Event: Bristol 500
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2015
Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tenn.
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Bristol Motor Speedway …In 152 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts nine wins – seven with Dale Earnhardt, one with Kevin Harvick and one with Jeff Burton – three pole awards, 33 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has led 3,665 laps at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,582 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 467 top-five finishes and 998 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.9. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR …Throughout the season’s 23 contested races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series have collectively notched seven top-five and 19 top-10 finishes with drivers Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 11th (Menard), 12th (Newman) and 20th (Dillon) in the driver championship point standings.
RCR Michigan Rewind … Last weekend, RCR teammates Dillon, Newman and Menard finished fourth, eighth and 12th, respectively, in the Pure Michigan 400.
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Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at RCRracing.com along with official driver pages -facebook.com/austindillon3, facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action … The Bristol Night Race will be televised live Saturday, August 22 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Perfromance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Dow Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 477 in the Bristol Night Race. . This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon competed with at Dover International Speedway in May, finishing 33rd following a late-race accident. He also drove this Chevrolet to a ninth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in April and a 20th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. In 2014, Dillon raced this Chevrolet SS to a 24th-place finish at Dover International Speedway in September, a 20th-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in September and a 14th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
Dillon at Bristol Motor Speedway …. In three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dillon posted a ninth-place finish in April 2015 after starting 12th, an 11th-place finish in March 2014 after starting 27th and a 28th-place finish in August 2014 after starting 26th. He has four BMS starts to his credit in the XFINITY Series, posting a pair of top-five finishes at the 0.533-mile short track. He earned a career-best third-place finish in August 2014. He has also earned finishes of 11th (May 2013), 12th (March 2012) and fourth (August 2012). He has two starts at BMS in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, finishing 17th in 2010 and 23rd in 2011.
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Get to the Points … Dillon ranks 20th in the championship point standings leading into the Bristol Night Race.
In the Rear View … Dillon earned his career-best finish in the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, finishing fourth in the Dow Chevrolet after racing his way through the field and leading 19 laps.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance on behalf of Cheerios at Food City Family Race Night on Thursday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of State Street and Piedmont Street in Bristol, Tenn. He is also scheduled to join his younger brother, Ty Dillon, and teammate, Brendan Gaughan, in an autograph session on behalf of UNOH at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 21 at 2:45 p.m.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What do you think about running at Bristol Motor Speedway?
“I look forward to going to Bristol Motor Speedway. I think we’ve got a great shot there. If you don’t have a car that handles well it equates to a bad day at Bristol because you can’t get out of the way because everything flows to the top. You can really be aggressive at Bristol, and it’s a track where you are rewarded for being aggressive. It’s one of those places that is a physical track. When it’s all said and done you see drivers really spent after the race.”
Paul Menard, No. 27 Knauf / Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Knauf / Menards Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway… Paul Menard will use chassis No. 545 under the lights in Saturday’s 500-lap event at Bristol Motor Speedway. This Chevrolet SS was previously raced this season in June at Pocono Raceway (Start: 16 / Finish: 31) and April at Bristol Motor Speedway (Start: 9 / Finish: 11).
Stats at the World’s Fastest Half Mile … Menard has competed in 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has five top-10 and two top-five starts as well as six top-10 and one top-five finish. The RCR driver has led 100 laps and completed 99.7 percent of laps in competition.
Rookie Stripe … Alexander has impressive stats in his first year as a full-time Sprint Cup Series crew chief. In 27 races with Menard, Alexander has led the team to one top-five, 13 top-15 and 18 top-20 starts. He’s also collected 21 top-20, 18 top-15 and three top-five finishes. Alexander is the first three-time winner of the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award this season.
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Where Do You Stand … Menard sits 11th in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings and currently holds the 13th position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Grid with only three races left before the Chase begins in September.
Last Time in Bristol … The No. 27 team started the April event in ninth and raced in the top 15 for a majority of the day before getting collected in an incident during the closing laps. Fast repairs by the team kept Menard on the lead lap after coming to pit road twice for repairs. A final green-white-checkered restart led Menard to an 11th-place finish, his fifth top-15 finish of the season at the time.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
You recently tested at Bristol Motor Speedway. How does that help your mindset entering the race?
“We worked on some ideas at the test recently that we normally wouldn’t have the time to try out in a short practice session, so I’d say it was beneficial. We’ll approach this race just as any other, try to maximize points, whether it is an educated gamble on mileage or just bolt on four tires and go. We’ll see how the race plays out and execute accordingly.”
