earnhardt Join Rick Ware Racing In NASCAR Nationwide Series

Seems like old times – with a touch of the future thrown in.

Kerry and Jeffrey Earnhardt have joined Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Kerry will debut with the organization April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in the No 31 Chevrolet. His son Jeffrey, 19, is scheduled to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Dover International Speedway May 30.

Kerry, son of the legendary seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, has 70 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and has three top fives and six top-10 finishes. He competed full-time in the series in 2002, finishing 22nd in the standings. He last raced in the series in 2008.

Jeffery has experience in the NASCAR Camping World Series East where he was fifth in the standings as a rookie in 2007 and finished 15th in the rankings last year.

Both father and son will be paired with former NASCAR champion crew chief Paul Andrews until they do battle at Atlanta Motor Speedway this fall. At that juncture, Clyde McCloud will serve as crew chief for the younger Earnhardt.

Atlanta also will highlight three Earnhardts in series competition. Jeffrey’s uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., a two-time series champion, also is slated to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race there.

Jeffrey will race a progressive schedule this year, running in seven events from a 1-mile track to a 2-mile oval as he prepares for the 2010 season and a Raybestos Rookie of the Year campaign.

He also will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, becoming the first Earnhardt to race in a NASCAR-sanctioned event in Canada.

The Earnhardts will be driving in events when Stanton Barrett will be competing in IRL races. The No. 31 will be the organization’s primary car and the No. 41 Chevrolet will be the second car for races in which Barrett, Tim Andrews, Travis Kittleson, Tim Brown (a seven-time track champion at Bowman-Gray Stadium in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Division) or Jeffrey compete.

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For Immediate Release

NASCAR Nationwide Series News & Notes - Open Week

Seems Like Old Times With The Future In Tow

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2009) - Kerry and Jeffrey Earnhardt have joined Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Kerry will debut with the organization April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in the No 31 Chevrolet. His son Jeffrey, 19, is scheduled to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut May 30 at Dover International Speedway.

Kerry, son of the legendary seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, has 70 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with three top fives and six top-10 finishes. He competed fulltime in the series in 2002, finishing 22nd in points. He last raced in the series in 2008.

Jeffery has experience in the NASCAR Camping World Series East where he was fifth in the standings as a rookie in 2007 and finished 15th last year. Both father and son will be paired with former NASCAR champion crew chief Paul Andrews until they do battle at Atlanta Motor Speedway this fall. At that juncture, Clyde McCloud will serve as crew chief for the younger Earnhardt.

Atlanta also will highlight three Earnhardts in series competition. Jeffrey’s uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., a two-time series champion, also is slated to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race there. Jeffrey will race a progressive schedule this year, running seven events from a 1-mile track to a 2-mile oval as he prepares for the 2010 season and a Raybestos Rookie of the Year campaign. The Earnhardts will be driving in events when Stanton Barrett will be competing in IRL races. The No. 31 will be the organization’s primary car and the No. 41 Chevrolet will be the second car for races in which Barrett, Tim Andrews, Travis Kittleson, Tim Brown (seven-time NASCAR Whelen Modified track champion) or Jeffrey compete.

New Faces In Top 10 Hoping To Create Stir

It may be status quo for drivers atop the NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings, with Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scott’s/Save-A-Lot Ford) leading for the second straight week and into the series’ next race at Texas.

But for series-only regulars, the newest top 10 shows several drivers who haven’t spent much time there in their careers, or who haven’t been there in awhile.

Kenny Wallace (No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet) hasn’t been in the top 10 since 2006. Currently, he’s ninth. It’s also the first time Jay Robinson Racing has had a driver crack the top 10 in its 10-year history.

Wallace is one of five series-only regulars in this week’s top 10. The highest-ranking driver also is the highest-ranking rookie, Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Casino Chevrolet). He won his first career series pole at Bristol Motor Speedway last Saturday and is one of three rookies — eighth-place Justin Allgaier (No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge) and 10th-place Scott Lagasse Jr. (No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Co. Toyota — in the top 10. This marks the first time since 2006 three rookies maintained that ranking simultaneously (Edwards, Reed Sorenson and Denny Hamlin). Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) is the other series-only regular in the top 10.

