Chris Buescher to attempt first NNS start at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weeekend

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Chris Buescher will attempt to make his first start at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) this weekend.

The 20-year-old driver has competed in three races this season and has been the highest finishing Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang in each of those races. Buescher finished seventh at Bristol Motor Speedway, 17th at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) and 12th at Darlington Raceway.

In 2012 Buescher participated in the full ARCA schedule, earning the ARCA Championship with four wins, 12 top-fives and 16 top-10s in the 19 race season. Overall, in five seasons of ARCA Racing, Buescher has made 54 starts, with one Championship, nine wins, 32 top-fives and 42 top-10s.

The driver of the No. 16 Ford Mustang teams up with Seth Barbour, who will serve as Crew Chief. Barbour most recently worked as an Engineer on the RFR No. 6 team. In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, the No. 16 Ford Mustang will run a patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme.

JR Motorsports fills empty NNS seat at RIR with family

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Jeffrey Earnhardt – photo by Sandi Goodall / Racingal.com

JR Motorsports has announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt, nephew to team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fourth-generation racer to make first start for family-owned team, will drive the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the April 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. The announcement was made on JRM 360, a weekly video series housed on the team’s official website, JRMracing.com.

“Richmond happens to be one of the few races that neither Kasey Kahne nor Brad Sweet are scheduled to drive the No. 5 car because it’s not a Great Clips-sponsored race. Dale and I were discussing our options for that weekend,” stated Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “It was his idea to put Jeffrey in the car and let him drive our equipment. I loved the idea, and everyone in the company – as soon as they heard it – did too. It’s only a one-race deal but something that could really help Jeffrey if he does well.”

Watch announcement

Jefferey Earnhardt on the response from fans: “My phone has been blowing up. The response has been incredible. I received a lot of text messages and tweets from people in NASCAR, and the fans have been great. Between my grandfather, my dad, and Dale Jr., there is such a huge fan base that is very supportive of my family. I just appreciate the opportunity. I can’t wait. I wish the Richmond race weekend was tomorrow.”

NOTES

Jeffrey Earnhardt is only the second fourth-generation racer to compete in NASCAR’s top touring divisions. Adam Petty was the first.

The 23-year-old Earnhardt is son to Kerry Earnhardt (NASCAR racer from 1998-2009), grandson to seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1975-2001), and great-grandson to 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt (1956-64).

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in 14 career Nationwide Series races. He made his first start on Aug. 8, 2009, at Watkins Glen International.

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in four of five Nationwide Series races in 2013 for Archie St. Hilaire and Go Green Racing. He recorded a season-best 20th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2.

This will mark Jeffrey Earnhardt’s first-ever race with JR Motorsports.

Jeffrey Earnhardt’s racing résumé also includes 10 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, all of which came in 2010 and 2011.

Richmond International Raceway has been a hotbed for Earnhardt success. Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each have six wins at the three-quarter-mile facility. (Dale Sr.: CUP – Feb. 24, 1985; NNS – Sept. 6, 1986; CUP – March 8, 1987; CUP – Sept. 13, 1987; CUP – Sept. 9, 1990; CUP – Feb. 24, 1991). Dale Jr.: NNS – Sept. 11, 1998; NNS – Sept. 10, 1999; CUP – March 6, 2000; NNS – Sept. 6, 2002; CUP – March 15, 2004; CUP – May 6, 2006).

The No. 5 Chevrolet is typically occupied by Kasey Kahne or Brad Sweet as part of a 28-race Great Clips-sponsored package. Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver to race the No. 5 this year (Phoenix on March 2).

JR Motorsports PR

Update from RPM on Michael Annett

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Karen Pistone

CONCORD, N.C. (March 1, 2013) – After a successful surgery to repair a fractured and dislocated sternum, Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett has been released from the hospital in Charlotte, N.C. He is now resting at his home.

