Round 5: The Danica Patrick Experiment: The Dollar General 300 Nationwide Preview

It’s Chicagoland this weekend, the second straight under the lights racing for both the Cup and Nationwide guys. It’s also the 5th race for Danica Patrick in the Nationwide Series.

Patrick is coming off her best finish ever of 30th. Yup, that’s a three and then a zero. She has completed just 495 laps of a possible 672. That’s 73.7%.

Because I’m mean like that, Landon Cassill (who drove the 7 car in just 3 events) has completed 88.8% AND finished 18th and 20th. Neither have led any laps.

Patrick is listed as being from Roscoe, Ill. so this is her home state. Justin Allgaier is also returning to his home state.

Voting is underway for the Most Popular Driver in all three divisions.

Brad Keselowski is the defending and two time champion. I wonder if he will win it again this year?

Honestly though it wouldn’t surprise me to see Danica Patrick win it, despite being a part time driver. It would cause a huge uproar.

Joey Logano is the defending champion of this race, and he’s back to win another. He’ll be in the Lego Harry Potter Toyota.

Entry List, and more after the JUMP!

So, If you read through entry lists, you may notice something a bit strange. Morgan Shepherd will drive the Richard Childress #21 and Johnny Chapman will be in the #89. The #21 will actually be a Morgan Shepherd car, but he is running the #21 to keep them locked into the field since this is a race they didn’t have sponsorship for. So, This week Morgan Shepherd will be driving in a brand new 2010 Chevy, AND Johnny Chapman will be driving in a brand new 2010 Chevy. The owner points that Morgan recieves will go to Childress.

I think we are seeing the slow death of Baker Curb Racing. They have begun to run a #37 Ford, starting and parking, so they can finance the #27 ford. The #43, that was driven by Scott Lagasse, has also been starting and parking as of late and is about to drop outside the top 30. Unless sponsorship can be found, Baker Curb may close.

Ryan Newman is back this week. I stated last week that if James Finch had continued to run the #1 car, even starting and parking, that team would still be inside the top 30.

No driver has been named for the #09 Ford, or for Derrike Cope’s #73 Dodge. Normally if Cope isn’t driving he has Chapman in the car, but if Chapman is indeed in the 89, Cope would need to find another driver.

The #42 team is back. Rumor was they had closed down. Parker Kligerman has been having to start and park the #42 Dodge, and I don’t think that really helps his rookie development.

Jennifer Jo Cobb is entered again, this time in her own car.

So, Tune in Friday Night at 730 eastern ESPN, for the Dollar General 300 from Chicagoland! Enjoy!