Matt Kenseth looking for a solid weekend after disappointment in Vegas
Last year, Matt Kenseth started off teh seaosn real strong in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing – picking up a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Flash forward a year later and things haven’t started off so smoothly as Kenseth wrecked in the Daytona 500, before finishing 12th at Phoenix and 10th last weekend at Las Vegas.
Kenseth felt that he started the weekend off at Vegas reasonably, but ended up not doing well in qualifying as he started 29th. From there, he said the race was up and down for he and his team as they were stuck around 10th all day.
“I felt like if we could have made it on fuel, and we would have been out front or did the strategy that the 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and 99 (Carl Edwards) and a couple of them guys did, then I felt like we could have finished fifth or so,” Kenseth commented. “Certainly that wasn’t as good as what we were last year. I think just trying to feel around the ride height thing more than anything — the aero package is different and it’s tighter and it’s all that stuff, but it’s the same for everybody. I think just working to try to get more of a baseline and a feel for the no ride height thing and come up with something that works a little better.
“Certainly not where we wanted to be, but we were something that I think we learned a lot from and we can work on.”
It goes without a doubt that Kenseth comes into Bristol this weekend looking for something positive.
“It’s a challenging track — I always like coming here no matter what the configuration is,” Kenseth commented. “It’s changed a lot over the years, since they repaved it or put new concrete on it. It’s one that I look forward to — it definitely changes a lot during the weekend.”
Kenseth added that the key of the weekend is making sure that you get your car handling enough to pass on the bottom as everybody seems to run the top when it comes to the current configuration. So far, Kenseth is off to a good start as he qualified third for Sunday’s race.
Qualifying well at Bristol can be key to having a good day as a result of tight, aggressive racing with pushing throughout hte field. If you can keep yourself up front all day, you can most likely stay of trouble.
However, there is the question as to whether things will be more aggressive this year as a result of the new points system with wins rewarding you a place in the Chase. Kenseth says each person will have their own theory with regards to it, but he doesn’t feel it will change the racing.
“If somebody is on your bumper at most of these race tracks, especially these little tracks like Martinsville, here, places like that where you can get moved out of the way and you’re holding the guy up in second and you’re leading, you’re always expecting some type of aggressive move,” Kenseth added. “I’m not sure how much that will change. These are all big races to win and everybody is out there racing hard to win. You never know — you never know what the new system with the rules and format and all that stuff is going to bring. I think we just kind of wait and see.”
Why NASCAR fans love Bristol
Ask any fan what their favorite NASCAR track is and usually you will get multiple answers; however, almost always, Bristol is on that list. Fans flock to Bristol, those that have been there cannot wait to get back, and for those that have never been there it’s usually on their “bucket list”.
The beginning was in 1960 when two men, Carl Moore and Larry Carrier had gotten the idea when traveling to North Carolina to see the first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, built by a local businessman turned race promoter O. Bruton Smith and the legendary driver Curtis Turner. Charlotte Motor Speedway would become the inspiration, however, they had decided they wanted a track that was smaller, more intimate, and the fact it would take up less land was a plus. In 1960, Moore, Carrier, and R.G. Pope began work on a half mile track that would become Bristol International Speedway. The track itself was a perfect half-mile, measuring 60 feet wide on the straightaways and 75 feet wide in the turns, which were banked at 22 degrees.
Although, the track ran weekly races, the first NASCAR driver to take to the track in practice was Tiny Lund on July 27th, 1961. The first NASCAR race, The Volunteer 500, at the then renamed Bristol Motor Speedway was on July 30th, 1961 with another well known driver Fred Lorenzen on the pole. When the Volunteer 500 was over, a driver named Jack Smith would be written into the history books as the first winner. However, with the heat blistering his feet badly after 290 laps, he would request a relief driver named Johnny Allen to finish the race in his place. A total of 42 cars started the first race at BMS but only 19 finished. For the next several years Bristol quickly became one of the most sought after wins for drivers, as it was one that was hard earned.
