NASCAR Cup Series

Still reaping the benefits of their strong NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) performance in June at Gateway (Ill.) Motorsports Park, Chad Finley and his Chad Finley Racing (CFR) head to Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) hoping to produce back-to-back top-10 finishes in Thursday night’s UNOH 200.

Martin Truex Jr. knows that if he can avoid the wrecks at Bristol Motor Speedway in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race he will have a good shot at winning his first career short track race.

Byron on driving more aggressively at short tracks: “I think the cars are so fast nowadays, you have to keep the fenders on the car to be competitive. But, you’re more aggressive and you don’t give near as much to other guys as you would at other places. The last race there was intense the whole time because you were trying to guess when the rain was going to get there.”

Bristol Preview: The Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway for Saturday night’s 500-lap event under the lights at the half-mile Tennessee bullring. Hamlin has captured three poles at “The Last Great Colosseum,” tied for a Series-best among active drivers. Earlier this season, Hamlin came back from three laps down to finish 14th in the event won by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch.

Watkins Glen International has donated $10,000 to help aid The Dale Jr. Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Driven to Give Gloves program.

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 KROGER CLICKLIST CAMARO ZL1 - RACING AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY: "Bristol Motor Speedway is a little different now since they put the compound down," Allmendinger said. "The bottom groove lasts longer with the addition of the traction compound. The Bristol spring race is hard to get a read from, because of the rainy and snowy weather and having to finish the race on Monday. In the spring during our practice sessions, we would run the top, and then it would rain and wash it out so we ended up using the bottom a lot more."

Bristol Motor Speedway will be hosting a triple-header this weekend as all three major series compete on the half-mile banked oval. Kevin Harvick’s win at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday was the 10th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory for Ford in 2018, matching its season total from a year ago. Here’s a look at how Ford has fared in all three series through the years, along with some updated historical notes.

Richard Childress Racing's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Bristol Motor Speedway ... In 169 Monster Energy NASCAR 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, 34 top-five and 69 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has led 3,679 laps at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile."

THORNE BY OUR SIDE: Through their partnership with Leavine Family Racing (LFR), Thorne provides the team with ongoing diagnostic testing and consultations. Thorne’s tests measure an individual’s unique biomarkers and can uncover specific health insights, which are converted into a personal plan for what to eat, how to exercise, and whether to add nutritional supplements to improve health outcomes and athletic performance. Thorne has similar sports partnerships with 12 U.S. National Teams, including U.S. Soccer, USA Hockey, and USA Triathlon.

Bayne will make his ninth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) start at Bristol this weekend. In eight previous races the Knoxville native has finished in the top-10 twice, and has an average finish of 17th.