Category: Featured Stories

Race weekend at Bristol had a little of everything. There for all to enjoy were hot days, humid evenings, lots of people, and one heckuva thunderstorm in the early hours of Sunday morning that woke up the whole area and tore the outside awning off our RV.  Luckily, all was dry for the three races run at the high-banked track oval, but something was missing and you can point to the progressive banking as the cause. Or was it?

I missed the truck race for various reasons, but eyewitnesses tell me it was a spirited event and a crowd pleaser. The same with the Nationwide Series race, which I did attend.  That little event had it all. Good, close racing and a couple of “incidents” that had the crowd buzzing into Monday. 

Kasey Kahne got pinched and found his Toyota with its right side tires on top of the wall. I’d never seen anything like it anywhere and the fans talked about it all night. 

Later, eventual winner Kyle Busch and point leader Brad Keselowski were fighting for the lead. Keselowski passed Busch and in the process pushed him up near the wall. Busch came back immediately and got into the left year of Keselowski and sent him spinning. 

The crowd booed. Kyle Busch is not the most popular driver on the tour, but especially at Bristol, he is clearly the villain. Later, listening to fans and talk radio, many insisted that Busch should be fined for his actions. 

Citing the penalty given Carl Edwards earlier in a skirmish with Keselowski, Busch should have been banned from the sport. Or so they say. Balderdash! Having watched a lot of races at Bristol, what happened was just Bristol racing. Something we’ve seen little of lately. I submit to you the Sprint Cup race.

At this point, many point to the new track configuration and the progressive banking used on the concrete surface. 

I’m torn on this, but I believe it has more to do with The Chase than the banking. Although the new banking made the track a more than one groove track, which eliminated the multiple cautions that used to dominate the racing, the race comes at the time of the year when drivers are more interested in points than going for the gold. 

Several times, I watched those contenders tip-toe around cars and take the safe route rather than racing hard. That’s a shame. It didn’t seem to affect the drivers in the Nationwide or Camping World truck races, so is it really the banking? Good question. Regardless, it looks like many fans have given up on the night race at Bristol. 

Sure, it was a good crowd. I’d guess at about 125,000, but I’m sure the track estimate will be higher. There were large areas of empty seats masquerading as fans.  

For sure, it’s not the same and never will be. Once the hardest ticket to obtain in sports had people offering ducats for as low as $20 on Saturday morning and people giving their extra tickets away at race time. Scalpers were paying so little for tickets that many just gave up. It was not the economy when that many did show up. It had to be the expected show.

I don’t know the answer, but maybe a Bristol night race in June or one in the Chase? Beats me, but I didn’t like what I saw, and it had nothing to do with the winner of all three races.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick struggled with handling issues at Bristol, finishing 14th, the last car on the lead lap in the Irwin Tools Night Race. He still leads the Sprint Cup points standings handily, with a 279 lead over Jeff Gordon.

“It’s a letdown after last week’s win at Michigan,” Harvick said. “It seems that too much Budweiser can lead to a hangover. And, compared to our performance on a crisp Sunday afternoon at Michigan two weeks ago, our work at Bristol was like the difference in night and day.”

“But a win at Bristol sure would have looked good on the resume. Short tracks are a key component in the Chase, and a win on one would have been a huge confidence boost. Plus, my attention-starved wife DeLana could have proudly referred to herself as the ‘Thunder Valet.’”

2. Kyle Busch: On Bristol’s .53 mile oval, Busch made “short” work of the field in the Irwin Tools Night Race, leading 283 of 500 laps to win for the first time since Dover in May. Busch also won the Craftsman Truck and Nationwide series races, becoming the first driver to complete the three-race sweep. Busch vaulted five places in the Sprint Cup standing to third, and his three wins would seed him behind only Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin when the Chase field is set in two weeks.

“Three wins at one tracks calls for three nicknames,” Busch said. “They call me ‘Rowdy’ and they call me ‘Shrub.’ Now, they can call me ‘The Janitor’ as well. Not only do I sweep the races, but I mop up with the competition.”

