Bashas' Supermarkets 200

[Mr. Mister]

In before DanicaFan, in hopes of having a race thread, not a single-driver thread.

Only 40 cars entered on the official list, though I assume we'll see a couple teams park back-up cars and such to fill the field. Wouldn't be the first time NASCAR gave them a little assistance to do that, and S+P teams really don't care about the points as long as they're getting purse money.

That entry list, of course, can be found here (http://jayski.com/nationwide/2011/next/entries/nns02phxentry2011.htm).

Changes from Daytona include:


Timmy Hill assuming the 15 for the rest of the season, now a Rick Ware Ford over a Germain Toyota.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Charles Lewandoski in the 19, displacing Mike Bliss to the team car 44, leaving Jeff Green out of a ride for the weekend. Lewandoski will be in the 19 for a few races this year.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
TBA driving both the 27 and 52 simultaneously, and sponsoring a few others.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Ryan Newman in the 30 car for Turner.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Kevin Harvick making his season debut in his own 33.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Carl Long takes the 41 over from Patrick Sheltra. Sheltra may return to the car later in the season.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Blake Koch is in the 81; Daytona winner Donnie Neuenberger has nine more races in it, part of a rotating driver lineup, little of which is confirmed.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Ryan Truex gets a go in the 99 before his K&N Pro season starts.[/*:m:re4xe93p]
Should be a fun race. Exciting to have a track like Phoenix following Daytona this year. With all due respect to Fontana, it's usually a letdown after all the hype of the season opener.

[TURN3]

I thought Ryan Truex was going to be in the 99 all year running for the Nationwide championship?

[harvick#1]

amazing how nearly 3/4 of the field is sponsorless yet the most overrated driver has one because of a different sex. things to make you go hmmmmm. I mean, even Roush cars dont have a sponsor :mark:

[slorydn1]

amazing how nearly 3/4 of the field is sponsorless yet the most overrated driver has one because of a different sex. things to make you go hmmmmm. I mean, even Roush cars dont have a sponsor :mark:

Sad, isn't it. :dozey:

[beachgirl]

And the winner of the Daytona 500 couldn't run the entire Cup season because of lack of sponsorship. He'll be in Nationwide fulltime, but I'm not sure he has much sponsorship there, either. But I'm looking forward to watching him in whichever series he's in, if the announcers will let us.

[TURN3]

Come on now peeps...Mr. Mister came with a proper lead in.

No sponsorship on a ton of cars is a story though. Granted Nationwide isn't Cup but, Roush not having sponsors on several of his cars is sort of like Penske not having a sponsor the past couple of years in Indycar. And whether on his part time Cup entry on he full-time N-wide entry, I don't think little Trevor will be having any sponsorship issues from here on out. Pretty funny though, N-wide gets to promote the Daytona 500 winner all year while Cup only gets him part-time.

[beachbum]

The lack of sponsorship is epidemic in all forms of racing. The problem is that many fans have trouble accepting that it is almost always just a business decision for a corporate sponsor. If the team / driver they sponsor works as a marketing tool, they can justify the expense. If not, it doesn't matter how successful the team / driver is on track. Very few sponsors care about the impact they have on racing. They are looking at the opposite - what impact racing has on them.

A lot of winners and potential winners can find themselves on the outside looking if they forgot their responsibility to the people with the cash. However, Trevor Bayne could be a sponsors dream. Not only is he now a proven winner, but he has all of the attributes a marketer dreams about. He fits the "clean cut young man" image. Now Ford, Roush, and the Woods Brothers have to do is find the right "fit". They might have some problems as most marketing budgets for 2011 are already set, but they sure have a solid product.

[Mr. Mister]

I thought Ryan Truex was going to be in the 99 all year running for the Nationwide championship?

They did announce that, but then they ran into some funding issues and did the whole Pastrana-Waltrip Racing deal. I believe he's splitting the ride with Michael (Daytona was his only planned race), his brother, and Pastrana (seven races). Not sure if they're going to even run the car full season at the moment.

On another note, Daryl Harr will be in the 52 car. I've yet to see confirmation as to what 52 car he'll be in, but I guess we'll find out soon enough!

[DanicaFan]

Thanks for posting this, I have been real busy.

Practice Session 1 Results..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Speed / Lap Time

