NASCAR O'Reilly Series

Researchers studying earmarks for the current farm bill were shocked to discover that NASCAR has been receiving subsidies from the Federal Government since 2007, not to help the beleaguered racing organization stay afloat in the worldwide recession, and protect the jobs of as many people as possible, no, these subsidies, which were hidden deep under ‘crop rotation and preservation’ sub-paragraphs, are paying America’s most prominent race series…to keep fans out of the seats.

Hal Martin has lived his entire racing life following the motto of his beloved hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints. So for this driver, known as the ‘Ragin Cajun’, there will only be one acceptable outcome to his Nationwide Series debut in Kansas this weekend, to ‘Finish Strong.’

The Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge -- a vehicle-modification build competition where fans will determine the winner among four Toyota Racing drivers who are competing for charity -- is giving fans a chance to win too when they finally get to see the completed vehicles unveiled on the Dream Build website this Saturday, Oct. 20.

Thrust & Son and H.I. Technologies will present The Supportmilitary.org car for the Kansas Lottery 300 this Saturday at Kansas Speedway. Jason Bowles will pilot the No. 81 Dodge for MacDonald Motorsports around the 1.5 mile D-shaped oval. This will mark the second time that The Support Military Foundation’s colors will run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Michael Annett on Having a New Primary Partner in Kansas: “We are proud to have EFS join our team this weekend in Kansas. EFS provides transportation companies with fuel cards and other convenient payment solutions when their fleets are on the go. As a race team, we know the importance of convenience, being on the road all of the time. EFS cards are accepted at thousands of locations across North America, including hundreds of Pilot/Flying J locations. We’ve got a really cool EFS paint scheme on the No. 43 this weekend and I’m going to do my best to run up front and show it off."

Camry driver Clint Bowyer took the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway after saving just enough fuel to complete Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race on the 1.5-mile track. Bowyer, who led the field three times for 29 laps (of 334), recaptured first place on lap 310 and saved fuel for the final 25 circuits while holding off the field, including Denny Hamlin who finished second after leading 36 laps. Camry drivers Kyle Busch (fifth), Mark Martin (sixth), Joey Logano (ninth) and Martin Truex Jr. (10th) also recorded top-10 finishes at Charlotte.

DODGE QUOTES: “It’s kind of a new race track for everybody. I think getting a lot of practice Thursday is really going to help us out. I think it’s like four hours of track time. That’s really going to help us out and put us on more equal terms with everybody. It was great the way the No. 22 Dodge ran last week at Charlotte. I’m really, really excited. I think we’ll be good. I think NASCAR does a really good job of giving us enough practice time with a new surface and enough tires. It’s definitely a lot more practice than what we’re used to. The test we did at Nashville a couple weeks ago really helped out. We’re definitely getting there.” --Ryan Blaney

Debut from the Bayou? Martin, a Galliano, Louisiana native, brings his Bayou roots to the Midwest this weekend at Kansas Speedway. A longtime racer of Gulf Coast historic tracks like Mobile Speedway and Five Flags Speedway (home of the Snowball Derby), Martin hails from an area best-known for seafood, beautiful beaches, Mardi Gras and Drew Brees. He hopes to not only make his home state proud, being the only current Louisiana driver in any of NASCAR's elite three series; but also have a learning experience going into his bid for NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2013.

Tissot, a manufacturer of Swiss watches since 1853, will be the primary sponsor on Danica Patrick’s No. 7 Tissot / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

This Week's American Ethanol Toyota ... Kenny Wallace will pilot RAB Racing with Brack Maggard chassis No. 42 in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway. A workhorse of the RAB Racing stable, this Toyota Camry has raced nine times in 2012, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway in March, at Texas Motor Speedway in April, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, at Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway in June, at Iowa Speedway in August, and at Richmond International Raceway in September.