THE RACE: 2006 Pepsi 300 – Nashville Superspeedway

Busch Series Race #8 of 35 for the 2006 season


 

  • Race: Saturday, April 15, 2006 in Lebanon, TN
  • Length: 225 Laps, 300 miles
  • TV: FX – 4:00pm/et
  • Radio: MRN
  • Pre-Race: FX – 2:30pm/et
  • Announcers: Steve Byrnes and Larry McReynolds
  • Pit Reporters: Jeff Hammond and Matt Yocum

    Practice Dates/Times

  • Pepsi 300 practice: Friday, April 14, 2:20pm – 3:20pm/et and 4:20pm-5:20pm/et. Rookie practice 3:50pm – 4:20pm/et

    Qualifying Info

  • Qualifying Draw: Friday, April 14, 1:20pm/et
  • Qualifying Time: Saturday, April 15, 11:05am/et
  • Qualifying: 2 laps for all positions, cars will be impounded. TV coverage live on Speed.
  • NASCAR Online will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Busch qualifying via the web (NOTE: this is a paid subscription service). BGNRacing.com has free qualifying coverage.

    ENTRY, PRACTICE, QUALIFYING, AND RACE INFORMATION

  • Harvick Wins at Nashville: #21-Kevin Harvick held off #2-Clint Bowyer to win the Pepsi 300 at Nashville. #20-Denny Hamlin was third, #18-J.J. Yeley fourth, and #60-Carl Edwards fifth. The race was slowed by 11 cautions.(4-15-2006)
    NASCAR Busch Series Race Number 8
    Unofficial Race Results for the Pepsi 300 – Saturday, April 15, 2006
    Nashville Superspeedway – Lebanon, Tenn. – 1.333 Mile Banked Concrete
    Total Race Length – 225 Laps – 299.925 Miles
    Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services – Saturday, April 15, 2006 @ 07:35 PM Eastern
    Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Award Status Ti.
    Led    		 Lps
    Led
    1 7 21 Kevin Harvick U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet 225 185 5 $43,875 Running 2 66
    2 2 2 Clint Bowyer ACDelco Chevrolet 225 175 5 $34,000 Running 2 54
    3 1 20 Denny Hamlin Rockwell Automation Chevrolet 225 175 10 $33,275 Running 3 86
    4 10 18 J.J. Yeley Vigoro/The Home Depot Chevrolet 225 160 $22,550 Running
    5 9 60 Carl Edwards Henkel Ford 225 155 $20,475 Running
    6 11 47 Jon Wood Clorox/American Red Cross Ford 225 150 $33,957 Running
    7 21 77 Burney Lamar # Dollar General Chevrolet 225 146 $33,181 Running
    8 8 22 Kenny Wallace AutoZone Ford 225 142 $24,681 Running
    9 5 11 Paul Menard Menards/Sylvania Chevrolet 225 143 5 $23,406 Running 1 3
    10 32 99 Michael Waltrip Yard-Man Ford 225 134 $16,775 Running
    11 15 25 Ashton Lewis Jr. United States Marines Ford 225 130 $20,456 Running
    12 35 64 Steve Wallace Jackson Roscoe Foundation Dodge 225 127 $16,675 Running
    13 13 35 Regan Smith McDonald’s Premium Chicken Ford 225 124 $20,256 Running
    14 3 50 Danny O’Quinn Jr. # Stonebridge Life Ford 225 121 $19,831 Running
    15 24 43 Aaron Fike Curb Records Dodge 225 118 $20,506 Running
    16 31 1 Jason Keller Miccosukee Resorts Dodge 225 115 $25,181 Running
    17 42 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Outdoor Channel Chevrolet 225 112 $16,300 Running
    18 29 01 Jay Sauter Western Union Chevrolet 225 109 $17,531 Running
    19 4 41 Reed Sorenson Coats/Discount Tire Co. Dodge 225 111 5 $14,150 Running 1 16
    20 25 59 Stacy Compton Kingsford/Bush’s Ford 223 103 $19,126 Running
    21 22 72 Stanton Barrett TheRaceSpace.com Chevrolet 222 100 $14,025 Running
    22 38 05 Chad Chaffin 31-W Insulation/FMI Chevrolet 221 97 $13,985 Running
    23 30 12 Joel Kauffman # Supercuts/St. Jude Children’s Hospital Do 221 94 $16,076 Running