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Bristol Motor Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 504 on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. This Chevrolet has been utilized four times this season at Auto Club Speedway (Start: 9/Finish: 5), Texas Motor Speedway (Start: 7/Finish: 12) Kansas Speedway (Start: 15/Finish: 10), Dover International Speedway (Start: 17/Finish: 18) and Kentucky Speedway (Start: 26/Finish: 20).
Newman at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile … Newman will make his 500th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the Series returns to Bristol’s bullring. In 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Newman owns three pole awards including the spring races in 2003 and 2004 as well as the fall event in 2011. He has earned two top-fives and 15 top-10 finishes. His best result of second place came on August 28, 2004. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 10.6 and average finish of 16.4. He’s led a total of 112 laps in competition. And in the XFINITY Series, he owns one pole (fall 2006) and a 2005 victory in the fall race.
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Get to the Points … Newman moves up one spot this week after finishing eighth at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. He now ranks 12th in the championship point standings and 14th in the Chase Grid with just three races remaining before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship begins.
Last Time Around … After starting 18th, Newman battled back from a one-lap deficit to race up to second position by lap 350. A green-white-checkered-flag finish dictated the outcome of the race and saw the driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet climb from ninth to the fifth-place finish.
Winner! Welcome, DraftKings … Richard Childress Racing enters into a two-race partnership with DraftKings beginning this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The “Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner” of NASCAR will be featured on Newman’s No. 31 Chevrolet. The company has an exclusive license to develop NASCAR-branded games across the daily fantasy sports category. Offering two different types of NASCAR-themed games, DraftKings provides a free game for the casual players and paid games for the avid competitors. The No. 31 entry will also carry the DraftKings mark at Martinsville Speedway on November 1.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on making your 500th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Bristol Motor Speedway?
“I honestly had no idea until someone informed me of it this week. 500 is definitely a career milestone but for me, the biggest career start was my very first one. You got to have people who believe in you enough to just give you a chance and for that I am truly grateful.”
What is the key to getting around Bristol Motor Speedway?
“It’s just following the demands of the 500 laps like not beating your car up and being able to hold some kind of track position. It doesn’t take much to get lapped there. Having one bad run can change your entire day whereas a place like Michigan, one bad run just puts you farther back, but you are probably not going to get lapped.”
What is the hardest part of the track to figure out?
“I don’t know if it’s hard to figure out. It’s just hard to be a little bit better than everyone else because it seems like the times are so tight there that it doesn’t take much to set yourself above everybody else.”
How important is qualifying at a place for Bristol especially when it comes to pit selection?
“It seems to depend on the tire we have and how the racing is going to be. There are times where qualifying is super important and there are times where track is three or four lanes wide where we can just have a great race. It really all depends on the tire which I think is the same. We’ll just have to see. Qualifying is always important at Bristol.”
What are your plans for the final off week of the season?
“I have some things I need to get done around the house. We have a birthday party to celebrate for our youngest daughter. We’re going to have some fun and enjoy the down time.”
Event: Bristol 300
Date: Friday, August 21, 2015
Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tenn.
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Bristol Motor Speedway … In 72 Series starts at the half-mile oval, RCR has completed 18,286 laps of the 19,051 (96.0 percent) that they have competed. The Welcome, N.C., organization has visited Victory Lane on seven separate occasions, four with Kevin Harvick (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), Jeff Green (2002), Clint Bowyer (2008) and Elliott Sadler (2012). RCR has accumulated 27 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes, led 1,776 laps, have started from the pole position five times and average a starting position of 9.5 and finishing position of 11.6.
Mid-Ohio Review …Ty Dillon was the highest RCR finisher in third, Brian Scott seventh, Brendan Gaughan 13th and Brandon Jones 29th, respectively, in the XFINITY Series Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The Points … All three RCR XFINITY Series full-time drivers remain in the top 10 of the driver point standings as the Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend for the 22nd event of the season. Ty Dillon is currently second, Brian Scott, eighth and Brendan Gaughan, ninth. The No. 33 RCR team is third in the owner point standings.
Did You Know … Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. Visit SaveInjuredKids.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
Social Media … To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter account – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR XFINITY Series team Twitter accounts – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon, @RCR33NNS and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s XFINITY Series driver twitter accounts – @bscottracing, @tydillon, @brandonjonesrac and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Catch the Action … Coverage of this weekend’s XFINITY Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on Friday, August 21, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC Sports Network. It will also be broadcast live on Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott, No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 101 in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Bristol 300. This prepared chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable has an average starting position of 5.9 and an average finishing position of 6.7.
The Last Great Colosseum History … Scott will be making his 13th XFINITY Series start this weekend in the Bristol 300 at BMS. In 12 previous starts, the Boise, Idaho, native has captured four top-10 finishes with an average start of 10.7 and an average finish of 18.9. Scott qualified fourth and finished eighth in the spring showing at the 0.53-mile speedway. He also has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the track.
