• Race: Saturday, August 21, 2010 in Bristol, TN

• Title Sponsor: IRWIN Tools

• Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:43pm/et

• NASCAR Pre-race: ABC - 7:00pm/et

• Television Race Coverage: ABC, 7:30pm/et

• In the Booth: Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
  Pit Reporters: Dr. Jerry Punch. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Vince Welch
  On-track studio: Allen Bestwick, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live in Prime Time on ABC: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series appears on ABC for the first time this season when it races for 500 laps in prime time under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Aug. 21. The NASCAR Countdown pre-race show kicks off the evening at 7:00pm/et with the race telecast at 7:30pm/et. The race’s green flag is scheduled for 7:43 pm/et. Also from Bristol, coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying airs Friday, Aug. 20, at 5:30 pm/et on ESPN.
  Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.
  NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

• SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 5:00pm/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

• Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
  Monday, August 22 at 2:30am/et on ESPN2
  --> Wednesday, August 25 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

• TV Listings, Links and Info:
  Jayski's TV Listings Page
  NASCAR on TV
  Race Fan TV

• This Week - Performance Racing Network (PRN) and XM Sirius Satellite

  • goprn.com

  • sirius.com

  • Co-Anchors: Mark Garrow, Doug Rice

  • Garage/Pit Reporters: Steve Richards, Brett McMillan

  • Turn Announcers: Rob Albright, Brad Gillie

• Practices:
  Friday, August 20, 12:00 - 2:00 pm/et, TV-SPEED

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Friday, August 20, 2:45 - 3:30 pm/et, TV-SPEED

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, August 20, 11:00 am/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, August 20 at 5:40 pm/et, TV-ESPN, no re-air scheduled;
  AND live via radio at PRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

• Kyle Busch wins at Bristol: #18-Kyle Busch won the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2010, 3rd at Bristol and 19th of his career. Busch won all three national series races at Bristol this weekend, winning the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series races, the first time ever a driver has done so. #00-Reutimann finished second followed by #1-McMurray, #33-Bowyer, #9-Kahne, #39-Newman, #42-Montoya, #16-Biffle, #2-Busch and #17-Kenseth. Bowyer's 4th place finish and #5-Martin finishing 23rd now has Bowyer in 12th place by 100 points over #1-McMurray, who moved to 13th, Martin dropped to 14th. Many of the points leaders had problem with #11-Hamlin having a drive shaft problem and finishing 34; #48-Johnson wrecking midway and finishing 35th; #14-Stewart getting hit and spinning early, finishing 27th. #29-Harvick's points lead dropped a bit to 279 over #24-Jeff Gordon. Only Gordon [along with Harvick] clinches a spot in The Chase after the race in Bristol.
  There were 15 lead changes among 9 drivers and 7 cautions for only 39 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 155,000 down from last years sold out 160,000.
  See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Bristol Race Results/Awards page.(8-21-2010)

• Bristol Facts and Notes:
  • Kyle Busch won the Irwin Tools Race Night at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was his 19th Cup series victory in his 210th start. Busch became the first driver in NASCAR history to win a Nationwide, Truck and Cup series race in the same weekend.
  • Busch led 515 of the 956 laps raced in the three series (54 percent). He led four times for 283 of 500 laps Saturday night, including the final 72. He led the most laps for the 20th time in his Cup career.
  • Busch has won three of the past four Cup races at Bristol. He has posted top-10 finishes in the past five Bristol races, the longest current streak.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 85th Cup win and eighth in 2010.
  • Toyota posted its ninth win in 2010.
  • David Reutimann (second) scored his best finish in six races at Bristol.
  • Jamie McMurray (third) climbed from 15th to 13th in points.
  • Twelfth-place Clint Bowyer (fourth) increased his points lead from 35 to 100 over 13th place.
  • Ryan Newman (sixth) has scored top-10 finishes in four of the past five Bristol races.
  • Greg Biffle (eighth) has posted top-10 finishes in the past three Bristol races.
  • Kurt Busch (ninth) scored his 150th career top-10 finish.
  • Denny Hamlin finished 34th in his 175th Cup start (all consecutive).
  • Jimmie Johnson (35th) has finished outside the top 10 in six of the past seven races. Johnson dropped from third to ninth in those seven races.(ESPN)(8-23-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - Bristol:
  #18-Kyle Busch won the IRWIN Tools Night Race, his 19th victory in 210 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Busch became the first driver to win in all three of NASCAR's national series in the same weekend.
  This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2010.
  This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 12 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  #00-David Reutimann (second) posted his first top-10 finish in six races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2010.
  #1-Jamie McMurray (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 16 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  #29-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 279 points over Jeff Gordon.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-21-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
  [after Bristol, race 24 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 3521 [clinched spot in the Chase]
  2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3242, -279 [clinched]
  3) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 3170, -351 [needs to start next 2 races to clinch]
  4) #99-Carl Edwards, 3113, -408
  5) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 3108, -413
  6) #14-Tony Stewart, 3107, -414
  7) #31-Jeff Burton, 3101, -420
  8) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3095, -426
  9) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 3077, -444, +257
  10) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 3073, -448, +253
  11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 3055, -466, +235
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2920, -601, 100 pts ahead of 13th
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #1-McMurray [2 wins], 2820, -701, 100 points out of the chase
  14) #5-Mark Martin, 2819, -702, -101
  15) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2802, -719, -118
  16) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2784, -737, -136
  2009 Chase Drivers not in top 16
  19) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya [1 win], 2728, -793, -192
  36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(8-21-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Atlanta [in two weeks]:
  No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th and the #26 team remains 36th with the points spread from 35th to 36th drops to 125.
  33) #71-Cassill/TRG: 1794, 160 points ahead of 36th
  34) #37-Raines/Front Row: 1790, +156
  35) #7-Conway/RGM, 1759, 125 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #26-Carpentier/Latitude43: 1634, -125 points out of the top 35
  37) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 1615, -144
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-21-2010)

• Penalty Report - Bristol:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  #38, 58, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #9, 58, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
  #7, 58, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #6, 128, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #1, 128, Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
  #33, 128, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
  #78, 138, Pulling up to pit, 1 lap
  #38, 138, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #6, 138, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #43, 195, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #38, 195, Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 Lap
  #14, 255, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #48, 262, Commitment Line Violation, Garage
  #48, 262, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
  #11, 264, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
  #20, 399, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Pass Thru
  #37, 402, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Pass Thru
  #38, 411, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  (NASCAR Statistics)(8-21-2010)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Bristol: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: #34-Kvapil, 22nd
  Caution 2: #26-Green, 24th
  Caution 3: none awarded
  Caution 4: #34-Kvapil (2), 22nd
  Caution 5: #77-Hornish Jr., 25th
  Caution 6: #14-Stewart, 27th
  Caution 7: #99-Edwards, 12th
  (8-21-2010)

• Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Bristol (or seemed to)?
  43rd: #55-McDowell, 16 laps run
  42nd: #66-Riggs, 32 laps
  41st: #64-TBodine, 47 laps
  40th: #07-RGordon, 50 laps
  39th: #13-Mears, 58 laps
  37th: #71-Cassill, 129 laps
  with NASCAR's new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #55 this week
  (only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(8-21-2010)

• Pit Stall Selections - Bristol: The selections of pit stalls for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #48-Johnson's team chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Bristol is the only track in the Sprint Cup Series that utilizes two pit roads. It has 22 stalls on the frontstretch and 21 on the backstretch. Teams that pit on the backstretch used to be at a competitive disadvantage. Since the spring 2002 race at Bristol, teams will enter pit road in Turn 2 (the current backstretch pit entrance) drive around down the backstretch and around Turns 3 and 4 and exit in Turn 1. Under green-flag conditions teams will enter and exit pit road under the current two-pit-road scheme.
  Outside pole sitter #99-Edwards chose the 23rd stall, which is the first stall on the backstretch pits
  #20-Logano, who starts 3rd took the 2nd pit stall, behind the pole sitter.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reutimann, who starts 5th
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Bristol Pit Stall Selection chart.(8-20-2010)

• Bristol Pit Rules: Bristol Motor Speedway operates under a plan where one-pit road will be used during pit stops under caution. Currently, Bristol remains the only track in the Sprint Cup Series that utilizes two pit roads with 22 pit stalls on the frontstrect and 21 on the backstretch. Teams that pit on the backstretch used to be at a competitive disadvantage. Since the spring 2002 race at Bristol, teams will enter pit road in Turn 2 (the current backstretch pit entrance) drive around down the backstretch and around Turns 3 and 4 and exit in Turn 1. Under green-flag conditions teams will enter and exit pit road under the current two-pit-road scheme.

• Race Coverage of the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2010.
  Television (TV): ABC at 7:30 pm/et; pre-race show at 7:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:43pm/et
  Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  ESPN2, Sunday, August 22 at 2:30am/et
  SPEED, Wednesday, August 25 at 12:00pm/et

• Lowest-finishing, non-wrecked car to be inspected: NASCAR has instituted a new postrace inspection policy for Sprint Cup races in which the first car out of the race that is not involved in an accident will be held for teardown, much like the cars that currently finish in the top five. That meant that Aric Almirola’s #09 Phoenix Racing’s Chevy was thoroughly inspected after the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race. His engine was taken to be torn down later this week at the NASCAR R&D center in Concord, NC. The policy is expected to impact the start-and-park teams – teams that typically bring a car but don’t have funding to run the entire event. These teams often are not in the top 35 in owner points, so they are required to qualify on speed. The new policy means it is likely that one of the cars that qualify on speed for every race will end up getting torn down. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Sunday the move was not to discourage start-and-park teams. “We’re just expanding our inspection process and making sure that everybody feels like everybody is on the same playing field, that’s all,” Pemberton said. “It’s all about making sure that the guys who get beat that don’t make the race understand that the guys who get in the race, for the most part, are doing everything right.” The move could cost these teams money, as they will have to pay for an engine rebuild that they might not have needed if they didn’t run many laps. Pemberton said the engine might not be torn down weekly but acknowledged it could cost teams $30,000 for a rebuild. That could lead to those teams racing more instead of risking the cost of a rebuild. Or it could lead to those teams not showing up if they can’t afford to have the motor rebuilt.(SceneDaily)(3-1-2010)

• NASCAR Revises Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR announced a revision to one of its race procedures, allowing a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The new procedure will be implemented beginning with today's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Gatorade Duel at Daytona and will apply to all three national series. NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and get their input. The announcement was made during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' drivers and crew chiefs meeting Thursday morning. "We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions – the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy." The change amends procedure 9-14C of the 2010 NASCAR rulebook.(NASCAR), see rules and notes on my Green-White-Checker rule page.(2-11-2010)

• NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

• Jayski's - 2010 Sprint Cup Race Results Page and from last season: Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• Johnson wins pole at Bristol: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Pole for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with a speed of 123.475mph for his 1st ever pole at Bristol, 1st pole of 2010 and 24th of his career. #99-Edwards will start 2nd followed by #20-Logano, #14-Stewart, #00-Reutimann, #39-Newman, #1-McMurray, #42-Montoya, #56-Truex, Jr., and #43-Allmendinger.
  The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #09-Labonte, #26-Green, #66-Riggs, #38-Gilliland, #55-McDowell, #64-TBodine, #07-Gordon and #13-Mears.
  The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (6): #36-Blaney, #87-Nemechek, #4-Lepage, #46-Yeley, #92-Keselowski and #32-Bliss.
  See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Bristol Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(8-20-2010)

• Coverage of Qualifying for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, August 20, 2010 at 5:40pm/et.
  Television (TV): ESPN 5:30pm/et
  Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) only on NASCAR.com
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled

• Qualifying Order for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted. 49 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
  The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #11-Hamlin.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #48-Johnson.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #55-McDowell with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #36-Mears.
  See the full qualifying order on the Bristol Qualifying Page.(8-20-2010)

• Happy Hour Practice for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:
  #39-Newman 121.190
  #99-Edwards 121.022
  #38-Gilliland 120.968 [was fastest in 1st practice]
  #48-Johnson 120.953
  #24-Gordon 120.930
  slowest: #92-Keselowski 114.371 & #7-Conway 116.270
  notes: Casey Mears in now in the #13 car; Dave Blaney is now listed in the #36 car
  incidents: none reported.
  See fast speeds, average speeds and laps run on my Bristol Practice Speeds page.(8-20-2010)

• Bristol Happy Hour practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #38-David Gilliland, 3rd fastest overall
  #26-Jeff Green, 22nd
  #36-Dave Blaney, 25th
  #07-Robby Gordon, 28th
  #66-Scott Riggs, 33rd
  #55-Michael McDowell, 34th
  #09-Bobby Labonte [PC], 38th
  #13-Casey Mears, 39th
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #64-Todd Bodine, 42nd
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 43rd
  #46-J.J. Yeley, 44th
  #32-Mike Bliss, 45th
  #4-Kevin Lepage, 46th
  #92-Brian Keselowski, 49th

