As the NASCAR Nationwide Series rolls into Nashville this weekend, it marks the first leg of its summer stand-alone season. The opportunity to compete in a field minus double-digit double-duty drivers presents an opportunity for series-only regulars to shine.
At Nashville, five such drivers have that chance in some very solid equipment.
Mike Bliss leads the contingent of drivers as he takes the wheel for Kevin Harvick Inc. In 12 previous series starts at Nashville, Bliss has three top-five and six top-10 finishes.
“I’m excited to run for Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) and KHI,” said Bliss. “The places we are going to run are places that I like and have won at in the past. It also just happens to be where they (KHI) won their last race so it (would) be kind of disappointing if we finish second.”
Joe Gibbs Racing will give two young development drivers, Matt DiBenedetto (No. 20 Muscle Milk Toyota) and Brad Coleman (No. 18 SafeWay Driving Centers Toyota), a chance to get some seat time and help keep the No. 18 and 20 teams in the hunt for the owners’ championship. The No 18 team is currently one point behind owner standings leader Jodi Geschickter and the No. 22 team.
DiBenedetto has only one other series start: at Memphis Motorsports Park last October where he started fourth and finished 14th.
Coleman has five series starts at Nashville, posting his best finish (10th) there in 2009.
Coleman Pressley (No. 88 Whiskey River Chevrolet) driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports, has made eight starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a career-best finish of 15th at Darlington Raceway earlier this season. This will be his first start at Nashville.
Meanwhile, Kyle Busch Motorsports has helped two of its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers advance to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. KBM is designed to give up-andcoming drivers a chnce to advance through the ladder system of NASCAR’s top-three national series. Brian Ickler (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford) recently left for Roush Fenway Racing and now Tayler Malsam (No. 10 Braun Racing Toyota) has accepted a ride with Braun Racing.
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NASCAR Nationwide Series: News & Notes - Nashville Superspeedway
CAR DRIVER MAKE OWNER 1 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Lori Davis 5 Willie Allen Chevrolet Wayne Day 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.* Ford Jack Roush 7 Josh Wise Chevrolet Bryan Mullet 9 Sean Caisse Ford Robby Benton 10 Tayler Malsam Toyota Todd Braun 11 Brian Scott* Toyota Harry Scott Jr. 12 Justin Allgaier Dodge Roger Penske 15 Michael Annett Toyota Bob Germain 16 Brian Ickler Ford Jack Roush 18 Brad Coleman Toyota Joe Gibbs 20 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Joe Gibbs 21 Scott Riggs Chevrolet Richard Childress 22 Brad Keselowski Dodge Jodi Geschickter 23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet Robert Richardson 24 Eric McClure Ford Ed Rensi 26 Brian Keselowski Dodge Bob Keselowski 27 Scott Wimmer Ford Mike Curb 28 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Jay Robinson 32 Reed Sorenson Toyota Todd Braun 33 Mike Bliss Chevrolet DeLana Harvick 34 Tony Raines Chevrolet Bob Jenkins 35 Jason Keller Chevrolet Mark C Smith 38 Jason Leffler Toyota Ralph Braun 40 Jeff Green Chevrolet Curtis Key 43 Scott Lagasse Jr. Ford Mike Curb 49 Mark Green Chevrolet Jay Robinson 52 Chris Lawson Chevrolet Jimmy Means 60 Carl Edwards Ford Jack Roush 61 Matthew Carter Ford Doug Taylor 62 Brendan Gaughan Toyota Rusty Wallace 66 Steve Wallace Toyota Rusty Wallace 70 Shelby Howard Chevrolet Mary Louise Miller 73 Derrike Cope Dodge Derrike Cope 81 Michael McDowell Dodge Pat MacDonald 87 Jarit Johnson Chevrolet Andrea Nemechek 88 Coleman Pressley Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Jr 89 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet Cindy Shepherd 90 Danny O'Quinn Jr. Chevrolet Eddie D'Hondt 91 Chase Miller Chevrolet Randy Humphrey 92 Dennis Setzer Dodge Brian Keselowski 98 Paul Menard Ford Jack Roush 99 Trevor Bayne Toyota Michael Waltrip 104 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet Gene Vess 156 Kevin Lepage Chevrolet John McNelly
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