Sam Hornish Jr Wins First NASCAR Nationwide Race at Phoenix

Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt

Becoming the first major NASCAR touring series in inaugurate the new pavement for the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway, the NASCAR Nationwide Series suited up for the Wypall 200 Saturday afternoon unaware if the race track will develop the critical second groove.

With the #88 Chevrolet in the series, JR Motorsports Aric Almirola took pole for the Wypall 200 who proceeded from the afternoon start to lead the race's first 66 laps. As the green fell for the Phoenix International Raceway 200-lap race, the yellow flag flew quickly. On lap 1, one-time 2011 Nationwide Series championship contender Reed Sorenson driving the #82 Dodge slammed into the rear of Brian Scott's #11 Toyota into turn 3. Scott's car was launched forward into the out wall of the turn while Sorenson spun. Brian Scott was unhurt in the accident that would collect additional vehicles. Behind the two cars of the main incident, a second wrecked occurred relating to the #7 Chevolet of Danica Patrick checking up. Patrick's car was sent sideways and backed into the wall crippling her chances of a good race run. The race vehicles of Tim Andrews, Johnny Chapman, Matt Frahm and Jeff Green were also caught in the multi-car accident eventually retiring from the Wypall 200. Danica Patrick would keep running to finish 21st in the event 4 laps down to the leader.

Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/ Getty Images 

Pit stops proved pivotal to the outcome of the Wypall 200 NASCAR Nationwide race at Phoenix as the tire stop by the JR Motorsports crew would rob Aric Almirola of the first lead. On the right rear corner of the #88 Chevrolet, lug nuts missed on the wheel resulted with considerable track position lost in the event.

Sprint Cup Series regular Carl Edwards' moonlighting run in Saturday's Nationwide Series race also suffered a pit road related slowdown. Stopping to the attention of his pit crew, the race setup of the #60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang caused the front end to dive. When the front end suspension did not rebound quickly, the work by the front tire changer was complicated as the tire was difficult to remove from the front fender well. While the #60 Ford recovered with a strong charge at the end, Edwards lost several positions which could be proven valuable late in the Phoenix race.

In a race that involved only three drivers leading, NASCAR Nationwide Series regular and overall driver title leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr led following Almirola's pit road gaffe in the #6 Ford. The Roush Fenway Racing pilot led for a race-high 73 laps before losing spot to Sam Hornish Jr's Penske Racing Dodge in what was the final lead change of the Wypall 200 race on the 140th lap.

Besides competing for victory in the second-to-last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Elliott Sadler were head-to-head for the racing division's championship. Roush Fenway Racing driver Stenhouse entered Phoenix with a 17-point gap over Kevin Harvick Incorporated Chevrolet pilot Elliott Sadler. On lap 191 of the Wypall 200, a championship-determining action took place when the #2 Chevrolet of Elliott Sadler. Heading down the backstretch prior to the turn, Sadler roared by the Jason Leffler and Aric Almirola on the newly-paved backstretch apron. The #2 Chevrolet was bumped from behind by the Jason Leffler into turn 3. Spinning out Sadler, Leffler swept up the #88 car of Almirola into the outer wall. Morgan Shepherd and Jeremy Clements were also significantly damaged in the wreck that ended Elliott Sadler's title hopes in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Finishing 5th in the race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr is comfortably going to be crowned the 2011 Nationwide Series champion by finishing 38th or better.

With Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski in tow, Sam Hornish Jr driving the #12 Dodge drove the final 19 laps to win the Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Having made his first NASCAR event 5 years ago with the Nationwide Series (than-Busch Series) event at the Phoenix International Raceway, the former INDYCAR star Hornish Jr becomes a NASCAR race winner. Sam Hornish Jr also won two events in the IRL INDYCAR Series in 2001 and 2005 seasons.

Sprint Cup series regulars Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano crossed the start/finish line 2nd through 4th for the Wypall 200. Rounding out the top-10 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway is Trevor Bayne, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Truex, Justin Allgaier and Michael Annett.

The final race on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule runs next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway During Ford Championship Weekend.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Wypall 200
Phoenix International Raceway
Race Results

12 Sam Hornish Jr. Alliance Truck Parts Dodge
22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
60 Carl Edwards World Financial Group Ford
18 Joey Logano GameStop / Call of Duty MW3 Toyota
6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford Drive one. Ford
16 Trevor Bayne AirHogs.com Ford
33 Clint Bowyer Rheem Heating Cooling & Water Heating Chevrolet
20 Ryan Truex Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Toyota
31 Justin Allgaier Brandt Chevrolet
62 Michael Annett Oakley / Pilot Travel Centers / Flying J Toyota
70 David Stremme ForeTravel Motorcoach Chevrolet
87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
32 Ron Hornaday Dollar General Chevrolet
81 Blake Koch Daystar.com Dodge
34 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy / QT QuikTrip Chevrolet
1 Mike Wallace I Hate Steven Singer! Chevrolet
9 Kenny Wallace TOYOTA Toyota
15 Timmy Hill Poynt.com / Lilly Trucking Ford
14 Eric McClure Hefty Black Out / Reynolds Chevrolet
52 Kevin Lepage Tilted Kilt Sports Bar Chevrolet
7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
23 Robert Richardson Jr. North Texas Pipe Chevrolet
40 TJ Duke Merrill Lynch Chevrolet
51 Jeremy Clements Phoenix Automotive Cores Chevrolet
88 Aric Almirola Suave MEN / Fry's Food Stores Chevrolet
38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Racing Chevrolet
66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
30 James Buescher Exide Chevrolet
19 Mike Bliss Millennium Salon / Spa Software & Elemnt Pymnt
28 Derrike Cope MAXelence.com Chevrolet
80 D J Kennington NPP/Clark/Whitemud Dodge
44 Jeff Green Tri Star Motorsports Chevrolet
82 Reed Sorenson Foametix / Bullet Liner Dodge
49 Mark Green Acredale Vending Chevrolet
47 Scott Speed Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet
46 Chase Miller Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet
71 Matt Carter Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
41 Johnny Chapman Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge Toyota
4 Tim Andrews Go Green Racing Ford
39 Matt Frahm TSP Powder Coating Ford

Keselowski powers to Nationwide win at Kansas

Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(October 8, 2011)

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Driving a No. 22 Dodge that felt as if it were on rails, Brad Keselowski dominated Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway to win his fourth Nationwide Series race of the year and the 16th of his career.

The reigning series champion passed runner-up Carl Edwards with just over 13 laps left and pulled away to win by 2.795 seconds. Elliott Sadler ran third, followed by Paul Menard and Nationwide points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Keselowski had a 10-second lead over Menard when the engine in Josh Wise's
Chevrolet exploded on Lap 142. The No. 22 Dodge hit pit road for tires and fuel and quickly stretched out his lead.