The news is encouraging and is ahead of schedule. Doctors expect a two month recovery time, but Annett has responded quickly to all treatment so far and is hopeful to return sooner.

Richard Petty Motorsports Press Release

Richard Petty Motorsports Medical Update on Michael Annett

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Concord, N.C. (February 26, 2013) – After further evaluation by two different doctors in North Carolina, it has been determined that Richard Petty Motorsports driver Michael Annett has suffered a fracture and dislocation of his sternum. He will immediately undergo surgery for his injuries in Charlotte. He suffered the injury as a result of an accident during Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Annett will not be able to compete for an indefinite amount of time as he heals from the surgery. Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola will drive the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford this weekend at the Phoenix International Raceway as the team evaluates its options moving forward.

Richard Petty Motorsports’ primary concern is the health of Annett and getting him the proper treatment he needs for a full recovery.

NASCAR Nationwide Series releases 2013 schedule

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR today announced the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a lineup that includes a trip to Mid-Ohio for the first time in series history.

Mid-Ohio, a 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course in Lexington, marks the return of NASCAR national series racing to Ohio, the home state of the series’ Columbus-based entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance. Mid-Ohio’s Aug. 17 addition fortifies the series’ trio of challenging road courses, joining Road America (June 22) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 10).

NASCAR national series racing last competed in Ohio in 2008, with the running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Mansfield Motorsports Park. GRAND-AM Road Racing has raced at Mid-Ohio since 2000.

The balance of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide schedule, the series’ 32nd season, maintains a familiar feel, with a strong mix of short tracks, road courses, intermediate race tracks and superspeedways.

Daytona International Speedway hosts the season opener on Feb. 23. That race also will feature the introduction of Chevrolet’s Camaro into the series. The series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway is set for Nov. 16.

Next season’s schedule includes six “standalone” race dates: Iowa Speedway (June 8 and Aug. 3), Chicagoland Speedway (July 21), Kentucky Speedway (Sept. 21), Road America and Mid-Ohio.

Kentucky’s first NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 28, one of 27 companion weekends with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, also will be the qualifying event for the 2013 “Dash 4 Cash” bonus program. The subsequent four races make up the 2013 “Dash 4 Cash” events: Daytona on July 5; New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 13; Chicagoland and the Brickyard.

2013 NNS Schedule

Date	Track	Date	Track

Feb. 23	Daytona	July 21	Chicagoland
March 2	Phoenix	July 27	Indianapolis
March 9	Las Vegas	Aug. 3	Iowa
March 16	Bristol	Aug. 10	Watkins Glen
March 23	Auto Club	Aug. 17	Mid-Ohio
April 12	Texas	Aug. 23	Bristol
April 26	Richmond	Aug. 31	Atlanta
May 4	Talladega	Sept. 6	Richmond
May 10	Darlington	Sept. 14	Chicagoland
May 25	Charlotte	Sept. 21	Kentucky
June 1	Dover	Sept. 28	Dover
June 8	Iowa	Oct. 5	Kansas
June 15	Michigan	Oct. 11	Charlotte
June 22	Road America	Nov. 2	Texas
June 28	Kentucky	Nov. 9	Phoenix
July 5	Daytona	Nov. 16	Homestead
July 13	New Hampshire

Clinch scenarios for each NASCAR series

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Brad Keselowski clinches his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship with a finish of 15th or better; or 16th and at least one lap led; or 17th and the most laps led, even if Johnson wins and leads the most laps.

All other drivers have been eliminated from championship consideration.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who leads by 20 points over second-place Elliott Sadler, will clinch the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship with a finish of 16th or better; or 17th or better with at least one lap led; or 18th or better with most laps led at Homestead.

In the owners championship battle, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota guarantees a clinch of the title with a finish of 28th or better; or 29th or better with at least one lap led; or 30th or better with the most laps led. The No 18 currently leads the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford by 33 points.

