Tony Stewart's Personal Green Flag Moment

Jason Smith - Getty Images

4 days ago: MONTREAL QC - AUGUST 29: Boris Said driver of the #09 Zaxby's Fordcelebrates with team members after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Napa Auto Parts 200 on August 29 2010 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal Quebec Canada. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

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Boris Said has been teaching short track kids how to turn right for over a decade. 

Until Sunday, Boris had only one touring series win ever,  the 1998 Craftsman Truck series race at Sonoma.  That year was also the last time Boris Said was an actual full time driver in any NASCAR series. 

Boris has 11 years of Cup Series expirence, but has never driven more than 9 races in a single year.  But that doesn't mean that Boris is not a great driver. He's just better known as a Road Course ringer than a full time driver.

Hundreds have received lessons in road racing from Boris Said. It was time for the master to show them how it's done. After Marcos Ambrose yet again suffered heartbreak in Canada, this time thanks to an electrical problem, it seemed that this was going to come down to Carl Edwards and Robby Gordon.

Jacques Villeneuve and Max Papis looked to challenge the two Cup regulars, but both road ringers were having problems keeping up. Montreal would not allow Edwards to win back to back.  A track bar broke on the no. 60 Ford.  Once it broke, the rear tires began to shift violently in the rear of the car.  Edwards went into the pits, lost a lap and when all was said and done, Edwards was 4 laps down. 

He managed to finish the race, but his 20th place finish put his championship hopes further out of reach. 

Then there was Robby Gordon. Gordon started alongside Max Papis with just 7 to go.  As they hit the turn, Gordon ran Papis right into the grass. This is a move that Mr. Gordon has used to great avail many times in the past. But Papis didn't relent, he drove through the grass and right back into the path of Gordon. Due to the move, Jason Leffler was hit by teammate Jacques Villeneuve, and Colin Braun was collected.

Caution. 

Gordon was now running low on gas, but felt he could make it.  That was until Trevor Bayne got into J.R. Fitzpatrick and Jason Leffler blew up, causing a red flag. You could make the case that Gordon's move caused both accidents, since Leffler blew because of the damage he took in that wreck. 

The incident would be Gordon's undoing.  When the feild got back under way, Gordon ran out of gas.  He would finish 14th, two laps down. Ambrose just may have smiled.

That set up a wild finish that saw Boris Said in the Zaxby's Ford battling with Max Papis in the Rheem Chevy, and Jacques Villeneuve in the Dollar General Toyota.  Boris and Papis would battle side by side to the flag, where Boris would out run Papis by a fender. 

Something the ESPN announce team failed to tell you was that not only was it Boris Said's first Nationwide victory, but it was also RAB Racing's first ever Nascar Victory.  The 09 has never won in 53 starts. 

I loved this race, but ESPN let me down big.  They talked to Papis, who was great as always, and Villeneuve, then gave a very weak interview with Boris Said before cutting to basketball.  Not to mention the very weak qualifing coverage.  There was no more then 6 cars on track at the same time during qualifing, yet ESPN failed to show every driver making a lap.  When Papis and Ambrose were out there, we didn't even see Keselowski or Logano make a run.  Of the 46 cars making a lap, we saw maybe 20 of them.  It was incredibly biased and quite dissapointing.  They failed to talk about the fact that some of these guys had to race in on time, and even failed to tell us who failed to qualify.  I had to go online just to see that Stanton Barrett, Kevin O'Connell and Canada's own Pierre Bourque failed to make the race.  What a joke.  Bad broadcasting failed to take away from a one of a kind race though.


Results and more after the JUMP!

Keselowski had one of the hardest fought top 5's I've seen all year.  There was nothing left of Keso's car when he crossed the line, and I'm pretty sure if they would of had one more lap, that car would have fallen apart.  The 2011 debut of Andrew Ranger and Justin Marks was rather uneventful.  Both were out before lap 14. 

The race for the top 30 got a bit more interesting.  With Boris Said winning, that propelled the RAB Ford from 28th up to 24th in owner points.  A bad day by both the 35 and 81 kept Keller in and McDowell out.  Here's how they stack up:

That's all for this week.  Join us next week when the Nationwide Boys head to Atlanta for the Great Clips 300.  Enjoy!

