NNS Etc: Phoenix Edition
* Tagliani Makes NNS Oval Debut
Alex Tagliani (No. 81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge) will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series oval debut at Phoenix.
The open-wheel veteran from Montreal made his series debut in August at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve driving for fellow Canadian Randy MacDonald. He finished 26th.
Tagliani also has 13 starts in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series since 2007; he won his first race in that series in 2008 and captured poles in the two races he entered this year.
Another Canadian driver, Daryl Harr, is entered in the No. 31 Fuel-doctor.com Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing. Harr, from St. Albert, Alberta, made his series debut at Phoenix in April, finishing 37th due to engine failure.
A career-high 12 of Harr’s 71 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Series West have come at PIR.
* NNS Garage Gets In Giving Spirit
The NASCAR Nationwide Series PR Rep Task Force has organized a non-perishable Thanksgiving Food Drive among series teams to assist needy families in the Lexington, N.C. area.
Through Monday, Nov. 16, select NASCAR Nationwide teams will have donation collection containers at their shops so that fans can donate non-perishable items until the deadline. Fans can visit Braun Racing and Germain Racing (Mooresville); Kevin Harvick Inc. (Kernersville); RAB Racing and Roush Fenway Racing (Concord) and Richard Childress Racing (Welcome) to donate.
Those teams, along with CJM Racing, Faith Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Key Motorsports and Team Rensi Motorsports, also are collecting items among their organizations for the donation.
Additionally, the Task Force has scheduled a NASCAR Nationwide driver autograph session at Phoenix on Saturday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. local time in Gatorade Victory Lane. Fans are asked to bring at least one non-perishable food item or donate $5 to receive a special infield wristband in order to participate. Food item or cash donation collection in exchange for a wristband will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Gate 8 at PIR.
All proceeds will benefit the West Davidson (N.C.) Food Pantry. NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers, including Michael Annett and Ricky Stenouse Jr., will deliver the donations to the location on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
* Kimberly-Clark’s Final NNS Run
Saturday will be the final race that Kimberly-Clark will serve as primary sponsor for the No. 27 Ford of Jason Keller, ending a 15-year association as the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ longest-running continuous sponsor. Kimberly-Clark announced earlier this season that it will be moving to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2010 as a sponsor of JTG Daugherty’s No. 47 Toyota driven by Marcos Ambrose.
The United States Postal Service will be the primary sponsor on the No. 27 for the season finale at Homestead.
As a send-off, Ursulline Okonkwo, Miss Phoenix, will serve as an honorary crew member for the No. 27 team for Saturday’s race.
* Four-Car Team For Braun In 2010
Braun Racing announced it will field four cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next year, including a ride for Brian Scott, who is completing his second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has one win, nine top fives and 19 top 10s in that series and currently ranks sixth in the standings. Scott has competed in his first seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races this year, five for Braun and two for CJM Racing.
Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne also will be part of Braun’s plans in 2010.
David Reutimann (No. 10 Berringer Vineyards Toyota) and Reed Sorenson (No. 32 Dollar General Toyota) will team with Leffler this weekend at Phoenix.
* NNS Raybestos Rookie Standings
Driver Team Points 1. Justin Allgaier Penske 228 2. Brendan Gaughan RWR 220 3. Michael McDowell K-A 192 4. Michael Annett Germain 190 5. Erik Darnell RFR 156 7. John Wes Townley RAB 135 8. Ken Butler III JDM 87
Up Next: Homestead-Miami Speedway
The 2009 season officially comes to an end next Saturday, Nov. 21, at Homestead-Miami Speedway where the NASCAR Nationwide Series champion will be crowned.
Carl Edwards won last year, the second win in the last three races for Roush Fenway Racing. Joey Logano capped off an amazing first year in NASCAR national series racing with the pole.
Joe Nemechek (No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet), the 1992 series champion, leads all drivers with three wins at Homestead-Miami. Jeff Burton is the only other driver with more than one victory (two).
Jeff Green, the 2000 series champion, is the only driver to register more than one pole position at Homestead-Miami (two).
FAST FACTS
Next Race: Able Body Labor 200
The Place: Phoenix International Raceway (1-mile oval)
The Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The Distance: 200 miles / 200 laps
2008 Winner: Carl Edwards
2008 Polesitter: Denny Hamlin
Event Schedule (all times CT): Friday – Practice, 10-11:50 a.m., Final Practice 1:35-2:20 p.m.; Saturday – Qualifying, 10:05 a.m.
2009 STANDINGS
Driver Points
1 Kyle Busch 5,374
2 Carl Edwards 5,102
3 Brad Keselowski 5,082
4 Jason Leffler 4,349
5 Justin Allgaier 3,831
6 Mike Bliss 3,818
7 Steve Wallace 3,726
8 Jason Keller 3,701
9 Brendan Gaughan 3,678
10 Michael Annett 3,39
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