Cup boys invade Nashville this weekend

Nashville Superspeedway -- 04/11/2009

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Thursday Apr 9 2009 11:10am

The Sprint Cup Series arrives at a second off-weekend in 2009. Meanwhile, the Nationwide Series event at the Nashville Super Speedway will take center stage. The Pepsi 400 is the first standalone event for the Nationwide Series in 2009.

Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Michael Waltrip, and Joey Logano are Sprint Cup regulars that will compete in this weekend’s event. Nationwide Series regulars Brad Keselowski, Mike Bliss, Jason Leffler, and Justin Allgaier look to pull off the upset. It should be an interesting weekend in the Nationwide Series.

1. 88-Brad Keselowski: +800 odds

Brad Keselowski scored first career Nationwide Series win at Nashville last June. The 2009 season has not began the way Keselowski and his JR Motorsports team envisioned, but his performance last week at Texas proved that this team is on its way back toward the front. Keselowski is due for a breakout weekend, and this could be the race he outruns Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Keselowski will benefit from Hendrick Motorsports equipment.

He finished fourth in this race last year, and led two laps.

2. 18-Kyle Busch: +160 odds

Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch utterly dominated the event, scoring his second win of the 2009 Nationwide Series season. The victory at Texas allowed Busch to pull to within 38 points of Carl Edwards, who currently leads the championship standings. Busch is the odds-on favorite for this weekend’s race, and for good reason. He will be difficult to beat, especially if he starts near the front of the pack.

In this race a year ago, Busch led 125 laps before he spun out while leading. He finished in the sixteenth position, two laps off the pace. He did not compete in the second race at Nashville in June.

3. 60-Carl Edwards: +300 odds

Carl Edwards currently leads the Nationwide Series championship standings, but he has yet to crack victory lane. I would not be too concerned if I were a Carl Edwards fans, as he did not win his first race until June of last year in 2008. Edwards’ nickname is ‘Concrete Carl’ because of the success he has enjoyed at the three tracks with concrete surfaces- Bristol, Dover, and of course, Nashville. Edwards is a safe bet for this weekend’s race.

He finished third in this race a year ago. He finished thirteenth in the second Nashville race held in June.

4. 20-Joey Logano: +600 odds

Joey Logano has struggled mightily in the Sprint Cup series, but his Nationwide Series results are much better. In four starts, Logano has one top five finish and two top ten finishes. A win would be a huge confidence boost for the eighteen year old driver. If he is to win the race, he must be able to outshine his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, as well as Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski.

Logano did not compete in this race a year ago, but he won the pole and finished 31st in the June race at Nashville.

5. 1-Mike Bliss: +1200 odds

Mike Bliss has not posted the results to match his performances in 2009. Bliss is consistently a top ten contender, but he has faced some ill fortune thus far. The Nashville Super Speedway is a track that suits Bliss’ driving style. While he may fall short of running with Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Brad Keselowski, a top five finish is plausible for Bliss and his Phoenix Racing team.

Bliss finished eleventh in this race a year ago, and finished twelfth in the race held in June.

6. 6-David Ragan: +800 odds

It is difficult to believe that David Ragan has yet to win in the Nationwide Series. He is in top notch equipment, and he is competitive, but he just seems to be a step or two behind Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. This weekend would be a prime opportunity for Ragan, as there are only a handful of Sprint Cup drivers competing in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville.

Last year, Ragan posted a disappointing twenty-first place finish. In June, Ragan finished in the fifth position.

7. 12-Justin Allgaier: +1500 odds

Justin Allgaier has emerged as the 2009 season’s pleasant surprise. Driving for Penske Racing, Allgaier has exceeded expectations in the rookie season. He has outperformed all of his rookie counterparts by a wide margin. He is currently fifth in the Nationwide Series championship standings with one top five finish and three top ten finishes. Allgaier reminds me of a young Ryan Newman.

Allgaier did not compete at Nashville in the Nationwide Series in 2008.

8. 38-Jason Leffer: +1500 odds

Jason Leffler has quietly enjoyed a solid start to the 2009 Nationwide Series season. He heads into Nashville fourth in the championship standings, only 187 points behind Carl Edwards. Leffler is similar to Bliss in the fact that there are times when he can legitimately contend with the powerhouses of the series. Leffler is not one of the favorites, but he will be interesting to follow on Saturday.

In this race a year ago, Leffler finished in the thirteenth position. In the June race at Nashville, he posted a twenty-sixth place finish.

9. 99-Michael Waltrip: +1200 odds

Michael Waltrip has plenty of reasons to smile in 2009. I can think of at least three-the No. 00 car, No.55 car, and the No. 47 car. All three Michael Waltrip Racing prepared cars are performing well in the Sprint Cup Series. Waltrip hopes to add to the solid season by winning the Nationwide Series event in Nashville.

Waltrip did not compete at the races held in Nashville, but he won this race in 2004.

10. 29-Stephen Leicht: +1500 odds

Stephen Leicht will pilot the car that won this race a year ago with Scott Wimmer behind the wheel. This will be his first race of the 2009 season, as he is sharing the ride with Sprint Cup regulars Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. It is doubtful that he can duplicate Wimmer’s victory; nevertheless, he should enjoy a solid outing on Saturday.

Leicht finished twelfth in the race last year.

Field +600 odds

Also, keep an eye on Steve Wallace, Brendan Gaughan, Kelly Bires, Scott Lagasse Jr, and Jason Keller

Great dark horse picks include Michael Annett, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Michael McDowell, Brian Scott, and David Green

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