Twitter Lists: NASCAR Drivers, NASCAR Teams, NASCAR Media Journalists, NASCAR Crew Members, NASCAR Women of Pit Row, NASCAR Media Sites, NASCAR Tracks.

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This week NASCAR returns the Irish Hills of Michigan. Kasey Kahne  will start on the pole with Jimmie Johnson rounding out the front row. There is a risk of thundershowers Sunday, so hopefully there will be a race.

kaseykahne  Had 2 good practices today. Heading back to knoxville nationals now. Come on 9 91 and 49 !!!

Elliott_Sadler   Pretty good finish today in the GT vodka car. Thanks to all the guys at JR motorsports for their hardwork. Pretty good car for tomorrow also.

DanicaPatrick  Bummed I didn't have a better day in the beautifully designed hot wheels car but its back to the catchy green go daddy hot rod!

AJDinger  Catching free saving abel concert at mis. Rocking it up

scottspeed  Getting a quick nine in w/ @KevinHarvick and was this close to a hole in one!! http://tweetphoto.com/38995925

TJBell_racing  Well the lady in black reached out and slapped me tonight but @MAKEMotorsports guys did a great job and @drinkallsport kept me hydrated

KevinHarvick  Had a lot of things go wrong today so we went and played golf and got bit by a minimum of 50 mosquito.

dennyhamlin   sorry folks.. we absolutely sucked today  

colinbraun  Really proud of my guys... They worked on our call day and we got a top 10 out of it! The Cup drivers are fun to race, learned a lot!  

Good Luck to all the drivers.

 NASCAR Ranting and Raving's NASCAR Driver Twitter List  

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 01: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 Hendrickcars.com/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 1, 2010 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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When the history of NASCAR is rewritten to include its current crop of stars, there is little doubt that Mark Martin will go down as one of the most-beloved racers in the sport's history.

At present, however, the diminutive Arkansan seems a rather maligned individual for remaining a Sprint Cup driver past the age of 50 and for remaining in the #5 Chevrolet through the duration of his contract rather than stepping aside for Kasey Kahne.

The disrespect of a man widely accepted as the greatest racer in NASCAR to never win a championship, with forty career victories and five runner-up finishes in the points race, is troubling and, in fact, a little disgusting.

First, an analyzation of facts: Mark Martin has never lied about retiring. At no point has Mark Martin ever said he was going to retire from Sprint Cup racing.

He stated in late 2004 that he would step aside from full-time driving after the 2005 season but would run a partial schedule while competing full-time in what was then the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

There, of course, was the well-documented "Salute to You" tour, with accompanying merchandise and accolades abound. Fox Sports even presented Martin and his retiring contemporary Rusty Wallace with engraved rocking chairs prior to their final telecast of the 2005 season at Sonoma.

Then, things became complicated, and Mark's loyalty to the man who'd given him his big break in 1988 came into play.

Having decided by midway through 2005 that Martin's heir apparent - Todd Kluever, a midwestern short-tracker in the mold of Martin and Matt Kenseth - would not be ready for the '06 campaign, leaving the #6 car in limbo, Jack Roush succeeded in putting off Martin's semi-retirement for a year.

By the end of 2006, without part-time options available with Roush, moved on to Ginn Racing to drive their #01 Chevrolet for most of the 2007 schedule, while rookie Regan Smith would drive the balance of the schedule.

After nearly winning the Daytona 500 and leading the points through four races, Martin stuck to his word and sat out the fifth and sixth events of the year at Bristol and Martinsville. For the remainder of the season, he stuck to his schedule and continued to do so in 2008, now with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. courtesy of some owners points wheeling and dealing in July 2007.

As he was looking for a home for 2009, Mark Martin exercised his right as an American, as a human being, and changed his mind about semi-retirement. The opportunity to drive one of Rick Hendrick's Chevrolets too good to refuse, Martin agreed to return to the rigors of full-time Sprint Cup racing.

In the face of the criticism of his decision to return, Martin responded with one of his best seasons ever: five wins and his fifth second-place finish in the final standings.

He remained in Hendrick's #5 Chevrolet for 2010 and was under contract for 2011, after which he would likely return to part-time racing.

