The Nationwide Series heads to Dover, Delaware this week for the 5 Hour Energy 200. The Monster Mile will host 43 teams this week, six of them will run drivers not running for the Championship, but only two are Sprint Cup drivers!

Kurt Busch and Joey Logano make up the only Sprint Cup regulars doing double duty this week. The other four are Truck Series stars Parker Kligerman, James Buescher, Ty Dillon, and John Wes Townley. Dillon will be making his first career Nationwide start and will be doing so along side his brother Austin.

Entry List after the Jump!

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I decided to have a little fun and do a Sam Hornish Vs Danica Patrick contest. Both former Indy drivers are running full time in the Nationwide Series at the same time this year. Patrick is just starting the leap into Nascar while Hornish is on the comeback trail.

Now, I know what you are thinking, Sam Hornish has been in Nascar longer then Danica Patrick and should be beating her, while that may be true, Hornish has just 44 Nationwide Starts compared to Patrick's 36. Hornish however has more Sprint Cup expirence and there is a good deal of difference between the two types of cars.

It also should be noted that two drivers with less starts combined than Patrick has in her career are higher in points than Patrick, and they would be Austin Dillon and Cole Whitt. Dillon actually is above Hornish as well!

Oh and let's not even talk about which one between Hornish and Patrick gets more air time.

Before you take the jump and see how they match up, how would you judge the battle between these two racers?

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Brad Keselowski won. That's all I have to say about that.

Ricky Stenhouse broke a driveshaft early in the race and spent the rest of the day riding around over twenty laps down. He hung on to the points lead, but took a huge hit. Elliott Sadler was the highest finishing Nationwide Driver in fifth place.

I have to eat a little crow this week. In the preview I knocked Richard Childress Racing driver Joey Coulter saying that he would not have been my first choice to make his debut at Charlotte. Coulter changed my mind with a tenth place finish and an all together solid debut. Coulter is struggling in the Truck Series, but it seems that he may be better suited in Nationwide.

Results and More after the jump!

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Not going to lie, I was a bit confused when I read what the title sponsor was going to be for this week's race. The History Channel, which will not be broadcasting the race mind you, will be on board to bring you the History 300 this week Live from Charlotte, NC.

Charlotte is not just the home of The Nature Boy Rick Flair, who will most likely be on hand this week, it is also considered the home of Nascar in general. The Nascar Hall of Fame is located there, as is Charlotte Motor Speedway. Charlotte is a bit of a gamble on what type of racing you will see. The shear number of Sprint Cup Regulars in the field complicates that even more. What we will most likely see is the big hitter from Sprint Cup battling it out and the Nationwide Regulars trying to stay out of the way. I would love to see Nascar try for one year to not have any race with more then three Sprint Cup drivers entered. It would be fantastic.

Entry List and More after the Jump!

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Ricky Stenhouse has now won three straight events at Iowa Speedway. Stenhouse only won two races last year, both Iowa races, and this year has already won three races including this race at Iowa. Stenhouse is on a mission to prove he is ready for a run at Sprint Cup next year. Sponsorship is still an issue, but Stenhouse could be the next big thing in Nascar.

Elliott Sadler finished second, and both Parker Kligerman and Darrell Wallace Jr showed a lot of promise with top ten finishes. It was great to see some young talent fight it out without to many Sprint Cup Regulars getting in the way.

Results, points and commentary after the jump!

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The thing I'm looking forward to this week is the absence of many Cup regulars in the Nationwide field, with the main exception being Kurt Busch that is. Iowa Speedway is a newer racetrack that has been pretty good in terms of race action. Ricky Stenhouse won both races last year and is the only past winner entered this week. Elliott Sadler will be looking to turn around his luck following a late race crash with Joey Logano last weekend.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, the title sponsor this week, is the worldwide leader in producing Hi-Bred Seeds for agriculture. Pioneer makes Corn, Wheat and Soybean seeds for farmers. Check out there website for more information.

Entry list after the jump.

