It’s a Cup off week, so the Camping World and Nationwide Series take center stage this week. Both head to Nashville, and both will have double duty drivers, as well as Cup drivers running the race. I had hoped to see a few more Cup guys take a weekend off, but it seems that Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski will make the trip to Lebanon, Tennessee. Nashville is a 1.33 Mile track with 14 degree banking - it’s your typical Intermediate track.
Nationwide takes center stage: The Nashville 300 Preview
We have a few past winners entered this weekend. Carl Edwards won the 2006 Summer race, then swept both 2007 events. Points Leader Jason Leffler won a June race here in 2004, Reed Sorenson won an April race here in 2005, Scott Wimmer took home the Spring event in 2008, Brad Keselowski won two Summer races, 2008 and last years event. In 2009 it was Joey Logano in the Spring and Kyle Busch in the Summer. Last year’s Nashville 300 was won by Kevin Harvick, but he is not entered this week.
If that list of winners seems a bit diverse, it’s because traditionally the Cup guys don’t run at Nashville. Past years may have seen more Cup guys win, but this track does seem to be a Nationwide Regulars paving ground. We’ve seen some great runs by guys who have never raced in the Cup series before. Normally we see only the full time guys make the trip to Nashville, and while there should not be any regular Cup guys running every race, it seems that we still have five cup guys entered. In addition to Busch, Edwards and Special K, we have David Reutimann manning a third Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota. We also have Kevin Conway in this race, as well as the 2011 debut of Austin Dillon. Dillon is running double duty this week, and actually could be a threat to win.
Entry List and More after the Jump!
| Ent. | Car # | Driver | Sponsor | Manu. | Owner |
| 1 | 01 | Mike Wallace | G&K Services | 11 Chevy | JD Motorsports |
| 2 | 2 | Elliott Sadler | Hunt Brother's Pizza | 11 Chevy | Kevin Harvick Inc. |
| 3 | 05 | Willie Allen | 31-W Insulation | 11 Chevy | Wayne Day |
| 4 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 11 Ford | Roush Fenway | |
| 5 | 7 | Josh Wise | Eutechnyx | 11 Chevy | JR Motorsports |
| 6 | 09 | Kenny Wallace | 11 Toyota | RAB Racing | |
| 7 | 11 | Brian Scott | Shore Lodge | 11 Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8 | 14 | Eric McClure | Hefty BlackOut / Reynolds | 11 Chevy | TriStar Motorsports |
| 9 | 15 | Timmy Hill | 11 Ford | Rick Ware Racing | |
| 10 | 16 | Trevor Bayne | 11 Ford | Roush Fenway | |
| 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch(i) | Z-Line Designs | 11 Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 12 | 19 | Mike Bliss | 11 Chevy | TriStar Motorsports | |
| 13 | 20 | Joey Logano(i) | Harvest Investments | 11 Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 14 | 22 | Brad Keselowski(i) | Discount Tire | 11 Dodge | Penske Racing |
| 15 | 23 | Robert Richardson Jr | Wildlife Conservation Society | 11 Dodge | R3 Motorsports |
| 16 | 28 | Derrike Cope | Pouch Tech | 11 Chevy | Jay Robinson Racing |
| 17 | 30 | Mikey Kile | AccuDoc | 11 Chevy | Turner Motorsports |
| 18 | 31 | Justin Allgaier | Wolf Rack Rentals | 11 Chevy | Turner Motorsports |
| 19 | 32 | Reed Sorenson | Dollar General | 11 Chevy | Turner Motorsports |
| 20 | 33 | Austin Dillon(i) | Rheem Cooling & Water Heating | 11 Chevy | Kevin Harvick Inc. |
| 21 | 38 | Jason Leffler | Great Clips | 11 Chevy | Turner Motorsports |
| 22 | 39 | Danny O'Quinn Jr | Rimz One | 11 Ford | Go Green Racing |
| 23 | 40 | Scott Wimmer | 11 Chevy | Key Motorsports | |
| 24 | 41 | Carl Long | 11 Ford | Rick Ware Racing | |
