June 2005 Busch Series Archive
- News regarding Shane Hmiel’s suspension can be found on the Hmiel Suspension page.
UPDATE: Brown is working with the team on an interim basis.(6-30-2005)
“I am honored by this opportunity to be part of Lowe’s, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR,” said Fernandez who plans to test in the coming weeks. “I had such a good time with Jim Long and the Hendrick team in Mexico that I wanted to do this again. I am really excited about getting a chance to race on an oval in NASCAR. I understand I have a huge learning curve ahead of me, but I think we can run respectably and have a lot of fun.” Fernandez is a familiar name to racing fans with a successful career that spans over 12 years at the top levels of open-wheel racing. He most recently competed in the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, and also owns the cars driven by Scott Sharp and Kosuke Matsuura in the Indy Racing League. Fernandez is Mexico’s premier driver. He was nominated for Mexico’s National Sports Award – the 2004 Premio Nacional del Deporte – for his career achievements in auto racing. Fernandez has been the past recipient of numerous awards including “Athlete of the Year” in Mexico. He was most recently recognized at the Premios Fox Sports Awards for his contributions to Latin American auto racing. Fernandez joins Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Blake Feese, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff as drivers of the #5 Lowe’s Busch car in 2005. Jim Long serves as the team’s crew chief. The #5 team won the NASCAR Busch Series championship with driver Brian Vickers in 2003 and finished second in points with driver Busch last season. This team won the Busch race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte in May [with Busch].(Team Lowe’s Racing/Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-29-2005)
“Just Born, Inc. has been involved in NASCAR racing for many years,” commented team owner Armando Fitz. “We are honored to be a part of its continued involvement in the sport. The unique and eye-catching Mike and Ike paint schemes have become a fun and exciting tradition for our race team and fans.”(FitzBradshaw Racing PR)(6-29-2005)
Second half Top 10 ramped up, too … The 79 points separating the first four positions in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings is also reflective throughout the remainder of top 10. Kenny Wallace has accumulated five top-10 finishes in his last seven races – including two runner-up results – en route to his current fifth place in the standings. He is 187 points out of first, and is looking to put more distance between him and rookie Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), who is sixth, 101 points behind Wallace. Sixth through tenth places are separated by a total of 144 points. Seventh-place Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) is working to fend off David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge), who is 19 points back in eighth. Lewis’ teammate, Jason Keller, is in ninth, but 1994 NASCAR Busch Series champion David Green, has completed a 14-week odyssey and is in the top 10 for the first time since the second race of the season. Green has moved to within 38 points of Keller.
Mike Wallace relishes Daytona, chance to defend … Mike Wallace (#6 Country Crock Dodge) has only three starts in the NASCAR Busch Series this year, having moved over to the #4 Lucas Oil Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series this season. However, the middle sibling of the three racing Wallace brothers is the defending champion of the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona, and will attempt to defend his exciting 2004 last-lap win for Evernham Motorsports’ Hungry Drivers program. The victory was the first for Wallace in the NASCAR Busch Series in 10 years and the first for Biagi Bros. Racing for whom he drove. “I love racing at Daytona,” Wallace said. “I love the track, the speed and the challenge of being in the draft. It is just fun to race there. I look forward to going back this weekend and defending my title as last year’s race winner.” Wallace has won in three different series at Daytona – ARCA (1994), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000) and NASCAR Busch Series.
Former series champion Earnhardt Jr. looks for jump-start … The last driver to win consecutive NASCAR Busch Series championships – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#81 Menard’s Chevrolet) – is looking to find some momentum in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, and Friday night’s race may be the opportunity for him to do just that. He is 143 points out of the 400-point cutoff behind the leader needed to advance to the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.” Earnhardt won back-to-back titles in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1998-99, and owns four series wins at Daytona. He won at the famed 2.5-mile tri-oval three times in succession in NASCAR Busch Series competition in 2003-04 before Mike Wallace snapped the streak last summer. Earnhardt finished third in the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race in February, the only other series race he has participated in this season. “The last time I drove the Menard’s car was at Bristol last summer and we won both races that weekend,” Earnhardt said. “Hopefully, we can have the same kind of weekend here in Daytona. Our record at this track is pretty good.”
Rain doesn’t dampen Milwaukee broadcast results … Despite a rain delay that ultimately caused the race to be shortened by 50 laps (200 of 250 laps completed), the SBC 250 at The Milwaukee Mile – the final FX telecast of the 2005 season – showed increases in households and viewers over the 2004 race, also broadcast on FX. Households increased 50% over last year (1,281,000 – 852,000) while viewers increased 32% versus the 2004 race (1,746,000 – 1,322,000). The race aired directly against Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series, the IRL and Major League Soccer. Figures are provided by Nielsen Media Research. This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 17 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 2,320
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $817,658
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 396
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 591.39
• Victories – Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. (3)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (8)
• Top-10 finishes – Carl Edwards. (11)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (9)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (17)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the most NASCAR Busch Series wins at Daytona among active drivers with four; his father, Dale Earnhardt is the all-time series win leader with seven. Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevroelt) is tied for third with three wins while Joe Nemechek (#87 Cellular One Chevrolet) is tied for fifth with two series wins. … There have been three different race winners and three different Busch Pole winners in the summer race. Nemechek has won four Busch Poles at Daytona, overall, best among all NASCAR Busch Series drivers. Martin Truex Jr. won the pole for this event last year. … Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick (#21 TAKE 5 Chevrolet) have five top-five finishes at Daytona, best among active drivers; Kenny Wallace’s seven top-10 finishes are tied for fourth all-time at Daytona. … Harvick’s 4.0 average finish in six NASCAR Busch Series races at Daytona is third all-time, first among drivers entered in the event.