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(Editor's Note: Due to an Internet failure at the 4ever3 residence I was not able get this up the last few days - sorry!). There's never much that can be said when a Sprint Cup driver wins a Nationwide race. This time though, the winner caused a Championship contender to crash. Joey Logano caused Sadler to hit the wall during a late race re-start. Sadler finished a disappointing 24th but he only falls to second in points. Based on last year's Nationwide campaign Elliott should be no stranger to getting spun by guys either not running for the championship or mathematically eliminated from contention.

Travis Pastrana finished 17th, which was a pretty good run for a Darlington Rookie. Danica Patrick wound up 12th, which launched her into 10th place in points.

Results and more after the jump!

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The Nationwide Series heads to Darlington this weekend, so expect a hard fought race. If you're over the age of 21 and you are looking for one of those 'drink when ... ' games, have a swig of your favorite NASCAR endorsed alcoholic beverage every time the term "Darlington Stripe" is used - I have a feeling you'll be hearing that a lot! Please Note: do not take a drink every time Danica Patrick is shown or mentioned because you will die of alcohol poisoning.

Eric McClure will miss the race this week as he is recovering from a concussion and other injuries sustained last week at Talladega. Jeff Green will be given the shot at running a full race this week when he fills in for McClure.

Entry List and More after the jump!

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Let's start with a very scary wreck. It was a multi-car crash that saw Eric McClure going head on into the SAFER Barrier. Eric's release from the hospital today is another great sign that NASCAR has become much safer. With the HANS device, SAFER Barriers, etc. McClure is able to not only survive the wreck, but will probably have no lasting injuries.

The other big story, other then Logano beating out Busch for the win, is Danica Patrick again showing that she loves to give women an bad name. Patrick and Hornish got together at the end of the race in what appeared to be nothing more then a Talladega incident. Both hit the wall, and still finished in about the same position they would have finished in. So what does Patrick do once the checkered flag flies? She drives up to the back of Hornish, rides him for a few feet and then wrecks him into the wall. It was another poor showing from Patrick, who continues to show that she is a sore loser and a hot head. Nascar talked to Patrick but will not issue any punishment.

Results and more after the Jump!

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Talladega,it's an amazing fan experience and has been a fan favorite for many years. 'Dega is one of two superspeedways and is always an entertaining race where the finish always seems to end in controversy and excitement.

This week we have both Busch Brother fighting it out as well as a showcase of young stars like Austin Dillon, Ryan Truex and Cole Whitt. Everytime Nascar heads to Alabama, it's hard to judge just which race is better; the Cup race or the Nationwide race?

We've seen some great finishes year in and year out and the biggest thing to watch for is how this race effects the Championship battle.

Entry List and More after the Jump!

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Kurt Busch is entering the next stage of his career. Busch began as a Roush Fenway 'Gong Show' winner. Busch was put in the #99 Roush Truck and won four races and the 2000 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Award finishing second in points to teammate Greg Biffle. This would be Kurt's only full year in Trucks. He has made just one start since his Rookie year, a fifth place finish in a 2001 race at Milwaukee.

Busch would jump straight to the Sprint Cup Series, taking over for Chad Little who was released after 27 races in the 2000 campaign. Busch would enter 2001 as a Rookie contender in an un-sponsored team. At this time Busch was a young up and comer and soon found sponsorship from Sharpie and collected three top five's in his rookie campaign losing out to Kevin Harvick for Rookie of the year. Busch only had one encounter with Dale Earnhardt on track and it was in Earnhardt's final race. Busch and Earnhardt made contact and Earnhardt stuck his hand out the window and flipped off the young Roush Rookie.

Busch would win four races each of the next two years with Roush before finally scoring his first, and only, Cup Championship in 2004 on the strength of three wins and ten top fives. It was the first time the Cup Championship was sponsored by Nextel. This would be the last year of Busch as a scrappy young driver. What came next was a low point for the '04 Champion. In 2005, Busch won three races but had a run in with the police and was benched by Roush for the final two races of the year. So entered the Spoiled Brat Busch phase of his career.

Busch left Roush Fenway and would be signed by Roger Penske to replace the 1984 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace. Wallace was also signed after winning a Championship, but much like Wallace, Busch would fail to win Roger Penske a Championship. It took just four races before Busch took the Blue Deuce back to victory lane, but he would not win again the rest of the year. Busch would win just two races in 2007, 2009, and 2010 with one win in 2008.

