NASHVILLE 300 – NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
Nationwide Series Race #8 of 34 for the 2011 season
Race Details
- Race: 3:00pm/et, Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Lebanon, TN
- Length: 225 Laps, 300 miles
- TV: ESPN – 2:00pm/et
- Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Satellite Radio
- Purse:
- Announcers: Marty Reid, Ricky Craven, Brad Daugherty
- Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Shannon Spake
Race Rundown
- Edwards wins at Nashville: #60-Carl Edwards won the Nashville 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, for his 2nd win of the season and the 31st of his Nationwide career. #18-Kyle Busch finished second. The rest of the top 10: #22-Brad Keselowski, #20-Joey Logano, #6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #16-Trevor Bayne, #33-Austin Dillon, #32-Reed Sorenson, #7-Josh Wise, and #88-Aric Almirola. There were 6 cautions for 25 laps and 16 lead changes among 7 leaders. The announced attendance was 18,000. Complete results are posted on the Nashville race results page.(4-23-2011)
- Nashville Race Fast Facts:
Carl Edwards won the 11th Annual Nashville 300 , his 31st victory in 219 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Edwards ties NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Jack Ingram for fourth on the all-time series wins list.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his fourth victory and 11th top-10 finish in 12 races at Nashville Superspeedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in ten races at Nashville Superspeedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2011.
Brad Keselowski (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in nine races at Nashville Superspeedway.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-23-2011) - Driver standings following Nashville:
1) #31-Justin Allgaier 0 264
2) #6- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 264
3) #38-Jason Leffler 262 -2
4) #32-Reed Sorenson 260 -4
5) #16-Trevor Bayne 260 -4
6) #2-Elliott Sadler 259 -5
7) #88-Aric Almirola 257 -7
8) #11-Brian Scott 228 -36
9) #09-Kenny Wallace 216 -48
10) #62-Michael Annett 184 -80 Complete standings are posted on the driver standings page.(4-23-2011) - Owner Standings following Nashville are posted. The top 30 in owners points are locked in at Richmond. #70-David Stremme and the ML Motorsports moved into a locked in position and #23-Robert Richardson/R3 Motorsports fell out.(4-23-2011)
- Logano on pole at Nashville: #20-Joey Logano won the pole for the Nashville 300 at Nashville Superspeedway with a speed of 157.876mph. #16-Trevor Bayne will start second. The rest of the top 10: #33-Austin Dillon, #6-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., #64-David Reutimanm, #18-Kyle Busch, #60-Carl Edwards, #2-Elliott Sadler, #22-Brad Keselowski, #11-Brian Scott. Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Nashville starting lineup page.(4-23-2011)
- Nashville Qualifying Notes:
Joey Logano won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 11th Annual Nashville 300 with a lap of 30.396 seconds, 157.876 mph.
This is his 16th pole in 73 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Logano ties Brett Bodine and Matt Kenseth for 11th on the all-time series poles list.
This is his first pole and seventh top-10 start in 2011.
This is his third pole in four races at Nashville Superspeedway. Logano now leads on the all-time Nashville series poles list.
Trevor Bayne (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2011 and his fourth in four races at Nashville Superspeedway.