* * * * * * * * * *

James Buescher has an 11-point lead over Timothy Peters heading into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finale. Buescher guarantees himself his first championship with a finish of 7th or better with no laps led; or 8th or better with one lap led; or 9th or better with the most laps led.

The clinch scenarios for the NCWTS owners championship is the same, with Buescher’s points-leading No. 31 leading Peters’ No. 17 by 11 points.

Texas Motor Speedway offering a NASCAR triple header weekend

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #34 of 36
NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN – 2:00pm/et
Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 3:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et
Practices:  Fri, Nov. 2, 12:30 – 2:00 pm/et on SPEED  Sat, Nov. 3, 3:00 – 3:50pm/et on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Sat, Nov. 3, 5:45 – 6:45pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2 at 4:40 pm/et on ESPN2

Coming out as the winner of Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson reclaimed the points lead – by 2 points – from Brad Keselowski – with three races remaining. But remember last season with three races to go – Tony Stewart trailed then-leader Carl Edwards by eight points.

So heading into the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Keselowski has yet to score a top-10 finish within his last eight starts. As a matter of fact, five were outside the top 20 – and Keselowski has yet to finish on the lead lap.

It is still anyone of the Chaser’s Championship. No driver has been mathematically eliminated from championship contention – though a couple may be following Texas (any driver 97 points behind the leader after Texas will be officially eliminated).

Greg Biffle holds two wins at Texas and has moved back into 10th in points.

Clint Bowyer comes into this race with three top 10s in the last four Texas races, and boasts momentum at 1.5-mile tracks after capturing his first victory on an intermediate track at Charlotte. Kasey Kahne enters the weekend with two consecutive top 10s at Texas, along with a win there in 2006.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
NASCAR Nationwide Series Race #31 of 33
Television Race Coverage: Sat, Nov. 3rd on ESPN2, 7:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:41pm/et
Practice: 2 p.m. ET /6 p.m. ET on Fri., Nov. 2nd on SPEED
Qualifying: Sat., Nov. 3rd, 3:05 PM (4:05 PM/ET) on SPEED

On Saturday, the NNS will be coming off of their last ‘off week’ for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

Elliott Sadler holds the advantage in the championship standings with a six-point lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with only three races remaining. It’s going to be a tight race between these two drivers. Stenhouse won at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this season in April to earn his fourth career NNS victory. In 2004, Sadler won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at Texas.

For Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kyle Busch has six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, including two runner-up finishes at Talladega and Chicago. Unfortunately for the NNS Chaser’s, Busch owns Texas Motor Speedway when it comes to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He has five wins, 10 top fives and two poles in just 13 starts.

In other news, Danica Patrick is on her way to making history. Currently 10th in points, if Patrick finishes 12th or better in the NNS point standings, she will become the highest-finishing female in national series history. The record is currently held by Sara Christian – 13th, Cup, 1949; Jennifer Jo Cobb – 17th, Truck, 2010 and Patty Moise 22nd, NNS, 1990. Johanna Long – currently ranked 20th in the standings – could move ahead of Moise’s record.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race #20 of 22
TV Race Coverage: Fri, Nov. 2nd, 8:00pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2nd 3:00pm/et on SPEED
Practice: Thur, Nov. 1st 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM [6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EN] on SPEED
Final Practice: Thur, Nov., 1st 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM [7:30 PM – 9:00 PM ET on SPEED

Texas native James Buescher will be shuffling into Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. Buescher captured a sixth-place finish in his Turner Motorsports Chevrolet and heads to his home state this weekend with a 21-point advantage over previous points leader, Ty Dillon. Dillon sustained damage to his vehicle after having a tire go down and suffered his worst finish of the season, 28th.

Buescher has the upper hand heading to Texas Motor Speedway with four wins at 1.5-mile tracks this season. Though he has never won in his backyard, Buescher brings Chassis No. 212 that has sent him to Victory Lane four times in 2012.

