Is he going for a two-fer? A sweep? A three-peat? What about four on the floor?
 
Whatever the term, Carl Edwards (#60 Dish Network Ford) aims to continue his hot streak – in the season and at Nashville Superspeedway, site of Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 300.

Let’s review the definitions:

• “Two-fer” – Edwards looks to win his second race in a row. He won at Dover International Speedway last Saturday. He won back-to-back races earlier this year at Bristol Motor Speedway and the first race at Nashville.

• “Sweep” – Edwards won at Nashville in April and seeks to become the first driver to capture both races in the same season at the track.

• “Three-peat” – In addition to his victory last April, Edwards also carries the distinction of defending race winner, having won this event one year ago. In the process, he became just the second driver to win more than one race at the 1.33-mile concrete oval. Scott Riggs won in 2002 and again in ’03.

• “Four on the floor” – The series points leader is also the season leader in victories with three. A fourth win would not only pad that lead but put him in pretty exclusive company.

Since the series’ inception in 1982, only seven drivers have won four or more races through the first 15 events of the season.

Two-time series champion Sam Ard had six wins in the first 15 races in 1984 to lead the group. Another two-time champion, Martin Truex Jr., is the last driver to register four wins after 15 races when he did so in 2004. Truex went on to win six races that year. The series record for wins in a season is held by Ard with 10 in 1983.
 
Back To Basics: Saturday Night At Nashville Returns Series To Roots 
  
The entry list for Nashville is a combination of series veterans and new faces – a mix that give this race the true feel of a NASCAR Busch Series event.

Bobby Hamilton Jr., Jason Keller (#11 CJM Racing Chevy) and David Green (#91 YRT2 Toyota) – the 1994 series champion who won at Nashville in 2003 – are veterans who call the series home. The trio will be on a series track together for the first time since the Michigan race in 2004.

The race will also help introduce fans to new faces, including Green’s teammate Bobby Santos (#92 Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports Toyota); Kevin Harvick Inc. teammates Cale Gale (#33 Camping World Chevy) and Kertus Davis (#77 Dollar General Chevy), Timothy Peters (#21 AutoZone Chevy) and 20-year-old Chase Miller (#9 Lipton Dodge) who will make his series debut for Evernham Motorsports.

The infusion of fresh names adds to some talented up-and-coming young series regulars who are poised to take advantage of their opportunity at Nashville – like Steve Wallace (#66 HomeLife Communities Dodge), Stephen Leicht (#90 CitiFinancial Ford), Aric Almirola (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevy), Danny O’Quinn Jr. (#56 Power Equipment Co. Ford), last year’s Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

In The Loop: Edwards Strong At Nashville, But Series Regulars Have High Marks, Too
 
If this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Nashville Superspeedway is anything like the event this past April, expect lots of competitive balance in the equation.

The April race, won by Carl Edwards, had nine different leaders – six of which led at least 20 laps.

In the end, Edwards proved to be the class of the field, but he had stiff competition from the likes of David Reutimann (#99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota), Jason Leffler (#38 Great Clips Toyota) and Shane Huffman (#88 U. S. NAVY Chevy).

Reutimann, who led 35 laps in a second-place finish, had a second-best Driver Rating of 123.9, a second-best Average Running Position of 4.347, 10 Fastest Laps Run (third-most) and the third-fastest Green Flag Speed at 160.060 mph. His first national series win in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition came at the track.

Leffler also challenged for the win. He led 38 laps that race, had a Driver Rating of 118.8 (third-best), an Average Running Position of 4.444 and had 24 Fastest Laps Run which was second-most.

Huffman, another of the series’ key regulars, had an Average Running Position of 5.080 and a Driver Rating of 114.2 in the April Nashville race.

But it was Edwards who placed himself at the top of most of the Loop Data categories. He had race-best figures in Average Running Position (3.382), Driver Rating (144.5), Fastest Laps Run (65) and Green Flag Speed (160.449 mph).

Another driver to watch Saturday is Nashville’s favorite son, Bobby Hamilton Jr. (#35 McDonald’s Ford). He finished ninth in April and scored an impressive Average Running Position of 7.756 and a Driver Rating of 101.1. He also ranked second in Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green) with 32.

Clint Bowyer is another driver who has had past success at Nashville. Though he did not race there in April, he will pull double duty this weekend and race in Nashville and at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Poco#He won at Nashville in 2005 and finished second in both races there in 2006. At Nashville, he has a series-best Driver Rating of 128.4 and an Average Running Position of 4.434.
 
NBS ETC.