But when Angela Cope spun and hit the Turn 2 wall on Lap 173, Edwards was able to grab the lead to the inside after a restart on Lap 179. His advantage didn't last. Keselowski moved past Edwards to the inside on Lap 187 and pulled away for the win.

From Keselowski's perspective, the winning pass was anything but a foregone conclusion.

"The first few laps that I was behind him, I was pushing so bad in his air that I had some serious doubts," Keselowski said. "I go back to last week at Dover in the (Sprint) Cup car. In the last segment, we restarted 21st or something like that, drove through the lapped cars, and I ran down the lead pack from a straightaway behind in about four laps—I was three or four tenths (of a second) a lap faster.

"Then I caught the back half of the field and slowed down three or fourth tenths of a second in the dirty air. I was thinking about that the whole time I was behind Carl there, and I was like, 'Oh, my God, this is going to be another one of those days.' But I was able to move my line around and find clean air."

Keselowski may have had his doubts. Edwards—not so much.

"Brad's car was so fast," Edwards said. "I knew after about 30 laps that, unless something happened, we were going to be racing pretty hard for second place. Fortunately, there at the end, I did get a chance to race with him a little bit."

As it turned out, not for long.

Keselowski was the clear class of the field in the first half of the race. On successive green-flag runs, he opened leads of seven, five and four seconds before cautions bunched the field. Keselowski led Sadler by 3.785 seconds when NASCAR called the fourth caution of the race on Lap 86 for Timmy Hill's blown engine.

Keselowski, who had stayed out under the previous yellow, came to pit road for fuel and four tires on Lap 88 but stalled his car in his pit box because of a miscommunication between driver and crew on when to leave the stall.

"My fault," Keselowski radioed after the mistake. "I wasn't ready when you dropped the jack."

Keselowski restarted 14th on Lap 96. Six laps later, he was back in the lead, blowing past Aric Almirola for the top spot on Lap 101.

Notes: Stenhouse leads Sadler by 20 points in the series standings with four races left in the season. … Reed Sorenson, driving the Randy MacDonald's No. 82 Dodge after his sudden ouster from the No. 32 Turner Motorsports Chevy earlier in the week, ran 26th, two laps down. He remains third in points but fell from 49 to 70 behind Stenhouse. … With his runner-up finish in the No. 60 Ford, Edwards trimmed the lead of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to seven points in the owners' standings. … Danica Patrick finished 15th, her best result since finishing 10th at Daytona in July.

Villeneuve Tops Montreal NAPA Auto Parts 200 Starting Field

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

The only 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series race held outside of the United States of America, a man-made island off the coast of the Canadian city of Montreal acts as the stage for the 600-700 horsepower of stock cars. Ile Notre-Dame's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course provides 2.71 miles of high-speeds as well as 13 corners testing braking of 3,300 pound stock cars. Providing the knowledgeable and loyal Canadian NASCAR community with the second-ranked touring series in stock car racing organization's rich portfolio since 2007, the 2011 presentation of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 is the province of Quebec's 5th year holding the race.

Each and every year, the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve leaves a permanent mark on the North American auto racing community. However, for Canadian race fans, the 2008 race where fellow Canuck Ron Fellows won a wet and wild victory left a lasting impression on the circuit Gilles Villeneuve inaugurated with a Formula 1 win in 1978. After NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying at the Canadian road course, the son of the track's namesake those honours as being the hometown hero.

Driving the #22 Dodge Challenger for the second time in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season (first being in a rather eventful Road America event in June), Jacques Villeneuve guided the Penske Racing fielded machine around the Montreal race course in 1 minute, 35.800 seconds. The 1997 Formula 1 World Champion's first NASCAR pole position, the 40 year-old Villeneuve scores it at a very symbolic locale. Through the events the second-generation Canadian racer has competed at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Jacques Villeneuve's most significant victory came in Toyota Atlantic Series race in 1993. Eluded the coveted pole position in Formula 1 competition at the track, none of the 12 grand prix top trophies had been collected at the Canadian Grand Prix round. In NASCAR Nationwide competition, his best race effort came in 2009 when he finished in 4th spot.

A former graduate of the Players drivers development program (an initiative that developed a multitude of Canadian auto racers to greatness in the 1990s), Villeneuve starts alongside a more recent member of the same open wheel launch pad. For the 2011 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, current INDYCAR driver Alex Tagliani is partnered with Jacques Villeneuve in the Penske Racing Dodge Challengers. Penske Racing teammates for the weekend will top the front row for Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series event. In time comparison, Tagliani's #12 Dodge was only 0.127 seconds slower on his fastest lap than the #22 car.

A race won two of the four times by a NASCAR star more accustomed with ovals, these drivers do benefit from more robust team chemistry earned across the Nationwide Series race schedule. In 3rd spot, Jason Leffler will lead over proficient road racers Scott Speed and Michael McDonnell at the start of Saturday's event. Other NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars starting near the front includes Steve Wallace in the 7th and Justin Allgaier rolling off 10th for the race. Series championship frontrunners for 2011 had a sub-par qualifying effort Friday. Elliot Sadler starts 16th in the #2 Chevrolet while the #32 Dollar General Chevy of Reed Sorenson is placed 23rd.

Even behind Jacques Villeneuve and Alex Tagliani, the Canadian contingent for the 2011 edition of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 appears to be extremely strong. In the 43-car field for the NAPA Auto Parts 200, 9 of the 43 cars will be piloted by a Canadian driver.

Champ car winner and one-time NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Patrick Carpentier will start 8th in an event which could be the final time the French-Canadian will race professionally. In 11th place, aspiring NASCAR star Andrew Ranger looks to top a 3rd place effort in 2009 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race. As Ranger and most Canadian drivers seek a first win, 13th place Ron Fellows has already been to victory lane (at least within a garage area sheltered from strong 2008 downpour). Fellows is again competing with JR Motorsports equipment sponsored by Canadian Tire. JR Fitzpatrick will start 21st in a Canadian-owned #67 Ford for Go Canada Racing. Maryeve Default, Lous-Philippe Dumoulin and 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points champion DJ Kennington make the 43-car field with deep starting positions.

Besides Canadian driver, the usually American driver heavy NASCAR Nationwide Series will also feature the prowess of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' latest winner Marcos Ambrose. The Tasmanian driver will be pulling double duty between Sunday's Cup race in Michigan and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Foiled for victory after being a strong contender in all four NAPA Auto Parts 200 races held in Montreal, Ambrose makes a special appearance for the NASCAR Nationwide Series event continuing to hunt the road course win that has taunted the driver in previous years.

