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The Irish Hills will be the host of this weekend’s Nationwide Series race, the Alliance Truck Parts 250. Michigan has turned into a bad fast track after the repave of track before last season. Drivers will be testing the limits of this two-mile track and it will surely be a fight all afternoon long. This is the manufacturers’ home race and everyone wants to look good in victory lane while celebrating with their manufacturer after a long afternoon in Michigan.

Race Day at Michigan falls on Saturday, June 15, 2013 and the green-flag is expected to wave around 2:15 PM EST. The race distance consists of 125 laps and 250 miles. Saturday’s weather forecast looks great with only a 10% chance of rain, cloudy skies, and a high temperature of 77 F. Fans can catch the race via TV on ABC or listen on the radio at MRN.

During last year’s Nationwide Michigan race, Joey Logano took home the trophy. He didn’t dominate the race as he usually does in the Nationwide Series, but he had a streak of good luck at the end bringing him to victory lane. Paul Menard had a strong performance in the race and was contending for the win throughout the afternoon. Both Logano and Menard are competing this weekend and Menard hopes to turn the tables his way to pick up his first victory of the season.

Last weekend featured a rare occurrence in the Nationwide Series. A Nationwide regular actually won the race, as Trevor Bayne raced his way into victory lane after making a late race pass on Austin Dillon. However, it’s unlikely a Nationwide regular will win again until the next stand-alone event at Road America. Sunday’s race at Iowa didn’t have a single Cup regular in the field allowing for some Nationwide regulars to do exceptionally well. There are only three top-tier Cup drivers entered in the field for Saturday which isn’t that many, compared to other weekends. Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Paul Menard are looking to dominate yet another Nationwide race, but may have the odds stacked against them as the Nationwide Series regulars look to float back to the top of their series.

Regan Smith continues to top the point standings and Sam Hornish Jr. still sits in second position. Smith has been successful in the last few races keeping him on top of the standings and it will take a slip-up for Hornish Jr. to overtake the top spot. Other notable drives occupying the top spots in the point standings include Justin Allgaier, Austin Dillon, Elliot Sadler, and Parker Kligerman; but those guys will likely need at least one win to move-up and contend with Smith and Hornish, as both already have a victory this season.

The storylines in the Nationwide Series this season continue to roll-in and there are plenty to go around this weekend. It will be interesting to see which Nationwide regular can compete for the win with the Cup regulars, but the odds of one of them winning is slim based on what we’ve seen so far this season. If there’s one who could pull-off the win this weekend it would be Sam Hornish Jr. A fast and action-packed race is expected this Saturday afternoon and it should be worth your time. Speeds and tempers will escalate all race weekend and a sheer battle will take place on-track by the end of this race.

Event Schedule

1:10- 3:25 PM EST (Friday) Nationwide Series Final Practice, televised on SPEED

10:35 AM EST (Saturday) Nationwide Series Qualifying, televised on ESPN2

2:15 PM EST (Saturday) Nationwide Series Race, the Alliance Truck Parts 250, televised on ABC

Next Race– Johnsonville Sausage 200 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Entry List via Jayski.com