When Shell/Pennzoil left Richard Childress in order to allow Budweiser to take over for the very driver that beat Busch for Rookie of the Year, Roger Penske jumped in and signed the Gas Giant. Mobil One left to sponsor Tony Stewart and Roger Penske decided to build a new team from the ashes of the #12 and #77 teams. In a surprise move, Busch was moved from the Blue Deuce to the new team. Brad Keselowski, who had struggled in his first full year with Penske would take over for Busch in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge.

What came next as Busch joined the new #22 Penske team was a second term of Spoiled Brat Busch thus ending any attempt at redemption. It was never clear as to why Busch was moved, either Miller Lite asked that Busch be moved or new sponsor Shell/Pennzoil wanted Kurt. Only those involved know for sure, and they aren't talking (yet). Kurt again clocked in two wins but at the end of the year it finally came to light that Busch was what everyone thought he was; a hot head who was out of control. Busch went nuts and went off on pit reporter Jerry Punch and was released from Penske Racing.

This year we get a second attempt at a redemption from a very talented driver. Busch is driving for underfunded Phoenix Racing and is making the most starts in the Nationwide series of his career. Busch is driving for brother Kyle's KBM team, and it is fitting that the team's first win would come not with owner Kyle, but with older brother Kurt. So what comes next for Kurt? Will we see another chapter of the Spoiled, Hot headed Busch or is the 33 year old former champ ready to finally get his act together? Only Kurt knows for sure, but I'll tell you one thing he is starting to show his leadership skills now that he is driving for an underfunded team - clearly as sign of "you don't know what you've got until it's gone". If you get my drift.

Results and more after the jump!

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Ricky Stenhouse and Elliott Sadler are both locked in at two wins on the year and both will look to get a leg up on the other with a win here at Richmond. This will also be the first career starts for both Ryan Blaney and Travis Pastrana.

Ryan Blaney, son of Dave, will be making a start for Tommy Baldwin Racing, as long as he can qualify on time that is.

Travis Pastrana saw his team dissolve after the Extreme sports star missed all 14 races he was scheduled to run last year due to a broken ankle. Enter RAB Racing, a team that was slowing dying from lack of sponsorship. RAB Racing will now switch to #99 and will have Pastrana and Boost Mobil for 14 races this year. All eyes will be on Pastrana this week to see if he can make a smooth transition over to stock cars.


Entry List and More after the Jump!

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Let's get right into this. Matt had a great article about the end of the race, but I intend to take back the reins tonight.

I want to make it clear. I am very happy with the way the 2012 campaign has gone so far. We've only had one Sprint Cup winner in the mix, and our two biggest stars both have two wins. The rookie race is the best in years with Cole Whitt and Austin Dillon leading the charge. But more needs to be done. We could have had a top five finish that looked like this:

1. Stenhouse
2. Dillon
3. Allgaier
4. Patrick
5. Annett

Instead we've got three Cup regulars blocking what would have been a great match-up of young stars fighting for the finish line. That being said, The Nationwide Series is still boasting some of the best racing every week.



Results and Points after the Jump!

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Welcome back Nationwide Fans. After a two week break, The Nationwide Series returns to action. This week we head south to Texas Motor Speedway. The past four years has seen Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards dominating Texas, but neither of them are entered this week. Trevor Bayne took Texas last Summer and would have been in the car Edwards took to victory lane last Spring but he is not entered - such a shame.

We go under the lights Friday for the Spring night Nationwide Race.

Entry List and More after the Jump!

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Joey Logano gave Joe Gibbs yet another Auto Club Win. It was the 8th straight Auto Club Nationwide win for Gibbs but they still can't get it done in the Sprint Cup Series though.

The 'story to watch' as the race unfolded were the teams vying for locked in status in two weeks. Brian Scott and Kenny Wallace needed big runs this week to stay locked in. Scott came home 4th, and Wallace was 7th, allowing both of them some breathing room.

There are five teams that are now locked in that started the year outside the top 30. That means that 5 teams are now out; MAKE Motorsports, with Driver T.J. Bell, Go Green Racing with Joey Gase, Jimmy Means with Tim Schendel, The Joe Gibbs #20 team, and Jay Robinson Racing's #28 are all out. While Kyle Busch Motorsports, Mike Bliss in the TriStar #44 team, The ML Motorsports #70, Brad Keselowski's #22 and Benny Gordon's #24 team are all locked in now.

Results and More after the jump!

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Through four races, we have four Nationwide or Truck drivers as winners ... well, three - Sadler has two wins. This week we pull into Auto Club speedway and only Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski stand in the way of going five for five in the Nationwide-only winner category.

Auto Club also holds the distinction of being the last race under 2011's owner points. That means Brian Scott is on the clock this week and needs a top ten to secure himself a spot in next week's race. Now, this week we have a short field, but that doesn't mean that in two weeks we won't have over 43 teams entered. His is a story that we will have to look out for.

The other story is the fact that both Roush Fenway cars are entered, and neither has a sponsor. That's not surprising considering that most casual fans will skip watching a cookie cutter track like Auto Club live, so no reason to pony up money if no one will see your logo out there. Nascar isn't about to change it's schedule in dramatic ways as long as Auto Club's checks keep clearing, so instead we are left with 40 teams, and only 30 of them having a chance to run the whole race.

Entry List and notes after the Jump.

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jshaunburke had a great article live from Bristol, so I'll just stick to the facts this week.

Sadler has made a statement early in the season. He's showing that last year's second place run was no fluke. In fact, Sadler has now put everyone on notice that this is his championship to lose.

As Nationwide fans, we can't lose in this situation. We get to watch genuine nice guy Elliott Sadler take on younger up and coming drivers. Sadler is not running full time in Cup, nor will we see him race again in Cup this year unless another one race deal comes about. It's exactly what Nascar hoped we would see with having drivers declare for just one series.

We've also seen many races with less and less Cup drivers in them. This year alone we've also yet to see a Cup driver in Victory Lane. And let me tell you that's a great thing!

Results and Points after the Jump!

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(Please Note: My apologies to Troy and everyone else for not getting this posted in a timely fashion, I went out of town for a few days and left my computer sitting in the front hallway by the front door - Bob)

Last year it took until race 12 for a Nationwide-only driver to win. This year, all three winners are non-Cup series regulars. Buescher is a truck regular, last week we had 2011 runner-up Elliott Sadler, and this week it's the 2011 Nationwide Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Stenhouse won in true Roush fashion, he didn't have the strongest car to start but through adjustments and great pit work Stenhouse got the car locked in with 55 laps to go and never looked back. It was a great way for Ricky to prove that he's ready for another Championship run this year.

While one Roush driver was celebrating, the other was saying goodbye to his Championship chances for the second straight year. Trevor Bayne, who sits just 19 points back in 4th place, will not be entered next week due to lack of sponsorship and funding (please note this was written before Bayne's announcement this week - more on that later). Roush can only run one of the two drivers for the full year, and the choice was made easy with Stenhouse defending his championship. Bayne last year had to miss a few weeks due to lyme disease. Roush Fenway will be a one car team next week. It's quite a change from a team that once ran four full time cars in the Nationwide Series.

Results and More after the jump!

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Not much has been said so far leading into the Las Vegas race, but it will be the first NASCAR event held at the Speedway since the death of Dan Wheldon.

As much as some would like to believe that NASCAR and IndyCar are separate, you can't deny that some will head to the track this week with a black cloud over their hearts. Most notably - Danica Patrick and Sam Hornish. It should also be noted that IndyCar will not return to Las Vegas this year, and may not return for quite some time.

Watching Patrick and Hornish this week will be important. Both will try for the win in Wheldon's memory. There will be no shortage of coverage of Danica Patrick this week, and I would expect a Dan Wheldon tie-in as well.

The hype machine is in full force for Danica, and she has yet to prove that it is deserved.

When a crash ended her day at Daytona, I was very upset by the announcing. I haven't seen such blatant favoritism since the last time I watched a WWE event. This is a sport. The announcers should act in kind. Please stop alienating those of us not on the Patrick bandwagon and start calling it down the middle.

She did not do anything special last week, nor did she do anything wrong. It was a racing accident. Last week Patrick ran a very mediocre race but Las Vegas could be just the place to finally show why she has a full time ride with one of the best teams in Nationwide.

Entry List and More after the JUMP!

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It may be a season late, but Elliott Sadler has finally won a Nationwide Race. Sadler hasn't won in the Nationwide Series since 1998. Last year Sadler had 12 top 5s, but never crossed the line first. What's more, Sadler is the points leader. He has 10 points on Rookie leader Austin Dillon.

Ricky Stenhouse followed up his crash at Daytona with a third place finish and has leaped to fifth in points. While it looks like Sadler and Stenhouse will be the two main contenders for the Championship, Austin Dillon and Trevor Bayne have the chance to turn a strong start to the season into a long championship run.

Results and more after the Jump!

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This week we head to Phoenix International Raceway for the Bashas Supermarkets 200. After an amazing race at Daytona, we get a bit of a cool off this week. While Kyle Busch has won the last two spring races, it was the summer event that everyone should take note of. Last summer Sam Hornish won a crash filled Wypall 200. This year Hornish is running for the Championship and a win this week would help sell him as a legit contender. Busch is looking for his first win with his new Nationwide team.

James Buescher is back for another round this week after his Daytona win last Saturday. Buescher is still only going to run part time, but having a good run this week could set him up well for a jump to the Nationwide series full time next year.

Entry List and More after the jump!

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We got what we wanted.

Another great Daytona Nationwide event is in the books.

Thanks to a last turn wreck that took out the top 6 drivers James Buescher was able to steal a win. Buescher, a full time Truck Series driver making one of a handful of starts this year, was able to avoid a big crash that took out the likes of Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse, Kurt Busch, and Kyle Busch. All drivers were okay.

Buescher is a talented driver, but his win is just as much a surprise as Trevor Bayne's Daytona 500 win last year.

Friday we saw Rookie John King win thanks to a last lap crash in the Camping World Series, again Saturday in the Nationwide Series with Buescher, and I was hoping to see another Rookie or young gun take home a dream win in the 500 on Sunday in perhaps another last lap event, but it didn't happen.

Thanks to Nascar Rules concerning points, Buescher is not the points leader. That honor goes to Elliott Sadler. Sadler is starting the year in the very place he had hoped to end last year.


Results and more after the JUMP!

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Finally! It's the start of the 2012 Nationwide Series this weekend at Daytona International Speedway!

While the 500 will get the majority of the press this weekend, one cannot count out the races in the Nationwide and Truck Series' - did you see that finish in the Truck race? Wow.

Ricky Stenhouse, the first 'Nationwide Only' champion in the past few years, returns to defend his title. He's joined by a pack of championship contenders and Cup drivers. Even though the starting line-up is all ready set you'll find an intro for all 50 teams entered this week after the jump.

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The 2012 Nationwide Season is less than a month away, and to get you ready I’ve made up a list of the top ten Championship Contenders entering Daytona. Some new, and some returning drivers will compete in thirty-five events on their way to the 2012 Nationwide Championship.

So here they are, in car number order, NASCAR RnR's Troy J.’s Top Ten Nationwide Championship Contenders!

• #2-Elliott Sadler: Sadler is arguably the favorite to take home the 2012 Nationwide Title. With Stenhouse not sure on plans and a lack of sponsorship for the entire year, Sadler may be without his biggest competition. Sadler’s biggest issue was a lack of wins in 2011. That and Jason Leffler. Now in his second year with Kevin Harvick Inc/RCR, Sadler is primed to dominate the Nationwide Schedule.
• #3-Austin Dillon: Dillon is the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year title, but don’t count out the 2011 Truck Champion from a Nationwide Title. Dillon was pretty quiet to date in the Nationwide Series, but with a full off season of testing, he should be able to blast through the tough learning curve of the Nationwide Cars. Dillon also has the support of KHI and RCR, along with full time sponsorship to put him in top of the line equipment.

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Brad Keselowski, the 2010 Nationwide Champion, took home the Ford 300 as Ricky Stenhouse Jr was crowned 2011 Champion. 

Timmy Hill won Rookie of the Year, and the #60 Roush Fenway Ford Team won the Owner's Championship.

Stenhouse didn't have far to go to win his first Nationwide Championship.  After Jason Leffler ruined Elliott Sadler's chances, Stenhouse just had to last 15 laps, as that was when the final Start and Park car quit the race.  Stenhouse didn't just stay behind and ride out a quiet race, he finished second.  Stenhouse was beaten up, but nothing could have brought him down. 

A lot has been made about next year's Nationwide Series campaign.  We will be adding a few more contenders next year, and possibly losing one or two as well.  Keep your eye's on Nascar Ranting and Raving all throughout the offseason as we present all the latest news and opinions leading up to the 2012 NASCAR Seasons.

Results and More after the JUMP!

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It's that special time of year again; the Ford Championship weekend is here!  And an actual Ford will will the 2011 Nationwide Championship this year!  Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse just needs to finish 37th or better to win his first Nationwide Championship. 

That means that Stenhouse just needs to outlast the litany of Start and Park drivers that consistantly disrespect fans of Nascar week in and week out.  Elliott Sadler had a great run, and a great year, but even without his wreck last week, I think Stenhouse would still had won the Championship as he seems unstoppable this year. 

Ricky has eight straight top ten finishes in the past eight races and only 4 out of 33 races have seen Stenhouse outside the top 15.  He has two wins, 15 top fives, 25 top tens, and only two DNFs.  Sadler by comparision has zero wins, 12 top 5s, and 23 top tens, with just one DNF.  It's been a great year and a great championship battle. 


Entry List and More after the JUMP!

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From the Marbles calls him "Dances With Walls".  His competitors call him "Sideways Sam".  IndyCar fans call him Champion.  And now, we can call him a Nascar Winner.  Sam Hornish Jr finally won a Nascar race.  Hornish led about 50 laps on his way to a victory in the WYPALL 200 at Phoenix.  Hornish has also cemented himself as a 2012 Nationwide Championship Contender.

The other big story was the demise of Elliott Sadler.  With 20 laps to go, Sadler made a move that will become the norm on the newly repaved Phoenix raceway. Sadler cut the dogleg to pass both Aric Almirola and Jason Leffler.  Sadler gave both drivers a wide berth and when he came back up on the track he had at least a half car length on Leffler.  As all three began to enter the turn, Leffler never let off the gas and hit the back-end of Sadler's OneMain Financial Chevy. 

Sadler spun, and collected both Leffler and Almirola.  The mayhem that followed saw Jeremy Clements and Morgan Shepherd get collected.  Shepherd could not get slowed fast enough and completely devastated his and Leffler's cars.  Sadler was justly upset with the incident, and Leffler explained to cameras that the whole thing was his fault.  Jason was racing for a ride in 2012, and thankfully he took full responsibility for the wreck. 

So now, with 41 points separating Sadler and Stenhouse, all Ricky has to do is make about 10 laps due to the handful of Start and Park cars we see every week and he should win the Championship.  Unless Stenhouse wrecks on the first few laps and Sadler can finish in the top 3, Ricky Stenhouse will be your 2011 Nationwide Champion.

Results and More after the Jump!

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We are down to just two drivers still in the hunt for the 2011 Nationwide Championship and both are seeking their first one ever.  At lot has been made about Phoenix being a wild card in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series due to a repaving of the track. 

Roush Fenway's Ricky Stenhouse, who is not guaranteed a ride as of yet for 2012, and KHI's Elliott Sadler, who will become a Richard Childress driver in 2012, have really made a huge leap forward for the Nationwide Series.  While we still see about 85% of the races being won by Cup drivers, the Nationwide Series has begun to separate itself from the Sprint Cup Series with a Nationwide Only Champion.  The Camping World Series has not had to worry about this as much as the Nationwide Series has.  There is still more to be done, but having Stenhouse or Sadler win the Championship will be a great thing for the Nationwide Series going forward.

Entry List and Notes after the JUMP!

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