Open Weekend Comes Before Key Six-Race Stretch

For NASCAR Nationwide Series competitors, March has been similar to spring break. This weekend will be the third open week for the series this year, and all three have come during March. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Bristol have been the two tracks that have hosted races this month. So competitors better enjoy this weekend; it will be the last free one for awhile.

April 4 at Texas will kick off a string of six consecutive race weekends for the series, the longest such string of the season thus far. And all upcoming races will be on different types of tracks. Following Texas, the last of three consecutive events, are races at the 1.33-mile concrete Nashville Superspeedway (April 11), the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway (April 17), the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway (April 25), the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway (May 1) and the 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway (May 8). The series’ next break will come during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend.

The six-week stretch isn’t the longest of 2009, however. Teams will compete for 17 consecutive weekends between May 23 — Sept. 11.

After Texas, You’re Either In Or You’re Out

A lot will be determined at Texas in terms of who will have to qualify on time or will be locked into the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300 at Nashville the following week. In fact, a top-10 finish at Texas doesn’t automatically guarantee a starting position at Nashville.

The O’Reilly 300 will be the last race in which teams finishing in the top 30 in the 2008 owner point standings will be guaranteed a starting spot. After Texas, the top 30 in the 2009 owner points will be guaranteed starters.

Currently, teams occupying positions 25-30 are separated by only 24 points, and 32-37 are separated by 44 points. That’s 12 positions separated by 64 points. Fulltime teams on the bubble, or those on the outside looking in, include, in order of position:

Drivers in peril: Brandon Whitt (No. 61 Specialty Racing Ford), Danny O’Quinn Jr. (No. 01 JD Motorsports Chevrolet), DJ Kennington (No. 81 Northern Provincial Pipeline Dodge), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89 Victory In Jesus Chevrolet), Michael Annett (No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers/Hype Energy Drink Toyota) and the duo of Robert Richardson Jr./Ken Butler III (No. 23 R3 Motorsports Chevrolet) are 30 through 25 in reverse order, respectively.

On their heels: Scott Wimmer (No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet), 31st; Kenny Hendrick (No. 42 Smith-Ganassi Dodge), 32nd and Brian Keselowski (No. 26 K-Automotive Chevrolet), 34th, all are within 36 points of 30th.

In The Loop: Could Harvick’s Bristol Victory Spell Championship Run?

The moment Kevin Harvick’s own No. 33 KHI Chevrolet crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else at Bristol, one immediate question arose – Will he decide to run for a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship?

Harvick admitted the thought crept into his mind, but quickly dismissed it during post-race interviews.

But the idea’s intriguing, especially when you look at his statistics after four races. Aside from sitting second in the standings behind Carl Edwards, Harvick ranks in the top three in every key Loop Data category.

Harvick has an Average Running Position of 7.4 (third-best), a Driver Rating of 113.5 (third), 58 Fastest Laps Run (third), the third-best average Green Flag Speed rank, a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 85.9 (second) and 194 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), which is third-most.

Harvick’s success is not a huge surprise. But rookie Brendan Gaughan’s is.

Gaughan made the jump to the NASCAR Nationwide Series after a successful NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. So far, the transition has been smooth.

Gaughan sits in fourth place, best of any NASCAR Nationwide-only driver. He has a Driver Rating of 87.9, an Average Running Position of 15.3, 11 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 61.2.

Still, Gaughan isn’t running away with the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. In fact, he’s not even leading those standings. That honor belongs to Penske Racing’s Justin Allgaier. He’s well inside the top 10, sitting in a surprising eighth after his first career top-five finish last Saturday at Bristol.

Through the first four races, Allgaier has a Driver Rating of 89.1, an Average Running Position of 13.7, 25 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 84.2. All those stats are better than Gaughan’s.

Keselowski Looks to Rebound

Four different drivers have won poles and another four have won races through four events in 2009. However, one of those names has not been Keselowski.

In fact, Brad Keselowski (No. 88 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet) is 15th in the standings after ranking 11th at this time last year. He’s been involved in four incidents in 2009 — many not of his doing — and those have put a damper on his title run. Keselowski was a preseason championship favorite.

But there’s no need to fret, at least not yet. Keselowski jumped five positions between races five and six in 2008, and by season’s halfway point was second. There is no indicator he won’t accomplish the feat again. Keselowski was seventh at Texas last November.

