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closeJohnson knows way around Lowe's, and he may be due
INSIDE THE NATIONWIDE SERIES
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Thursday, May. 22, 2008
Elevator
UP - STEVE WALLACE:
Currently a career-best 11th in the series standings.
UP - JOE GIBBS RACING:
Can anyone stop them?
DOWN - DENNY HAMLIN:
Failed to qualify for Darlington race. Have to be in it to win it.
3 to Watch
1.
KYLE BUSCH: Only one negative this week. Should he win his fourth race of the season, it won't go toward extending Joe Gibbs Racing's streak. Busch is driving for Braun Racing on Saturday.
2.
JIMMIE JOHNSON: Johnson has five career Sprint Cup wins at Lowe's Motor Speedway but none in the Nationwide Series. He'll look to change that this weekend while driving for JR Motorsports.
3.
JOEY LOGANO: This is his last weekend as a fan. Following his 18th birthday and beginning next weekend at Dover, Del., the Gibbs Racing development driver will be competing in the series on a fairly regular basis.
Observations
• Nothing like a party to help get new fans acclimated to NASCAR. Series driver Marcos Ambrose is hosting 30 fellow Australians in Charlotte this week as part of a NASCAR tour. The group arrived Wednesday night and will visit Lowe's Motor Speedway, the JTG race shop and take in a race at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
• Eric McClure finally is assured of a race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. McClure's team is 30th in car owner points, assuring him a spot in Saturday's field. In six previous attempts at making a series race at the track, he has failed to qualify.
This week's race
CARQUEST 300
WHERE: Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN2
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Kasey Kahne
TOP 10 IN POINTS: 1. Clint Bowyer, 1,740; 2. Kyle Busch, 1,628; 3. Carl Edwards, 1,590; 4. David Reutimann, 1,572; 5. Mike Bliss, 1,545; 6. David Ragan, 1,521; 7. Brad Keselowski, 1,500; 8. Jason Leffler, 1,480; 9. Mike Wallace, 1,385; 10. David Stremme, 1,327.