NASCAR’s Loop Data shows green flag passing during Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway more than doubled that of the spring race at Bristol from 991 passes in the spring to 2,147 passes Saturday night. The consensus opinion held by the drivers at the conclusion of the race rang loud and clear: the new surface at Bristol Motor Speedway met and exceeded expectations, as the addition of a second and third racing groove greatly increased the number of passes and thusly, the competition. Take a look at the total passing numbers from the spring and this past weekend: 2007 Green Flag Passes at Bristol Spring, Location, Summer 184, Frontstretch, 529 128, Backstretch, 487 313, Turns 1 and 2, 571 366, Turns 3 and 4, 560 991, Total, 2,147 The 2,147 green flag passes Saturday is a 108% increase over the spring race at Bristol. The individual numbers also grew. Below is a look at the top five in Green Flag Passes at the spring race and the top five this past Saturday night. Bristol Green Flag Passes Spring: 1. Kevin Harvick, 52 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 47 3. Jeff Burton, 46 4. Jeff Gordon, 37 5. David Stremme, 37 Bristol Green Flag Passes Summer 1. J.J. Yeley, 107 2. Jamie McMurray, 105 3. Reed Sorenson, 87 4. Robby Gordon, 80 5. Martin Truex Jr., 80 evin Harvick’s top mark of 52 Green Flag Passes in the spring would have tied him for 18th with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in this past weekend’s race. Tony Stewart, who finished fourth Saturday night and clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, gave the new track at Bristol high marks: “Guys were running over each other to pass each other,” said Stewart. “It’s the most fun I’ve had at Bristol in my career. I can’t give it a better grade than an A-plus.”(NASCAR PR)(8-28-2007)