Fast forward to April 5th, 1992, a new sponsorship would come to the track “The Food City 500” and actually is still the sponsor to this day. That day, Alan Kulwicki would dominate the race and it would be the final race on an asphalt surface, as well as the last one to be run on bias-ply tires. With the increasing tire traction and other factors, the track was beginning to need to be resurfaced or patched after every few races. The track owners were looking for a solution to the problem and the answer came on August 29, 1992 for the “Bud 500”. Bristol became the first speedway to host a NASCAR Cup event that boasted a track surface of all concrete.
Bristol is also known for some of the most horrific crashes fans have ever seen, despite its size. August 27th, 1988 during practice, driver Rusty Wallace slid into the fourth turn wall and ended up barrel-rolling about five times down the front straightaway. He escaped any major injuries and was kept overnight in the hospital for observation.
It was 1990 when driver Michael Waltrip also survived unscathed from a horrific crash during a NASCAR Busch Series (now known as the Nationwide Series) race. He hit a turnout gate at the corner exit, breaking the gate and went head on into the end of the wall literally destroying his car to the point that no one believed anyone could survive that impact. To his brother Darrell Waltrip’s relief not only had Michael survived but like Wallace, had only suffered minor injuries.
August 22nd, 2002 during a practice session for the Busch Series, driver Mike Harmon had something break in the car sending him into the wall and into a crossover gate where his car would be virtually destroyed. It would come to rest on the track where it would be hit again by driver Johnny Sauter. Harmon was uninjured and walked away.
That is the history of Bristol, but that is just a few of the reasons that fans are in love with Bristol. Fans love it because it is by far one of the toughest and most exciting tracks that NASCAR runs. It is side by side paint swapping racing, and the noise is said to be deafening as the cars race. It has been stated that Bristol is the equivalent of running fighter jets in a gymnasium. Bristol can make the most refined level headed driver lose his cool. We have seen helmets thrown, drivers going at each other, often creating feuds that will last throughout the year. At times there is so much going on that fans have a hard time keeping up with all that is happening. It tests the drivers’ skills and their ability to not let tempers get the best of them.
We head into Bristol Motor Speedway this year with even more excitement now that NASCAR has put the emphasis on winning more than points. How will the drivers respond? Will it make for even more aggressive driving? One thing with Bristol is that it is anyone’s guess who will win or who will lose their temper, but either way the fans love it so bring it on as we can’t wait.
Hamlin wins the pole for the Food City 500
This week’s changes to qualifying procedures did not hurt Denny Hamlin’s strong start to the 2014 season. In Friday’s qualifying for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hamlin posted a fast lap of 129.991 mph in his Fed-Ex Toyota Camry. Hamlin’s lap once again broke the track record, a feat that has become the norm in the Sprint Cup Series. Today’s pole was the 18th of Hamlin’s career, and his second at Bristol.
The changes that NASCAR implemented this week that eliminated the “cool down” laps that teams were using in the first three races of the season. Many teams, drivers and fans alike were raising concerns about the cool down laps due the significant difference in speed between them and cars that were on a full speed run. Drivers seemed to feel that there was no detrimental effects on their runs in regards to the changes.
Brad Keselowski’s terrific qualifying runs continued as he scored a second place startning spot. Keselwoski’s Penske Racing teammate, Joey Logano, ended up fourth at the end of the session.
Other notables: Matt Kenseth will start third, Jeff Gordon sixth, defending champion Jimmie Johnson will take the green in eleventh, and points leader Dale Earnhardt Jr will start 14th.
The green flag will fall on the Food City 500 Sunday at 1:00 pm local time.
Marshall’s Madness: Reliving Bristol’s Best And Worst Moments
Bristol Motor Speedway has caused dramatic finishes and some horrific incidents during its 53-year career in NASCAR. The short half mile track located in Bristol, Tennessee has lived through some of the worst and best moments in NASCAR history – and this weekend they can only further that resume.
Below, during this weeks edition of ‘Marshall’s Madness’, we relive the premier and most dangerous moments in the ‘The Bullring’s’ history.
