After an off weekend the NACAR Nationwide series is back and in Texas at Texas Motor Speedway. They will run under the lights for the first time this season on Friday night.
The NNS is still searching for its first series regular to pull out the win. That is not to say that the regulars haven’t been running good enough; they have just struggled to close the deal.
Early on this season Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. has been fast, arguably one of the best and fastest NNS regulars week to week.
Leading the points once again after a solid fourth place run at Auto Club Speedway, Stenhouse is looking for some breathing room between him and Jason Leffler who is just six points behind him.
At TMS, Stenhouse only has two previous starts and his best finish was 11th in the fall. This race a year ago he finished 29th after being involved in a accident. He has qualified well at TMS with his best start fifth here last spring.
Stenhouse’s success has come with new car for the NNS. “We led laps at Texas last year and I feel like I’ve adapted better to the new Mustang. You’re in the throttle a lot in the corners and I think that’s where the new FR9 engine that Roush Yates built is going to have a good effect. I really feel like we have a good shot at getting the pole and winning the race and that’s what we want to do. I like tracks where you slide around a little bit and the pavement tends to fit my driving style a little bit better.”
Another driver looking to make some noise this weekend is Aric Almirola. After a solid drive at ACS two weeks ago he looks to continue his climb up the standings this weekend.
He finished ninth at ACS a seasons best for Almirola and his team. A slow start and disappointing runs at Las Vegas and Phoenix, Almirola and his team got to work.
Very solid runs the last two weekends have them fourth in the standings and 26 points out of the lead.
His only career start in the NNS was last fall where he started 25th and finished 16th. TMS is not Almirola’s best track but with his new team and better performance, he should challenge for the win.
My drivers to watch this weekend are Almirola, Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 is Friday night at 8:30ET on ESPN2.
photo: roushfenwayracing.com
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