Better Half Dash Set During Saturday’s Pre-Race Activities – The guys will move over and the ladies will take to the track as the Better Half Dash takes place Saturday on the speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval. The race will feature the women of NASCAR racing Bandolero cars against each other in a 25-lap charity event that will support Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). The cars will be provided by U.S. Legend Cars International.
The race will start at approximately 2:30 p.m. and feature a caution on Lap 15. There will be two chances at a green/white/checkered finish and caution laps will not count. The starting order will be determined by a random draw prior to the race.
While the wives, girlfriends and significant others are racing, the other half has the option to serve as crew chiefs or spotters. There will not be any changes allowed to the cars, but the other half can give advice.
The purse will be paid to the driver’s charity of choice, with $5,000 going to the winner’s charity, $3,000 for the second place finisher and $2,000 for third. Race fans will also have the opportunity to donate to MRO or SCC through the completion of the Bank of America 500 by texting “MOTOR” to 20222.
Listed below are the participants, their NASCAR association and car number.
Driver, NASCAR Association, Car #
Patricia Driscoll, Kurt Busch, 22
Shannon Koch, Blake Koch, 81
Melanie Self, MRO, 43
Trisha Mears, Casey Mears, 10
Angie Skinner, Mike Skinner, 5
Ashley Allgaier, Justin Allgaier, 31
Jami McDowell, Michael McDowell, 66
Wendy Venturini, SPEED, 25
Beth Baldwin, Tommy Baldwin, 35
Jacquelyn Butler, David Ragan, 6
Sabrina Simpson, Joey Logano, 19¾
Kristen Yeley, J.J. Yeley, 1
Michelle Gilliland, David Gilliland, 34
Nan Zipadelli, Greg Zipadelli, 20
Menard on Pole – Paul Menard grabbed the pole position for tonight’s Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage NASCAR Nationwide Series race with a time of 29.079 seconds (185.701 mph). Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start second, followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Carl Edwards. Drivers who did not make the race include Chase Miller, Mark Green, Dennis Setzer, Casey Roderick, Matt Carter and Carl Long.
Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Winner Announced – After a season full of driving challenges, written quizzes and safety inspections, the Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Challenge concluded Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the crowning of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) hauler driver Jamie Price as champion. Price won a $50,000 check for his skill and determination.
“I just want to thank Scott Wombold for putting on a great competition to be able to have all of us show our talents,” said Price, who drives the No. 18 hauler for Kyle Busch.
Second place went to Gibbs hauler driver and 2009 champion Tom “Thumper” McCrimmon, and third place to Michael Waltrip Racing hauler driver Glen Shano.
In fact, three of the top four finishers in the Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Challenge went to Gibbs Racing drivers, a fact that did not escape JGR President J.D. Gibbs’ attention.
“This really is a big deal for our guys,” Gibbs said. “These guys behind the scenes, day in day out, night in night out – when our guys leave the track and fly home on the plane, their work just begins. We’ve got just a great group. I’m so happy for these guys.”
But Gibbs couldn’t help but rib his winning hauler driver just a little, adding, “You know, normally when we win the Cup races, the driver and the team get a split of the purse, so I’m just saying…”
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