Hamlin Pulls Away For Nationwide Win At Dover

Denny Hamlin extended the domination of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Saturday with a convincing 1.154-second victory over Carl Edwards in the Heluva Good! 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.

The race, which started three hours late because of rain, wasn't the only victory for Hamlin, who won for the second time this season and the seventh time in his career.

Hamlin also won $200 in side bets with Kyle Busch and Michael Waltrip when teammate Joey Logano, 18, finished sixth in his series debut. Hamlin had bet Logano would finish in the top seven, but for a while, the wagers were in jeopardy.

Hamlin's win marked the eighth straight time and 10th time in 14 Nationwide events this year that a full-time Sprint Cup driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has won a Nationwide race.

David Stremme gained track position with a two-tire pit stop on Lap 155 and held off a determined charge from fourth-place finisher David Reutimann. Greg Biffle passed Logano in the closing laps to run fifth, followed by Logano, Brad Keselowski, Mike Wallace, series points leader Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne.

"It was fairly uneventful," Hamlin said. "We just bided our time at various times during the race and pulled away at the end. If you can get out there in clean air, your car can really take off. We definitely improved on our car, and I think our car was the strongest it had been all day at the end.

Edwards had nothing for the race winner over the final 28-lap green-flag run.

"It was all right," Edwards said of the result. "Second's no fun. It's not what we come here for. But my hat's off to Denny. He did a great job. I just wish I could have got up to him."

Stremme was pleased with his car's performance, but needed to find a way to get to the front -- hence, the pit strategy on his final stop.

"We took two tires at the end, and we felt that was a good choice," said Stremme, whose previous best finish at Dover was 16th. "Our car was strong all day. We just couldn't get track position."

Logano was forced to showcase his talent early in the race, after contact with Kahne's Dodge on pit road during the race's first caution necessitated a return trip to the pits. Logano restarted 28th on Lap 26, but by the time caution flew for the second time on Lap 46, he had gained 11 positions.

Under the subsequent 52-lap green-flag run, Logano worked his way up to eighth and gradually improved his position during the remainder of the race, until Biffle passed him in the closing laps.

"We were a sixth-place car and finished sixth," Logano said. "Overall it was a good day. I was hoping for that top five, but I screwed up in the pits and put myself in a position that I didn't need to. We'll see what happens next."

Busch led 68 laps, but a series of mishaps dropped him back in the field and ultimately knocked him out of the race. Busch entered the pits as the leader on Lap 105, but contact between his No. 32 Toyota and Keselowski's No. 88 Chevrolet brought both cars back to pit road under the third caution of the race.

Busch worked his way back to eighth, where he was running on Lap 169, when Braun Racing teammate Jason Leffler lost control of his No. 38 Toyota and knocked Busch into the Turn 2 wall. Busch, who finished 28th, held on to second place in the series standings but fell to 121 points behind Bowyer.

Speed is surprise Truck Series winner at Dover

Making the most of his sixth start in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series -- and capitalizing on transmission troubles that temporarily sidelined Kyle Busch's dominant Toyota -- former Formula 1 driver Scott Speed ran away from the field after a late restart to win the AAA Insurance 200 on Friday at Dover International Speedway.

Speed, whose previous best finish was eighth at Kansas Speedway, is the third straight first-time winner in the series, following Matt Crafton (Lowe's Motor Speedway) and Donny Lia (Mansfield, Ohio) to victory lane.

Jack Sprague held off Chevrolet teammate Ron Hornaday for second position, as Sprague crossed the finish line 3.379 seconds behind Speed. Travis Kvapil finished fourth and Crafton fifth. David Starr, Mike Skinner, Colin Braun, Rick Crawford and Johnny Benson completed the top 10.

"Today we had a good strategy and an awesome truck, and we got everything we could out of it," Speed said of his No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota. "The learning curve I've had has been amazing. Every time I go out on the track, I feel I come away with a lot of knowledge.

"I'm just having an awesome time trying to learn this sport."

With a two-tire stop on Lap 133, Speed improved his track position dramatically, restarting third behind Todd Bodine and Shane Sieg on Lap 136. After picking off Sieg, Speed passed Bodine for the lead on Lap 150 and opened a lead of more than 3.5 seconds over Hornaday (who gained three positions to second).

Speed's lead disappeared, however, when Bodine's No. 30 Toyota blew a right front tire and slapped the Turn 3 wall on Lap 170.

But Speed said his truck was quicker on two tires, and after taking the green flag for a restart on Lap 179, he stretched his advantage to nearly four seconds over Sprague before backing off on the final circuit.

"It was time to get a little aggressive," Speed said of the restart.

Busch led the first 96 laps of the race, until heavy smoke from his No. 51 Toyota forced him to the garage. Busch lost 19 laps as his crew changed a transmission, a turn of events that opened a window of opportunity for the truck series regulars. He finished 17 laps down in 27th place after making up two laps during the remainder of competition.

But veterans Hornaday and Sprague had nothing for the series rookie at the end of the race.

Sprague thought he had a chance to win, but the performance of his No. 2 Chevy fell off after the restart with 22 laps to go.

"I could barely outrun (Hornaday) with a sour motor," Sprague said. "After the green (on Lap 179), I got tight again. Dammit! I want to win."

Hornaday also felt he could catch Speed until his engine lost power late in the race.

"I don't know if we broke a header, but we lost a little bit of power," Hornaday said. "I had to pull down and let Jack go."

A flashy dresser and a bit of an eccentric (he just had the tips of his toenails painted blue), Speed found a quick way to gain acceptance among the series veterans.

"He's a winner in the Craftsman Truck Series now, so he'll fit right in," Hornaday said.

One victory, however, won't be enough to satisfy Speed, who was informed in victory lane that there has never been a repeat winner in the truck series at Dover.

"I haven't been back," Speed said.

Note: Crawford took over the series points lead, with Crafton 20 points down in second.

Picks for Dover

Here we go here are my picks for Dover! For the Truck Series teh winner will be Ron Hornday. For the Nationwide series the winner will be Brad Keslsolowki. And finnially the Winner of the Cup race will be Jamie Mcmurray who starts 5th

‘In The Loop’ At Dover International Speedway

Perfect Timing: Dover The Spot For A Kenseth Rebound


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 28, 2008) – In 2006, Matt Kenseth sat comfortably in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings after 12 races. Last season, he was third at this juncture.

But this season, the 2003 series champion is 16th, and in danger of missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time in his career (only Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson have made each of the four Chases). Currently, Kenseth is 190 points outside the Chase cut-off of 12th place.

The statistics show his race-by-race Driver Ratings have taken a huge dip, which is telling because the Driver Rating encompasses a number of key statistics like finish, laps led, fastest laps run and average running position.

Below are Kenseth’s Driver Ratings through 12 races over in 2006, 2007 and 2008:

2006
Track DR
Daytona 87.9
Auto Club 123.0
Las Vegas 135.8
Atlanta 99.7
Bristol 130.2
Martinsville 88.3
Texas 104.5
Phoenix 107.4
Talladega 102.4
Richmond 79.4
Darlington 119.1
Lowe's 100.5
Average 106.5

2007
Track DR
Daytona 93.5
Auto Club 141.5
Las Vegas 83.7
Atlanta 112.3
Bristol 87.3
Martinsville 72.5
Texas 114.1
Phoenix 107.9
Talladega 74.6
Richmond 80.8
Darlington 94.7
Lowe's 120.2
Average 98.6

2008
Track DR
Daytona 81.8
Auto Club 105.3
Las Vegas 117.5
Atlanta 85
Bristol 94.5
Martinsville 53.9
Texas 114.7
Phoenix 34.8
Talladega 47.5
Richmond 47.8
Darlington 89.7
Lowe's 91.3
Average 80.3

Not only has Kenseth’s average Driver Rating dropped by more than 18 points from last season to this one, but his single race ratings have also dropped. He has had three Driver Ratings over 100 points this season, compared to eight in 2006 and five in 2007 over the same 12-race span.

But all is not lost for Kenseth. This Sunday, he’ll have a chance to improve his performance at one of his best tracks. In his six previous Dover races, Kenseth has scored a Driver Rating below 100 just once. Below is his race-by-race log at Dover (all driver race logs can be seen at NASCARMedia.com):

Kenseth at Dover (2005-2007)
Date Finish ARP FLR LT15% DR
6/05 7 9.0 18 90.3% 100.1
9/05 35 14.3 11 68.6% 84.6
6/06 1 4.2 45 99.8% 132.5
9/06 10 3.2 55 98.0% 132.1
6/07 5 7.9 0 99.0% 101.7
9/07 35 4.7 93 90.8% 120.5
Average 15.5 7.2 222 91.0% 111.9
ARP: Average Running Position
FLR: Fastest Laps Run
LT15%: Percentage of Laps in the Top 15
DR: Driver Rating

Over the last six races, Kenseth has finished inside the top 10 four times. The two races he didn’t: the fall of 2005 when an accident ended his day after 367 laps; and last fall’s race when engine failure ended his race after 374 laps. He led a race-high 192 laps that day.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Loop Data Defined: NASCAR statistics generated from electronic scoring loops embedded around each track hosting races in NASCAR’s three national series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Best Buy 400 Benefiting Students Clubs For Autism Speaks At Dover International Speedway

Two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will attempt to change their fortunes this weekend.

