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| Track Enterprises |
In a brand new series called "The Fast Five" we will document five drivers who we feel you'll need to watch during that race. This series will be used in the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World and XFINITY Series initially with our "Fantasy Picks" highlighting the Cup Series. Here is the first "The Fast Five" with five drivers to watch on Saturday for the victory in Nashville, Tennessee.
Michael Self
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| ARCA Racing |
Michael Self is off to a hot start in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards by winning the last two events (Kansas and Daytona). Self will pilot the No. 55 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota Camry on Saturday and will look to deliver "Big Bill" Venturini his first victory at Nashville in the ARCA Racing Series.
Self has never raced at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nasvhille which could either be an advantage or disadvantage. The last driver to win three straight ARCA races was last years champion Austin Theriault who won Road America, DuQuoin, and Salem last season. Can the driver from Park City, Utah find victory lane for the third straight race on Saturday?
Sheldon Creed
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| Christian Koelle/CCK Photography |
Sheldon Creed returns to the site of his ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Creed is one of the few drivers who has raced in the last two editions of the Music City 200, who are on this list, who will race on Saturday. Creed returns with MDM Motorsports and in the No. 28 United Rentals Toyota Camry.
In his last two starts at Nashville, Creed has really impressed. The driver from Alpine California finished seventh in his debut and sixth in his second Music City 200. Creed has led a total of 155 laps in the last three races and started off the season with a third place finish at Daytona. Running a full season with MDM Motorsports, Creed could compete for his first championship in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and a victory at Nashville would be just the way to fire off that campaign.
Christian Eckes
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| Christian Koelle/CCK Photography |
Eckes is the second driver on this list who made his ARCA debut at Nashville in 2016. Like Creed, Eckes improved last year over his debut performance in his debut. In 2016, Eckes finished eighth after starting eighth. Last season though, Eckes battled with leaders Kyle Weatherman and eventual winner Chad Finley. The 17-year-old led 28 laps last season, the first of his career, and at the time earned his best career finish of third.
With 14 starts under his belt, Eckes makes his season debut behind the wheel of the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry. Eckes came so close to earning his first career victory last season at Elko but still came home with his career best finish of second. He also finished second at Winchester. Following a third place finish last April and two second place finishes following, can the 17-year-old secure his first career victory in the ARCA Racing Series on Saturday?
Riley Herbst
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| Christian Koelle/CCK Photography |
Riley Herbst returns to the site of his first start in the ARCA Racing Series, much like the previous two. Herbst will pilot the No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Herbst finished seventh in his debut here last April and is coming off of his 11th top 10 finish of his career.
Herbst finished 10th at Daytona two months ago and begins going to tracks he's familiar with (wasn't eligible to race at Daytona last season due to age). Herbst already locked up his first career victory last June at Pocono, and on Saturday he'll be chasing victory No. 2. Joe Gibbs Racing returns to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for the second time but the organization has one other start in the Music City in the ARCA Racing Series. Denny Hamlin piloted the No. 2 Rockwell Automation Pontiac in 2005 at Nashville Superspeedway. Hamlin would finish 36th with transmission issues. Can Herbst capture Coach Gibbs first Guitar in the ARCA Racing Series next Saturday?
Natalie Decker
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| ARCA Racing |
Natalie Decker continues her trek as a full-time driver in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with her first stop in the Music City. Decker is coming off both her best career start and best career finish a few months ago at Daytona.
Decker rounds out the five drivers to watch and it'll be interesting to see how she will take the momentum she secured from her run at Daytona. The previous drivers, with the exception of Michael Self, had success last season at Elko which normally translated off of strong runs from Nashville. Last season, Decker didn't compete in Nashville but did race in the race in Elko, Minnesota. Decker finished 13th after starting eighth but that was only her second career start in the series. Now that she has eight starts under her belt she can begin clicking away top 10's and top-five finishes and maybe eventually knock out her first career victory. Could that be on Saturday in Nashville?
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