“Now, as for Brad Keselowski, I readily admit I wrecked him. But calling me an ‘ass’ during driver introductions on Saturday was unnecessary, and simply a blatant attempt by Brad to seek support. But one can only expect a chicken to use ‘fowl’ language.”

3. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson started from the pole on Saturday night at Bristol and set the tone early, leading 175 of the first 200 laps. But on a restart on lap 261, Johnson’s No. 48 Lowes Chevy was clipped by Juan Montoya’s No. 42 Target car, and Johnson slammed the wall, creating heavy right-front damage. After considerable time in the garage, Johnson returned on lap 327 and eventually finished 35th, 85 laps down.

“At first I wasn’t sure if Montoya wrecked me,” Johnson said. “But a quick view of the replay won me over, and I realized, that, in fact, I was indeed ‘Juan-ed’ over, which is akin to being screwed over.”

“I think my struggles this year have caused my air of superiority to be replaced by an air of vulnerability. I don’t mind being seen in a vulnerable light. Heck, I’m no different than any other driver–I put my racing suit on one leg at a time, and I count my Cup championships on one hand.”

4. Denny Hamlin: After a promising start at Bristol, Hamlin’s prospects soured when he felt his engine give midway through the race. The problem was diagnosed as a faulty drive shaft, and after lengthy repairs, Hamlin returned to the track and eventually finished 34th, 25 laps down.

“Now, I can totally understand Brad Keselowski’s anger towards Kyle Busch. Like Kyle, he entered three races. Unlike Kyle, he came up short on all three counts. Kyle pulled off the ‘trifecta;’ Keselowski merely succeeded with the ‘try-fecta.’”

“I’ve had my run-ins with Busch and with Keselowski. Neither will give an inch. So, when those two clash on the track, you know controversy will follow. You know, I think some of that intensity used in fighting for track position could be better utilized fighting for something more useful to those two, like a tan.”

5. Jeff Gordon: Gordon finished 11th in the Irwin Tools Night Race, as handling issues denied him any chance of ending his 52-race winless streak. However, Gordon did clinch a spot in the Chase For The Cup, only the second driver to do so.

“It’s amazing that I’m the second driver to clinch a Chase spot,” Gordon said. “Amazing, in that I did it without a single victory. What else is amazing? That I clinched last place.”

6. Tony Stewart: After a strong start, Stewart’s hopes at Bristol suffered when he was nailed from behind by Tony Raines after Stewart checked up to avoid a spinning David Ragan. Later, on lap 212, Stewart his the wall further damaging the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy and causing a tire rub issue. Stewart eventually finished 27th, three laps down.

“After the incident with Raines,” Stewart said, “everything went wrong for us. Which just goes to show that ‘when it Raines, it pours.’”

7. Carl Edwards: Edwards qualified second at Bristol, and a solid start to the race had a top-5 finish well within reach. However, a balky pit stop under caution midway through the race cost Edwards 22 places, and he spent the remainder of the race fighting to recover. He finished 12th and improved two places in the points to fourth, and inched closer to clinching a Chase berth.

“It’s satisfying,” Edwards says, “and somewhat vindicating to know that I’m not the only driver that has a problem with Brad Keselowski. Brad’s been ‘turned’ more times than Hulk Hogan.”

“And I feel special knowing that I’m the one rival that gets not only under Brad’s skin, but that of his father, as well. I love it when Brad talks trash about me. I get an even bigger kick when his dad criticizes me. Of course, I haven’t really heard from Bob since he threatened to come after me back in July. I guess it’s true what they say—one ‘pop smear’ a year is enough.”

8. Kurt Busch: Busch scored his 14th top-10 finish of the year with a ninth in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol. Busch maintained the tenth spot in the point standings, and increased his lead over the 13th spot from 215 to 253.

“If we learned one thing at Bristol,” Busch said, “it’s that Kyle Busch’s and Brad Keselowski’s battles should remain on the track as opposed to ‘on the mic.’ Both those guys have a ‘bad rap.’”

