Keselowski Clinch Race: The O’Reilly Challenge Preview and Open Race Thread

Texas Motor Speedway; this is the race that Brad Keselowski expects to leave as the 2010 Nationwide Champion.  Brad just has to finish 21st or better and there is nothing Carl Edwards can do to stop him from being crowned Champion.  In all actuality, Brad will most likely just be looking to finish ahead of Edwards.

It would take a monumental meltdown with the #22 crew for Edwards to have any kind of shot at a second championship.

The one good thing that could come out of this is the possibility that NASCAR looks into a Nationwide Chase.  That’s a slim possibility, but it’s there.

With the championship outta the way after this race, expect the last two races to be an any thing goes type of deal.  Either way, Texas should prove to be interesting.

Entry list and More after the JUMP!

***

If I kept track of such things, I’d probably tell you that fiftyone cars is the largest entered field not on a Superspeedway.  I may be wrong, but that’s a lot of cars.

First off, we have David Starr returning to the #05 Chevy.  He brings sponsorship from Cash America with him.

RAB Racing has made the switch to Toyota for the remainder of 2010, as well as 2011.

Danica Patrick returns again this week.

David Reutimann is back in the #11 Toyota this week for Turner Motorsports.

Past Champion Steve Grissom makes his first attempt of 2010.  He’s in the Jennifer Jo Cobb owned Ford.  If Jeff Green qualifies for the race on time, Grissom is locked in due to the Past Champions Provisional.  If Green uses it, then Grissom will have to lock in on time.

Erik Darnell returns in the #16 Ford this week.  That means that Trevor Bayne will have to qualify the #17 on time.  It’s a much harder task this week with so many go-or-go-homers.

Alex Kennedy returns to the #27 ride this week.

James Buescher will enter a fifth Toyota for Turner Motorsports.  He will bring his Truck Series sponsorship of Wolfpack Rentals to the #30 car.

Stanton Barrett returns to the #31 for Rick Ware Racing.

Parker Kligerman is back in the #42 Dodge.  Still no word on where Parker will drive next season.

Tim Andrews returns with Second Chance racing this week.

Chase Miller will enter a second MacDonald Motorsports Dodge.

Just a little bit of news:  Justin Allgaier will leave Penske Racing, opening the door for Parker Kligerman possibly.  Allgaier will join Turner Motorsports in 2011 as a full time driver.  No word as to which of the four Turner Toyotas Allgaier will driver or what his sponsorship will be.

Kevin Harvick has announced that the #33 Chevy will yet again have multiple drivers in 2011.  Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Austin Dillon will pilot the Rheem/Menards #33 Chevy, while Paul Menard (the newest RCR driver) will pilot the Menards/Rheem Chevy.  No word on how many races each driver will run, but expect to see Harvick in the Menards yellow at Phoenix and Bowyer in the Rheem Black and Red at Daytona to start the year.

Harvick has also signed Elliott Sadler to run full time in a second KHI Chevy next year.  Sadler will be a championship competitor.

Tune into ESPN2 Saturday, November 6th at Noon Eastern for the O’Reilly Challenge from Texas Motor Speedway!  Enjoy!