One hopes for a change in Dover International Speedway success. The other’s just looking for any kind of success in 2008.

Kasey Kahne, coming off a NASCAR All-Star Race win, a Coca-Cola 600 victory and a return trip to the top 12, has struggled at Dover in his eight-race career there.

Kahne has only one top-10 finish at The Monster Mile, and four visits to Dover have resulted in finishes of worse than 30th. In all, Kahne has five DNFs there.

Momentum is on his side, though, as the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Fan Vote win sparked renewed optimism in the No. 9 camp. They also may have statistics on their side. Over the last nine races at Dover, there have been nine different winners. Kahne hopes to make it 10 of 10.

Then there’s Matt Kenseth, who desperately needs a return to his old form. Kenseth, one of two drivers to make all four Chases for NASCAR Sprint Cup, currently sits in 16th place – 190 points outside the top 12.

At this point last season, Kenseth already had a win and was in third place in the series standings.

But Dover has been kind to Kenseth. He won there in 2006, and has finished in the top 10 in three of his last four Dover races.

Since 2005 – a span which includes four top 10s – Kenseth has a Driver Rating of 111.9 and an Average Running Position of 7.2. He also leads the series in Fastest Laps Run with 222.



2-2-2-2

ANALYZING THE BEST BUY 400 BENEFITING STUDENTS CLUBS FOR AUTISM SPEAKS


The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 at Dover International Speedway


Driver Races Poles Wins Top Fives Top 10s DNFs Average Finish Driver Rating
1 Kyle Busch 6 0 0 4 4 1 11.8 101.5
2 Jeff Burton 28 0 1 6 11 5 16.9 90.6
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 16 0 1 4 7 1 15.8 86.7
4 Denny Hamlin 4 0 0 1 2 0 15.5 86.2
5 Clint Bowyer 4 0 0 0 2 0 11.3 93.6
6 Carl Edwards 7 0 1 3 4 0 9.1 98.9
7 Kevin Harvick 14 0 0 2 5 1 17.9 78.3
8 Tony Stewart 18 0 2 9 12 2 10.6 67.7
9 Jimmie Johnson 12 1 3 4 7 2 11.9 101.5
10 Jeff Gordon 30 3 4 13 18 5 12.3 84.9
11 Greg Biffle 11 0 1 3 6 1 12.9 113.7
12 Kasey Kahne 8 0 0 0 1 5 25.3 73.2



Selected Driver Highlights

Note: All driver statistics that follow are from Dover International Speedway. The Loop Data statistics – Driver Rating, Average Running Position, etc. – in this release, however, cover the last five races at New Hampshire. NASCAR’s scoring loops began collecting data for statistical purposes in 2005.



Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)

One win, three top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 12.9
Series-best Average Running Position of 7.0
Series-best Driver Rating of 113.7
190 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
Average Green Flag Speed of 142.061, second-fastest
Series-high 2,251 (93.6%) Laps in the Top 15
180 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the Top 15 while under green), second-most






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ANALYZING THE BEST BUY 400 BENEFITING STUDENTS CLUBS FOR AUTISM SPEAKS


Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)

Two top 10s
Average finish of 11.3
Average Running Position of 10.7, sixth-best
Driver Rating of 93.6, 10th-best
1,265 (79.1%) Laps in the Top 15, sixth-best percentage
119 Quality Passes (average of 29.8 per race), third-best percentage


Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

Four top fives
Average finish of 11.8
Average Running Position of 13.6, 10th-best
Driver Rating of 101.5, fifth-best
104 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
243 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
Average Green Flag Speed of 141.925, third-fastest
1,659 (69.0%) Laps in the Top 15, sixth-most
137 Quality Passes, sixth-most


Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

Two top fives, four top 10s
20.7 average finish
Average Running Position of 9.6, fifth-best
Driver Rating of 98.6, ninth-best
94 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
Average Green Flag Speed of 141.743 mph, seventh-most
1,925 (80.1%) Laps in the Top 15, fifth-most
146 Quality Passes, third-most


Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)

One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
Average finish of 15.8
Average Running Position of 11.6, eighth-best
Driver Rating of 98.9, eighth-best
158 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
226 Green Flag Passes, tied for 10th-most
144 Quality Passes, fourth-most


4-4-4-4

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Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

Three wins, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 11.9
Average Running Position of 13.0, ninth-best
Driver Rating of 101.5, fourth-best
168 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best
262 Green Flag Passes, third-most
1,651 (68.7%) Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most


Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

One win, five top fives, 10 top 10s
15.3 average finish
Average Running Position of 7.2, second-best
Driver Rating of 111.9, second-best
Series-high 222 Fastest Laps Run
Fastest Green Flag Speed of 142.122
2,188 (91.0%) Laps in the Top 15, second-most
Series-high 186 Quality Passes


Mark Martin (No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet)

Four wins, 20 top fives, 27 top 10s
12.7 average finish
Average Running Position of 8.4, fourth-best
Driver Rating of 104.4, third-best
174 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
Average Green Flag Speed of 141.907, fourth-fastest
2,062 (85.8%) Laps in the Top 15, third-most
140 Quality Passes, seventh-most


Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

One win, two top 10s
10.5 average finish
Average Running Position of 11.0, seventh-best
Driver Rating of 100.2, seventh-best
129 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
1,186 (74.1%) Laps in the Top 15, seventh-best percentage
113 Quality Passes (average of 28.3 per race), fourth-best average
5-5-5-5

ANALYZING THE BEST BUY 400 BENEFITING STUDENTS CLUBS FOR AUTISM SPEAKS


At Dover International Speedway:

History

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on July 5, 1969.
The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.
The first NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover was May 15, 1982.
The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.
The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.
The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race was held in September 2000.


Notebook

There have been 76 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.
There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.
There have been 32 different pole winners at Dover led by David Pearson (six).
David Pearson won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole at Dover in July 1969.
Mark Martin and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers, each with four poles at Dover.
31 different drivers have posted victories at Dover led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, each with seven.
Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover.
Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers, each with four victories at Dover.
Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 races at Dover, more than any other organization.
44 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position while only 17 races, including the past four, have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
The furthest back in the field that a Dover race winner started was 37th,by Kyle Petty in 1995.
Ryan Newman won at Dover in June 2003 – the first victory for Dodge there since 1975. Newman repeated as the race winner in the fall race, the first time Dodge posted consecutive victories at Dover. Newman then won again in the fall of 2004, giving Dodge three of their five Dover victories in the four-race span.


NASCAR in Delaware

There have been 76 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Delaware – all at Dover International Speedway.
Eight NASCAR drivers (all-time) have their home state recorded as Delaware – none have posted victories.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News & Notes

Kahne Riding Wave Of Momentum To Dover
Kyle Busch Widens Points Lead
The Monster Mile — A True Endurance Test
NASCAR Sprint Cup Teams Testing At Pocono
Kahne Carries Momentum Into Dover Race Weekend

Momentum is one of those intangibles that plays a pivotal role in the ebb and flow of sports. One stellar performance or one set of circumstances can suddenly turn the tide in favor of the athlete and his outlook on the rest of the season. If any driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is carrying momentum into this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway, it’s Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge.

Fresh off back-to-back wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway — first the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 17, when he was voted into the competition by the fans, and then the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday evening — Kahne and his race team have suddenly reasserted themselves as a force to reckon with. Now 12th in the point standings, could it be that this team has returned to the form that saw Kahne win a series-high six races in 2006? Only time will tell, but performances from the past two weekends appear to have provided this team with a wave of momentum.

“You know, it really feels good to win on this weekend,” Kahne said last Sunday, after claiming his eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, and his first points win since October, 2006. “Confidence is huge. I feel like I gave better input this week … I’ve stepped up and given Kenny (Francis) more to work with as a crew chief and I’ve given our engineers more to work with. And, I wasn’t doing that at the start of the year. I think that’s a big part of the confidence, and it shows on the racetrack.”

Kyle Busch Still Points Leader; Battle Tightens Between 9-12

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Combos Toyota) continues to be on top of the leader board in the championship point standings and has even widened his lead over second place Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet). Busch had a 79-point lead over Burton last week and after his third-place showing at the Coca-Cola 600, has increased that lead to 94 points. The top five in the standings remain unchanged from a week ago, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet), Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) and Clint Bowyer (No. 07 DirecTV Chevrolet) holding down spots 3-4-5. Busch has the season’s top Driver Rating (113.1), followed by Earnhardt Jr. (110.2) and Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford, 102.0). Busch and Edwards are tied with a series-best three victories apiece on the season the season. Busch, Burton, Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) and Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) have been in the top 12 for all 12 weeks of the season.

Only 39 points separate positions 9-12. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) is ninth this week, seven points ahead of Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), 10 points ahead of Biffle and 39 points ahead of Kahne.

David Ragan (No. 6 AAA Ford) was 12th last week and has dropped to 13th in the standings, 56 points behind Kahne. Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford), who has made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup all four years, heads into this week’s action at Dover ranked 16th in the standings, 190 points out of 12th.

Matt Kenseth Looks To Dover Magic For Resurgence

The forgotten man in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season is a past champion and a member of every Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since its inception in 2004. That impressive streak may end, unless Matt Kenseth’s season dramatically turns around.

