Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - All three of NASCAR's national touring
series are in action this weekend with the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck
Series racing at Michigan and the Nationwide Series running under the lights
at Kentucky.
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Jeremy Clements will serve as substitute driver for Logano during practice and
qualifying, while Brad Coleman will stand in for Busch.
Forty-nine teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Meijer 300.
Camping World Truck Series
Michigan 200 - Michigan International Speedway - Brooklyn, MI
With his second-place finish last Friday at Texas, Matt Crafton grabbed the
points lead for the first time in his Truck Series career. Crafton currently
holds a 30-point lead over Ron Hornaday Jr., who finished 19th.
Hornaday's bid for a third consecutive win at Texas came to an end with a pit
road speeding penalty mid-way through the event. He later suffered engine
trouble which put him four laps behind.
Todd Bodine capitalized on a late-race pit strategy to win at Texas. Bodine
elected not to pit for fuel during the last round of green-flag stops. He
grabbed the lead with 43 laps remaining and held it for his fifth victory at
Texas, becoming the first driver in the series to win that many races at the
same track.
Bodine, the 2006 Truck Series champion, moved up to fourth in points (-66).
Mike Skinner holds the third spot (-39).
This weekend's race at Michigan could likely see the points battle tighten up
even more. Michigan has featured quick races and close finishes since the
series started racing there in 1999.
Brendan Gaughan's 2003 win at Michigan remains the fastest truck event ever
run. Gaughan averaged 154.044 m.p.h. and cruised to an 11.477 margin of
victory in a race that wrapped up in one hour, 17 minutes and 54 seconds.
Gaughan is now a rookie contender in the Nationwide Series.
Last year, Erik Darnell won at Michigan in a thrilling conclusion. Darnell
nipped Johnny Benson at the finish line by 0.005 seconds, making it the
closest finish in series history.
Neither Benson nor Darnell will compete in this year's race at Michigan.
Earlier this week, Benson's No.1 Red Horse Racing team suspended operations
due to lack of sponsorship. Benson, the defending series champion, is
currently seventh in points with four top-10 finishes for the season.
Red Horse Racing said it will continue to field the No.11 Toyota, driven by
T.J. Bell, as that team does have sponsorship.
Darnell is running a limited Nationwide schedule for Roush Fenway Racing this
year. He will race Saturday night at Kentucky.
Thirty-two teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Michigan 200, four
short of a full field.