The NASCAR Nationwide Series travels to the World’s Fastest Half-Mile this week for the 23rd race of the 33 race season. Bristol Motor Speedway has long been considered a “wildcard” race on the schedule. Wildcard … because anything can happen here.
This year at Bristol we have the Food City 300. No, that’s not a typo, 50 extra laps have been added to the race (just like in the spring race) this year to give drivers a few more laps to battle and, of course, to give fans a few more laps of excitement. Just imagine what could happen with an additional 50 laps!
JR Motorsports sits atop the points standings with two drivers, Chase Elliott and Regan Smith. Currently, Elliott leads Smith by 10 points. It is then an additional 16 points back to Elliott Sadler in third.
Given how fast Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson were in practice, we may very well see another Kyle vs. Kyle show. Busch competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Wednesday night. Busch ran strong leading 81 laps, but cut down a tire late in the race and finished 24th.
It’s also great to see another female racer working her way up the ranks in NASCAR. The fact that she is from Venezuela, is an additional bonus. NASCAR is becoming more and more diverse every day.
Ryan Blaney is behind the wheel of the No. 22 Penske Racing Ford this week. The No. 22 is leading the owner’s standings with a 21 point lead over the No. 54 fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing. This battle will definitely be one to watch on Friday night. With Kyle Busch piloting the No. 54, Blaney will have a tough job stretching that points lead.
Here are your quick notes for the event:
- Chase Elliott has just one start at Bristol. He started 15th and finished ninth.
- Regan Smith has nine starts at Bristol with two top-10’s and zero laps led.
- Kyle Busch has won the last three races at Bristol
- Kyle Larson finished second to Busch in the last race.
- Larson was fastest in final practice. . . Busch was second fastest.
- Larson has three starts at Bristol and has scored three top five’s
- 45 cars are attempting to make the field this week. 40 will start.
- Milka Duno is attempting to make her first start in NNS. She was 36th fastest in final practice.
- Duno, the forty-two year old from Venezuela, has 47 ARCA starts, as well as 43 starts in the Verizon Indycar Series and 44 starts in the Grand-Am Series.
- Ryan Blaney is driving the No. 22 for Penske Racing this week. Blaney was fourth fastest in practice.
- Chris Buescher, the most recent winner in the series, was 28th fastest in practice.
- Phil Parsons won the first NNS race at Bristol in 1982.
- This week’s race will be the 65th NNS race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
- The green flag drops on the Food City 300 at 7:30pm local time on Friday night.
