Kentucky Tentative NASCAR Schedule:

This is it. After all those years of wondering when Kentucky would ever get to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, they will finally be able to do that with a sold out crowd.

The top series of NASCAR will be joined by the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, which have all been at the speedway before, unlike the Sprint Cup Series.

The Sprint Cup Series race is on Saturday night, meaning there will be much activity during the week days at Kentucky. In fact, vehicles hit the track on Wednesday, although there is no live TV coverage of those events.

Here is the tentative weekend (or mid week, if you would like to call it that) schedule for the NASCAR weekend at Kentucky:

Wednesday, July 6, 2011:

4 p.m. ET - Camping World Truck Series practice (No TV)

6 p.m. ET - Camping World Truck Series practice(No TV)

Thursday, July 7, 2011:

10 a.m. ET - Truck Series final practice (No TV)

11:05 a.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series practice (No TV)

3 p.m. ET - Truck Series Qualifying (Will air on SPEED at 6 p.m. ET)

4 p.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series practice (No TV)

6:10 p.m. ET - Nationwide Series practice (No TV)

8 p.m. ET - Camping World Truck Series race (SPEED)

Friday, July 8, 2011:

9 a.m. ET - Nationwide Series final practice (No TV)

11:30 a.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series practice (SPEED)

1:30 p.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series final practice (SPEED)

3:30 p.m. ET - Nationwide Series Qualifying (SPEED)

5 p.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (SPEED0

7:30 p.m. ET - Nationwide Series Race (ESPN)

Saturday, July 9, 2011:

7:30 p.m. ET - Sprint Cup Series Race (TNT)

Opinion: Regardless of how good the plate racing actually is, NASCAR needs to make a decision soon

With the NASCAR season of 2010 being the year of "Boys, have at it," it is safe to say that the year of 2011 has been the year of the two car draft.

The two car draft, which started at Daytona International Speedway to start the 2011 season, turned to be a very controversial form of racing after three points paying restrictor plate races of the season. Teams now work together no matter what (for the most part) making similar pit calls, using the same spotter, and working on the same radio in a race. It is if two cars equals one team, but yet only one of the pair gets credit for the win in victory lane.

When it started, most people did not have any solid opinions of this foreign type of racing, especially since nobody actually knew what was going on and what the impact of this racing was.

Now, half way through the 2011 season, more people have made their opinions of it, saying it is either good, exciting racing, or saying it isn't real racing at all, and that the big packs of cars in the past were better shows at Daytona and Talladega. Some, are still on the fence about it.

Star drivers have also spoken out about the new type of racing in the recent weeks. Some, like Tony Stewart, say it is what it is, others like Ryan Newman, prefer this racing more than the old style, and drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., have made their displeasure clear to the media.

Regardless of how exciting the racing is or which form is better, NASCAR needs to make a decision soon. By the time Speedweeks hits NASCAR again in 2012, NASCAR needs to be clear on which way they want the sport to go. NASCAR, using feedback from drivers and fans, needs to discover if this form really fits into the style in which NASCAR holds. Does this racing fit with what NASCAR was and is? All these questions and concerns remain controversial, but yet unanswered. It is now time for the sanctioning body to find the answers to them, so NASCAR Nation can move forward.

David Ragan Gets Redemption At Daytona

David Ragan was able to get redemption following the penalty received in the Daytona 500 earlier this year by winning the Coke Zero 400. Ragan, who is in his final contract year with sponsor UPS, took the checkered flag after getting a push from teammate Matt Kenseth on the 2nd attempt at a green white checkered. On the last lap, there were two major crashes, and during the first green white checkered, there was the largest crash of the night, which all contained major players in the race.

Unofficially, here were 57 lead changes among 25 drivers plus 6 cautions for 21 yellow flag laps. The attendance was listed to be 115,000, which is the same as last year's Daytona July race.

