Official Release

Carl Edwards (Toyota) won the pole, Denny Hamlin (Toyota) was second, Kyle Busch (Toyota) was third, Ryan Blaney (Ford) was fourth and Matt Kenseth (Toyota) will start fifth to round out the Top five qualifiers.

The winner of the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race on Saturday, August 20 at the Bristol Motor Speedway will take home a one-of-a-kind championship trophy that salutes American freedom.

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Bristol Motor Speedway and discussed his involvement with a youth initiative, Chase U, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his current position in the point standings, his thoughts heading into Bristol this weekend and many other topics.

CARL EDWARDS, No. 19 Stanley Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - How much do you enjoy racing at Bristol? “I always love to come to Bristol, it’s a fun race track. The track is a lot different right now though."

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 17 Fastenal Ford Fusion, stopped by the Bristol Motor Speedway infield media center after today’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session to talk about his friend, Bryan Clauson, and how he is honoring him this weekend.

MATT TIFFT, Joe Gibbs Racing - Opening statement: “It’s great to see everybody, I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed being at the race track. I think it’s been since June and I can’t say that I’ve ever been away from a race track for that long."

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 HUGGIES CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media along with his friend Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to discuss a special helmet each driver will be wearing in memory of their friend Bryan Clauson. Larson discussed the helmet, racing at night and other topics.

Dover International Speedway has started two construction projects which will add more than 500 feet of SAFER barriers around the track and increase usable space for NASCAR haulers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage.

Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Fusion, comes into this weekend trailing David Ragan by three points for 30th-place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. After his win at Pocono Raceway, Buescher needs to finish 30th or better to qualify for the Chase, which starts in five weeks at Chicagoland Speedway. Buescher visited the infield media center at Bristol Motor Speedway this morning to talk about his situation.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 KOBALT CHEVROLET SS, met with media and discussed the season to date, leading into the Chase, the new package at the upcoming Michigan race, his expectations for the Bristol race this weekend, and more.