Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
By Richard Tix
Last week NASCAR stopped at Texas to break up the short tracks of Martinsville and Bristol. So, this week NASCAR is back on track going to Bristol with Richmond one week away. It's a chance for some drivers to get back on track if they were struggling on the 1.5 mile and larger stops on the schedule.
Jimmie Johnson won at Texas after leading the most laps and Kevin Harvick followed suit finishing second while leading the second most. Both drivers have shown there 1.5 mile track dominance lately so this short track swing maybe just what others need to catch back up.
Going into Bristol those same two drivers (JJ and Harvick) are the only two drivers to officially be locked into the Chase with two wins. Will a guy like Joey Logano (won last fall), Brad Keselowski (two time Bristol winner), or Denny Hamlin (won in 2012) get there second win of 2015 at Bristol and lock themselves in the Chase for sure?
Maybe a first time winner in 2015 will get a victory at Bristol. Guys like Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon could use a Bristol win to get going this season. Or maybe Kevin Harvick will continue his hot streak that started in 2014?
Jimmie Johnson won at Texas after leading the most laps and Kevin Harvick followed suit finishing second while leading the second most. Both drivers have shown there 1.5 mile track dominance lately so this short track swing maybe just what others need to catch back up.
Going into Bristol those same two drivers (JJ and Harvick) are the only two drivers to officially be locked into the Chase with two wins. Will a guy like Joey Logano (won last fall), Brad Keselowski (two time Bristol winner), or Denny Hamlin (won in 2012) get there second win of 2015 at Bristol and lock themselves in the Chase for sure?
Maybe a first time winner in 2015 will get a victory at Bristol. Guys like Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon could use a Bristol win to get going this season. Or maybe Kevin Harvick will continue his hot streak that started in 2014?
The Good
- Matt Kenseth- Everyone has a bunch of mixed results here as one wrong move ends your day at the front. With Kyle Busch not running here this year, Ill add JGR teammate Kenseth to the "Good" list. He has 19 top 10's in 30 career starts here and won just three try's ago at Bristol.
- Kasey Kahne- Kahen got in trouble in the second visit to Bristol last year, but before that he had four straight top 10s here. That streak included a win in 2013. At any moment a driver can run into bad luck and finish poor, but if he stays clean he has a good shot to finish up front.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Yes, you are reading this correctly. That is in fact Stenhouse in the "Good" category. That because last year he swept the top 10 at Bristol (2nd and 6th). Even though it is only four career starts he has the best active average finish at this track.
The Middle
- Greg Biffle- One of the better average finishes of active drivers (11.9), yet the Biff has never won here at Bristol in 24 attempts. He will be super consistent though, as he only has 3 finishes outside the top 20 in those 24 try's and only 2 finishes outside the top 25.
The Bad
- Sam Hornish Jr- Hornish only has 7 starts at Bristol but he has an average finish of 31.9. The bad thing about that is, all 7 of those starts were with Penske, so it isn't like he didn't have an ok car. What makes it worse is he only has finished inside the top 30 2 of those 7 times.
- Casey Mears- Sorry Mears Gang, Bristol isn't Casey's best stop during the season. In 24 starts he has one lone top 10. He has 11 total top 15's in that time though, so not all is lost. I would still like to see some more top 30's out of him, which is where he should be falling between more often (15 in 24 starts). Thats 9 finishes outside the top 30.
- Aric Almirola- Aric has shown some promise here in the past (3rd place last year) but also seems to find too much bad luck to be trusted either. He has 6 finishes of 35th or higher in just 11 starts
Bristol
Motor Speedway
|
|||||
Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Car
|
1961-36
|
7/30/1961
|
42
|
Jack Smith
|
12
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-50
|
10/22/1961
|
38
|
Joe Weatherly
|
2
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-17
|
4/29/1962
|
36
|
Bobby Johns
|
6
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-36
|
7/29/1962
|
44
|
Jim Paschal
|
12
|
'62 Plymouth
|
1963-13
|
3/31/1963
|
35
|
Fireball Roberts
|
3
|
'63 Ford
|
1963-37
|
7/28/1963
|
36
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
1
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-10
|
3/22/1964
|
36
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
2
|
'64 Ford
|
1964-42
|
7/26/1964
|
36
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
8
|
'64 Ford
|
1965-14
|
5/2/1965
|
33
|
Junior Johnson
|
3
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-34
|
7/25/1965
|
36
|
Ned Jarrett
|
6
|
'65 Ford
|
1966-07
|
3/20/1966
|
32
|
Dick Hutcherson
|
6
|
'66 Ford
|
1966-34
|
7/24/1966
|
36
|
Paul Goldsmith
|
4
|
'66 Plymouth
|
1967-07
|
3/19/1967
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
14
|
'67 Dodge
|
1967-33
|
7/23/1967
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1968-05
|
3/17/1968
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'68 Ford
|
1968-30
|
7/21/1968
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
6
|
'68 Ford
|
1969-09
|
3/23/1969
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
4
|
'69 Dodge
|
1969-33
|
7/20/1969
|
32
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-09
|
4/5/1970
|
30
|
Donnie Allison
|
2
|
'70 Ford
|
1970-28
|
7/19/1970
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
10
|
'69 Dodge
|
1971-09
|
3/28/1971
|
30
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'71 Ford
|
1971-28
|
7/11/1971
|
30
|
Charlie Glotzbach
|
2
|
'71 Chevrolet
|
1972-07
|
4/9/1972
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
'72 Chevrolet
|
1972-18
|
7/9/1972
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
'72 Chevrolet
|
1973-05
|
3/25/1973
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'73 Chevrolet
|
1973-18
|
7/8/1973
|
30
|
Benny Parsons
|
2
|
'73 Chevrolet
|