1. #18 Kyle Busch / 132.275 / 27.216
2. #16 Trevor Bayne / 132.246 / 27.222
3. #99 Ryan Truex / 131.315 / 27.415
4. #60 Carl Edwards / 131.081 / 27.464
5. #22 Brad Keselowski / 130.762 / 27.531
6. #20 Joey Logano / 129.744 / 27.747
7. #30 Ryan Newman / 129.683 / 27.760
8. #88 Aric Almirola / 129.655 / 27.766
9. #2 Elliott Sadler / 129.482 / 27.803
10. #33 Kevin Harvick / 129.389 / 27.823
11. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. / 129.296 / 27.843
12. #32 Reed Sorenson / 129.255 / 27.852
13. #38 Jason Leffler / 128.921 / 27.924
14. #31 Justin Allgaier / 128.912 / 27.926
15. #11 Brian Scott / 128.797 / 27.951
16. #87 Joe Nemechek / 128.742 / 27.963
17. #66 Steve Wallace / 128.457 / 28.025
18. #09 Kenny Wallace / 128.109 / 28.101
19. #19 Mike Bliss / 128.082 / 28.107
20. #39 Josh Wise / 128.073 / 28.109
21. #01 Mike Wallace / 127.995 / 28.126
22. #51 Jeremy Clements / 127.569 / 28.220
23. #62 Michael Annett / 127.515 / 28.232
24. #7 Danica Patrick / 127.501 / 28.235
25. #40 Scott Wimmer / 127.253 / 28.290
26. #24 Kevin Lepage / 127.056 / 28.334
27. #14 Eric McClure / 126.984 / 28.350
28. #70 Shelby Howard / 126.311 / 28.501
29. #44 Charles Lewandoski / 125.536 / 28.677
30. #23 Robert Richardson Jr. / 125.405 / 28.707
31. #15 Timmy Hill / 124.831 / 28.839
32. #79 Jennifer Jo Cobb / 124.796 / 28.847
33. #25 Kelly Bires / 124.727 / 28.863
34. #52 Daryl Harr / 124.611 / 28.890
35. #89 Morgan Shepherd / 124.550 / 28.904
36. #41 Carl Long / 124.529 / 28.909
37. #81 Blake Koch / 123.826 / 29.073
38. #27 Justin Marks / 122.503 / 29.387
39. #28 Derrike Cope / 119.768 / 30.058
40. #55 Brett Rowe / 112.391 / 32.031

[DanicaFan]

Danica is improving, moving up in speed in practice 2.

Practice Session 2 Results..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Speed / Lap Time

1. #22 Brad Keselowski / 132.071 / 27.258
2. #18 Kyle Busch / 131.965 / 27.280
3. #60 Carl Edwards / 131.569 / 27.362
4. #33 Kevin Harvick / 131.191 / 27.441
5. #2 Elliott Sadler / 131.100 / 27.460
6. #30 Ryan Newman / 130.501 / 27.586
7. #32 Reed Sorenson / 130.463 / 27.594
8. #66 Steve Wallace / 130.416 / 27.604
9. #38 Jason Leffler / 130.378 / 27.612
10. #11 Brian Scott / 130.185 / 27.653
11. #20 Joey Logano / 130.142 / 27.662
12. #87 Joe Nemechek / 130.058 / 27.680
13. #31 Justin Allgaier / 129.823 / 27.730
14. #09 Kenny Wallace / 129.758 / 27.744
15. #99 Ryan Truex / 128.792 / 27.952
16. #16 Trevor Bayne / 128.347 / 28.049
17. #40 Scott Wimmer / 128.301 / 28.059
18. #88 Aric Almirola / 128.287 / 28.062
19. #7 Danica Patrick / 128.182 / 28.085
20. #39 Josh Wise / 128.182 / 28.085
21. #62 Michael Annett / 128.159 / 28.090
22. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. / 128.132 / 28.096
23. #19 Mike Bliss / 126.917 / 28.365
24. #70 Shelby Howard / 126.863 / 28.377
25. #89 Morgan Shepherd / 126.765 / 28.399
26. #01 Mike Wallace / 126.654 / 28.424
27. #44 Charles Lewandoski / 126.609 / 28.434
28. #14 Eric McClure / 126.121 / 28.544
29. #23 Robert Richardson Jr. / 125.953 / 28.582
30. #28 Derrike Cope / 125.554 / 28.673
31. #51 Jeremy Clements / 125.501 / 28.685
32. #15 Timmy Hill / 125.387 / 28.711
33. #52 Daryl Harr / 124.262 / 28.971
34. #81 Blake Koch / 124.155 / 28.996
35. #79 Jennifer Jo Cobb / 123.364 / 29.182

[TURN3]

I don't follow the outside circle of up and coming NASCAR drivers very closely. Last season, there were a couple of drivers that debuted and did fabulous. Cole Whitt was one in particular, can't remember the other guy I'm thinking of off hand. Anybody here know what their deal is? Part seasons, still developing in lower series, etc.? Hope to see some of those guys back. Tough to run top 10 in your first Nationwide race then fall off the planet.

[Mr. Mister]

Cole Whitt is running full-time in the Camping World Truck Series this year in the #60 Red Bull Chevrolet for Turn One Racing. He finished sixth last night in Phoenix and sits P3 in the standings. I just worry that Red Bull will do what they're oh-so-prone to doing and rush Whitt up to Cup next year to replace Kasey Kahne. That would be a bit of a mistake, I think.

[TURN3]

Ahh good. I hadn't noticed. Glad he's still coming along.

Brad Sweet was the other kid I was thinking of. He ran great in his first and only Nationwide start at St. Louis before getting taken out in that crash that blocked the entire front straight.

[Sparky1329]

Ahh good. I hadn't noticed. Glad he's still coming along.

Brad Sweet was the other kid I was thinking of. He ran great in his first and only Nationwide start at St. Louis before getting taken out in that crash that blocked the entire front straight.

He raced in the Great Clips Chevy Silverado last night in the truck series and finished 11th. I thought the rookies were very competitive and impressive.