2015 at A Glance … After 21 XFINITY Series races this season; Scott has captured three top-five, 13 top-10 finishes, sits eighth in the driver point standings and has led 133 laps with an average starting position of 6.0 and an average finish of 13.7. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Scott currently leads the XFINITY Series drivers with the highest average starting position of 6.0.
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Mid-Ohio Race Rewind … The Boise, Idaho-native started fifth for the Saturday afternoon XFINITY Series race at the 2.5-mile track. Scott battled inside the top 10 climbing as high as fifth. Scott drove the No. 2 Owen Mottie/Shore Lodge Chevrolet to a seventh-place finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Last Fall at Bristol Motor Speedway … The No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro qualified ninth at Bristol Motor Speedway. After a rain-delayed start to the 300-lap event, Scott secured himself inside the top 10 until the competition caution on lap 60. With 27 laps to go, Scott lost track position after brushing the outside wall and took the checkered flag in the 11th position.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
What are your thoughts heading into Bristol?
“I like Bristol Motor Speedway. The only downside of Bristol is I wish there were more opportunities to pass. It seems like when the groove is up high anywhere that we go, it makes passing more difficult. You might be faster than somebody but you have to pinch your car off on the bottom a little bit too much where the momentum always seems to prevail in these XFINTIY Series cars. It’s a lot of fun racing Bristol, especially if you are running up front. If you get shuffled back and you have a fast car it can be one of the most frustrating places just because of how hard it is to pass cars on the bottom.”
Do you see Bristol in August as one of the most physically demanding race tracks?
“Bristol in August is more physically demanding just because of the heat element. You’re in a big super bowl so you don’t really get any air circulation. But, all-in-all, the race goes by pretty quick because we turn such fast lap times that you’re not exposed to heat for as long as a time as you would be in a lot of our races. I still firmly believe that road-course racing is the most physically demanding because there is a lot going on inside of the car and it really taxis you mentally with all the different corners. But Bristol in August is always hot and you are always sweating pretty good out there.”
Ty Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 150 in this weekend’s Bristol 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was most recently raced at Iowa Speedway by Brandon Jones where he finished eighth. In five NASCAR XFINITY Series races, chassis No. 150 has four top-10 finishes and two top-five finishes.
Dillon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Bristol Motor Speedway … In four NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the half-mile track, Dillon has recorded four top-10 finishes and two top-five finishes. Dillon has finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in his last two races at BMS.
Second time back … Earlier this season, Dillon drove the No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro to a fifth-place finish at BMS. After qualifying 16th, Dillon proved he had a car capable of finishing up-front; he was inside the top five by lap 41. In the end, a strong day on pit road, fuel strategy and a fast Chevrolet Camaro gave Dillon his third top-five finish of the season.
#BattleAtBristol … Last Tuesday, August 11th, Dillon and RCR race strategy engineer, Derek Vaughan, visited Virginia Tech to promote the upcoming race weekend and next year’s “Battle at Bristol,” the highly anticipated college football game featuring University of Tennessee versus Virginia Tech. Dillon and Vaughan, whom graduated from VT’s School of Engineering in 1998, toured the football team’s brand new practice facility, Lane Stadium, met with head coach Frank Beamer and several players and team personnel.
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Double Duty … In addition to driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro, Dillon is scheduled to get behind the wheel of the No. 31 Gunbroker.com Chevrolet Silverado in Wednesday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race for NTS Motorsports.
Mid-Ohio Race Rewind … Dillon drove the No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro to a third-place finish Saturday afternoon in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200, recording the team’s third consecutive top-five finish and second consecutive road course top-five finish. Dillon qualified third, raced inside the top-five for a majority of the 75 lap race and in the end made a pass on the restart to finish third.
Points Update … Dillon moved into sole possession of second place in the XFINITY Series driver point standings with his third-place finish this past weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He trails the leader by 24 points with 12 races remaining.
Meet Ty Dillon … Meet Ty Dillon at the Bristol, Tenn. Bass Pro Shops on Thursday, August 20th beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Fans will have an opportunity to meet the driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro and receive an autograph. On Friday, August 21st, Dillon is scheduled to visit the XFINITY Zone located in the fan midway at 2:20 p.m. and sign autographs at the UNOH display in the midway for the first 100 fans with Austin Dillon and Brendan Gaughan beginning at 2:45 p.m. One hundred wristbands will be given out on a first come, first served basis on Friday morning.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
Is Bristol one of you favorite places to race?