Parrott Still Mentoring Young Drivers

Brad Parrott has had a long history of helping up-and-coming drivers in NASCAR. He assisted a young Carl Edwards early in his career, and also worked with Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Bryan Clauson, who contested for the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.

Now, Parrott is working with John Wes Townley (No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford), a 19-year-old driver from Watkinsville, Ga., who debuted in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition last season. Townley is one of several drivers on the verge of getting his team into the top 30 in owner points.

Parrott was hired on to be the crew chief for RAB Racing following the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and so far, he and Townley have a best finish of 16th together at Bristol. Parrott has 18 victories in NASCAR Nationwide competition.

NNS Etc.

Keeping Busy This Week: They may not be competeing in NASCAR Nationwide Series action this weekend, but two rookies are going to be keeping busy.

Scott Lagasse Jr. and crew chief Paul Wolfe will head to Panama City, Fla., to relax and come up with a game plan for the remainder of 2009. Lagasse is 10th in the point standings.

Another rookie, John Wes Townley, will be competing in a Late Model race at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga. The race will be 100 laps around the half-mile track.

Busch Looking to Keep Momentum Going: Since the first weekend of points-paying competition in NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Kyle Busch (No. 18 Z-Lines Design Toyota) has won at least one race. If that trend continues this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Texas could also bode well. Busch won both NASCAR Nationwide races at Texas last year. He also won the O’Reilly 300 in 2006.

Peyton Sellers Making Nationwide Debut: Peyton Sellers (No. 77 SFP Chevrolet), who won the NASCAR Whelen All-American National championship in 2005 to become the series’ youngest-ever champion, will make his NASCAR Nationwide debut at Texas, the first of 10 scheduled races.

Sellers, 25, is part-owner of a newly formed team, Cardinal Motorsports. His brother, H.C. Sellers, will be the team’s crew chief.

Bowyer Out, Burton In: Jeff Burton will return to the cockpit of the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet at Texas, replacing 2008 series champion Clint Bowyer. Burton has never won at Texas in NASCAR Nationwide competition, but owns two NASCAR Sprint Cup victories, including the inaugural race there in 1997.

Bowyer, on the other hand, will be a guest on NBC’s The Biggest Loser: Couples, between 9 - 11 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 24.

Start First Doesn’t Mean Finish First: Just because a driver starts first doesn’t mean he will finish there. In fact, no driver in 16 NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Texas Motor Speedway has won the race from the pole. Twice the winner has come from a second-place start.

Chevrolet Atop Standings

With Kevin Harvick’s victory at Bristol, Chevrolet broke a three-way with Ford and Toyota to lead the manufacturer standings heading into the O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

2009 Manufacturer's Championship Standings

Chevrolet - 28

Ford - 25

Toyota - 22

Dodge - 13

Up Next: Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the first of two events at the 1.5-mile track located in Ft. Worth.

ESPN2 will carry the O’Reilly 300 live on April 4 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with the NASCAR Countdown pre-race show. Race coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET.

Kyle Busch swept both races at Texas last year but he’ll have to fend off the challenge of Kevin Harvick, who will not only have come off his first win of the season in the previous race at Bristol, but is the all-time winner in series races at Texas (four). In fact, prior to his Bristol win last week, Harvick’s last series victory was at Texas in the fall race in 2007.

Fast Facts

Next Race: O’Reilly 300

The Place: Texas Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, April 4

The Time: 3 p.m. ET

The Distance: 200 laps / 300 miles

TV: ESPN2, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: Sirius NASCAR Radio / PRN

2008 Race Winner: Kyle Busch

2008 Polesitter: Kevin Harvick (via final 2008 owner points; qualifying rained out)

Event Schedule (all times CT): Thursday—Practice 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Final Practice 1-2:00 p.m.; Qualifying 6:05 p.m.

DRIVER STANDINGS

1 Carl Edwards - 690

2 Kevin Harvick - 576

3 Kyle Busch - 566

4 Brendan Gaughan - 512

5 David Ragan - 493

6 Jason Leffler - 488

7 Brian Vickers - 467

8 Justin Allgaier - 466

9 Kenny Wallace - 437

10 Scott Lagasse Jr. - 423

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