Last weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide race at Road America the winner of the race wasn’t exactly clear even after the checkered flag had waved.
NASCAR did the right thing reviewed the tape and awarded Reed Sorenson the win. This weekend the finish could be just as close as the series heads back to Dayton International Speedway for the final time in 2011.
Any restrictor plate race is a crapshoot but especially at DIS this season as this is only the fourth race to be run on the new track surface.
For the first time in a long time the NNS regulars are looking to make it three in a row. That would be three wins in a row as Justin Allgaier won at Chicagoland and Sorenson at Road America.
Sorenson this weekend might not be a bad pick for the win on Friday night. In Febuary he finished fifth on the new surface.
His average finish in eight starts is 18.8 but that includes four top 10 finishes. IN the July race last year and the first time with the current car on this type of track he finished 22nd.
Sorenson not only will he be looking to breakthrough with his first win at DIS but also lead his first laps on the track.
Leading the points in the series by just five over Elliott Sadler means he cannot afford to make any mistakes. With the points as close as they are Sorenson wouldn’t mind getting another win in one of the bigger races of the year.
“This really gives us a lot of momentum going into Daytona, which is another wild-card race where anything can happen- especially in the closing laps. I enjoy the racing there and am excited to look for my Turner Motorsports teammates again as I’m sure the two-car hook-ups are going to be a factor in the outcome. You need to find a good partner early because the race is shorter in the summer and I’m sure it will go by quickly. I’d love nothing more than to get another win for Dollar General this weekend and that Dash 4 Cash money that Nationwide is putting up for us regulars wouldn’t be bad either!”
Trevor Bayne will be back at the track where he scored his biggest career win in Feburary’s Daytona 500.
Bayne though is focused on getting back into the title fight after missing races earlier this season after being treated for what he syas was Lyme disease.
Bayne though since his return has logged a top five finish and knows that if he wants back into this title fight he has some work to do.
In three NNS starts at DIS he has one top 10 finish that came in Feburary and he has led nine laps.
Bayne will be a popular partner in the two car tango that we now see at DIS. His success there earlier this year and also drivers around him are more confident in his ability to be a pusher which can lead to success at the end of the day.
Bayne sits 14th position in the standings and over 200 points out from the lead. His title hopes this season might be a long shot but a win here this weekend will give the team some confidence and momentum heading into Kentucky.
My drivers to watch in the race are Bayne, Tony Stewart and Sorenson.
The Subway Jalapeno 250 is Friday night at 7:30 ET on ESPN.
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