[media-credit name=”Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”247″][/media-credit]To leave the Bristol Motor Speedway without some form of controversy is unheard of.

The Tennessee short track advertising controversy, with beating and banging making the half-mile what it is. Feelings get hurt here and some of the sports most memorable moments happen on the BMS high banks.

The last two Bristol races however, have brought forth controversy of a different kind. Last August it was the scoring lines on pit road that some drivers cried foul over, saying the lines were too far apart and it allowed drivers such as Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth to speed past.

Keselowski, who went on to win that race, took exception, saying that wasn’t the reason he had won. This time around Keselowski won in spite of the controversy that was on everyone’s mind: restarts.

Keselowski and Matt Kenseth raced each other hard and clean the last half of the Food City 500, trading the lead back and forth. On a late restart though a video review showed Kenseth, running second, had beaten Keselowski to the start-finish line.

By rule, the second place driver is not to beat the leader on the restart. Many watching went into an uproar and called for Kenseth to be black-flagged. NASCAR stayed silent and let them race, something that both drivers were thankful for afterwards.

“I knew it was close,” said Kenseth. “But here is the thing. When you get to the second line, they say the race is on. I know we took off a little bit early. Quarter throttle, I’m waiting for him [Keselowski]. NASCAR actually has the data, you can look at it, kind of cool.”

Kenseth was referring to the restart lines posted on the wall. It provides drivers with a visual of where they can start accelerating. When Keselowski didn’t get up to speed fast enough in the restart zone it was fair game for Kenseth to beat him to the start-finish line, which he did and ended up taking the lead.

“I didn’t floor it till I got to the start-finish line,” said Kenseth. “I don’t know if he was trying to let me beat him on purpose. I was half throttle for five car lengths. I was finally, I got to go or Martin [Truex] or whoever was behind me was going to go around me.

“It was way past that line and we still weren’t wide open. I think he was just playing a little game, trying to get me out there so I had to brake check. I just watched him and tried to get to the line barely behind him.”

Compared to how badly some drivers have beaten the leader to the line in the past, Kenseth nudging past Keselowski by a few inches wasn’t so bad. Of course, a rule is a rule as they say and many wanted to see it enforced.

Keselowski though, wasn’t among them. He, like Kenseth, didn’t see anything wrong with what had happened, knowing that the restart was very close. According to Keselowski, the driver who restarts second, if he does it right, can have an advantage.

“It’s such a ball strike call, I don’t know,” he said. “I hate to be on NASCAR’s side that he beat you to the start-finish line. I can tell you there’s two yellow lines on the wall. Visually you can’t tell if somebody goes 50 foot before ‘em or right at ‘em. It’s damn near impossible to visually tell that.

“Even if you had telemetry, it’s hard to tell it. It’s very subjective. I think when things are as subjective as that is, a ‘no’ call is a right call.”

With no penalties applied Keselowski went on to win his first race of the year, fifth career and second straight at Bristol. Kenseth finished second, his second top 10 of the season.

And just as they did last fall, they both will leave others to debate the day’s events as they move on and prepare for the upcoming week. According to the two of them, what happened Sunday was a non-issue.

“I know I’ve seen moves on restarts, without picking any one particular guy, where guys have jumped it by a mile, I mean a hundred some foot,” said Keselowski. “You watch it on TV. I know what I saw in the car. I go back and watch it on TV and it doesn’t look it.

“I can’t imagine that the perspective of an official up in the pit box or press box, wherever they’re at, or even TV, from what I can tell, can pick that stuff out. I think there has to be some leniency. If a guy beats you by a full car length to the start-finish line, something is going on.

“I don’t think we’re seeing that. I think if you’re close, NASCAR has been cool enough about it to let it go, and I respect that.”

At Bristol Motor Speedway last August, Brad Keselowski earned his most laps led in a single race, with 83 laps. He almost tripled that number at BMS Sunday, leading 232 laps. Keselowski tweeted this weekend that this was the best race car he has ever had, and he proved that Sunday at Bristol.

He started the race in fifth position and was a top contender all day long. On Lap 23, Keselowski narrowly escaped a multi-car pile up and his day only got better from that point on. Keselowski took the lead for the first time on Lap 217, passing Brian Vickers for the position. Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, who he battled for the lead with for most of the race, took the lead from him on on the restart at Lap 347.

Although there was skepticism on whether Kenseth jumped the restart, NASCAR said that Kenseth legally beat Keselowski to the line. On Lap 400, Keselowski stole the lead back from Kenseth and held on to it for the next 100 laps to win the Food City 500. Keselowski gained eight positions in points standings, rising to 13th position.

