This weekend the NASCAR Nationwide Series will head off to the Phoenix International Speedway for the 15th annual ServiceMaster 200 for race number 32 of the 33 scheduled races this season. The entry list currently features a total of 42 drivers.
Fresh faces you’ll see tomorrow include Daryl Harr, Ryan Reed, Drew Herring, Timmy Hill, Kelly Admiraal, Kevin Harvick, Chad Hackenbracht, Ryan Blaney, Jamie Dick, Derrike Cope, Mike Harmon, Jeffery Earnhardt and Kevin Swindell.
Currently twelve drivers will have to qualify tomorrow in on speed with two of those going home. Those drivers are: Blake Koch, Jeff Green, Ryan Reed, Matt Kenseth, Josh Wise, Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Jamie Dick, Mike Harmon, Morgan Shepherd, Dexter Stacey and Kevin Swindell.
Austin Dillon goes into Phoenix this weekend with a six point lead over second place Sam Hornish, Jr. with two races remaining. Qualifying will be key for both drivers as the last two races the pole sitter has went on to win the race.
“I like flat tracks. New Hampshire Motor Speedway is an example of a flat track where I feel like I have been successful in the past, and I feel like Phoenix International Raceway has some similar characteristics so I am looking forward to this weekend,” said Dillon. “I think the repave has changed the dynamics of the racing a little bit, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a handling race track where it’s very important to work on your car and make sure it’s right for the race. Phoenix International Raceway is a place where getting off of each corner is very big. Entry is important. You need to be stable but you need to be the first one to the gas.”
Rookie Kyle Larson still looks for that first win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. With his success on short tracks this season, it is possible for him to capture that win tomorrow. This March, he went on to a 13th place finish.
“I really enjoy racing at Phoenix, and I know that it’s one of my team’s favorite tracks too,” said Larson. “[Crew chief] Trent [Owens] ran really well here last fall with Kasey [Kahne] in the car, and I finished second in the Truck Series race, so hopefully we can continue that this year. We’ve had a lot of success with this chassis, so I’m excited to see what we can do during the race.”
If Ford is able to grab a win tomorrow, they could clinch the NASCAR Nationwide Series manufacture championship.
You can catch this weekend’s race live at 4:00 p.m. Et. on ESPN2. The Motor Racing Network will provide the live radio coverage of the event. You can listen to MRN online at MRN.com, TuneIn App or on AudioNow by dialing 1-832-999-1717 on your mobile phone.
About Me: Brett has been following the sport of NASCAR since the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Since Brett was 13, he has had a passion of chasing a job in sports that not many get the opportunity of doing. He has been in the NASCAR media since the middle of the 2010 season. Since then, he has been a part of many racing podcast shows to improve his talents. He has written for racingonfuel.com and theracingwheel.com. Currently, Brett writes for motorsportsnat.com and TracksideChatter.com. You can find him on twitter @NASCAR_Brett.
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