• 1st Practice for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, after 120 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and many notes:
  #38-Gilliland 120.316
  #07-Gordon 119.529
  #88-Earnhardt Jr. 119.470
  #24-Gordon 119.455
  #43-Allmendinger 119.254
  slowest: #92-Brian Keselowski 113.317 & #7-Conway 115.702
  NOTE: Kevin Conway is in the #7 Toyota of Robby Gordon, Gordon is in the #07 Toyota.
  NOTE 2: Reutimann is not in the #00 car as he is ill with the flu, Aric Almirola is practicing the car, the plan is for Reuitmann to qualify and race the car. Reutimann ran some laps late in the practice
  incidents: #43-Allmendinger got sideways down the backstretch early in practice, didn't hit anything and no other cars were involved, then late in practice he spun around on the frontstretch, doing a little damage to the right rear.
  See fast speeds, average speeds and laps run on my Bristol Practice Speeds page.(8-20-2010)

• Bristol practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #38-David Gilliland, 1st fastest overall
  #07-Robby Gordon, 2nd
  #32-Mike Bliss, 15th
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 16th
  #55-Michael McDowell, 19th
  #64-Todd Bodine, 20th
  #46-J.J. Yeley, 23rd
  #09-Bobby Labonte [PC], 47th [would make it via a past champ prov]
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #26-Jeff Green, 27th
  #66-Scott Riggs, 40th
  #13-Max Papis, 42nd
  #4-Kevin Lepage, 43rd
  #36-Casey Mears, 45th
  #92-Brian Keselowski, 49th

• The Entry List for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 49 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of owners points:
  #07-Robby Gordon (51/3)
  #09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(38/23)
  #4-Kevin Lepage(0/0)
  #13-Max Papis (40/23)
  #26-Jeff Green (2009 race winner as owner)(36/23)
  #32-Mike Bliss (47/8)
  #36-Casey Mears (39/23)
  #38-Travis Kvapil (37/23)
  #46-J.J. Yeley (41/23)
  #55-Michael McDowell (44/23)
  #64-Todd Bodine (46/11)
  #66-Dave Blaney (43/23)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (42/23)
  #92-Brain Keselowski(57/1)
  withdrew from the event:
  #35-Jeff Green (55/1)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 26, 09, 38, 36, 13, 46, 87, 66
  missing the race would be [6]: #'s 55, 64, 32, 07, 92, 4
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Bristol Entry List.(8-16/20-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Bristol:
  No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team fell to 35th and the #26 team remains 36th. The points spread from 35th to 36th is now at 161.
  33) #34-Kvapil/Front Row: 1719, 176 points ahead of 36th
  34) #37-Raines/Front Row: 1711, +168
  35) #7-RGordon/RGM, 1704, 161 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #26-JGreen/Latitude43: 1543, -161 points out of the top 35
  37) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 1530, -174
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-15-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
  [after Michigan, race 23 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 3400
  2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3107, -293
  3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 3047, -353
  4) #14-Tony Stewart, 3020, -380
  5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 3014, -386
  6) #99-Carl Edwards, 2986, -414
  7) #31-Jeff Burton, 2986, -414
  8) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 2975, -425
  9) #17-Matt Kenseth, 2961, -439
  10) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 2935, -465, +215
  11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2913, -487, +193
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2755, -645, 35 ahead of 13th
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #5-Mark Martin, 2720, -680, 35 points out of the chase
  14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2652, -748, -103
  15) #1-McMurray [2 wins], 2650, -750, -105
  16) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2629, -774, -126
  17) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2626, -774, -129
  2009 Chase Drivers not in top 17
  19) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya [1 win], 2582, -818, -173
  36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(8-15-2010)

• What happens if qualifying gets canceled/rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page

• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: Teams outside the top 35 in owners points will qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

• How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings (not drivers points).

• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: See my 2010 Past Champions Provisional Page for more

• Chase Notes and Stats going into Bristol: The back and forth battle for 12th place went to #33-Clint Bowyer at Michigan, but it could have been much better. His 13th to #5-Mark Martin's 28th was good for a 45 point difference, and gave Bowyer a 35-point edge going to Bristol. #2-Kurt Busch has lost altitude of late, dropping six spots in the standings after Michigan, but still has a 215-point edge over 13th. #29-Kevin Harvick clinched at Michigan. After Bristol, a 391 points margin, ahead of the driver in 13th is needed to clinch.
  2004-2009 Points leaders after 23 races:
  2004-Jeff Gordon (68 pts in the lead, finished 3rd in the Chase)
  2005-Tony Stewart (+126, finished 1st)
  2006-Jimmie Johnson (+58, finished 1st)
  2007-Jeff Gordon (+276, finished 2nd)
  2008-Kyle Busch (+222, finished 3rd)
  2009-Tony Stewart (+284, finished 6th)
  Where did eventual Chase Champ stand after 23 races:
  2009-Jimmie Johnson, was 3rd in points, 303 pts out of 1st
  2008-Jimmie Johnson, was 3rd in points, -302 pts
  2007-Jimmie Johnson, was 6th in points, -512 pts
  2006-Jimmie Johnson, was 1st in points, +58
  2005-Tony Stewart, was 1st in points, +126
  2004-Kurt Busch, was 6th in points, -345
  For season-to-season comparison after 23 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Michigan page. And for Chase history, how the 'old system' would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-19-2010)

• 2010 March Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 79.618mph, started 4th

• 2009 August Race Winner: #18-Kyle Busch, 84.820mph, started 15th

• Track Race Record 1st Race: Cale Yarborough, Apr 1977, 100.989

• Track Race Record 2nd Race: Charlie Glotzbach, July 1971, 101.074

• Slowest Race Record: Ned Jarrett, July 1965, 61.826mph

• Oldest Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt, 48 years, 3 months, 30 days, 8/28/1999

• Youngest Race Winner: Kyle Busch, 21 years, 10 months, 23 days, 3/25/2007

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Elliott Sadler, March 2001, started 38th

• 2010 March Pole Sitter: #20-Joey Logano, 124.630, finished 27th

• 2009 August Pole Sitter: #5-Mark Martin, 124.484mph, finished 2nd

• Track Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, March 2003, 128.709mph, 14.908 secs