    24 43 49 Jorge Goeters # Advil Ford 220 91 $14,265 Running
    25 41 07 David Odell Flagship RVs Chevrolet 214 88 $13,970 Running
    26 28 34 Mike Bliss Frank Cicci Racing w/Jim Kelly Chevrolet 198 85 $15,830 Running
    27 27 00 Johnny Sauter Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 197 82 $23,411 Running
    28 16 10 John Andretti # Freedom Roads/Camping World Ford 192 79 $17,876 Running
    29 12 27 David Green Scott Tissue/Dollar General Ford 189 76 $23,341 Running
    30 17 5 Kyle Busch Lowe’s/Sta-Green Chevrolet 186 73 $14,130 Accident
    31 39 14 Steadman Marlin Sadler Bros. Trucking Dodge 184 70 $15,645 Accident
    32 6 06 Todd Kluever # 3M Ford 172 67 $17,726 Running
    33 20 88 Mark McFarland # NAVY Chevrolet 168 64 $17,686 Running
    34 14 66 David Reutimann Cottman Transmissions Dodge 145 61 $15,540 Accident
    35 18 32 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet 129 58 $17,646 Engine
    36 36 36 Tim Sauter Lester Buildings Chevrolet 121 55 $17,626 Accident
    37 19 98 Erin Crocker Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Dodge 93 52 $15,480 Accident
    38 33 4 Mark Green Nashville Predators/GEICO Dodge 89 49 $23,086 Engine
    39 34 56 Kevin Lepage Duragloss Chevrolet 32 46 $13,425 Accident
    40 37 23 Chris Wimmer # Manuelinc.com/Hotel Preston Chevrolet 25 43 $13,370 Accident
    41 40 28 Shane Hall Xtreme Gel Ford 20 40 $13,350 Vibration
    42 26 90 Matt McCall citifinancial Ford 18 37 $15,330 Electrical
    43 23 0 Kertus Davis RACEGIRL Chevrolet 4 34 $13,270 Transmission
    Race Comments Before an estimated crowd of 38,000, Kevin Harvick won his first NASCAR Busch Series of the 2006 season and the 18th of his series career. Prior to the green flag, the following drivers, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: #05 Chad Chaffin (unapproved adjustments), #72 Stanton Barrett (unapproved adjustments), #33 Ron Honaday Jr. (backup car).
    Failed to Qualify (1) Jason White, #08.
    Time of Race 2 hours, 40 minutes, 56 seconds
    Average Speed 111.820 mph
    Margin of Victory 0.503 Seconds
    Caution Flags 11 for 47 laps: Laps 3-5 (Car 5 spun in turn 2); 27-30 (Accident turn 2, car 23); 34-37 (Accident turn 2, car 56); 92-95 (Car 07 spun in turn 2); 98-101 (Accident turn 2, cars 06, 10, 66, 88, 98); 106-109 (Debris on the track); 124-129 (Accident turn 2, cars 00, 27, 36, 66); 163-166 (Debris on the backstretch); 173-176 (Car 5 spun on the backstretch); 189-195 (Accicent turn 4, cars 5 & 14); 221-223 (Accident turn 2, car 41).
    Lead Changes 9 among 5 drivers: D. Hamlin (Pole); C. Bowyer 1-14; R. Sorenson 15-30; C. Bowyer 31-70; D. Hamlin 71-80; K. Harvick 81-91; D. Hamlin 92-163; P. Menard 164-166; D. Hamlin 167-170; K. Harvick 171-225.
    Top 10 Driver Points (1) K. Harvick 1,284; (2) D. Hamlin 1,128; (3) C. Bowyer 1,075; (4) J. Yeley 1,028; (5) C. Edwards 963; (6) P. Menard 962; (7) J. Wood 943; (8) Jo. Sauter 914; (9) Ky. Busch 905; (10) B. Lamar 901.
    Busch Pole Award Denny Hamlin (165.282 mph)
    Raybestos Rookie of the Race Burney Lamar #
    Sunoco Diamond Performance Award Kevin Harvick
    Checkers/Rally’s Double-Drive Thru Challenge Award Kenny Wallace
    WIX Filters Lap Leader Award Jon Wood
    Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award Burney Lamar #
    Bank of America Card Service Mid-Race Leader Award Paul Menard
    Goody’s Headache Powder Extra Strength Award Jon Wood
    Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race Jon Wood