And yet, after pouring his heart and soul into NASCAR racing for almost three decades and being driven nearly to his breaking point on more than one occasion, again Martin became the man everyone wanted to push aside after Hendrick announced the signing of Kasey Kahne for 2012.

The foolish cries for Martin to be effectively kicked to the curb by Hendrick or for Mark to "do the right thing" and step aside in favor of Kahne were finally quieted for good earlier this week when Kahne officially announced he was joining Team Red Bull for the 2011 season.

Still, it is unlikely that a man who wears his heart on his sleeve quite like Martin will be too quick to forget just the latest case of disrespect towards him. Just as he shouldn't be.

Martin has toiled in NASCAR's Cup ranks for the better part of three decades, once being driven out nearly penniless as his family operation had to shutter its doors. He overcame severe alcoholism, became a model of fitness not just for racers but for any man, and showed extraordinary heart as he suffered through immense professional defeat and personal loss - none greater than in August of 1998, when his father, step-mother, and stepsister died in a plane crash as Martin was racing in Watkins Glen. Mark buried his family members, then dedicated his "losing effort" to them after failing to secure the win at Michigan that weekend..

Unlike drivers such as Darrell Waltrip and Dale Jarrett - NASCAR greats who perhaps stuck around a little too long, becoming backmarkers and suffering DNQs - Mark remains competitive in his twilight years. After Sunday's Heluva Good! at the Glen, he is in the Chase for the Championship, and if he succeeds in making NASCAR's 10-race playoff, he would join Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin as the only drivers to qualify for the Chase in each of their full seasons under the points system.

Mark Martin has given more to the sport of auto racing than most of his contemporaries, and there is a strong argument that he has gotten much less than his fair share in return. The lack of respect amongst fans and reporters - many of whom developed their interest in auto racing well into Martin's career and haven't witnessed his full impact on the sport - is perhaps the greatest injustice of all.

Who are they to tell him he should retire? Who are they to tell him that he has somehow forfeited his God-given right to change his mind and chase glory one more time or two more times or as many times as he pleases? It is disgusting to consider the level of animosity held towards Martin simply because of his desire to compete while he is still able to compete.

If Mark ever complains about all of his, he will do so respectfully, because that is Mark Martin's way. He takes criticism, justified or not, like a man and responds accordingly. In terms of inner-stature, he stands much taller than his listed height of 5'6.

Undoubtedly a champion whether he has the trophy and is listed as such in the record books or not, he has more than earned his right to do whatever he pleases and to be respected as one of the greatest racers of all-time, one who has shown more guts and more heart in one lifetime than some drivers would in two or three.

It took Kyle Busch 28 starts in 2008 to tie a single season record for wins in the Nationwide Series with 10.  Sam Ard is the other driver to do that feat.  In 2010 it only took 20 races for Kyle to tie his and Sam Ard's record.  That leaves another 12 starts for Kyle to try and break the record. 

Busch fought hard to secure his second win of the week at Bristol and ended up sweeping the weekend. There is no doubt that Busch is making a case for himself as best Short Track Racer alive today today. Love him or hate him, Busch commands respect.  He may lack the stoic poise that we come to expect from a champion, but there is no doubt that he is one of the top 5 racers of this generation.

Kyle could very well be the first in a new line of NASCAR Champions. The type that ooze personality and refuse to fit into the cookie cutter mold of Champ.  But lets not forget, Dale Earnhardt wasn't your average champ. Nor was Jeff Gordon or Darrell Waltrip. They were all outspoken and often disliked. That's not even mentioning their shared 'Move of get Moved' mentality of racing.

But this article isn't about what Kyle may be able to do. It's about what Kyle did on Friday at Bristol. It was a wild race, fitting of the Bristol name.  Although it didn't always seem that way.

It appeared that everyone was going to behave up until lap 84. That's when Kasey Kahne, Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne decided to take it three-wide into turn three. Robert Richardson was slow in the high lane, when Allgaier checked up into the side of Kasey Kahne.  Both hit the wall and Kahne rode the wall.  Kasey's day was done, but Allgaier's was far from over.  With 93 laps to go, Lap traffic almost ended Clint Bowyer's day as Sean Caisse and Joe Nemechek spun together. 

I agree with everything ESPN had to say on Friday evening up until a certain point. They claim that Mike Wallace "Checked up" and clipped Bowyer's front end, sending Wallace into Caisse and Nemechek. I say that Clint checked and spun Wallace.