Kenseth, currently 190 points behind 12th-place Kasey Kahne, can start a resurgent march back into the top 12 with a strong finish at Dover — a track at which he has had past success. Kenseth, the 2003 series champion and one of two drivers to make all four Chases (Jimmie Johnson is the other), has a win (spring, 2006) and five top-five finishes at The Monster Mile. Over the past three years (six races), Kenseth owns some of the top statistics in the series. He has a Driver Rating of 111.9 (second-best), an Average Running Position of 7.2 (second), a series-high 222 Fastest Laps Run and has run 91% of the Laps in the Top 15 (second). In each of those stats where Kenseth ranks second, Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle ranks first.

Biffle, coming off a second-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600, is attempting to maintain his top 12 standing position after finishing outside the Chase cutoff each of the past two seasons. Another strong finish at Dover should help him do just that. He won here in the spring of 2005 and has finished inside the top 10 in five of the last six Dover races. Over that span, Biffle owns series-high stats in Driver Rating (113.7), Average Running Position (7.0) and Laps in the Top 15 (93.6%). Additionally, he ranks second in Fastest Laps Run with 190.

Also watch for a strong run from Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge), who sits 85 points out of 12th place. The reigning Daytona 500 champion swept Dover in 2003 and added another win there in the fall of 2004. Newman hasn’t seen that type of success since, but did score a runner-up finish in last year’s spring race.

Over the past six races, Newman has a Driver Rating of 101.0 (sixth), an Average Running Position of 8.1 (third) and has run 85.2% of the Laps in the Top 15.

“Monster Mile” Poses Another Endurance Test For Drivers

Dover’s high-banked one-mile concrete racing surface that has been likened to 400 laps of racing in a concrete cereal bowl has earned it the moniker of “The Monster Mile.” This Sunday’s race is considered to be one of the most challenging on the series circuit and fresh off the heels of last week’s 600-miler at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, poses yet another endurance test for the 43 drivers and their race teams.

Dover is celebrating its 40th anniversary season in 2008. Earlier this month, plans for Phase II of the track’s “Monster Makeover” Capital Improvement project were unveiled, including the dedication ceremony for the new 46-foot Monster Monument at Victory Plaza. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was on hand for the festivities.

“It’s an amazing monument and it really symbolizes what this track is all about to the drivers and the fans,” said Gordon, who has won four times at Dover. “The Monster Mile brings out the monster in all of us. It’s a grueling, fast race track that is very, very tough.

Bobby Allison, a seven-time Dover winner, will be the first driver honored with a marquee plaque on the Monster Monument in a special ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 31 at Victory Plaza.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Testing At Pocono Raceway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are testing at Pocono Raceway Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The two-day session, NASCAR’s sixth sanctioned test of 2008, should allow the teams the opportunity to gather more crucial data on NASCAR’s new car. The Pocono 500 on June 8 marks the new car’s debut at that track. And, with its distinct 2.5-mile, triangular layout, information gleaned at Pocono should also aid prep work for July’s event at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Pocono, with its unique three corner configuration, should provide the teams with a lot of new information as it relates to the new car,” said NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby. “It’s yet another opportunity for the teams to work on their set-ups, collect new data and make some gains in improving performance. And, there are some small features of Pocono that teams can transform to getting ready for running at the Brickyard later this summer.”

Tuesday’s session begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Wednesday’s session runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a noon-1 p.m. lunch break. Wednesday’s national teleconference features Greg Biffle and defending race champion Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet). Audio and transcripts from the teleconference will be available at NASCAR’s media-only web site—www.nascarmedia.com.

Dover Region Features Variety Of NSCS Race Team Members

The region surrounding Dover International Speedway features a wide variety of key race team members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Ty Norris, Vice President and General Manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, is a native of Smyrna, Del.

Roy McCauley, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, hails from nearby Davidsonville, Md. Rick Viers, crew chief of the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota, is from Darlington, Md.

Bill and Cindy Lewis (Kinkwood and Secretary, Md.) drive the No. 2 transporter for Kurt Busch’s Miller Lite Dodge. Kevin White (Pittsville, Md.) is a mechanic on the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge team that just won last week’s Coca-Cola 600.

Two members of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota are from the Dover region, including John Fuller (Fallston, Md.), who works as the catch can man, and Chris Meyers (Olney, Md.), who works as a mechanic. Daniel Blizzard (Mt. Airy, Md.) is the front-tire changer for the No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton.

Martin Truex Jr., is the lone NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver from the Dover region. Truex grew up in Mayetta, N.J., which is located approximately 2 1/2 hours from The Monster Mile. Truex earned his first and so far only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Dover a year ago.

Kahne’s Victory Marks Dodge’s Second Win Of Season

Kasey Kahne’s dramatic victory at last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 was his first points win of the season and the second time on the year and first time since the Daytona 500 that a Dodge car visited Victory Lane

Dodge’s triumph at Lowe’s now means that all four manufacturers have multiple victories this season.

Toyota maintains its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship race, outpointing Chevrolet 73-71. Ford is a close third with 67 points, while Dodge closed the gap a bit and is fourth with 53 points.

Toyota leads the way with four wins on the year. Kyle Busch tops the charts with three victories, while Denny Hamlin has one. Chevrolet’s three wins are spread among three drivers — Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer — with one win apiece. Ford’s three victories have all come from Carl Edwards.

Dodge’s two wins have certainly been significant — as Ryan Newman won the season-opening Daytona 500 — and Kahne captured the series’ longest race — a 600-miler.

It’s all a reflection of this year ’s mix of winners and close competition.

Chevrolet drivers have won 28 times at Dover, including last June’s victory by Martin Truex Jr. Ford drivers have visited Victory Lane 23 times at The Monster Mile. Dodge has captured five wins there, including three victories by Newman.

NASCAR’s 60th Anniversary: Dover Has Its Share Of “Monster” Memories

This season marks NASCAR’s 60th anniversary and in Dover’s 76-race history, many “Monster” memories have been made.

Three active champions look back at Dover and remember their first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Bobby Labonte (No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge), the 2000 series champion, finished 34th at Dover in his first start in 1991. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 champion, started only one race in 1998 — at Dover. The result was a foreshadow of an incredibly consistent future. Kenseth, starting 16th in the No. 94 Ford, finished sixth that day. Finally, Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), the 2004 champion, finished 18th at Dover in his first career race in 2000. He then drove the No. 97 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.

But it just might be the list of winners that paints the perfect Dover picture. From the very first race in 1969 through the two races in 1980, every Dover race winner is a member of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers List. The list of Dover winners since then isn’t too shabby either. Since 1980, 27 of the Dover race winners have won a list includes such legendary names like Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip. But also current stars like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson. And, it includes young stars like Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr. who have won NASCAR Nationwide Series titles.

Who will add their name to the list of legendary Dover winners? Well, if the trend continues, it could be a new name. Truex earned his first career victory last year at Dover and there have been nine different winners in the last nine races at Dover.

The Top 35: The No. 22 And No. 55 Toyotas Trade Spots

The No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota, driven by Dave Blaney and owned by Bill Davis and the No. 55 NAPA Toyota, driven and owned by Michael Waltrip, exchanged positions this past week in the battle to stay in the top 35 in owners points. The No. 22 Toyota, 35th a week ago, inched up two spots to 33rd, thanks to its 17th- place finish at the Coca-Cola 600. Following its 27th place showing at Lowe’s, the No. 55 Toyota dropped two positions and is now 35th, the cutoff spot entering this week’s race at Dover.

Each week, the top 35 teams are guaranteed starting spots, with those outside the top 35 required to qualify on time

The No. 00 Waltrip Racing Toyota, driven by Michael McDowell and owned by Rob Kauffman, finished 32nd at Lowe’s, and fell from 30th to 32nd. The No. 44 UPS Toyota, driven by David Reutimann and owned by Michael Waltrip, inched up a spot from 30th to 29th after posting a solid 10th-place finish at Lowe’s.

Competition has really heated up between spots 30 and 36 in this week’s owners’ points standings. Only 50 points separate 30th place (No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge driven and owned by Robby Gordon) and 36th place (the No. 77 Penske Truck Rental Dodge driven by Sam Hornish Jr. and owned by Roger Penske).

One Final Look

Autism Awareness: This Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Dover is far from your ordinary race. The “Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks” benefits a worthy cause in raising autism awareness. Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Best Buy Dodge), fresh off of a solid 8th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600, will sport an Autism Speaks themed car this weekend.

Triple Header: Kyle Busch, who has already posted nine victories across the three national series this season, will pull triple duty this weekend at Dover. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader will compete in all three of the national series events — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Busch has three wins at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level, four NASCAR Nationwide Series wins, and two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories on the season.

NASCAR Foundation Track Walk: Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the NASCAR Foundation Walk on Saturday, May 31 at Dover. Several NASCAR drivers and personalities will be involved with this charitable event and proceeds will benefit participating driver charities and the Autism Society of Delaware. Fans can sign up for the walk at the track near the entrance to the FanZone on race weekend.

This And That: Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge) will be competing in his 50th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this Sunday at Dover … Montoya’s teammate, Dario Franchitti (No. 40 Wii Fit Dodge) is entered in this week’s race at Dover. Franchitti has been sidelined the past four weekends while recovering from a fractured ankle he suffered during the NASCAR Nationwide race April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 40 Dodge is currently 38th in owners’ points and must qualify on time at Dover.

