The NASCAR drivers and teams are heading back to short track racing this weekend in the Food City 500 at Bristol!
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers had plenty of room to race last week at Texas. This week they will be bumper-to-bumper and side-by-side on the track called the “Last Great Colosseum.” The half-mile track requires skill from the driver and good handling from the car to just hold a spot in the field. To advance toward the front drivers will need to take chances and be aggressive.
If another car is holding a driver up there are really only a couple of ways to get past the slower car. The driver that wants to pass can try to get around by going high on the track or diving low below the other car. Either of these maneuvers can result in a wreck if the timing isn’t perfect and the car can’t handle the move.
The other way to advance around the car holding a driver up is to employ the “bump and run.” This is the move that Kyle Busch used in this race last year to pass Kyle Larson to win the race. The car in the back simply hits the back bumper of the car in front hard enough to move the lead car up the track. The car behind then rockets past on the low side of the track. Using this move on a car can result in not only bent metal, but also bent tempers. The result of the move and/or the tempers can be a crash either unintentionally or intentionally.
The driver that keeps their car and temper from getting too bent out of shape through the race will have a good shot at winning the race.
Here is a look at the race and track data for this weekend.
Bristol Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 0.533-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 4-8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 650 feet
Backstretch Length: 650 feet
Food City 500 Data
Season Race #: 8 of 36 (04-07-19)
Race Length: 500 laps / 266.5 miles
Stages 1 & 2 Length: 125 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 250 laps
Listed below are the 10 active drivers with the best overall performance at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Bristol
Erik Jones………………………….. 102.4
Kyle Busch…………………………. 101.3
Kyle Larson………………………… 100.7
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 96.9
Jimmie Johnson…………………….. 93.7
Chase Elliott…………………………. 92.2
Kurt Busch…………………………… 91.1
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 90.9
Joey Logano…………………………. 89.3
Brad Keselowski……………………. 86.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (28 total) among active drivers at Bristol Motor Speedway
There are only seven active drivers that have visited Victory Lane in a NASCAR Cup Series race during their careers.
Kyle Busch – 7 Wins (Including this race last year)
Kurt Busch – 6 Wins (Including fall race last year)
Jimmie Johnson – 2 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win
This Sunday, April 7th starting at 1 PM central time (2 PM eastern time) we will find out who will win the NASCAR Battle at Bristol in the Food City 500.
By: Buck Stevens
