Nationwide Series News

NASCAR Nationwide Series 6/12/12

Stenhouse Seeks Slump-Buster At Michigan

Although he had an unforgettable experience presenting on the red carpet at the CMT Awards in Nashville while the NASCAR Nationwide Series was off last week, it’s the last two races that reigning series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wants to forget.

Finishes of 26th and 32nd – the worst consecutive results he’s had since late 2010 – have dropped Stenhouse into second place in the standings, 12 points behind leader Elliott Sadler. And he’s only two points ahead of hard-charging Sunoco rookie Austin Dillon, who’s third. Stenhouse had led for four weeks in a row with a 34-point advantage over Sadler at one time in that span.

Michigan could be the perfect remedy for Stenhouse. Jack Roush, his team owner, bases his Roush Industries in Livonia, Mich., making this a "home" race. He was arguably the strongest car in this race last year before being overtaken by his teammate and 2007 series champion Carl Edwards on Lap 116 of the 125-lap event. He finished 13th in his series first race at MIS in 2010.

Logano’s Hot – But Toyota’s Not At Michigan

For drivers, figuring out how to attack the newly paved 2-mile surface at Michigan is one thing. Figuring out how to beat Joey Logano – anywhere lately – is another.

Logano looks to build on his series-leading four wins – three in his last four races – Saturday at Michigan. He’ll also try to increase the lead of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series owner standings, which currently is 34 points over the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. He also comes in off his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup victory, last Sunday at Pocono.

A win by Logano – or any other Toyota driver in the field – would be a big one. Toyota has yet to win at Michigan in the Nationwide Series. Different manufacturers have been represented by the last three winners. He was sixth in this race last year running in the No. 20 JGR Toyota. He also has top-10 finishes at MIS in 2008 and 2010.

NNS ETC.:

NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will receive extended practice time on Michigan’s new surface. Three practices are scheduled on Friday, the first from 8:30-9:50 a.m. … Austin Dillon is set to make his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, running in the No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet in a fourth Richard Childress Racing car at Michigan. In addition to ranking third in the points, Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings and has one previous Nationwide Series start at Michigan, in 2009, when he finished 19th. … Brad Keselowski, the 2010 series champion, returns to the series at MIS for the first time since Charlotte, where he won his first race of the year. A native of Richmond Hills, Mich., he’s won two of the last three races at his home track. … Brad Sweet’s entry in the No. 38 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet marks the first time he’ll have run consecutive races in his Nationwide Series career. Sweet comes off his first career World of Outlaws win for Kasey Kahne Racing, last Friday in the Clay County Cup in Spencer, Iowa.