KENTUCKY PRIMED TO PRODUCE ANOTHER FIRST-TIME WINNER IN 2014

Trevor Bayne

September 19, 2014 – Kentucky Speedway is the last standalone event on the schedule and possibly the perfect stage for the series’ sixth first-time winner to pop up in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 Victory Lane (Sept 20 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN).

In a competitive season that has seen 15 different winners in 26 races it should be no surprise that of the 15, five were first time series winners. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Brendan Gaughan, Ty Dillon and Chris Buescher all have captured the checkered flag this season. So who’s next?

Six of the top-eight drivers in the series standings have a win this season; the two odd men out are Brian Scott and Trevor Bayne.

Richard Childress Racing’s Brian Scott sits fifth in the driver standings having posted three Coors Light poles, five top fives, 16 top 10s and a career-best average finish of 9.9. Scott is on the cusp of breaking through and getting his first win. His season-to-date Driver Rating is 100.2, also a career-best through 26 races. Scott has made seven starts at Kentucky with a best finish of eighth earlier this season.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Trevor Bayne might be going full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season but by no means does he want to close this season out winless. Bayne is sixth in the standings after posting one Coors Light pole, five top fives, 17 top 10s and an average finish of 10.7. His season-to-date Driver Rating of 92.1 is the second-best in his career through 26 races. Bayne has made six starts at Kentucky posting a best finish of 11th in 2011.

Of Kentucky Speedway’s 16 previous NASCAR Nationwide Series races, five were won by first-time winners, David Gilliland (2006), Stephen Leicht (2007), Joey Logano (2008), Austin Dillon (2012) and last year’s event winner Ryan Blaney (2013).

 

WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES: ROOKIE’S STAMINA TO BE TRIED

Chase Elliott

June 04, 2014 –This season’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year class has been one of the best the NASCAR Nationwide Series has ever seen. So as the series hits the brakes this weekend, let’s take a look at some quick highlights from the top three in the Sunoco Rookie standings through 12 races:

Chase Elliott – Not only does he have a 33-point lead in the rookie standings but he also has posted two wins (Texas, Darlington), six top fives, nine top 10s with an average finish of  9.4. He also has led the overall series driver standings for five races this season; he is currently third in points, 22 back from Regan Smith.

Ty Dillon – Following in his brother Austin’s footsteps, Ty is driving the famed No. 3 car in the NNS this season, and is second in the Sunoco Rookie standings. Dillon has posted nine top-10 finishes and a pole this season. His average finishing position is 9.7. Dillon is fifth in the overall series driver standings, 34 points back from Regan Smith.

Chris Buescher – Competing against his cousin (James) this season in the NNS, Chris is third in the rookie standings and ninth in the overall driver standings. Separated by 64 points from Chase Elliott in the Sunoco Rookie standings, Buescher has posted one top five and four top 10s this season. His average finish in 2014 is 14.3.

Elliott, Dillon, Buescher and the rest of the class of young talent will have their racing career stamina’s truly tested following this break; the series enters a 18-week stretch of racing that none of them have faced in their racing careers before. Dillon has the most experience at long schedule stretches, from participating in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.