If Wallace checked, he would have bounced off the wall and Bowyer would have drove right by him. That didn't happen. What did happen was that Wallace was running his line and Bowyer tried to tuck under him and misjudged the amount of room. Bowyer turned Wallace, but not intentionally.  It's possible that Wallace slowed and that's why Bowyer clipped him, but ESPN seemed to either miss this point or discarded it entirely.

With 60 laps to go Justin Allgaier got wide and T-Boned Josh Wise. Allgaier would eventually have to take his Verizon entry to the garage.

With 32 to go, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch were battling for the lead. Busch completed the pass low, then tried to cut in front of Keselowski. Kyle got wide and let out of the throttle. Brad never was able to 'whoa' the car down completely.  Kesolowski could have let of the gas and they both could have continued.

But instead, Busch got hit and he brushed the outside wall. He came back down and spun Kesolowski to the inside.  Now, Brad didn't deserve that for what he did to Kyle, but Kesolowski has made several enemies and made a lot of mental errors since beginning his NASCAR career. Perhaps this was mere karma.

With 25 to go, Joey Logano got a bad restart and the field gobbled him up. He almost took Dale Jr with him, but instead got turned by Jason Leffler. Not Jason's fault, since Logano was three-wide by himself.  Joey spun and the field bunched up behind him. Reed Sorenson, Paul Menard, Steve Wallace, Michael Annett, Bowyer, and Keselowski were all tangled up. The latter had considerable damage to his rear but was able to finish the race in 14th.

With 15 to go, Brian Scott and Brendon Gaughan were victims of a bad check up from Reed Sorenson.  This set up a great 10 lap shootout for the win, in which the damaged no. 18 Toyota was able to dominate

Race Results and more after the JUMP!

I know that there is no way that so many guys had brake problems.  The 36, 26, 91, 90, 73, and 0 all start and parked.  It's sad when you think about the fact that McClure, Morgan Shepherd, and Ryan Hackett would have tried to finish the race.

We found out that as long as Nascar doesn't try to limit the amount of Cup guys in the Nationwide Series that Carl Edwards will attempt to run the full season in 2011.

Robby Gordon has announced that he will attempt the Montreal Race and K&N pro series driver Paul Harraka will drive Joe Nemechek's 87 Chevy at Montreal.  Why am I talking about Montreal? Because next week the Nationwide Drivers will head to our Northern Neighbors for the NAPA Auto Parts 250 from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  This is another great chance to see some awesome Road Course racing.  Expect to see some of our Road Ringers out there again.  I really hope that eventually we get to see a Cup race up in Canada.  Check back later in the week for a Preview of the Napa Auto Parts 250.

"Busch took advantage of Brad being on probation and wrecked him. It isn't fair!"

That is how the pro-Brad Keselowski - or rather, the anti-Kyle Busch sect of NASCAR fans has expressed it's displeasure with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver's method of winning Friday night's Food City 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. In their view, Busch, knowing full and well that Keselowski would be unable to pay back Busch's "dump and run" without risking NASCAR sanction, exploited Keselowski's plight and sent the Penske Racing Dodge for a ride.

First of all, to think that - on a track where laps are turned at a 16-second clip, or faster - Busch had enough time to process that thought and act upon it as quickly as the entire situation on lap 219 played out is ludicrous.

Second of all, even if he had, it is a situation Keselowski created for himself.

Over the last three months of the 2009 season, Brad Keselowski could have charitably been described as a weapon. While his chief nemesis was Busch's Sprint Cup teammate, Denny Hamlin, it seemed that Keselowski raced without much regard for who he ran into and where they - and the cars behind them - ended up.

Exhibit A, perhaps, would be the Kroger 250, held at Memphis Motorsports Park - an event Keselowski won after creating no fewer than three accidents with what could arguably be called over-the-top aggressiveness, three-quarters of a mile short track or not.

The prosecution's star witness could be Hamlin or any number of drivers, but a DA would more likely opt for the fabricators for the many Nationwide teams impacted by Keselowski's rough riding.