“Bristol Motor Speedway has been a race track I’ve had some success with some top-five finishes and some top-10 finishes in both the XFINITY Series and Truck Series. It’s very physically demanding from a driver standpoint and always provides great racing for the fans. It truly is ‘The Last Great Colosseum’ and is one of the most iconic venues in all of sports. Anytime I get into a race car there it’s a treat.”
Brandon Jones, No. 33 Tide / Menards Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Tide / Menards Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Brandon Jones will pilot Chassis No. 131 in the Bristol 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was driven by Ty Dillon earlier this season at Dover International Speedway where he started 12th and finished eighth. This short-track chassis has an average starting position of 6.8 and an average finishing position of 6.2.
Bristol Nuggets … Jones has five previous starts at the half-mile bullring in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East collecting one top-five and two top-10 finishes. The 18-year-old driver visited Bristol Motor Speedway in August for the Camping World Truck Series event where he started 10th and finished 20th.
Short Track Details … Jones is no stranger to short-track racing. He has accumulated 35 starts on tracks less than one mile in length across the Camping World Truck Series, K&N Pro Series East and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. In those 35 starts, Jones has garnered three victories, one pole award, 14 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes with 330 laps led.
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33 Team by the Numbers … So far this season, the No. 33 team has accumulated some impressive stats with Jones, Austin Dillon and Paul Menard behind the wheel. In 21 races, the RCR team has garnered three wins, five pole awards, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes with 428 laps led.
Looking Ahead … Following this weekend’s 300-lap affair at Bristol Motor Speedway, Paul Menard will pilot the No. 33 Richmond / Menards Chevrolet at Road America for the August 29 event.
Double Duty … Aside from his racing duties in the No. 33 Tide / Menards Chevrolet, Jones will also pilot the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing in the Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 on Wednesday, August 19. Coverage of the 200-lap race begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX Sports 1.
BRANDON JONES QUOTE:
You seem to like short track racing, what are your thoughts heading into the weekend?
“Yeah, I’ve run pretty well in previous cars at Bristol, I just haven’t gotten the finishes we’ve deserved. I tested there a couple weeks ago with my truck team and had a good day. I think having that extra seat time will help a lot this week. I’m ready to go with this Tide/Menards crew, it’ll be fun.”
How tense is it behind the wheel at Bristol? It seems like you’re in traffic all of the time.
“I think in the XFINITY Series race it’ll be a lot more intense, honestly. The trucks are pretty crazy with a fast pace, but the XFINITY cars are a faster pace than the trucks. It will definitely get a little crazy out there, you’ll be in traffic pretty much the whole time you’re out there, but it’s what makes racing at Bristol fun.”
Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 147 this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro has been utilized with the No. 62 team since June 2014. Chassis No. 147 has an average starting position of 11.5 and a finishing position of 16.2.
Last Great Colosseum Stats … In eight XFINITY Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Gaughan has completed 2,133 laps of the 2,254 (94.6 percent) that he has competed. The Las Vegas native has earned three top-10 finishes, all coming in the last two XFINITY Series seasons. In March 2009, Gaughan started from the pole position. The 40-year-old driver also has eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the half mile concrete oval, earning three top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Did You Know … In the last six races, Gaughan and the No. 62 RCR Chevrolet average a starting position of 7.5, a finishing position of 10.0 and have finished within the top 15 of the running order.
Spring Race at Bristol… No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet qualified in the eighth position for the spring edition of the 300-lap event. Despite battling a loose-handling condition throughout the race, Gaughan was able to race within the top-10 of the running order and finish ninth.
In the Rearview Mirror: Mid-Ohio …. Sporting a new paint scheme in honor of his Patient Champion Mikey Allen, Gaughan qualified 12th for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Mikey Allen / South Point team battled a loose-handling condition in the left-hand turns and a tight-handling condition in the right-hand turns during the course of the 75-lap event. After making adjustments to the No. 62 Chevrolet during a lap-53 caution period, Gaughan restarted in the 25th position and improved his position to 13th before taking the checkered flag.
To the Points … Gaughan is currently eighth in the driver point standings as the XFINITY Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
What are your thoughts about Bristol Motor Speedway?
“I love the new track as it is, but I wish they wouldn’t have ground the top row because it really made it an extra groove race. You just have to be a little extra careful and pay attention to your surrounds a little bit more. I think it’s better than it’s ever been. You no longer have to move someone out of the way to win Bristol, you can race them. Who would have ever believed you’d be three-wide at Bristol? If you’re a fan that’s watched racing at Bristol for the last 30 years, you probably never thought we’d get three-wide here. You can be three-wide at Bristol racing, digging hard and still bump and run, and push people, but you’re doing it in an artful way instead of the old way of smashing and banging them before going on by.”
