The next stop on the schedule is Nashville Superspeedway for the Nashville 300. The event marks the first stand-alone race of the season and a solid chance for the series regulars to get their first win of the season.
There are eight races this season where the series is either the main attraction or shares billing with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (as it does this weekend) or one of NASCAR’s touring series.
Fewer double duty drivers could mean better opportunities for series regulars to nab the thus far elusive 2011 win. Not since 2008, when Brad Keselowski (then driving for JR Motorsports) won the fall event at Nashville, has a series regular been able to capture the checkered flag at the 1.333-mile track. Two-time series champion Kevin Harvick is the defending winner, however he isn’t entered this time around. Instead, Richard Childress’ grandson and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon will run the Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 33 car.
Of the series regulars this season Reed Sorenson is cut above the rest at Nashville. He has the best average finish amongst series regulars with a 9.1. He has made six starts at Nashville posting one win (2005 – his first career series win), three top fives and four top 10s. He is the highest-ranked series regular in the pre-race Driver Rating with 109.5.
There are five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars making double duty appearances at this first stand-alone race. Of the four, Carl Edwards has had the most success at Nashville, posting a series-high three wins (2006-’07). Brad Keselowski is not far behind Edwards with two wins (2008, ’10), followed by Kyle Busch with one (2009). Joey Logano and David Reutimann are also running this weekend at Nashville.
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