Austin Dillon (third) posted his first top-10 start at Nashville Superspeedway. It is his first in one races this season.v Ryan Truex (20th) was the fastest qualifying rookie. (NASCAR Statistics)(4-23-2011) - Reutimann fastest in happy hour: #64-David Reutimann was quickest during happy hour at Nashville Superspeedway with a speed of 157.034mph. #18-Kyle Busch was second, followed by #33-Austin Dillon, #22-Brad Keselowski, #60-Carl Edwards, #2-Elliott Sadler, #66-Steve Wallace, #6-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., #31-Justin Allgaier, and #11-Brian Scott. Complete results are posted on the Nashville practice results page.(4-22-2011)
- Busch fastest in first practice: #18-Kyle Busch was fastest during opening practice at Nashville Superspeedway with a speed of 154.920mph. He was followed by: #22-Brad Keselowski, #32-Reed Sorenson, #60-Carl Edwards, #33-Austin Dillon, #11-Brian Scott, #20-Joey Logano, #31-Justin Allgiaer, #2-Elliott Sadler, and #38-Jason Leffler. Complete results are posted on the Nashville practice results page.(4-22-2011)
- Entry List:There are 43 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Nashville 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Some notes:
Willie Allen and the #05 Wayne Day return;
Josh Wise is back in the JR Motorsports #7;
Mike Kile will make his debut in the Turner Motorsports #30;
Austin Dillon will drive the #33 for KHI;
Danny O’Quinn returns to the #39 for Go Green;
Carl Long is listed as the driver of the Rick Ware #41;
The Jimmy Means #52 to TBA;
David Reutimann in entered in the #64, a third entry for Rusty Wallace;
JR Fitzpatrick will debut the #67 team of Steve Meehan;
Matt Carter will drive the #68;
Johnny Chapman is entered in the #75 for Rick Ware;
Kevin Conway is in the NEMCO #87.(4-18-2011)
UPDATE: Tim Schendel will be in the #52.(4-20-2011)
See the complete list on the Nashville entry list page. - Nationwide Series Live from Nashville: ESPN continues its coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a live telecast of the 300-mile race at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, April 23. NASCAR Countdown airs at 2 p.m. ET with the race’s green flag at 3:16 p.m. Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Ricky Craven and Brad Daugherty. Reports from Tim Brewer will air from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Shannon Spake. Burns will host NASCAR Countdown. Also from Nashville, ESPN will air NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying at noon on Saturday, followed at 1 p.m. by an airing of the ESPN 30 for 30 film Tim Richmond: To the Limit prior to NASCAR Countdown at 2 p.m. (ESPN)(4-18-2011)
Nationwide Series Track Schedule
Times listed are local to the track (Central Time).
Friday, April 22nd
8:00 AM NNS HAULERS ENTER
9:00 AM NNS REGISTRATION OPENS
9:30 AM NNS GARAGE OPENS
1:30 PM NNS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS & RANDOM DRAWING
2:30 PM-4:00 PM NNS PRACTICE
5:30 PM-6:30 PM NNS FINAL PRACTICE
6:00 PM NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES
8:00 PM NNS GARAGE CLOSES
Saturday, April 23rd
11:05 AM (12:05 PM/ET) NNS QUALIFYING ( TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS)
11:50 AM NNS GRID CARS ON PIT ROAD
12:15 PM NNS DRIVER/CREW CHIEF MEETING
1:40 PM NNS DRIVER INTRODUCTION
2:00 PM (3:00 PM/ET) NNS RACE (225 LAPS, 300 MILES)
2:30 PM NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES
NASCAR News & Notes
Stand-Alone Season Opens Door For Series Regulars
The next stop on the schedule is Nashville Superspeedway for the Nashville 300. The event marks the first stand-alone race of the season and a solid chance for the series regulars to get their first win of the season.
There are eight races this season where the series is either the main attraction or shares billing with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (as it does this weekend) or one of NASCAR’s touring series.
Fewer double duty drivers could mean better opportunities for series regulars to nab the thus far elusive 2011 win. Not since 2008, when Brad Keselowski (then driving for JR Motorsports) won the fall event at Nashville, has a series regular been able to capture the checkered flag at the 1.333-mile track. Two-time series champion Kevin Harvick is the defending winner, however he isn’t entered this time around. Instead, Richard Childress’ grandson and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon will run the Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 33 car.
Of the series regulars this season Reed Sorenson is cut above the rest at Nashville. He has the best average finish amongst series regulars with a 9.1. He has made six starts at Nashville posting one win (2005 – his first career series win), three top fives and four top 10s. He is the highest-ranked series regular in the pre-race Driver Rating with 109.5.
There are five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars making double duty appearances at this first stand-alone race. Of the four, Carl Edwards has had the most success at Nashville, posting a series-high three wins (2006-’07). Brad Keselowski is not far behind Edwards with two wins (2008, ’10), followed by Kyle Busch with one (2009). Joey Logano and David Reutimann are also running this weekend at Nashville.
There are eight races this season where the series is either the main attraction or shares billing with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (as it does this weekend) or one of NASCAR’s touring series.
Fewer double duty drivers could mean better opportunities for series regulars to nab the thus far elusive 2011 win. Not since 2008, when Brad Keselowski (then driving for JR Motorsports) won the fall event at Nashville, has a series regular been able to capture the checkered flag at the 1.333-mile track. Two-time series champion Kevin Harvick is the defending winner, however he isn’t entered this time around. Instead, Richard Childress’ grandson and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon will run the Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 33 car.