The 2011 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be the first such event not to be limited to an all-male starting field. Driving the #81 Dodge from a 39th place starting position, Canadian Maryeve Default will be taking the green flag with INDYCAR star Danica Patrick who is driving the #7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. In her first NASCAR road race, Patrick acquired a 25th place start at the Montreal track.

A race lasting 74 laps, the final NASCARNAPA Auto Parts 200 race will be met with temperatures as high as 29 degree Celsius with a 30 percent chance of a thunderstorms.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
NAPA Auto Parts 200
Starting Lineup

1. 22 Jacques Villeneuve Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge
2. 12 Alex Tagliani Hot Wheels Dodge
3. 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
4. 33 Scott Speed Rheem Heating Cooling Water Heating Chevrolet
5. 18 Michael McDowell Sherwin Williams Toyota
6. 77 Robby Gordon MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
7. 66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
8. 99 Patrick Carpentier NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
9. 9 Owen Kelly Stanley Ford
10. 31 Justin Allgaier Florida Gulf Safe Chevrolet
11. 53 Andrew Ranger Quebec Dodge Dealers Dodge
12. 30 Boris Said Great Clips Chevrolet
13. 5 Ron Fellows Canadian Tire Chevrolet
14. 60 Billy Johnson Fastenal Ford
15. 64 Jason Bowles Fuel Doctor Toyota
16. 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
17. 16 Michel Jourdain, Jr. 3M Ford
18. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford
19. 11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge Toyota
20. 88 Aric Almirola Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet
21. 67 J R Fitzpatrick Go Canada Racing Ford
22. 97 Kyle Kelley NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
23. 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Chevrolet
24. 9 Kenny Wallace Toyota Toyota
25. 7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
26. 23 Alex Kennedy Media Master Chevrolet
27. 1 Mike Wallace G&K Services Chevrolet
28. 62 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Toyota
29. 19 Mike Bliss Del Monte Chevrolet
30. 44 Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
31. 75 Chris Cook Alvin And The Chipmunks-Chipwrecked Ford
32. 15 Timmy Hill Rick Ware Racing Ford
33. 14 Eric McClure Hefty BlackOut/Reynolds Chevrolet
34. 39 Luis Martinez Jr. King Taco Ford
35. 40 Josh Wise Key Motorsports Chevrolet
36. 87 Kevin Conway NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
37. 51 Jeremy Clements Clements Racing Engines Chevrolet
38. 70 Blake Koch Daystar.com Dodge
39. 81 Maryeve Dufault Quebec Dodge Dealers Dodge
40. 28 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Racing Dodge
41. 52 Louis-Philippe Dumoulin Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet
42. 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory In Jesus Chevrolet
43. 13 DJ Kennington DrivenMale.com Dodge

Montreal NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 Entry List

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

 

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series

NAPA Auto Parts 200
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Montreal, Quebec
Entry List

 

1. 01 Mike Wallace Chevrolet TBA
2. 2 Elliott Sadler Chevrolet OneMain Financial
3. 03 Jean Francois Dumoulin Chevrolet N TX Pipe
4. 04 TBA Ford TBA
5. 5 Ron Fellows Chevrolet Canadian Tire
6. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Ford Roush Fenway Racing
7. 7 Danica Patrick Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
8. 09 Kenny Wallace Toyota TBD
9. 09 Marcos Ambrose Ford Stanley
10. 11 Brian Scott Toyota Shore Lodge
11. 12 Alex Tagliani Dodge Hot Wheels
12. 13 Dan Brode Dodge DrivenMale.com
13. 14 Eric McClure Chevrolet Hefty BlackOut/Reynolds
14. 15 Timmy Hill Ford Rick Ware Racing
15. 16 Trevor Bayne Ford 3M
16. 18 Michael McDowell Toyota Sherwin Williams
17. 19 Mike Bliss Chevrolet TBA
18. 21 Tim George Jr Chevrolet Applebee's / Potomac Family Dining Group
19. 22 Jacques Villeneuve Dodge Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday
20. 23 Alex Kennedy Chevrolet Media Master
21. 28 Derrike Cope Chevrolet MAXelence.com
22. 30 Boris Said Chevrolet TBA
23. 31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet Florida Gulf Safe
24. 32 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet Dollar General
25. 33 Scott Speed Chevrolet Rheem Heating, Cooling and Water Heating
26. 38 Jason Leffler Chevrolet Great Clips
27. 39 Luis Martinez Jr Ford King Taco
28. 40 Josh Wise Chevrolet TBA
29. 41 Tomy Drissi Ford Alvin & the Chipmunks-Chipwrecked
30. 42 Chase Miller Chevrolet Key Motorsports
31. 44 Jeff Green Chevrolet TBA
32. 46 Chase Miller Chevrolet Key Motorsports
33. 47 TBA Chevrolet TBA
34. 49 Mark Green Chevrolet TBA
35. 51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet Clements Racing Engines
36. 52 Louis-Philippe Dumoulin Chevrolet TBA
37. 53 Andrew Ranger Dodge TBA
38. 55 Brett Rowe Chevrolet Imperial Bedding
39. 60 Carl Edwards Ford Fastenal
40. 62 Michael Annett Toyota Northland Motor Oils
41. 64 Jason Bowles Toyota TBA
42. 66 Steve Wallace Toyota 5 Hour Energy
43. 67 J R Fitzpatrick Ford Go Canada Racing
44. 70 Blake Koch Chevrolet TBA
45. 75 Chris Cook Ford Rick Ware Racing
46. 77 Robby Gordon Robby Dodge Speed Energy
47. 81 Maryeve Dufault Dodge Quebec Dodge Dealers
48. 82 Blake Koch Dodge Daystar.com
49. 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota TBD
50. 88 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Grand Touring Vodka
51. 89 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet Victory in Jesus Racing
52. 97 Kyle Kelley 11 Chevrolet TBD
53. 99 Patrick Carpentier Toyota UAP, Inc

NASCAR Schedule & Weather Forecast: July 6th to 9th 2011

Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Image

Sparta, Kentucky
Kentucky Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/ Nationwide Series/ Camping World Truck Series

Wednesday:

4:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

6:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Thursday:

10:00 am- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice
Temperature: 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

11:05 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Testing
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

3:05 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Qualifying
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:00 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Testing
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

6:10 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

8:00 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race (UNOH 225)
Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Friday:

9:00 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

11:30 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

1:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Rain Showers
Chance of Precipitation: 100%

3:35 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Clouds with chance of thunderstorms
Chance of Precipitation: 60%

5:10 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

7:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race (Feed the Children 300)
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 40%


Saturday:

7:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Race (Quaker State 400)
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Toronto, Ontario
Streets of Toronto
NASCAR Canadian Tires Series

Friday:

12:30 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



4:10 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Qualifying
Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 30%


Saturday:

2:30 pm- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race (Streets of Toronto 100)
Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

Logano Escapes Turn 4 Melee To Win At Daytona

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 1, 2011)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Joey Logano didn't lead Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250 until the final half mile, but that was all the 21-year-old driver of the No. 20 Toyota needed to notch his first victory at Daytona International Speedway.