• Labonte Tests in Montreal: Two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Terry Labonte – who also has 11 NASCAR Busch Series wins, four of those at Watkins Glen International – will participate in a one-day test at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on Tuesday, June 12. Labonte will drive the #21 Chevy of Richard Childress Racing and similar to Jeff Burton’s test in Mexico City three years ago also in RCR equipment, will be on point for information to be shared among all teams participating in the August 4 event. Labonte, like Burton, was selected since he’s not running in the event.
  The test will consist of two sessons; 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 5:00 p.m. at the 2.709-mile road course located on a man-made island on the St. Lawrence River. Media may enter the track beginning at 11:30 a.m. and a press conference featuring Labonte, NASCAR competition executives and the race promoter is scheduled for noon at the track. Log on to NASCARMedia.com for further information and application for credentials to attend.
• Double-Duty Drivers: The second Nashville race kicks off the portion of the stand-alone season where double-duty drivers will have subs for practice and qualifying. Nine drivers are scheduled for double duty in Nashville and at Pocono Raceway this weekend. Matt McCall will sub for points leader Carl Edwards while Auggie Vidovich does the same for Edwards’ teammate David Ragan. Brandon Miller stands in for Clint Bowyer; Chad Blount for Dave Blaney (#10 Camping World Toyota); Scott Lagasse Jr. for David Stremme; Jay Sauter for J.J. Yeley (#1 Miccosukee Resort Chevy) and Mark Green for David Reutimann. Subs for Greg Biffle and Mike Bliss (#22 Family Dollar Dodge) are to be announced.
• Hamilton Jr. Seeks His “Indy”: Indiana native Tony Stewart craved to win the Brickyard 400, which he finally did in his seventh try. Denny Hamlin, a Virginia native, has echoed those same sentiments, saying a win at Richmond would be the biggest of his career. Bobby Hamilton Jr. has those same feelings about a victory at Nashville. That city’s favorite son has three top fives and five top 10s in eight races at the track – including a runner-up finish in 2002.
• Bires Replaces Wood At Nashville: Wood Brothers/JTG Racing announced Tuesday that developmental driver Kelly Bires, driver of the team’s #21 Ford in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, will stand in for Jon Wood in the #47 Clorox/American Red Cross Ford this weekend at Nashville. Travis Kvapil drove for Wood at Dover last Saturday.
  Bires (prounounced BY–ers) is a 22-year old native of Mauston, Wis., who has started six races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, five for Wood Bros./JTG Racing. He posted his career-best finish (10th) at Atlanta earlier this year.
  Prior to Dover, Wood had started 83 consecutive races in the NASCAR Busch Series dating back to 2004, his first full season in the series. He was 22nd in the point standings with one top-10 finsih this season – 10th at Mexico City in March – prior to Dover.

The Director’s Take: Nashville 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT NASHVILLE: THOUGHTS FROM JOE BALASH, NASCAR BUSCH SERIES DIRECTOR

“Nashville is a big, wide track so there’s not a tendency for drivers to get into each other. Fuel economy is going to be a big factor because the track lends itself to a lot of long green flag runs.

“From the team perspective, those who nail the shock and spring set-up are going to be the ones to beat. Getting those dialed in so the car carries its corner speed is going to be the key to this race. It’s all about getting the car to turn through the corners without pushing.”

“Even though we’re headed to our second concrete track in two weeks, tire wear isn’t as critical an issue at Nashville as it was at Dover.

“The surface at Nashville isn’t as abraisive as it is at Dover. And the banking at Dover is more severe, even in the straightatways. Nashville’s long back straight away gives the tires a chance to cool down.”

Rookie Spotlight: Ambrose Catches Ragan At Top Of Leader Board

• Gotcha, Mate – Ambrose Pulls Even With Ragan: For the first time in six races, Marcos Ambrose (#59 Kingsford Ford) finds himself back on top of the Raybestos Rookie standings, tied in points (139) with David Ragan (#6 Discount Tire Ford) – who was in first place during Ambrose’s absence. The native of Launceston, Tasmania, finished a career-best sixth at Dover and was within laps of registering his first top-five finish. His previous best result was eighth at the Mexico City race in March.

• Ragan’s Woes: Ragan, meanwhile, is searching for answers following his second sub-par finish in succession. He was 25th two weeks ago in Charlotte and followed up with a DNF due to an accident, relegating him to a 32nd-place finish at Dover. His outing at Nashville last April wasn’t kind, either, as an accident left him with a season-worst 36th-place finish.

• Rookie Reunion At Nashville: Seven of the 11 drivers in the Raybestos Rookie program this season are entered at Nashville, the most since nine ran at Richmond International Raceway last month. Justin Diercks (#70 Foretravel Chevy) and Bobby Santos are both entered in their first events since Richmond.

