KROGER 200 - O'REILLY RACEWAY PARK
Nationwide Series Race #20 of 35 for the 2010 season
Last Race - Gateway
Next Race - Iowa
Busch wins at ORP: #18-Kyle Busch held off #60-Carl Edwards on a green-white-checker finish to win the Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park for his 8th win of the season and the 38th of his Nationwide career. #88-Aric Almirola finished 3rd, followed by #99-Trevor Bayner, #32-Reed Sorenson, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #12-Justin Allaiger, #22-Brad Keselowski, #98-Paul Menard, and #66-Steve Wallace. There were 6 cautions for 36 laps and 7 lead changes among 4 leaders. Complete results are posted on the orp race results page.(7-24-2010)
ORP Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the Kroger 200 benefitting Riley Hospital for Children, his 38th victory in 189 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his eighth victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2010.
This is his third victory and fourth top-10 finish in six races at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Carl Edwards (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in six races at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2010.
Aric Almirola (third) posted his second top-10 finish in four races at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (11th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Brad Keselowski leads the point standings by 205 points over Carl Edwards.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-24-2010)
Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at ORP and their finish
Caution 1: #35-Keller, 32nd
Caution 2: #40-Bliss, 13th
Caution 3: #11-Scott, 17th
Caution 4: #81-McDowell, 20th
Caution 5: #05-Starr, 21st
Caution 6: #01-Wallace, 22nd
(NASCAR PR)(7-24-2010)
Driver standings following ORP:
1) #22-Brad Keselowski 3189
2) #60-Carl Edwards 2984, -205
3) #12-Justin Allgaier 2691, -498
4) #18-Kyle Busch 2681, -508
5) #98-Paul Menard 2505, -684
6) #33-Kevin Harvick 2434, -755
7) #66-Steve Wallace 2338, -851
8) #62-Brendan Gaughan 2277, -912
9) #99-Trevor Bayne 2205, -984
10) #38-Jason Leffler 2161, -1028
Complete standings are posted on the driver standings page.(7-24-2010)
Owner Standings following ORP are posted. The top 30 are now locked in the race at Iowa. There were no changes in the top 30, but the #70 ML Motorsports team is now 31st, 9 points behind the #43 Baker Curb team. (7-24-2010)
Bayne on pole at ORP: #99-Trevor Bayne won the pole for the Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park with a speed of 110.117mph. It is his second pole in a row and the 3rd of his career. He was also on the pole at ORP last year. #66-Steve Wallace will line up second. The rest of the top 10: #6-Ricky Stenhouse, #98-Paul Menard, #18-Kyle Busch, #88-Aric Almirola, #16-Colin Braun, #22-Brad Keselowski, #12-Justin Allgaier, and #20-Matt Dibenedetto. There are only 43 cars at the track so there were no DNQs. The starting lineup is posted on the ORP starting lineup page.(7-24-2010)
Keselowski fastest in Happy Hour: #22-Brad Keselowski was also quickest during the final practice session at O'Reilly Raceway Park with a speed of 109.173mph. He was followed by: #98-Paul Menard, #33-Paul Hornaday, #38-Jason Leffler, #20-Matt DiBenedetto, #16-Colin Braun, #6-Ricky Stenhouse, #99-Trevor Bayne, #12-Justin Allgaier & #10-Brian Scott. Complete results are posted on the ORP practice results page.(7-24-2010)
Keselowski fastest in opening practice: #22-Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the opening practice session for the Kroger 200. His top speed was 107.852mph. He was followed by: #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., #21-Morgan Shepherd, #38-Jason Leffler, #32-James Buescher, #88-Aric Almirola, #99-Trevor Bayne, #15-Michael Annett, #05-David Star, and #70-Shelby Howard. Complete results are posted on the ORP practice results page.(7-24-2010)
Entry List: There are 44 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday's Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
Some notes:
David Starr returns to the Wayne Day #05;
The RAB #09 is TBA;
The Braun Racing #10 is TBA;
Matt Dibenedetto is back in the JGR #20;
Clint Bowyer is listed as driver of the RCR #21, but that's expected to be Morgan Shepherd again;
Johnny Sauter is in the Baker-Curb #27;
JC Stout is entered in the Rick Ware #31;
TriStar Motorsports #36 is TBA;
Kevin Swindell is back in the Baker-Curb #43;
Chris Lawson and the Jimmy Mean's #52 are entered again;
Not entered: #56-Kevin Lepage, #73-Derrike Cope(7-19-2010)
UPDATE: Jeff Green will be in the TriStar #36.(7-20-2010)
UPDATE 2: The #61 Specialty Racing team has withdrawn. There are now 43 cars on the entry list.(7-21-2010)
UPDATE 3: Kevin Hamlin will drive the RAB Racing #09.(7-22-2010)
UPDATE 4: Derrick Griffin will drive the #10 for Braun Racing.(7-23-2010)
See the complete list on the ORP entry list page.