    (NASCAR Statistical Services)

  • Hamlin on the Pole for Pepsi 300: With a speed of 165.282mph, #20-Denny Hamlin captured the Busch pole at Nashville. He will be followed by #2-Clint Bowyer, #50-Danny O’Quinn, #41-Reed Sorenson, and #11-Paul Menard. #33-Ron Hornaday wrecked on his first lap and will go to a backup.(4-15-2006)
    NASCAR Busch Series
    Pepsi 300
    Starting Line-Up by Row
    Nashville Superspeedway – Lebanon, Tenn.
    Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services – Saturday, April 15, 2006 @ 12:29 PM Eastern
    Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
    Row 1 1 20 Denny Hamlin Rockwell Automation Chevrolet 29.034 165.282
    2 2 Clint Bowyer ACDelco Chevrolet 29.058 165.146
    Row 2 3 50 Danny O’Quinn Jr. # Stonebridge Life Ford 29.108 164.862
    4 41 Reed Sorenson Coats/Discount Tire Co. Dodge 29.141 164.675
    Row 3 5 11 Paul Menard Menards/Sylvania Chevrolet 29.184 164.433
    6 06 Todd Kluever # 3M Ford 29.190 164.399
    Row 4 7 21 Kevin Harvick U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet 29.199 164.348
    8 22 Kenny Wallace AutoZone Ford 29.201 164.337
    Row 5 9 60 Carl Edwards Henkel Ford 29.248 164.073
    10 18 J.J. Yeley Vigoro/The Home Depot Chevrolet 29.258 164.017
    Row 6 11 47 Jon Wood Clorox/American Red Cross Ford 29.262 163.994
    12 27 David Green Scott Tissue/Dollar General Ford 29.264 163.983
    Row 7 13 35 Regan Smith McDonald’s Premium Chicken Ford 29.267 163.966
    14 66 David Reutimann Cottman Transmissions Dodge 29.269 163.955
    Row 8 15 25 Ashton Lewis Jr. United States Marines Ford 29.300 163.782
    16 10 John Andretti # Freedom Roads/Camping World Ford 29.308 163.737
    Row 9 17 5 Kyle Busch Lowe’s/Sta-Green Chevrolet 29.335 163.586
    18 32 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet 29.354 163.480
    Row 10 19 98 Erin Crocker Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Dodge 29.397 163.241
    20 88 Mark McFarland # NAVY Chevrolet 29.408 163.180
    Row 11 21 77 Burney Lamar # Dollar General Chevrolet 29.411 163.163
    22 72 Stanton Barrett TheRaceSpace.com Chevrolet 29.420 163.114
    Row 12 23 0 Kertus Davis RACEGIRL Chevrolet 29.447 162.964
    24 43 Aaron Fike Curb Records Dodge 29.453 162.931
    Row 13 25 59 Stacy Compton Kingsford/Bush’s Ford 29.561 162.336
    26 90 Matt McCall citifinancial Ford 29.566 162.308
    Row 14 27 00 Johnny Sauter Yellow Transportation Chevrolet 29.600 162.122
    28 34 Mike Bliss Frank Cicci Racing w/Jim Kelly Chevrolet 29.617 162.029
    Row 15 29 01 Jay Sauter Western Union Chevrolet 29.659 161.799
    30 12 Joel Kauffman # Supercuts/St. Jude Children’s Hospital Do 29.672 161.728
    Row 16 31 1 Jason Keller Miccosukee Resorts Dodge 29.707 161.538
    32 99 Michael Waltrip Yard-Man Ford 29.709 161.527
    Row 17 33 4 Mark Green Nashville Predators/GEICO Dodge 29.813 160.963
    34 56 Kevin Lepage Duragloss Chevrolet 29.871 160.651
    Row 18 35 64 Steve Wallace Jackson Roscoe Foundation Dodge 29.908 160.452
    36 36 Tim Sauter Lester Buildings Chevrolet 29.918 160.398
    Row 19 37 23 Chris Wimmer # Manuelinc.com/Hotel Preston Chevrolet 30.050 159.694
    38 05 Chad Chaffin 31-W Insulation/FMI Chevrolet 30.227 158.759
    Row 20 39 14 Steadman Marlin Sadler Bros. Trucking Dodge 30.378 157.970
    40 28 Shane Hall Xtreme Gel Ford 30.435 157.674
    Row 21 41 07 David Odell Flagship RVs Chevrolet 30.515 157.260
    42 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Outdoor Channel Chevrolet Did Not Finish
    Row 22 43 49 Jorge Goeters # Advil Ford 30.525 157.209
    Did Not Qualify: #08-Jason White (Did Not Start)