ETC.
The second half of the NASCAR Busch Series season switches from FOX and FX to NBC and TNT beginning with Friday night’s broadcast on TNT. TNT will broadcast 14 of the final 18 series races while NBC will air four beginning with next week’s race at Chicago. Other NBC broadcasts include Watkins Glen on Aug. 13, California on Sept. 3 and Kansas on Oct. 8. … Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s/Turtle Wax Chevrolet) has had his two best career finishes in the NASCAR Busch Series in the last two races – fifth at Kentucky and third at his home track at Milwaukee. Menard has moved from 22nd to 12th in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings in the last five weeks. … J.J. Yeley (#18 VIGORO/Home Depot Chevrolet) has three top-10 finishes in his last three races, including a career-best fourth at Milwaukee last Saturday night. … Jason Leffler will drive the #32 WINFuel Dodge for Braun Racing at Daytona. Leffler drove in 27 NASCAR Busch Series races last season for Haas CNC Racing and was third in the point standings after his 27th and final race for the team. … Kerry Earnhardt will drive the #99 Aaron’s Sales & Lease Chevrolet at Daytona for Michael Waltrip Racing.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Daytona International Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Busch Series event each February since 1982, the inaugural season of the division. The series made its summer debut at the “World Center of Racing” in July, 2002 with an event which is held in conjunction with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pepsi 400.
The NASCAR Busch Series summer race at Daytona has proven to be very competitive. In the event’s three-race history, there have been three different winners – Joe Nemechek, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mike Wallace – in three different makes of cars – Pontiac, Chevrolet and Ford – from three different teams.
There have also been three different pole winners – Nemechek, Earnhardt Jr. and Mike Bliss – and the total margin of victory for the three races combined is a mere .467 seconds.
ON DECK: CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY
Chicago is the destination for the NASCAR Busch Series next week. The USG DUROCK 300 is scheduled on Saturday, July 9 at 2:05 p.m. Last year, Justin Labonte won his first career NASCAR Busch Series race when Mike Wallace, bidding to win his second consecutive event, ran out of gas on the last lap. There have been four different race winners and four different Busch Pole winners at Chicago since the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race in 2001 at the 1.5-mile track.
FAST FACTS
What: Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo (Race #18 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
When: 8 p.m. ET, Friday, July 1.
Track Layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval.
Race Length: 250 miles/100 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,441,600.
TV: TNT, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Mike Wallace.
2004 Polesitter: Mike Bliss.
Pre-race schedule (all times local)(REVISED): Fri., July 1: Practice – 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.; Qualifying – 2:15 p.m. Cars impounded following qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-28-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(6-25-2005)
See Starting lineups:
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
NASCAR.com.(6-25-2005)
Keller strong at The Mile … Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) isn’t one to show much emotion, but the NASCAR Busch Series iron man has to be excited to arrive at Milwaukee. Keller, currently 10th in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, carries the best record among drivers at The Mile. Keller has the most top fives and top 10s (seven each) of any driver, and was third at this race one year ago. The series’ all-time earnings winner with (over $9.7 million) won at Milwaukee in 2003, setting a race record in the process at 103.093 mph. The win was the 10th – and most recent – of his 372-race career. Keller has also led four races at the track. “Milwaukee has been very good to me the last few years,” Keller said, “[and] we’ve been running really well the last month or so. My car has always handled well through the big, sweeping turns and then [has] been able to use its horsepower to drive up off the turns.” Keller has started 252 consecutive series races, second only to Tommy Houston’s record of 360.
Wisconsin natives Sauter, Menard home at Milwaukee … Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s Chevrolet) and Johnny Sauter (#1 Yellow Transportation Dodge) are Wisconsin natives looking at this visit to their home track in different ways. Menard’s hometown is Eau Claire, some 240 miles from Milwaukee. He comes to The Mile following the best finish of his NASCAR Busch Series career – fifth last week at Kentucky. He also gained four places in the standings, bringing him to 14th, his best ranking since Las Vegas when he was ninth. Sauter, the youngest of three racing brothers whose father, Jim, is a Wisconsin racing legend, is a two-time winner on the NASCAR Busch Series, but has struggled with consistency this year. He does have two top-10 finishes in his last five races, including a season-best third at Richmond, and hopes a trip home will turn his season around. The Sauter clan hails from Necedah, 150 miles from the track. Sauter and his brother Tim (#56 Lester Buildings Chevrolet) are scheduled to be joined by Menard for a press conference at The Milwaukee Mile Infield Media Center on Saturday, immediately following final practice.
Defending race winner Hornaday, others pull double duty at Milwaukee … Ron Hornaday Jr., who won last year’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Milwaukee, is back to defend his victory driving the #32 WINFuel Dodge for Braun Racing. But first he’ll compete in Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. Hornaday is currently fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck point standings; he won at Atlanta in March. Martin Truex Jr. will attempt to make his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck start, while Johnny Sauter plans to pull double duty at The Mile as well. Regan Smith (#58 Glynn Motorsports Dodge) is also entered in both events. Smith has made five starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year, Sauter one.
