Nationwide Series points leader Austin Dillon plans to start the race Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from the rear of the field, as he will miss qualifying Saturday morning while practicing a Sprint Cup car in Michigan. Dillon, who is replacing injured Tony Stewart in the Stewart-Haas Racing #14 car at Michigan International Speedway, plans to participate in as much Cup practice as possible Saturday morning. Dillon said Tuesday he was unsure who would qualify his Richard Childress Racing car for the Nationwide race. NASCAR rules require that a driver must start from the rear if there is a driver change from qualifying to the race. Because Mid-Ohio is new to the Nationwide schedule, the teams will get 5.5 hours of practice Thursday, plenty of time for Dillon to get used to the car and the course, where hes already tested this year. The tentative plan is to have Max Papis, who is already driving the Richard Childress Racing #33 Nationwide car, to shake down Dillons car Friday while Dillon is in Michigan. Dillon has a three-point lead on Sam Hornish Jr., a five-point lead on Regan Smith, a 12-point lead on Elliott Sadler and an 18-point lead on Brian Vickers with 12 races left in the Nationwide season.( Sporting News )