As the action in Turn 4 on the final lap unfolded behind him, Logano surged into the lead and held off a charge from Jason Leffler to win his first Nationwide Series race of the season and the ninth of his career.

Logano took the checkered flag as many of the cars that had led into the final turn—including those of Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler—wrecked behind him.


Leffler ran second followed by series points leader Reed Sorenson, who also claimed a $100,000 prize as the highest finisher among four drivers eligible for Nationwide's Dash 4 Cash program.


Kyle Busch came home fourth, Justin Allgaier fifth and Michael Annett sixth. Kenny Wallace skated through the infield grass and took the checkered flag in seventh position, ahead of the wrecked cars of Sadler, Almirola and Patrick, which slid across the finish line in positions 7-10, respectively.

Logano got a push from Busch to hold off Leffler as the cars approached the stripe. He finished .040 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

"Any time we've hooked up like that we've been pretty successful," Logano said of his pairing with Busch, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. "Usually, I'm the guy that's finished second—unfortunately—but this time I am the winner, so I'm pretty pumped up about that. This is a huge win for me for a lot of reasons."

Struggles in the Sprint Cup Series and whispers that his job might be in jeopardy haven't escaped Logano's notice, but he has tried to keep those concerns in the background.


"Those aren't things that make the car go faster," Logano said in explaining why he can't afford to worry about them.


The lead-lap cars made their final pit stops under caution for Clint Bowyer's hard Lap 80 crash into the backstretch wall off the bumper of teammate/owner Kevin Harvick. Patrick and Almirola were dicing with Sadler and Stewart for the lead positions when caution flew for the sixth time on Lap 90.

On a Lap 94 restart, Sadler led Stewart, Patrick and Almirola to the green flag. Patrick was in the mix to the end, but after getting separated from Almirola briefly on Lap 99 of 100, she dropped back before trying to work her way through traffic with Almirola pushing. The JR Motorsports tandem got a run to the outside through the final two corners but tangled with Mike Wallace and Sadler off the last turn.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

"Very small holes that I was taking," Patrick said of the last-lap run. "That's pretty much what I saw. Man, it looked like Mike Wallace was a like fish out of water there at the end … it was just a cluster."

Note: After a hard crash in Turn 1 on Lap 44, Eric McClure, driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet, was taken to the infield care center, then to a local hospital for further evaluation. McClure had walked away from the wreck.

Sorenson Conquers Road Warriors and Craziness for Bucyrus 200 Win



Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images



The first excursion for the NASCAR Nationwide series on the road courses for 2011, the Road America round was a complete change in tone for a stock car tour dominated by oval tracks. A 4.048-mile track in Elkhart Lake, the Bucyrus 200 race is 50 laps of unique fender-to-fender competition.

Spending much of this 2011 season as a driver for a "Start and Park" effort in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, Michael McDowell was given a golden opportunity to compete for a NASCAR trophy with Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide series team. Driving the #18 Toyota, McDowell was fast throughout Friday practice as the young driver polished up on skills acquired through his road racing background. Against the likes of Jacques Villeneuve, Ron Fellows and Max Papis, Michael McDowell accomplished early greatness by taking the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the top in qualifying. Max Papis, Jacques Villeneuve, Billy Johnson and Ron Fellows rounded out the top-5 in a qualifying session occurring just ahead of the actual race.

In the late Saturday afternoon event, the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bucyrus 200 received the green flag with 42 drivers immediately demonstrating their varying levels of road racing experience. Led by McDowell, the past champion of the Star Mazda tour showed staying power at the front. The #18 Toyota Camry led the race's first 6 laps on his way to leading 30 overall laps in the event Saturday. Other vehicles and drivers who would claim an early lap includes the #66 Toyota of Steve Wallace as well as the the #22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger driven by Jacques Villeneuve. Both Villeneuve and Wallace spent 4 laps out front at Road America.

Deeper in the field, NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr was encountering a much more difficult compared to the front contenders. Spinning in turn three on only the third lap of the Bucyrus 200, Stenhouse Jr's #6 Ford narrowly averted serious collisions with the #32 Chevrolet of Reed Sorenson and the JR Fitzpatrick's Go Canada Racing #67 Ford Mustang. A rough start for the young Roush Fenway Racing development driver, Rick Stenhouse Jr would receive a lesson in perseverance as the #6 Ford would claim a top-10 finish.

As the race endured, the road race ringers began to assert themselves against the Nationwide series regulars. Jacques Villeneuve was a frequent figure in the top-10 as was the #33 Chevrolet of Max Papis and the #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet piloted by last year's runner-up at Road America Ron Fellows. Through the latter laps of the Bucyrus 200, Papis and Villeneuve delighted the fans with a fierce battle for what would eventually amount to top-5 positions.

In the last 10 scheduled laps of the Bucyrus 200, the #11 car of Brian Scott played a tight fuel economy gamble only to be quickly overhauled by the leaders. Led by Michael McDowell in the late going, the #18 Toyota driver stormed past Scott for the lead position with the #7 car of Fellows accompanying McDowell. In the lead and pulling away from Ron Fellows, McDowell appeared to be on track to certain victory at Road America until caution flew. The full-course yellow flag was shown on lap 48 after the #41 car of Doug Harrington spun and stopped in the track's 11th turn. Erasing the #18 Toyota's over 6 second lead, the late caution set up what would be a wild green-white-checker battle that burned through NASCAR's maximum three attempts.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Positioning a drivers in a situation to easily steal positions, the first green-white-checker on lap 50 gave a textbook example of ultimate aggression heading into a two-lap sprint. Taking the green, Jacques Villeneuve brought his Penske Racing #22 Dodge Challenger into a precarious three-wide into turn 1. Brushing the in-field grass, Villeneuve launched back into the race track pounding into the #11 Toyota of Brian Scott. Sending Scott spinning into the corner's sand trap, the #22 Dodge also clipped the #33 Chevrolet of Max Papis. Becoming a passenger as the #33 Kevin Harvick Incorporated Chevrolet slides, Papis made hard head-on contact with the track's retaining wall. Out of the three cars involved in the incident, Jacques Villeneuve's #22 Dodge would actually end up in the best position at the end of the Bucyrus 200 finishing in 3rd place. However, an angry Scott and an irate Papis would quickly seek out Villeneuve in post-race first explaining their displeasure through gentle but telling bumper tag.