Meijer 300 most-watched NASCAR Busch Series race ever at Kentucky … Viewers tuned to last Saturday night’s Meijer 300 presented by Oreo at Kentucky Speedway watched yet another exciting NASCAR Busch Series finish as Carl Edwards cleared three cars in the closing laps, including leader Martin Truex Jr., to capture his third win of the year. The event, broadcast on FX, was the most-watched series race ever at Kentucky and showed increases in households and viewers over the 2004 event, also broadcast on FX. Households increased 18% over last year (1,373,000 – 1,168,000) while viewers were up 6% versus the 2004 race (1,834,000 – 1,726,000). Figures are provided by Nielsen Media Research.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 16 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Reed Sorenson. Total: 2,186
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $771,958
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 396
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 591.39
• Victories – Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. (3)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Reed Sorenson. (8)
• Top-10 finishes – Carl Edwards. (11)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (9)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (16)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
In addition to Jason Keller’s dominance at Milwaukee in 12 starts, David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford), the 1994 NASCAR Busch Series champion, Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet), who won consecutive series titles in 1996-97 and defending race winner Ron Hornaday Jr. are tied for second among all drivers with three top-five finishes; the trio is also tied for second behind Keller with five top-10 finishes. … Green has led the most races at Milwaukee (five). … There has not been a multiple Busch Pole winner at Milwaukee, but three drivers in the field have an opportunity to become the first. Defending pole winner David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge) set a qualifying record last year at 122.533 mph. Green (1994) and Timmy Fedewa (#12 Supercuts Dodge), who claimed the pole in 1997, are the others. The pole was the first of Stremme’s NASCAR Busch Series career.
ETC. The 66-point separation between first and fourth place in the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 is only one example of the tight standings. Kenny Wallace (#22 Stacker 2 Ford) is solidly in fifth with 1,991 points, but the drivers in positions sixth through eighth, – Raybestos rookie Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) and David Stremme – are 73 points apart. Jason Keller is poised to overtake ninth place from Greg Biffle; Keller is only 11 points in back of the 2002 series champion, who is not running in this event. Meanwhile, David Green is 11th, just 44 points out of 10th. … Carl Edwards’ win at Kentucky moved Ford into a tie with Chevrolet in the Bill France Performance Cup standings. Both manufacturers have seven wins this season, to go along with 109 points. Dodge has two victories and 86 points. … Edwards’ third win of the season not only tied him with Martin Truex Jr. for the series lead, but also moved him to within three points of Reed Sorenson in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, 225 points to 221. Denny Hamlin is third (161), Jon Wood (#47 Clorox/Wisk Ford) is fourth and Michel Jourdain Jr. (#10 ppc Racing Ford) is fifth (102). … Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver Kyle Krisiloff (#5 Lowe’s Chevrolet) is scheduled to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut this weekend at Milwaukee. The 19-year-old Indiana native is the youngest driver ever to have a podium finish in the CART Toyota Atlantic Series when he placed second at Milwaukee in 2003 at 17 years, two months. … For the second time in their NASCAR Busch Series racing careers, brothers Aaron and A.J. Fike will compete in the same event. Aaron, who shares time in the #66 Duraflame Ford with Biffle, looks to make his eighth start of the year at Milwaukee, while A.J. will attempt his fourth start of the season in the #43 Curb Records Dodge. The Fikes have run head-to-head once this year, two weeks ago at Nashville, where A.J. had the better finish, 28th to Aaron’s 38th.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest race track on which the NASCAR Busch Series competes. It opened in 1903 with NASCAR making its first appearance in 1984. The track, known as Wisconsin State Fair Park at the time, hosted the inaugural NASCAR’s Busch Series race – a 200-mile event – on May 13. Many of NASCAR’s brightest stars, including Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, turned out to compete. Future stars Dale Jarrett, Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison also were there, along with short-track legend Dick Trickle.
Defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Sam Ard bested the field of 26 cars for his fourth victory of the season, defeating runner-up Kulwicki, who hailed from Greenfield, Wis. Ard went on to win his second consecutive series title later that year despite missing the season’s final event due to an accident at Rockingham. Ard is the only driver to win a NASCAR Busch Series championship without participating in every race of a season.
ON DECK: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
The second half of the NASCAR Busch Series season takes place under the lights at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, July 1. Four lead changes in the last 10 laps resulted in an exciting victory last year for Mike Wallace, who led only one lap – the final one. Wallace is scheduled to return and defend his win driving the #6 Hungry Drivers Dodge for Evernham Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won three straight races prior to Wallace’s stunning victory, is also entered in the event.
FAST FACTS
What: SBC 250 (Race #17 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: The Milwaukee Mile, Milwaukee, Wisc.
When: 9:05 p.m. ET, Saturday, June 25.
Track Layout: 1-mile oval.
Race Length: 250 miles/250 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,061,935.
TV: FX, 8:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr.
2004 Polesitter: David Stremme.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Sat., June 25: Practice – 10 – 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Qualifying – 5:05 p.m.(NASCAR PR)(6-23-2005)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular and open wheel stand out, Tracy Hines, who drove the #6 Dodge in three races in last season’s Hungry Drivers program, will take over the reins at The Milwaukee Mile on June 25, 2005 and in August at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Hines competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series [#13] and runs limited schedules in the Sprint car series as well as the Silver Crown Series, where he is currently the point’s leader.
Veteran Mike Wallace, drove the #6 Dodge earlier this season in Bristol and will join the Hungry Drivers team again for NASCAR Busch Series events at Daytona International Speedway and Gateway International Raceway. Wallace is the defending race winner of the July event at Daytona and has high hopes to repeat this year driving for Evernham Motorsports and Unilever Foods. Wallace competes full time in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series #4 entry owned by Morgan-McClure Motorsports.(Hungry Drivers program)(6-19-2005)
Edwards chopped off 30 points and is now 66 behind leader #41-Sorenson, despite missing last week’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Nashville Superspeedway; a one-day rain delay at Nashville moved that event to last Sunday, conflicting with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Pocono Raceway. Edwards raced at Pocono and won, but his absence cost him the lead in the NASCAR Busch Series standings. … Only one driver has won the NASCAR Busch Series championship without running a full schedule: Sam Ard in 1984, who ran 28 of 29 events.
