There’s busy, and then there’s BUSY. This weekend, the CV Products Trackside Program will be BUSY supporting four major auto racing series, including NHRA, NASCAR, ARCA and Tudor. From races in North and South Carolina, to ones in California and Ohio, our Trackside crew will have their hands and trailers full. Here’s where we’ll be:
5th Annual Four Wide Nationals
Series: NHRA
When: Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13
Racetrack: Zmax Dragway — Charlotte, NC
What you need to know: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops at the self-proclaimed “Bellagio of dragstrips” — with the spectacle of four-wide racing in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The site, which has hosted an NHRA national event in mid-September since 2008, is famous for its fan amenities and side-by-side dragstrips.
VFW Sports Clips Help A Hero 200
Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series
When: Friday, April 11
Racetrack: Darlington Raceway — Darlington, SC
Note: CV’s trailer is in the pits and available for people with pit passes only
How to watch from home: ESPN2 at 7:30 P.M. (EST)
What you need to know: If there is one thing that has been evident through the first six races of 2014 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, it’s that the future of NASCAR looks bright. At least two Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders have finished in the top 10 of every race this season. This streak, however, could be threatened tonight in the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway, a track that is notoriously hard on drivers. For this year’s class of rookie drivers, Darlington stands as the first real challenge on the 2014 schedule as its tight turns and narrow straightaways often see contestants swap paint and collect the famed “Darlington Stripe” by rubbing against the outside wall.
Tequila Patron Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach
Series: Tudor United Sportscar Championship
When: Friday, April 11 & Saturday, April 12
Racetrack: Long Beach Street Circuit — Long Beach, CA
How to watch from home: FOX Sports at 6:00 P.M. (EST)
What you need to know: Honda chassis and engines will be seeking their fourth consecutive overall victory at Long Beach. Driving for Extreme Speed Motorsports, Scott Sharp will be joined this weekend by Ryan Dalziel in the team’s No. 1 Tequila Patrón HPD ARX-03b/Honda entry, with last year’s second-place finishers Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek returning in the No. 2 entry. The only driver entered in the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase with an overall victory at Long Beach is Scott Pruett, who won the 2006 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series event for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Pruett won co-driving with Luis Diaz; he returns in the No. 01 Ford EcoBoost/Riley with Memo Rojas.
7UP 150
Series: ARCA/CRA Super Series
When: Saturday, April 12
Racetrack: Toledo Speedway — Toledo, Oh
What you need to know: This weekend, Toledo Speedway will open its season with the 7UP 150, a combination race of both the ARCA/CRA Super Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour. It’s a championship point race for both series and an important one for someone to get a leg up on others for the Road to Daytona test. The program began a couple of years ago and has given drivers like Travis Braden, Johnny VanDoorn, Dennis Strickland and Dan Frederickson a chance to drive at Daytona. Braden, who is entered in this weekend’s 7UP 150, had a couple of chances to test at Daytona through the program. He was the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series rookie of the year. Last year, he won the series championship.
Bojangles Southern 500
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
When: Saturday, April 12
Racetrack: Darlington Raceway — Darlington, SC
How to watch from home: FOX at 6:00 P.M. (EST)
What you need to know: For the first time in half a decade – 174 races for those counting – Jeff Gordon holds the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points lead. His last points lead came after the 2009 Coca-Cola 600, following a start to the season that saw a win and two runner-ups in the first seven races. He’s enjoying similar success this year, scoring four consecutive top 10s to start the season. His runner-up finish at Texas gives him three top fives this season. He had eight all of last year. What does all this mean? Well, possibly nothing if he doesn’t win a race. With seven winners in the first seven races, available spots in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are rapidly depleting. Only nine spots remain in the 16-driver playoff field.