Bunching the field together, the late race caution gave a chance for the Turner Motosports #31 Chevrolet of Justin Allgaier to contend for the win. In the second restart to the checkered flag, Allgaier would effectively muscled his way to past Ron Fellows as the Nationwide regular set sights on McDowell. As Allgaier chased down the #18 Toyota, leader Michael McDowell spun out hading the lead to the #31 Chevy. Taking the top spot at Road America, Allgaier's desire to run to victory lane was defeated by several NASCAR Nationwide cars coming together in turn 6. An incident resulting from McDowell's spin, Steve Wallace, Alex Kennedy, Ricky Carmichael and Eric McClure were caught up.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Justin Allgaier led the double-file field to green for the third green-white-checker restart with Ron Fellows starting alongside. By the time cars passed the start-finish line, Allgaier's Turner Motorsports teammate Reed Sorenson in the #32 Dollar General Chevrolet stormed past Fellows for the second place. just as the #31 stock car of Justin Allgaier was pulling away from his competition, the #88 Chevrolet of Aric Almirola became stuck in a off-track safety trap.
As Almirola's stricken car brings full course caution for the third and final time, the Bucyrus 200 would be settled with Justin Allgaier as a winner. However, in a plot development fitting for all the wild action on track, Allgaier's #31 car began to lose power on the final lap. In the NASCAR rulebook, a leader must maintain a reasonable pace in order to stay in position. Ultimately losing the race on fuel, Allgaier lost due to less than a gallon of racing fuel.

With the #31 Chevrolet coasting ever so slowly, the second place car inherited the race lead as well as the prized victory of the Bucyrus 200 at Road America. Though the #7 Chevrolet of Ron Fellows appeared out front of the competition, NASCAR deemed his pass to occur under caution. In second place prior to the caution, Allgaier's Turner Motorsports teammate Reed Sorenson took the win of the Bucyrus 200. Sorenson's first NASCAR Nationwide Series win since Gateway in 2007, the #32 Chevrolet ducked the early race mishap with Ricky Stenhouse Jr's #6 Ford.

After getting roughed-up by other drivers through the final laps, Canadian Ron Fellows road racing skill kept him in the runner-up position (the second year in a row at Road America). Behind 4th place Jacques Villeneuve, Elliott Sadler driving the #2 Chevrolet collected an important 4th place finish. With the race result, Sadler is still 2nd in the NASCAR Nationwide series drivers standing but only 5 points ahead of Sorenson.

Mike Wallace's #01 Chevrolet rounded out the top-5 of the Bucyrus 200 with Andrew Ranger, Michael Annett, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ricky Carmichael and JR Fitzpatrick composing the top-10 in the first NASCAR Nationwide Series road course event. Though Canadian drivers did not capture victory after a strong showing at Road America, the North American country can celebrate a very impressive feat. Fellows, Villeneuve, Ranger and Fitzpatrick together provided a rare opportunity to have 4 Canadian racers finish in the top-10 for a major NASCAR touring series event (may be a record but I can not confirm).

NASCAR Nationwide Series cars return to oval racing on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.




2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Bucyrus 200 Presented by Menards
Race Results

1. 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Chevrolet
2. 7 Ron Fellows AER Chevrolet
3. 22 Jacques Villeneuve Discount Tire Dodge
4. 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
5. 01 Mike Wallace Cowboys & Aliens Chevrolet
6. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
7. 53 Andrew Ranger WM Recycling Dodge
8. 62 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Toyota
9. 30 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy Chevrolet
10. 67 J R Fitzpatrick Go Canada Racing Ford
11. 15 Timmy Hill New Orleans Voodoo Ford
12. 18 Michael McDowell Pizza Ranch Toyota
13. 39 Josh Wise Cajun Industries Ford
14. 81 Blake Koch DAYSTAR.com Dodge
15. 19 Mike Bliss SheboyganAuto.com Chevrolet
16. 11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge
17. 28 Derrike Cope MAXelence.com Chevrolet
18. 70 Dennis Setzer ML Motorsports Dodge
19. 31 Justin Allgaier Florida Gulf Safe Chevrolet
20. 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
21. 23 Alex Kennedy St. Baldrick's Dodge
22. 88 Aric Almirola TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
23. 33 Max Papis Rheem/Menards Chevrolet
24. 87 Kevin Conway AM/FM Energy/Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
25. 52 Tim Schendel TRX Software Development, Inc. Chevrolet
26. 66 Steve Wallace 5-Hour Energy Toyota
27. 14 Eric McClure Hefty BlackOut/Reynolds Chevrolet
28. 09 Kenny Wallace Toyota Toyota
29. 13 Jennifer Jo Cobb DriverBoutique.com Ford
30. 41 Doug Harrington New Orleans Voodoo Ford
31. 16 Trevor Bayne RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
32. 51 Jeremy Clements racedaysponsor.com Chevrolet
33. 60 Billy Johnson Fastenal Ford
34. 64 Jason Bowles Fuel Doctor Toyota
35. 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Chevrolet
36. 75 Carl Long Lilly Trucking of VA Ford
37. 40 Charles Lewandoski # Key Motorsports Chevrolet
38. 44 Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
39. 03 Scott Wimmer R3 Motorsports Dodge
40. 46 Chase Miller Key Motorsports Chevrolet
41. 42 Tim Andrews Key Motorsports Chevrolet
42. 55 Brett Rowe Imperial Bedding Chevrolet

Road America Charts Different Course for 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series on Friday

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

For the second year in a row, the 4.048-mile Road America awakes with the sound of 700-plus horsepower stock cars of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Situated in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the scenic but renowned race track of Road America has been most recognized as a site for open wheel and sports car battles. The site of a fantastic road race last season, stock car regular Carl Edwards won the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series event by outperforming some of the best road racing ringers such as Jacques Villeneuve and Ron Fellows.

Due to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series holding a road course race in Sonoma, California, the high-profile stock car regulars (many of whom competed in the last event at Michigan International Speedway last Saturday) have elected not to pull the weekend double-duty. Due to the distance between the weekend's NASCAR races and top placement in NASCAR Sprint Cup points, even the reigning 2010 race winner Carl Edwards is foregoing the event (ending a continuous NASCAR Nationwide starting streak dating back to a June 2005 race at Kentucky). For Road America, Edwards' #60 Ford Mustang for Roush-Fenway Racing will be wheeled by development driver Billy Johnson.