Besides Edwards, four other Nextel Cup regulars ran the race with the following results: #40-Sterling Marlin, 6th; #64-Rusty Wallace, 24th; #66-Greg Biffle, 30th; #99-Michael Waltrip, 42nd.
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(6-18-2005)
The five Cup drivers who made the race: #64-Rusty Wallace will start seventh, #66-Greg Biffle will start 21st, #40-Sterling Marlin, 27th and #99-Michael Waltrip will start 31st. Qualifying was delayed after #5-Blake Feese went out 14th and turned the then sixth-fastest qualifying lap of 178.036 mph on his first attempt, but spun his #5 touched the wall in Turn 2 on his second qualifying attempt. He was evaluated and released from the infield care center. He will move to his backup car for the race.
Three teams will go to the rear: #10-Michel Jourdain Jr. [unapproved changes], #5-Blake Feese [backup car], #25-Ashton Lewis [Engine Change]. #03-Kenny Hendrick; #83-John Borneman III; #85-Damon Lusk; #78-Jerry Robertson; #52-Brad Teague.
See Starting lineups:
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
NASCAR.com.(6-18-2005)
Green, Wallace brothers look to compete at Kentucky … A little sibling rivalry will be added to Saturday night’s race at Kentucky Speedway as two sets of brothers will compete against each other in addition to the field. Two of the three racing Green brothers who hail from Owensboro – David and Mark – will battle on their home track while Kenny (#22 Stacker 2 Ford) and Rusty Wallace (#64 Top Flite Dodge), also two of three brothers involved in NASCAR racing, are ready to meet in a family feud. David and Mark have raced against each other nine times this season, with David, the 1994 series champion, coming out ahead in seven races. Mark has finished better twice, at Talladega and Charlotte. The Wallace brothers have run against each other once this year, the first time at the historic race in Mexico City. Both Rusty (sixth) and Kenny (eighth) garnered top-10 finishes, their best results when racing together. However, the Wallaces are split evenly when it comes to head-to-head competition in the NASCAR Busch Series – each has finished higher than the other five times. Kenny is currently fifth in the series point standings; David Green is 11th and Mark stands 37th.
Big mover: Yeley could make solid bid at Kentucky … The 2005 season hasn’t gone quite the way J.J. Yeley and the #18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevrolet team expected, but signs are pointing to an upswing. Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), Yeley’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, has become a staple in the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 as a rookie for 12 of the season’s 15 weeks. Yeley, meanwhile, has posted only two top-10 finishes this year. However, the second of those came last weekend at Nashville, a season-best eighth-place that resulted in the biggest move among drivers in the Top 20. Yeley jumped six places in the standings, from 22nd to 16th, his best ranking since California when he was 14th. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also led his first laps of the year at Nashville. Yeley finished 11th at Kentucky last year, while his crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, has excelled at the facility. While with Brewco Motorsports, Ratcliff produced two top-10 finishes with Jamie McMurray in 2001-02, and led David Green to finishes of eighth and 13th, respectively, in the last two NASCAR Busch Series races at the venue. “We were able to bounce back and overcome some self-inflicted adversity [at Nashville], and that’s what good race teams are supposed to do,” Yeley said. “We performed well [at Kentucky] last year, and nearly left with a top-10 finish. Jason has always prepared good cars at Kentucky, and I’m certain he’ll have [one] capable of running up front on Saturday.”
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup regulars pull double duty … In addition to 1989 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Rusty Wallace, four other premier series regulars plan to race at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night in addition to competing in the Batman Begins 400 at Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Greg Biffle (#66 Duraflame Ford), Carl Edwards, Sterling Marlin (#40 Ferris Industries Dodge) and Michael Waltrip (#99 State Fair Corn Dogs Chevrolet) – another Owensboro native – are entered in the field. Wallace plans to be at the first practice at Kentucky on Saturday, return to Michigan for qualifying, then make it back to Kentucky for qualifying later that afternoon. Jay Sauter, who won the Busch Pole for the inaugural race at Kentucky in 2001, is in line to practice and qualify if necessary for Biffle. Kerry Earnhardt will do the same for Waltrip, while Hank Parker Jr., who ran in place of Edwards at Nashville last week, will be on call once again.
