NNS heads to Nashville

The Nationwide Series will have the spotlight this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway as the Cup Series will enjoy a weekend off to enjoy their holiday.

At least all but 5 will have the weekend off. Unlike what we've seen in recent years, only 2 drivers are running both full-time Nationwide & Sprint Cup Series schedules - Carl Edwards & Kyle Busch. They sit 1-2 in the series standings. Michael Waltrip, David Ragan and Joey Logano are also entered in Saturday's race.

Kyle Busch is coming off of a dominant win last week @ Kansas. Kyle hasn't had much success @ Nashville. He posted a 6th place finish in his first race there, but since hasn't finished better than 16th. Rewind to last year, he led the race-high 125 laps but ended up spinning out and finishing 20th.

Carl Edwards is the all-time series leader @ Nashville. In his 7 races there, he's scored 3 wins and 6 top-5s. His worst finish was (just) 13th in the June race last year.

Cup drivers have won all 5 races so far this season in the Nationwide Series. The stats say Cup drivers average seven of the 10-spots so far this season. At Daytona opening weekend, Cup drivers finished in 9 of the top-10 finishing spots, the most.

But there's something to consider when heading into Saturday's race @ Nashville Superspeedway. There's been 7 different first time winners there.

Scott Wimmer is the defending race winner. He is entered in Saturday's race, but for a different team this time around. Wimmer drove the the no. 29 for RCR to victory lane in this race last year. Look for him in the No. 40 Chevy for Key Motorsports. The #40 team is currently outside the guaranteed top-30 for starting positions which will force Wimmer to have to qualify on time. The team sits 33rd in the standings.

Three drivers will make their Series debut @ Nashville:
A name familiar to USAC and ARCA fans, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will debut for Roush Fenway Racing. Another ARCA alum, Tim Andrews will drive for Rick Ware Racing. Full-time truck series driver, Brian Scott will be driving today for Braun Racing.

300 Miles = 225 laps
Qualifying - Saturday at 10:05 a.m.
Race Coverage begins at 3 p.m. on ESPN (Saturday).

Bad weather moved through the area on Friday afternoon postponing on-track activities.


Nationwide Insurance Dash For Cash Press Release:

Prior to the start of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Nationwide Insurance announced the Nationwide Insurance "Dash 4 Cash" program. This exciting program, aimed at creating additional support for the teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, provides an extra incentive at four stand-alone NASCAR Nationwide events this season.

The Nationwide Dash 4 Cash provides an additional payout to NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers -- $25,000 to the eligible winner of each of the four races and a $50,000 bonus to the driver who accumulates the most NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship Driver points during the four stand-alone events within the program.

In addition, Nationwide Insurance and ESPN have teamed up to award a weekly cash prize to race fans, as part of the "Driver Pick ‘Em" presented by Nationwide Insurance’s fantasy game on ESPN.com. During each of the four Dash 4 Cash races, fans are eligible for a $25,000 prize and throughout the rest of the season fans are eligible for a $500 weekly prize. Participants can register and play the weekly contest at http://games.espn.go.com/dpickem/frontpage.

Beginning April 11 at Nashville Superspeedway, NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will be competing not only for the victory, they’ll be going after the Dash 4 Cash bonus too. Here are the details:

• The program is open to all NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars and up-and-coming drivers, regardless of whether they have a full-time or part-time ride in the Series. Drivers who have a full-time ride in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series must enter, qualify for and compete in every NASCAR Nationwide Series event to be eligible for the bonus cash.

• Should an eligible driver not win the opening race at Nashville and collect the Dash 4 Cash bonus, the $25,000 prize will roll over to the next race, June 13 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

• The two remaining races in the first-of-its-kind program are August 1 at Iowa Speedway and October 24 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

• The final aspect of the Dash 4 Cash is its cumulative bonus. The driver with the most NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship Driver points accrued in the four-race series wins $50,000 and will be honored at the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship banquet at year’s end.

Nationwide Insurance is proud to be the title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and looks forward to the excitement this program will create both on and off the track.