Making the most of a four-time winning car in 2011, Billy Johnson posted a fastest time lapping the 4-mile race track in the NASCAR Nationwide Series' first practice session. Posting a time of 2 minutes, 14.871 seconds around the 14-turn road course, the 24-year old Johnson was immediately quicker than Jacques Villeneuve and Michael McDowell. Confident on the #60 Fastenal Ford's performance, Billy Johnson and the #60 team did not participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Series' final practice. Roush-Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr also sat out the second prep session for Saturday's Bucyrus 200 race. Stenhouse Jr posted a 7th fastest time in his #6 Ford Mustang during the earlier practice at Road America.

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

A weekend without the typically strong Sprint Cup competitors, a less known but no less talented crowd of drivers are given a chance to claim the spotlight. For this event, Michael McDowell his been granted the ride that Kyle Busch often wheels in selected NASCAR Nationwide Series events. Driving the #18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, McDowell draws upon his Star Mazda and Grand Am road racing series experience to preside in the top-3 for both practice sessions at Road America. NASCAR Nationwide Series title contenders like Reed Sorenson, Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne showed competitive pace as they take a break from left-only turns. Sadler posted a top-10 time in both sessions driving the Kevin Harvick Incorporated #2 Chevrolet eager to gather important driver championship points in Saturday's Bucyrus 200 race. Elliott Sadler is only 2 points behind current championship leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Practice for the Bucyrus 200 at Road America also saw a set of notable but part-time competitors lapping the 4.048 mile track. Drivers often chosen by teams only for the three road courses on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series calendar (so-called 'Road Ringers'), talents joining the stock car tour at Road America includes a number of successful stars of sports car, Indy-style car and even Formula 1. Second-fastest in the first practice and third highest on the second session's time sheet, 1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve returns to NASCAR this season in the Penske Racing #22 Dodge Challenger. Last season in this event, Villeneuve fought hard for Braun Racing until a late-race mechanical problem concluded a chance at a top-5 finish.

While Jacques Villeneuve will be driving a car commonly competed by Brad Keselowski, the #33 Chevrolet owned by Kevin Harvick Incorporated is also calling on decorated road racer Max Papis. An expatriate of sports car and open wheel driving, Papis last time competing a NASCAR stock car on a road course almost ended with victory. Battling to win the Napa Auto Parts 200 at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Vileneuve in 2010, the Italian native Papis was narrowly beaten by Boris Said on the last lap. On Friday, Max Papis and the #33 Chevrolet topped the second practice chart. Other Road Ringer talents present at Road America includes Ron Fellows, Andrew Ranger and Alex Kennedy.

With qualifying and the race set for Saturday, the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bucyrus 200 Presented by Menards will take place as a 50-lap affair starting at 4:30 pm.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Bucyrus 200 Presented by Menards
Entry List

1. 01 Mike Wallace Cowboys & Aliens Chevrolet
2. 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
3. 03 TBA R3 Motorsports Dodge
4. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
5. 7 Ron Fellows AER Chevrolet
6. 09 Kenny Wallace Toyota Toyota
7. 11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge
8. 13 Jennifer Jo Cobb DriverBoutique.com Ford
9. 14 Eric McClure Hefty BlackOut/Reynolds Chevrolet
10. 15 Timmy Hill New Orleans Voodoo Ford
11. 16 Trevor Bayne RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
12. 18 Michael McDowell Pizza Ranch Toyota
13. 19 Mike Bliss SheboyganAuto.com Chevrolet
14. 22 Jacques Villeneuve Discount Tire Dodge
15. 23 Alex Kennedy St. Baldrick's Dodge
16. 28 Derrike Cope MAXelence.com Chevrolet
17. 30 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy Chevrolet
18. 31 Justin Allgaier Florida Gulf Safe Chevrolet
19. 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Chevrolet
20. 33 Max Papis Rheem/Menards Chevrolet
21. 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
22. 39 Josh Wise Cajun Industries Ford
23. 40 Charles Lewandoski # Key Motorsports Chevrolet
24. 41 Doug Harrington New Orleans Voodoo Ford
25. 42 Tim Andrews Key Motorsports Chevrolet
26. 44 Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
27. 46 Chase Miller Key Motorsports Chevrolet
28. 51 Jeremy Clements racedaysponsor.com Chevrolet
29. 52 Tim Schendel TRX Software Development, Inc. Chevrolet
30. 53 Andrew Ranger WM Recycling Dodge
31. 55 Brett Rowe Imperial Bedding Chevrolet
32. 60 Billy Johnson Fastenal Ford
33. 62 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Toyota
34. 64 Jason Bowles Fuel Doctor Toyota
35. 66 Steve Wallace 5-Hour Energy Toyota
36. 67 J R Fitzpatrick Go Canada Racing Ford
37. 70 Dennis Setzer ML Motorsports Dodge
38. 75 Carl Long Lilly Trucking of VA Ford
39. 81 Blake Koch DAYSTAR.com Dodge
40. 87 Kevin Conway AM/FM Energy/Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
41. 88 Aric Almirola TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
42. 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Chevrolet

NASCAR Schedule & Weather Forecast: June 24th to 26th 2011

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Road America
NASCAR Nationwide Series/ Rolex Sports Car Series


Friday

10:45 am- Rolex Sport Car Series Practice
Temperature: 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%


12 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

2:05 pm- Rolex Sport Car Series Qualifying (GT Class)
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

2:35 pm- Rolex Sport Car Series Qualifying (DP Class)
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

3:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sun with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 10%

Saturday:

9:15 am- Rolex Sport Car Series Practice
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

11 am- Rolex Sports Car Series 250 Driven by VisitFlorida.com
Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

2:05 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

4:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Series Bucyrus 200 Presented by Menards
Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%



Sonoma, California
Infineon Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup

Friday:

12 pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

3:40 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying
Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Saturday:

9 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny with clouds
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

10:45am NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Sunday:

12:00 pm NASCAR Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350k Race
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipitation: 0%


Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Mosport International Raceway
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

Saturday:

11:00 am NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice
Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

12:30 pm NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice
Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 40%

4:00 pm NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Qualifying
Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 40%


Sunday:

12:00 pm NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Vortex Brake Pads 200
Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of rain
Chance of Precipitation: 0%

All in the Fuel Tank! Allgaier Breezes to Chicagoland Nationwide Victory

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images for NASCAR

The 14th race on the 2011 Nationwide series schedule, the competitors of NASCAR's second-highest touring division enjoyed a solo outing away from the Sprint Cup series at Chicagoland Speedway. With only three drivers (Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards) trailing away from a Sprint Cup series weekend to compete in Saturday's STP 300 on the 1.5 mile oval, the NASCAR series regulars as well as other aspiring stock car drivers stood poised to post strong showings within the 200-lap race. 