Kasey Kahne Off To a Rough Start

Kasey Kahne started the race in 10th position and had high hopes for the race at Bristol. Unfortunately, those high hopes were lost on the first caution of the day on Lap 23. Kahne was coming out of the turn and thought he was clear of Regan Smith who was on the outside. Kahne however, was not clear and clipped the front end of Smith’s car, sending himself and others into the wall.

[media-credit name=”By Chris Trotman, Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”272″][/media-credit]”There is no reason to force the issue at all,” Kahne said. “I’m under Regan Smith, as slow as he was — I knew when my spotter cleared me — I’d be clear on exit (of the corner). (Smith) was there on exit. I listened too much to my spotter, I guess.”

The wreck collected Kahne, as well as Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Marcos Ambrose.  They were all forced to take their cars to the garage for repairs. In the first four races of the season Kahne has finished 29th, 34th, 19th, and 37th position at Bristol. Kahne is now 32nd in point’s standings, 100 points behind the leader.

Matt Kenseth Continues Hot Streak

Matt Kenseth started the Food City 500 in 21st position and was in the Top 10 by lap 115. At the halfway mark in the race, Kenseth had put himself in the third position and was having a three-wide battle for the lead with Keselowski and Jeff Gordon. On the restart on Lap 347, Kenseth passed Keselowski and put his Best Buy Ford in the lead position. About 40 laps later, Keselowski took the lead back from Kenseth, leaving Kenseth to finish the race in second position.

Kenseth gained two positions in point’s standings, moving to third position, just 12 points behind leader and teammate Greg Biffle.

Brian Vickers Proves He Belongs

Brian Vickers drove the No. 55 car at Bristol on a six-race basis for Michael Waltrip Racing, in an effort to gain a full-time ride in the Cup Series. After qualifying in 25th position, Vickers stayed on the track during the first caution on Lap 23 to put himself in fourth position on the restart. On Lap 96, Vickers took the lead of the race from AJ Allmendinger, who also stayed out on the track during the restart on Lap 23. Vickers led a total of 125 laps during the race and came home with a fifth place finish.

In Vickers’ 14 previous starts at BMS he has led a total of one lap and has never finished better than 12th. In the 2011 season alone, Vickers led a total of 135 laps. As for the rest of Michael Watrip Racing, Martin Truex Jr finished in third position and Clint Bowyer finished in fourth. In all of Michael Waltrip Racing’s starts, they have never put all three cars in the top five in a single race.

Next week we head to the 2-mile D-shaped oval of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Last season, Kevin Harvick took the victory at this track. However, home-town boy Jimmie Johnson has won five races at this track and would love to win there to make up his point’s deficit, where he currently sits in 17th position. Tune into FOX next Sunday to see who takes the victory in the fifth race of the season.

[media-credit name=”Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Michael Waltrip Racing said over the last year they’ve changed everything but the kitchen sink in their organization. After all, the company has struggled so bad at times, a do over looked needed.

Sunday in Bristol driver Martin Truex Jr. led the charge of the three MWR drivers, as they continue reward the company for their efforts.

On a mission was the No. 56 NAPA team, looking for more of the success they had at the short track last fall when they finished second to Brad Keselowski. Starting the Food City 500 from the 15th position they quickly found a comfortable spot in the top 10 and went to work keeping the car in one piece and being around at the finish.

The New Jersey native did just that, battling in the top five with teammate Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers along the way before eventually finishing in the third position.

“It was a good day for obviously the whole company,” said the Michael Waltrip Racing driver afterwards. “Really good weekend for all of us. We’ve had good speed in our cars all weekend. I was a little bit worried coming into the race today. We weren’t exactly where we wanted to be at the end of Happy Hour.

“Chad [Johnston, crew chief] made some changes last night. We weren’t perfect throughout the day but we worked it really hard. In the middle part of the race we were off a little bit, pretty loose. Of course, at the end staying out really paid off for us. We picked up I think five spots.

“Overall just a good day for the NAPA Toyota. We were second here in the fall. Hoped to have a shot at winning today. We just fought track position too much. I felt at times we were as fast as anyone. Overall a great day, great call by Chad to stay out at the end, and good job by the team and the pit crew.”

It was a solid finish for a driver who has become known for starting strong but sputtering at the finish. Truex has led and been in contention for wins the last few seasons, only to have them slip away.

On Sunday his team was right there from start to finish, providing MWR with plenty to be happy about. Bowyer finished fourth in a trouble free race, Vickers led 125 laps and finished fifth. And  according to Bowyer the company as a whole has been getting better ever since Truex started finding consistency near the end of 2011.

But like many around the garage MWR wasn’t immune to making changes. From hiring new drivers, crew chiefs and changing personnel, Scott Miller left Richard Childress Racing in September to be the new executive vice president of competition.

Johnston joined the 56 team midway through 2011 as well, and Truex said it took him time to build his own confidence and to learn what Truex liked and didn’t liked in the cars.