Here are the unofficial results of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Raceway:

1. David Ragan
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Joey Logano
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Kyle Busch
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Paul Menard
9. Juan Montoya
10. A.J. Allmendinger
11. Tony Stewart
12. Brian Vickers
13. Denny Hamlin
14. Kurt Busch
15. Brad Keselowski
16. David Gilliland
17. Marcos Ambrose
18. Greg Biffle
19. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
20. Jimmie Johnson
21. Jeff Burton
22. Jamie McMurray
23. Ryan Newman
24. Regan Smith
25. David Reutimann
26. Landon Cassill
27. Andy Lally
28. Terry Labonte
29. Travis Kvapil
30. Joe Nemechek
31. Bobby Labonte
32. Casey Mears
33. Mark Martin
34. Robby Gordon
35. Martin Truex Jr.
36. Clint Bowyer
37. Carl Edwards
38. Geoff Bodine
39. Dave Blaney
40. Mike Skinner
41. Trevor Bayne
42. Michael McDowell
43. Kevin Conway

Joey Logano Comes Out of Nowhere To Win Nationwide Series Race At Daytona

It was a crazy race at Daytona International Speedway as usual for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as the two car drafts dominated the race during Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250. During the event, the four Kevin Harvick Inc. cars, along with the JR Motorsports cars of Aric Almirola and Danica Patrick seemed to be the ones to beat. However, it turned out to be a Joe Gibbs Racing car that made it out on top to take the checkers after a crazy last few laps - and no, it wasn't Kyle Busch. Joey Logano held of a hard charging Kyle Busch and an even bigger hard charger of Jason Leffler in the final lap of the event to take the win.

There was also a major crash through the tri-oval on the last lap behind the leaders, which included three KHI cars(the other car of Clint Bowyer was already destroyed) and the two JR Motorsports cars - all of which were threats for the win. Mike Wallace was also involved in the accident, along with Steven Wallace.

Unofficially, there were 36 lead changes among 13 drivers and 6 caution flags for 23 laps.

Here are the unofficial results following a crazy race at Daytona:

1. Joey Logano
2. Jason Leffler
3. Reed Sorenson
4. Kyle Busch
5. Justin Allgaier
6. Michael Annett
7. Kenny Wallace
8. Elliott Sadler
9. Aric Almirola
10. Danica Patrick
11. Steve Wallace
12. Brian Scott
13. Tony Stewart
14. Carl Edwards
15. Mike Wallace
16. Jamie McMurray
17. Brad Keselowski
18. Kevin Harvick
19. Jeffrey Earnhardt
20. Mike Bliss
21. Tim George Jr.
22. Trevor Bayne
23. Timmy Hill
24. Josh Wise
25. Kevin Conway
26. Joe Nemechek
27. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
28. Blake Koch
29. Derrike Cope
30. Danny Efland
31. Robert Richardson Jr.
32. Jeremy Clements
33. Kevin Lepage
34. Clint Bowyer
35. Dennis Setzer
36. Jennifer Jo Cobb
37. Eric McClure
38. Morgan Shepherd
39. Ricky Carmichael
40. Charles Lewandoski
41. Mike Harmon
42. Carl Long
43. Jeff Green

Mark Martin Takes The Pole For The Coke Zero 400

Yet another Hendrick Motorsports car has taken the pole position in qualifying at a restrictor plate race. Mark Martin, with a speed of 182.065 miles per hour and a time 49.433 seconds, will lead the field to the green flag on Saturday night, with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne starting beside him.

Tony Raines and J.J. Yeley fialed to make the race.