After enduring a rain shower that has previously washed-out qualifying, the STP 300 started with the JR Motorsports #88 Chevrolet of Aric Almirola and the Kevin Harvick Incorporated #2 Chevy driven by Elliott Sadler leading the 42-car NASCAR Nationwide series based on the season's car owners' points standings. Almirola held an early lead at Chicagoland but would quickly fall into the clutches of one of the Sprint Cup series visitors. In a hurry, Sprint Cup regular Carl Edwards took the lead on lap 9 after starting 4th in the event. Leading for 144 of the 200 race laps however, the #60 Ford of Edwards asserted total control of the Chicagoland Speedway event. Against the dominanace of Edwards through much of the STP 300 race distance, Elliott Sadler was able to muster the lead for the second-most laps for a total of 29 circuits.

Slowed only four times by caution, the 300-mile distance flew by on the racetrack with eventual result of only 9 cars finishing on the lead lap. With the final yellow flag getting displayed on lap 140, the STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway took on the complexity of a fuel economy run to the finish line. Into the final laps, Carl Edwards and Justin Allgaier driving the #31 Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports had taken the top-two positions both running desperately short on the E20 blended racing fuel. Going down the backstretch through the final lap, the #60 Ford of Edwards began to hiccup starving for fuel giving Allgaier the opportunity to pass. On his way to a skillful victory through turn 3 and 4, the #31 Chevrolet suddenly ran its fuel tank dry. Coasting on the apron down the frontstretch, Allgaier stayed ahead of the still enduring Edwards car to win the STP 400.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images for NASCAR

Strongly seated in the top-10 with Carl Edwards, Roush-Fenway Racing wing man Trevor Bayne was once again a force in the NASCAR Nationwide Series after being sidelined for a long stint due to a complicated illness. Bayne's return to the STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway was the 2011 Daytona 500 winning driver's first time back in a NASCAR competition since the April 23rd event at Nashville Superspeedway. In a better situation on fuel, Bayne stood a chance to claim a first NASCAR Nationwide series win if the race went one lap longer.


Justin Allgaier's victory at Chicagoland Speedway is the driver's second career victory and second win of the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series for Turner Motorsports. Ironically in similar last-lap pass fashion, Mark Martin won at Texas Motor Speed for the team when Brad Keselowski blew a tire while leading. Overall, the Turner Motorsports Chevrolets prevailed nicely at the checkered flag with Allgaier's teammates Jason Leffler and Reed Sorenson both claiming top-10 finishes. Leffler came home 5th while current NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Sorenson finished 6th in the #32 Dollar General Chevy. Sorenson holds a tight 2 point lead ahead of Elliott Sadler and rests only 6 points forward of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Other notable finishes when the top-10 of the STP 300 includes a 7th place run for Kenny Wallace and an 8th place result for former JR Motorsports driver Kelly Bires. Speaking of JR Motorsports, IZOD INDYCAR Series driver Danica Patrick finished 10th in his one of her select NASCAR Nationwide series starts for 2011. Patrick's second top-10 career run in the #7 Chevrolet comes as rumours swirled last week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the popular driver was going to NASCAR full-time in 2012. Presently having an equity stake in her own INDYCAR team with Andretti Autosport, her current contract will still have a year remaining after this season. Danica Patrick has yet to confirm her plans for the 2012 racing season.

Presented with a weekend-off, the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide series will next race on June 18th rejoining the Sprint Cup series companionship at the Michigan International Speedway.


2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
STP 300
Chicagoland Speedway

Race Results

1. 31 Justin Allgaier Brandt Chevrolet
2. 60 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
3. 16 Trevor Bayne Avnet / BMA Ford
4. 88 Aric Almirola TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
5. 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
6. 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Chevrolet
7. 09 Kenny Wallace Family Farmers / Marquis Energy Toyota
8. 18 Kelly Bires Heil Heating and Cooling Products Toyota
9. 62 Michael Annett Pilot Travel Centers / Flying J Toyota
10. 7 Danica Patrick Tissot / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
11. 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
12. 66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
13. 33 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chevrolet
14. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. RickyvsTrevor.com Ford
15. 15 Timmy Hill  Nuts Off / Lilly Trucking of VA Ford
16. 01 Mike Wallace CowboysandAliensMovie.com Chevrolet
17. 11 Brian Scott Sandvik Toyota
18. 14 Eric McClure Hefty BlackOut / Reynolds Chevrolet
19. 70 Scott Wimmer ForeTravel Motorcoach Chevrolet
20. 99 Ryan Truex  Pastrana Waltrip Racing Toyota
21. 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
22. 19 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
23. 28 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Inc. Chevrolet
24. 40 Charles Lewandoski # Key Motorsports Chevrolet
25. 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Racing Chevrolet
26. 39 Josh Wise Cajun Industries Ford
27. 81 Blake Koch  Daystar.com Dodge
28. 52 Kevin Lepage Just Rite Acoustics Chevrolet
29. 51 Jeremy Clements Gerber Collision & Glass Chevrolet
30. 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
31. 41 Carl Long Lilly Trucking of VA Ford
32. 23 Robert Richardson Jr. North Texas Pipe Dodge
33. 30 Mikey Kile Sears Auto Center Chevrolet
34. 79 Tim Andrews 2nd Chance Motorsports Ford
35. 49 Dennis Setzer Jay Robinson Inc. Chevrolet
36. 13 Rick Crawford DriverMale.com Ford
37. 68 Matt Carter Fleur-de-lis Farms Chevrolet
38. 75 Johnny Chapman Lilly Trucking of VA Ford
39. 74 Mike Harmon Riverwalk Cafe Chevrolet
40. 44 Jeff Green Tri-Star Motorsports / Pro Motor Chevrolet
41. 46 Chase Miller Key Motorsports Chevrolet
42. 55 Brett Rowe Imperial Bedding Chevrolet

Busch Wins Nationwide Race, Trails Martin by One Win

Photo Credit: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(May 6, 2011)

DARLINGTON, S.C.

With a convincing victory in Friday night's Royal Purple 200 at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Busch scored his fifth Nationwide Series win of the season and the 48th of his career, leaving him one behind Mark Martin for the career victory lead in the series.

Busch beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin to the finish line by 3.677 seconds. Elliott Sadler was third, followed by Nationwide points leader Justin Allgaier and Steve Wallace.

Pit strategy moved Sadler to the front of the field, as crew chief Jimmy Elledge elected to keep the No. 2 Chevrolet out on the track under caution for Michael Annett's backstretch crash on Lap 89.