Then came the hiring of Mark Martin to drive a limited schedule in the No. 55. That move was a boost to not only that team, but the company as a whole said Truex. It gave them more confidence and a swagger to have a driver of Martin’s stature say that he liked what he saw.

“He went to Phoenix and Daytona and Vegas, all three places he was very happy and very complimentary of the team and the direction they were heading,” said Truex of Martin.

“I think that gives the team a lot of confidence, that’s something he definitely brought. Just his experience … he can get in anything and go fast. When he says you got good racecars, he gives your team good direction, good direction to head in when they’re not great. He’s definitely brought a lot to the team.”

Whether it’s Martin’s influence or the changes made to the 56 team, perhaps both, it has Truex leading the MWR charge. He sits fourth in points heading into California next weekend and he’s looking better than ever to snap his winless streak.

It’s a long way from last year when it seemed the team couldn’t do anything right. The luck wasn’t there, the speed wasn’t enough and anything that Truex could get caught up in, he did.

Now the correct pieces have been put in place with new parts and equipment finally heading to the racetrack and making a difference.

“We started building some new cars, TRD [Toyota Racing Development] was giving us a lot of input,” Truex said of all the changes. “Toyota had a lot of influence on the direction we headed. Really kind of started from scratch almost.

“There was a while there last year where we were building new stuff. It felt like we were going to the racetrack without using any of our new stuff because it wasn’t ready yet. It kind of took a while to get everything put in place to make sure that it was going to be good. Once we started bringing new cars out, Scott coming onboard, it’s just been a constant evolution throughout the middle of last year and towards the end of the year we started having good runs, having consistently.”

The work hasn’t stopped for MWR and as the season goes on, it probably won’t. Truex and Bowyer could put MWR in the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the first time and all the MWR drivers want to be the first to put the company back in victory lane since July of 2010.

“We just got a good organization right now, a good bunch of people,” said Truex. “We got three cars that seem to go to the racetrack and run really well each week. We’re able to feed off each other. We really showed that today, all running up front at different parts of the day. All season our cars have been strong.

“Across the board it’s been a lot of hard work and dedication by the team. In the end, all the people doing the jobs the best they can do and things have been working out for us.”

[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Brad Keselowski has claimed his second victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series today at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was in commanding fashion that the 28 year-old Michigan native captured his first victory of 2012 in front of a less than average crowd for the Last Great Coliseum.

Five potential race winners were taken out on lap 25 of today’s 500 lap escapade, an accident that involved the likes of Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, 5-time Bristol winner Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Regan Smith, and a lightning fast No. 99 Kellogg’s/Cheez-It Ford belonging to Carl Edwards. At least three of the five cars involved had all made strides towards the front and were making headway on the field.

Besides a few single-car spins/issues, the race remained green for the remainder of the 454 laps today at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was a two-car tango as the race wore on with Roush Fenway Racing’s Matt Kenseth being the only other chariot to challenge Keselowski for the trophy. The race’s final caution flag flew on lap 479 when defending Sprint Cup Series Champion, Tony Stewart tagged the wall in turn 3. The caution provided Kenseth with the restart he needed to challenge the Blue Deuce for the win. Keselowski opted for the outside line on the Food City 500’s final restart, coming at lap 438. The outside line was the fastest all day, and proved to be the race-winning line when the scoring pylon read 500 today in Thunder Valley.

The win for Keselowski boosted him in the points standings 8 spots to 13th, and he commented on his battle with Kenseth in Victory Lane; “Matt didn’t make it easy, that’s his job to not make it easy on me. He raced me hard, I raced him hard, rubbed a little bit. That’s good racing.”

Twitter started blowing up immediately following Keselowski’s arrival to Victory Lane as a tweet came out from @keselowski with a photo of FOX’s Krista Voda pointing into the Blue Deuce in congratulations.

Keselowski laid claim to the trophy this afternoon in the 52nd Annual Food City 500, and just his second top-10 of 2012. He lead a race and career-high 232 laps this afternoon en route to his 5th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory.

Despite having a strong car all day, Matt Kenseth landed in second, followed by Martin Truex Jr. in third. The next two drivers were both Michael Waltrip Racing cars with Clint Bowyer finishing fourth and stand-in driver Brian Vickers rounding out the top-5. Jeff Burton had a strong run, finishing 6th, Jamie McMurray finished 7th followed by teammate Juan Montoya in 8th, and Jimmie Johnson and Paul Menard rounding out the top-10.

The top-2 in points left Bristol unchanged when points-leader Greg Biffle finished 13th, and second-place Kevin Harvick salvaging his No. 29 Budweiser Chevy with an 11th-place run. Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth moved into 3rd, and Martin Truex Jr. jumped four spots into 4th place in the points standings.