[DanicaFan]

Qualifications just ended and Kyle Busch set a new track record with a speed of 134.298 mph. That obviously put Kyle on the pole. Congrats Kyle.

I was hoping Danica would of qualified better but she will move up.

There were only 40 cars entered so there were no Did Not Qualify cars.

Here is your starting line-up..

1. #18 Kyle Busch 134.298 / 26.81
2. #60 Carl Edwards / 133.328 /27.00
3. #20 Joey Logano /133.136 / 27.04
4. #22 Brad Keselowski / 132.631 / 27.14
5. #11 Brian Scott / 132.558 / 27.16
6. #30 Ryan Newman / 132.514 / 27.17
7. #16 Trevor Bayne / 132.402 / 27.19
8. #66 Steve Wallace / 131.863 / 27.30
9. #33 Kevin Harvick / 131.854 / 27.30
10. #32 Reed Sorenson / 131.805 / 27.31
11. #2 Elliott Sadler / 131.459 / 27.38
12. #87 Joe Nemechek / 131.186 / 27.44
13. #38 Jason Leffler / 130.985 / 27.48
14. #99 Ryan Truex / 130.928 / 27.50
15. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. / 130.662 / 27.55
16. #31 Justin Allgaier / 130.653 / 27.55
17. #62 Michael Annett / 129.983 / 27.70
18. #09 Kenny Wallace / 129.870 / 27.72
19. #19 Mike Bliss / 129.683 / 27.76
20. #7 Danica Patrick / 129.236 / 27.86
21. #01 Mike Wallace / 129.180 / 27.87
22. #51 Jeremy Clements / 129.176 / 27.87
23. #44 Charles Lewandoski / 129.074 / 27.89
24. #39 Josh Wise / 129.014 / 27.90
25. #88 Aric Almirola / 128.958 / 27.92
26. #40 Scott Wimmer / 128.875 / 27.93
27. #14 Eric McClure / 128.714 / 27.97
28. #89 Morgan Shepherd / 128.512 / 28.01
29. #70 Shelby Howard / 127.614 / 28.21
30. #15 Timmy Hill / 127.528 / 28.23
31. #23 Robert Richardson Jr. / 127.42 / 28.25
32. #81 Blake Koch / 127.020 / 28.34
33. #25 Kelly Bires / 126.680 / 28.42
34. #52 Daryl Harr / 125.887 / 28.60
35. #28 Derrike Cope / 125.414 / 28.70
36. #27 Justin Marks / 124.236 / 28.98
37. #24 Kevin Lepage / 123.997 / 29.03
38. #41 Carl Long / 123.839 / 29.07
39. #55 Brett Rowe / 122.125 / 29.48
40. #79 Jennifer Jo Cobb - No Time

[DanicaFan]

What a show by Kyle Busch. Congrats Kyle.
Danica ran a good race and finished 17th.

Here are the final results..

1. #18 Kyle Busch
2. #60 Carl Edwards
3. #33 Kevin Harvick
4. #30 Ryan Newman
5. #32 Reed Sorenson
6. #20 Joey Logano
7. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. #31 Justin Allgaier
9. #11 Brian Scott
10. #09 Kenny Wallace
11. #38 Jason Leffler
12. #2 Elliott Sadler
13. #88 Aric Almirola
14. #99 Ryan Truex
15. #87 Joe Nemechek
16. #40 Scott Wimmer
17. #7 Danica Patrick
18. #39 Josh Wise
19. #62 Michael Annett
20. #19 Mike Bliss
21. #44 Charles Lewandoski
22. #51 Jeremy Clements
23. #28 Derrike Cope
24. #23 Robert Richardson Jr.
25. #14 Eric McClure
26. #01 Mike Wallace
27. #81 Blake Koch
28. #70 Shelby Howard
29. #15 Timmy Hill
30. #66 Steve Wallace
31. #16 Trevor Bayne
32. #79 Jennifer Jo Cobb
33. #89 Morgan Shepherd
34. #22 Brad Keselowski
35. #52 Daryl Harr
36. #41 Carl Long
37. #24 Kevin Lepage
38. #25 Kelly Bires
39. #55 Brett Rowe
40. #27 Justin Marks

[TURN3]

Commenting on a driver in 17th, 3 laps down is pretty pathetic. Still, with a whopping 1 race finished on a lead lap. Nobody cares, get over it.

In news regarding the relevant talent, how about Kenny Wallace getting a top 10 first time in years? Looks like all these teams are going to have their hands full getting these cars dialed in.

[beachbum]

In news regarding the relevant talent, how about Kenny Wallace getting a top 10 first time in years? Looks like all these teams are going to have their hands full getting these cars dialed in.Perhaps the biggest surprise was how thin the field was. Not only was the field not full, there ware a number of start and parks, and quite a few very low budget teams. The fact a team like Nemechek with 3 full time crew ( and apparently one car) was able to run 15th doesn't say much about the competitiveness of the field.

[harvick#1]

the nationwide series is in huge trouble, they really only have a 20 car field, over half the field is underfunded/sponsorless cars and about 1/4 are start and parks.