The fabricators for the #88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet that Keselowski had driven would have little defense at all, however, save for a crinkled rear bumper cover sustained at the Homestead-Miami Speedway when Hamlin perfectly played the role of a vigilante crusader right down to the black suit. As Hamlin put it, one would have thought that he, not Busch, had won the Ford 300.

One victim of the Memphis carnage was Carl Edwards, up to this weekend the man who had taken center stage in the the second act of the Brad Keselowski Saga.

Keselowski's #12 Dodge flying through the air at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, courtesy of Edwards, even made World News Tonight, with Diane Sawyer questioning whether Carl had gone too far. A last-lap clash between the two left fans fuming and Bob Keselowski, Brad's father and a former racer himself, threatening to take care of Edwards himself.

And yet, one has to consider that the only person who created this situation for Brad Keselowski is Brad Keselowski.

Sure, he can make his martyr-like claims that he will not be pushed around, fenders and fellow competitors be damned, an attitude that served him well in the short term.

However, the long-term side effects of such an attitude and the actions that accompany them will far outweigh any satisfaction Keselowski gained from his Memphis victory, positions he collected with his front-bumper, and the puffed-out chest bravado with which he declared that he was Brad By-God Keselowski and no one was going to cow him.

And as long as he performs as he has thus far on the Sprint Cup side in 2010, where he has been little more than an afterthought since the Atlanta accident, it is unlikely that he will be taken as much more than a big-mouthed kid who's talent isn't as fast as his tongue.

There is something to admire about Keselowski's style, but that "me against the world" mantra grows tired quickly, especially when you haven't collected a top ten in the big show all season. His 2009 Cup performance, in which he won at Talladega and scored three other top-ten finishes, was left in 2009.

What wasn't left there was the feelings he created over the course of the final three months of that season, and further proof of that was served on Friday night. One can argue that Kyle Busch might have dumped anyone in that situation, but it also bears consideration that when Busch felt the contact to his rear bumper and glanced off the backstretch wall, the fact that it was Keselowski on the other end played a role in his decision to retaliate.

Besides, had Busch really wanted to crash Keselowski, he had plenty of opportunities as they raced side by side for several laps prior.

To decry that Busch unfairly used Keselowski's probation against him is baseless. Keselowski's past over-aggression led him to his current situation, and rather than crying that he is being taken advantage of, his partisans should instead be thankful that a sticker declaring "Open Season" hasn't been placed onto his race cars and uniforms.

Nashville (Thursday Aug. 5, 2010): NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. (right) surprises office workers in downtown Nashville during a video shoot for AMP Energy Juice, Dale’s sponsor. Dale Jr. was a good sport and signed autographs for fans and gave out AMP Energy Juice. He also gave a few lucky fans tickets to the upcoming Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21 care of AMP Energy Juice. Also pictured, Alex Stamper, Hendrick Motorsports. PHOTO CREDIT: Ryan Smith

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O.K. I admit this is a bit of an Amp promo, but for good reason.  Throughout the year I get a ton of press releases from NASCAR, NASCAR teams and their sponsors as well as from some driver's agents and PR firms.  One type of press release that I always seem to get is; (insert driver's name here) surprised employees at (insert driver's sponsor name here).  Said driver posed for pictures and signed autographs for surprise employees."

Well I got another one of those emails, or so I thought.  Once I read the email more I noticed there was something different about it, the driver in question, Dale Earnhardt Jr., surprised workers in an office that had nothing to do with his sponsor, Amp.  Dale just showed up and started handing out samples of his sponsor's product, signed autographs, posed for pictures, and handed out tickets to an upcoming Sprint Cup race.  Now granted he was filiming a video near the office and they probably planned to do something like that but what is important to me is that it was an office that had nothing to do with the sponsor or driver other than being near or part of the video shoot.

Imagine going into work one day and having Dale Jr show up out of the blue handing out Amp drinks and tickets to a future race?  Cool stuff for sure.  Hey Dale, come to my office next will you?

This is just another example why Amp and Dale Jr continue to be fan favourites.

This week the Nationwide Series heads North to Montreal.  This is one of the dates that I have circled on my Nationwide Schedule.  It does happen to be funny that the series that actually goes outside of the US is called Nationwide and the Sprint Cup drivers never go north or south of US borders.  The Montreal race does offer Canadian Drivers a chance to be seen on the big screen in America.  I'll get to our Canadian Brothers after the jump.  This race, now in it's 4th year running, has only once been won by a Canadian driver.  Ron Fellows took it in 2008. Carl Edwards is the defending champion of this race.  It's road course racing at it's best.


