Some series-only regulars maintain solid stats in 2008

Just two races ago, Brad Keselowski's season suddenly looked in shambles.

He had come off two consecutive finishes outside the top 20, had fallen out of second place in the Nationwide Series standings and looked as if he were in a 2008 free fall.

Keselowski

In actuality, the mini-slump was a minor blip in what has been an extraordinary season for Keselowski. He followed up those two poor runs at Fontana and Richmond with finishes of third and sixth at Dover and Kansas, respectively.

Keselowski is still in third, and has some of the top Loop Data statistics in the series this season. He has a Driver Rating of 95.6, an Average Running Position of 12.1, 250 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 73.8.

His passing numbers are phenomenal. He leads the series in Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green) with 820, and has the best Pass Differential (passes minus times passed) with 187.

He heads a list of series-only regulars enjoying strong years. Another is Joey Logano, who has made his transition into the Nationwide Series with ease. In 14 races, Logano has a win, three poles and 10 top-10s. He also has racked up some impressive Loop Data statistics.

Logano has a Driver Rating of 103.9, an Average Running Position of 10.1, 150 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 82.0. His Pass Differential is a strong 48.

Another series-only regular quietly having a strong year is Mike Bliss. The veteran -- who is fourth in the standings -- has 13 top-10s on the year, and finished second two races ago at Dover.

Bliss has a Driver Rating of 91.5, an Average Running Position of 13.0, 184 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 75.2.

He also claimed his only series win to date in October 2004 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the site of next week's race (Tickets).

Statistics
• Nationwide Series: Loop Data

Open week opens doors at Talladega

The ladder system through NASCAR's national series usually has steps for drivers from the Craftsman Truck Series to the Nationwide Series and ultimately to the Sprint Cup Series.

Logano

Joey Logano has done an unconventional two-step on that ladder to debut in a third national series this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

With the open week in the Nationwide Series, Logano, 18, is taking the opportunity to get big-league experience on a superspeedway and will make his Craftsman Truck debut Saturday.

He made his highly anticipated debut in the Nationwide Series in May followed by his first Sprint Cup start in September.

Logano also is entered in the ARCA event at Talladega set for Friday.

Ditto for Landon Cassill, 19, who will run the ARCA race for JR Motorsports before competing in the Craftsman Truck race. Cassill has one top-five and two top-10s in six series events this year.

Mike Wallace, who is eighth in the Nationwide standings, is pulling double duty as well this weekend in Talladega. Known for his restrictor-plate prowess, he's entered in the Craftsman Truck race and also is entered in the Sprint Cup race in a fourth car for Richard Childress Racing. Wallace last ran in both series at Talladega one year ago.

Second to none, in points

Ask Nationwide Series leader Clint Bowyer and he'd probably say second-place finishes have been the bane of his existence this year.

Bowyer has one win and four runner-up results. The first three -- at Nashville in March; at Darlington in May and at Bristol in August -- caused him great angst because he led each race and arguably should have won two of them.

Bowyer

But this past Saturday at Kansas, a second-place finish in front of his home crowd may have actually been a bright spot for the Emporia, Kan., native.

Bowyer didn't lead a lap but came home second after starting 17th, one of only eight times he's started outside the top 10 this year.

He also increased his standings lead by 10 over Carl Edwards and heads into the series' fourth open week of the year 196 points ahead the reigning series champion with five races left.

"You can't ask for much more -- obviously a win -- but to beat the 60 car [Edwards] is what we've got to do," Bowyer said following the Kansas race.

"We want to win more races, but we want to win a championship. If I don't win another race and I have that championship trophy on my mantle, I won't be a bit sorry; I won't feel bad about it.

"In the grand scheme of things, [we need to] put cars in between us so we can gain points on [Edwards]."

Video
• Kansas: Post-Race Reactions