“This is not the time of year that you want to be making enemies. That’s something Kyle and Carl Edwards should be well aware of. If Keselowski decides to attempt vengeance in the Chase, Kyle and Carl could have their Cup aspirations shattered. Of all people, they should know better. They can’t well afford enemies when even their teammates can barely be considered friends.”

9. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer overcame a pit road speeding penalty to post a crucial top-5 finish at Bristol, coming home fourth in the No. 33 Hamburger Helper Chevrolet. Bowyer remained 12th in the point standings, with a 100-point cushion over Jamie McMurray in 13th with two races remaining before the Chase.

“Hey, what do call the Clint Bowyer/Hamburger Helper fan fest in which admission is only a pound of ground beef?” Bowyer asked. “It’s called a ‘meat and greet.’”

“I’m not the biggest Kyle Busch fan, but I have to praise him for his honesty, and commitment to his sponsor. He readily admitted that he wrecked Brad Keselowski on purpose, and even worked in a plug for his sponsor when he said not only did he mean to, but he ‘Double-meant’ it.’”

10. Jeff Burton: Burton finished 16th at Bristol, handicapped by tight handling conditions that numerous adjustments never remedied. He remained seventh in the Sprint Cup point standings, and will likely clinch a spot in the Chase in Atlanta in two weeks.

“As NASCAR’s voice of reason,” Burton said, “I feel it’s my duty to speak of the nasty feud brewing between Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. Those two are bent on destruction, when what they should be seeking is construction, of a truce. One would think construction would be their strong suit, since they’re both adept at ‘making asses out of themselves.’”

Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers, announced Saturday that he been medically released to return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season. In late May, Vickers announced that he would take the rest of this season off after blood clots were discovered in his left leg and lungs. Since then a clot was discovered in a finger in his left hand.

This led to extensive tests, that determined he had a hole between the right and left atrium in his heart, as well as May-Thurner Syndrome. MTS is a rare condition in which blood clots, called deep venous thrombosis(DVT), occur in the iliofemoral vein due to compression of the blood vessels in the leg. This syndrome also puts patients at risk for future blood clots and possible strokes. Vickers, said he had heart surgery on July 12 to repair the hole in his heart. A day later, he had a stint was placed in a vein in his left leg.

Vickers said, he would be off blood thinners prescribed for the blood clots by early to mid January and ready to return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in time February Dayotna 500. “[Doctors] gave me full clearance for next year,” Vickers said from the media center at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I will be back in January. I’m real excited about that. They feel I’m probably in the best shape of my life.”

Red Bull recently announced that Kasey Kahne would drive one of its cars in 2011 as a stopgap before his contract with Hendrick Motorsports begins. General manager Jay Frye said at the time Kahne would drive either the 83, replace Scott Speed in the No. 82 or a third car would be added. Could Viclers quick return, potentially cause a shake-up for Red Bull Racing?

Some thought it could never be done, and until this weekend, it had not, but the Bristol night race weekend of 2010 belongs to Kyle Busch.  Running roughshod over the Trucks on Wednesday, and turning Brad Keselowski Friday night in the Nationwide race to win,  all eyes were on Kyle Busch Saturday night.  Never has any driver ever won three NASCAR national touring series races on the same weekend, but now Kyle Busch has done that.

David Reutimann was hard charging all night, came home second, followed by Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne fifth. Ryan Newman would finish sixth, with Juan Pablo Montoya, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth rounding out the top ten.

It was a hot and humid night in the Thunder Valley of east Tennessee as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams prepared for battle at the Mecca of stock car racing, Bristol Motor Speedway. With heavy cloud cover and afternoon rains, the skies cleared ever so slightly allowing for great track conditions.