Entry List and more after the JUMP!

Canadian Patrick Carpenter will attempt to qualify the 00 for Michael Waltrip Racing. 

Victor Gonzales returns to the 05 this week.

Canadian J.R. Fitzpatrick returns to the 7 this week.

Robby Gordon will be making his first Nationwide Attempt of 2010 in the 07 Chevy.

Boris Said returns to the 09 this week.

Alex Kennedy returns to the 23 this week.

Canadian D. J. Kennington will try to qualify Eric McClure's 24 Ford this week.  Kennington drove last year for the 81 team in 6 races.  His one race for Specialty Racing last year was here at Montreal where he crashed out of the event.

Parker Kligerman will race Brian Keselowski's 26 this week.

I've very excited about this one, It's the return of two time Canadian Tire Champion Andrew Ranger.  We have all seen Ranger's Tide/Walmart 27 car on the side of Nascar R&R.  Ranger drove at Montreal last year in the 11 Toyota and finished 3rd.  He drove for the now defunct FitzBradshaw racing in 2008, where he made 5 starts with a best finish of 19th at Bristol.  Ranger will be driving in the Baker Curb #27 DODGE. Meaning that Ranger will not only take his Canadian Tire Number to Nationwide, he will also take his Manufacturer.  Keep an eye on Ranger this week.  He could wind up taking this one.

Kevin O'Connell will make his first attempt in the 31 this year.  O'Connell raced at Elkhart Lake earlier this year for Baker Curb but blew and engine.

Canada's best chance at a victory this week is Jacques Villeneuve.  He returns to the 32 this week. 

Italy's Max Papis will drive Kevin Harvick's 33 Chevy this week.  Papis has a great chance of showing that he belongs in Nascar with a good run here.

Tony Ave returns to the 35 this week.

Stanton Barrett returns to the 41 this week.

Currently 7th in ARCA points, driver Justin Marks will make his first 2010 Attempt in the Baker Curb 43 Ford. Marks raced in 5 races last year for Braun Racing's 10 Toyota but didn't fare to well. 

Marcos Ambrose will return to the track this week in the 47 Toyota.  I know I said that Watkins Glen was Ambrose's final race for JTG Daugherty in the Nationwide Series, but they made a liar out of me.  Ambrose will run Little Debbie colors this week.

Joey Scarallo will make his 3rd attempt in Nationwide as he returns to the 52 Chevy this week.

Kyle Kelley returns with his 59 team this week.

Canada's own Pierre Bourque will make his first ever attempt at a Nationwide Race in the 61 Ford.  Bourque is currently 11th in the Canadian Tire Point Standings.

2009 Trans Am Champion and current SCCA driver Tomy Drissi will make his first ever NASCAR attempt this week.  Drissi will drive a second MacDonald Motorsports entry this week.  Drissi owns an advertising firm that makes movie displays for Cinemas.  That may be why Wall Street: The Movie is the sponsor of the 82.

Currently 3rd in the K&N Pro Series Points, Paulie Harraka will make his first ever Nationwide race this week as he drives for Joe Nemechek in the 87 Chevy.  Harraka has 3 wins in the K&N series, so don't count him out just because he's in the NEMCO Chevy.

Canada's Ron Fellows, the guy who won this race two years ago, will be in the Canadian Tire 88 Chevy for JR Motorsports.  Fellows finished 2nd at Watkins Glen, 6th at Elkhart Lake, both in the 88.  Fellows is not one to count out of this one.  Ron has 4 career Nationwide wins.

Brett Rowe will pilot the 89 this week, as Morgan Shepherd is in the 21 this week.

With Harraka in the 87, Joe Nemechek will drive a second NEMCO Chevy this week.  The 97. If Jeff Green makes it in on time, Joe Nemechek would be able to use a Past Champions Provisional if Joe can't qualify on time.

Wow, I'm outta breath.  That was a lot of different drivers this week.  This is your last chance to see great Road Course Racing this year, so don't miss it.  Tune in Sunday at 2pm eastern to ESPN2 for the Napa Auto Parts 200 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  Enjoy!

