Gen-6 Cars Break 10 Year Old Qualifying Record at World’s Fastest Half-Mile

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March 16, 2013

no11_bms1_scearce — Photo Credit: David Scearce

The Gen-6 program, NASCAR’s most comprehensive overhaul since 2007, took a giant step toward meeting program goals on Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The goals of the Generation 6 program were “to re-establish brand identity among automotive manufacturers, and to provide competitive upgrades in an effort to improve competition in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.”

Only three races into the points season NASCAR fans are seeing faster, more competitive cars. This was highly evident on Friday at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile”. Three drivers broke the qualifying record, set by Ryan Newman in 2003, with Kyle Busch winning the pole with a record lap of 129.535 mph. Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin followed Busch in breaking Ryan Newman’s previous record of 128.709 mph.

Less than two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway, after NASCAR fined Denny Hamlin $25,000 for his comments comparing the Gen-6 car to the Generation 5 “Cars of Tomorrow,” the performance of the Gen-6 cars became a hot topic of conversation.

Busch’s record breaking qualifying lap at Bristol Motor Speedway shows drivers, NASCAR officials, and fans alike that the Gen-6 cars have just begun to reveal how they are capable of improving competition in the Sprint Cup Series.

Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway will provide more evidence as the Gen-6 cars compete at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile”.

Gen-6 car gets an “A” in early results at Bristol

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SM Staff

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March 16, 2013

AUTO: MAR 13 - Bristol Motor Speedway — Photo Credit: David Scearce

In spring of 2007 at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR held the first race for the brand new Gen-5 or “COT” race car as it was known as then. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole that day with a speed of 125.453 mph. Kyle Busch won that first “COT” race and has went on to win four more races at the famed half mile. When Busch got out of the car that day in victory lane, he said in genuine Kyle Busch fashion, that the car “sucked!”

Earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR began using the Gen-6 race car; this weekend’s race at Bristol marks the first race with the new car on a short track. The new Gen-6 car is obviously more to Busch’s liking. After his qualifying run today, Busch said “I like driving it.”

In 2007, he qualified 20th, today he not only sat on his first pole at Bristol, he did so in dramatic fashion breaking the track qualifying record of 128.709 mph previously held by Ryan Newman. Newman’s record had been in place since 2003. Three drivers, Busch, Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin, broke the old record, with a total of nine breaking the 15 second barrier.

It should also be noted that three of the top four cars were Toyota. Positive results as these are a welcome sign of relief for TRD.

Most drivers were pleased with how the car drove today, with Busch saying they could probably go into the low 14’s with the right tire. Though there have been a few hurdles to overcome in the first few weeks, it seems as if the teams are starting to get this new car figured out.

Last week at Las Vegas the number of quality passes had increased by approximately 40%. If today’s qualifying results and last week’s success at Vegas are any indicator, this weekend’s Food City 500 could be a fantastic race.

Ford Bristol Saturday (Keselowski Q&A)

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SM Archive

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March 16, 2013

Going Home to Bristol

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SM Staff

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March 15, 2013

Bristol_LaFlair — Photo Credit: Matt LaFlair

Going to Bristol last August, hugely changed my perspective of that track and why fans love the Bristol Motor Speedway so much. Bristol isn’t just a race track, it’s a community. A community of fans and staff who love racing just as much as the fans do that travel from all over the world to the World’s Fastest Half Mile. Bristol doesn’t feature your typical track experience, it’s much more. After going to Bristol, I will forever watch the races at the track differently in the best way possible. Everyone will return home to the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend.

Bristol is not just located in the Tennessee Hills, its located ON a Tennessee hill. Going to tracks like Daytona you can just walk on the flat pavement to the track. When you go to Bristol, you have to walk up a hill to get to the track. Not just a little hill but, a pretty big hill that has a pretty steep slope. The hill Bristol is on makes that track unique and it makes the Bristol experience even cooler. What other sporting venues can you say you had to walk up a hill to actually get to the venue? None come to mind for me and that makes Bristol one special place.

All NASCAR tracks are special because they usually are in the coolest towns in the U.S. Bristol, Tennessee (and Virginia) is one of the nicest and best racing-environments in the country. The people who live in the town are extremely kind and they love their racing. Walking into a restaurant along State Street in Bristol made me feel like I was at home. There was no indication whatsoever that made me feel like a visitor, I felt like one of the locals. That feeling is one of the best feelings in the world. Bristol made me feel like I was at home and never before have I felt like that at a race track.

NASCAR fans are the greatest in sports and time and time again is that statement reiterated. No one in the grandstands at Bristol was a stranger. Everyone talked with each other and no one was afraid to walk up to someone and talk racin’. The environment that that creates is unbeatable and only one place in the world can you find it, at the race track. Bristol is no different and the fan environment there could even be considered the best in NASCAR. Getting to talk with everyone about racing makes you feel at home. Feeling at home was special for me since I was far from home, close to 800 miles away. Bristol by far brings in the best fans in NASCAR and that creates some pretty special things in the small-town of Bristol, Tennessee.