| 25 | 44 | Jeff Green | 11 Chevy | TriStar Motorsports | |
| 26 | 49 | Dennis Setzer | 11 Dodge | Jay Robinson Racing | |
| 27 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | www.racedaysponsor.com | 10 Chevy | Jeremy Clements |
| 28 | 52 | My Three Sons Vending | 10 Chevy | Jimmy Means | |
| 29 | 60 | Carl Edwards(i) | 11 Ford | Roush Fenway | |
| 30 | 62 | Michael Annett | Pilot Travel Centers/Flying J | 10 Toyota | Rusty Wallace Racing |
| 31 | 64 | David Reutimann(i) | | 11 Toyota | Rusty Wallace Racing |
| 32 | 66 | Steve Wallace | 5 Hour Energy | 10 Toyota | Rusty Wallace Racing |
| 33 | 67 | J R Fitzpatrick | 11 Ford | Go Canada Racing | |
| 34 | 68 | Matthew Carter | 11 Chevy | Fleur-De-Lis Racing | |
| 35 | 70 | David Stremme | Foretravel | 11 Chevy | ML Motorsports |
| 36 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Riverwalk Cafe | 11 Chevy | Mike Harmon |
| 37 | 75 | Johnny Chapman | 11 Ford | Rick Ware Racing | |
| 38 | 79 | Tim Andrews | Howard Johnson | 11 Ford | 2nd Chance |
| 39 | 81 | Blake Koch | daystar.com | 11 Dodge | MacDonald Motorsports |
| 40 | 87 | Kevin Conway(i) | Extenze | 11 Toyota | NEMCO |
| 41 | 88 | Aric Almirola | Grand Touring Vodka | 11 Chevy | JR Motorsports |
| 42 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Imperial Bedding | 11 Chevy | Faith Motorsports |
| 43 | 99 | Ryan Truex | 11 Toyota | Pastrana Waltrip Racing |
Just a few notes, right now we have 43 cars entered, as long as we have no late entries, all should make it. There is the possibility that we will see less then 43 cars make the race if someone withdraws.
- #05-Willie Allen returns this week. Allen is still part time, but is looking to run a full season next year.
- #7-Josh Wise returns to JR Motorsports with a new sponsor, Eutechnyx, the makers of Saiyavenger's Game of the Year 'Nascar The Game 2011'.
- #30-ARCA standout Mikey Kile makes his 2011 debut this week. Kile is in the Turner Motorsports alternate car. If Kile makes the most of this opportunity it could turn into a full time ride for 2012.
- #33-Austin Dillon makes his 2011 debut in Kevin Harvick Inc.'s flagship ride. Dillon is set to make his Sprint Cup debut later in the summer.
- #39-Danny O'Quinn will make his second start in the Go Green Racing Ford. He will look to improve on the 27th place finish he had in his debut with the team.
- #64-David Reutimann will pilot a third entry for Rusty Wallace Racing. Reutimann’s sponsor will be revealed later in the week. The Third team for Rusty Wallace Racing will actually run about 10-12 more races this year, with the possibility of RWR expanding to three full time teams for 2012. Reutimann will split time with David Stremme and 2011 Toyota All Star winner Jason Bowles. Bowles is a possible driver for 2012 as he would be a Rookie of the Year contender then.
- #67-J. R. Fitzpatrick is making his return to Nationwide with a brand new team. Go Canada Racing is owned and operated by Canadian Steve Meehan who has plans to run Fitzpatrick full time in 2012 before moving the team to Cup in 2013.
- #70-David Stremme, who owns the qualifying record at Nashville, makes his first start of 2011. Stremme takes over after Shelby Howard left the team before Talladega.
- #87-Kevin Conway steps in for Joe Nemechek this week. Nemechek is not entered, which is very strange. Joe is coming off a third place finish and has jumped up to 10th in points because of it.
- #99-Ryan Truex returns from injury this week. He has some ground to make up on the Rookie Points.
It’s Saturday Afternoon racing from Nashville, TN! Join us Saturday, April 23rd, live on ESPN at 2pm Eastern for the Nashville 300! Enjoy!
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