Road America is the state of Wisconsin’s road-racing jewel; a four-mile road course in Elkhart Lake that boasts 14 turns and elevation changes that exceed 170 feet in one lap. The famed course has hosted many different series over the years, but this weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series makes its return for the Gardner Denver 200 Fired Up by Johnsonville (June 21 on ABC at 2:45 p.m. ET). Road America is the first of three road courses (Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio) on the series schedule in 2014. The track’s four-mile course is the largest of the three on the schedule and it has the most turns (14). Unpredictability has been the latest theme when it comes to road-course racing in the NNS. Road America has hosted the series four times and has produced four different winners, none of whom are entered this weekend, making a fifth first-time winner at Road America the only guarantee. Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards captured the inaugural NNS event (2010) at Road America from the pole. Then Turner Scott Motorsports rallied off two wins with Reed Sorenson (2011) and Nelson Piquet Jr. (2012). Team Penske’s formidable No. 22 team with AJ Allmendinger won last season. Three of the four winners of this event have started from the pole position making Coors Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday morning, June 21 (ESPN2 11:30 a.m. ET) very important. One driver with Road America on his mind is series standings leader Regan Smith, who holds a 14-point lead over second-place Elliott Sadler. Smith is looking to rebound from last season’s finish at Road America of 32nd; one of only two races he finished outside the top 20 in 2013. Smith’s series average finish on road courses is 20.6. source – NASCAR communications