If qualifying is rained out or canceled the teams making the race would be:
#24-Eric McClure [31st, 19 attempts], #05-David Starr [32nd, 19], #70-Shelby Howard [33rd, 19], #81-Michael McDowell [34th, 19], #26-Brian Keselowski [36th, 19], #89-Johnny Chapman [37th, 19], #92-Dennis Setzer [43rd, 18], #90-Danny O'Quinn [41st, 16], #91-Chase Miller [44th, 15], #49-Mark Green [45th, 11], #31-JC Stout [49th, 3], #52-Chris Lawson [54th, 8]
none would miss the race
Owner Standings following Gateway are posted. The top 30 are now locked in the race at O'Reilly Raceway Park. There were no changes in the top 30. The #43 Baker-Curb team remains 30th. #24-McClure/Team Rensi moves to 31st, 47 points back.(7-17-2010)
Nationwide Series in Prime Time from Indianapolis: ESPN continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend with live, prime time racing on Saturday night, July 24, from O'Reilly Raceway Park near Indianapolis. The 200-lap race airs on ESPN beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown, with the race telecast at 8 p.m. and the green flag at 8:15 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC. Also on Saturday, coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying airs at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, while coverage of final practice airs earlier that day at 12:30 p.m. Vince Welch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN's coverage, with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Ricky Craven. Reporting from the pits will be Rick DeBruhl, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake.(ESPN)(7-19-2010)
It’s Hot, But Not Only Because It’s Summer
It’s July in the Midwest, and that means hot and humid conditions are the norm. It’s also the time of year
for short-track racing at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
That combination always is combustible. This weekend, the burner will be turned up even higher.
The year-long feud between NASCAR Nationwide Series standings leader Brad Keselowski (#22 Discount Tire Dodge) and second-place Carl Edwards (#60 Fastenal Ford) is now at a fever pitch after last Saturday night at Gateway International Raceway, where the two drivers added to their rivalry.
Over the past few seasons, Edwards, the 2007 series champion, has become known as a second-half driver. In the last two years alone, he’s racked up 11 of 14 wins following the halfway point of the year. One of those second-half victories was last year at ORP.
Edwards is 163 points behind Keselowski, the closest he’s been to the leader in two months. He has a 102.6 Driver Rating in five career races at ORP.
Keselowski, meanwhile, has one top five and two top 10s with a Driver Rating of 93.0 in three ORP races. He was fourth last year.
And there’s more fuel. Kyle Busch (#18 Fleet Locate Toyota), the reigning series champion, added
this race to his partial schedule. He’s won twice at ORP, most recently in 2008. He’s been outstanding this year in series competition, winning seven of his 15 races, and now is second on the all-time series win list with 37. Mark Martin holds the record with 48.
Another hot button at ORP: Win this race, and there’s a good chance you’ll win the series championship.
Since 2001, Jason Leffler (#38 Great Clips Toyota) and Busch are the only ORP winners who also hadn’t claimed the series title in the same year. Over that span, five drivers have won the Kroger 200 and series crown, while 11 times over the last 23 years, the ORP winner has won the championship.
Back To The Future For Bayne At ORP
One year ago at ORP, Trevor Bayne (# 99 Out! Pet Care Toyota) made the seventh start of his series career. He also made the most of it, earning his first career pole in addition to his first laps led and
the first top-10 finish (seventh).
Fast forward to Saturday at ORP, when he’ll reach the 35th start of his short career, or what would equal a full season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition.
In that time, Bayne, 19, has made considerable progress, especially during the middle stages of this year. He was 10th last month at Road America — his first NASCAR national-series race on a road course — and recorded his first top-five finish (fifth) the next week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, also his track debut. He built on that momentum last Saturday at Gateway — after finishing 27th there last year — with his second career pole and first laps led of the season. He also worked crew chief Jerry Baxter’s strategy like a veteran, setting himself up for a shot at a win late in the event. He ended up third, his career best finish.
Recent Same-Season ORP Winners / NASCAR Nationwide Series Champions
Year Driver
2001 Kevin Harvick
2002 Greg Biffle
2003 Brian Vickers
2005 Martin Truex Jr.
2006 Kevin Harvick
Braun Makes The Most Of Second Chance
Here’s the thing about “growing pains” in the NASCAR Nationwide Series:
They don’t last too long.
Why?
Because the competition is so tough, prolonged slumps are not tolerated for any lasting period of time. There are no long growing pains, because there’s no time for long growing pains.
Colin Braun (#16 Con-way Ford) canspeak to that.
After a successful two seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Braun earned a quick promotion to the NASCAR Nationwide Series to start the 2010 season.