    (NASCAR Statistical Services)

  • Sorenson Paces Happy Hour as well: #41-Reed Sorenson also led Happy Hour in Nashville. #21-Kevin Harvick was second, followed by #60-Carl Edwards, #2-Clint Bowyer, and #11 Paul Menard. For complete results, visit BGNRacing.com or NASCAR.com.(4-14-2006)
  • Sorenson Leads First Practice at Nashville: #41-Reed Sorenson was fastest in the first practice session. He was followed by #5-Kyle Busch, #2-Clint Bowyer, #47-Jon Wood, and #20 Denny Hamlin. Visit BGNRacing.com or NASCAR.comfor the complete rundown.(4-14-2006)
  • Nashville Entry List: There are 47 entries for the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. For the complete list, visit NASCAR.COM.(4-10-2006)

    NASCAR Busch Series News & Notes

  • Harvick’s lead key as stand-alone portion of schedule approaches … Although Saturday’s race is a stand-alone event, it will be held during an off-week for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Eight fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers are on the Pepsi 400 entry list, including the seven who are attempting to run a full schedule in both the NASCAR Busch Series and in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. One of those drivers, Kevin Harvick, is the NASCAR Busch Series points leader as he has been for the last six weeks. He has built a 146-point lead over second-place Denny Hamlin, a key number considering six of the final seven stand-alone events (the Aug. 5 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park is held on the same weekend as the Brickyard 400) are not companion races with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Last year, it was the second Nashville race that effectively ended Carl Edwards’ (#60 Henkel Ford) chance at the title when inclement weather forced a one-day postponement. Edwards had to skip the NASCAR Busch Series race for his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup duties at Pocono, where he won.
  • Point standings clustered heading to Nashville … Kevin Harvick may have a comfortable lead at this stage of the season, but there are definite logjams throughout the top-15 positions in the driver standings. Denny Hamlin has a 53-point lead over third-place Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet); however, the cluster truly begins with J.J. Yeley’s fourth-place ranking after he fell from second to fourth after last Saturday’s race at Texas. Lurking behind him is Greg Biffle (#16 Ameriquest Ford), who is 19 points behind. Biffle is not entered at Nashville this weekend. That bodes well for the likes of Kyle Busch (#5 Lowe’s Chevrolet) and Johnny Sauter who are tied at 832 points each (Busch is higher in the standings in sixth place due to his win at Bristol.) Those positions are hardly secure as Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s Chevrolet) is only 13 points behind Busch and Sauter in eighth place, his first foray into the top 10 this season. Menard can’t get too comfortable, though, as Jason Leffler (#32 Great Clips Dodge), Jamie McMurray (#64 Top-Flite Golf Co. Dodge), Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth (#17 Ameriquest Ford) and Jon Wood (#47 Clorox/American Red Cross Ford) are all within a 26-point window, respectively, in positions 9-13. Like Biffle, Kenseth and McMurray aren’t entered at Nashville, opening the way for advancement by drivers ranked further back in the standings.