Up Next: The Pocono 500 At Pocono Raceway

Next on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule is the Pocono 500, Sunday, June 8 at Pocono Raceway. Teams are hopeful that the two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at the 2.5-mile triangular layout will pay dividends for this event.

Jeff Gordon is the defending race champion, while Ryan Newman was last year’s pole winner. Gordon is a four-time winner at Pocono, most among active drivers.

Rick Hendrick claims the most victories (11) among team owners, while Roger Penske is second with eight.

The Pocono 500 marks the first of five races on the schedule that will be televised by TNT. Broadcast time is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. (ET), with the start of the race set for 2 p.m.

The Race: Best Buy 400 Benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Sunday, June 1
The Time: 2 p.m. (ET)
The Track: 1-mile oval
The Distance: 400 miles/400 laps
TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
2007 Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
2007 Polesitter: Ryan Newman
2008 Points
Driver Points
1 Kyle Busch 1,860
2 Jeff Burton 1,766
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,721
4 Denny Hamlin 1,596
5 Clint Bowyer 1,578
6 Carl Edwards 1,538
7 Kevin Harvick 1,517
8 Tony Stewart 1,511
9 Jimmie Johnson 1,493
10 Jeff Gordon 1,486
11 Greg Biffle 1,483
12 Kasey Kahne 1,454
Pre-Race Schedule: Friday—Practice, 11:30 a.m.—1 p.m.; Qualifying, 3:10 p.m. Saturday—12-12:45 p.m.; Final Practice, 1:20 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Track Contact: Gary Camp (gcamp@dovermotorsports.com), 302-883-6560

NASCAR Nationwide Series News And Notes - Dover

Finally! Joey Logano To Make Long-Anticipated Series Debut
• Can Dover Slow 2004 Series Rookie Of The Year Kyle Busch?
• In The Loop: Edwards May Have ‘Concrete’ Evidence For Win
• Young Keselowski Believes In Old-School Racing

Logano: “Been Waiting My Whole Life To Get To The Nationwide Series”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 27, 2008) – Not too long ago, Joey Logano (No. 20 GameStop Toyota) may have feared monsters under his bed.

Now, the tables may be turned as the track known as “The Monster Mile” has the 18-year-old feeling wary.

Logano, a native of Middletown, Conn., turned 18 last Saturday thereby making him eligible to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and is set for one of the most anticipated debuts in NASCAR national series history.

The 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series East champion — a title he officially clinched at Dover International Speedway last fall — hopes to follow in the footsteps of a fellow Northeasterner who also made his series debut at the track.

Martin Truex Jr. started his first series race at Dover in 2001 and three years later the native of Mayetta, N.J., won the first of consecutive series titles.

Logano began racing quarter-midgets at age seven before moving to Bandolero and Legends cars. In 2005, he posted his first USAR win at Mansfield Motorsports Park in his second career start breaking the previous record of youngest winner held by 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Brian Vickers.

After besting the GM Racing Development Driver Evaluation program in 2005, he signed with Joe Gibbs Racing and truly began his ascent last year.

He defeated two–time series champion Kevin Harvick (No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet) at Iowa Speedway before going on to win the NASCAR Camping World Series East crown and rookie of the year honors — the first driver ever to win both. And to cap the season, he won the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale, Calif.

Kyle Busch A Double-Championship Contender

Although he has yet to announce that he would drive a full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch (No. 32 Dollar General Toyota) is quickly becoming a favorite to make NASCAR national series history by becoming the first driver to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles in the same year.

Busch leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings and is second to Clint Bowyer (No. 2 BB&T Chevrolet) by 67 points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series rankings heading to Dover.

He won his fourth race of the season last week in Charlotte, tying Tony Stewart for the series lead.

Busch has wins in three different cars for two different owners in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, plus three wins in NASCAR Sprint Cup for Joe Gibbs Racing and two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Billy Ballew Motorsports.

Busch was runner-up in the 2004 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. He earned Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors with five wins and five poles and was the first rookie in series history to lead the standings.

“Old School” Keselowski Enjoys Career-Best Finish, Ranking

Last Saturday night in Charlotte, Brad Keselowski (No. 88 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet) finished third, just ahead of his JR Motorsports team owner and two-time series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. (fourth). It marked the best finish of Keselowski’s career.

A self-proclaimed “old-school” racer at the ripe age of 24, he coupled his result with a late-race tête-à-tête with Denny Hamlin (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Hot Rod Oil Toyota) reminiscent of battles between former series foes such as two-time series champion Randy LaJoie and Buckshot Jones.

His finish pushed him two places to fifth in the standings, making him the highest-ranked series-only regular — also a career best.

Keselowski has competed in two series races at Dover, both last year. In this event, he finished 24th and out of the running due to an accident while competing for his former team.

He was driving for Earnhardt in the fall race last year and posted a seventh-place result.

The four other series-only regulars in the top 10:

7. Mike Bliss (No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet) dropped two spots after a 15th-place finish last Saturday, his worst finish in seven races. Bliss had been in fifth for three consecutive weeks.

He was ninth at this race last year. He has two top fives and four top 10s in six starts at Dover.

8. Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) has nine series starts at Dover with three top-five and four top-10 finishes. He was 11th in this race last year.

9. Mike Wallace (No. 7 GEICO Chevrolet) is looking to use his experience of 20 series starts, one win, four top-five, and seven top-10 finishes to get his team back on track after consecutive finishes of 23rd or worse over the last two races.

10. David Stremme (No. 66 Atreus Homes & Communities Chevrolet) is 10th in points with two top-five and seven top-10 finishes this season.

He hasn’t raced in a NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover since 2005 when he finished 33rd in this event and 19th in the fall race, his best finish at “The Monster Mile” in series competition.

In The Loop: Surprisingly Quiet Edwards Could Make Noise At Dover

Maybe now someone else can get a crack at Victory Lane in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Because if the statistics stay true to form, Kyle Busch won’t add to a win list that is already four races long this season.

Busch, who did not run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Dover in 2007, does have some success there. He notched two consecutive top-10 finishes in 2006. But he also knows failures, as his 36th- and 37th-place finishes in 2005 would prove.

Over those two up and down years, Busch notched a Driver Rating of 85.8, an Average Running Position of 16.8 and ran only 60.3% of the Laps in the top 15.

But if not Busch, who? A couple of the “usual suspects” top many of the statistical categories. One of those has been oddly quiet this season.

Defending series champion Carl Edwards (No. 60 Save-A-Lot Ford) sits in third place and has zero wins this season — compared to first-place standings and two wins at this point last season.

The “slump” may come to an end at Dover, a concrete track Edwards loves. He won there last spring and added a sixth-place finish in the fall race. In his six-race Dover career, Edwards has a Driver Rating of 114.0, an Average Running Position of 6.1, a series-high 129 Fastest Laps Run and has run a series-best 95.1% of the laps in the top 15.

Also figure on series points leader Clint Bowyer to run up front. Bowyer did not run at Dover in the series last season, but won there in 2006 and has finished in the top five in his last three Dover races. In his four starts at Dover, Bowyer has a Driver Rating of 110.9, an Average Running Position of 7.9, 80 Fastest Laps Run and has run 80.9% of the laps among the top 15.

2002 Series Champion Biffle To Serve As In-Race Reporter At Dover

ESPN2’s season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series continues with its live telecast at Dover Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown.

The telecast at the track known as “The Monster Mile” is presented by DAP.

The race also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN MobileTV and ESPN Deportes.

Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s coverage, joined in the booth for analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Andy Petree.

Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN DISH Tech Center.

Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Wallace and Brad Daugherty, a former winning team owner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

Former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Greg Biffle (No. 16 CotoFinancial Ford) joins ESPN’s coverage team as the In-Race Reporter.

Biffle, the only driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide Series (2002) title and a championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000), will communicate with Wallace on the race’s pace laps as well as during caution periods.

The Director’s Take: Monster Mile’s “Bullring” Style Awaits Series Drivers

“We’re back to racing on concrete,” said Joe Balash, NASCAR Nationwide Series director of this week’s race at Dover.

“This track is smaller and has more banking than the concrete track at Nashville where we’ll be next week,” he said. “It’s a very fast track that races like a short track. Even though it’s a mile in length, it races like a bullring.

“Track position is always extremely important here which means there’s more emphasis on qualifying and getting a good starting position.”

He also noted that the first career series start for a certain driver will also have the attention of the garage at “The Monster Mile.”

“I’m sure the teams will be curious to see what Joey Logano has to offer in his first race in our series,” Balash said.

Dover International Speedway
Most Wins: Todd Bodine, 3
Most Poles: Harry Gant, 5
Quick Fact: Only three of 48 races have been won from the pole at Dover.

NNS Etc.

In its second season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, Toyota is on pace to break the series record of most wins in a single season by a manufacturer.

In 1999, Chevrolet set the record with 24 wins. After the first 13 races that season, Chevy had posted eight wins. This year, Toyota has nine wins after the first 13 events.

Over the past two years, Chevrolet has come close to breaking its own record, posting 22 wins each season.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series now runs a 36-race schedule while in 1999 the series ran 32 events.

Scott Wimmer (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet) claimed his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Dover in September 2002 in his 63rd career start.

