Race Weekend Central

Beyond the Cockpit: Kelly Bires – From Wisconsin to Iowa

Last season, Kelly Bires was one of the up-and-coming drivers in the Nationwide Series, finishing 13th in points with six top-10 finishes. This year… he’s been forced to take pretty much any open ride that comes up. After no sponsorship forced his No. 47 JTG Daugherty team to turn to Michael McDowell, Bires was left …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 US Cellular 250 at Iowa

If there is one thing that has kept Brad Keselowski from challenging Kyle Busch for the Nationwide title in 2009, it has been an inability to keep up on the short run. The No. 88 car has been among the fastest after a few laps… but that’s all it’s been taking for the No. 18 …

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Scott Lagasse Jr.’s Release a Short-Sighted Move, Long-Term Problem for NNS

While Silly Season 2009 has so far been quieter than in years past, it hit the Nationwide Series with full force following race weekend at Gateway. And, frankly, it was one of the more convoluted moves the Series has seen in recent memory. Scott Lagasse Jr., a solid Rookie of the Year contender and a …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 Meijer 300 at Kentucky

Finally, someone has Kyle Busch’s number. And it’s his teammate. Running his first Nationwide Series race since an incident that saw him knock Busch from the lead at Dover with two laps to go, Joey Logano beat his teammate without the chrome horn on Saturday and took the checkers for his trouble. On a late …

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Nuts for Nationwide: TV Coverage Strangling the NASCAR Nationwide Series

Back when the deal was first announced that ESPN would be returning to NASCAR broadcasting, and would also be giving the Nationwide Series a steady, permanent home, I was absolutely thrilled. What could go wrong here: a network whose Wide World of Sports coverage was largely responsible for NASCAR’s ascension from a niche to a …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 Pepsi 300 at Nashville

On a weekend that saw the Nationwide Series take center stage outside Nashville, there was little chance for the Series’ regulars to show their stuff. Instead, yet another Nationwide Series race turned into the battle of JGR and Carl. At least it was exciting. Overcoming early problems with lug-nut glue on pit road, JGR teammates …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Ford 300 at Homestead

In a Nutshell: Carl Edwards did everything he could to try and steal his second consecutive Nationwide Series crown at Homestead. Qualifying on the outside pole, Edwards ran in the top five all race long and led a third of the race (66 laps). Edwards also managed to pass Kyle Busch’s vaunted No. 18 Toyota …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Dollar General 300 at Charlotte

In a Nutshell: Joey Logano made a strong bid early, but Kyle Busch again dominated the Nationwide Series field, leading 137 laps to score a relatively easy win in Friday’s Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch was briefly challenged in the race’s final laps by Jeff Burton, who, unlike the other leaders, opted …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas

In a Nutshell: For the first half of the race, it looked as if the Nationwide Series may have a different storyline to follow, as Kevin Harvick led 88 of the first 93 laps and appeared to be poised to score his first career series win in his own equipment. However, a lengthy pit stop …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Camping World RV Sales 200 at Dover

In a Nutshell: For the 23rd time this season, a Sprint Cup driver proved that they had the awe-inspiring mettle to dominate NASCAR’s AAA series. For the eighth time this season, Kyle Busch proved to race fans that he is indeed deserving of a full-time ride in the Cup ranks, because he’s such a darned …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Camping World RV Service 300 at Fontana

In a Nutshell: Kyle Busch won the pole for this race and led every lap, sans the few he fell behind during a cycle of green-flag pit stops. By the end of the race, Busch had led 144 of 150 laps and went virtually unchallenged, scoring an easy seventh victory of the Nationwide Series season …

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