Sadler passed Allgaier for the lead on Lap 108, but that didn't last. Busch, who had restarted ninth on Lap 104—after an eight-car wreck caused the fifth caution of the race—worked his way through the field and passed Sadler for the top spot on Lap 124.

The eight-car melee on Lap 95 collected the cars of Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne, both of whom had battled for the lead early in the race.

Race Weekend Weather Forecast: May 6th to May 7th, 2011

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Time are local unless otherwise stated

Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul, Turkey
Formula 1

Eastern time is in brackets ()

Friday:

10 am (3 am)- Formula 1 Practice 1

Temperature: 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy with chance of Rain
Chance of Precipatation: 60%


2 pm (7 am)- Formula 1 Practice 2

Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudy
Chance of Precipatation: 10%


Saturday:

11 am (4 am)- Formula 1 Practice 3
Temperature: 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Sunny
Chance of Precipatation: 0%


2 pm (7 am)- Formula 1 Qualifying

Temperature: 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy with sun
Chance of Precipatation: 0%




Sunday:

3 pm (8 am)-Formula 1 Race

Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy with sun
Chance of Precipatation: 0%



Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series

Friday:


9:30 am- NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
Temperature: 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly with chance of rain
Chance of Precipatation: 10%


11 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice

Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly with chance of rain and thunderstorms
Chance of Precipatation: 80%


2:15 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice

Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly with chance of rain and thunderstorms
Chance of Precipatation: 80%


3:35 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Qualifying

Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly with chance of rain and thunderstorms
Chance of Precipatation: 80%


5:10 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying

Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly with chance of rain and thunderstorms
Chance of Precipatation: 80%



7:30 pm- NASCAR Nationwide Royal Purple 200

Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Cloudly/night
Chance of Precipatation: 80%


Saturday:

7:30 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Showtime Southern 500

Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudly/night
Chance of Precipatation: 0%

Carl Edwards Lassos First Nationwide Win of 2011 at Texas

 

Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(April 8, 2011)

FORT WORTH, Texas — Carl Edwards held off tenacious Brad Keselowski to win Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The victory was Edwards’ second at Texas, his first of the season, the 30th of his career and the first for the new Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Keselowski crossed the stripe .482 seconds behind Edwards. Paul Menard came home third, followed by Joey Logano and Elliott Sadler. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished eighth and retained the series points lead.

Kyle Busch, who was gunning for his third consecutive win and fourth of the season, was chasing Edwards as the two battled for the lead on Lap 88 when the No. 52 Chevrolet of Tim Schendel blew a tire and slid up into Busch’s path. With no room to maneuver and no time to react, Busch slammed into the back of Schendel’s car, knocking Busch’s No. 18 Toyota out of the race.

“We started out a little bit tight, and the track was actually coming our way a little bit,” Busch said. “It started to free up a little bit that last run right before we wrecked. We felt pretty good about it. We were just biding our time. We were just running there—we were running hard, but we were just running.

“It felt like we were probably the only car that was going to give Carl a shot. It’s a shame that we didn’t have the chance to race it out the rest of the night.”

Kyle Busch Wins Second Straight Nationwide Race of Season in California

Photo Credit: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 FONTANA, Calif.—Kyle Busch drove it like he stole it over the final 13 Laps at Auto Club Speedway, because that’s exactly what happened in Saturday’s Royal Purple 300 Nationwide Series race.

About the only thing he didn’t get was a grand larceny charge.

Thanks to a two-tire call with 13 laps left, Busch exited the pits with a five-second lead over runner-up Carl Edwards and won a race in a No. 18 Toyota that was, at best, a third-place car.

Busch’s victory kept a litany of streaks intact. Busch won his third straight event in NASCAR’s top two national series, his third straight Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway and the seventh straight Nationwide race at the 2-mile track for Joe Gibbs Racing, dating to Tony Stewart’s victory in 2008.

The win, Busch’s fourth in the past five races at Fontana, gave him 46 career wins in the series, three short of the series record of Mark Martin, who finished eighth Saturday.

"I think it’s pretty satisfying when you can win one like that," Busch said. "I mean, it’s great to go out there and kick everybody’s butt and win the race and just come to the media center and go home. But today, it’s a little bit more fun.

"I don’t know why, but it’s like you’re working your butt off all day long, and it’s like ‘Aw, man, it’s going to be a third today. That kind of stings, but it’s still decent.’ And then you end up making a pit call like that, where nobody else does it, and you’re like, ‘Damn, we’re going to win this thing,’ and you get all jacked up."

Busch took the lead during an exchange of late-race pit stops and expanded it with the two-tire call on Lap 137 of 150. When Busch exited the pits with new right-side tires, he had the five-second lead over Edwards.

Though Edwards and third-place Kevin Harvick closed fast on four new tires during the final 12 laps, they ran out of time. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran fourth and took the lead in the series standings by six points over Jason Leffler (11th Saturday). Elliott Sadler came home fifth.

Harvick, who pitted on Lap 134, said he never considered a two-tire call.

"Two tires never even crossed my mind," Harvick said. "If I had to do it again, I’d probably pit earlier and probably get on pit road a little harder. Whether it would have changed the outcome or not, I don’t know. Still a good day for us."

Edwards, who came to the pits on Lap 132, wondered whether someone might try two tires but not in time to do anything about it.

"I did not think of two tires until we were jacked up on the left side of the car," Edwards said. "I thought, ‘Man, this is kind of close to the end. I wonder if somebody will take two, but I didn’t really think about it more than that.

"I guess it’s a little bit of shame that it didn’t come down to a real battle at the end, but it very well could have. A little bit of a slower stop on Kyle’s car or a caution or something like that, and it was going to be an insane finish."

Harvick was first off pit road during the fifth caution—caused by Jeremy Clements’ spin in Turn 2—and took the green flag for a Lap 98 restart. Stenhouse, however, surged from fourth to the top spot on Lap 99.

Stenhouse, who had perhaps the best short-run car in the field, held the lead until Edwards regained it on Lap 109. But Harvick began to show his strength as the green-flag run progressed, and the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet made short work of Edwards on Lap 115 to pace the field.


Royal Purple 300
2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Auto Club Speedway
Top-10 Finishers

1) 18 Kyle Busch Z-Line Designs Toyota
2) 60 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing
3) 33 Kevin Harvick Rheem Pool and Spa Heaters Chevrolet
4) 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford
5) 2 Elliott Sadler Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet
6) 16 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7) 20 Joey Logano GameStop Toyota
8) 32 Mark Martin Dollar General Chevrolet
9) 88 Aric Almirola Ragu/Food 4 Less Chevrolet
10) 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge