2009 marks the twenty-seventh year for the series currently known as the NASCAR Nationwide series. The series officially kicks off next Saturday with the Camping World 300 at the Daytona International Speedway.
As teams prepare for the event they were greeted with NASCAR announcing new engine rules for the series. Similar to rules in the Camping World Truck series, teams are not permitted to compete in three consecutive events without using a previously used engine from the season. The measure is designed to cut costs for teams, many of which are struggling with the country’s current economic problems. The rule does not go into effect until March twenty-fifth and does not apply to races at restrictor plate tracks (Daytona & Talladega).
Twenty seven teams have announced running in the series full time. Of the twenty seven, many have a rotation of drivers through the seat.
Of the full time drivers, several stand out as odds on favorites to take the championship title.
Kyle Busch, who will drive full time in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, will again drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in the eighteen cars. Returning will be crew chief Jason Ratcliff. Busch, who dominated laps led last season, he has never won a championship in the series, and something the Las Vegas native is determined to do.
2007 champion Carl Edwards also will drive full time in the top two series. Edwards knows what it takes to win the title and he finished second in 2008. If Edwards and team can carry momentum from the end of last year in to 2009 and could take the lead early and never look back.
Brad Keselowski and his Jr Motorsports/Hendrick Motorsport team have what it takes. Keselowski is banking on landing a full time Cup ride in 2010 and he knows a championship ring will make him a hotter commodity.
Jason Leffler and Braun Racing continue to improve and go into 2009 with a legitimate claim to make a run at the title. The team has shown it can win, but was plagued last year with several early trips to the garage area.
Dark Horse Mike Bliss and Phoenix Racing just keep getting better, and it appears he has found a home with James Finch. This team has a history of winning, and Bliss has added the much needed stability that gives this team an outside shot of taking it all.
Also returning includes Steve Wallace, Jason Keller, Eric McClure, Kenny Wallace, Morgan Sheppard, Tony Raines, Scott Lagasse Jr., Michael Annett, Michael McDowell and veteran David Green.
The rookie class of 2009 is as always complicated with several drivers running part time schedules. Rusty Wallace Racing has the edge in this category as Brendon Gaughan leaves the truck series to go Nationwide racing. Although Gaughn has years of racing experience he is considered a rookie in the series and therefore is pretty much the man to beat for rookie honors.
Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress will return to the series part time. It is not expected that he will compete for the rookie title until 2010 and run just a few events this year.
2008 Champion Clint Bowyer will not return to the series full time to defend his title. He will return part time to his Richard Childress Racing number two team, but sponsorship issues have left the team scrambling. If the team runs a full season effort it will be with multiple drivers with Bowyer only running a handful of events.
Several powerhouse teams are returning with multiple drivers to run selected events.
Roush Racing will field the sixteen with former champion Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Collin Braun, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush will also field the number seventeen with Kenseth and Jamie McMurray
Joe Gibbs Racing will run the twenty Toyota with Joey Longano, Denny Hamlin and Brad Coleman taking the seat.
Michael Waltrip Racing will return with the Aarons dream machine with Waltrip and Scott Speed behind the wheel.
Jr. Motorsports will field a second car with Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2008 rookie of the year Landon Cassill, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., and Scott Wimmer each taking turns in the number five Chevrolet.
Kevin Harvick Incorporated will run the thirty-three with Harvick, Cale Gale and Ryan Newman.
Penske Racing will field the Verizon Dodge with Sam Hornish Jr., Justin Allgier, and David Stremme.
Braun Racing will run the Dollar General Teams with Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, and Burney Lamar.
The series runs thirty five events, twenty four as a companion race to the cup series, nine as stand alone events. Two events are road courses including one held in Canada.
Noteworthy this year is the absence of the Mexico City race.
After three years NASCAR has decided to say adios to racing south of the border. Incurred expenses for the teams were cited as the reason.
New on the schedule is the inaugural event at Iowa Speedway. The facility is renowned for fast paced action and the event should be one of the highlights of 2009
The NASCAR Nationwide series is the second most popular form of motorsports in North America. All events will be broadcast on ESPN or one of its ABC affiliates.