• Oldest Pole Winner: Harry Gant, 54 years, 7 months, 17 days, 8/27/1994

• Youngest Pole Winner: Joey Logano, 19 years, 9 months, 23 days, 3/19/2010

• Most Wins - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, 5

• Most Wins - All Time: Darrell Waltrip, 12

• Most Poles - Active Driver: Mark Martin, 9

• Most Poles - All Time: Cale Yarborough, Mark Martin - 9

• Most Top 5s: 26 - Richard Petty

• Most Top 5s - Active: 16 - Mark Martin

• Most Top 10s: 37 - Richard Petty

• Most Top 10s - Active: 23 - Mark Martin

• Most Cautions: 20 - 3 times, most recently 8/23/2003

• Fewest Cautions: 0 - 7/11/1971

• Most Caution Laps: 167, 7/25/1965

• Fewest Caution Laps: 0, 7/11/1971

• Most Running at the Finish: 42 - 3/15/2008

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 7 - 3/20/1966

• Most Lead Changes: 40 - 4/14/1991

• Fewest Lead Changes: 0 - 3/25/1973

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 1 - Fred Lorenzen 7/26/1964

• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 500 - Cale Yarborough, 3/25/1973

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 42 - Chevy; 33 - Ford; 6 - Dodge; 2 - Toyota; 17 - others

• Races won from starting pos 1: 22 [of 99 points race run], 22.2%
  
  
• Races won from starting pos 2: 12
• Races won from starting pos 3: 9
• Races won from starting pos 4: 9
• Races won from starting pos 5: 6
• Races won from starting pos 6: 9
• Races won from starting pos 7: 1
• Races won from starting pos 8: 5
• Races won from starting pos 9: 5
• Races won from starting pos 10: 2
• Races won from starting pos 12: 3
• Races won from starting pos 13: 4
• Races won from starting pos 14: 2
• Races won from starting pos 15: 1
• Races won from starting pos 19: 2
• Races won from starting pos 18,20,24,26,27,30,38: 1

• Races won from the top 5: 58 of 99 - 58.59%
• Races won from the top 10: 80 of 99 - 80.81%

• At Bristol Motor Speedway:
  · Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.
  · First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961.
  · In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.
  · The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.
  · The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.
  · The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.
  · The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996.
  · The track was resurfaced between races in 2007.
  · There have been 99 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the first race there in 1961, two races each season.
  · All races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps.
  · Fred Lorenzen won the first pole.
  · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Jack Smith (with relief from Johnny Allen).
  · There have been 43 different pole winners, led by Cale Yarborough and Mark Martin (nine). Martinswept both poles at Bristol last season.
  · 38 different drivers have won, led by Darrell Waltrip (12).
  · Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon each have five wins, most among active drivers.
  · The race winner has started from the pole 22 times, the most productive starting position. The last driver to win from the pole was Carl Edwards, in the night race of 2008.
  · 80 of 99 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 52 from the first four spots.
  · The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 38th, by Elliott Sadler in 2001.
  · Last year’s night race had a margin of victory of .098 seconds, the second-closest MOV at Bristol since the advent of electronic scoring in May of 1993.
  · Four of the last five, and eight of the last 10, Bristol races had a margin of victory under one second.
  · There have been 160 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Tennessee.
  · 100 drivers all-time in NASCAR’s three national series have their home state recorded as Tennessee.

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#5-Mark Martin	CARQUEST	#5 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground (green)	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Office Depot	#14 Team Schemes Page
#18-Kyle Busch	Doublemint Gum	#18 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Hunt Brothers Pizza	#19 Team Schemes Page
#33-Clint Bowyer	Hamburger Helper	#33 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	WIX Filters	#39 Team Schemes Page
#43-A.J. Allmendinger	Valvoline	#43 Team Schemes Page
#46-J.J. Yeley	Cash America	#46 Team Schemes Page
#47-Marco Ambrose	Bush's Baked Beans-Kingsford	#47 Team Schemes Page
#78-Regan Smith	Farm American	#78 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	AMP Energy	#88 Team Schemes Page
#98-Paul Menard	CertainTeed / Menards	#98 Team Schemes Page
#99-Carl Edwards	Aflac Silver	#99 Team Schemes Page

• WIX Filters on Newman's car: Ryan Newman and his #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy will be sponsored by WIX Filters at Bristol Motor Speedway in a one race deal (SHR), see an image of the WIX scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)

• Special scheme for Bowyer: Clint Bowyer's #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevy will replace its traditional yellow and red colors this weekend in Bristol for a red and black Hamburger Helper paint scheme.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #33 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)

• Silver scheme for Edwards: The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the silver Aflac paint scheme at Bristol, the scheme runs at most of the night races in 2010 (RFR). See images of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)

• Farm American returns to the #78 at Bristol: The paint scheme on Regan Smith's #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy at this weekend's Sprint Cup race in Bristol will once again pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher. The car is designed to promote the importance of U.S. agriculture, which is responsible for employing more than 22 million people in the American workforce.(Furniture Row Racing), see an image of the car on my #78 team paint schemes page.(8-17-2010)

• WIX Filters to sponsor Newman at Bristol: WIX Filters will sponsor Ryan Newman and Stewart-Haas Racing’s #39 Chevy in the Aug. 21 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. And playing a large part in WIX Filters’ activation of the sponsorship is the company’s “Racing with Ryan” sweepstakes, with the grand prize being two coveted tickets to the Sharpie 500, which will run under the lights at the world’s fastest half-mile oval. There will be 39 total prizes given away as part of the “Racing with Ryan” sweepstakes. While a dream trip for fans, the upcoming Bristol race weekend is business as usual for WIX. That’s because WIX Filters’ sponsorship of Newman and the #39 Chevy is more than skin-deep. Stewart-Haas Racing uses WIX Filters to help maintain its edge in the highly competitive Sprint Cup Series.(Stewart-Haas Racing)(7-14-2010)

• Doublemint makes debut on #18: This weekend's race will mark the first time Doublemint Gum has served as primary sponsor for #18-Kyle Busch, as the chewing gum brand's mint paint scheme will adorn Busch's #18 Toyota at Darlington and again at Bristol Motor Speedway in August.(JGR/True Speed Communications), see images of the scheme on my #18 team paint schemes page.(5-6-2010)

• Hunt Brothers to sponsor Sadler: looks like Hunt Brothers Pizza, who sponsored Richard Petty Motorsports on the #44 car in 2009, will return in 2010, sponsoring Elliott Sadler for six races on the #19 Ford:
  Atlanta (3/7)
  Texas (4/18)
  Darlington (5/8)
  All-Star Race (5/22)
  Bristol (8/21) and
  Talladega (10/31).
  See images on my #19 Team Schemes page.(1-12-2010)

