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closeMarlin back behind the wheel this weekend
INSIDE THE NATIONWIDE SERIES
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2008
A midweek look inside NASCAR's No./ 2 series as we approach the Lebanon, Tenn., race weekend:
Elevator
UP – Clint Bowyer
Shortened race or not, a trip to Victory Lane is just wanted this team needed.
UP – Mike Bliss
Running better than a lot of the Sprint Cup regulars week-in and week-out.
DOWN – Johnny Sauter
Became the first full-time driver to lose his ride this season.
3 Things to Watch
• Landon Cassill: Cassill makes his 2008 debut in JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet and will be assisted by veteran David Green, who will work as his spotter. His last series race was at Phoenix in November.
• Sterling Marlin: Cup veteran takes over for Johnny Sauter in Phoenix Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet and will make series debut at his hometown track.
• Denny Hamlin: He’ll make his second start of the season for Braun Racing and his first with crew chief Trent Owens. Hamlin is looking for his first series win at Nashville.
Observations
• Keep an eye on Colin Braun this weekend as he makes his series debut with Roush-Fenway Racing in the No. 16 Ford. The 19-year-old Truck series regular has made one prior start in the series, last season at Memphis. Braun has two scheduled starts in the series this season with Roush with the other coming at Mexico City.
• Saturday’s race would be a good opportunity for Carl Edwards to make a charge to the top of the points standings. The reigning series champion has won the past three races at Nashville. Even a strong finish short of a win could catapult Edwards to the top as current points leader Kevin Harvick is not running this weekend.
This week’s race
Pepsi 300
Where: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday.
TV: ESPN.
Last year’s winner: Carl Edwards.
Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Harvick, 751; 2. Clint Bowyer, 702; 3. Carl Edwards, 701; 4. David Ragan, 671; 5. David Reutimann, 668; 6. Mike Bliss, 627; 7. Mike Wallace, 603; 8. Brad Keselowski, 591; 9. Jason Leffler 579; 10. Kyle Busch, 568.