List of first-time race winners growing … Clint Bowyer’s victory at Nashville marked the fourth time this season the NASCAR Busch Series has produced a first-time winner. The series record is six, and has been accomplished six times, most recently last year. Three drivers had collected their first career wins after 14 races one year ago. Tony Stewart won his first NASCAR Busch Series race to open the season at Daytona, Carl Edwards claimed his first series win at Atlanta after only seven starts and Reed Sorenson won for the first time – also at Nashville – in the spring race this year. Three drivers currently in the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 – Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford), Denny Hamlin and David Stremme (#14 U.S. Navy Dodge) are seeking their first series wins. Drive for Diversity milestone … Allison Duncan made history last Saturday night in Stockton, Calif., by winning her first feature event in the Western Late Model Class at Stockton 99 Speedway. Duncan, who competes in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, is based at the track as part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, which is run by Access Marketing and Communications. Her victory marked the program’s first win since its 2004 debut. Duncan drives for California-based owner Bill McAnally, as part of Richard Childress Racing’s driver development program. She currently leads the point standings in the Western Late Model Class at Stockton and is ranked eighth in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division II point standings. Drive for Diversity seeks to develop diverse and female drivers and crew members. This season, Duncan is one of eight Drive for Diversity drivers competing in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series or the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series. Twelve Drive for Diversity crew members are working with teams in the NASCAR Busch Series or the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
There have been four different race winners in each of the previous NASCAR Busch Series races at Kentucky Speedway; the 2005 event will produce the fifth different victor. … Stacy Compton (#59 Kingsford/Bush’s Baked Beans Ford) in 2003 and Martin Truex Jr. last year have won Busch Poles at Kentucky. Jay Sauter, who will practice and possibly qualify the #66 Duraflame Ford for Greg Biffle, won the inaugural pole at the track in 2001. … Biffle has the most top fives (three) of any driver at Kentucky while he and Ashton Lewis Jr. have three top-10 finishes each. … Biffle and Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) have each led a series-high two races. Lewis has completed all but one lap at Kentucky; no driver has finished on the lead lap in all four races.
ETC.
Clint Bowyer’s win at Nashville enabled Chevrolet to re-take the lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings for the first time in eight races. Chevy has seven wins and 103 points while Ford has six wins and 100 points in the see-saw battle between the two manufacturers. Dodge is in third place with two wins and 82 points. … In addition to taking over the NASCAR Busch Series points lead, Reed Sorenson has also pulled ahead of Carl Edwards in the the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings for the first time since the California race. … Martin Truex Jr. has scored 905 points in the last six races, the most of any driver, to catapult to second place in the NASCAR Busch Series standings. Truex was in seventh place, 344 points out of the lead, following Texas. … Chad Blount will drive the #32 WINFuel Chevrolet for Braun Racing at Kentucky, while Regan Smith will be back in the #58 Serta Racing Dodge for the second week in succession. … Casey Atwood, Tracy Hines and Mike Wallace are scheduled to drive the #6 Hungry Drivers Dodge for Evernham Motorsports in the next three races, respectively, starting with Atwood at Kentucky. Atwood, who competed for Evernham in the NASCAR Busch Series from 2001-02 became the youngest driver in series history (18 years, 10 months) to win a race when he was victorious at Milwaukee in 1999. … Two teams make their shop homes in Kentucky: Brewco Motorsports, the team for which David Green and Greg Biffle drive, is headquartered in Central City, while Keith Coleman Racing, Mark Green’s team, has its shop and offices in Eddyville. … Ferris Industries and Supercuts, sponsors of the #40 Dodge driven by Sterling Marlin and the #12 Dodge of Tim Fedewa, will host a lawnmower race as part of the grand finale in Supercuts’ Father’s Day Lawn Mower Giveaway immediately following Saturday’s final practice. Participants in the race include Fedewa, select members of the media, and executives from Ferris Industries.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The NASCAR Busch Series first competed in Kentucky at the Louisville Motor Speedway in 1988. The speedway was one of the smallest tracks on which the series competed and possessed one of the oddest shapes of any speedway. The track was only .354-mile in length and was shaped like a tight triangle. A lap around the tiny speedway was comparable to being on a merry-go-round.
The first race was a 200-lap affair held on June 25, 1988. Bobby Dotter won the pole with a speed of 96.058 mph and a lap time of 14.054 seconds. Virginian Tommy Ellis won the event, beating L.D. Ottinger by just over four seconds.
The second and final race took place on June 24, 1989. Rookie Kenny Wallace won the pole with Michael Waltrip taking the outside front row spot. Another “Tommy” won the event, but this time it was Tommy Houston. He held off runner-up Waltrip by one second. The NASCAR Busch Series returned to the Blue Grass state in 2001 with the opening of the Kentucky Speedway.
ON DECK: THE MILWAUKEE MILE
The NASCAR Busch Series travels north to Wisconsin and an appearance at The Milwaukee Mile on Saturday, June 25. The event will be the series’ third consecutive night race and will feature homecomings for Johnny Sauter (#1 Yellow Transportation Dodge) who is from Necedah, and Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s Chevrolet), who is a native of Eau Claire. Ron Hornaday Jr. is the defending race champion and is scheduled to driver the #32 WINFuel Chevrolet in the event, while David Stremme won the Busch Pole one year ago.
FAST FACTS
What: Meijer 300 presented by Oreo (Race #16 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.
When: 8:05 p.m. ET, Saturday, June 18.
Track Layout: 1.5-mile oval.
Race Length: 300 miles/200 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,336,489.
TV: FX, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Kyle Busch.