Bristol is such a special place and everything about that track and town makes it that way. After going to Bristol, I will never be able to watch a race there the same way. While watching the race, I will be thinking outside the track. Thinking about the amazing town that the track is located in as well as thinking about all of the incredible memories I made at my home away from home last August. While NASCAR returns to the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, I will not be there but, my heart will surely be there and it will relive the most amazing race weekend I have ever experienced. NASCAR will be going home to Bristol this weekend and everyone there will surely feel at home due to the amazing job the town of Bristol does on putting on a great fan experience. The banner Bristol hangs at the track surely is the most correct thing I have ever read, it reads “Welcome Home.”

Four Drivers That Need to Have a Good Weekend in Tulare

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SM Staff

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March 15, 2013

4. David Gravel: David has done a fantastic job replacing the injured Bill Rose during his recovery time. David has qualified for all three features in the events he’s raced without having to use a provisional. He has finishes of 4th, 8th and 13th for Bill Rose Racing and another strong run tonight will go a long way in proving his talent to future car owners.

3. Craig Dollansky: Last season’s runner up is off to a bit of a slow start in 2013. Craig has yet to score a victory or a top-5 finish and has dropped to 9th in the standings, already 100 points back. With the tough competition the 2013 field of drivers provide, it’s a tough road back to the top after a slow start.

2. Cody Darrah: Bad luck has hindered the results of the No.4 car so far. Sitting back in 11th spot in the points, it’s time for Darrah to pick it up. He joined KKR in 2010 and has driven for the team full time since 2011. A highly touted prospect, Darrah has shown flashes of brilliance but has been generally inconsistent. Already over 100 points off the lead, the No.4 team needs a good weekend in Tulare.

1. Steve Kinser: The 20- time champion has been almost non-existent so far in 2013. Steve has only one top-10 finish in eight starts. The Tony Stewart Racing No.11 machine ranks dead last in team points after Tucson and desperately needs a good run at the Thunderbowl. Already 150 points back of leader Daryn Pittman. Steve has two full events worth of points to make up, and he’d better start clawing back soon or it may be too late for the King of the Outlaws.

Busch breaks track record in qualifying at Bristol

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SM Staff

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March 15, 2013

Kyle Busch captured the Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Food City 500 Coors Light Pole Award with a lap of 129.535 mph, 14.813 seconds at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday. The qualifying lap also broke the previous track record of 128.995 mph, held by Ryan Newman (2003).

This was Busch’s first pole of the season and the 11th of his NSCS career and his first NSCS pole at Bristol in 17 starts.

“I’ve never sat on a pole here at Bristol and qualifying is not everything here. Most of my wins come from about 30th or worse, but I think we’ve got a plan for tomorrow which is good to get ourselves a little bit better in race trim. Qualifying trim on this M&M’s Camry right now — so far, so good.” Busch said.

Kasey Kahne qualified second, Denny Hamlin third, Brian Vickers fourth and Paul Menard qualified fifth.

“Yeah, the car felt really good. I knew Kyle (Busch, pole-winner) had put down a great lap and a track record. So I knew I had to go pretty hard. I just felt like I may have given up a little bit in (Turns) 1 and 2, which would have made it really close for the pole.” Kahne said.

Starting Lineup
Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/cup/qual.php?race=4
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Pos.	No.	Driver	Make	Speed	Time
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1	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	129.535	14.813
2	5	Kasey Kahne	Chevrolet	128.995	14.875
3	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	128.96	14.879
4	55	Brian Vickers(i)	Toyota	128.528	14.929
5	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	128.356	14.949
6	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	128.288	14.957
7	2	Brad Keselowski	Ford	128.211	14.966
8	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	128.005	14.99
9	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	127.946	14.997
10	22	Joey Logano	Ford	127.877	15.005
11	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	127.869	15.006
12	20	Matt Kenseth	Toyota	127.852	15.008
13	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	127.835	15.01
14	38	David Gilliland	Ford	127.792	15.015
15	13	Casey Mears	Ford	127.588	15.039
16	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	127.512	15.048
17	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet	127.47	15.053
18	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	127.453	15.055
19	78	Kurt Busch	Chevrolet	127.393	15.062
20	43	Aric Almirola	Ford	127.377	15.064
21	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	127.36	15.066
22	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	127.36	15.066
23	15	Clint Bowyer	Toyota	127.3	15.073
24	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	127.258	15.078
25	83	David Reutimann	Toyota	127.132	15.093
26	30	David Stremme	Toyota	126.595	15.157
27	95	Scott Speed	Ford	126.578	15.159
28	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #	Ford	126.528	15.165
29	51	AJ Allmendinger	Chevrolet	126.42	15.178
30	34	David Ragan	Ford	126.403	15.18
31	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	126.237	15.2
32	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	125.947	15.235
33	7	Dave Blaney	Chevrolet	125.848	15.247
34	98	Michael McDowell	Ford	125.74	15.26
35	36	JJ Yeley	Chevrolet	125.732	15.261
36	19	Mike Bliss(i)	Toyota	125.708	15.264
37	93	Travis Kvapil	Toyota	125.142	Owner Points
38	87	Joe Nemechek(i)	Toyota	124.897	Owner Points
39	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	124.743	Owner Points
40	35	Josh Wise(i)	Ford	124.711	Owner Points
41	10	Danica Patrick #	Chevrolet	124.638	Owner Points
42	33	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	124.379	Owner Points
43	32	Terry Labonte	Ford	123.316	Owner Points