One week after getting bounced from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag at Martinsville to become the first non-championship-qualifying driver to win a race in NASCAR’s playoffs this season. Despite winning one week too late, the victory was an important one, because like all of the drivers in all of the races we’re supporting this weekend, no one’s racing for anything but a trip to victory lane.
Speaking of victory lane, here’s where to find us this weekend (and remember, you’ll need a pit pass to get to where we are at each of the races listed below):
Winstar World Casino and Resort 350
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
When: Friday, October 31
Racetrack: Texas Motor Speedway — Fort Worth, TX
Here’s how this one played out: Kyle Busch won his seventh NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season last night and the 42nd of his storied Truck Series career. Busch was dominant all night, leading more laps than anyone else (80), cruising to victory at the Winstar World Casino and Resort 350 under caution as a couple of the trucks behind him wrecked on the final lap. Tonight’s win marked the 10th time Busch has visited victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway, and the 42nd time he’s walked away with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. With only two races left in the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign, Matt Crafton — the winner of two races this season and the defending series champion — maintains his series lead over Ryan Blaney by 23 points. If you’re wondering why it is that Busch — who has seven Tuck Series victories this season alone — isn’t leading the series point standings himself, that’s because he doesn’t qualify for series points on account of not racing in the series full-time.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series
When: Saturday, November 1
Racetrack: Texas Motor Speedway — Fort Worth, TX
What you need to know: The NASCAR Nationwide Series is coming off a two-week layoff. Brian Scott had the second-best average finish (8.6) behind points leader Chase Elliott (7.0). Scott has posted six top fives and 20 top 10s this season – a series career best. His season-to-date driver rating of 101.4 and average running position of 7.4 are both second-best among series championship contenders. Scott has made nine starts at Texas posting two top 10s. Elliott Sadler, fourth in the point standings, is closing just two points back from third-place Brian Scott. Sadler has posted one win (Talladega), six top fives, 22 top 10s and an average finish of 9.7 this season. He moved to fourth in the standings following his ninth-place finish at Charlotte a few weeks ago. Sadler has made 13 starts at Texas posting three top fives, seven top 10s and two poles.
How to watch from home: ESPN2 at 3:30pm EST.
AAA TEXAS 500
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
When: Sunday, November 2
Racetrack: Texas Motor Speedway — Fort Worth, TX
What you need to know: A mere seven points separate Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup leader Jeff Gordon and fifth-place Denny Hamlin, with three others – Ryan Newman (-3), Joey Logano (-4) and Matt Kenseth (-5) – sandwiched in between. The five will attempt to distance themselves from the pack in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Less than two weeks ago, Brad Keselowski was the talk of the NASCAR world after he pulled out an improbable victory in a “win or go home” situation at Talladega that propelled him into the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Going into Sunday’s AAA, Keselowski finds himself in a similar predicament. After finishing 31st in the opening Eliminator Round race at Martinsville, the driver is 26 points behind the Chase cutoff line and essentially needs to win one of the next two races at Texas or Phoenix to move on to the Championship final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
How to watch from home: ESPN at 2pm EDST
12th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout presented in Memory of Charles Kepley
Series:Pro All Stars Series
When: Saturday, November 1 (Rescheduled for Sun., Nov. 2)
Racetrack: Caraway Speedway — Sophia, NC
What you need to know: Due to weather, the North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway has been rescheduled to this Sunday, November 2nd. Gates will open at 9am and racing will start at 1:30pm. In its 12-year history, the John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout — presented in memory of Charles Kepley — has become known for attracting the best in short track racing. PASS South has competed at Caraway Speedway five times since 2008. But it’s been in the North-South Shootout when the best PASS has to offer has shined. In 2012, North Carolina legend Jay Fogleman battled throughout the 150-lap event with Ross Kenseth before finally prevailing for his second win of the season. The win sent Fogleman on his way to his first of two straight PASS National Championships. This year’s event has all the earmarks of another classic as Tyler Church, Cole Timm, and Jared Irvan look to bounce back after lackluster performances at Orange County Speedway as they compete for the PASS South Super Late Model championship. One of the most impressive group of Super Late Model drivers ever assembled for the North-South Shootout is expected as they look to defend the bragging rights for their respective regions.
