Green prepares for 350th start David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford), the 1994 NASCAR Busch Series champion, is set for his milestone 350th career series start Saturday at Dover. Green is fourth on the all-time list in that category, behind Tommy Houston (417), Elton Sawyer (392) and Jason Keller (#35 McDonalds Ford 384). Green made his first series start on July 22, 1989 at Hickory. Since then, he has amassed nine wins most recently this past July at Pikes Peak 22 Busch Poles, 71 top fives and 140 top 10s in addition to his title. Green has finished in the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 six times in his eight fulltime seasons. He has raced in the series for 15 years. He is currently eighth in the standings, 70 points behind Paul Menard (#11 Menards Chevrolet), whos seventh. The whole process means so much to me, Green said of his career. All the sacrifices I had to make when I had to move to North Carolina. I slept in hotels and on the floors of friends apartments as I figured out my future in the NASCAR Busch Series. After dealing with the fact that I didnt have a ride in 1992, I got a chance to go work with the Labontes. I took over for Bobby in the Slim Jim car. It meant so much to me to get Bobby his first championship as an owner. It seems like yesterday when I think back on my championship.
Newman goes for four in a row Ryan Newman (#39 Alltel Dodge) is entered in the Dover 200 and will attempt to become only the second driver to win four NASCAR Busch Series races in succession. Two-time series champion Sam Ard set the mark in 1983 with wins at South Boston, Martinsville, Orange County and Charlotte. Newman has made five starts this season and has posted consecutive wins at Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol. He did not compete in the series race at Richmond. Newman has five top-five and five top-10 finishes in those five starts, bringing his 20-race NASCAR Busch Series career total to four wins, seven poles, seven top fives and 13 top 10s. In his only other appearance in this race at Dover in 2001, he captured the Busch Pole and led 141 laps before finishing 21st. Newman has won three races and one pole in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition at Dover.
Crocker sets sights on Dover Erin Crocker (#6 Hellmans Mayonnaise Dodge) is scheduled to make her second start in the NASCAR Busch Series this weekend at Dover. Crocker became the 12th female driver to compete in the series since its 1982 inception and the fourth this season a series record when she finished 39th at Richmond. She joined Shawna Robinson, Kim Crosby (#26 Vassarette Chevrolet) and Mara Reyes among the female drivers who have raced this year. I’m anxious to get the first practice underway [at Dover] and see what we can do, Crocker said. I’m glad Richmond is behind us. I had so much going on that day, I may not have had enough time to get a hold of everything that needed to be done. This weekend is a new slate and I’m more focused on the job at hand and that’s racing. I’m ready to learn and get some more seat time. Crockers appearance at Dover is somewhat of a home track opportunity. The 24-year-old will race about five hours from her hometown in Wilbraham, Mass. Crockers team owner, Ray Evernham, is from Hazlet, N.J., just over two hours from Dover International Speedway.
Half of Chase drivers in field In addition to the tighter race between Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer and the points battles through the rest of the Top 10, another group of drivers brings their own chase to Saturdays race. Five drivers involved in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford), Greg Biffle (#60 U.S. Postal Service Ford), Matt Kenseth (#17 Waster Management Ford), Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace (#64 Top Flite Dodge) are entered. I can see where some teams might be concerned with the spots the [NASCAR NEXTEL] Cup guys take in a pretty tight field, but for somebody working to learn as much as they can and build a career as a race car driver, its a pretty neat deal, said T.J. Bell (#36 DCT Motorsports Chevrolet), who will be making his third career start Saturday after becoming his teams permanent driver a few weeks ago. If you want to be the best, you have to compete against the best and nobody is better than the drivers in the Cup series. Racing against them cant do anything but make me better as a driver and make us better as a race team.
Charity event follows Dover 200 The Tyson Fun Walk/NASCAR On Track for Charity fundraising event will take place following the NASCAR Busch Series Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway. NASCAR fans participating in the event will have the opportunity to walk on the track while contributing to the benefit of thousands of children. Together with Tyson, the National Title Sponsor of NASCAR On Track for Charity, NASCAR is continuing to pledge its support for the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speedway Childrens Charities. The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a non-profit organization founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their late son, Adam, provides extraordinary race-themed camp experiences to children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. Speedway Childrens Charities, also a non-profit organization, aids children in need of medical, educational or social services by supporting hundreds of non-profit charities that provide those services. The online pre-registration fee for the Tyson Fun Walk is $20 until Thursday and $25 at the track. Children under 16 can participate for free, but must be accompanied by a paid adult. All registered participants will receive a t-shirt. Fans can register online at www.speedwaycharities.org or by calling (704) 455-4396 for more information. Registration will also be held at the Tyson Fun Walk Tent located on Plaza Drive across from Gate 4 at Dover International Speedway.
