NEWS & STATS

Nationwide Preview: O'Reilly Challenge

By Brian Polking

November 3, 2009 9:15 AM ET

While Jimmie Johnson closes in on a four-peat in the Cup Series, Kyle Busch has a chance to complete a four-peat of his own in the Nationwide Series. Busch has won the last three series events at Texas Motor Speedway. In his last two wins, he has led 352 of the 400 laps. He was the first driver to win three races in a row at TMS, and he can extend his record streak this weekend.

There will be plenty of big names in the field looking to stop him. Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick are among the drivers set to start in the race. Kahne has a victory and that track in his career, and Kenseth has a pair. Harvick has a track record four wins, and he will look to stop Busch's streak and keep his own record intact.

Earlier this year, Kyle Busch dominated the competition. He sat on the pole and led 178 of the 200 laps on his way to a win. Cup regulars dominated the race, claiming the five of the first six spots and seven of the top 10 positions. Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, David Ragan and Paul Menard made up the top-five finishers. Along with Keselowski, Mike Bliss and rookie Justin Allgaier were the only non-Cup regulars in the top 10. Cup regulars Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both finished outside the top 15.

In this race last year, Kyle Busch wasn't quite as dominant, but he ended the day in victory lane anyway, leading 174 laps. Pole-sitter Carl Edwards was second as Cup regulars took four of the top five spots and eight of the top 10 positions. Mark Martin, Joey Logano and David Ragan completed the top-five finishers.

Cup Regulars


With three straight wins at the track, Kyle Busch is a no-brainer pick as the favorite. He has the championship pretty much in the bag, and he can go all out for a few wins in the final races of the year. Busch has eight finishes of seventh or better in eight starts at the track, including four straight runs of second or better.

Surprisingly, Carl Edwards has never been to victory lane at Texas in the Nationwide Series. He does have four top fives in nine starts and a solid 11.6 finishing average. Edwards' second-place finish in this race last season was the best finish of his career at the track.

Four-time track winner Kevin Harvick has a lot to race for this weekend. If Busch wins again, he will tie Harvick's mark for career victories at TMS. Winning the race would snap Busch's win streak and extend his own record.

If you are looking for a guy with a proven track record at Texas, Matt Kenseth is your man. He has 11 top-10 finishes in his last 12 starts at the track, including two trips to victory lane. Kenseth's 7.5 finishing average is second only to Busch's 6.1 mark.

Joey Logano has been a winning machine in the Nationwide Series this year. He has compiled an 8.0 finishing average in two starts at the track with one top five. Logano and his JGR teammate have combined to win 12 races in the series this season.

David Ragan and Jeff Burton both have solid numbers at Texas. Ragan has three top fives and four top 10s in his last five starts at the track, including a top-five earlier this year. Burton has just three top fives, but he has never finished outside the top 10 in nine career starts. Of the two, Burton is the safer pick, but Ragan appears to have a better shot at winning.

Despite a win at the track, Kasey Kahne hasn't been all that great at Texas. In nine starts, he has six finishes outside the top 20. Brian Vickers has struggled as well, finishing 25th or worse in two of his three starts.

Nationwide Regulars


After a rough introduction to Texas Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski has reeled off four straight top 15s, including two straight top 10s at the track. Earlier this season, he notched a career best third-place finish. There is no reason to think Keselowski won't be competing for the win once again this weekend.

It's been an up and down finish to the season for Jason Leffler, but he has been very consistent at Texas in his career. He has eight finishes of 17-th or better in his last nine starts, including five straight. Leffler has never recorded a top-five finish at TMS, but he is a good bet to log a top 15.

Rookie Justin Allgaier was one of the few non-Cup drivers that had success at Texas earlier this season. He notched a solid top-10 finish in a field loaded with talent, more experienced drivers. The only thing Allgaier hasn't done this year is win a race.

Mike Bliss is quickly becoming one of the best drivers in the series. Since jumping behind the wheel of the No. 11 car, he has been a staple of the top five. Earlier this season, he recorded a seventh-place finish, and he could easily better that mark this weekend.