2004 Polesitter: Martin Truex Jr.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Sat., June 18: Practice – 10 – 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Qualifying – 5:05 p.m. Cars impounded on pit road following qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-15-2005)
AND NASCAR says backup drivers have been lined up for three Nextel Cup regulars planning to take part in Saturday night’s Meijer 300 Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway and Sunday’s Batman Begins 400 Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Jay Sauter is lined up to practice and qualify the #66 Ford of Greg Biffle if necessary. Kerry Earnhardt will do the same for Michael Waltrip in his #99 Chevrolet and Hank Parker Jr. will be available to help Carl Edwards in the #60 Ford. Nextel Cup regulars Rusty Wallace and Sterling Marlin are also scheduled to take part in both races.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-15-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(6-12-2005)
UPDATE 12:45pm/et: BGNRacing.com is reporting “The race is expected to start on or near the original start time of 1:00pm/et today. Jet driers are currently on track and the rain has stopped. BGNRacing.com will post live updates about the race since TV coverage will be delayed and there will be no National Radio coverage of the race.(6-12-2005)
#40-Sterling Marlin will be running the Busch Series race at his home track of Nashville Superspeedway. He will be piloting the #40 for FitzBradshaw Racing.(Ganassi PR)
AND This will be #99-Carl Edwards’ first double duty weekend in two separate cities. Edwards will practice and qualify the #99 Stonebridge Insurance Ford in Pocono on Friday and Saturday morning then head to Nashville to race the #60 Charter Ford in the Busch race. Edwards will then return late Saturday night to race the #99 Ford in Sunday’s 500-mile event.(Roush Racing)(6-10-2005)
SUBS: if the race runs on Sunday, Hank Parker Jr. will run the #60 Ford for Carl Edwards and Johnny Benson will drive the #40 Dodge for Sterling Marlin.(6-12-2005)
UPDATE: Busch Series rookie Brent Sherman has parted ways with Glynn Motorsports citing that the goals of the newly formed team are not in line with his or that of his sponsors, Serta Mattress, Hickory Farms and Consort for Men hair products. “We have been disappointed that we haven’t been able to find a solid situation in the Busch Series which really supports my sponsors and my efforts as a rookie,” said Sherman. “We are pursuing relationships with well-established teams and feel very confident that we’ll have a new home that will give us the right combination in the next couple of weeks.” Sherman’s sponsors will continue to back his racing efforts in 2005 and beyond. (Sherman PR via BGNRacing.com)
AND Busch Series rookie Brent Sherman has split with Glynn Motorsports but may take his sponsors – Serta, Hickory Farms and Consort — with him to another team.(Gaston Gazette)(6-11-2005)
See Starting lineups:
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
NASCAR.com.(6-11-2005)
UPDATE: the #33-Earnhardt team has cancelled.(DIS)(6-10-2005)
UPDATE:on Speed Channel’s NASCAR Nation, NASCAR.com’s Maty Smith said that the team will probably use a revolving door of Nextel Cup drivers in the car for the rest of the 2005 season.
AND hearing that KB Home will be the featured sponsor on the #32 for a few races.(6-9-2005)
UPDATE: Atwood will drive the #6 Dodge at Kentucky and possibly again at New Hampshire and Pikes Peak. He is one of four drivers over the next four weeks – Wolfe at Nashville, Hines at Milwaukee, and Mike Wallace at Daytona. Hines will also drive the #6 at IRP. Eventually, Erin Crocker will drive the #6 or #79 for Evernham. Her original debut was set for IRP in August but has now been moved to September. Her tentative schedule has Richmond, Dover, Kansas, Phoenix, and Homestead. (NASCAR Scene via BGNRacing)(6-9-2005)
Nashville hub of Tennessee racing tradition … Nashville has a rich racing heritage, starting with the horse track that became the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and ultimately led to the construction of the Nashville Superspeedway. The Music City Motorplex, the re-named Fairgrounds track, is home to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The 5/8-mile track has had the likes of 2003 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth and 1994 NASCAR Busch Series champion David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford) race there early in their careers. More recent NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series alumni hoping to make Saturday night’s field include three-time series regional champion Jerry Robertson (#72 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet); Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), currently eighth in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings and Justin Labonte (#44 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet), who won the NASCAR Busch Series race at Chicago last year. Tennessee has the most active NASCAR Busch Series tracks with three – Bristol, Memphis and Nashville. Nashville weekend supplies plenty of events
In addition to the second race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway, other key events surround Saturday night’s race. On Thursday, NASCAR Busch Series drivers Clint Bowyer, Brandon Miller (#21 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet), Boston Reid (#5 Lowe’s Chevrolet) and Tony Raines (#33 Yardman Chevrolet) are scheduled to participate in an autograph session at the CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville from 2:45 – 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, Martin Truex Jr. will be serving as co-host of a star-studded country music concert at Adelphia Coliseum, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The show features the likes of LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton and others. Friday, the Nashville Sports Council will host a luncheon at the Nashville Airport Marriott from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. that is scheduled to include Frank Cicci and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, owners of the #34 Dollar General Chevrolet team along with driver Randy LaJoie, the 1996 and ’97 NASCAR Busch Series champion. Additionally, Armando Fitz, co-owner of FitzBradshaw Racing and Jim Hunter, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications, will also be in attendance. Also on Friday beginning at 12:55 p.m., Raybestos rookies Reed Sorenson, Denny Hamlin, Jon Wood (#47 Clorox/Wisk Ford) and Michel Jourdain Jr. (#10 ppc Racing Ford) – arguably the best-ever crop of NASCAR Busch Series drivers – will be available in the Nashville Superspeedway infield media center for a press conference.
MBNA RacePoints 200 most-viewed series race at Dover … Last Saturday’s event at Dover broadcast on FX was the most-viewed NASCAR Busch Series race in the history of the track. The race also registered a 27% increase in households (1,355,000) over the 2003 event (1,063,000), which also aired on FX. The 2004 race was postponed due to rain after 29 laps, with the remainder televised the following Monday on FOX. Viewers of the MBNA RacePoints 200 increased 20% (1,625,000) over 2003 (1,357,000). Compared to the 2004 season to date, an average of 2.2 million households – an increase of 37% over 2004 – and 3.1 million viewers – up 39% – have tuned in to each series event.
