CONCORD - Kurt Busch will attempt to become the first driver in track history to sweep the All-Star race, Coca-Cola 600 and fall Sprint Cup race in one season at Charlotte Motor Speedway tonight.
Six drivers have won the All-Star race and Coca-Cola in the same season but were unable to win the fall race.
Davey Allison (1991) and Kasey Kahne (2008) both finished second in the fall race, the closest any driver has come to sweeping all three races. Others who won the all-star race and Coca-Cola 600 but not the fall race were Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2003).
In each of the six cases, the driver finished no worse than fifth in the fall Charlotte race.
"It's a chance to do something special and hopefully we can deliver," Busch said. "To bring home a win at Charlotte ... would boost us up in the points and get us back on track to where we need to be."
NATIONWIDE: Brad Keselowski is piling up the wins in the Nationwide Series.
Keselowski pulled away on a late restart at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday night, earning his fifth Nationwide victory of the season.
Keselowski extended his advantage in the season standings to 450 points, leading the final 35 laps.
Martin Truex Jr. finished second, followed by Justin Allgaier, Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer, who started on the pole but had a costly pit-road speeding penalty late.
While Danica Patrick posted her best finish in her nine Nationwide races - 21st although she was two laps down at the end - Keselowski had little competition once Kyle Busch had handling problems after halfway through the race.
BRISTOL BOUND: JR Motorsports announced that Danica Patrick will compete in the first four Nationwide races next season before taking a break to focus on her Indy Car schedule. She could run as many as 14 Nationwide races next season, depending on the Indy Car schedule, which has not been finalized.
Patrick will open the season by running at Daytona, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Bristol. Next year will mark her first visit to Bristol Motor Speedway. The key question is how to prepare Patrick for that unique track.
"When NASCAR cut out the testing policy, we all sat down in rooms and said, what track is (like) what?" said crew chief Tony Eury Jr.. "You can't go to a Rockingham and really simulate how quick things happen. I can show her a ton of video. I can put her on a racing simulator and do things like that. Pretty much you've got to show up to Bristol. That's the only thing I can do. We'll just prepare the best we can and let her get used to the track."
NEW FUEL: NASCAR Chairman Brian France is scheduled to meet the media today. He's expected to announce that the Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series will begin using ethanol fuel next season.
NEW EXHIBITS: The NASCAR Hall of Fame will honor its newest inductees with a full slate of activities for the five-member class today.
Fans will get a chance to mingle with David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore and relatives of Lee Petty in everything from a question-and-answer session in the Great Hall to a luncheon for Hall of Fame members.
PIT STOPS: Carl Edwards was the fastest in the final practice session based on one lap. Kyle Busch had the fastest average over 10 consecutive laps in the final practice session.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long @news-record.com
