It’s yet another big weekend on tap for NASCAR, as three national touring series take over two big racetracks. The Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series return to the Granite State with their races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while the Xfinity Series stands alone at the Kentucky Speedway.
Here are your four to follow, the key storylines for NASCAR at New Hampshire and Kentucky:
The Trucks are Back in Town
The Camping World Truck Series will honor their 500th race as a national touring series on Saturday at the magic mile of NHMS. And what celebration of truck series racing would be complete without Kyle Busch racing in the field. Busch looks to take on the Truck regulars, on a track that Rowdy as won on three times before. Look for Busch to be the favorite for this race.
The Ironman Award
Meanwhile, another number, 788, is on the mind of one Jeff Gordon this weekend. Gordon is set to become NASCAR’s all-time ironman with 788 consecutive starts, passing Ricky Rudd for the title. Among Gordon’s many accolades, this honor proves unique in showing his years of commitment to racing and to NASCAR.
Bouncing Back Big Time
Two drivers enter this weekend in a seemingly insurmountable hole in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kevin Harvick ran into problems at Chicago, after contact with Jimmie Johnson cut down a tire and caused him to crash. Meanwhile, Clint Bowyer was hit with a big points penalty after rules violations found following the Chicago race. That leaves both drivers with more than twenty points to make up before the first round of eliminations, meaning they need to do one thing this weekend – win.
Series Showcase
Winning is all that will be on the minds of Xfinity Series drivers this weekend at Kentucky. For the first time all season, there will be no Cup Series regulars entered in the field. And with only one driver pulling double duty with the Camping World Truck Series, the field is almost guaranteed to see a series regular win the race, and potentially throw themselves into the tight fight for the championship.
Lots of racing to be seen this weekend every day, starting with the ARCA Racing Series on Friday night at Kentucky on FS1. The action then stays on FS1 on Saturday afternoon for the Camping World Truck Series race, the UNOH 175 at NHMS. A Saturday night showcase caps off the day with the Xfinity Series at Kentucky on NBCSN. And finally, the Cup drivers race in the second leg of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire, also on NBCSN.
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