7. Mike Harmon’s Horrific Crash
During 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series practice Mike Harmon smashed the wall exiting turn two and his car was demolished. Luckily, he was uninjured and ended up racing the same day.
6. Ernie Irvin Notches Memorable Victory
Ernie Irvin, after being a seat welder at Charlotte Motor Speedway, entered the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winning the Rookie of The Year honors and scoring his first career victory at Bristol Motor Speedway – pretty impressive for a former seat welder.
5. Michael Waltrip Scary Crash
During the 1990 NSCS season, Michael Waltrip survived a brutal crash during practice at Bristol. After a similar incident to Harmon’s, he walked away not affected at all. Darrell Waltrip, Michael’s brother, was in tears when the incident happened, but was relieved when Michael got up and walked away okay.
4. Darrell Waltrip’s Final Win At Bristol
During the 1989 NSCS season, Darrell Waltrip captured his 12thBristol triumph, and his final NASCAR victory. His victory lane celebration was unlike others, as the 3-time champion was emotional – for the first time since his Daytona 500 win.
3. Terry Labonte-Dale Earnhardt Battle For Bristol Triumph
Bristol, Tennessee witnessed an intense duel between Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Sr., during the 1995 season. Earnhardt, who was the dominant car of the event, was sent to the rear of the field for an incident with Rusty Wallace. But, everyone expected him to race his way through the field, and he did, quite easily. Once he caught Labonte for the lead they battled back and forth until the white flag when the two machines made contact sending Earnhardt around and Labonte to victory lane.
2. Kyle Busch Sweeps Weekend
During 2011, Kyle Busch shocked the racing world after scoring victories in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series, not that impressive right? Yeah, until you realize he did it all at one track in the same weekend. Oh, and it’s one of the toughest circuits on the schedule, but ‘Rowdy’ Busch handled it with ease after scoring the three victories at Bristol.
1. Alan Kulwicki’s Tragedy
When flying into the racetrack at Bristol, Alan Kulwicki’s airplane crashed due to the pilot’s failure to use the airplane’s anti-ice system to clear ice from the engine inlet system. Kulwicki didn’t survive the incident and was pronounced dead on April 1, 1993 – after winning the Sprint Cup championship the year before. ‘The Victory Polish Lap’ was created in remembrance of Kulwicki.
Kurt Busch leads first practice at Bristol
Bristol, TN (March 14, 2014) – The first practice on Friday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 was interesting to say the least. Several drivers had trouble and found the wall during the first session – the only practice session before qualifying.
Danica Patrick was the first to find the wall when her No. 10 Go Daddy Chevrolet got loose coming off the corner and bounced off the outside wall, then made contact with Swan Racing rookie driver, Parker Kligerman, who was on his first lap of practice. Patrick’s Stewart-Hass Race team immediately brought out the back-up car. Patrick was 34th fastest at the end of practice.
Kligerman spent much of practice behind the wall, but did manage to complete eight laps before it was over. It is crucial that Kligerman have a qualifying effort this weekend, as this is the weekend that NASCAR reverts to this season’s owner’s points standings to determine provisional starting spots. Kligerman ended up 43rd fastest in the early session.
Another rookie of the year contender, Justin Allgaier, also made contact with the outside wall in his No. 51 SEM Products Chevrolet. Allgaier was on his first lap of practice, and did not return to the track for the rest of the session.
Drivers who had trouble in practice was not limited to drivers of lesser experience. Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle, arguably two if the most talented drivers in the garage area, also spun and made significant contact with the wall. Busch and Biffle both pulled out back-up cars. Busch ended up 19th, with Biffle only managing a 28th place lap in the early session.
Stewart-Hass Racing driver, Kurt Busch did not have any major issues in practice session number one. Busch ran 36 laps, and posted a fast lap of 129.789 mph to place him atop the charts. Busch has an impressive record at Bristol, with 5 wins and 14 top-5’s in 26 starts.
Rounding out the top-5 in practice session number one were – Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, and Marcos Ambrose.