ESPN/ABC

After a brief hiatus, Rusty Wallace returns to the booth for ESPN2’s coverage of Saturday night racing at Nashville Superspeedway. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 6:30 p.m. ET, with race coverage at 7 p.m. The “deuce” will also air practice and qualifying from Nashville beginning at 6 p.m. ET Friday with the live qualifying show airing at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for practice, qualifying and the race. He’ll be joined by analysts Andy Petree and Wallace. Pit reporters Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will contribute to the telecasts. Allen Bestwick will host the qualifying show Friday and NASCAR Countdown Saturday leading up to the race. He’ll be joined in the ESPN Pit Studio throughout the weekend by analyst Brad Daugherty, while Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.

In addition to the NASCAR Busch Series race telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of NASCAR Busch Series events in June, ESPN360.com’s most explosive month of coverage yet, with up to 102 live events. A Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.

2007 At-A-Glance: NASCAR Busch Series Leaders After 14 Of 35 Races:

Traditional Statistics:
Driver points – Edwards (2270)
Races led -- Edwards (10)
Laps led – Ky. Busch (536)
Top-five finishes – Edwards (10)
Top-10 finishes – Edwards (12)
Owner points – Roush (#60) - (2270) 
Money Won – Edwards ($599,200)
Miles led – Ky. Busch (766.03) 
Busch Poles – Hamlin (3)
Closing in on Top 10 – J Burton 10th (1446 pts) Biffle (-12), Ragan (-21)
Consecutive Weeks in Top 10 – Blaney, Edwards, Harvick (14)

Loop Data Statistics:
Driver Rating – Edwards (115.7)
Average Running Position – Edwards (7.126)
Fastest Laps Run – Ky. Busch (242 fastest laps)
Quality Passes – Edwards (611)
Laps In Top 15 – Edwards (2,365 of a possible 2,589)

Edwards, Ford Have The Upper Hand At Nashville, But Toyota Was Strong In April Debut

Carl Edwards’ series-leading third win of the season has helped Ford cut into Chevy’s lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings as the series makes its second and final appearance of the season at Nashville.

Ford registered its first win since Edwards’ Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth won at Texas two months ago and comes to the Music City 12 points behind first-place Chevy.

Ford holds favored status this weekend in Nashville as Edwards goes for the season sweep of the two events and his third victory in a row at the 1.33-mile concrete track. Edwards’ recent success gives the manufacturer five wins at Nashville, tied with Chevy – Chevy had won four of the previous five races before the current streak by Edwards and Ford. Third-place Dodge intervened in Chevy’s recent run with a 2005 win by Reed Sorenson.

But fourth-place Toyota could surprise. It had a strong series debut at Nashville last April by placing three cars in the top five in positions 2, 3 and 4. 
 
Manufacturer's Champion 2007 Point Standings

Chevy   103
Ford       91
Dodge    62
Toyota    52

Up Next: Meijer 300 Presented By Oreo At Kentucky Speedway

The NASCAR Busch Series travels to the site of one of the most memorable wins in its 26-year history next week. Kentucky Speedway is the place for the Meijer 300 on June 16.

Last year, virtual unknown David Gilliland – a part-time driver with a part-time team – swept past J.J. Yeley in the closing laps to secure his first NASCAR national series win and a place in series lore.

Gilliland’s win continued what has become a Kentucky Speedway norm – a new face in Victory Lane. No driver has registered a repeat win at Kentucky and the same goes for the winners of the Busch Pole – there have been six different polesitters as well.

The pre-race festivities feature 70’s rock icon Peter Frampton, who will perform prior to the start of the 300-mile, 200-lap evert at the 1.5-mile oval.
 
FAST FACTS

The Race:  Federated Auto Parts 300 Presented By Dollar General
The Place: Nashville Superspeedway
The Date:  June 9, 20071
The Time: 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: 1.333-mile oval
Race Purse: $1,183,720
2006 Winner: Carl Edwards
2006 Pole: Todd Kluever

2007 Point Standings

# Driver            Points
 1    Edwards           270
 2    Harvick           1798
 3    Blaney            1598
 4    Kenseth          1591
 5    Reutimann       1511
 6    Smith             1478
 7    Mears             1462
 8    Ambrose         1453
 9    Hamilton Jr.     1450
10   J Burton            446

Schedule: Fri.5-6 p.m. – Practice; 6:15-6:45 p.m. – Rookie Practice; 7–8 p.m. – Final Practice. Sat. 2:05 p.m. – Qualifying (Impound).