As usual BMS had readied a spectacular lead up and introduction to the race, including an elaborate driver intro program. As the drivers entered from the tunnel next to turn three, they stopped to introduced themselves and great the fans.  Cheers and jeers followed depending on which driver had the right fans present. As the  program continued all attention turned to Brad Keselowski, who, in addition to his run ins with Carl Edwards this season, was involved in an incident with Kyle Busch Friday night in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Feeding the anticipation, Keselowski introduced himself and then loudly informed the crown that “Kyle Busch is an ASS.”  Several drivers commented on the rivalry including Jamie McMurray who said he wanted to be in front of the two drivers, and Tony Stewart who wanted to be behind them and watch the action.

Jimmie  Johnson took the green flag and led the first lap, Tony Stewart moved from fourth to second.  Rest of the top five were Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and David Reutimann. By lap forty Juan Pablo Montoya had managed to get past David Reutimann, while the top four remained the same.

The first caution came out on lap 56 when David Gilliland  had a tire go down at put the #38 in the outside wall.  By lap 58  the six traditional start & park cars #‘s 55, 66, 09, 64, 07 and 13 were in the garage. Following the restart, Tony Stewart got past Johnson to lead lap 62, but Johnson came right back on the next lap to retake the lead.

By lap 68, Kyle Busch advanced from 18th to 10th. On lap 125 the lap cars of David Ragan, AJ Kyle Busch, Edwards, Reutimann and Truex. Stewart lost a lot of time on pit road for repairs and by lap 155 he was back in 25th place.  Meanwhile the top five were #48, 18, 00, 99 and 39.  Kyle Busch put the #18 car out front, passing Johnson for the lead on lap 172.

On a lap 200 restart, Kyle Busch went high and David Reutimann went low to put Johnson back to third.  Fifteen lap later Johnson got past Reutimann to take second place. On lap 153, Bobby Labonte, who had returned to the track more than 100 laps down, cut down a right front tire and making contact with the wall. That incident brought out the 5th caution of the night. On the restart, on lap 260, Johnson, was turned on the Backstretch by Montoya, sending the #48 car into the outside wall suffering heavy damage. Carl Edwards lost 22 positions on the restart after having to return to pit road for loose lug nuts following the initial pit stop.

Kyle Busch was maintaining the lead, when Jamie McMurray finally got past him on lap 388, bringing the crowd to their feet. The lead for McMurray was short lived as ten laps later, green flag pit stops began.  On lap 399, as McMurray slowed to enter pit road, Busch charged around him and took the lead onto pit road.  Returning to the track it was Busch out front, however David Reutimann, who had pitted earlier was in the lead. It took Busch 40 laps to finally catch and get by Reutimann to retake the lead.

Kyle would hold that lead for the remained of the race while Reutimann continued to fight hard chasing the #18 car. In the end Busch would lead the most laps, 282, and win the Irwin Tools Night race before a crowd of 155,000 fans.  “This was really cool” said Busch following the win, “To put this all together for this weekend and win all three is cool.”  When asked about Brad Keselowski’s pre race comments, Kyle simply stated, “Who?” The #18 crew chief, Dave Rogers in a post race interview said, “The car was really slow off the truck, and it was thanks to the great notes from Kyle that we were able top adjust the car to get it in a position to win.”

David Reutimann, who had a bought with stomach flu earlier in the weekend was obviously not fully recovered as was evident in his post race interview. Jamie McMurray moved up two spots in the points to 13th, 100 points behind Clint Bowyer.  When asked about his concern for that, he replied, “I’ll let Bono (crew chief ‘Bono’ Manion) worry about it.  He certainly is worried about it, and I — remember the stress that goes along with that, and I’m really fortunate this year that we were able to win those two big races because if we don’t make the chase, it’s not going to be devastating.”

A final summation of the weekend here is that “Racin the way it ought a be” is finally back at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Unofficial Results

At Bristol, anything can happen and usually does, from short track temper tantrums, to tire troubles and overall beating and banging.  This year’s Bristol night race did not disappoint and here is what is surprising and not surprising from the Sprint Cup Series Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Surprising:  NASCAR history was made at the track dubbed as the ‘world’s fastest half mile’.  Kyle Busch, sporting the Doublemint paint scheme on his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, did what no driver has ever done before, winning all three series races in one weekend at Bristol.  With that Cup win, Busch jumped five positions in the Chase point standings, from eighth to third behind points leader Kevin Harvick and second place holder Jeff Gordon.

