NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
It All Adds Up To Wins
NASCAR fans love numbers. And in reference to the white-hot start to the NASCAR Nationwide Series season, here’s one that’s especially popular among avid NASCAR fans: 4.
That’s the number of wins by drivers not running for 2012 championship points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series through the first five NASCAR Nationwide Series races. It’s a stat that hasn’t highlighted since 1995, when Nationwide Series regulars won the first seven races.
James Buescher (earning driver championship points in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), Elliott Sadler (two wins) and defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the first four races of the season. Joey Logano finally broke that string on March 24 at Auto Club Speedway
Following the race at Auto Club, 3,932 Official NASCAR Fan Council members (avid NASCAR fans) responded to a question focusing on their feelings about series regulars winning against NASCAR Sprint Cup full-timers.
Of those, over 70% "agreed" that the wins by Buescher, Sadler and Stenhouse:
· Makes me feel good about the NASCAR Nationwide Series
· I’d like to see more NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars win races
· I expect to see NASCAR Nationwide Series regulars win NASCAR Nationwide Series races
· I’m more interested in the NASCAR Nationwide Series because regulars are winning
NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers not dominating NASCAR Nationwide Series races this year also resonates with the Fan Council. Of the survey participants, over 80% "disagreed" with the following statements:
· I miss seeing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars winning in the NASCAR Nationwide Series
· I’m less interested in the NASCAR Nationwide Series because my favorite Cup driver isn’t racing
Will the trend continue? We’ll find out on April 13 at Texas Motor Speedway – where Trevor Bayne, a NASCAR Nationwide Series regular and the 2011 Daytona 500 winner – won last November. Race coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Methodology: Conducted among members of the Official NASCAR Fan Council. Members are avid NASCAR fans, 6 or 7 on a 7 point interest scale where 7 is extremely interested in NASCAR. 3,932 respondents completed the survey fielded March 26-27, 2012.
From Family To Fairways: Easter Break, NASCAR-Style
The Easter open week brings a variety of off-track activities for series drivers. Brian Scott is one of four drivers with sponsorship from Dollar General who will attend the company’s annual "Race Day" at their headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn., on April 3. Scott’s team owner, Joe Gibbs, also will be in attendance. The schedule includes autograph signings, meet and greets with the employees and a visit to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville. … Mike Wallace will be among a group of drivers including Denny Hamlin, David Ragan and Michael Waltrip who’ll take in various rounds this week at The Masters in Augusta, Ga. … Standings leader Elliott Sadler has a big week in store. "We are packing up the whole family and going down to the Outer Banks," he said. "Nags Head is my favorite vacation spot, so I’m really excited to be able to take my kids to get away for a few days. We will be doing an Easter egg hunt and celebrating my wife’s birthday." … Eric McClure also has some family time planned, some of it associated with a belated birthday thanks to the birth of his fourth daughter. "I really need to catch up on a few things around the house, but most importantly, we are having Mabreigh’s fifth birthday party on Easter weekend," he said. "She turned five the Monday before the Vegas race but there wasn’t time to have a big party for her, and we were on baby watch. And of course, I wanted to be there so this is the only time we could do it. The rest of the time will be spent with my family since they don’t get to travel with me to the races very often." The McClures also are settling into a new home after renovating then selling their home in Abington, Va., which was heavily damaged during the outbreak of tornadoes across the Southeast last April.
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