• Carquest returns to sponsor #5 team: Carquest Auto Parts has extended its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 Chevy driven by Mark Martin through the 2011 NASCAR season. The two-year pact will showcase Carquest with primary sponsor placement in eight points races annually beginning in 2010. When its red, white and blue shield is not on the hood, Carquest will maintain a significant presence on the #5 Chevys as a major associate sponsor. "Carquest is pleased to be an eight-race primary sponsor of Mark Martin and the #5 team for the 2010 NASCAR season," said Temple Sloan III, president and CEO of General Parts/Carquest Auto Parts. "In our eight years as a partner of Hendrick Motorsports we have enjoyed many successes, and this year has been tremendous. As the Official Auto Parts supplier to Hendrick Motorsports we are proud to have Mark, Alan Gustafson (crew chief) and the team partnering with us. Winning is the goal our team strives for every day, both on the track and in our stores." For more information about Carquest, visit www.Carquest.com.(Hendrick Motorsports)
  The CARQUEST Auto Parts #5 Impala is scheduled to race in 2010 at:
  Martinsville in March
  Charlotte in May
  New Hampshire in June
  Daytona in July
  Bristol in August
  Atlanta in September
  California in October and
  Texas in November.
  See an image of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(11-13-2009)

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery

• Track Specifications:
  0.533-mile concrete oval
  500 laps, 266.5 miles
  Degree of banking in corners: 24 to 30 degrees
  Degree of banking in straights: 4 to 9 degrees
  Straightaways: 650 feet long.
  Concrete racing surface: 43 feet wide.
  Seating capacity: 160,000
  Bristol has two pits roads: 22 pit stalls on the front stretch and 21 on the back stretch
  Pit Stall Size: 25.5 feet long, 15.5 feet wide
  Pit Road Speed: 30 mph
  Pace Car Track Speed: 35mph
  Track Opened: 1960
  First Cup race: 1961

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Delwyn Thornton
  Command to start engines: Delwyn Thornton
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
  Invocation: Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham
  National Anthem: Motor Racing Outreach Children
  Pledge of Allegience: led by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
  Military Flyover: F-16's, Air National Guard, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.
  

• For the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page

• Track Websites:
  Bristol Motor Speedway
  ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Bristol Motor Speedway
  Bristol Motor Speedway's Online Ticketing Center
  Speedway Motorsports
  Bristol Raceway Ministries
  Bristol Motor Speedway - Facebook
  BMS Photo Page on Flickr

• August 2009: see my Bristol Race Info page

• March 2010: see my Bristol Race Info page

• Carry-In Items:
  Coolers: Allowed (limit of 14 inches at its longest dimension.). In addition, one carry-in bag allowed, which may not exceed the 14-inch limit.
  Glass containers: Not allowed
  Alcoholic beverages: Allowed
  Cameras/recording devices: Allowed

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• IRWIN Tools Challenge Winner to Serve as Grand Marshal at Bristol: As a result of capturing the North American Championship of the 2010 IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Brandon, Mississippi's Delwyn Thornton will serve as the Grand Marshal for tonight's inaugural IRWIN Industrial Tools Night Race at the World's Fastest Half Mile. Thornton, a shoe repairman and the owner of Soles and Heels Shoe Repair for over 27 years, will give the command for the 43 drivers to "Start Your Engines." The IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, a skill-based competition that travelled across the U.S. and Canada for more than 50 events, challenged professional tradesmen to perform a series of precise tasks-such as gripping, sawing, marking, clamping and drilling-in a race against the clock. A total of 23 local competitors won an all-expenses-paid trip to Bristol, in addition to an IRWIN tool bag packed with IRWIN tools and genuine Cat footwear, to compete in the North American Championship, which was held Friday in BMS's Exhibit Area. Thornton completed the Challenge in 28.50 seconds, edging out Frank Blatz (Abbotsford, BC), who was clocked at 30.75 seconds. In addition to having the opportunity to say NASCAR's most famous words prior to the start of the race, Thornton won a year's supply of Cat footwear and a custom IRWIN Tools Mustang GT Premium Pace Car - the official pace car of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. Thornton advances to the World Finals in March of 2011, again at Bristol Motor Speedway, where six tradesmen from around the world will compete to become the Worldwide IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman. The tradesman with the top time will win the grand prize - a chance to win $1 million.(Irwin Tools)(8-21-2010)

• Byrd to miss weekend activities at Bristol: Bristol Motor Speedway president and general manager Jeff Byrd continues a steady recovery after being sidelined recently by illness. Byrd, who will miss the IRWIN Tools Night Race activities this weekend, recently completed another round of treatments and is making remarkable progress, according to his doctors. “Our race fans, who are the best in the sport, know how much I want to be there this weekend, especially with it being our 100th Cup race,” said Byrd, who has continued to come into the office between treatments. “We thought at first, the treatment calendar was going to work, but then we realized it wasn’t. Believe me, not being able to be there to see all my friends is disappointing. It’s what we work so hard for all year – and what Bruton pays us to do. But, I have a lot to be thankful for right now. My recovery is going extremely well and my doctors are very happy. Of course, things aren’t progressing quickly enough for me, but anybody who knows me can tell you that I’m not exactly a patient person. Claudia and I, and my entire family, have truly been overwhelmed by the prayers and support and couldn’t be more thankful. If all the fans could continue to keep me in their prayers I would be grateful. I just want them to have a great weekend while they soak in the amazing Bristol experience. That’s the best medicine I could ask for.”(BMS)......get well Jeff! (8-20-2010)

• IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge winner to be Grand Marshal: Leave it to innovator IRWIN Tools to toss an exciting twist into the mix for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' most exciting race - the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. In an unprecedented move, IRWIN Tools, a world-class manufacturer and marketer of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, won't let the world know who the Grand Marshal is until just 24 hours prior to the race. The winner of Friday night's North American Championship of the 2010 IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will be the race's Grand Marshal, and will give the famous command, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." The IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, a skill-based competition that has travelled across the U.S. and Canada for more than 50 events, challenges professional tradesmen to perform a series of precise tasks-such as gripping, sawing, marking, clamping and drilling-in a race against the clock. A total of 23 local competitors won an all-expenses-paid trip to Bristol, in addition to an IRWIN tool bag packed with IRWIN tools and genuine Cat footwear, to compete in the North American Championship of the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge on Friday.
  In addition to having the opportunity to say NASCAR's most famous words prior to the start of the race, the 2010 North American Champion will win a year's supply of Cat footwear and a custom IRWIN Tools Mustang GT Premium Pace Car - the official pace car of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. He will also advance to the World Finals in March of 2011, again at Bristol Motor Speedway, where six tradesmen from around the world will compete to become the Worldwide IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman. The tradesman with the top time will win the grand prize - a chance to win $1 MILLION!(BMS/HB&M Sports)(8-20-2010)

