Hamlin wins the pole for the Food City 500

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March 14, 2014

hamlin_pole_bms_keppel — Photo Credit: Brad Keppel

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 18^th 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 14^th.

The green flag will fall on the Food City 500 Sunday at 1:00 pm local time.

Keselowski Runs Front Row Qualifying Streak to Three

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March 14, 2014

Marshall’s Madness: Reliving Bristol’s Best And Worst Moments

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March 14, 2014

1525_Bristol_Motor_Speedway — Credit: Getty Images

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 12^thBristol 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

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March 14, 2014

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 34^th 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 43^rd 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 19^th, with Biffle only managing a 28^th 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.

Chevy NSCS At Bristol One: Ryan Newman Press Conf. Transcript

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March 14, 2014

Burton and Hornish on stand-by for Kenseth

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March 14, 2014

Photo Credit: Mike Holtsclaw/On Pit Road — Photo Credit: Mike Holtsclaw

Bristol, TN (March 14, 2014) –

Matt Kenseth and his wife, Katie, are expecting their third child. Due to the timing, Kenseth has said he will have veteran driver Jeff Burton on stand-by this weekend for the Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Burton, who left his full-time ride at Richard Childress Racing at the end of last season, has 692 career starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series compiling 21 wins, one of which came at Bristol, and 254 top-10’s. Burton now competes on a limited schedule driving the No. 66 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing.

In addition to Burton, Sam Hornish Jr. will be on stand-by for the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series in which Kenseth is scheduled to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in the #20 GameStop Toyota Camry. Hornish has two top-10 finishes in five career starts in the Nationwide Series at Bristol.

On Friday Kenseth was asked if he still telling his wife to wait until Monday to have the baby, he replied, “We kind of had to change that around a little bit because it’s supposed to rain Sunday. If it rains Sunday—she was praying for Monday so we had to change that to Tuesday if it’s going to be this week. He continued, “Oh, it’s supposed to snow Monday so I guess if we can’t race then we can still have her on Monday.”

Reutimann makes his return to Sprint Cup competition

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SM Staff

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March 14, 2014

Bristol, TN (March 14, 2014) – David Reutimann will be making his return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition this weekend in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Reutimann will pilot the No. 35 MDS Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports.

Reutimann, who has 232 career starts, began his Sprint Cup career driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2005. Beginning in 2008, Reutimann seemed to be taking the elusive “next step”. During a three year span (2008-2010) he compiled 108 starts, two wins, and 23 top-10’s. He also led 323 laps, and in 2009, he had 28 lead lap finishes.

Reutimann’s stats, however, took a turn for the worse in 2011 where he only managed three top-10’s and led only eight laps. He did, however, score a pole at Richmond International Raceway. He was released from Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of the 2011 season.

In 2012, Reutimann used a combination of rides as he tried to piece together a full season. He managed to start 25 of the 36 races, driving for BK Racing, Tommy Baldwin Racing, and James Finch’s Phoenix Racing.

2013 brought renewed hope as Reutimann landed a full time ride with BK Racing. The young team, which was purchased from Red Bull Racing when the team shutdown, struggled to find consistency and reliability as they attempted to build their engines and eventually chassis’ in house. Though, Reutimann started all 36 races, the team had nine DNF’s and several more races where they suffered problems and were significantly off the pace. BK Racing released Reutimann at the end of the season, leaving him without a ride for 2014.

After missing the first three races of the season, Reutimann will now try, once again, to piece together as many races as possible as he searches for a new full-time job. The No. 35 team at Front Row Motorsports has traditionally been a start and park team at many races during the season. The team will, however, attempt to run the entire race this weekend at Bristol. Last fall, the team ran well at the high-banked half-mile, with driver Josh Wise, but fell out early after contact with Kurt Busch. Todd Anderson has returned for 2014 as the crew chief on the No. 35

For Reutimann, who turned 44 earlier this month, this season may be one of his final opportunities for compete in the Sprint Cup Series. Given the influx of young talented drivers working their way up through the ranks of NASCAR’s touring series, open full-time seats will be limited. It is a sad, but true fact, NASCAR is quickly becoming a younger sport. Older, experienced veteran drivers are finding fewer rides with quality teams. Hopefully, for Reutimann, he can break that cycle.