BUSCH

• Patrick not exactly feeling at home

  Joliet, IL (Sports Network) - Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Friday, July 9. Race: Dollar General 300. Site: Chicagoland Speedway. Track: 1.5-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 100. Miles: 250. 2009 winner: Denny Hamlin. Television: ESPN. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.

  Danica Patrick once again will get plenty of attention in NASCAR this week. Not only is Patrick making her fifth Nationwide Series start, but she's also competing in her home state of Illinois.

  Chicagoland Speedway is located almost 120 miles southeast of Patrick's hometown of Roscoe, IL.

  This track is not an unfamiliar place for Patrick, who has competed in five IZOD IndyCar Series races here. Patrick's third and most recent IndyCar pole came at Chicagoland during her rookie season in 2005. She's finished no worse than 12th here.

  Will previous track experience at Chicagoland help her on Friday night? "It's always quite different in a stock car," Patrick said. " I don't think there's any way that being familiar with the track can hurt me. But it's really about me learning what it takes for me in a stock car to be happy on the track, to be comfortable, to get the most out of myself." Patrick continues her learning curve in NASCAR, and it has been a challenge.

  Two weeks ago at New Hampshire, Patrick competed in her first Nationwide race in four months. Patrick made contact with Morgan Shepherd and then hit the wall in the opening laps.

  She completed the race, but finished five laps behind in 30th place.

  Patrick has struggled somewhat in IndyCar this year, as she currently sits 11th in points.

  Earlier this week, Patrick started 21st and finished 20th in the at Watkins Glen, NY. She finished second in June at Texas, which is her best run since her first victory in the series came two years ago in Japan.

  The 300-mile Nationwide race at Chicagoland will feature 14 Sprint Cup regulars, including Joey Logano, the defending race winner, and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Kyle Busch, who has six Nationwide wins so far this season.

  Last year at Chicagoland, Logano passed Busch for the lead just before a caution for debris came with 15 laps remaining. While Busch and the other leaders pitted for new tires, Logano's crew chief, Dave Rogers, elected to keep his driver on the track.

  With older tires, Logano impressively held off Busch during the final eight laps for his third Nationwide win of the season. Logano and Busch combined for 174 laps led in the 200-lap event, with Logano leading the most with 96.

  Forty-eight teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Dollar General 300.

  07/06 20:11:45 ET