This week it is all about Bristol for NASCAR

Radio: MRN and Sirius-XM Channel 128

FOX: 1pm Sunday – Jeff Byrd 500

Radio: 12pm PRN and Sirius-XM Channel 128

Outside the world of NASCAR few people have any idea what a special place Bristol, Tennessee really is or what an amazing sports venue sits in this sleepy little hamlet.

The big surprise is that Bristol Motor Speedway is the 4th largest sports venue in America, and the 8th largest in the world, housing up to 165,000 people. At only one half mile the track is so short that speeds here are far lower than is typical on most NASCAR oval tracks, but very fast compared to other short tracks due to the high banking, making for a considerable amount of cars moving each other around if you know what I mean. Look for a great deal of pushing and shoving along with some angry drivers, but hey that is Bristol and only the strong and the lucky survive.  

Also, the starting grid of 43 cars (in the Cup and Nationwide Series; 36 in the Truck Series) extends almost halfway around the track, meaning that the slower-qualifying cars begin the race almost half a lap down.

Bristol has the unique pit set up during caution periods, cars wishing to pit must enter pit road in turn two, drive all the way down the back stretch, through turns three and four and down the front stretch, exiting pit road in turn one. This rule eliminated the inherent disadvantage of pitting on the back stretch. Pit stops under green flag conditions have different rules. Cars with pits on the back stretch enter the pits in turn two and exit in turn three; Cars with pits on the front stretch enter the pits in turn four and exit in turn one. This has led to a number of major mistakes during green flag pit stops by driving through both pit roads when only one is necessary for green flag pit stops. Trust me there will at least one contender who will make a mistake that will cost him track position.

On the Nationwide side of things after a record breaking  4^th place finish in Vegas, Danica Patrick  is setting her sights a bit more realistic this week:” “Bristol is a new track and definitely a different kind of track,” Patrick said. “For me, it’s just about finishing the race. Just doing my best and progressing through the race.”

So who is the Nationwide favorite at Bristol?

After watching practice I really like Carl Edwards who could make it a double win here this week at Bristol. I know he will start back in the pack at 22^nd but he will make up ground fact. Also look for Mike Wallace who just might pull of a big surprise here.

The Sprint Cup gang will race Sunday and this is a wide open race. The Ford’s of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle are on the poll at Bristol but this is a track that can humble even the best driver. There will be plenty of trading paint but with David Ragan, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne all starting in the top ten this is anyone’s race. This could be a shootout between Edwards and the Busch brothers. Kyle has the fastest car but Kurt has won here five times.

No matter who wins they will have to beat Bristol to earn the win and that is no easy task.