Mar 16 2009
Bristol Motor Speedway track facts
This weekend the Nascar drivers will be at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the running of the Food City 500. The .533 mile track is called the world’s fastest half-mile track due to its excessive banking which ranges from 24-30 degrees.
There have been 96 Nascar races run at the facility the first of which was back in 1961 and won by Jack Smith. There has been numerous drivers that have won multiple times, of the current drivers Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch each have 5 wins a piece. Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards are second with 2 each.
Of the old timers Darrell Waltrip holds the record for wins at Bristol with 12 including 7 in a row from the beginning of 1981 to the first race of the 1984 season. Other multiple winners include Cale Yarborough, Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Sr. with 9 wins each, David Pearson with 5, Bobby Allison with 4 and Richard Petty and Fred Lorenzen with 3 wins.
It may surprise you to know that Jimmie Johnson has never won here and has a average finish of 17.4, his third worst for any track behind Indy at 20.4 and Sonoma at 19.3.
Tony Stewart has one win here but also has a average finish of 16.4 his worst average finish for a track besides Daytona at 17.2
Qualifying was rained out here last year and Jeff Burton won the race. All 3 Richard Childress cars finished in the top 3 spots. There was 10 cautions for 68 laps.
So the drivers to watch this weekend for the win you would have to go with Jeff Gordon or Kurt Busch. Busch especially because it looks like his 2 car and team have a lot of momentum after their Atlanta win.
Then you always have to keep your eye on Kyle Busch he can win at anytime just as long as he don’t wreck getting to the front.