Timothy Peters remains in the third position (-25) after his seventh-place finish at his home track, followed by teammate Parker Kligerman (-36) in fourth and Joey Coulter rounding out the top five, 46 points out of first.

Other drivers to watch is Brendan Gaughan, who owns four wins and four top-five finishes and Todd Bodine (The Onion) holding six wins and three top-five finishes.

NASCAR announces changes coming for 2013

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Karen Pistone

DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
Budweiser will become the official title sponsor of Speedweeks – the ten-day stretch of stock-car races from the Shootout to the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING
Budweiser also will secure entitlement of the Budweiser Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500.

The qualifying will be the same. As you know, the front row is set from our Pole Day. Those times will set the Duels. How you finish in the Duels will set the field through the first 36 or so spots, and then we’ll go on with our provisionals and past champion. Qualifying will mean the same as it did, but the Duels will take on a larger role in making the Daytona 500. Basically it all wraps around it being the fastest cars and also the ones that perform in the Duels to set the 500 lineup.

TESTING
Each team will get four additional testing opportunities. If you’re a one car, a two, three or four car operation, you get four tests per organization. ANy testing at the beginning of the season at Daytona will not count against the teams.

For the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, starting in 2013, there will be up to two tests per organization at tracks where those series compete. If the organization has an official Sunoco Rookie of Year candidate, then that team will receive one additional test. Additionally, NASCAR will open track activity early for extended practice at two additional events per series, to be determined.

REDUCING THE NATIONWIDE SERIES FIELD
NASCAR stated it’s best served to reduce the field from 43 to 40 cars, and therefore it gives teams an opportunity to put a better quality field of cars in play at those Nationwide events.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will hold steady at 36.

NEW SPRINT CUP QUALIFYING FORMAT
In 2013, the qualifying order for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events will return to a random draw. However, in the event qualifying is canceled due to rain, the field will be set per the rule book and the starting lineup will continue to be determined by practice speeds.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, the series will move to a 36-6-1 format where the fastest 36 cars will make the race on speed.
The next six highest ranking cars in owners points that have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and who have entered the event by the posted entry deadline will also make the field. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owners’ points.
Provisional positions in the 36-6-1 format will be lined up by owners’ points, not speed.
Since 2005, the top 35 cars in owners’ points were guaranteed a spot in the field. Now, only a maximum of seven cars will be locked into a given race.

SPRINT CUP PROVISIONALS
Provisional positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be based upon the previous year’s owner points for the first three races, as opposed to the first five races in previous years for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and four races for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

However one sees it, a battle is brewing for NNS @RIR: Sadler vs Stenhouse Jr.; RCR vs RFR; Chevy vs Ford

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NNS Race: #25 of 33
NNS Practice: 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 on ESPN2
NNS Qualifying: 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 on ESPN2
TV Race Coverage: 7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:43 p.m.

It’s pretty much comes down to these two: Elliott Sadler vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; Ford vs. Chevrolet. Each of the top two NASCAR Nationwide Series championship contenders has won four times with Stenhouse, the reigning series champion, getting victory No. 4 in Atlanta.

The score is now even with both Stenhouse (Las Vegas, Texas, Iowa and Atlanta) and Sadler (Phoenix, Bristol, Chicago and Iowa) each having four victories on the season. However, Sadler still holds the advantage in the championship standings with a 12-point lead over Stenhouse with nine races to go.

Appearing Monday night on SPEED’s Race Hub, Elliott Sadler confirmed he would not be back with Richard Childress Racing in 2013. He said he had not been offered an opportunity to stay at Childress next season and that he does not yet have a deal with a team for next year.

Travis Pastrana returns to the site of his Nationwide Series debut earlier this season at Richmond where he finished 22nd. However, he will be driving for a different organization this time around. Pastrana will pilot to the No. 60 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.