1974-05
|
3/17/1974
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1974-17
|
7/14/1974
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1975-05
|
3/16/1975
|
23
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-28
|
11/2/1975
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-05
|
3/14/1976
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1976-21
|
8/29/1976
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-08
|
4/17/1977
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-21
|
8/28/1977
|
29
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-06
|
4/2/1978
|
29
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-21
|
8/26/1978
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-07
|
4/1/1979
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-22
|
8/25/1979
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-06
|
3/30/1980
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-22
|
8/23/1980
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1981-06
|
3/29/1981
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Buick
|
1981-22
|
8/22/1981
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-03
|
3/14/1982
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-21
|
8/28/1982
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
8
|
Buick
|
1983-11
|
5/21/1983
|
28
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-21
|
8/27/1983
|
29
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-05
|
4/1/1984
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-21
|
8/25/1984
|
30
|
Terry Labonte
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-05
|
4/6/1985
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
12
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-19
|
8/24/1985
|
31
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-05
|
4/6/1986
|
32
|
Rusty Wallace
|
14
|
Pontiac
|
1986-20
|
8/23/1986
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-07
|
4/12/1987
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-20
|
8/22/1987
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-06
|
4/10/1988
|
32
|
Bill Elliott
|
13
|
Ford
|
1988-20
|
8/27/1988
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-06
|
4/9/1989
|
32
|
Rusty Wallace
|
8
|
Pontiac
|
1989-20
|
8/26/1989
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-06
|
4/8/1990
|
32
|
Davey Allison
|
19
|
Ford
|
1990-20
|
8/25/1990
|
32
|
Ernie Irvan
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-06
|
4/14/1991
|
33
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1991-20
|
8/24/1991
|
32
|
Alan Kulwicki
|
5
|
Ford
|
1992-06
|
4/5/1992
|
32
|
Alan Kulwicki
|
1
|
Ford
|
1992-20
|
8/29/1992
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-06
|
4/4/1993
|
35
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1993-21
|
8/28/1993
|
34
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1994-06
|
4/10/1994
|
37
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-22
|
8/27/1994
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
4
|
Ford
|
1995-06
|
4/2/1995
|
36
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-22
|
8/26/1995
|
36
|
Terry Labonte
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-06
|
3/31/1996
|
37
|
Jeff Gordon
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-22
|
8/24/1996
|
39
|
Rusty Wallace
|
5
|
Ford
|
1997-07
|
4/13/1997
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-22
|
8/23/1997
|
42
|
Dale Jarrett
|
3
|
Ford
|
1998-06
|
3/29/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-22
|
8/22/1998
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
4
|
Ford
|
1999-07
|
4/11/1999
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Ford
|
1999-23
|
8/28/1999
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
26
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-06
|
3/26/2000
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
6
|
Ford
|
2000-23
|
8/26/2000
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Ford
|
2001-06
|
3/25/2001
|
43
|
Elliott Sadler
|
38
|
Ford
|
2001-24
|
8/25/2001
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
18
|
Pontiac
|
2002-06
|
3/24/2002
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
27
|
Ford
|
2002-24
|
8/24/2002
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-06
|
3/23/2003
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
9
|
Ford
|
2003-24
|
8/23/2003
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
5
|
Ford
|
2004-06
|
3/28/2004
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
13
|
Ford
|
2004-24
|
8/28/2004
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
30
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-05
|
4/3/2005
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-24
|
8/27/2005
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
1
|
Ford
|
2006-05
|
3/26/2006
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
9
|
Dodge
|
2006-24
|
8/26/2006
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
4
|
Ford
|
2007-05
|
3/25/2007
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-24
|
8/25/2007
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
6
|
Ford
|
2008-05
|
3/16/2008
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-24
|
8/23/2008
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
1
|
Ford
|
2009-05
|
3/22/2009
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
19
|
Toyota
|
2009-24
|
8/22/2009
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
15
|
Toyota
|
2010-05
|
3/21/2010
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-24
|
8/21/2010
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
19
|
Toyota
|
2011-04
|
3/20/2011
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
12
|
Toyota
|
2011-24
|
8/27/2011
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
8
|
Dodge
|
2012-04
|
3/18/2012
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
5
|
Dodge
|
2012-24
|
8/25/2012
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
8
|
Toyota
|
2013-04
|
3/17/2013
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-24
|
8/24/2013
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2014-04
|
3/16/2014
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
12
|
Ford
|
2014-24
|
8/23/2014
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
5
|
Ford
|
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