NNS Etc.
Make Room For Burton In “300 Club”
When he starts the CARQUEST 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.
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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 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) 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.
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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.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie Standings
Rk / Driver Team Points
1 Justin Allgaier Penske 102
2 Brendan Gaughan RWR 95
3 Michael McDowell JTG-D 94
4 Scott Lagasse Jr. CJM 94
5 Michael Annett Germain 75
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.
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
2008 Winner: Kyle Busch
2008 Pole: Brian Vickers
Event Schedule: Thursday—Practice, 1-2:30 p.m.; Final Practice, 6-7:00 p.m. Saturday—Qualifying, 3:45 p.m.
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Top 10 Driver Standings
Driver Points
1 Kyle Busch 1,539
2 Carl Edwards 1,502
3 Jason Leffler 1,386
4 Joey Logano 1,340
5 Brad Keselowski 1,331
6 Jason Keller 1,181
7 David Ragan 1,139
8 Scott Lagasse Jr. 1,095
9 Justin Allgaier 1,089
10 Steve Wallace 1,088
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