He went on to win three of the final seven races that season at Memphis Motorsports Park, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

His current crew chief, Pat Smith, also registered his first series win at Dover. Wimmer’s teammate, Jeff Burton, was behind the wheel of the No. 29 Chevrolet for that victory in June 2006.


Dario Franchitti (No. 40 Fastenal Dodge) is back on the entry list this week.
If ready to compete, it would mark his first race since breaking his left ankle last month at Talladega following an accident involving Larry Gunselman (No. 49 Jay Robinson Racing Dodge).
Franchitti leads the Raybestos Rookie standings over Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammate Bryan Clauson.
Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Standings

Rank Driver Points
1. Dario Franchitti 89
2. Bryan Clauson 83
3. Cale Gale 55
4. Brian Keselowski 47
5. Chase Miller 43
6. Landon Cassill 37
7. Patrick Carpentier 31

Results following the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Bill France Performance Cup Standings

Toyota 95
Chevrolet 82
Ford 63
Dodge 46

Toyota won its seventh consecutive race last Saturday and continued to build its lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings.

History may be on the side of second-place Chevrolet, though, as it has the most series wins at Dover with 26 and seven of the last 10.

Third-place Ford and driver Carl Edwards won this race last year; Edwards won all four series races on concrete tracks in 2007.

Up Next: Federated Auto Parts 300 At Nashville Superspeedway

Defending series champion Carl Edwards had won the previous three races at Nashville Superspeedway before Scott Wimmer broke that streak there this past March.

All four of Edwards’ wins in 2007 came on concrete racetracks.

Steve Wallace (No. 64 Atreus Homes & Communities Chevrolet) is the defending pole winner of this event. He also had his best finish of the 2007 season (12th) at this race.

FAST FACTS

The Race: Heluva Good! 200
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Saturday, May 31
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Distance: 200 miles / 200 laps
Track Size: 1-mile concrete
TV: ESPN2, 2:30 p.m. ET
2007 Winner: Carl Edwards
2007 Pole: Denny Hamlin
2008 Standings
1 Clint Bowyer 1,890
2 Kyle Busch 1,823
3 Carl Edwards 1,714
4 David Reutimann 1,702
5 Brad Keselowski 1,670
6 David Ragan 1,664
7 Mike Bliss 1,663
8 Jason Leffler 1,552
9 Mike Wallace 1,482
10 David Stremme 1,454
Schedule: Friday–Practice 9-10 a.m.; Final Practice 1:15-3 p.m. Saturday–Qualifying, 10:35 a.m.
Track Contact: Gary Camp, Office Tel: (302) 883-6560, gcamp@dovermotorsports.com

Storylines: Dover Tripleheader Week

Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware – aka "The Monster Mile" – hosts a NASCAR national series tripleheader this weekend, with these events:
• On Friday, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the AAA Insurance 200
• On Saturday, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the Heluva Good! 200.
• On Sunday, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks

A list of storylines for this jam-packed weekend follows.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Kyle Busch-Jeff Gordon: A Rivalry Brews
After 600 grueling miles Sunday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the hottest driver in NASCAR had an "exchange" of words with the most-accomplished driver in NASCAR.

Thus, a good-old fashioned rivalry apparently brews between series point leader Kyle Busch and four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who were Hendrick Motorsports teammates last season before Busch left for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The point of contention this past week was the result of intense, close racing between the two. That sort of competition will continue this weekend at the challenging Dover oval.

Said Gordon: "I guess he doesn't like people to race him.

Busch, meanwhile, declined to discuss the matter.

Kahne Capitalizes, Connects – And Is A Contender Again
Kasey Kahne rode two weeks of good luck and great performances to consecutive victories the last two weeks at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

First he qualified for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race by winning the wild-card berth awarded via the annual fan vote. He capitalized on that by winning the All-Star event.

Sunday, when leader Tony Stewart suffered a flat tire late in the Coca Coca-Cola 600, Kahne was in position to capitalize again, and did just that.

Suddenly, a driver who was struggling with a 52-race winless streak is up to 12th in the series standings, clearly a contender again, as he was two seasons ago when he won a series-high six events and finished eighth in the final standings.

A Monster Indeed: Dover Concrete Is Hard On Drivers
Things get no easier for drivers this week, after last week's Coca-Cola 600. The season's longest race is followed by what many consider one of the toughest – 400 laps at the one-mile concrete Dover oval – a track at times likened to a "big Bristol."

Truex Back at "Home Track" – As Defending Race Champion
Martin Truex Jr. got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win in last year's Dover spring race, which was both exciting and appropriate as Truex, from Mayetta, N.J., consider Dover his "home track."

Truex, the two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, used that Dover win as a springboard into qualifying for the Chase for the NASCRA Sprint Cup. He finished the season 11th in the series standings.
Truex could use a similar boost right about now. He hasn't won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race since last year at Dover and he comes in this week 15th in the standings.

Coming Around: Hornish Looks Increasingly Comfortable
Sam Hornish Jr., used to having success on Memorial Day Weekend, continued that trend this past Sunday. He notched a career-best 13th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600.

Hornish, a rookie in NASCAR this season, is a three-time IndyCar Series champion and the 2006 winner of the Indianapolis 500. He comes into Dover in second place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, trailing Regan Smith by only one point. His best finishes this year have been under some of the biggest spotlights, so to speak:

• Daytona 500 – 15th
• NASCAR Sprint Showdown – 2nd
• NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race – 7th
• Coca-Cola 600 – 13th

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

Finally! Logano Set For Series Debut
Like any other teenager, Joey Logano could hardly contain his excitement last Saturday when he turned 18. But for the Middletown, Conn., native his best present comes one week later when he prepares to make his much-anticipated debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Dover.

The 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series East champion will drive the No. 20 GameStopToyota for Joe Gibbs Racing – the same car that has registered six wins this season. Logano hopes to follow in the footsteps of anther Northeast native – Mayetta, N.J.'s Martin Truex Jr. also made his series debut at Dover (2001) and went on to win two consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series titles (2004-05).

‘Shrub' Grows Into A Factor
Kyle Busch (nicknamed ‘Shrub') has yet to declare his intentions to run a full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series but he's building a case to do so. His fourth win of the year last week at Charlotte (tied for the series lead with Tony Stewart) moved him to second in the standings, 67 points behind leader Clint Bowyer.

Busch, who leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, climbed the NASCAR ladder through the Nationwide Series like the majority of today's young stars in the premier series. In his first full season in NASCAR national series competition in 2004, he had five wins, five poles and was the first rookie to lead the point standings. He finished second in the championship and captured rookie of the year honors setting or tying the majority of the series' rookie records.

Keselowski Continues Strong Season
Series-only regular Brad Keselowski is two months away from marking his first full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – he made his debut for JR Motorsports last year at Chicagoland. But in that short span, the 24-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich., has blossomed.

Last Saturday at Charlotte, Keselowski challenged for the lead, stood up to hard racing with Denny Hamlin and posted his best career finish – third. He also moved to his highest ranking in the standings, fifth, which is the highest spot for any of the five series-only regulars in the top 10 this week. Keselowski was 24th in this race last year driving for his former team but improved to seventh in the fall race driving the No. 88 Chevrolet.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Crowded At The Top
There's a different driver atop the point standings (Todd Bodine) for the third time in four races. Rick Crawford, who hasn't led, is eight points back and Lowe's winner Matt Crafton stands a career-high third, just 45 markers out of the lead.

New Faces Of The Series
Donny Lia, 27, wins at Mansfield in eighth series start – the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate to win since August 2003 (Carl Edwards). Shelby Howard (22) gets first career top-10 at Mansfield; so does Sean Murphy (23).

Concrete Concept
Dover is the series' first concrete surface test of the season. Ron Hornaday Jr. is the defending race winner and has the most concrete wins (three) among active drivers. Travis Kvapil, with wins at Bristol and Nashville, goes for an unprecedented series concrete sweep.

Passing At Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Most In Three Years

There was a total of 2,850 green flag passes during the 2008 Coca-Cola 600, up almost 900 passes from last year's 600.

During last season's Coca-Cola 600, there was 1,985 green flag passes, 865 less than this season.

That's an increase of 44%.

Additionally, there were 30 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – a Loop Data statistic accounting for lead changes all around the track. During last season's 600, there were 27 Green Flag Passes for the Lead.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Kasey Kahne earned the race's highest Driver Rating – 131.8. Both Jimmie Johnson (39th-place finish) and Brian Vickers (42nd-place finish) had Driver Ratings in the top 10.

Below are the top 10 Driver Ratings from the 2008 Coca-Cola 600:

Driver Rating at 2008 Coca-Cola 600
1. Kasey Kahne 131.8
2. Kyle Busch 125.0
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 117.2
4. Jeff Burton 109.3
5. Greg Biffle 107.6
6. David Ragan 99.8
7. Jimmie Johnson 94.5
8. Kurt Busch 94.4
9. Brian Vickers 92.8
10. Elliott Sadler 91.9

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series News And Notes – Dover

Raybestos Rookie Lia, TRG Find Victory Lane In Mansfield
Hornaday Looks To Dover Record For Standings Rebound
Bodine Regains Points Lead; Ballew’s Owner Edge Shrinks


Raybestos Rookie Lia Wins First Race In Dramatic Fashion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 27, 2008) – Donny Lia’s (No. 71 NationRides.com/AutismSpeaks.com Chevrolet) May 24 victory at Mansfield Motorsports Park was surprising to many.