Not Surprising:  Busch drove like a man possessed in his racing trifecta, coming from the back of the field in the Truck race to win, overcoming adversity and controversy with Brad Keselowski in the Nationwide race to win, and dicing through the field from the 19^th starting spot in the Cup race to pick up the broom for the sweep in Victory Lane.

Surprising:  The race got off to a wilder than usual start with some pointed moments during the driver introductions.  As is Bristol tradition, each driver walked out to a song of their choice and took the microphone to introduce himself and say a few words.  Kyle Busch was booed mightily and sarcastically thanked the crowd for all their love, while Brad Keselowski stole the show, introducing himself and saying “Kyle Busch is an ass.”

Not Surprising:  Even though the rhetoric was heated, when it came time to race the two competitors kept it clean.  At one point, Busch, who was in the lead at the time, had to pass Keselowski to put him a lap down.  Although Brad raced Kyle hard and close, there were no further on-track incidents and both finished the race, albeit in very different positions with Busch in Victory Lance and Keselowski finishing mid-pack in nineteenth position.

Surprising:   Clint Bowyer, one of the men battling with the likes of Mark Martin to stay in Chase contention, overcame great adversity and was the race’s biggest mover.  Bowyer, in his No. 33 Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, started in the 24^th position to work his way through the field to a top-five finish.  Throughout the race, Bowyer had to overcome a mix of overheating brakes, pit problems, and just plain nerves to battle back for his fourth place finish, keeping him in that coveted 12^th and last position in the Chase point standings.

Not Surprising:  Jeff Gordon, who had his own challenges in the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet after a spin in qualifying led to a miserable 26^th starting spot, sliced his way through the field to finish 11^th.  While not the win he was seeking, the top-15 finish locked the four-time champion into the Chase for 2010, giving him the opportunity to ‘drive for five.’

Surprising:   There was no one more surprised than David Reutimann in the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, who found himself in the runner-up finishing spot at Bristol.  Reutimann had an eventful race weekend, missing practice because he was sicker than his Aaron’s lucky dog due to food poisoning.  Reutimann managed to qualify his car in fifth and stayed in the hunt most of the race to finish second in the Irwin Tools Night Race.

Not Surprising:   There is one driver who always shows up in critical races.  Winning the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard this year, Jamie McMurray showed up once again, driving a great race in his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Tracker Chevrolet to finish third under the lights at Bristol.

Surprising:  Once unstoppably consistent and always in possession of the purported lucky horseshoe, four-time champion Jimmie Johnson had anything but a good run at Bristol.  Competitor Juan Pablo Montoya got into Johnson, sending him into the wall on the track and behind the wall in the pits for repair.  Johnson finished 35^th, dropping him four positions in the Chase standings to the ninth spot.

Not Surprising:  Apologizing on his radio to Johnson and even sending his team owner over to apologize after the race, Juan Pablo Montoya soldiered on for a good finish in spite of his tussle with the four-time champ.   JPM was able to bring his No. 42 Target Chevrolet to the checkered flag in seventh position. 

Surprising:   There was a surprisingly beardless driver who worked his way through the field like a stealth bomber for a solid finish at Bristol.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was at times even running in the top ten, ending the race and crossing the finish line in 13^th in his No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet.

Not Surprising:   Kasey Kahne, who felt like he had a “top five car”, finished in the fifth position in his No. 9 Budweiser Ford.  Kahne enjoyed the Cup race at Bristol much more than his Nationwide run, where he was forced up the track and onto the wall, doing his best two-wheel imitation of the Joey Chitwood show.

The Cup Series has the next weekend off as a final break before the Chase race to the end of the season.  They will return to action on Labor Day weekend when the drivers pull into Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Emory Healthcare 500.  The race will run on Sunday, September 5^th on ESPN with pre-race coverage starting at 7:00 PM ET.