This Weeks Series Leaders Through 28 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
Points leader Martin Truex Jr. 3,931
Money won Martin Truex Jr. $1,327,894
Laps led Martin Truex Jr. 612
Miles led Martin Truex Jr. 894.63
Victories Martin Truex Jr. (6)
Poles Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
Top-five finishes Martin Truex Jr. (14)
Top-10 finishes Martin Truex Jr. (18)
Races led Martin Truex Jr. (15)
Weeks in Top 10 Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (28)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet) can tie Tommy Houston for the most starts at Dover (25). LaJoie is one of five drivers entered at Dover who have two wins at the Monster Mile. Greg Biffle (#66 U.S. Postal Service Ford) won in the 02 and 04 spring event. Matt Kenseth (#17 Waste Management Ford) won the fall races in 1998 and 2000. Martin Truex Jr. has won the last two races at the track and Michael Waltrip (#99 State Fair Corn Dogs Chevrolet) won in the fall of 1988 and the spring of 1990. Jason Keller (spring 2000) and Brian Vickers (#57 Pizza Hut Chevrolet fall 2003) also have won at Dover. Kenseth is tied for third among all drivers with six top-five finishes at Dover. LaJoie, Keller and David Green are tied for fifth with five top fives. LaJoie is tied for first with 11 top-10 finishes; Kellers nine top 10s are tied for fifth all-time at Dover with three other drivers. Biffles 8.2 average finish is best among drivers entered in the race.
ETC.
A different manufacturer has won the last three races. Dodge won at Bristol the most recent of Ryan Newmans three consecutive series wins followed by Fords win at California behind Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford). Chevrolet picked up its first win in four races thanks to Kevin Harvicks victory two weeks ago at Richmond. Chevy leads the Bill France Performance Cup standings with 12 wins and 190 points; Ford is second with nine wins and 181 points and Dodge is third with seven wins and 161 points.
Jeff Burton will drive the #21 Reeses Chevrolet at Dover; Brandon Miller was originally entered in the car.
Carl Edwards leads Reed Sorenson by nine points 310 to 301 in the NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year race.
After scoring top-10 finishes in five of six events from New Hampshire to Michigan, J.J. Yeley’s (#18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevrolet) team has struggled in the three races since. Yeley’s most recent finishes have been 30th (Bristol), 43rd (California, engine), and 19th (Richmond). Yeley will be joined by Kenny Wallace (#22 AutoZone Ford) in an attempt to run in Sundays NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event.
Several Cottman Transmission franchisees and executives are scheduled to travel to the Mooresville, N.C.-based FitzBradshaw Racing shop via motorcycles from Philadelphia. The group will tour the shop, then head to Asheville, N.C. for some whitewater rafting before driving to Dover for Saturdays race. Sterling Marlin will drive the #40 Dodge sponsored by the company.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Michael Waltrip is one of 13 drivers who have won their first career NASCAR Busch Series race at Dover International Speedway. Waltrips first series victory took place on Sept. 17, 1988 and was known as the Grand National 200. Waltrip out-qualified such stars as Davey Allison, Mark Martin, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte to start fifth behind the wheel of a Chevrolet owned by his older brother, Darrell Waltrip. At the start, pole-sitter Harry Gant dropped in behind Brad Teague, who led the first 25 laps. The two drivers swapped the lead through Lap 144 with Waltrip leading for the first time on Lap 145. After giving the front spot back to Teague one lap later, Waltrip moved to the front again on Lap 148. He and Tommy Ellis traded the lead until Lap 171. Waltrip then took the lead for the third time on Lap 189 and held it for his first NASCAR Busch Series win in only his fourth series start. He picked up the second of his two NASCAR Busch Series wins at Dover in 1990.
FAST FACTS
Next Race: Dover 200 (Race #29 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE.
When: 1:10pm/et, Saturday, Sept. 24.
Track Layout: 1-mile oval.
Race Length: 200 miles/200 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,043,792.
TV: TNT, 1:00pm/et.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
2004 Polesitter: Kasey Kahne.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thurs., Sept. 22: Practice 2 3:00 p.m.; 4 5 p.m. Fri., Qualifying 1:35 p.m.(NASCAR PR)(9-22-2005)
