NSCS: Charlotte Motor Speedway Race Preview

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head into Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 54th annual Bank of America 500. Currently, only 43 drivers are scheduled to race this weekend so no cars will go home. Clint Bowyer is the defending race winner.

Some of the fresh drivers on the entry list include, Cole Whitt, Timmy Hill, Brian Scott, Landon Cassill, Kyle Larson, and Reed Sorenson.

Storylines:

Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are head-to-head going into Charlotte Motor Speedway in the points battle. Kenseth currently has only a three point lead over five-time championship winner Jimmie Johnson. Kansas marked the first time that neither of both drivers finished in the top-five in the race.

Kurt and Kyle Busch are starting to fade away in the chase after the first five races. Kurt, however, went on to a second place finish at Kansas, and finds himself seventh and 47 points out of the lead. Kurt will have to hope for some bad races for the guys in front of him to claim the 3013 title. Kyle Busch had some bad luck at Kansas Speedway after being involved in several cautions. Busch went on to finish 34th and fell back to the fifth spot in the points. He currently sits 35 points behind Matt Kenseth.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will make his 500th career NASCAR Sprint Cup start this weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale will try and become the third driver to ever win on their 500th start. Matt Kenseth did it three weeks ago at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway to join Richard Petty on that list.

Kyle Larson and Brian Scott will both make their NASCAR Sprint Cup debuts this weekend. Larson will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet with sponsorship from Target. Larson will take over the No. 42 Chevrolet next season after Juan Montoya will move to INDYCAR next year. Brian Scott will drive the No. 33 Shore Lodge Chevrolet this weekend for Richard Childress/Joe Faulk. Scott made his 200th NASCAR start last weekend at Kansas, and will make his 202 start this Saturday.

You can catch the Bank of America 500 live at 7:30 P.M. Et. on ABC. The Performance Racing Network will provide the radio coverage of the event.

Brett Winningham
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