And that would include Lia himself.

“I knew we could do it; I wouldn’t be driving this truck if I didn’t think we could do it,” said the 27-year-old Jericho, N.Y., native and 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. “But so soon? I can’t believe it.”

He didn’t do it the easy way either, passing veteran David Starr (No. 11 Pit-Now.com Toyota) on the final lap. Lia is just the 10th winner to lead only one lap — and the only one to do so without previously leading a series race.

Lia is the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate to win a race in nearly five years. Carl Edwards was the last freshman winner in August 2003 at Nashville Superspeedway.

The victory also was the first for TRG Racing and owner Kevin Buckler, previously a winner of more than 50 races in IMSA, the American Le Mans Series, the Grand American Rolex GT Series, the Grand American Koni Challenge Series and the Grand American Daytona Prototype Series.

“To get our first win in only 10 races is quite a phenomenal accomplishment,” said Buckler. “It says a lot about our team and what we’re capable of.”

Hornaday Hopes To Rebound In AAA Insurance 200

Friday’s stop at Dover International Speedway couldn’t come at a better time for Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet), the defending race winner.

Hornaday is coming off his worst finish — 35th — since joining Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2004. He dropped from first to fifth in points, as well.

At Dover, however, Hornaday has been tough, leading more laps than any other driver over the past three races — 225 of a possible 600.

Hornaday also is tops among active drivers on concrete-surfaced speedways with three wins.

“Dover can be tough on a driver. The two corners seem to be different from each other,” said Hornaday.
“Dover is a tricky place for a driver to get comfortable because there is a radical change in the race track between going off into Turn 1 and Turn 3.

“There are two lines you can run at Dover that are both really fast.”

Three Dover winners and eight drivers who have gone to Victory Lane at concrete-surfaced tracks are expected to compete in the AAA Insurance 200.

Three former Dover winners and eight drivers with concrete wins are expected to compete this week.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Wins On Concrete Surfaces (Active Drivers)
Driver Wins Tracks
1. Ron Hornaday Jr. 3 Bristol, Dover
2. Travis Kvapil 2 Bristol, Nashville
3. Johnny Benson 1 Bristol
Kyle Busch 1 Dover
Chad Chaffin 1 Dover
Ted Musgrave 1 Bristol
Mike Skinner 1 Bristol
Jack Sprague 1 Bristol

Another Twist And Turn Elevates Bodine To Points Lead

Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) met his goal and then some at Mansfield Motorsports Park.

In pre-race remarks, the 2006 series champion expressed hopes he’d leave Ohio with a top-10 finish and a reasonably intact truck.

Bodine did that, finishing third in his best short track performance since running second at Martinsville Speedway in March 2007.

And, with Hornaday finishing 35th, Bodine is the new championship leader. Not that he has any breathing room: The margin is eight over Rick Crawford (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel By International Ford) with Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet) 45 back in third.

“We had a great race. You know, to get spun out in the beginning, I think it was less than 10 laps into the race, and basically it meant we started last,” said Bodine. “We used pit strategy and a good-handling truck to come all the way back.”

Shane Sieg’s 21st-place finish left Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Toyota five points ahead of Germain Racing’s No. 30 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Owner Championship standings.

Etc. and Quotable

Long Time Between Consecutive First-Time Winners: ... You have to go all the way back to July 2003 for the most recent time the series crowned back-to-back, first-time winners. Crafton punched his ticket eight days before Lia’s magic trip to Victory Lane in Mansfield, Ohio. The last two drivers to win in consecutive weeks, interestingly enough, were Roush Fenway teammates Jon Wood and Carl Edwards. Wood won at Kansas Speedway followed by Edwards at Kentucky Speedway. As for new owner winners, TRG’s Buckler is the first since 2006. Jack Sprague (No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet) won at Memphis for Jeff Wyler.
Miller Gets First Win: … Jason Miller, who previously worked for Andy Petree and Bobby Hamilton, got his first win as a crew chief in just his sixth try. Miller, 37, is an Indianapolis native.
Top 10s For Howard, Murphy: … Two young drivers to watch, Shelby Howard (No. 13 Bobcat Chevrolet) and Sean Murphy (No. 07 Akzo Nobel/Spectrum Chevrolet) scored the first top 10s of their NASCAR Craftsman Truck careers at Mansfield. Howard was sixth; Murphy ninth. Howard also led his first laps. “This was by far the best run we had all year and we had our sponsor, Bobcat, on the truck for the first time this year and you know, it’s a good momentum builder for us,” said Howard. “This is a whole different level of racing for me, and we don’t have a top factory-backed team,” said Murphy. “So, I’m really happy to come out here and have a good run. I had a good truck and I drove the wheels off it.”
Kvapil Eyes Series Concrete Sweep: … With victories at Nashville and Dover, Travis Kvapil (No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford) can accomplish an unprecedented concrete surface sweep with a victory in the AAA Insurance 200.
Jersey’s Doug Wolcott Is ‘Mr. Flexible’ At BDR

Growing up on New Jersey’s South Shore, one would think Doug Wolcott, crew chief for the No. 22 Red Bull Toyota driven by Scott Speed, would consider Dover International Speedway his home track.

Dover is in the neighborhood, so to speak, but Wolcott, who grew up in Neptune, N.J., never so much as set foot on Dover’s property prior to arriving as a competitor.

Wolcott is one of three Bill Davis Racing crew chiefs and — perhaps — the most challenged.

Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Jeff Hensley have been together since 2005. Johnny Benson (No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) and Trip Bruce are solidly in their second season.

And Wolcott? Well, he’s had almost too many charges to count: Two already this season, Speed and Phillip McGilton; and three in 2007.

They’ve ranged in experience from rookie to Formula One Champion Jacques Villeneuve.

“This is not the first time I have worked with a lot of drivers,” said Wolcott, 46. “In the 80s, I had my own business in New Jersey and sometimes drove myself. So I am pretty used to helping new drivers get acquainted with the racetrack.”

Wolcott believes the challenge goes beyond driver and crew chief. “You have to keep the team focused on the goal each week,” he said — regardless of who is in the seat. “Nobody likes change so I try to keep the guys’ heads in the game a lot.

“I also like challenging myself. I like pushing these rookies to levels that they have never reached before.”

Rookie Won First Dover Race

It didn’t take long for Dover to be crossed off the list of tracks on which a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate had not won.

Kurt Busch, in a come-from-the-back performance, edged Mike Wallace in the series’ 2000 debut at The Monster Mile.

With Lia’s Mansfield win, rookie candidates have scored victories at 10 of the 22 tracks comprising the current schedule.

While Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford) retained the rookie lead, Lia made a huge jump in the standings — from fifth to second, just eight behind the pacesetter.

Scoring a perfect 21 points at Mansfield, Lia has overcome the handicap of not starting the opening race at Daytona.

Final tabulations are based on a driver’s best 14 finishes.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings after seven races of the 2008 season:

1. Colin Braun 72
2. Donny Lia 64
3. Justin Marks 63
4. Brian Scott 55
5. Andy Lally 55
6. Marc Mitchell 42
7. Phillip McGilton 38
8. Scott Speed 16

Up Next:

The June 6 Sam’s Town 400, first of two stops at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008, is next on the schedule. Todd Bodine won for the fourth time at TMS last June. He shares the track win mark with Brendan Gaughan (No. 10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford).

In The Loop:

In eight races at Dover, no driver has captured repeat checkered flags. Two drivers – both past champions – hope that trend continues this weekend.

Two past NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions have come oh-so-close to winning at Dover – only be to be shut out of Victory Lane.

Todd Bodine and Mike Skinner have run well, especially over the past three seasons, but couldn’t crack the win column.

Skinner started from the pole last season and led 23 laps – but finished only seventh. He also nabbed a 10th-place result in 2005. Over the last three seasons, Skinner has a Driver Rating of 99.3 (sixth-best), an Average Running Position of 8.0 (sixth-best), 27 Fastest Laps Run (tied for fifth) and has spent 98.2% of the laps – all but 11 – in the top 15 (second only to Ron Hornaday Jr.’s 99.3 percent).

Bodine has come a bit closer, finishing third in 2006. But, that was his only top-10 finish in his three Dover starts. He finished 11th last season.

In his Dover career, Bodine has a Driver Rating of 102.5 (fifth), an Average Running Position of 7.4 (fifth), 27 Fastest Lap Run (tied for fifth) and has run 95 percent of the laps in the top 15 (third).

He also has won three times in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition including a season sweep in 1993.

One driver who has won at Dover – and seemingly everywhere else lately – is Kyle Busch. Busch won there in 2005, and has led laps in all three of his Dover starts. In his three Dover starts, Busch owns series-highs in Driver Rating (125.7), Average Running Position (4.2) and Fastest Laps Run (80).

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through seven races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Todd Bodine (1,001)
Driver Rating – Kyle Busch (124.9)
Laps led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (238)
Victories – Kyle Busch (2)
Keystone Light Poles – Ron Hornaday Jr. (2)
Top-five finishes – Seven drivers with three
Top-10 finishes – Mike Skinner with five
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Colin Braun
Races led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (7)
Weeks in Top 10 – Three drivers with seven

Director’s Take: Wayne’s Words

“One word describes Dover International Speedway — fast. It’s right up there with Daytona and Talladega as far as speed in the turns go.