Chevrolet evens score in manufacturer’s standings … Martin Truex Jr.’s third win of the season last Saturday at Dover brought Chevrolet even with Ford with six NASCAR Busch Series wins this year in the race for the Bill France Performance Cup. Both manufacturers have 94 points to go along with their six victories thus far in 2005. Dodge has two wins and 78 points, but has momentum after winning this event in March when Reed Sorenson collected Dodge’s first win in the Charger in either NASCAR Busch Series or NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition. Chevy and Ford each have three wins at Nashville.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Reed Sorenson and David Green are the only drivers in the field who can join Scott Riggs (April, 2002 and June, ’03) as multiple race-winners at Nashville, each will be seeking their second victory at the track. … Martin Truex Jr. is the only driver to have secured more than one Busch Pole at Nashville, doing so for both races last season. Randy LaJoie won the pole for the April race in 2003. … The Team Rensi Motorsports duo of Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) and Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) have run the most series races at Nashville Superspeedway with eight. … Keller and Clint Bowyer are tied for the lead with three top-five finishes at the venue while Keller is among the all-time leaders at Nashville with four top 10s. … Sorenson led the most laps by a winner at Nashville (197) in March, while Bowyer has led the most laps by a non-winner (104 in April, 2004).
ETC.
Bill Elliott (#64 Top Flite Dodge), the 1988 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, looks to make his first start in the NASCAR Busch Series since last October at Memphis this weekend while Sterling Marlin (#40 Ferris Industries Dodge), a Tennessee native who resides in Franklin, is scheduled to run at Nashville while also pulling NASCAR NEXTEL Cup duty at Pocono….NASCAR Busch Series points leader Carl Edwards is also scheduled to do the double. … Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s Chevrolet) in June, 2003, David Stremme in April of that season and Jerry Robertson this past March made their NASCAR Busch Series debuts at Nashville Superspeedway. Stremme finished seventh, Menard 12th and Robertson 33rd in their inaugural series races. … Stremme is scheduled to play in the 15th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Many Sony Music artists will be playing in the game. City of Hope National is a Comprehensive Cancer Center providing help to millions battling life-threatening diseases. Last year, the event raised more than $75,000. … Aaron Fike looks to make his second start of the season in the #66 Duraflame Dodge. Fike started his first race of the year back in March at Nashville, finishing 35th. The team owned by Clarence Brewer is in fourth place in the owners point standings having raced with three drivers this year, Fike, Greg Biffle and Jorge Goeters. Jack Roush leads the owner rankings with 1,930 points. Richard Childress is second with 1,862 while Teresa Earnhardt is third with 1,810; the latter three owners have won three of the last four owner championships. … Burney Lamar (#83 HPS/Groeniger Chevrolet), the 2001 NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series Rookie of the Year and currently in second place in that series’ point standings with one win and four top fives in five events, will attempt to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut for Kevin Harvick Inc. at Nashville. … Kenny Wallace (#22 Stacker 2 Ford) is scheduled to play a round of golf with Albert Pujols and other members of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals as part of Pujols’ charity event.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
NASCAR has a long, rich history in the Nashville area dating back to 1958 when Joe Weatherly won at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Three-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip cut his racing teeth at the Nashville Fairgrounds track and won the May 21, 1988 NASCAR Busch Series race there. Qualifying 12th out of 26 cars, Waltrip was forced to maneuver through traffic before moving to the lead on Lap 89 of the CarQuest 200. Tommy Houston took the lead on Lap 135 before Waltrip passed him on Lap 159 and continued on to the checkered flag, beating second-place finisher Jack Ingram by more than one lap. Jimmy Spencer finished third with pole-sitter Larry Pearson and Ed Berrier rounding out the top five. The victory was the 12th of 13 NASCAR Busch Series wins for Waltrip, whose younger brother, Michael, would go on to win his first NASCAR Busch Series event later that season at Dover.
ON DECK: KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
The NASCAR Busch Series travels to Kentucky Speedway next Saturday for its second consecutive “stand-alone” race and the fourth of eight such events on the 2005 schedule. Kyle Busch is the defending race winner, the fourth different winner in each of the four races held at the 1.5-mile venue. Reigning NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. won the pole at Kentucky last year; he is also the fourth different driver to start first on the grid since the series began racing at the track in 2001.(NASCAR PR)(6-7-2005)
See Starting lineups:
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
NASCAR.com.(6-3-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(6-4-2005)
With a nickname like “The Monster Mile,” one wouldn’t think Dover International Speedway has a soft spot for any of its competitors. But it does. Of the 111 different winners in NASCAR Busch Series history, Dover – site of Saturday’s MBNA RacePoints 200 – holds the record for the track with the most first-time winners, with 13. Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) would like to add his name to that list and seems poised to do so. In his first year with Team Rensi Motorsports, Lewis is enjoying a breakthrough season. The Virginia native has been in the Top 10 for all but one race in 2005 and after 13 races, is fifth in points with one top five and four top-10 finishes. Contrast that with his 19th-place standing and just one top 10 at this point last year. “We are really happy about our season to date,” Lewis said. “I don’t think many people were expecting us to be standing in the top five at this point. With this being a team full of new people and a new team for me to race for, we are really pleased with where we stand.” Lewis is 278 points behind leader Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford) and 48 points behind fourth-place Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevy). However, one of the items still missing from his racing resume is a win and Dover might be the perfect place to get it. “We set a goal at the start of the year not to put ourselves in a hole the first seven races,” Lewis said. “Once we accomplished that goal, we started to focus on staying in the top five and working our way to Victory Lane. I would have liked to have won a race already.” Lewis is coming off a 10th-place finish in last Saturday’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 where he ran his series best streak of running at the finish to 25 races. His best finish in 11 races at Dover is seventh in September of 2003. “We feel like we run well in Dover,” Lewis said. “It’s a concrete track and I really like the challenge that it brings. We will have to be on our game if we want to make this our first win. My pit crew continues to work hard and get better, so if we qualify up front, I think we will have a chance for success this weekend.”