• Salute To Military Planned Prior To IRWIN Tools Night Race: Bristol Motor Speedway will proudly pay homage to our country’s greatest heroes with a military salute prior to the IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 21. Military anthems from all branches of the armed services – the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard – will be played as flags of each branch are flown in, via parachutists. Fans in the military who currently serve, are veterans, or who have family members who are serving or who have served in the past, will be asked to stand and be recognized.
  Bristol Motor Speedway’s fans will play a key role in the patriotic salute. Upon entering BMS that evening, they will be given a red, white or blue towel, which also commemorates the 100th Sprint Cup race at BMS. Once the flags have been flown in, fans will be asked to stand and wave their towels in unison to honor America and our military members.
  Two CH-53E helicopters from Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. will then fly over Bristol Motor Speedway, followed by the playing of God Bless the USA, at which time a parachutist will fly in, carrying the American flag. A pair of Harrier jets from the USMC VMFA-223 unit in Cherry Point will then perform a flyover.
  Presentation of the Colors will be provided by the Special Ceremonies Team Color Guard from the 14th Weather Squadron from Asheville, N.C. Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, will give the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegience, led by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. Children of NASCAR drivers, with assistance from Motor Racing Outreach, will sing the national anthem.
  A 60’ x 90’ American flag will be displayed on the BMS front stretch as the anthem is sung and fireworks will go off around the track. At the conclusion of the anthem, the Washington D.C. Air National Guard’s 121st Fighter Squadron [F-16's] from Joint Base Andrews will perform the final flyover. To purchase tickets, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets also are available at www.bristoltix.com.(8-20-2010)

• Bristol Transporter Parade: Fans line Bristol's Volunteer Parkway as NASCAR's multi-million dollar transporters make their way to "The World's Fastest Half-Mile." Fans may not know the names of these drivers, but they certainly recognize the colorful vehicles they pilot through Bristol during the wildly popular Ford/Bristol Motor Speedway Transporter Parade. One of a number of entertaining and fun-filled special events that takes place at BMS during August race week, the Transporter Parade, which is Thursday evening, Aug. 19, is truly a fan favorite. Thousands of fans in the area for the four NASCAR races at BMS that week come out early, staking their claim on their chosen viewing position along the 10-mile route from Bristol Mall to "The World’s Fastest Half-Mile." Many of the haulers also will carry a child from either the Make A Wish Foundation or the Children’s Miracle Network.
  The parade starts at 9:00pm/et at the Bristol Mall, following completion of downtown Bristol’s Food City Race Night. More than 60 haulers then will make their way from the mall down Volunteer Parkway to BMS. The transporter leading the way will be the one belonging to the leader of the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings heading into the IRWIN Tools Night Race, currently Kevin Harvick. To add to the parade’s atmosphere, fireworks will light up the night from four different points along the route. The transporter drivers will be available prior to the start of the parade to sign autographs at the Bristol Mall. There also will be face painting for children, along with a “5-In-1 Sport” jump playhouse.(BMS)(8-19-2010)

• Bristol names National Anthem singers: Southern pop artist Jessie James will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the Food City 250 Aug. 20, while the children of NASCAR drivers again will sing prior to the IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 21. The Mercury Records star recently released her second album, "Boys in the Summer," which is already making its way up both pop and country charts. Always one of the most popular groups to sing the anthem, the children of NASCAR drivers, with assistance from Motor Racing Outreach, will sing prior to the start of the IRWIN Tools Night Race Saturday night.(BMS)(8-17-2010)

• Bristol single event tickets on sale: For the first time in nearly two decades, fans now may purchase single-event tickets to NASCAR's most popular Sprint Cup event, the IRWIN Tools Night Race. The Aug. 21 running of the IRWIN Tools Night Race is a major milestone for Bristol Motor Speedway as the World's Fastest Half-Mile will host its 100th Cup race. The first 500-lap NASCAR race at BMS took place July 30, 1961. A limited number of tickets for the incomparable Saturday night show, voted by fans as the most popular race on the NASCAR schedule, are available for $109 each. These single-event tickets are renewable. Fans also may purchase a three-day package, which features four NASCAR races. Action kicks off Aug. 18 with the O'Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm Whelen Modified doubleheader. Also in the package are the Food City 250 Nationwide event Friday night, Aug. 20, and the showcase race Aug. 21, the IRWIN Tools Night Race. To purchase, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets may also be purchased at www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(5-9-2010)

• Bristol August Race Weekend packages on sale now: Racing under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. Nothing else on the NASCAR schedule comes close to mirroring that kind of excitement or such a unique atmosphere. NASCAR’s most coveted ticket to its wildly popular Sprint Cup event, the IRWIN Tools Night Race, along with its companion events, is now on sale at Bristol Motor Speedway. A three-day package features 1,100 laps of non-stop action at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. Included is the Aug. 18 Wednesday night doubleheader, the O’Reilly 200 (Camping World Truck) and the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 (Whelen Modified), the Food City 250 (Nationwide) Aug. 20 and the showcase event Aug. 21, the IRWIN Tools Night Race. Fans who can only attend the Friday and Saturday night races also may purchase a two-race package for the Food City 250 and IRWIN Tools Night Race. Packages for all three days start at only $170 while pricing for the two-day package begins at $126. To purchase, please contact the BMS ticket office at 423-BRISTOL (274-7865) or visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.(BMS)(3-28-2010)

• No sellout for Bristol, first since 1982: According to figures provided by NASCAR, an estimated total of 138,000 attended Sunday’s Food City 500 Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Unofficial estimates placed the figure closer to 120,000 on the overcast and chilly afternoon. Entering the weekend, the 160,000-seat facility had been sold out for 55 straight Sprint Cup events. The NASCAR attendance estimate for Saturday’s Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide Series race was 85,000. Crowds of over 100,000 have attended the Nationwide races at BMS in recent years. Many fans have complained that the excitement level of BMS events has been diminished since the .533-concrete oval underwent an extensive 2007 resurfacing project which gave competitors more room to maneuver. That sentiment remerged Monday morning on various NASCAR message boards and talk shows, even though Sunday’s Food City 500 featured 29 lead changes, 10 caution periods and a 10-lap dash to the finish. According to BMS Vice President of Public Affairs Kevin Triplett, the biggest hurdle facing BMS the past two years has been the slumping national economy. Triplett feels that the thousands of empty seats this past weekend were emblematic of the financial challenges in NASCAR hotbeds around the Midwest and Northeast. “As far as winning back fans, more than 60% of the ones we surveyed who did not renew their tickets said it was for economic reasons,” Triplett said. The August Sprint Cup race at BMS remains one of the most popular events in motorsports. Speedway officials have attempted to generate renewed interest for their March race program by holding the Food City Race Night program on track property and by introducing a 35-lap charity event for retired NASCAR drivers on Saturday night. “There are other things – lodging costs, people out of work – that are factors that are out of our hands,” Triplett said. (Bristol Herald Courier), The speedway’s record streak of 55 sellouts began back in August 1982 – when the track could accommodate a mere 30,000 fans.(Bristol Herald Courier)(3-23-2010)

• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Bristol Motor Speedway

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires: Sprint Cup:
Left-side -- 1,300, Right-side -- 1,300;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 575, Right-side -- 575

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4404; Right-side -- D-4408

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.1 in.; Right-side -- 88.4 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 26 psi; Left Rear -- 26 psi;
Right Front -- 42 psi; Right Rear -- 40 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 22 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi;
Right Front -- 45 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 136-144 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: This is the first time NASCAR teams will be running either of these two Goodyear tire codes . . . this tire set-up came out of a tire test at Bristol on June 29-30 . . . drivers participating in that test were Denny Hamlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Scott Speed . . . compared to what was run at Bristol in the spring, this right-side tire code (D-4404) features a construction and mold shape change to bring it into line with what is run at other NASCAR speedways . . . this left-side code (D-4408) features a mold shape change to achieve a more optimum stagger when teamed with this new right-side . . . Bristol is the only track at which teams are scheduled to run either of these two tire codes . . . unlike on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, on which teams generally do not run inner liners, teams are required to run liners in their right-side tires only at Bristol . . . .air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

• List of Driver song selections for driver intros: Bristol Motor Speedway is continuing a popular new tradition on Saturday night: Each NASCAR driver will pick a song to be played when he walks out for pre-race introductions. Here is the list of songs for this year:
  * AJ Allmendinger: "Bad Company" / Five Finger Death Punch
  * Bobby Labonte: "What Do Ya Think About That" / Montgomery Gentry
  * Brad Keselowski: "For Those About To Rock" / AC/DC
  * Carl Edwards: (Secret until Saturday night)
  * Casey Mears: TBA
  * Clint Bowyer: "Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde" / Travis Tritt
  * Dale Earnhardt Jr.: (Secret until Saturday night)
  * Dave Blaney: TBA
  * David Gilliland: "I Get It In" / 50 Cent
  * David Ragan: "Thunderstruck" / AC/DC
  * David Reutimann: "The Game" / Motorhead
  * Denny Hamlin: "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" / Dropkick Murphys
  * Elliott Sadler: Opening to "2001: A Space Odyssey"
  * Greg Biffle: "For Whom The Bell Tolls" / Metallica
  * JJ Yeley: TBA
  * Jamie McMurray: "I'm Gonna Miss Her" / Brad Paisley
  * Jeff Burton: "Welcome To The Jungle" / Guns N' Roses
  * Jeff Gordon: "Let's Go" / Trick Daddy
  * Jeff Green: TBA
  * Jimmie Johnson: "Funky Cold Medina" / Tone Loc
  * Joe Nemechek: "Born To To Be Wild" / Steppenwolf
  * Joey Logano: "Play That Funky Music" / Wild Cherry
  * Juan Pablo Montoya: "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" / Nickelback
  * Kasey Kahne: "Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer" / Billy Currington
  * Kevin Harvick: "Jump Around" / House of Pain
  * Kevin LePage: "Juke Box Hero" / Foreigner
  * Kurt Busch: "This Afternoon" / Nickelback
  * Kyle Busch: "Rowdy Busch" / 2012 f. Raytona 500
  * Landon Cassill: TBA
  * Marcos Ambrose: "Black Betty" / Spiderbait
  * Mark Martin: (Secret until Saturday night)
  * Martin Truex Jr.: "All About Tonight" / Blake Shelton
  * Matt Kenseth: "Miracle" / Nonpoint
  * Max Papis: "Fuel" / Metallica
  * Michael McDowell: "Earthquake" / Family Force 5
  * Mike Bliss: TBA
  * Paul Menard: "Cowboys From Hell" / Pantera
  * Reed Sorenson: "Not Afraid" / Eminem
  * Regan Smith: "Welcome To The Family" / Avenged Sevenfold
  * Robby Gordon: "Not Afraid" / Eminem
  * Ryan Newman: TBA / Bridgette Tatum
  * Sam Hornish Jr.: "Kickstart My Heart" / Motley Crue
  * Scott Speed: "OMG" / Usher f. Will.i.am
  * Todd Bodine: Theme for "The Three Stooges"
  * Tony Raines: "Last Dance With Mary Jane" / Tom Petty
  * Tony Stewart: "Bawitdaba" / Kid Rock
  * Travis Kvapil: "Bodies" / Drowning Pool
  (SB Nation/Jeff Gluck)(8-20-2010)
  