“But it’s deceptively fast, particularly for the first-time driver.

“No one had to think too hard to label Dover as ‘The Monster Mile.’

“The monster has bitten plenty of drivers — rookie and veteran alike. And it can happen anywhere: turns and straightaways.

“You just never know when.

“And one more thing. The track is self-cleaning. If a driver gets into trouble, it’s 100 percent guaranteed the truck will wind up on the apron.

“No NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver has been able to conquer Dover more than once. Maybe, like Darlington, the Monster will give you one free pass — but not two.

“There’s no time to be patient. Those 200 laps go by in a hurry and if there’s a long green flag run, you’re going to be lapped if you (and your truck) don’t hustle.

“If you’re not moving forward, you definitely are going backwards. There’s no riding at Dover.

“Some of our most aggressive drivers have won at Dover: Kurt and Kyle Busch, Scott Riggs, Ted Musgrave and Jason Leffler.

“And, of course, Ron Hornaday Jr., last year’s AAA Insurance 200 winner.

“That’s why fans love watching us compete at ‘The Monster Mile.” There’s usually plenty of action, drama and sometimes a surprise winner.” Wayne Auton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director.

Chevrolet’s Third Win Ahead Of ‘07 Pace

Chevrolet is ahead of its 2007 pace as the truck maker attempts to dethrone defending manufacturers’ champion Toyota.

The Silverado brand captured its third victory of the year at Mansfield Motorsports Park — one race earlier than a year ago when Toyota and Ford snagged the season’s first five checkered flags.

Chevrolet heads to Dover International Speedway with a four-point lead over its chief rival. It’s also the defending AAA Insurance 200 winner .

Ford remains the only manufacturer still looking for win No. 1 in 2008. Mansfield wasn’t kind to Ford; its top finisher, Erik Darnell (No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford) finished 11th.

Ford last won in September 2007 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a drought of 13 races.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2008 Manufacturers' Championship Point Standings

Chevrolet 48
Toyota 44
Ford 34
Dodge 28

By The Numbers: 740

Number of laps run in this year’s points paying races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Kyle Busch is the only driver to complete all 740.

FAST FACTS

The Race: AAA Insurance 200
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: May 30, 2008
The Time: 5 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 200 miles / 200 laps
TV: SPEED, 8:30 p.m. ET (Delay)
Track Layout: 1-Mile concrete oval
2007 Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr.
2007 Pole: Mike Skinner
2008 Standings:
Rk Driver Points
1 T. Bodine 1001
2 R. Crawford 993
3 M. Crafton 956
4 J. Benson 943
5 R. Hornaday Jr. 937
6 T. Cook 920
7 M. Skinner 918
8 D. Starr 913
9 E. Darnell 901
10 C. McCumbee 899
Schedule: Thursday: Practice, 2:30–3:45 p.m. and 4:15-5:30 p.m. Friday: Qualifying, 10:10 a.m.

Track Contact: Gary Camp (302) 857-3212 or gcamp@dovermotorsports.com

NASCAR Teleconference Transcript - Joey Logano

An interview with:
JOEY LOGANO

HERB BRANHAM: Good afternoon. I'd like to welcome everybody to today's NASCAR cam video teleconference. This is in advance of this weekend's NASCAR National Series triple-header at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, the Monster Mile. Real special guest today. Joining us from the NASCAR research and development center in Concord, North Carolina, is Joey Logano, who makes his long-awaited NASCAR National Series debut Saturday in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The race is the Heluva Good! 200. Joey is making his debut more or less in mid-season as he just turned 18 years old - that's the age limit - on May 24th. Joey won last year's NASCAR Camping World East Series championship. This weekend he'll be driving the No. 20 GameStop Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Joey, so many people have been waiting on your debut. So many people are excited. How about you personally? What is the excitement and anticipation to finally get out there in National Series competition?

JOEY LOGANO: I'm definitely excited to get out there, been just waiting my whole life to get out to the Nationwide Series. Finally to get to run, it's definitely exciting. With the new sponsors, GameStop on the car, first time they've been on the racecar, so that's really exciting, too. Got an exciting year coming up.

HERB BRANHAM: Had you ever waited for a birthday with more anticipation?

JOEY LOGANO: Not really. I waited till I turned 14 to run ASA, 15 for Pro Cup. Ran the Camping World Series last year. It was like the first time I was able to run for a whole series for points. I kind of had to wait because my birthday is in May, you know, it's in the middle of the season. But, yeah, I've definitely been excited.

Q. There's been a lot of hype and expectations put on you for your debut this weekend. Have you had a chance to talk to any fellow drivers and what they think of you coming up into the series?

JOEY LOGANO: Yeah, I mean, you know, talked to Kyle, Denny, Tony. They're real good guys, help me out as much as they can. I talked to Kyle a little bit last week. Gave me some advice about Dover, about who you can race with, what to do, things to do on the racetrack.

Yeah, they're very helpful

Q. The last couple years the expectations have been getting higher and higher for you, and you haven't even stepped on a Nationwide or Cup track. How do you deal with that heading into your debut?

JOEY LOGANO: I mean, yeah, there's a lot of hype. But it's not because I want to put hype on it. It's all you guys putting all the stuff into it. But I'm here to race. You know, all the hype kind of goes out the window as soon as the race goes green.

So, you know, like I was saying, I'm looking forward to getting to Dover. As far as all that stuff, it doesn't really bother me too much.

Q. You're 18 years old. People are forgetting that you're handling yourself like you're a professional. Are you regretting not being able to be a regular 18-year-old, hang out with your friends, or are you still able to do all those things?

JOEY LOGANO: I'm still able to do a lot of that stuff. When I'm home, I'm not sitting down often. I'm either hanging out with my friends or doing whatever. But, you know, I still have that core group of friends that we can do whatever with. We'll go on the lake, we'll go to the go-kart track. We'll do stuff like that. So I still have a kid's life.

Q. The media coverage is on the radio, in print, online. Do you pay attention to that at all? Do you read the stuff? How do you deal with it?

JOEY LOGANO: I think it's cool personally (laughter). You know, as a kid, as any kid, you would think it's cool to be on TV and newspaper and all that stuff.

But I don't really look into it that much. You know, I don't really read many of the articles. I don't know, I don't really let it get to me. I'm here to race. I have known that stuff comes along with it, which is fine.

Q. But does it not get to you at some point, Oh, my God, how am I ever going to do this?

JOEY LOGANO: No, not really. My goal is to go out there and win races. If that's what everyone expects out of me, yeah, so be it. But, you know, I feel like I'm getting in a great car with Dave Rogers and the guys there. I really think we can do real good.

Q. Can you catch us up on what you've been doing this year other than that ARCA race at Rockingham? How much testing have you been able to do? Have you done any Cup testing at all?

JOEY LOGANO: Yeah, I do a ton of Cup testing. I was talking to Wally Brown, a Cup engineer that does all the test stuff. 4100 miles I think testing in the Cup car. Yeah, I got plenty of testing under my belt. Like to get some more racing, though. So I'm getting to that now.

Q. Have you done some Nationwide testing, as well?

JOEY LOGANO: Yeah, we tested once down at Rockingham a couple weeks ago just to get all the guys together, working together. Me and Dave worked real good together. Me and the whole 20 team worked good together. We kind of got something and made some changes to see what I thought about it so we could kind of put it to work at Dover.

Q. You're getting into some equipment that's been pretty stout so far this year. How much does that really help your confidence level, getting into cars that have already won racing this year?

JOEY LOGANO: It definitely helps a ton. Getting into a winning car is definitely a big deal here. You can ask any driver. A lot of it is driver and a lot of it is the car you get into. I'm definitely getting into one of the greatest cars out there. To get out there knowing you can go out there and run up front, you know, it's not like you're going to go out there and have a best finish of a 20th place because that's all you've got with in the car. I've got a good enough car to run up front, so that's a good deal.

Q. Talking to Bill and Billy Venturini, they said they think you don't know how good you are. How is it possible for you to have done so much at this age and for you not to grasp what you're all about?

JOEY LOGANO: I don't really look at myself that way. You know, I'm here to race, like I said. But I don't look back and say, Wow, I'm good. You know, I do the best as I can and let everything else take care of itself. I'm not going to go out there and brag about myself and say I'm the best thing out there. That stuff's going to speak for itself as far as winning races.

Q. Was there a moment when you started stepping up in competition, especially racing people that were a lot older than you, that there's a win or a moment where you just sort of thought, Yeah, I can do this?

JOEY LOGANO: I don't really think there is one moment. You know, I've raced my whole life. Started when I was six. Always raced against people that were older than me. I don't think there's ever been one moment I said, I can do this. I've wanted to run Cup Series since I was six years old. Like I said, I don't really look at that stuff. You know, if I think I can do it or whatever, I just let it take care of itself.

Q. Going into the next phase of your career, what are the best and worst? What are the main things you're concerned about and what's the thing you're most excited about with moving into the Nationwide Series?

JOEY LOGANO: I'm definitely excited about getting there. You know, all these interviews I've been doing about Dover, Dover, Dover. I'm looking forward to getting to the other races we've got. We have 18 of them scheduled. I'm looking forward to all that.

