Concord, NC (My Sportsbook) - Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Friday, October 16. Race: Dollar General 300. Site: Lowe's Motor Speedway. Track: 1.5- mile oval. Start Time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 200. Miles: 300. Last year's winner: Kyle Busch. Television: ESPN 2. Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Satellite.

Carl Edwards kept his title hopes very much alive in the Nationwide Series after last Saturday's race at California.

Current points leader Kyle Busch, who suffered from flu-like symptoms throughout the weekend at California, got relief from Denny Hamlin early in the 300-mile race. Hamlin moved into the lead shortly after, but lost his chance to win the race for Busch when he made contact with Greg Biffle and then slammed the wall in the final laps.

Busch was credited with a 31st-place finish. Edwards finished third and trimmed Busch's lead to 155 points with five races to go.

"We had a huge points weekend in Fontana," Edwards said. "I'm excited about coming to Lowes Motor Speedway. I've had success there in the past, so hopefully we can run well this weekend."

Busch is the defending race winner at Charlotte. One year ago, he led 137 of 200 laps and survived a crash-filled night of racing for his fourth victory at the 1.5-mile track.

Earlier this year, Busch had to start from the rear of the field at Charlotte due to an engine change. He quickly made his way to the front and led a total of 98 laps before rain fell on the track, forcing NASCAR to halt the race 30 laps short of the scheduled distance. Mike Bliss did not pit during a late round of pit stops. Bliss held the lead when the rain came, and soon after, he was awarded the victory. Busch finished third.

Edwards has one victory at Charlotte, which came in May 2006. He has finished fifth and 10th in the last two races there.

Jeff Burton is set to make his 850th NASCAR national touring start in Friday's race. Charlotte will mark his 305th Nationwide start, to go along with 541 races in Sprint Cup and four in the Camping World Truck Series.

"It's hard to imagine I'll be making my 850th NASCAR start," Burton said. "I'm not one to count how many starts I have made, but I can certainly say that I have a lot more starts in my future."

Fifty-one teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Dollar General 300. Burton, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne are among the Sprint Cup regulars competing in the Nationwide race at Charlotte.