The learning curve proved steep.
He finished outside the top 30 in six of his first eight races, which knocked his #16 Ford outside the top 30 in owner points. That meant he lost a guaranteed spot in each race’s field, and had to qualify each week on speed.
Worse yet, he got the boot – sort of. Owner Jack Roush replaced Braun for two races with veteran Matt Kenseth and another three with youngster Brian Ickler.
Clearly Braun got the step up, or step out message.
Over Braun’s first eight starts, he had an average finish of 28.3, a Driver Rating of 66.2, an Average Running Position of 21.8 and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 25.3%.
Over his last six, which include his first three top 10s of the season, here are his numbers: an average finish of 11.2, a Driver Rating of 88.7, an Average Running Position of 12.8 and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 69.9%.
Now Braun heads to a track – O’Reilly Raceway Park – where he has excelled.
Braun has only raced once at ORP in the series, in 2008. In that event, he won the pole, finished second and posted tremendous statistics. He had a Driver Rating of 124.9, an Average Running Position of 2.1, 25 Fastest Laps Run and ran all 200 laps among the top 15.
He also had strong numbers there in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Last year, he finished fifth with a Driver Rating of 118.5.
Kyle Busch: An Indianapolis Triple Threat
The one-day shows at ORP on Friday and Saturday are precursors to Sunday’s race on the big stage.
A few drivers will pull double-duty in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at ORP.
One driver, however, will make starts in those races as well as in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at The Brickyard.
For Kyle Busch, a triple-header isn’t unusual. In fact, he’s run three national series races in the same weekend twice this year, and 33 times in his career. He’s competed in all three Indy events two times, resulting in two victories, both at ORP in NASCAR Nationwide races.
In addition to Busch, double-duty NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers who also will compete in the truck race this weekend are Aric Almirola (#88 GT Vodka Chevy), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Jimmy John’s Chevy), Shelby Howard (#70 InternationalTrucks.com Chevy), Johnny Sauter (#27 Baker Curb Racing Ford), Dennis Setzer (#92 KAutomotive Motorsports Dodge), David Starr (#05 Cash America Chevy) and JC Stout (#31 Rick Ware Racing Chevy).
Substitute drivers, if needed, for those who are pulling double-duty from the Brickyard to ORP for NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and qualifying are Brad Coleman for Busch, Erik Darnell for Carl Edwards and Parker Kligerman for Brad Keselowski. Matt Crafton will handle his regular truck ride in addition to subbing for Paul Menard (#99 Richmond/Menards Ford) as will James Buescher for Reed Sorenson (#32 Dollar General Toyota). Joe Nemechek (#87 hostgator.com Chevy) and Michael McDowell (#81 R.J. Finley & Co Dodge) do not have substitutes.
Howard Gets Double-Dose Of A Hoosier Homecoming
It’s well-documented that Indiana native Tony Stewart has an obsession with winning at the Brickyard.
The same can be said for Indiana natives — or “near natives” — at the “small track” at ORP.
So it doesn’t possess the glitz and glitter of the “big track,” but winning at home at ORP carries the same special feeling.
Shelby Howard hopes his time is coming. The native of Greenwood, Ind., has been racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since 2003. Last year, he joined Warsaw, Ind.-based ML Motorsports. The natural fit for driver and team resulted in a career-high 17 races for Howard, along with his best finish, 12th at Memphis Motorsports Park.
“I’ve raced (at ORP) a lot since I was young and really love that style of race track,” said Howard, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Sunday. “I first raced there when I was 13 years old and loved it from that point on.”
He’s running another partial schedule for the team this year. The organization is looking to full-time status, perhaps as soon as next season.
He’s competed in four series races at ORP, and his 19th-place result last year – his first with MLM – was his best finish. Howard gets a double-dose of home cooking this weekend. He’ll be in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, too, in the #2 Chevy for Kevin Harvick Inc. He’s run once in a truck at ORP, in 2008 for Duke Thorson. He finished fifth in that event.
“KHI has the best equipment you can get into and I hope we can capitalize on it,” he said.
Howard has some company at home this weekend. Tony Raines (#34 Long John Silvers Chevy), is from LaPorte, Ind. He’s been ranked in the top 10 in driver points twice this season, and finished 10th last Saturday at Gateway. In five career races at ORP, he’s got two top 10s.
Jason Leffler, although from California, might as well be declared an honorary Hoosier. His USAC prowess at ORP has reached almost legendary status, and he made his first NASCAR Nationwide start there in 1999. His last win? In 2007 – at ORP.
NNS Etc.: O’Reilly Raceway Park Edition
►Menard Doubles Down
When Roush Fenway Racing announced that Paul Menard would return full-time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year for his first true double-duty season, he looked forward to the opportunity.
It’s easy to see why.