After Ryan Newman had a week to think about last Sunday’s incident between himself and Joey Logano, he said after he got out of his car following the final Sprint Cup Series practice session that he still thinks it was a case of Logano running out of talent and spinning him out.

“I think he lost it before he ever got into the corner,” Newman said. “I’m pretty sure there’s about 80 feet of asphalt there and he could have chose any lane he wanted to. He drove up into me and hit me in the left rear quarter panel.

“He can call it what he wants. It’s his story. I’ve got a college education. I just didn’t get out of elementary school.”

Logano said his thoughts of Newman racing him too hard haven’t changed either. But, the young driver is focused on this weekend’s race at Bristol.

“I’m focused on Bristol,” Logano said. “That’s the past. … Sometimes you want some of the respect back that you give to some people. And when it’s not, it gets frustrating.”

Logano’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch is sticking up for his teammate, saying Newman has a reputation of tough racing.

“You know that’s what you get with Ryan Newman,” said Kyle Busch, a Logano teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing. “I could say the same thing for Joey. I remember here two years ago, I was in the lead and ran him down and he raced me pretty hard to try to stay on the lead lap and I ended up losing the lead to somebody else and finally got by him.

“It’s just a product of what racing brings you sometimes. It is what it is. I think the thing that Joey should’ve been most upset about was Newman going in on his door and side-drafting him and spinning him out. That’s a problem. You gotta give guys room to race.”

Nothing new on SHR sponsorship

Driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet and Stewart Haas Racing team owner Tony Stewart said at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday that SHR had no announcements on the sponsorship situation for their team in 2011.

There have been no recent rumblings of a third team for next season. There are, however, some races on the schedule next season without a sponsor.

“When we have something to tell you, we’ll tell you (the media),” Stewart said. “I’ve always told you guys that, as soon as we have something to tell you about, we promise we won’t leave you out of the loop.”

One of his current sponsors, Old Spice, is rumored to be leaving the team after this season. Mobil 1, who has already confirmed they are leaving Penske Racing’s Sam Hornish Jr. due to a sponsorship conflict, is rumored to be going to the No. 14 team.

The No. 39 will continue to receive sponsorship from the U.S. Army and Tornado’s. The team is reportedly trying to get Wix Filters, who is sponsoring Ryan Newman this weekend at Bristol, to jump on for a partial schedule next year.

Reutimann sick, plans to still race at Bristol

Michael Waltrip Racing’s David Reutimann is one sick puppy this weekend at Bristol, but he still plans to suit up and drive the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota for the remainder of the weekend.

Reutimann missed the first 75 minutes of Sprint Cup Series practice, but did jump in the car to complete the remainder of practice and qualify the car.

Aric Almirola practiced the car Friday and is the relief driver for tomorrow’s IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol should he be needed.

“I’m just sick, stomach stuff, and it’s hard to shake that stuff,” Reutimann said after the first practice Friday. “I’m just trying to get some fluids back in (me). Aric helped us and got the car up and going there until I got enough fluids in me to feel like I could walk upright.

“I’ll be all right. I don’t have any races tonight, so maybe I’ll go to the infield care center and get a couple of IVs. I’m not getting back out of the car.”

Despite his sickness, Reutimann managed to qualify fifth for the race.

“It was a good lap,” Reutimann said after qualifying. “The guys did a really, really good job all day having to work with two different drivers. (Aric) Almirola helped us out a lot today and I have to thank him. Rodney Childers (crew chief) and all my guys, they hustled. We weren’t that good in our mock qualifying runs, but the car was a lot better. I owe a lot to those guys. Those guys hustled and made all those changes to get two drivers in and out. I didn’t make it easy for them today, but I appreciate all they do.”

His teammate at MWR, Martin Truex Jr. will start ninth.

Other Notes: Bruton Smith and Ray Evernham have scheduled a press conference for Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. They will be announcing a new partnership to help preserve and protect the future of racing for younger generations. … The Goodyear tire test at Talladega Superspeedway will be open to race fans. On August 24, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., the grandstands will be open to fans, standard admission rules apply.