Joe Gibbs Racing on Wednesday morning withdrew its #20 Toyota entry from Saturday’s STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, despite that car’s 15-point lead in the Nationwide Series owners’ points. Gibbs also has the second-place car in the Nationwide owners’ points, the #18 Toyota that has been primarily driven this season by Kyle Busch, who has five Nationwide victories in 11 starts. That car has eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10s in 13 races. The #18 is scheduled to be driven by Kelly Bires at Chicagoland, as Busch is entered in this weekend’s Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series races at Kansas Speedway. The #20 has been driven by three drivers this season, with Denny Hamlin, who has three starts, scoring a victory at Richmond. The car’s totaled six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 13 races. Gibbs’ withdrawal of the 20, plus the withdrawal of a second #04 Ford fielded by Go Green Racing, left the Nationwide event with a “short field” of only 42 cars for the mandated 43-car starting lineup. (NASCAR.com)(6-1-2011)