Menard was a full-time driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2005-06 before graduating to NASCAR Sprint Cup. He currently competes for Richard Petty Motorsports in the premier series.
Through 19 NASCAR Nationwide races this season, Menard has nine top-10 finishes. That’s the same number he had in the past two years combined in 27 starts.
Menard also has two top fives this year; he had two total the previous two seasons.
He could build on those stats this weekend at ORP where he has three top 10s in four starts.
►Shepherd Still Tops At ORP
It’s been 10 years since Jason Keller (#35 Tri-Star Motorsports Chevy) won his second race at O’Reilly Raceway Park. At the time, he was only the third multiple winner at the .686-mile track.
Since Keller’s second win, two other drivers — 2009 series champion Kyle Busch and two-time champion Kevin Harvick — also have won twice at ORP.
Busch is the only driver in this year’s field who has a chance to catch the all-time wins leader, Morgan Shepherd (#21 Victory In Jesus Racing Chevy).
Shepherd had three wins at ORP, including the first Kroger 200, in 1982. He won again in 1984 and also in 1988. His first win also was the second of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career. And his 1988 triumph was his last among 15 NASCAR Nationwide wins. His national series career spans over 40 years.
"Everyone has a track that favors them,” said Shepherd, still going strong at age 68. “ORP and Atlanta are my tracks. It's an honor any time you are a record-holder of anything in racing but for a ‘three-peat’ win, it shows it's not by chance. I have to say, my ORP record is one of the highlights of my NNS career."
► McClure Is “Driver Of The Week”
Eric McClure (#24 Hefty Odor Block Ford) is the Nationwide Insurance “Driver of The Week” at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
The first-year initiative by series sponsor Nationwide Insurance is a program designed to increase driver awareness, with emphasis on series-only regulars.
McClure will participate in a live web chat with fans on Wednesday, July 14 at 12 p.m. ET on NASCARnationwideseries.com.
McClure, who became a father for the third time — all girls — two weeks ago, has three previous starts at ORP with a best finish of 23rd (2009). He’s close to getting his Team Rensi Motorsports team back in the top 30 in owner points (currently 31st). McClure is three-for-three while qualifying on time this season and has to make it four-for-four to race at ORP.
►Raybestos Rookie Standings
Driver Team Points
1. Brian Scott Braun 188
2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. RFR 165
3. Colin Braun RFR 142
4. James Buescher N/A 97
5. Parker Kligerman SPR 46
►Up Next: Iowa Speedway
The third of four Nationwide Insurance “Dash 4 Cash” races gives some extra incentive for drivers next week at Iowa Speedway. Saturday, July 31 is the date for the U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Northland Oil and John Deere. Last year’s inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race was run during the daylight
hours; Race #2 will be under the lights with a 7 p.m. ET start time for the pre-race show on ESPN.
Brad Keselowski won last year after an exciting late-race duel with Kyle Busch. Both drivers will be back this year. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#6 CitiFinancial Ford) won the first pole of his series career last year at Iowa.
Fast Facts
Next Race: Kroger 200 benefitting Riley Hospital for Children
The Place: O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (0.686-mile oval)
The Date: Saturday, July 24
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Distance: 200 laps/137.2 miles
TV: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio (Local-WNDE-AM 1260)
2009 Winner: Carl Edwards
2009 Pole Winner: Trevor Bayne
Schedule prior to race day (times ET): Saturday: Practice, 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.; Final Practice, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.; Qualifying, 5:10 p.m.
2010 Driver Standings
1 Brad Keselowski 3,042
2 Carl Edwards 2,874
3 Justin Allgaier 2,545
4 Kyle Busch 2,486
5 Kevin Harvick 2,434
6 Paul Menard 2,367
7 Steve Wallace 2,204
8 Brendan Gaughan 2,127
9 Joey Logano 2,108
10 Jason Leffler 2,088
Tire: Goodyear Eagle Intermediate Radials
Number of Tires: Left-side -- 575, Right-side -- 575
Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4238; Right-side -- D-4250
Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.3 in.; Right-side -- 88.6 in.
Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 25 psi; Left Rear -- 25 psi;
Right Front -- 35 psi; Right Rear -- 35 psi
Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 12 psi; Left Rear -- 12 psi;
Right Front -- 23 psi; Right Rear -- 21 psi
Notes: Teams in both NASCAR series in action at O'Reilly Raceway Park this weekend will run the same tire codes, though the Nationwide Series tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck Series tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires these teams ran at ORP last season . . . Nationwide teams have also run this exact combination over the last two seasons at New Hampshire . . . these teams have also run this left-side tire code (D-4238) with a different right-side code at Gateway (both series), Phoenix (both series), Richmond (Nationwide only) and New Hampshire (Camping World Truck only) over the 2009 and 2010 seasons . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at ORP.