Hi folks!
These last two weeks have been a madhouse (sadly, not Bowman-Gray) for me. I got called to Portland, Oregon for a consulting gig last week and then while I was there I got a call from a lovely lady named Sheryl who is the founder of  the Helle Nice Foundation. Helle Nice was a French female race car driver in the 1930's who came over and hit a circuit of race tracks. The Foundation found me and needed emergency research on the tracks that she had raced at during her stay in the good old United States. They were almost all fairground dirt tracks, with a board track thrown in there too. 

My knowledge of the European traditions that inspired early American racing is more attuned to the beginnings of stock car traditions, but I do know my tracks and was able to help out. Before I write my little piece for tonight, I want to give you a few websites. Here is the Helle Nice Foundation; they are laying a memorial marker at Helle's unmarked grave this weekend in France. And boy, friends, do I wish I could go too! 

Here are some of the folks that helped me out a whole bunch with last minute research. They have some great forums to dig through! Go say hi! 3WidePIctureVault  and the folks over at LocalRaceChat  Actually, I have loads of links to people if anyone is interested. 

Let's talk a little bit about Georgia and a little bit of a different kind of heritage, shall we?

Harvick Wins at Michigan

That's right folks, it's time for the king of Short Tracks, the Birthplace of Feuds, the Crucible of motorsports: Bristol Motor Speedway.  Bristol is by far my favorite short track.  Every state has a short track like Bristol, but you never see anything near the quality of racing that you do at Bristol.  If last night's Truck Race is any indication, we are in for a wild ride.  Kyle Busch is looking to go 2 for 2 this weekend, and if he clears this one, he'll try to go 3 for 3 Saturday night.  The other two guys who are triple duty this week didn't fare so well last night.  Elliott Sadler wrecked twice, Brad Keselowski spun and had a hard fight back into the top 10.  This is the last season that we will see the old Nationwide Cars, so let's give the last generation a wild sendoff.


Entry List and more after the JUMP!

That's a lot of cars so that means  9 Cars will miss the race.  Let's look at  some interesting details about the entry list:

Brad Teague will return to action this week driving a JD Motorsports Chevy.

Ryan Newman is back again.  He's gonna be one to look out for in this race.

Jason Leffler moves to the #10 Toyota this week. As Kasey Kahne is in his #38 Toyota.

Clint Bowyer returns to the #21 this week, which means that Morgan Shepherd will have to qualify on time.

Danny O'Quinn will drive the #27 this week.  The team claims it will attempt to run the entire race.

Triple Duty Elliott Sadler will drive Kevin Harvick's #33 Chevy.  Harvick is ready to focus on winning in the cup series now that he is locked into the chase.

Jeff Green enters a third TriStar Chevy this week.

Sean Caisse will pilot the Go Green #39 Ford this week. 

Parker Kligerman returns to action this week.

Drew Herring will make his second attempt in the #43 Ford

J.J. Yeley will drive the #61 this week - this could be a start and park team this week.

Johnny Chapman will drive the #75 this week.

Ryan Hackett will attempt to move his struggling Truck team up to Nationwide this week.

and finally, Dale Earnhardt Jr returns to action this week.  He announced that Aric Almirola will drive the #88 next year full time.  Almirola could hop in the car later this year.

The Nationwide Series schedule was released.  Next year will consist of 34 races, all featuring the new car.
Iowa Speedway, which joined the schedule in 2009, receives a second date in 2011 and a new date has been added at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, June 4.  Last season's successful inaugural event at the Road America road course in Wisconsin returns in 2011 on Saturday June, 25, the weekend before the Friday July, 1 race at Daytona International Speedway.  A previous stand-alone event at Kentucky Speedway now will be part of the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup/NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend on Friday July, 8.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be paired with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on three weekends, at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday April, 23 and Saturday July, 23 and at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Saturday July, 30.  Thanks Jayski!

You are really gonna want to watch this race tomorrow night.  If your gonna set your DVR to record, make sure you set it past the end of this race.  Otherwise you may miss the end.  Tune in Friday Night at 7:30pm to ESPN to catch the Food City 250 from Bristol, TN.  Enjoy!

NASCAR Releases 2011 Schedule