As far as the schedule for Sam Hornish, Jr.: Penske Racing held a news conference the other day to announce Joey Logano will be behind the wheel of the No. 22 for 2013. One of the media questions for Penske Racing president Tim Cindric was about the future of Sam Hornish Jr., currently the full-time driver for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series and in the #22 Sprint Cup Series ride, and where this placement of Logano leaves Hornish:

“….He’s going to continue to drive the 22 (Cup) car for the remainder of the year. We’ve continued to work on putting a Cup program together for Sam; we just haven’t been able to close that process yet. I foresee Sam driving for us a full season Nationwide next year and hopefully some Cup races, as well.”

Double-duty drivers this weekend include Denny Hamlin, Sam Hornish, Kevin Harvick and April race winner Kurt Busch. In addition, young guns Darrell Wallace Jr., Ty Dillon and Ryan Blaney return to the series at Richmond. Dillon will drive the familiar colors of Richard Childress Racing while Wallace Jr. and Blaney return behind the wheel of their respective Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing rides.

Sources: NASCAR Media, Penske Racing PR, RCR PR

ATLANTA: NASCAR Stats / Track Data / Broadcasting Info.

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The Race: AdvoCare 500
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race: #25 of 36
Practices: Fri, Aug. 31, 2:30 – 4:30 pm on SPEED; Sat., Sept. 1, 2:30 – 3:25 pm on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Sat, Sept. 1, 5:30 – 6:20pm on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri., Aug. 31, 6:10 p.m. on SPEED
NASCAR Pre-race: ESPN – 6:30 pm
TV Race Coverage: Sun. Eve, 7:30 pm on ESPN
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:46 pm

Track Data
Track/Race Length: 1.54 mile quad oval, 325 laps, 500.5 miles
Degree of Banking: Turns: 24 degrees; Straightaways: 5 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch – 2332 feet; Backstretch – 1800 feet
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Pace Car Speed: 55mph
Grandstand Seating: 99,000
Opened: 1960

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet (186.196 mph, 29.775 sec., 09-04-11)
2011 race winner: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet (124.623 mph, 4:00:58, 09-06-11)
Track qualifying record: Geoffrey Bodine, Ford (197.478 mph, 28.074 sec., 11-15-97)
Track race record: Bobby Labonte, Pontiac (159.904 mph, 3:07:48, 11/16/97)
Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia going into the AdvoCare 500 on Sept. 2.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/Manheim Auctions Ford)
· Three top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.1

Kurt Busch (No. 51 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet)
· Three wins, four top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 17.4

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Wrigley Toyota)
· One win, three top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 17.7

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.8

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)
· Three wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 15 top fives, 24 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.2

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota)
· One top five, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 11 top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.0

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 18.3

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway 25 Winning Years Ford)
· Eight top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.9

Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 16.9

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.2

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Shocks and Struts Toyota)
· Two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 22.8

Chase Contenders

The Top 10

Following Race 24 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Greg Biffle	849	2	2	1	103.9
2. Jimmie Johnson	838	3	1	4	108.8
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	834	1	0	3	99.9
4. Matt Kenseth	823	1	1	2	102.8
5. Martin Truex Jr.	797	0	1	6	97.6
6. Clint Bowyer	794	1	0	7	91.8
7. Brad Keselowski	790	3	0	5	95.3
8. Denny Hamlin	774	3	2	10	99.2
9. Kevin Harvick	767	0	0	8	90.4
10. Tony Stewart	746	3	0	9	87.8

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Greg Biffle	17	1	0	3	9	2	16.1	92.9
2	Jimmie Johnson	20	0	3	11	13	1	10.0	109.5
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	24	2	1	8	10	2	12.8	94.3
4	Matt Kenseth	23	0	0	8	13	3	12.9	96.2
5	Martin Truex Jr.	13	1	0	0	2	4	22.8	88.9
6	Clint Bowyer	11	0	0	0	5	1	17.4	83.3
7	Brad Keselowski	3	0	0	0	1	1	22.3	76.1
8	Denny Hamlin	12	1	0	1	4	1	17.5	96.2
9	Kevin Harvick	21	0	1	4	7	4	19.9	83.5
10	Tony Stewart	25	0	3	10	15	3	11.2	102.3
11	Kasey Kahne	15	2	2	6	8	3	18.3	91.0
12	Carl Edwards	14	0	3	8	10	2	13.6	101.8