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Truex looking to make a move at Dover … 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. has had more than his fair share of lumps while trying to defend his title this season. In 2004, his worst finish was 30th and he did not suffer a single DNF. In 2005, although he has not fallen out of the Top 10, he has suffered four finishes of 30th or worse and has posted three DNFs through the first 13 races. He jumped to fourth in the standings following his win at Talladega four races ago, and is hoping to make up more ground this weekend at what is essentially his home track. Truex, from Mayetta, N.J., won last September at Dover and scored a runner-up finish in May of 2004. Truex is currently 230 points behind leader Carl Edwards and 56 behind third-place Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge). “I feel confident that we can gain some points this weekend,” said Truex, who made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Dover in September of 2001. “Last weekend we gained close to 80 points on the leader. Last year we were very consistent in the summer races and that really took the pressure off of us toward the end of the season. Currently we are pretty far back in the points, but we are not out of it by any means.”
Green looking for a boost on Dover’s concrete … Considering David Green’s (#27 Kleenex Ford) success at Dover and his struggles this season, Dover’s white concrete surface should be a comforting sight. Green finished 31st last Saturday at Charlotte – his third finish of 30th or worse this season – but has been knocking on the door of the Top 10. While his latest setback put him back one spot to 12th in the point standings, Green will be hoping to make up ground at Dover, where he finished in the top 10 in both races in 2004. In this race last year he scored a season-best third-place finish after setting the track record in qualifying. He came back in September to finish 10th and was one of only three drivers to post top 10s in both races. Green has eight top-10 finishes, including three of the last four races, in 22 career starts at Dover.
Keller set to reach milestone at Dover … Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) will be attempting his 250th consecutive start in Saturday’s MBNA RacePoints 200 at Dover. Keller began his streak at Richmond International Raceway in September of 1997. Keller remains in second place in the record books to Tommy Houston, who had 360 consecutive starts in the series. Houston’s streak included the first 360 NASCAR Busch Series races from Daytona in February of 1982 through the 1994 Daytona race. Keller, who won the first race at Dover in 2000, has nine top 10s in 22 starts at Dover. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 250 straight starts,” Keller said. “I think that’s a testament to the great team owners and crews that I have worked with. They always gave me the equipment it takes to be successful. I thought back in December that my streak would come to an end, and then I got the phone call from Sam Rensi to drive the McDonald’s Ford. I really am thankful that Sam, and everyone at Team Rensi Motorsports believed in my abilities and gave me the chance to continue the streak.”
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Greg Biffle (#66 Duraflame Ford) and Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevy) are tied for the most wins at Dover among drivers entered in the MBNA RacePoints 200. Biffle also has the best average finish (8.2) of any driver with four or more starts. Dale Jarrett (#90 citifinancial Ford) has six top fives, the most among drivers entered, while LaJoie, Jason Keller and David Green each have five. Kasey Kahne (#38 Great Clips Dodge) has four consecutive top 10s at Dover. Kevin Harvick (#21 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Chevy) has recorded three consecutive top 10s and five top 10s in his seven career starts at Dover.
ETC.
J.J. Yeley (#18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevy) and his wife, Kristen, are the proud parents of a new baby girl. Faith Anne Yeley was born May 31 in Indianapolis. … Tim Fedewa (#12 Hot Tamales Dodge), who finished ninth at Dover in last year’s MBNA RacePoints 200, should have high hopes for Dover. His new crew chief, Mike Greci, was the car chief for Martin Truex Jr. when Truex won the fall race last year. This will be Greci’s second race with the team. … David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge) has recorded two top fives and four top-10 finishes in his last six starts. … Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Reed Sorenson finished fifth last Saturday at Charlotte and was the top finishing rookie for the seventh time this season. He gained 12 points on rookie leader Carl Edwards and now trails 193-169 in the rookie standings.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Of the 13 first-time NASCAR Busch Series winners at Dover, the spring event has produced seven. Joe Ruttman grabbed his only series win in 1982, Dover’s inaugural series race. Ricky Rudd won in 1984 for his only series win. The series’ winningest driver, Mark Martin, began his march into racing history with a spring win at Dover in 1987. Bobby Hillin took his first career win in 1988 and Todd Bodine won for the first time in the 1991 edition of this race. Mike Wallace first visited Victory Lane here in 1994 and that was backed up by Mike McLaughlin’s first win in the 1995 race.
ON DECK: NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
The NASCAR Busch Series heads back to Nashville Superspeedway for the second time this season next Saturday, June 11, for the Federated Auto Parts 300. Raybestos Rookie Reed Sorenson dominated in March, leading 197 of 225 laps before scoring his first career win.
FAST FACTS
What: MBNA RacePoints 200 (Race #14 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.
When: 1:35pm/et, Saturday, June 4.
Track Layout: 1-mile oval.
Race Length: 200 miles/200 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,045,792.
TV: FX, 1:00pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Greg Biffle.
2004 Polesitter: David Green.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thu., June 2: Practice – 2 – 3 p.m. and 4 – 5 p.m. Fri., June 3: Qualifying – 1:35 p.m. Cars impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-1-2005)