Of the series regulars this season Reed Sorenson is cut above the rest at Nashville. He has the best average finish amongst series regulars with a 9.1. He has made six starts at Nashville posting one win (2005 – his first career series win), three top fives and four top 10s. He is the highest-ranked series regular in the pre-race Driver Rating with 109.5.
There are five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars making double duty appearances at this first stand-alone race. Of the four, Carl Edwards has had the most success at Nashville, posting a series-high three wins (2006-’07). Brad Keselowski is not far behind Edwards with two wins (2008, ’10), followed by Kyle Busch with one (2009). Joey Logano and David Reutimann are also running this weekend at Nashville.
Leffler Back On Top Of Standings With Teammate Allgaier Nipping At His Heels
Turner Motorsports continues to command the driver standings. This week Jason Leffler sits atop the standings just two points ahead of his teammate, Justin Allgaier. This is Leffler’s second time as the points leader in 2011. Thus far, he has an average finish of 10.7, having posted three top-10 finishes.
Leffler has endured an up-and-down career at Nashville. With an average finish is 18.1, Leffler has made 12 starts posting one win (2004 – his first series career win), four top fives and six top 10s – to go along with four DNFs.
Allgaier has a pole and two top-five finishes in his last two races at Nashville. This is the closest he has been to the lead this year, having fought back from his 18th-place ranking – 24 points behind first place – following the season-opener at Daytona.
Allgaier has posted one top five and four top 10s this season.
Leffler has endured an up-and-down career at Nashville. With an average finish is 18.1, Leffler has made 12 starts posting one win (2004 – his first series career win), four top fives and six top 10s – to go along with four DNFs.
Allgaier has a pole and two top-five finishes in his last two races at Nashville. This is the closest he has been to the lead this year, having fought back from his 18th-place ranking – 24 points behind first place – following the season-opener at Daytona.
Allgaier has posted one top five and four top 10s this season.
Veteran Joe Nemechek Continues To Shine Amongst Young Stars
While a lot of the focus has been put on the new faces of the series this season, veterans like Joe Nemechek continue to shine. The 1992 series champion, who is one of many veterans making a run at the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship this season, is 10th in the points, 64 points behind Jason Leffler. It is the fourth time this year he’s been ranked in the top 10.
Two weeks ago at Texas, Nemechek started his 900th national series race, one of only 10 drivers among that select group. And now, Nemechek, 47, comes off a third-place finish at Talladega. It was Nemechek’s best finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since 2004 when he won at Kansas.
“It was really fun,” Nemechek said. “It has been a long time since I have had a good run like that. It was good to get back up front and run with the guys who are winning every week. I had a blast, it was a lot of fun, one for the old guys,” said Nemechek.
This season Nemechek has posted one top five and three top-15 finishes. He has an average finish of 20.0 after the first seven races of the season. His season-to-date Driver Rating is 63.9 which is up 2.7 points from his 2010 season-to-date Driver Rating (61.2) after the first seven races.
Two weeks ago at Texas, Nemechek started his 900th national series race, one of only 10 drivers among that select group. And now, Nemechek, 47, comes off a third-place finish at Talladega. It was Nemechek’s best finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since 2004 when he won at Kansas.
“It was really fun,” Nemechek said. “It has been a long time since I have had a good run like that. It was good to get back up front and run with the guys who are winning every week. I had a blast, it was a lot of fun, one for the old guys,” said Nemechek.
This season Nemechek has posted one top five and three top-15 finishes. He has an average finish of 20.0 after the first seven races of the season. His season-to-date Driver Rating is 63.9 which is up 2.7 points from his 2010 season-to-date Driver Rating (61.2) after the first seven races.
NNS Etc. – Nashville Superspeedway
After posting his 47th NASCAR Nationwide Series career win this past weekend at Talladega, Kyle Busch, finds himself just two wins shy of Mark Martin’s all-time series wins record of 49 victories. … Only two drivers have won at Nashville Superspeedway from the pole: Kyle Busch (2009) and Reed Sorenson (2005). … Nashville Superspeedway will play host to a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver autograph session scheduled for Friday, April 22 at 1 p.m. in the Expo area located outside Gate 3 at Nashville Superspeedway. … The Countdown to 500 continues. Kenny Wallace will be making his 496th series start at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend.
Goodyear Tire Notes
None provided