Here is the unofficial lineup for the Coke Zero 400:

1. Mark Martin
2. Trevor Bayne
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Jeff Gordon
5. David Ragan
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. Andy Lally
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. A.J. Allmendinger
10. Paul Menard
11. Ryan Newman
12. Jeff Burton
13. Kasey Kahne
14. Carl Edwards
15. Marcos Ambrose
16. Matt Kenseth
17. Greg Biffle
18. Jamie McMurray
19. Tony Stewart
20. Brian Vickers
21. Landon Cassill
22. Kevin Conway
23. David Reutimann
24. Bobby Labonte
25. Kurt Busch
26. Brad Keselowski
27. Travis Kvapil
28. Regan Smith
29. Mike Skinner
30. Juan Montoya
31. Kevin Harvick
32. Casey Mears
33. Michael McDowell
34. Martin Truex Jr.
35. Geoff Bodine
36. Denny Hamlin
37. Joe Nemechek
38 Joey Logano
39. Kyle Busch
40. David Gilliland
41. Dave Blaney
42. Terry Labonte
43. Mike Bliss

Nationwide Series Unofficial Lineup At Daytona

Kevin Harvick Inc. has shown their strength multiple times in the past at restrictor plate racetracks, and Friday at Daytona International Speedway was no different. All four teams that KHI brought to Daytona for this weekend's race have taken the top four spots. Team owner Kevin Harvick is credited with the pole.

Chase Miller failed to make the race.

Here is the unofficial lineup for Friday night's race at Daytona International Speedway:

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Tony Stewart
3. Elliott Sadler
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Trevor Bayne
6. Jamie McMurray
7. Danica Patrick
8. Carl Edwards
9. Reed Sorenson
10. Justin Allgaier
11. Brad Keselowski
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
13. Aric Almirola
14. Kyle Busch
15. Jason Leffler
16. Tim George Jr.
17. Brian Scott
18. Joey Logano
19. Kenny Wallace
20. Steve Wallace
21. Ricky Carmichael
22. Mike Wallace
23. Michael Annett
24. Joe Nemechek
25. Kevin Conway
26. Timmy Hill
27. Robert Richardson Jr.
28. Jeffrey Earnhardt
29. Jeff Green
30. Mike Harmon
31. Blake Koch
32. Carl Long
33. Mike Bliss
34. Jennifer Jo Cobb
35. Danny Efland
36. Morgan Shepherd
37. Josh Wise
38. Jeremy Clements
39. Eric McClure
40. Charles Lewandoski
41. Derrike Cope
42. Kevin Lepage
43. Dennis Setzer

Tony Stewart Doesn't Back Down About Blocking Statements, Says He Will Retaliate Even If It Costs Him The Chase

Following last weekend's Sprint Cup Series race, Tony Stewart was very clear about blocking. After wrecking Brian Vickers when he blocked Stewart, Vickers wrecked the 14 car back, ruining Stewart's day. Following the race, Stewart said that he had enough of it, and he would even wreck his own teammate and the car he owns - the 39 of Ryan Newman - if he was ever blocked by him.

At Daytona International Speedway this weekend, Stewart has not changed his statement one bit.

“I’ve drawn my line in the sand and the next guy that blocks me is also going to suffer the same fate and it doesn’t matter who it is.’’


In fact, Stewart says he will continue to wreck others who block him, no matter what the risk, even if it costs him a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

“I’ll make sure when I do it next time that the guy doesn’t have the opportunity to come back and wreck me," Stewart said. “It might (impact his chance to make the Chase). I’m going to stay the course on it. I’m just to the point where I’m fed up with the ways some of these guys are racing each other. If we miss the Chase because of it, so be it. It’s not what the team is going to want to hear, it’s not what our sponsors are going to want to hear, but so be it. There’s 42 guys out there and they know how I race and what I expect. I don’t race them that way, I don’t block guys. I’m not going to block guys, but if they block me, they will suffer the consequences of it.’’

Stewart also made it clear that someone needs to draw the line and that as long as others don't block him, he doesn't really care how people race each other.

“I just think that you’ve got to have somebody that is going to draw a line in the sand somewhere and say this is what we expect. I don’t care if they want to race each other that way, that’s fine. They can race everybody else in the field that way, but I don’t race guys that way."

Tony Stewart also said that many other drivers agreed with him, and that he wasn't surprised one bit that they did.