For the NASCAR Nationwide series they headed to Phoenix International Raceway looking to flex some muscle in the new car. After a exciting start to the season the NNS regulars this weekend will be taking center stage.
For Trevor Bayne it would be his first race after his exciting Daytona 500 win. It was a wild week as Bayne did the standard media tour.
Bayne would be looking to build on his 10th place finish at Daytona International Speedway. Surprisngly, Bayne still doesn’t have a fully funded ride with Roush Fenway Racing.
At PIR, Bayne has three previous starts and he has an average start of 23.3 and a average finish of 20th. He hasn’t led one lap at PIR and his best finish is 14th last fall.
Bayne who is looking to challenge in the title hunt will need to run well here this weekend as they come back here in November.
If he is in the title hunt at that point what he learns this weekend could benefit him then. Bayne is coming off a major career win. Bayne’s focus is the NNS and that starts this weekend as the real season begins.
Reed Sorenson is the technically the points leader of the series because Landon Cassill doesn’t have a full time ride.
Sorenson will be looking to pad his points lead at PIR. He has average start of 11th and average finish of 9.9. Sorenson has only led one lap at PIR but his worse finish is a 32nd in 2005.
Sorenson is an early season favorite for the title. With NASCAR’s new rule and Sorenson consistency many have picked him to win it all this season.
NNS will run its final race on the old pavement. Unlike the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series they will be back here in the fall.
After a exciting weekend at DIS the season will begins here. As the next couple weeks we go to tracks that are on the majority of the schedule.
This weekend’s race is a very good test for these teams to see where they measure up especially with the new generation race car.
Drivers to watch: Sorenson, 2010 series champion Brad Keselowski and Brian Scott.
The Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 is Saturday, 5:30 ET on ESPN2.
The opinions expressed here are of the writer
Photo: www.msn.foxpsorts.com
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