  • Jason Leffler joins Braun Racing driver lineup … In a move to contend for the NASCAR Busch Series driver championship as well as compete for the series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award, Great Clips Racing announced this week that Jason Leffler (#32 Braun Racing Dodge) has been added to its driver lineup, joining rookie A.J. Foyt IV. Foyt has participated in the first seven races in the #38 Great Clips Dodge for Akins Motorsports; Leffler in the season’s first seven events with other sponsorship under the Braun banner. Starting this weekend at Nashville with Leffler behind the wheel, Great Clips will divide its sponsorship between Leffler and Foyt through the remainder of the 2006 season. Leffler – ninth in the point standings – will carry Great Clips at Nashville and other select races, while Foyt will continue in the series in a more limited capacity with an eye on more seat time in other series to gain experience. “By having one of our two drivers represent Great Clips on a weekly basis, we feel that we are giving our sponsor the best of both worlds,” said Doug Stringer, co-owner of Braun Racing 38 LLC. “We see this as a step moving forward and making our program stronger,” added Todd Braun, owner of Braun Racing.
  • IN THE LOOP: Inside Harvick’s points lead … NASCAR Busch Series points leader Kevin Harvick is enjoying the same success he had in 2001 when he captured the series championship. Consistency has been the key for Harvick this season, as he has yet to finish a race outside the top 10, with a season-best finish of second at Bristol. Coming off an eighth-place finish at Texas, Harvick leads two Loop Data statistical categories and ranks second in four others. Harvick currently leads all drivers in the Percentage of Laps Run on Lead Lap statistic, completing 1,257 of 1,257 possible laps. He also leads the field in Quality Passes, completing 289 passes of cars in the top 15. Another former champion is showing his strength in the numbers. Greg Biffle, who won the series championship in 2002, leads three Loop Data statistical categories: the Driver Rating category with a rating of 115.2, Average Running Position with an average running place of 5.531 and the Fastest Drivers Early in a Run category with an average rank of 2.400. The data is a new feature from NASCAR in partnership with stat experts STATS LLC to provide in-depth statistical details.
  • This Week’s NASCAR Busch Series Leaders … Through seven races of the 35-race season:
    ” Points leader – Kevin Harvick (1,099)
    ” Money won – Denny Hamlin ($355,219)
    ” Laps led – Kevin Harvick (239)
    ” Miles led – Kevin Harvick (304.65)
    ” Victories – Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart (1)
    ” Busch Poles – Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Boris Said, J.J. Yeley (1)
    ” Top-five finishes – Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth (4)
    ” Top-10 finishes – Kevin Harvick (6)
    ” Raybestos Rookie Leader – Burney Lamar (+7 over Todd Kluever)
    ” Races led – Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth (4)
    ” Weeks in Top 10 – Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, J.J. Yeley (7)

    ON THE RIGHT TRACK

  • There have been six first-time race winners in nine races at Nashville. … Jason Keller (#1 Miccosukee Resort Dodge) and Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) have started each of the nine previous races at Nashville. Keller is tied for the most top-10 finishes with two other drivers (four). Keller and Johnny Sauter are tied for first among drivers running at the finish at Nashville, seven times. … Clint Bowyer leads all drivers with four top-five finishes. … Kevin Harvick – at the inaugural race at Nashville Superspeedway in 2001 – and Reed Sorenson last April are active drivers who have won a Busch Pole at Nashville. Harvick’s 2001 race was his only previous appearance at the track. … Former Nashville winners entered include Bowyer (June 2005), Jason Leffler (June 2004) and Sorenson (April 2005) who registered their first NASCAR Busch Series wins at Nashville, along with David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford – April 2003) and Michael Waltrip (#99 Yardman Ford – April 2004).

    ETC.