* – Based on last 13 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Wild Card Standings Following: Bristol Motor Speedway

Pos.	Driver	Wins	Pts. Pos.	Points	Pts. From 10th
1	Kasey Kahne	2	11	730	-16
2	Kyle Busch	1	13	707	-39
3	Jeff Gordon	1	14	691	-55
4	Ryan Newman	1	15	688	-58
5	Marcos Ambrose	1	16	679	-67
6	Joey Logano	1	18	638	-108
7	Carl Edwards	0	12	712	-34
8	Paul Menard	0	17	674	-72
9	Jamie McMurray	0	19	598	-148
10	Jeff Burton	0	20	577	-169

History
·         Originally called Atlanta International Raceway, the track was then a 1.5-mile paved speedway.
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta was on July 31, 1960, won by Fireball Roberts from the pole.
·         The track was re-measured to 1.522 miles in the spring of 1970.
·         It was renamed Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1990.
·         The track layout was reversed and the track was re-configured to 1.54 miles between the two races in 1997.

Notebook
·         There have been 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Atlanta Speedway, until 2010 there has been two races per year except 1961, which had three. This year marks the second season with only one event.
·         Fireball Roberts won the pole and race for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 1960.
·         45 drivers have won a pole, led by Buddy Baker and Ryan Newman, each with seven.
·         Six of Newman’s seven poles came in consecutive races between March 2003 and October 2005.
·         42 drivers have won a race; 22 have won more than once.
·         Dale Earnhardt scored nine victories, more than any other driver. Cale Yarborough is second, with seven.
·         Bobby Labonte heads the list of active drivers with six victories. Labonte is tied with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Petty for third on the all-time win list at Atlanta.
·         The Wood Brothers have 12 victories, more than any organization. They last won there in 1993, with Morgan Shepherd. Hendrick Motorsports has 11 wins at Atlanta and could tie the Wood Brothers this weekend.
·         14 races have been won from the pole. The last to do so was Kasey Kahne in 2006. The last two races have been won from the fifth position.
·         60 races at Atlanta have been won from the first five starting positions.
·         Bobby Labonte won the 2001 fall race from the 39th starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Atlanta.
·         Two drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Atlanta: Carl Edwards (3/20/2005) and Kevin Harvick (3/11/2001).
·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (03/09/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 7 days).
·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway winner: Morgan Shepherd (03/20/1993 – 51 years, 5 months, 8 days).

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
Race: NRA American Warrior 300
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race #: 24 of 33
Practice: 9 a.m. ET Sat. (TV: 11:30 ET) on SPEED
Qualifying: 3:30 p.m ET Sat. on SPEED
TV Race Coverage: Sat, ESPN2, 6:30 pm
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:16 pm

So far in 2012, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has three wins, 13 top-five, and 17 top-ten finishes. Stenhouse is currently second in the NASCAR Nationwide point standings; 19 points behind leader Elliott Sadler.

Mike Wallace will be wheeling the No. 01 entry for JD Motorsports w/Gary Keller, as he has all season. Joining him as a teammate will be Danny Efland, back in the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet, which will be his first ever start at AMS.

With six of their last finishes in the top-20, and one in the top-10, through the last seven races; the No. 01 team has utilized those finishes to move into 12th in points.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Race: Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race #: 14 of 22
TV Coverage: SPEED
Final Practice: Actual – 11:30 am – aired at 1:00 pm [tape-delayed] on SPEED
Qualifying: 4:30 pm on SPEED
Pre-race: 7:30 pm on SPEED
Race: 8:00 pm on SPEED

NCWTS Point Standings

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A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

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