As far as what – I would say I'm not worried about, but the thing we've really been talking about is green flag pit stops. Haven't been able to do many of those in the all the series that I ran. When we went down to Rockingham, we were practicing making green flag stops. I feel confident we can do it. We're going to a track that's harder to make a green flag pit stop. You see people are struggling. But I feel we'll be fine there.

Q. You brought up you're looking forward more so to the rest of the schedule, not just Dover this weekend. Looking forward to all that, how do you define success for yourself? At the end of the year, what would be satisfying to you?

JOEY LOGANO: What would be satisfying for me? It would be winning a few races. I think I can. I think the whole team can win some races. So I haven't sat down and said I want to finish here, here, here in every single race.

But, yeah, run up front every week and, you know, finish as good as we can and get some wins under our belt would be our goal right now.

Q. Looking toward what you've driven in the past, with the East Series stuff, is there a lot of difference between the equipment in the East Series and what you're going to be driving in Nationwide?

JOEY LOGANO: Yeah, they're similar cars. A lot of the Camping World cars were old Nationwide cars. So they're about the same. And now that the horsepower is, you know, smaller in the Nationwide car, they're more equal. I think the biggest difference is going to be radial tires to bias ply tires. I think that's the biggest change between the both of them. Besides that, there's not much difference.

Q. You've acclimated to the tire change just fine? You haven't had any trouble adjusting to that?

JOEY LOGANO: No, no. You know, when I did all the Cup testing, that's on a radial tire. Kind of ran a radial tire in the Hooter's Pro Cup series, stuff like that, so I've had some laps on that.

Q. You spent most of your teenage years competing against adults. Do you know how that has changed you or what you might have been like had you not had this opportunity?

JOEY LOGANO: I don't know what I'd be doing if I wasn't doing this. I've raced my whole life. That's what I am. That's what I do. I don't know what else I would be doing. I guess I'd be throwing garbage cans or something.

But, yeah, it's definitely changed my whole life, changed everything. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Q. What have you learned from adults that has surprised you?

JOEY LOGANO: I've learned a lot, you know. I've always spent time with people older than me. You know, when you're racing against people older than you, you always spend time with people that are older than you. Wisdom comes from older people, apparently (laughter).

So, yeah, I've learned a lot. I can't name one thing. But I feel like I've learned so much at a young age, that I'm able to do this stuff now, you know, and put that stuff to use that I've learned.

Q. Was there any thoughts to starting your career at another track? Dover is obviously a huge task to take on for your Nationwide Series race. Any communication between you, your family and the Joe Gibbs Racing family, or was it a question of, When I turn 18, I'm going racing?

JOEY LOGANO: It was pretty much: When I turn 18, we're going racing. We didn't really think much of it. Dover seemed like a good track for me to start at. I raced there before. I ran there last year in the Camping World Series. I feel comfortable going there in a similar car that we ran last year there.

I'm fine going to that place. I know it is a tough place, the Monster Mile. But, you know, that seems like a plenty good enough place for me to start.

Q. Do you hope to make some Cup starts by the end of this year? People are already earmarking you for Cup as early as 2009. What is your own timetable?

JOEY LOGANO: You know, I take things one day at a time. Right now I focus on the next race in front of me. You always have to put a hundred percent into the next race. I don't look that far ahead of me. I'll let that stuff take care of itself. If we go out there and win races, people are going to realize it, and that's when we move up.

Right now I focus on one day at a time. When Joe and J.D. say I'm ready, that's when I'm going to go.

Q. Reading up on you since you're getting ready to make the jump to Nationwide with Joe Gibbs, I know you're still going to run some ARCA races, but has there been any talk maybe trying to qualify for a Cup race for this year for Gibbs?

JOEY LOGANO: No. We haven't really brought it up too much right now. We're focusing on running our Nationwide races right now. We're going to run Talladega, ARCA race. That's what's on the schedule right now. You never know, things could pop up here and there, but that's all we've got right now

Q. With being in the ARCA series, now that you've moved up, is there any advice or anything you can tell other drivers that are trying to get out of ARCA to move up to Nationwide?

JOEY LOGANO: I mean, pretty much when people ask me what do you got to do to move up, you got to win races. That's what it comes down to. That's how you get your name out there and you get someone behind you that can bring you to the next series. You've got to get out there and do whatever you can do to run up front and win as many races as you can. It takes a lot of hard work.

Q. You've had a lot of successes already. Where does Dover rank on your list of successes with the showdown, the east championship? Do you see it as another step?

JOEY LOGANO: It's another step. Dover, yeah, it's been a buildup for a long time now. I can't wait to get there. But it's still another race. It's a racecar. It's a racetrack. There's nothing that out of the ordinary.

Q. You're basically the new kid on the block at Joe Gibbs Racing. That team obviously has a lot of colorful personalities. How is your personality and how do you fit in with the rest of them?

JOEY LOGANO: I'm just kind of a happy-go-lucky kid that gets to drive racecars. I'm a very happy person. I got a smile on my face all the time. I'm a very highly competitive person, just like the rest of my teammates there. I think that's how a lot of athletes are. We go there for one reason: that's winning. We're going to do whatever it takes to do that. But at the same time I'm going to have fun with it.

HERB BRANHAM: Thank you, Joey Logano, for joining us today. We appreciate it. Best of luck on this big debut. Everybody has been waiting for it.

JOEY LOGANO: All right. Thank you.

HERB BRANHAM: And thanks to all the media, as always, for participating. We appreciate the coverage.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Week 13: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 – And Beyond

Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Best Buy 400 at Dover International Speedway on June 1 (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or those within striking distance of the top 12).

1– Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 113.1
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 7.9
• Led nine races for 628 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives
• Average finish of 11.8
• Finished fifth in September’s Dover race
• Led two of six races for 112 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 8.3

2 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.6
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 7.9
• Led seven races for 62 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Finished seventh in September
• Led eight of 28 races for 127 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 620 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

3– Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Led 10 races for 527 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Finished third in September
• Led eight of 16 races for 366 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 329 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.2
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Led seven races for 646 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Finished 38th in September
• Led one of four races for 61 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 671 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

5 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led four races for 150 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Finished 12th in September
• Led one of four races for two laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 117 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.0
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 12.6
• Led four races for 306 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Won September’s Dover race
• Led four of seven races for 136 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 387 Fastest Laps Run

7 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.6
2008 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led three races for 34 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 17.9
• Finished 20th in September
• Led one of 14 races for 133 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,061 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

8 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.4
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7.
• Led five races for 373 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Finished ninth in September
• Led 10 of 18 races for 1,061 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 3,144 Laps in the Top 15 (77.4%), fifth-most

9 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives
• Average finish of 15.9
• Led eight races for 447 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 11.9
• Finished 14th in September
• Led seven of 12 races for 554 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 228 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

10 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led seven races for 208 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Finished 11th in September
• Led 17 of 30 races for 2,198 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 169 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

11 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.0
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led five races for 114 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Finished second in September
• Led five of 11 races for 229 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 166 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.2
2008 Rundown
• One win, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.9
• Led six races for 71 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 25.3
• Finished 32nd in September
• Led two of eight races for 64 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 560 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most

15 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.6
2008 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 19.2
• Led two races for 13 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.5
• Finished 13th in September
• Led one of four races for 216 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 13.9, 11th-best

Chase Contenders
The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 12 of 36

Weeks Rank Season
In Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating
1. Kyle Busch 1,860 3 12 1 113.1
2. Jeff Burton 1,766 1 12 2 94.6
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,721 0 11 3 110.2
4. Denny Hamlin 1,596 1 7 4 101.2
5. Clint Bowyer 1,578 1 8 5 85.1
6. Carl Edwards 1,538 3 8 7 102.0
7. Kevin Harvick 1,517 0 11 9 90.6
8. Tony Stewart 1,511 0 12 8 95.4
9. Jimmie Johnson 1,493 1 8 6 96.1
10. Jeff Gordon 1,486 0 3 10 94.2
11. Greg Biffle 1,483 0 12 11 92.0
12. Kasey Kahne 1,454 1 10 14 86.2
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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. David Ragan 1,398
14. Ryan Newman 1,369
15. Martin Truex Jr. 1,291
16. Matt Kenseth 1,264
17. J.P. Montoya 1,263
18. Bobby Labonte 1,258
19. Travis Kvapil 1,240
20. Brian Vickers 1,203
21. Kurt Busch 1,192
22. David Gilliland 1,131
23. Jamie McMurray 1,126
24. Mark Martin 1,121
25. Elliott Sadler 1,119
26. David Reutimann 1,101
27. Scott Riggs 1,085
28. Casey Mears 1,081
29. Paul Menard 1,067
30. Robby Gordon 980
31. Reed Sorenson 969
32. Regan Smith 941
33. Michael Waltrip 933
34. Sam Hornish Jr. 930
35. Dave Blaney 910
36. J.J. Yeley 751
37. Joe Nemechek 543
38. Kyle Petty 540
39. Patrick Carpentier 524
40. Jeremy Mayfield 490
41. Michael McDowell 484
42. Dario Franchitti 483
43. Mike Skinner 423
44 Dale Jarrett 367
45. Bill Elliott 350
46. AJ Allmendinger 314
47. Ken Schrader 298
48. Aric Almirola 243
49. Sterling Marlin 228
50. Johnny Sauter 174
51. John Andretti 149
52. David Stremme 84
53. Jon Wood 55
54. Kenny Wallace 34

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season.