  • Paul Menard made his first series start at Nashville in June 2002, finishing 12th after starting 43rd. … Dodge moved to within four points of Chevrolet in the Bill France Performance Cup standings following Kurt Busch’s (#39 Penske Truck Leasing Dodge) first career NASCAR Busch Series win at Texas. Chevrolet continues to lead with four wins and 48 points; Dodge is second, now with two wins and 44 points and Ford is third with one victory and 41 points. Chevrolet leads with four wins at Nashville, including three of the last four races. … Mark Green, who normally drives the #4 GEICO Dodge, will sport sponsorship from the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators this weekend at Nashville. “I’ve always been a hockey fan so I’m keyed up about the race in Nashville,” Green said. … Erin Crocker (#98 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge) is scheduled to make her fifth NASCAR Busch Series start – her first of 2006 – at Nashville after also running in the ARCA event. Crocker, who is competing fulltime in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year, will make a guest appearance at the Grand Ole Opry Friday night at 8 p.m. “I have been a country music fan my whole life,” she said. “The opportunity to go to the Grand Ole Opry and to possibly meet some country music stars is neat for me. I have never really had any musical talent so it’s something that is really exciting for me to do and be a part of.” … Burney Lamar (#77 Dollar General Chevrolet), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Outdoor Channel Chevrolet) and KHI team owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick will make an appearance at team sponsor Dollar General headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn., just outside of Nashville prior to the race. Lamar leads the series Raybestos Rookie standings. … Steve Wallace (#64 Jackson Roscoe Foundation Dodge) is also scheduled to pull ARCA/NASCAR Busch Series double-duty at Nashville.

    QUOTEBOOK

  • “It was my very first race at a big track, at least what I called a big track at the time, and that track pretty much allowed me to be seen by Richard Childress. I was running in a guy’s ARCA car from Kansas City and just immediately took a liking to the place. I have led a lot of laps there and got my first win in the NASCAR Busch Series there. When you have those kind of stats, it makes it easy to say that Nashville is one of my favorites.” – Clint Bowyer
  • “The Nashville Superspeedway has some special meaning to me. Last year, as we were trying to get things going, I was able to score my first top-five starting position, then my first career top-10 finish. Last year when they were deciding if I should get a start in a [NASCAR NEXTEL Series] cup car, they sent me to Nashville to test. It was my performance in that test that gave them the confidence to run a Cup race last year, ultimately leading to my full-time ride this year.” – Denny Hamlin.
  • “The homework Mike Kelley (crew chief) and the guys did for the Texas race will really be evident at Nashville. I’m excited to go there this weekend and show how good this team really is.” – Todd Kluever (#06 3M Ford).

    FROM THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES “25 SEASONS RUNNING” ARCHIVES

  • The state of Tennessee has produced several winners since the inception of the NASCAR Busch Series in 1982.
  • There were no winners from Tennessee during the inaugural season, however, Darrell Waltrip won the first event of 1983, the Goody’s 300 at Daytona. Although actually from Owensboro, Ky., Waltrip has always listed Franklin, Tenn. as his hometown. Waltrip leads all drivers from the Volunteer State with 13 series wins.
  • Nashville’s Bobby Hamilton Jr. became the most recent Tennessee native to win a series event with his 2003 victory at Phoenix International Raceway. His father Bobby Sr. also has a NASCAR Busch Series win. Other series winners who hail from Tennessee include Sterling Marlin – whose son Steadman is scheduled to drive the #95 Sadler Bros. Truck Dodge this weekend – Casey Atwood, Mike Alexander, L.D. Ottinger, Jeff Purvis and Brad Teague.

    NASCAR BUSCH SERIES “25 SEASONS RUNNING” QUOTEABLES

  • “Without a doubt, I think hands-down it’s by far the toughest year in the series. When I first came to the series, there were few select teams. I always used to say there were 20 teams that could win in a given week. Now I actually believe there are 30 to 35 teams that can win week-in and week-out.” – Johnny Sauter
    ON DECK: PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
  • The drivers and teams of the NASCAR Busch Series make their way west once again next week for the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway for a night race on Friday beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET (FX). The series has traveled out west or internationally (Mexico City) for five of the first seven races in 2006. Greg Biffle won last year’s event after Kasey Kahne – one of eight different Busch Pole winners at Phoenix – captured the top starting position. Biffle is the only NASCAR Busch Series driver to have multiple wins at Phoenix – he also won the 2001 event when only one race was contested per season.