Bliss grateful for chance to compete at Richmond

Released from Phoenix Racing on Aug. 2, Mike Bliss has managed to keep his Nationwide Series season going without interruption, but three of the five races have been start-and-parks.

"It's not anything I'm proud to say," Bliss said. "I've only raced twice, just mostly doing start-and-park. That's all there is out there right now. I never thought I'd be in this position. We've all got to do stuff we don't want to do, but we've got to do it."

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Bliss should find Friday's Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway refreshing. Thanks to a one-race opportunity from Curtis Key (Key Motorsports), he'll be driving for the best result possible.

"The goal is to go run as hard as we can," Bliss said. "I think we've got the possibility of a 10th or 11th. They ran good at Richmond in the spring [16th with Scott Wimmer]. They've got a true Nationwide team, and Curtis puts his heart and money into it. I respect him for that and I like him, and I want to get the best for him and his team and his sponsors."

Bliss was cut loose the day after finishing 14th at Iowa Speedway. He had won the rain-shortened race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, had 10 top-10s in 21 races and was sixth in the points. Owner James Finch's decision stunned him.

"They didn't feel like when the green dropped [at the start] that I didn't go right after it," Bliss said. "My style isn't like that. My cars aren't set up like that. I set them up too loose at the start of the run so they come in later. That's why I couldn't go at the start. In this day and age, they want you to go from the start, but when you put yourself into bad positions and have accidents, they don't like that, either."

Bliss' motivation to accept start-and-parks is the postseason paycheck for the top 20 in the points. He has fallen to ninth with nine races remaining.

"I'm trying to get to the end of the year," Bliss said. "They pay some money through 20th place."

Bliss has driven for Joe Nemechek's NEMCO Motorsports in four races since leaving Phoenix. He was 15th at Bristol and 27th at Michigan in races that weren't start-and-parks.

"Our families are friends, and Joe is doing this mostly for me," Bliss said. "He's trying to work on a Nationwide program for next year, and he wants to get [owner] points and keep those options open. I think he's losing money on the deal. I'm driving for no money for Joe because there's money in it for me at the end of the year. Joe is helping me. He could be driving himself like he is this weekend."

THREE TO WATCH

Hamlin

Denny Hamlin, No. 20: Every race at Richmond is a big one for Hamlin, who is from the area. He has one win and five top-10s in eight starts.

Kenny Wallace, No. 28: Wallace is making his 800th start in NASCAR's top three national series. All of his wins, nine, have come in 444 Nationwide starts. Richmond is Wallace's best track. In 29 starts, he has three wins, nine top-fives and 11 top-10s.

Kevin Harvick, No. 33: Harvick is money at Richmond with four wins and 13 top-10s in 17 starts. Eleven of those finishes are in the top five, including in six of the past eight races (three of which were wins).

TRACK CHATTER

Scott Wimmer: "You need to approach this weekend like any other short-track race. Track position will be important, as always. You have to have a decent handling car to roll the center of the corner and carry speed off on exit."

Travis Kvapil: "I really like Richmond. It is a fun race track with multiple grooves, and it allows for a lot of side-by-side racing and a good show for the fans. My goal for this weekend is first and foremost a good qualifying lap. The No. 09 entry is not locked into the show, but I feel like I have plenty of experience at Richmond to know what I need in the car. ... At the end of the day, I will be happy with a top-15 finish."