• Some Chassis selections for Bristol:
  #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion has elected to bring chassis #803 to Bristol this weekend. The chassis was last used in the 2009 season at both Pocono events and the second Auto Club Speedway event finishing 18th, 19th and 22nd. This chassis was also tested in June at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  #2-Kurt Busch, crew chief Steve Addington and the "Blue Deuce" crew are racing their "PRS-709" Miller Lite "Vortex" Dodge in this weekend's action at Bristol Motor Speedway. This is the car that the team debuted at Bristol in the March 21 Food City 500 in dominant fashion. Busch started second and finished third, leading 10 times for a total of 278 laps (led most laps). Quicker pit work by his "over-the wall gang" allowed him to beat eventual race-winner Jimmy Johnson off pit road for a late-race restart. However, Johnson had the preferred outside line and used it to take the victory. This car has been raced only once since. Busch started 16th and finished 18th in the May 1 battle at Richmond with this car.
  #5-Mark Martin: crew chief Alan Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-600 for Saturday night's race at Bristol. This is the same chassis Martin raced to a fourth-place finish in the 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He also drove this car to a 15th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway last month.
  #6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-626 last ran Dover – finished 26th; Backup: RK-633 last ran Michigan in the fall of 2009. The Paris Center (SLIC 3820) will be recognized as the UPS Maximum Center this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Paris was the top-ranked center on the Mid-South District's Rate and Rank report for July.
  #11-Denny Hamlin: and the FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 259 this weekend in Bristol. This car made its first start at Bristol in March of this year. JGR 267 will travel to Bristol as the backup. The #11 FedEx Ground Toyota will carry the letters CENT on the b-post this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in recognition of their excellence in package care.
  #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-720 during Saturday night's Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski drove this chassis to a 19th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August.
  #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-530 was a brand new racecar for 2009 that, prior to its debut at Richmond in May, had only been tested in the wind tunnel. At Richmond, Stewart used Chassis No. 14-530 to qualify 16th and rally from the 17th position in the final 50 laps to score his second runner-up effort of the season. It saw action unexpectedly in June at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon when the team's primary car was crashed in the opening minutes of the weekend's first practice. The team got a reprieve when qualifying was rained-out and the field was set by car owner points, which allowed Stewart to start from the pole. He used that starting spot to his advantage, as he led 40 laps and was in contention to pick up the win. But rain cut the race 28 laps short of its scheduled 301-lap distance, aiding those who successfully gambled on fuel mileage and penalizing drivers like Stewart, who wound up fifth. Chassis No. 14-530's third career start came at Richmond in the series' return visit in September. It qualifyed 29th and finishing 17th. Its fourth career start and last of 2009 came at Martinsville in October. There, Stewart qualified 13th and was in contention for a top-five until a late-race caution thwarted his forward drive, forcing him to settle for ninth. The off-season brought about a complete rebuild for Chassis No. 14-530 in preparation for its first start of 2010 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where it qualified 11th and finished second. Its sixth career start and second of 2010 came in June at Dover. It started 16th and finished ninth, which was Stewart's best result since his second-place run at Bristol.
  #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-645 (last raced at New Hampshire) This weekend at Bristol, Kenseth will pilot the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion
  #18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 249: Saturday night's Irwin Tools Night Race will be the sixth start for Chassis No. 249. This chassis made its debut last August at Michigan, where Busch started 36th and finished 23rd. Its next start came last September at Richmond, where Busch qualified eighth and finished a solid fifth. It then participated in the October event at Charlotte, where Busch qualified 12th and finished eighth. At Martinsville last March, Busch qualified 10th and ran in second-place in the closing laps before an accident relegated him to a 22nd-place finish. In its most recent start, in June at New Hampshire, Busch started 22nd and ran in the top-five until a late-race spin and subsequent rally netted him an 11th-place finish.
  #19-Elliott Sadler: The #19 Hunt Brother's Pizza Ford team has prepared chassis No. 278 for this weekend's event. This is the same Ford Fusion the team ran in the first race at Bristol Motor Speedway this season.
  #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 297 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2010, Harvick started 35th and finished sixth at Darlington Raceway in May.
  #31-Jeff Burton: will pilot chassis No. 307 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2010, Burton drove this Caterpillar Chevy to a 25th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May after contact with another competitor, with fewer than 20 laps remaining, cut the left-rear tire on the Caterpillar Chevy. Most recently, this #31 racer finished eighth at Michigan International Speedway in June.
  #33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot Chassis No. 303 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new in 2010, Bowyer drove this Chevrolet Impala to seventh-place finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.
  #39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-516 has seen action on both concrete racetracks – Bristol and Dover – during the past two seasons. In four races during the 2009 season, the chassis never finished outside of the top-10. The car finished seventh and sixth at Bristol and eighth and 10th at Dover, respectively. Over the winter, crew chief Tony Gibson & Company updated the chassis in preparation for the 2010 season. The chassis saw action at Bristol last March and, although Newman flirted with a top-10 result, he finished a disappointing 16th following a late-race lug nut issue on a pit stop. At Dover, Newman qualified sixth and fought back from tire issues to finish 13th.
  #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team are bringing chassis #903 to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis was last used in May at Dover where Montoya had mechanical problems forcing a 35th-place finish. Earlier in the season at Bristol, Montoya qualified sixth and finished 26th after being involved in a 13-car incident. This chassis also ran twice last year by the #42 team (Michigan- June, Chicago- July) where it finished sixth and 10th.
  #43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 RPM team led by crew chief Mike Shiplett has prepared chassis No. 265 for this weekend's event at Bristol Motor Speedway. This car was run on one other occasion this season when the team utilized it for the spring event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allmendinger finished sixth in that event.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson: Chassis No. 580 will be the primary for Saturday night's event. Johnson last piloted that car to a sixth-place finish at Michigan in June. Back up chassis No. 553 has collected three wins in four starts – the most recent coming at Auto Club Speedway in February
  #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-578, which last was raced at Dover International Speedway in May where Earnhardt finished 30th.
  #98-Paul Menard: Chassis History: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 RPM crew have prepared chassis No. 561 for this weekend's event. This is the same car the team ran at the June race at Pocono Raceway where Menard finished 16th.
  #99-Carl Edwards: The #99 team will bring chassis RK-596 for the weekend at Bristol. Edwards most recently raced this car at Dover in May (finished 8th) and Bristol in March (finished 6th).(from team PR's/sites if reported)(8-20-2010)

• Morgan McClure to attempt Bristol race UPDATE2: The Morgan McClure website says that the #4 team will attempt the race at Bristol next week. No other details posted, but hearing that Kevin Lepage will be the driver.(8-12-2010)
  UPDATE: Nearly 20 years after scoring their first Sprint Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, Morgan-McClure Motorsports will return to the high banks for the running of the Irwin Tools 500. The Abingdon, VA-based organization announced that Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a leading United States coal producer, and Joy Mining Machinery, a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution, and service of underground mining equipment have partnered together to bring the "hometown team" back to the track to attempt the 100th Sprint Cup Series race at BMS. Kevin Lepage, a native of Vermont, will pilot the familiar #4 Alpha Natural Resources/ Joy Mining Machinery Chevy at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile" and veteran Larry Carter will serve as the team's crew chief for the event. (MMM)(8-16-2010)
  UPDATE 2: The team returned to the track for the first time since 2007 last August for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol. Relying on several crew members from the MMM glory days, veteran driver Scott Wimmer qualified 26th in the black Alpha Chevrolet. He finished 29th. MMM also attempted to qualify for the second Dover race last season. Morgan said the latest revival for the MMM group began to develop around three weeks ago. Larry Carter, who has worked in NASCAR for 27 years, has been working as the crew chief. Longtime employees Robbie Holt, Billy Brownlow and Robert Larkins are also helping to prepare the car. If Lepage qualifies, Morgan said the team plans to run the entire race. Lepage has competed in 16 Nationwide races this season. The Vermont native won the 1998 Food City 250 with car owner Doug Taylor. Lepage drove for MMM in 2001 and 2004. As for future racing plans, Morgan said it all depends on sponsorship. The goal for this weekend is to make the field and attract attention. Morgan said the expansive Morgan-McClure race shop, which was for sale last year, is no longer listed. While Morgan said the team wants to continue racing with proper funding, he will still listen to potential buyers for the shop.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-18-2010)

• See the Sprint Cup Series Team / Driver Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.